The most popular treks in Nepal are called for Tea house treks? Why you be sleeping in the small family-run guesthouse which also works as tea houses.
And since the hiking season in Nepal is about to start again, I thought it was time to write a post about what you should pack.
I have now been to the Himalayas in Nepal no more than seven times over the years, so I got some experience with what to bring and not to bring.
Everest has always been a magnet for kooks, publicity seekers, hopeless romantics and others with a shaky hold on reality.
Jon Krakauer
Since you are limited to 15kg (33lbs) luggage on the flight to Lukla so remember to pack light if you’re doing the Everest Basecamp trek.
It´s possible to leave your extra luggage that you don´t want to carry in your guesthouse/hotel, or with the travel agency you are using in Kathmandu/ Pokhara, normally they do it for free if you come back and stay with them after you return from your hike.
It’s possible to HIRE every kind of clothing and gear in Kathmandu or Pokhara for a small fee, renting a sleeping bag will cost you back 2usd a day, a down Jacket will cost you about the same.
While teahouse trekking in Nepal is fairly warm during the day, it gets freezing during the nights when the sun goes down.
So here’s my “What to pack for Tea house treks list”
This is what I had in my backpack during me hikes to Mount Everest basecamp, Annapurna Basecamp trek and Langtang Valley trek.
Clothing to pack for Tea house trekking in Nepal.
There´s no real laundry opportunity while tea house trekking in Nepal, so your clothes will be dirty and smelly in the end.
- One pair of shoes, I do All my hiking in Salomon Speed cross shoes.
- One pair of crocs, to walk around in after your done with hiking for the day.
- Two pairs of shorts, I always hike in shorts.
- One pair of trekking trousers for the evenings.
- One pair of thermal underwear.
- Trekking shirts short sleeve.
- Five pairs of underwear.
- Five pairs of trekking socks.
- One fleece sweater.
- One down jacket.
- One wind and waterproof jacket.
I never carry or use hats and gloves. I’m one of those guys that’s in shorts home in Norway even during winter.
Gear you should pack for tea house treks.
- Two water bottles for refilling
- Headlamp, it gets dark very early
- Sunglasses, the sun is very strong
- Sleeping bag, It’s not necessary since every guest house on the way will provide blankets (normally as many as you want), but a sleeping bag it’s a safer bet if you will be guaranteed to be warm during the night.
Electronics.
Don´t bring too much, while it’s possible to charge your stuff on the hikes, that’s not cheap, some places charges from 100RPS for each hour another charge a flat fare of 500RPS to fully charge your battery.
The electricity tends to go out at random times so it might happen you ain’t gone be able to charge your stuff at all.
- 1 Camera. Olympus Omd E-M1, 12-40mm f2.8, and three batteries.
- Sony e-reader.
First Aid kit that you should pack for tea house treks in Nepal.
- Life System first aid kid, it’s always in my backpack.
- Tiger Balm.
- Sunscreen.
- Diamox, for altitude even I have never needed it.
- Water purification tablets. There´s a lot of river on the way.
- Sports Tape.
- Blister band-aids.
Toiletries.
There´s not really any showers during the teahouse trekking, so there’s no reason to carry all your toiletries they only way to get clean yourself is by the end of the hike is with wet wipes, everyone is sweaty and smelly at the end of each day so your not the only one that stinks when you reach base camp.
- Toilet paper.
- A small bottle of shampoo.
- Microfiber towel.
- Wet Wipes.
- Soap.
- Toothpaste and toothbrush.
Other things for the tea house treks.
While most people carry loads of chocolate, peanuts and nuts on the hike do I instead buy it on the way, on my previous two hikes I did carry a big amount of mars and snickers bars plus a huge bag of nuts but I didn’t even eat half of it.
So I rather buy it on the hike now to save some weight, every guest house also has a stack of cards and other games you can borrow for free so no need to carry your own.
Documents you need for Tea House treks in Nepal.
- Passports
- TIMs Card and Trekking Permit. YES, there are checkpoints on the way, and they do check.
- Enough Money since there´s no ATM during the hikes, (There’s one in Lukla on Ebc trek)
This everything I have in my backpack during my treks in the Himalayas in Nepal.
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Complete packing list for hiking in Nepal, I have done all the big hikes, Annapurna, mount Everest, Langtang what to pack for Tea house treks in Nepal
Everything you should pack for hikes in Nepal complete packing list for tea house treks
Indranil Bhattacharjee
Saturday 17th of August 2019
Hi We are planning a trek to ABC via Poon Hill in May, 2020. Throughout this trip, we would want to book the best available accommodation options. Before contacting any trek organizing company, I am trying to find out the names of the best guesthouses, preferably with attached toilet. It would be a great help if you can suggest some names for places such as Tikhedhunga, Ulleri, Ghorepani, Tadapani, Sinwa, Chomrong, Deurali, Bamboo, Doban, ABC, Himalaya, and Jhinu.
