Quick answer
Pack layers (thermals, a fleece, a down jacket, a waterproof shell), worn-in boots, a sleeping bag, a headlamp, a refillable bottle with purification and sunscreen. In Thamel or Pokhara a sleeping bag or a down jacket rents for about Rs 200 a day and poles for Rs 150. Lukla flights allow 10 kg checked plus 5 kg in the hand.
Most of a packing list is the same for every trek. What changes is the month and the height: a November trek to Annapurna Base Camp and a January crossing of Thorong La need different sleeping bags. Below is the list, what changes when it is cold, and what renting costs instead of buying.
On this page
- Clothing
- Boots, socks, gloves and hats
- Pack, sleeping bag and poles
- Water, first aid and power
- What changes in winter and above 5,000 m
- Rent or buy: Thamel and Pokhara prices
- What renting costs for each trek
- Weight: the Lukla limit and the porter's load
- Water: the bottle ban and the cost of buying it
- Documents and money
Clothing
- Thermal base layers, top and bottom.
- Fleece or light down mid-layer.
- Waterproof, windproof jacket and trousers, or rent one for Rs 150 a day.
- Down jacket for the evenings, or rent one for Rs 200 a day.
Boots, socks, gloves and hats
- Worn-in waterproof boots with ankle support. Rentable at Rs 300 a day, but new boots on a long trek mean blisters.
- Sandals or trainers for the lodge.
- Wool trekking socks, 3–4 pairs, and liners.
- Warm hat, sun hat, buff and insulated gloves.
Pack, sleeping bag and poles
- Backpack 55–65 L (you carry everything), or rent one for Rs 200 a day.
- Sleeping bag (lodge blankets are not always enough), or rent one for Rs 200 a day.
- Trekking poles, or rent one for Rs 150 a day. The descents are long and steep.
- Headlamp and spare batteries.
Water, first aid and power
- A refillable bottle and purification tablets or a filter. Plastic bottles are banned at Annapurna Base Camp.
- First aid: blister tape, oral rehydration salts, painkillers, and any altitude medicine your doctor prescribes.
- Sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses.
- Power bank. Charging costs Rs 150–500 an hour in the higher lodges.
What changes in winter and above 5,000 m
From December to February, and on any trek that climbs above 5,000 m (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit), the cold kit is not optional:
- A heavy down jacket rated −10 to −20 °C, instead of a light one.
- A four-season sleeping bag, −15 °C comfort.
- Microspikes for icy trail and the passes, Rs 150 a day to rent.
- Insulated gloves and a liner pair, and a buff for the wind.
Rent or buy: Thamel and Pokhara prices
The trekking equipment shops in Thamel and Pokhara rent by the day from a shared price table (TESA, 2025–26, as reported by North Nepal Trek on 30 April 2026). Shops ask a deposit of Rs 5,000–50,000, or keep a copy of your passport.
| Item | Rent a day | For Annapurna Base Camp (8 days) | For the Annapurna Circuit (15 days) | To buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeping bag | Rs 200 | Rs 1,600 | Rs 3,000 | Rs 8,000–25,000 |
| Down jacket | Rs 200 | Rs 1,600 | Rs 3,000 | |
| Trekking poles | Rs 150 | Rs 1,200 | Rs 2,250 | Rs 2,000–6,000 |
| Microspikes | Rs 150 | Rs 1,200 | Rs 2,250 | |
| Boots | Rs 300 | Rs 2,400 | Rs 4,500 | |
| Waterproof jacket or trousers | Rs 150 each | Rs 1,200 each | Rs 2,250 each | |
| Backpack, up to 35 L / larger | Rs 150 / 200 | Rs 1,200 / 1,600 | Rs 2,250 / 3,000 |
What renting costs for each trek
A sleeping bag, a down jacket and poles, with microspikes when it is cold:
| Trek | Days rented | In November | In January, microspikes included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp | 13 | Rs 9,100, microspikes included | Rs 9,100 |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 8 | Rs 4,400 | Rs 5,600 |
| North Annapurna Base Camp | 5 | Rs 2,750 | Rs 3,500 |
| Annapurna Circuit | 15 | Rs 10,500, microspikes included | Rs 10,500 |
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | 5 | Rs 2,750 | Rs 3,500 |
| Mardi Himal | 6 | Rs 3,300 | Rs 4,200 |
| Langtang Valley | 8 | Rs 4,400 | Rs 5,600 |
| Gosaikunda | 6 | Rs 3,300 | Rs 4,200 |
| Manaslu Circuit | 15 | Rs 10,500, microspikes included | Rs 10,500 |
| Upper Mustang | 13 | Rs 7,150 | Rs 9,100 |
Weight: the Lukla limit and the porter's load
Flights to Lukla allow 10 kg of checked baggage and 5 kg in the hand, with excess at about USD 1 a kilo (agency pages). Pack to that for Everest.
