What to bring

This list is a suggestion only and is based on a teahouse trek during autumn or spring. If you are camping or trekking off season, you will have different requirements.

Clothing

• Sunglasses
• Hats (x 1 sunhat, x 1 warm hat)
• Neck warmer or scarf
  
• Down jacket (optional - layering will work just as well)
  
• Gore-tex jacket
• Polar fleece or jumper (the former will be lighter)
  
• Short-sleeved fast-drying shirts (x 2)
• Long-sleeved fast-drying shirts (x 1)
• Walking pants (x 2 pairs)
• Thermals (x 3 sets)
• Underwear (x 3 or 4 sets)
• Walking socks (x 4 pairs)
• Boots
• Thongs or sandals (for wearing in showers)
  
• Gloves
  

Equipment

• Backpack
• Daypack
• Combination locks (x 2) for securing luggage and hotel room doors
• Walking poles (x 2)
• Sleeping bag and liner
• Microfibre towel
• Water bottles (x 2) and/or camel bladder
• Sink plug (hotel room sinks rarely have them)
• Head torch and spare batteries (for returning to your room after dark, and for early morning starts such as the day over Thorung La, and Pun Hill)
  
• Clothesline with pegs and laundry liquid
• Toiletries
  
• First aid kit (extra blister stuff)
• Plastic bags (to pack luggage in, separate wet/dry clothes etc).
• Alarm clock
• List of addresses (to taunt people with postcards)
• Travel guide
  
• Passport with visa
• Passport photos (for trekking permit)
• Travellers cheques, money belt

Other

• Camera gear (optional), spare batteries, memory cards, portable hard drive (if digital)
  
• MP3 player (optional)
• Power plug adaptors (2 pin European style is most common, bu 5 pin Indian style) and surge protector (if bringing any of the above)
• Reading matter (a good idea)

Medicines

Seek your own doctor's advice before following these guidelines.

AMS preventative (buy in Pokhara):

• Diamox: Take 1 tab (125mg) morning and night

AMS treatments (buy in Pokhara):

• Nifedipine (Adalat) for HAPE (breathing difficulties): Take 1 tab (20mg) 6hrly for 24 hours
• Dexamethasone (Decadron) for HACE (severe headaches): Take 8mg (4×2mg tabs) initially followed by 4mg every 6hrs for 24 hours

Antibiotics (buy in Pokhara):

• Azithromycin for respiratory and skin infections: Take 2 on day 1, then 1 for 4 days.
• Norfloxacin 400mg or Ciprofloxacin 500mg for bacterial diarrhoea (rapid onset): Take one 12 hourly for 2 days.
• Tinidazole 500mg (Fasigyn/Simplotan) for giardia/diarrhoea (gradual onset with churning insides): Take 4 tabs as one dose with food for 2 days