Cheers Indranil
Musical Adventure Trekking
Sunday 6th of August 2017
It is really useful information of Everest base camp trek. Thank you so much sharing your traveling experience with us
John Hogan
Saturday 29th of April 2017
Hey I read your page last year and I've now just done the Annapurna circuit. Thanks for the tips! A few thoughts: * Add waterproof pants to go with the jacket. You'll carry them most of the way but then might rely on them for days * 2 sets of thermals, one for hiking, the other kept clean for the nights. And ok I threw in an extra thermal top... and used it. * agree on the socks ... took 3 pairs thick hike, two light pairs. But see below on washing them. I skipped the crocks/sandals... a mistake! Most people had them. * A set of clean, cotton or wool clothes for the nights. Kept clean. * Pick one of down jacket or fleece - I went with down and most Nepalis seemed to do the same. Its only for around camp and perhaps the coldest of morning starts. The goretex jacket with one or two thermals is good. * I was able to do a bucket wash of my gear every night and in the dry mountain air it dries overnight. So I took less underwear but made a 100ml bottle of dishwashing detergent for washing etc. Take some cheap light pegs too. Everyone does * If there is the chance of snow, Sunglasses are so important as to warrant a spare pair in a crush proof container. * I had a woolen beanie for the nights and a poly prop one for exercising. Super handy. * BTW Merino thermals are lighter and smell less but they rip more like pantyhose - I took mainly poly props and they lasted. * Gloves - it was minus 18 at 0630 at Thorong La High Camp. Every single person wears gloves up there. My general ones were cheap poly prop inners but I needed my cheap ebay snow gloves several times. The poly props aren't waterproof but they wick moisture and still give warmth even when soaked. My friends were sweating and then freezing in awesome cycling gloves. BTW my brother also said don't bother with gloves - glad I ignored you both :-). * Crampons - I went over with snow everywhere and cheap crampons would have made the trip safer and easier. I was cursing not spending the $20 on them back in Manang - when in doubt, buy them. * Face protection - OMG, over two weeks after completing, I still have slightly raw lips, including inside my mouth. cover you nose and mouth when up high and in snow and or wind. And get decent lip balm with sun protection before you even get to Nepal etc - get the good stuff and use it all day every day! * I threw in detol and some bandages plus I grabbed cheap antibiotics and pain killers just in case. Take ibuprofen for sure... helps with pulled muscles, tendons etc. Oh the rule of thumb with altitude sickness is: feeling hung over? This is early AMS - headache, nausea etc. Diamox and descend. Rest, assess, climb in a day or two. And don't freak out and go home! Many people do. Just chill and assess. Feeling drunk? Losing balance, concentration etc? You are in trouble. Dexamethosone ("dexona") and immediate descent day or night with assistance and straight to medical help. It buys you time before the edema can kill you. The dex reduces the swelling but does not cure it - never ascend just because you suddenly feel better. The Nif-something is good but the travel docs don't recommend regular monkeys use it. I got all of them for a dollar or two in Kathmandu.
Hey thanks again - kind of hijacking ur blog :-)
Nikki
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
@John Hogan, thanks for the added tips!
Margo
Thursday 26th of January 2017
Hi Christian
Me and my boyfriend are leaving next month for 3months of Nepal. We are planning to do Everest, annapurna and manaslu. We are doubting to Bring our own campingmatrass (if the teahouses are full, so we can sleep on the ground) is this necessary? The rest of your packinglist is perfect for is, thank you :)
Christian L.
Friday 27th of January 2017
Hello Margo. First of all, you know that you will need a guide for Manaslu? You are not allowed to independently yet, tho it seems it´s gone change the next few year. For the camping mattress so would I personally never carry a camping mattress with me neither have I ever seen anyone carrying one with them. The Tea Houses only get full during peak season. And even if the tea houses are full so will they provide you to sleep on mattresses on the floor in the restaurant.
My best advice when doing those hikes during high season is to start an hour or two earlier than everyone else in the morning, so you reach destination before the crowds arrive. Doing that so will you always be able to check out a few places to stay before the big groups arrives.
Lucy
Friday 4th of November 2016
Hi Christian - we're getting ready to head up and do the Gokyo trek next week. How much cash would you suggest bringing? We understand we don't want to run out as there are no ATMs, but having a hard time determining how much to bring. Land in Lukla to begin trek on November 14 with return flight on November 24. So 10 days total trekking. Thank you!
Christian L.
Saturday 5th of November 2016
Hello Lucy.
It´s always hard to tell how much other people will need, coz it depends on a lot of different things, etc will you buy water or will you purify your water? Will you buy snacks? or bring your own? etc. Accommodation on the trek is normally 50 – 200 Rps per person Food 300 – 500 Rps Tea 50 – 150 Rps Beer 400 – 600 Rps Bottle of water 150 - 300 Rps.
I spent around 1000 – 1500 Rps on the trek each day, that includes accommodation, 3 meals a day plus a few cups of tea.
That´s the prices from last year season. So I would calculate 1200 - 1500+ each day. Pluss a bit extra as backup