With a porter, carry a 30–40 litre daypack with the day's water, layers and documents, and put the rest in a duffel. Agencies usually lend the duffel; no rental price for one was found.
Water: the bottle ban and the cost of buying it
Plastic and glass bottles are banned at Annapurna Base Camp (Setopati). Everywhere else, bottled water climbs to Rs 300–500 a litre high up, so a refillable bottle with purification tablets or a filter pays for itself in two days. Boiled water from the lodge is cheaper again.
Documents and money
- Nepali citizens: the citizenship certificate or national ID card, for the Rs 100 rate.
- Indians: a passport or voter ID card (by air, Aadhaar is not accepted), for the SAARC rate.
- Other foreigners: passport and Nepal visa (15 days USD 30, 30 days USD 50, 90 days USD 125), and two passport photos in case a counter asks.
- Every permit, carried the whole way. The permit pages list them by trek.
- Cash for the whole trek. ATMs are confirmed only at Namche and Jomsom (and at Lukla by agencies).
Common questions
What should I pack for trekking in Nepal in October?
Thermals, a fleece, a light down jacket for the evenings, a waterproof shell, worn-in boots, a sleeping bag for teahouse nights, a headlamp, a refillable bottle with purification, sunscreen and a small first-aid kit. Add a heavier jacket and microspikes if you are going above 5,000 m.
How much does it cost to rent trekking gear in Thamel?
About Rs 200 a day for a sleeping bag, Rs 200 for a down jacket, Rs 150 for poles, Rs 150 for microspikes and Rs 300 for boots, from the shops' 2025–26 table. A deposit of Rs 5,000–50,000 or a passport copy is asked.
Can I rent trekking gear in Pokhara?
Yes, from the same shared table of prices as Thamel: sleeping bags, down jackets, poles, boots and backpacks by the day.
What is the baggage limit for Lukla flights?
10 kg checked and 5 kg hand baggage, with excess at about USD 1 a kilo, according to agency pages.
Do I need a sleeping bag in teahouses?
Yes. Lodges give blankets, but they are not always enough, and the rooms are not heated. Rent one for about Rs 200 a day if you do not own one.
Do I need microspikes for trekking in Nepal?
From December to February, and on any trek crossing 5,000 m such as Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit and Manaslu. They rent for Rs 150 a day.
In this topic
Trekking in Nepal
Ten treks priced for Nepali, Indian and foreign trekkers, the permits each needs, and what to know before you go.
Trek cost calculator: permits, transport, rooms, food and guide — the whole subject in one place
Before you go
- Trekking without a guide: the rule by trek
- Best time to trek, month by month
- Easy treks for beginners
- Cheapest treks in Nepal
- Guide and porter cost
- Packing list and Thamel rental prices
- Altitude sickness: signs, rule and medicine
- Kathmandu to Lukla flight: price and dates
Short trips
The treks
- Everest Base Camp trek cost
- Annapurna Base Camp trek cost
- North ABC trek cost
- Annapurna Circuit trek cost
- Ghorepani Poon Hill trek cost
- Mardi Himal trek cost
- Langtang Valley trek cost
- Gosaikunda trek cost
- Manaslu Circuit trek cost
- Upper Mustang trek cost
Permits
