Plan & Prepare · Technical Guide
Himalayan Gear List & Packing Guide
Everything you need to carry — and nothing you don’t. Built from 15 years of leading expeditions across India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Know Your Weight Targets First
Set your targets before you buy a single item. An overloaded pack on a Himalayan pass is not an inconvenience — it is a cumulative injury risk across seven or more consecutive days.
Day Pack vs. Main Duffel — The Division
On all supported treks, a porter carries your main duffel between camps. You hike with your day pack only. Day pack: water, snacks, warm layer, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, headlamp, first aid, sunscreen, camera, documents, power bank. Duffel: sleeping bag, spare clothing, camp shoes, toiletries, everything non-essential for the day.
The One Rule
Lay out everything you plan to pack. Then remove 30% of it. Every experienced Himalayan trekker says the same thing on return: I packed too much. The mountain does not reward preparation that breaks your knees on the descent. Our training guide covers how to prepare your body as well as your pack.
The Complete Gear List
Items marked Essential are non-negotiable on all treks. Critical means required for specific conditions noted. Optional means useful but not required.
Layer 1
Base Layer
Essential
- Merino wool or synthetic top + bottom × 2 — never cotton
- Rotate daily — merino manages odour without washing
- Lightweight for summer routes, heavyweight for winter
Layer 2
Mid Layer
Essential
- Lightweight fleece or softshell — for active hiking
- Packable down jacket, 600 fill minimum — for camp and rest stops
- Down jacket is mandatory above 3,500m on all routes, all seasons
Layer 3
Outer Layer
Essential
- Waterproof hardshell jacket — 10,000mm+ rated
- Waterproof hardshell trousers
- Gore-Tex or equivalent membrane — must be breathable, not just waterproof
- Helmet-compatible hood, pit zips preferred
Footwear
Boots, Socks & Camp Shoes
Essential
- Waterproof mid-cut trekking boots — broken in before arrival
- Merino wool hiking socks × 4–5 pairs
- Camp sandals or lightweight shoes
- Gaiters — snow routes and monsoon season
- Blister kit: Compeed, moleskin, sports tape
Head & Hands
Warmth & Eye Protection
Essential
- Warm beanie or fleece hat
- Sun hat or trekking cap
- Lightweight liner gloves
- UV sunglasses — CE Cat. 3 minimum
- Neck gaiter or balaclava
- Waterproof outer mitts (5,000m+ routes)
Sun Protection
Sunscreen & Skin
Critical Above 3,500m
- SPF 50+ sunscreen × 2 full tubes
- SPF lip balm
- After-sun lotion — skin dries fast at altitude
- UV radiation increases ~10% per 1,000m — apply even on cloud cover
Sleep System
Sleeping Bag & Liner
Essential
- Sleeping bag — −10°C rated minimum
- Silk or fleece liner — adds 5–8°C, compresses small
- Sleeping mat (camping treks — provided by us on expedition routes)
- Earplugs — teahouses carry sound between walls
Bags & Packs
Duffel, Day Pack & Covers
Essential
- Main duffel: 80–100L — soft-sided, not a framed pack
- Day pack: 25–35L with hip belt
- Rain cover for both bags
- Dry bags or compression sacks inside duffel
- 2× large ziplock bags — documents and electronics
Power & Navigation
Light, Charging & Tech
Essential
- Headlamp + lithium spare batteries
- Power bank — 20,000 mAh minimum
- Universal travel adaptor
- Waterproof phone pouch or dry bag
- Offline maps downloaded before departure (Maps.me / Gaia GPS)
- Satellite communicator (remote expedition routes)
Trekking Kit
Poles, Water & Trail Tools
Essential
- Collapsible trekking poles × 2 — with snow baskets
- Insulated water bottles × 2 (1L each) — no single-use plastic
- SteriPen UV or purification tablets
- Microspikes (snow/ice routes — confirm with guide)
- Technical equipment (ice axe, harness, helmet) — provided by us on expedition peaks
Health & First Aid
Medications & Hygiene
Critical
- Personal prescriptions — double supply
- Ibuprofen, paracetamol, antihistamine, ORS sachets × 6+
- Diamox — consult your doctor before departure. See our altitude sickness guide for details.
- Pulse oximeter — strongly recommended above 3,500m
- Hand sanitiser, biodegradable soap
- Toilet paper + trowel (camping routes)
Documents & Money
Permits, Passport & Cash
Critical
- Passport + 2 photocopies — give one to your guide
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- Local currency cash — no ATMs above base villages
- USD $100–200 emergency reserve
- Permits and TIMS card — we arrange via our permits guide, you keep copies
Seasonal Adjustments
The core list above applies year-round. These are the critical additions and swaps for each season.
Spring
Mar – May
Mar – May
Add: Waterproof jacket for afternoon showers, gaiters for late-season snow on passes, insect repellent at lower altitudes. Drop: Ski mitts and heavy down below 4,000m. Spring is variable — pack for both warm days and cold nights.
Monsoon
Jun – Sep
Jun – Sep
Add: Dry bags inside everything (mandatory), extra waterproof pack covers, leech socks (Bhutan and lower Nepal), anti-fungal powder, quick-dry clothing only. Drop: Heavy down below 3,500m. Note: Kashmir and Ladakh are dry during monsoon — standard summer kit applies there. See our full monsoon trekking guide.
