Nepal What to Pack

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Nepal Kit List

by into-thin-air

For the journey out thereDay Sack PouchMoneyTravelers ChequesPassportAir-TicketsTrain TicketsInsuranceFlight SweetsAddress bookVisa application form (Dowloaded and filled in with photo stuck in place) WearBootsThurlo socksWalking TrousersT shirtFleece Nepal Kit List (Trekking)Rucksack and Pro-TectorGood Sleeping Bag (Buy or Hire)Fleece Liner / Cotton Liner (Depending on Season/ Trek)Down Jacket (Buy or Hire)Boots (Well broken in)Thurlo x 3Inner sock x2Evening sock x 1Outer Gloves Inner GlovesHead-bandSnoodSun-hatWaterproof / Windproof JacketWalking TrousersLong Sleeved thermal T-shirt x 1Short Sleeved thermal T-shirt x 2Trekking Boxers x 3Long JohnsTowel Wash Gear (compact)Sun BlockSandals / TrainersShorts x 1Fleece jumperFirst Aid pack + Any extra medicationGlassesSun GlassesDigital Camera + extra batteries + charger & leads Mobile Phone (Buy Local SIM card)Battery chargers for...

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What is the Best way to access your money in Nepal

by into-thin-air

Personally I think that in Nepal it is never a good idea to rely entirely on ATM’s as apart form the load-shedding (16 hours a day in April 2010) they can often be either out of order or out of money, also you can often only access relatively small amounts of rupee and so have to effect several withdrawals which often rack up quite large bank charges, So, Personally I always take a wedge of travellers cheques backed up with a small amount of cash.As to which currency, Take a small amount of US $’s, these are handy to use buying your Visa (I know that theoretically you can buy this with any exchangeable currency, but $’s are the one that the immigration officials are most used to dealing in and you probably get the best deal using them) Buying snacks en-route to Nepal, using for emergency hard cash in Nepal and then you have the possibility to use up any remainder buying duty-free at...

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Where to buy my Trekking Gear ? Nepal or ... ....

by into-thin-air

There are a Lot of things that you can buy Very Cheaply in Kathmandu for your trek, Down Sleeping Bags and Down Jackets, Adequate fleeces, Windstoppers, Waterproof Jackets (They say “Gortex” on the label and invariably aren’t – But they keep you dry enough but don’t expect them to breath !!), Trekking socks and trekking trousers. ButPersonally I would buy the following before you set off from HomeTrekking Boots (Make sure that you have broken them in)Socks – Over the years I have tried varying combinations and have now settled on Thorlo outers and Bridgedale Liners (Socks are available locally but tend to be wool and apart from being difficult to wash, they can mat up and cause blisters)Rucksacks, You can buy Rucksacks at a fraction of the price in Nepal to what one with a similar label would cost you at home, The problem is however that All these rucksacks tend to be fakes and often...

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Thermorest / Cary-Mat while Teahouse Trekking

by into-thin-air

AC was my 1st trek in Nepal and I had so concerns over the quality of mattresses while on a trek so took along a Thermorest – I only used in once, and that was just because I had it with me – Since that 1st trek, I have done EBC / Gokyo form Jiri, Langtang (twice), ABC / Jomsom Combination and short Helambu Circuit and never carried it !!So – My Own view – Waste of carrying the extra weight / space as after a good days trekking, Personally, I never notice if the mattress is a bit on the “Firm” side.Good Luck and Happy TrekkingRob

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Special Considerations

by travelinxs

Pack Light (goes without saying!)An internal framed pack is suitable for any trek in Nepal ** = available to buy cheaply in NepalFootwear - Below 3000m Gortex-style boots are suitable. Above, full leather will prove more waterproof and warmer. Remember - dont bring new boots without breaking them in at home first, espeacialy full leather. Socks - strongly recommend wool socks worn over thin cotton liner socks to prevent blisters. (Ammendment below...)Fleeces** - One thick, one thin (layers are easier if treking independantly) Long fleece pants for at night.Waterproofs - Light jacket, trousers & cover for your packAmmendment; Advise from GillianMcLaughlin who suggests the new madmade fibre sock now on the market are supperior to those metioned above, keeping feet dry and a little less pongy ! I appologise to previous travelling companions for not having discovered this earlier ! Thanks...

