The complete Nepal trekking packing list. What to bring from home, what to rent in Thamel, and the 5 things every first-timer overpacks. By a local guide.
By Shreejan Simkhada | The Everest Holiday | Updated April 2026
Every week someone sends me a packing list they found online and asks if it's right. Usually it's 80 items long and includes things like a portable espresso maker. One person asked if they needed crampons for the Annapurna Base Camp trek. They don't.
Here's the problem with most Nepal trekking packing lists: they're written by gear companies trying to sell you things, or by bloggers who did one trek and assumed their experience was universal. What you actually need depends on where you're going, what season you're trekking in, and how much you're willing to spend in Kathmandu's Thamel district, where you can buy almost anything for a fraction of Western prices.
This is the list I send to every Everest Holiday client. It's been refined over years of watching what people actually use and what sits untouched at the bottom of their duffel bag for 12 days. I've organised it by category, noted what to buy in Kathmandu versus bring from home, and included the over-packing mistakes I see constantly.
Your porter carries your main duffel bag. Maximum weight: 15 kilograms. This is not a suggestion -- it's a regulation enforced for porter welfare, and we take it seriously. Your porter is a human being carrying your bag on their back up steep mountain trails. Fifteen kilos is enough.
You'll also carry a daypack (5-8kg) with water, snacks, rain gear, camera, and warm layers for the day's walk.
So your total gear, everything included, should be under 23kg. If you're packing more than that, you're bringing too much. I promise you.
Forget packing outfits. Pack layers. The temperature on a single trekking day can range from -10°C at a 5,000m sunrise to +15°C on a sunny afternoon descent. You'll add and remove layers constantly.
| Item | Quantity | Notes | Buy in Kathmandu? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merino wool or synthetic thermal top | 2 | Merino doesn't smell after days of wear. Worth the investment | Yes -- good quality available, 800-1500 NPR |
| Merino wool or synthetic thermal bottoms | 2 | Wear one, pack one | Yes |
| Trekking t-shirts (synthetic/merino) | 3 | Cotton kills. It stays wet, chills you, takes forever to dry | Yes -- Thamel shops sell them for 400-800 NPR |
| Underwear (synthetic or merino) | 4 | Not cotton. Seriously, not cotton | Bring from home |
| Sports bra (women) | 2-3 | High support. Bring from home for proper fit | Bring from home |
| Item | Quantity | Notes | Buy in Kathmandu? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece jacket or pullover | 1 | 200-weight fleece is ideal. Lightweight, packs small, dries fast | Yes -- 1000-2500 NPR in Thamel |
| Lightweight down or synthetic insulated jacket | 1 | This is your critical warmth layer above 4,000m. 600+ fill power down packs small | Yes -- decent options for 3000-6000 NPR. North Face/Rab copies are surprisingly functional |
| Trekking trousers (convertible zip-off) | 2 | One pair is fine for treks under 8 days. Two for longer | Yes -- 1200-2000 NPR |
| Item | Quantity | Notes | Buy in Kathmandu? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof/windproof jacket (Gore-Tex or equivalent) | 1 | This is the one item I'd recommend bringing from home if you own it. Good waterproofing is hard to replicate cheaply | Possible but risky -- Thamel copies may leak in real rain |
| Waterproof trousers | 1 | Lightweight packable ones. You'll use them less than you think in autumn/spring, but when you need them you really need them | Yes -- 1500-2500 NPR |
| Item | Quantity | Notes | Buy in Kathmandu? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm hat (beanie/wool cap) | 1 | You lose enormous heat through your head | Yes -- 200-500 NPR, beautiful hand-knitted options |
| Sun hat or cap | 1 | UV is intense at altitude. Non-negotiable | Yes |
| Buff/neck gaiter | 1 | Versatile. Face cover in dust, neck warmer at altitude, headband while walking | Yes -- 300-600 NPR |
| Trekking gloves (liner) | 1 pair | Thin, touchscreen-compatible | Yes |
| Warm gloves or mittens | 1 pair | For high passes and cold mornings above 4,500m. Mittens are warmer than gloves | Yes -- 500-1500 NPR |
| Trekking socks (merino or synthetic) | 4 pairs | This is one area where quality matters. Blisters ruin treks. Good socks prevent blisters | Bring from home -- Thamel socks are hit or miss |
This section is short because it's simple and non-negotiable.