Autumn
Oct – Nov
Oct – Nov
The most balanced packing window. Core list applies well through October. From late October: add heavier sleeping bag liner and microspikes for early snow on high passes. Nothing critical to leave behind — this is the easiest season to pack for.
Winter
Dec – Feb
Dec – Feb
Add: −20°C sleeping bag, heavyweight down jacket, balaclava, ski mitts over liner gloves, chemical hand warmers × 6+, insulated boot liners, heavyweight merino base layer. Critical: Cold kills battery life fast — double your battery stock and keep devices inside pockets against your body.
Chadar Trek
Jan – Feb · −35°C
Jan – Feb · −35°C
All winter gear above plus: neoprene socks, hand and toe warmers in bulk, fleece liner inside down sleeping bag, full-face balaclava, mountaineering-grade boots rated to −40°C. Remove every cotton item from your pack without exception. Cotton is a cold-injury risk at these temperatures.
Destination-Specific Notes
India — Kashmir, Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh
- Scarf or shawl (men and women): Required when entering mosques in Kashmir and monasteries in Ladakh. You will be asked to cover up at nearly every cultural stop.
- Slip-on footwear for cultural days: You remove shoes constantly at shrines. Sandals are faster and less disruptive.
- Cash rupees: No functioning ATMs above Leh city or Kargil. Withdraw before leaving these towns. Card acceptance is minimal on trek.
- Sunscreen from arrival: Leh sits at 3,524m. You are at altitude the moment you land. Apply before leaving the airport.
Nepal — EBC, Annapurna & Langtang
- Down jacket is mandatory above Namche / Manang — even in October, teahouses above 3,500m are cold after 4pm. This applies to EBC, ABC, and Langtang alike.
- Trekking poles: The Namche staircase and all Nepal descents are punishing on knees without them. More critical here than on any other route we run.
- Nepal rupees cash: Above Namche on EBC, many teahouses do not accept cards. Withdraw at Namche ATMs — last reliable cash point before Base Camp.
- Gaiters: Snow on Thorong La and high passes is present year-round. Needed even in peak autumn season.
Bhutan — Druk Path, Jomolhari & Snowman
- Leech socks: Lower sections of all Bhutan treks, especially June–September. Small and lightweight — do not skip them.
- Dry bags for everything: Bhutan receives heavy rain at lower elevations even outside monsoon season. Treat all electronics and your sleeping bag as if rain is guaranteed.
- Smart-casual clothing: Entry to dzongs requires covered shoulders and knees. No shorts or sleeveless tops in Paro or Thimphu cultural stops.
- Snowman Trek: Requires full expedition-level winter kit. Contact us for the route-specific briefing. See our full Snowman Trek guide before purchasing equipment.
Leave These Behind
Do Not Bring
- Cotton clothing in any form — absorbs moisture, retains cold, does not dry. Remove every cotton item before departure.
- Jeans — heavy, slow-drying, no insulation when wet.
- New, unbroken-in boots — blisters from new boots have ended more treks than altitude sickness. Minimum 50km in them before departure.
- Laptop or tablet — 1.5–2kg for a device you will rarely use. Download to your phone instead.
- Full-size toiletries — decant into 50–100ml containers. Heavy and available in all departure towns.
- Single-use plastic bottles — not accepted on our treks. Bring a reusable insulated bottle.
- Alcohol above 3,000m — suppresses breathing during sleep, worsens altitude symptoms, dehydrates. Also inappropriate in Islamic regions of Kashmir.
- Drones without permits — illegal in Nepal without CAA permit, restricted in India and Bhutan. Confiscation is real. See our permits guide for drone permit requirements.
- Valuables and jewellery — leave in a hotel safe in your departure city.
- Strong perfume or cologne — triggers altitude headaches. Scent-free toiletries only above 3,500m.
What to Buy or Rent In-Country
Kathmandu’s Thamel district is one of the best-stocked trekking gear markets in the world — and significantly cheaper than Western outdoor retailers. Here is what to source at home versus on arrival.
| Item | Kathmandu | Leh / Srinagar | Paro / Thimphu | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down jacket | ✓ Buy or rent | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | Rent in Kathmandu for a one-off trip |
| Sleeping bag | ✓ Rent or buy | ✓ Available in Leh | ✗ Bring your own | Rent in Kathmandu — check temperature rating carefully |
| Trekking poles | ✓ Cheap to buy | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | Buy in Kathmandu if not bringing from home |
| Trekking boots | ✓ Wide range | ✓ Available | ✗ Bring broken-in | Never buy new boots and trek immediately — blister risk is acute |
| Sunscreen SPF 50+ | ✓ Available | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited brands | Bring from home for quality and quantity assurance |
| Water purification | ✓ SteriPen & tablets | ✓ Available | ⚠ Thimphu only | We provide purified water on all camping expeditions — bring tablets as backup |
| Pulse oximeter | ✓ Available in Thamel | ⚠ Limited | ✗ Bring your own | Buy before travel — cost is low ($15–30), value is high above 4,000m |
| Gaiters | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | ✗ Bring your own | Source before travel if not going via Kathmandu |
🌿 Our Plastic-Free Commitment
We operate plastic-free on all our treks. Bring a reusable insulated bottle and purification tablets. Our teams carry a Katadyn base camp filter on all camping expeditions. Packing this way is not just ethical — it reduces pack weight and saves money over a full week on trail.
Ready to Pack for Your Trek?
Every Summit Routes booking includes a route-specific gear checklist, altitude briefing, and a direct line to your guide before departure.