Nepal Trekking Equipment List

Nepal Trekking equipment and gear list 

PLEASE NOTE IT:-  Massif Holidays has prepared the list of required items that supposed to bring for your trek in the Himalayas of Nepal. This is a general idea of the personal items but can be varied according to your needs, choice, interests, duration of the trip, weather condition and so on. The most important fact that is that one should have enough clothes to tackle the cold weather in the Himalayas. Most of the heavy items are carried by porters or yak in a package trek but you should carry your day pack with your personal belongings of daily use like money, water bottle, rain gear, camera, sun cream, and toilet paper etc. So you are supposed to pack your belongings in two different bags. The hotels in Kathmandu are safe to keep your non-trek items which can be collected after the trek. You can easily hire or buy these gears in Kathmandu. The varieties of gears are found here as some are locally manufactured and comparatively cheaper and some are manufactured in China with better quality. You can also find very high quality branded gears in famous stores in Kathmandu. Our policy is to provide 1 porter for two trekkers to carry your luggage and should have weight limitation of approximately 25 kg from two people. So we always suggest you travel light.

• Antibacterial hand washes:-  Hand wash is needed in every place before your lunch, breakfast, dinner and if you are taking some snacks, chocolate bar, nuts and so on in the trekking trails. It is a very quick & easy way to be safe from bacteria and prevent you from a health problem.
• Basic First Aid Kit:-  Please click our FIRST-AID CHECKLIST bottom for more information.
• Binoculars:-  This is optional for trekking but it is recommended for jungle safari and bird watching. You can notice various wild animals and different species of birds clearly and closely with binoculars. In trekking also it is useful for the close views of Himalayas, glaciers, lakes and scenic mountain views.
• Camp Shoes or Sandals:-  Camp shoes or sandals are useful after a long day hiking when you rest at your camp or teahouses to make feel your feet with cool Himalayan air. Your feet will enjoy the mountain air after a day-long hike.
• Diary and Pen:- Some of the people have a habit to note what they see, what they eat, who they meet and so on. So that it is a good idea to carry these things with you which is not easily available in the mountains. You can prepare a wonderful travel story if you note your travel experience for future memory. Writing travel note might be the best way to kill your time when you will be waiting for food in the warm dining hall of your teahouse/guesthouses.
• Down Jacket:-  We strongly recommend having your own  Down Jacket but Massif Holidays also supply complimentary down jacket which supposed to be returned after completion of your trek. You can easily hire or buy Down Jackets in Nepal. Various quality starting from locally made to branded one is available in different stores in Kathmandu, Pokhara, even in Namche Bazaar(shortly).
• Face and Body Moisturizer:- These items are needed to make your skin always in good condition whether you are trekking in the Himalayas or walking in the dense forest of the Terai region.
• Feminine Hygiene Products:-  Feminine hygiene products are not easily found in the Himalayas. We recommend carrying the products which are familiar to your body. Some of the local products might have a side effect to you so we always suggest to bring or buy such products which are well-known to you.
• Fleece Jacket or Pullover /Thermal:-  Fleece jacket or pullover is needed to keep your body warm. It is normally used at night while you will be sleeping. It can be used as innerwear in early morning hiking,  day hiking in the winter season, high mountain passes and evening time which is comparatively more cold period.
• Fleece Wind-Stopper Jacket:-  Wind stopper is required in early morning hike and evening hike for sunrise and sunset view.  Morning and evening time is windier in the mountains. It is recommended to carry it in your day pack with you as the certain wind might blow in the mountains even in day time.
• Gaiters:- Gaiters are useful in high mountain passes to make your legs warm from snow and protect from leeches in the monsoon season.
• Headlamp:- Headlamp is strongly recommended in the Himalayas trekking. The bathroom is out of your room in the mountains so a headlamp is very useful to find the place in the time of load shedding (power cut). Make sure to bring extra batteries and that they are lithium batteries so that they will last in the colder temperatures.
• Hiking Boots: - We always recommend to buy good quality waterproof hiking boots to suit for your trek. It is hard to get a good one in rent.  Make sure that your hiking boot is good fitting with layered socks to avoid the blisters.
• Hiking Pants /Shorts:-  Please note that cotton is not recommended. Some pair of nylon hiking shorts which is quickly dried. Preferably two pair of trekking paints with zipping on/off at the knees so they double as shorts. One pair of shell peanuts, which is Waterproof/breathable, Gore-Tex or equivalent is best. It is easy if zip from the top and bottom to put on over boots without getting undressed.  Put your clothing in waterproof stuff or large puncture resistance plastic bag.
• Hiking Socks:-  we recommend to bring some pair of liner socks, some pair of heavyweight socks to be worn over liner socks and at least a pair of weight sock which is a good option for warmer parts of the trail.
• Puncture Resistance  Plastic Bags:-  to put your clothing and avoid any problems from the rain.
• Lip balm / Sunscreen:- A string taped to the stick is helpful, to hang around your neck and some are now being sold with a cord already attached. Handy as it avoids you from having to stop and look for it.  Put sunscreen in the outer layer of your day pack.
• Monkey Cap or Woolem Hat:-  To put your head warm enough in the cold.
• Mosquito Repellent Gel:-  Mosquitoes are expected in the low mountain hiking in and around Kathmandu and the southern part of Nepal known as terai. Anti- Mosquito creams are very essential in those areas.
• Multipurpose Soap: -  A soap can be used to wash your hand, body, and clothes if required.
• Musical Instruments:-  Optional items to carry. Music helps you to forget your fatigue in the trails and pass your time in the evening.
• Reading Book:-  Optional items to carry.  You have plenty of time in the evening before dinner if you have a habit of reading or enjoy it. Some books related Himalayan journey might be a good option.
• Sleeping Bag:-  Your own 4 season’ sleeping bag is strongly recommended, but Massif Holidays also supply complimentary sleeping bags which supposed to be returned after the completion of your trek.
• Small Mirror:-  Optional item to carry if you wish.
• Sun Hat:-  To avoid sunburn.
• Sunglasses:-  100% UV protection with side shields and a hard-sided storage case. This is to protect your eyes from the stronger rays of the sun due to the thinner atmosphere which can cause a painful condition known as snow blindness. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient. If you wear prescription glasses, speak to your doctor about prescription glacier glasses, perhaps with transitional lenses.
• T-Shirts:- Some pair of a comfortable t-shirt.
• Tissue / Toilet Roll / Toiletries :-  Very essential items never forget it.. Put these items in your day pack which is carried by yourself.
• Tooth Brush /Paste:- Very essential items never forget it.
• Travel Game:-  Optional items to carry to pass your time on a long bus ride, airplane and evening free time.
• Trekking  Bag / Duffle Bag:- Massif Holidays provides a duffle to be shared by two trekkers in a fully supported trek. This is carried by our porters.  
• Trekking / Hiking Ploes:- This is helpful for keeping your balance and protecting the knees on descents.  It can be bought in Kathmandu as well if you don’t wish to carry.  There are various brands and different price. Select which suits your requirement. 
• Trip Map:-  Optional items as you will be looked after by your guide but of course more helpful to know in details.
• Water Bottle:-  Mineral water is available in every guesthouse. But purifying your own either by boiling and filtering or by using purification tablets is cheaper and doesn’t produce plastic waste. You can also purify water by using the pocket-sized Steropen, which uses UV light but requires a battery.
• Waterproof Jacket:- One pair of the waterproof jacket is highly recommended in trekking or even in touring in Kathmandu or other cities.
• Wet wipes:-  Put this item in your day pack as it might be required anytime.