Travel Tips & Gear

What to Take

• General Packing List
• General items: the following items are a suggested ‘general’ list of items. A trek-specific list is below:
• Travel documents: passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, air tickets or e-ticket receipts, Trip Notes
• Photocopy of main passport pages, visa (if required), travel insurance and air tickets
• Spare passport photos
• Money: cash/credit card/Traveller cheque
• Money belt
• Small padlocks
• Small first-aid kit
• Daypack for use on day or overnight excursions
• Watch/alarm clock and torch/flashlight (and spare batteries)
• Electrical adapter plug
• Toiletries/roll of toilet paper/travel wipes
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen, lip balm, sunhat and sunglasses
• Earplugs and eye mask (for light sleepers)
• Extra pair of prescription glasses (if required)
• 2 strong plastic garbage bags (for laundry and in case of rain)
• Refillable water bottle
• Phrase book
• Warm clothes - when travelling in cooler climates
• Wind and waterproof jacket
• Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes with good walking socks
• Camera and spare film (or recharge for digital cameras)
• Binoculars

Clothing whilein town:
Informal clothing is all that is required. Remember to dress in a modest fashion. Light clothing is usually all that will be required for most of the year. During the winter months, December to February, it will be chilly in the early mornings and evenings. A warm fleece or similar jacket will be required., they are carried by porters during
the day. You carry your daypack and what you need during the day. Please keep the weight of your bag maximum 12k.g. per person.

Trekking Equipment:
It is absolutely essential that you have the correct clothing and equipment on your trek. Be prepared at all times, whilst trekking, to experience changing weather conditions. It can rain or snow at any time during the day or trekking season.Points to consider when making your gear selection:

1. Many of our treks proceed from warm, low altitudes to cold, high altitudes. It will be necessary for you to be able to control your comfort by adding or taking off clothing as required. It is far better to have a number of layers that can be changed with temperature variations, or when you stop for rests during the day. During the trekking day you may start walking with a light sweater and tracksuit pants. As the day progresses you may feel comfortable in T-shirt and shorts, then later on you may need to put on the tracksuit, and eventually a down jacket, warm pants, hat and gloves.
2. Be prepared at all times whilst trekking to experience changing weather conditions. A day that starts sunny and clear could become cold and windy as you gain altitude. It can rain or snow at any time during the day or trekking season. Remember, your physical comfort and well-being greatly influences your ability to appreciate the trekking environment. Hopefully you may not need all your wet or cold weather gear, but you must come prepared.
3. One set of casual clothes is all you require in the major cities and towns.
4. There is a maximum weight limit on domestic flights on Nepal of 15kg (for flights to Lukla or other region of Nepal). Be careful with your selection of personal clothing. If possible, take clothing that is flexible in its uses. Be aware, too, that your main kit-bag
5. will be carried by a porter during part or all of your trek . whilst Nepalese porters are capable of carrying weights that would make most trekkers blanche, this is another reason why you should carefully limit the amount of weight and clothing you bring.
6. Hotels in Kathmandu or in Pokhara they do? have free luggage storage service which is not required on trek. You can also leave your passport, air ticket , credit card? at the safe box of hotel and please ask receipt.
7. You may wish to leave old clothing (t-shirts, socks, old jumpers, running shoes, etc.) in the country at the end of the trek. Consider donating these items to your porters - they will be very much appreciated.

What you should bring on trek

Trekking Boots
Remember it is your feet that will be doing all the work. We recommend a good quality boot with a hard lug-cleated sole. Boots should be sturdy enough to tackle rough terrain Sleeping

Bag
These can be hired in Kathmandu for a couple of dollars per day. If you bring your own, please ensure it is at least a ’2 season’ bag, suitable for about 0 degrees.

Sleeping Sheet
Silk liners are warm and very comfortable - definitely recommended.

Lodge Footwear
A pair of Crocs, running shoes or sandels will be very useful for wearing around the lodge after the days trekking.

Socks
Gear shops sell various styles designed for trekking. Bring at least 3 to 4 pairs.

T-Shirts
For lower altitudes and on warm days a baggy cotton T-shirt or cotton shirt is a practical item. Highly recommended are synthetic T shirt styles that wick away moisture from the body. They are particular useful above 2500m when, even on warm days, you chill quickly when stopping for rests.

Thermal Underwear
Synthetic polypropylene long johns and long sleeved vests are essential for trips departing November through March.

Fleece Shirts and Jackets
A combination of a lightweight/micro fleece top with a short neck zip and a midweight fleece with a full-length zip is the best combination. If you really feel the cold, down jackets (called ’puffer jackets’ in some western countries) are great and can be hired in Kathmandu.

