Packing for Nepal means packing for two trips at once: humid, warm city days in Kathmandu and Chitwan, and freezing high-altitude nights if you trek. The good news — almost anything you forget can be bought in Thamel for less than at home. Here is what to bring, what to buy there, and what people always over- or under-pack.
The golden rule
Airlines for Lukla and domestic routes enforce a 10–15 kg total luggage limit. Pack light, then remove a third. Most hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara store excess luggage free while you trek.
Documents & money
- Passport (6+ months validity) + 4 passport photos (visa, permits, SIM card)
- Cash USD for the visa on arrival
- Travel insurance covering trekking altitude (to 6,000 m if doing EBC) — carry a printed copy of the policy and emergency number
- Cards work in cities; everything on trek is cash (Nepali rupees)
Trekking clothing (the layer system)
Base layers
- 2× merino or synthetic t-shirts
- 1× long-sleeve thermal top and bottom
Mid layers
- 1× fleece or light insulated jacket
- 1× down jacket (essential above 4,000 m; rentable in Kathmandu)
Shell
- Waterproof breathable jacket
- Rain pants (doubles as wind layer)
Bottom & feet
- 2× trekking trousers (one convertible is handy)
- 4–5× hiking socks (wool, not cotton)
- Broken-in hiking boots — the single item you must bring from home
- Camp shoes or sandals for tea house evenings
Extremities
- Warm hat, sun hat, buff/neck gaiter
- Liner gloves + insulated gloves
- Category 3+ sunglasses — snow blindness is real above the tree line
Gear
- 40–50 L backpack (or 30 L daypack if a porter carries a duffel)
- Sleeping bag rated -10°C or colder (rent in Kathmandu ~$1–2/day)
- Trekking poles — your knees on the descents will thank you
- Headlamp + spare batteries (pre-dawn Kala Patthar climb, power cuts)
- 2× 1 L water bottles or bladder + water purification (tablets, Steripen, or filter — bottled water is banned or expensive at altitude)
- Power bank 10,000–20,000 mAh
- Universal plug adapter (Nepal: types C/D/M, 230 V)
Health & toiletries
- Personal first-aid: blister kit, ibuprofen, immodium, rehydration salts, broad-spectrum antibiotic (ask your travel doctor)
- Diamox (acetazolamide) for altitude — discuss with a doctor before travel
- High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm — UV at altitude is ferocious
- Hand sanitizer + toilet paper (tea houses do not supply it)
- Quick-dry towel
- Wet wipes — showers above 4,000 m are an expensive luxury
City & general travel
- 1× modest outfit for temples (shoulders and knees covered)
- Light cotton clothes for Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan (hot most of the year)
- Mosquito repellent for the lowlands (Chitwan, Lumbini)
- Earplugs — Kathmandu is loud, tea house walls are thin
- Offline maps (Maps.me or Organic Maps) and downloaded entertainment
Buy it in Thamel instead
Kathmandu's gear district sells good-enough versions of almost everything:
- Duffel bags, daypacks, rain covers
- Fleece, down jackets, hats, gloves (great knock-offs, fine quality for one trek)
- Trekking poles, gaiters, water bottles
- Snack bars, trail mix, electrolyte powder
Do not buy there: boots (no time to break in), prescription medication, technical hardware your life depends on.
What people over-pack
Jeans, more than two pairs of shoes, heavy toiletry kits, "just in case" cotton clothing, drones (require permits), and books (every tea house has an exchange shelf). When in doubt, leave it — Thamel has it.
Next step: sort your permits, check when to go, and budget the trip with our daily cost guide.
