Packing info - what to bring & what not to bring
Drawing on our years of tourism experience, we've created this list to help you prepare for your upcoming trip to Nepal.
If you book with us, we provide you with a personalized list specifically designed to help make your once in a lifetime trip truly unforgettable.
WHAT TO BRING
PASSPORT PHOTOS & PASSPORT COPIES
Bring at least a 3 passport photos and a few passport photocopies. You will need them for your visa and permits. Additional photos can be purchased locally if needed.
WATER FILTER
Most areas of Nepal have limited access to safe drinking water. A simple water filter, like a LifeStraw, is great when drinking water isn’t available. Especially in remote areas and hiking at high altitude, you need to stay hydrated.
WATER BOTTLE
Reusable bottles, either metal or hard plastic, are great for helping to beat dehydration. They also save the need to buy single-use plastic bottles, which end up polluting the landscape. Consider a LifeStraw bottle, as it provides you a bottle and filter in one.
SUNSCREEN
The higher the elevation, the higher risk of UV exposure and sunburns. Be sure to stay on top of sunscreen application just as you would at the beach. You’ll enjoy your Nepal adventure much more if you’re not suffering from the sting of sunburn and fatigue from exposure.
PERSONAL MINI FIRST AID KIT
Your guide will carry a first aid kit, but if you are traveling by yourself, it's a good idea to have a basic kit with you. Be sure to bring enough of your personal medications to avoid running short while on your adventures.
SEWING KIT
A small kit comes in handy when your favorite trekking gear gets caught, snagged, or ripped. With this, you can quickly fix it during your next short break.
Traveling to a new place, with a new climate, eating lots of new foods, you may soon find yourself with traveler’s diarrhea. Charcoal capsules absorb toxins in your digestive tract, helping you get back to normal as quickly as possible.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Repellent is an important item to bring if you are traveling in the summertime, especially if you are visiting the southern areas where there will be lots of mosquitoes. Check with your local doctor or visit https://www.cdc.gov for different vaccination options before you travel.
DUST MASK
Kathmandu is the first stop for all who travel to Nepal. It's known for poor air quality and high dust pollution. These are lightweight and don't take up any space; trust us, you won't regret bringing one.
COMFORTABLE HIKING SHOES
Most of the activities in Nepal involve exploring outdoors, making comfortable hiking shoes really important. If you are trekking, we recommend boots that provide good ankle support.
LIGHT WEIGHT RAIN JACKET
Throw in a lightweight breathable rain jacket. It will keep you dry from unexpected rain. If you are traveling in summertime, which includes monsoon, a good rain jacket is a must.
UV SUN GLASSES
Sunglasses are good protection for your eyes, not only from the sun's rays, but also from the particles in the air. Remember the sun is more intense at higher altitudes.
QUICK DRY TOWEL
Quick-dry towels come in really handy when your accommodation is running short on clean ones, for those sudden rain showers, or for drying off after a dip in some cool mountain water.
BACKPACK WITH RAIN COVER
A rain cover for your backpack will protect your stuff from rain and dust.
SMALL BACKPACK
A day-pack is very useful for shopping, sightseeing, or out on short hikes. It's more practical than a shoulder bag or tote and smaller than a big trekking bag.
POCKET BATTERY PACK
Many mountain villages rely on solar power for light and powering small electronic devices. They may not be able to provide power to charge extra devices. A battery pack will allow you to charge your phone or camera batteries.
HEADLAMP
If you are planning to go trekking, you will need a headlamp. Many areas of Nepal are still remote and have little to no access to electricity. Plus, there's nothing worse than getting stuck on a trail after dark without any light.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Is travel insurance necessary? After many years of experience, we have seen people get injured, end up sick while trekking, have important items stolen or lost, and they've have had to cut their trip short. That being said, we think having insurance is wise, but don't let not having it deter you from traveling.
WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
NO DRONE
It is against the law in Nepal to fly a drone without government permission, which takes a lot of time and paperwork. Your drone will get seized if you are caught using it without permission.
NO EXPENSIVE JEWELRY
Do not bring expensive jewelry with you. The risk of your jewelry getting lost, damaged, or stolen far outweighs the joy of wearing it while traveling.
NO SKIN TIGHT, SHORT, OR SEE THROUGH CLOTHING
In Nepal, people dress much more conservatively than the western world. Leave your tank tops, short shorts, and miniskirts at home. This is a good way to show cultural respect.
NO CLOTHES WITH OFFENSIVE SENTENCES OR WORDS
Do not bring any clothes that have offensive sentences or words, including topics regarding religion and politics.
NO EXPENSIVE AND UNNECESSARY ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Unless you really need your laptop, iPad, or headphones for work, leave them at home.
NO HEAVY BOOKS
Do not bring heavy books with you. There are other lighter options, such as Kindle, and lots of cafes have small libraries with books available for reading.
THINGS YOU CAN BUY OR RENT IN NEPAL
There are certain items that are much easier to buy or rent in Nepal once you’ve arrived, saving you weight and space as you travel.
- Wool sweater
- Down Parka
- Wool hat
- Scarves
- Gaiters
- Sleeping bag - buy or rent
- Trekking Poles - buy or rent
- Tents - buy or rent
Most anything else you may need for trekking is cheaply and readily available for purchase!
WEATHER IN NEPAL
SPRING
March, April, May
Springtime in Nepal brings occasional showers and rains. The days are mild, and new vegetation sprouts all around. Temperatures in the lowlands tend to be warmer, while areas at higher altitudes enjoy moderate temperatures.
SUMMER
May, June, July, August
Summers in Nepal are hot and humid! This is the monsoon season, so expect frequent showers and rains. The landscape is lush and green.
FALL
September, October, November
Fall is the busiest time of year in Nepal, when tourists flock to the county to make the most out of the glorious weather. This is the ideal season to embark on a trekking journey, with the promise of mountain views and crisp air. Expect clear skys, warm days, and chilly nights.
WINTER
December, January, February
Winter brings occasional snow at high altitude. Mid to high altitudes experience frosty mornings, clear days, and cold nights. It's best to avoid trekking at high elevations during the winter unless you have a great guide and proper gear.
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Himali Dreams Treks & Tours Pvt. Ltd. Terms & Conditions / Acknowledgement & Acceptance of Risk The contract: Please take the time to read and understand all conditions prior to booking your adventure tour with Himali Dreams Pvt. Ltd. All clients of Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. must agree to all the following terms and conditions before they are accepted on an adventure tour. Booking & Payment: Prices are quoted in USD. Payment should be made in equivalent Nepali Rupees (NPR) at the published bank exchange rate. Bank Transfer and/or PayPal will be accepted with an additional surcharge. Deposit: 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. Full payment must be made 45 days before the tour departure. Clients are responsible for all transfer fees when sending deposits and full payment. Payment can be made through bank transaction or PayPal. For these options, add 4% to cover the transaction fees. Cancellations: Any cancellation must be made in writing by the client and acknowledged by Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. • Cancelation 30-45 days prior to departure: 25% penalty • Cancelation 15-30 days prior to departure: 50% penalty • Cancelation 7-15 days prior to departure: 75% penalty Cancelation within 7 days before departure: 100% penalty - no refund. Cancelation during a tour or withdrawing prematurely: 100% penalty - no refund. Flexibility: Changes in the itinerary, routes, accommodation, etc may occur by but are not limited to, weather, natural disasters, political conditions, vehicle failure, or government regulations. Plans can be changed by the tour guide if client safety is at risk. By booking a tour with Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd, the client agrees to that he/she has to be flexible and trust the guide’s decision. Client details: The client must provide all the requested information in order to book the tour. Information such as full name according to what’s written in the passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue, and expiry date, and any pre-existing medical conditions. The client cannot book the tour with Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd without these details. Price change: Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. reserves the right to change the price for unsold adventure tours. In a country like Nepal, prices for fuel, transportation, hotels, and flights can fluctuate at any moment due to tax increase/decrease or a change in the dollar exchange rate, which can affect the cost of the tour. The price will not be changed for booked tours within 30 days of departure. Travel insurance: All clients of Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. MUST obtain a travel insurance policy that provides coverage before, during, and after your journey covering any medical expenses relating to personal illness or accident, emergency evacuation, and repatriation. In addition, we strongly recommend a policy that includes coverage in case of lost luggage, canceled and/or changed flights, or trains, or unexpected trip cancelation. It will be the client’s responsibility to take out this insurance policy. At Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd, we highly recommend both World Nomads and Travel Guard. When taking out a travel insurance policy, be sure to inquire if the Himalayan regions of Nepal are covered. Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. will not be held responsible for any dispute or claim that arises from the client not having travel insurance or adequate travel insurance. Acknowledgment of risk: Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd will take all steps possible to ensure the safety of the clients while on any adventure tour. However, the client should be aware that certain inherent risks remain which are integral to the activity and cannot be eliminated completely. Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd will, at all times, use training and experience to minimize the risk to all participants, knowing there are elements within the adventure tours where risk management may be beyond control, despite best practices. Acceptance of risk and responsibilities: Our tours are adventurous and involve personal risks. The client will be traveling through high altitude destinations that require physical fitness and stamina. Clients are responsible for preparing themselves physically and mentally, assuming the personal risks inherent in such travel. Clients acknowledge and clearly understand that during the course of the trip certain risks and dangers may occur due to the hazards of traveling in mountainous regions and that by the very nature of the activities they are exposed to some degree of risk. The client must understand that although Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. will take all possible precautions, it is impossible to guarantee absolute safety. Client agrees to assume all risks associated with the journey and agree to hold no liability against Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. in respect to death, personal injury, illness, or for any loss or damage to the property of the participant, including personal gear or other equipment, during the course of the trip. The client also agrees to actively participate and follow instructions provided by Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd. employees. Passport, Visas and Travel Permits: The client must ensure their passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining from the time the tour with Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd is finished. It will be the client’s responsibility to obtain a valid Nepali visa before departure or upon arrival in Nepal. Visa fees are paid in USD. All passport and visa costs are the responsibility of the client. Travel Vaccinations: It will be the client’s responsibility to know the specific travel vaccinations required/ recommended for the region(s) they are traveling to. It is also the clients' responsibility to cover the costs of all travel vaccinations needed. For a list of required/recommend travel vaccines, we recommend the following website: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel Behavior, Politics, and Law: All clients are required to behave in a respectful and law-abiding manner when traveling with Himali Dreams Treks and Tour Pvt. Ltd. Clients are required to obey the laws of Nepal and to not be involved in any political protests and any form of public criticism of the government. If a client, during the tour, is being disrespectful, rude, disruptive, breaking the law, or found to be involved in political protests, the client could be expelled from the tour at the sole discretion of Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd, while forfeiting any right for a refund. Drones: Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd doesn’t allow clients to bring drones on any of our adventure tours because of group safety and Nepali law. It is illegal to use a drone or any flying object that has a camera in Nepal without a license. Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd will not be responsible to obtain and return any equipment seized by the authorities. Physical fitness, health, skill level: Trekking, hiking, and biking at high elevation are very physically challenging. Select tours take place at high elevations between 3100 meters and 5500 meters (10,000 feet and 19,000 feet). Before joining Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. Ltd adventure tours, all clients must be in overall good health and fit to meet the difficulty level advertised for the specific tour. Eliminating the risk of altitude sickness is impossible when traveling at high elevation, but all Himali Dreams Treks and Tours Pvt. 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