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Make sure that your Travel Insurance covers you !!

by into-thin-air

Insurance is Very Important in Nepal, You need to have a policy that includes High Altitude Trekking (Obviously if you don’t intend trekking then this does not apply) and make sure that it covers “Casivac” (Casualty Evacuation).Then Once you arrive in Nepal and before you go trekking you Must register your insurance with whoever will “Manage” your rescue.You have two main options here and although, So far (Luckily) I haven’t need a rescue I have tried both options1) Register your Insurance with Your Embassy, I did this on my first trek in Nepal and was Less than satisfied, I am from UK and the welcome I received at The British Embassy was unfriendly, and that was after 3 trips there to eventually find them open !! Then later I realised that if I needed rescuing and the embassy was closed then I would have to wait until the embassy re-opened – Particularly over weekends people there...

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Sleeping bags for hire for Tall Trekkers !!

by into-thin-air

Another question that I have been asked a few times now is whether you can hire good quality extra long down sleeping bags in Nepal as some of the ones offered are to short for western trekkers.So I asked Nirmal to go and physically measure some of the ones available for hire at my preferred trekking gear store, Yak Mountain and he confirmed that they have sleeping bags available for hire that are 2 metres long – So these should be long enough for all but the exceptionally tall trekkerFor directions to Yak Mountain Please see my Nepal travelogue entitled “A Very Important Decision” and you will see a location map to Nirmal’s office, Yak Mountain is on the next corner to the office, same side of the road in the direction of Durbar Square

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Maps, Downloadable and Traditional paper

by into-thin-air

You won’t have any problems in finding maps in Kathmandu for a fraction of the price that you would be able to get them from “Home”All popular trekking routes are now well covered with a variety of differing quality maps, shops are open 7 days a week and even in a strike situation you are unlikely to have difficulties obtaining one.For a downloadable Bodanath Map please see "Other Contacts"For planning purposes there is now a good website with downloadable maps of reasonable quality on the web address belowFor a downloadable map of Bodhnath then please see the link on "Other Contact"

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Hot water bottle at night/Mornining Drinking water

by into-thin-air

If you are going trekking then a water-bottle is a must !!My own preferred type is a metal one such as a Laken or SiggThe Big advantage of using one of these is that you can buy your boiled drinking water from the lodge owner last thing in the evening, pop your water-bottle inside a sock and put it inside your sleeping bag.Then you have both a hot-water bottle for the night and cold drinking water first thing next morning !!NB – Do Not put Boiling water in these bottles, make sure that the kettle has cooled Slightly before you fill up, Then you won’t have problems !!

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Clothes to bring and wear to Nepal in November

by DaveJi

The answer will depend on where abouts you intend to travel in Nepal. With such vast changes in altitude from north to south there are also vast temperature differences. In kathmanudu it will be warm enough for light clothing during the day but temperatures will drop at night so wrap up warm!In the hills and montains further north it will be a little colder during the day and at night, but if you're trekking up and down hills you may also find that light clothing is fine during the day.Down south in the Terai it will be warmer during the day and a little less so at night.How many clothes? I take very few when going to Nepal. I love to buy the clothes that are sold up and down the streets of thamel (main tourist area in kathmandu) and all over kathmandu and pokhara. They are brightly coloured, practical and fun!I hope you have a wonderful time! I know you'll have a wonderful time!DaveIf...

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Top 3 Hotels in Nepal

Dwarika's Hotel Kathmandu  Kathmandu

 5 Reviews and 218 Opinions  Dwarika's is close to the airport, safe and very good, gives excellent service, has good food and a... 

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Fishtail Lodge  Pokhara

 7 Reviews and 100 Opinions  Fishtail Lodge is the most beautiful hotel we ever stayed. Even though it is small in size but its... 

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Club Himalaya Hotel  Bhaktapur

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Questions and Answers

kisse profile photo

Q:  A Senior couple intends to do Columbo,Sri Lanka to Goa over land in February then fly to Katmandu for a 5 days light Trek..should... 

davidjo profile photo

A: The later you leave it the better the weather will be. It can be real cold in February but you just interested in a very short trek, allow a day to get ur permit 

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