Shorts/Skirts
It is often warm at lower altitudes, and shorts are a good option. A loose fit and modest style. A practical alternative for women is a calf-length skirt.Trousers Lightweight, loose fitting, trekking trousers are found in all gear shops and suited to general travel and trekking at lower altitudes. At higher altitudes you should consider a pair of trousers made from windproof ‘Schoeller’ material.

Waterproof Jacket
Quality waterproof clothing is essential. A proofed nylon or Gore-Tex jacket with hood is required. Ensure that it is aboutmid-thigh length, with large pockets and has a full-length

Waterproof Trousers
Not essential but useful. Wind pants with zippered legs ease putting on and taking off over boots. Those items made from Gore-Tex or proofed nylon are best. Over trousers suited to this trek can be bought cheaply in Kathmandu.

Sun Hat
It is important to protect the face, ears and neck, as sunburn can be a problem on trek. A wide-brimmed sunhat or a"foreign legion" style peak cap are recommended. Ordinary, baseball-style, peak caps provide no protection for the ears or neck but when used with a large cotton scarf make an ideal combination for wind, sun and dust protectionNeck Scarf or Buff A thin, cotton neck scarf serves the dual purpose of protecting the exposed neck from the sun, and when soaked in water, cools the warm walker. You do need warm? hat for winter.

Gloves and Mitts
A pair of lightweight thermal – wear gloves and a warmer pair of fleece gloves or mitts are recommended.

Day Pack
The daypack you select must have the capacity for the items you may be carrying on a day’s walk: rain jacket, trousers, warm clothing, water bottle, camera equipment, washing items and other personal effects. A hip/waist strap provides additional comfort. You should consider daypacks of at least a 30 to 40 litre capacity. Protect items from therain by wrapping them in plastic bags.

Water Bottle
For drinking water and for use as a hot water bottle at night!. The best available water bottles are the Sigg aluminium and the Nalgene brand names. We recommend you bring a one-litre capacity bottle.

Torch (Flashlight) or Headtorch
A small, robust torch, with a spare bulb is recommended. Bring spare batteries as they are not readily available while trekking and cold conditions reduce battery life. A headtorch is the best option as this will leave your hands free. Please do not dispose of batteries on trek, at the very least take them back to the joining city, and preferably take used batteries home for disposal.

Walking Sticks
A purpose-built walking stick or ski stocks are a very useful addition to your equipment list. They are particularly useful for assistance in going up and down hill.

Sun-Glasses
It is essential that you bring sun-glasses on all treks; a neck cord or strap will reduce the risk of losing them. Bear in mind that sun-glasses and goggles are easily damaged, so if they are not supplied with a protective case, it is important to obtain one.

Sun Protection
Block-out cream and lip salve are essential. You will be exposed to the sun and drying winds for long periods at a time. Direct rays are just part of the problem: reflected rays, especially off light-coloured terrain and snow can add to the effect very significantly. Sunburn can be one of the biggest problems on trek, particularly at high altitudes: use block-out on all exposed skin and Lip Eze regularly.

Plastic Bags
Pack your clothes, sleeping bag, down jacket, etc. in plastic bags inside your kitbag/day pack. Bring a good supply. Garden strength bin liners found in supermarkets suitable. Please take your plastic bags home after use.

Penknife
Can be useful for peeling fruit etc, Ones with small scissors and tweezers are best.

Medical Kit
We suggest you bring a small medical kit with you and include the following items. Please discuss with your doctor. Antibiotics, Lip-balm, moisturiser, sunscreen, headache tablets, antiseptic (e.g. Betadine), anti-diarrhoea tablets (for changes in diet and water), laxatives, band-aids/moleskin/dressing strips for blisters, small scissors/tweezers. Note that moleskin is particularly good for blisters and can be obtained from any pharmacy.

It is also recommended to carry a letter from your doctor explaining any less common prescribed medications that you may be carrying.
Diarrhoea Stomach upsets are not uncommon when travelling through new destinations (usually a 24 - 48 hour ’bug’) and this may cause diarrhoea, leading to dehydration. Should you develop a stomach upset you should eat only in moderation and drink plenty of fluids. It is a good idea to carry a couple of sachets of rehydrants with you (such as
Gastrolite). We also suggest that you carry one of the common anti-diarrhoea tablets such as Imodium.Sunstroke It can be quite easy to get sun burnt when you are not accustomed to the sun in new climates. You should take sensible precautions such as wearing a hat and using a good UV sunscreen. Finally, drink plenty of fluids - preferably water.

Water In general, water is not safe to drink in the areas through which we travel. Bottled Water is widely available and most travellers prefer to drink this. Your guide can assist you in regards to the relative safety of tap water and the availability of bottled water on each tour. When walking, or in hot conditions, you must make a conscious effort to
maintain your hydration, drinking as much water/tea as possible to offset fluid loss.