Nepal is a very popular destination among adventure travelers, and it’s no wonder why. Home to Everest and countless hiking trails, this country is a goldmine of natural attractions. However, in order to make the most out of your trip, you need to be well-prepared.
Go over this checklist before traveling to Nepal for inspiration while you pack. It will be particularly useful if you plan on going trekking!
Some general guidelines for the backpacking checklist for Nepal
- When packing your clothes, think in layers. The weather changes greatly from day to night and according to the altitude you’re in.
- Prioritize breathable, quick-drying fabrics for your clothes and towels. They need to be able to be washed by hand.
- Purchase high quality sunglasses, especially if you plan on being in the snow.
- Make sure your hiking boots have non-flexible soles.
- Even if the weather is good, you should wear long-sleeved shirts outside to avoid getting sunburnt. The higher the altitude, the stronger the sun, making long sleeves even more essential.
- Outer layers need to be of the highest quality. All your outer jackets need to be water and windproof.
- Beware of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). If the symptoms get too bad, you might need to stop the excursion and go back down.
- Carry spare batteries and chargers for all your electronic devices.
Travel documents
- Passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining and at least one blank visa page.
- Passport size photos, at least 4. They might be needed for visa and trekking permits issuance.
- A visa. If your nationality is allowed to, you can pre-register for the Nepal visa online.
- Proof of travel insurance.
- Proof of accommodation booking.
- Printed copies of all important documents for back up.
The basics
- Waterproof daypack
- Padlocks for your bags
- Camera with extra batteries and memory cards
- Phone with a waterproof case
- Waterproof bags for your valuables (documents, phone, etc.)
- List of emergency phone numbers
- Water bottle with built-in filter or purification tablets
Clothing
- Comfortable street shoes
- Skirts or dresses that go below the knees to visit temples
- Sandals/flip flops to rest
- Shawl or scarf
- Swimwear (depending on the season)
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Short-sleeved shirts, useful for layering
- Long socks
- Rain jacket
- Hat
- Sunglasses, with a strap if you’re planning on doing some challenging activities
- Shorts
- Optional: a wash bag. For example, Scrubba.
Connectivity
- Power adapter: the sockets in Nepal are of types C, D and M, 230V.
- Local SIM card or an eSIM if your phone supports it
- Phone charger
- Portable charger/power bank
Currency
- The local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NRs). You can only exchange into NRs in Nepal, so bring cash to exchange. You’ll have to exchange all your remaining rupees before departing Nepal.
- Credit or debit cards
- Money belt
Health and sanitation
- CDC recommended vaccines for Nepal
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re traveling from an endemic country
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm with SPF
- Insect repellent (avoid aerosol)
- Hand sanitizer
- Menstrual care products. They can be very hard to find in Nepal.
- Glasses cleaner
- First-aid kit
- Band aids
- Anti diarrheal medication
- Pain management medication (ibuprofen/paracetamol)
- Gauze
- Antiseptic wipes
- Anti-itch cream
- Anti-malarial medication if necessary. Always check with your doctor.
- Toiletries such as face creams, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
- Small and quick-drying towel
- Spare glasses in case you lose your main pair. It won’t be possible to replace them once you’re in the country.
Nepal trekking checklist
- Trekking permits if needed
- Water and windproof pants
- Waterproof and durable hiking boots. They must be broken in before arriving in Nepal to avoid blisters and feet pain.
- Hiking socks
- Leech socks if you’re going trekking during the monsoon season
- Thermal layers (shirt and pants)
- Fleece jacket to layer
- Water and windproof down jacket
- Gloves
- Warm hat
- Baseball cap for the sun
- Buff
- Trekking poles
- Microspikes
- Water bladder
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag liner
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Whistle to signal in case of emergencies
- Portable solar panel if hiking through remote areas
- Paper guidebooks or maps. Don’t rely exclusively on the maps you download on your phone in case it’s lost, stolen or broken.
- Binoculars