A note on trail runners: some experienced trekkers do the Poon Hill trek or lower-altitude routes in trail runners. It works if the conditions are dry. I wouldn't recommend it above 4,000m or in wet season. Your ankles will thank you for boots on rocky, uneven terrain.
| Item | Notes | Buy/Rent in Kathmandu? |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping bag (-10°C to -15°C comfort rating for EBC/high altitude; 0°C for lower treks) | This is your most important piece of gear after boots. Teahouse blankets exist but they're thin, shared, and not always clean | RENT in Kathmandu -- 150-200 NPR/day. Buying a good one costs 8,000-15,000 NPR. Renting is the smart move unless you trek regularly |
| Sleeping bag liner (silk or cotton) | Adds warmth and keeps your sleeping bag cleaner. Weighs almost nothing | Yes -- 500-1000 NPR |
| Inflatable pillow | Optional luxury. Teahouses provide pillows but they're... variable | Bring from home if you want one |
Thamel has dozens of gear rental shops. Quality varies, so inspect items before committing. Here's what makes sense to rent rather than buy or bring:
Leave a deposit (usually the item's full value) and your passport copy. You get the deposit back when you return the gear. Shops near the Thamel tourist area all operate this way.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Headtorch with spare batteries | Essential. Teahouses turn off generators at 9-10pm. You'll need this for bathroom trips and early starts. Bring from home -- good headtorches in Kathmandu are overpriced |
| Phone + charging cable | Your phone is your camera, your journal, your alarm clock. Battery drains faster in cold. Keep it inside your jacket close to your body |
| Power bank (20,000mAh minimum) | Teahouses charge devices for 200-500 NPR per charge. A power bank pays for itself in two days. Charge it fully in Kathmandu before setting off |
| Universal adapter (Type C/D/M for Nepal) | Nepal uses a mix of plug types. A universal adapter handles all of them |
| Camera (optional) | Your phone is fine for 90% of people. If you bring a dedicated camera, bring spare batteries -- cold kills battery life |
What you do NOT need: a laptop, a drone (permit required and expensive, 35,000 NPR+), a Bluetooth speaker (your fellow trekkers will hate you), or a Kindle loaded with 200 books. You'll be too tired to read.
Our guides carry comprehensive first aid kits, but you should have your own basics:
I see these in people's bags constantly. Every single item is dead weight.
The list above is calibrated for autumn. Clear skies, moderate temperatures, low rainfall. You'll use your down jacket above 4,000m and your rain gear minimally.
Warmer at lower altitudes. Add insect repellent (leeches below 3,000m, especially in wet forest). Slightly more rain gear usage. You can potentially drop one thermal layer for treks below 4,000m.
Significantly colder. Upgrade your sleeping bag to -20°C comfort. Add a second pair of warm gloves, thicker base layers, and chemical hand/toe warmers. Trekking above 5,000m in winter is only for experienced trekkers.
We generally don't recommend trekking during peak monsoon, but if you do: waterproof everything. Dry bags for electronics. Leech socks. Quick-dry everything. And accept that you will be wet.
You don't need to spend £2,000 on gear to trek in Nepal. Full stop.
Here's where quality matters: boots (bring broken-in, waterproof boots from home), sleeping bag (rent a good one in Kathmandu), and your waterproof jacket (cheap ones leak when it actually rains).
Here's where quality doesn't matter: fleece (a 1,500 NPR Thamel fleece works as well as a £120 Patagonia), trekking trousers (function over brand), gloves, hats, t-shirts, and buffs.
The total cost to buy everything on this list in Kathmandu's Thamel, assuming you bring only boots, underwear, socks, and a waterproof jacket from home: roughly 15,000-25,000 NPR (£90-£150). That includes a down jacket, fleece, trousers, thermals, hat, gloves, and accessories.
Some of these items are copies of name brands. Yes, the North Face jacket for 4,000 NPR is not genuine North Face. No, it doesn't matter for a 12-day trek. It'll keep you warm. If you're summiting K2, buy the real thing. For Everest Base Camp, the Thamel version is perfectly adequate.
Once you've laid everything out, do this: pack your duffel bag and weigh it. If it's over 15kg, remove items until it isn't. Then pack your daypack and make sure you can lift it comfortably overhead. If either fails, you've overpacked.
Then ask yourself: did I use this item on my last trip? If you haven't travelled before, ask: will I use this item every single day? If the answer to both questions is no, leave it at the hotel in Kathmandu. They'll store your extra bag for free or a small fee.
Still unsure what to bring? Get in touch. I'll give you a list customised to your specific trek, your dates, and your budget.
WhatsApp: +977 9810351300
Email: info@theeverestholiday.com
Shreejan Simkhada is the CEO of The Everest Holiday and a third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586.
