Tea House Trek Gear List & Tips

Gear List

Most of the below items can be purchased in Kathmandu. There are now several brand-name stores selling their own equipment and there are many stores selling cheap imitations and some well established local stores selling under their own labels. Ask a Kathmandu Travel Advisor if you’d like some advice about where to go get your gear. If you need to do any shopping, please allow time to do so before starting the trek and contact us well in advance for advice. 

Body Wear

• Loose, Comfortable T-Shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts for sun protection
• Trousers
• A warm jacket and a fleece pullover
• A thermal layer (shirt and pants)
• Water and wind proof jacket
• Water and wind proof trousers
• Woolen or thermal gloves
• Sun hat and sun glasses
• Woolen or fleece hat
• Scarf

Foot Wear

• Warm woolen and normal socks
• Comfortable and warm treking boots
• Gaiters

Accessories

• A comfortable day pack with adjustable waist and shoulder straps
• Personal toiletries - shampoo, soap, shavers, moisturizer, and travel towel
• Sun block and lip balm
• Personal first aid kit and any personal medications
• Camera, music and books
• Rucksack for your clothes and other accessories
• An airtight ‘dry bag’ is recommended for storing your dirty laundry
• Sleeping bag liner – either silk, cotton or fleece
• Water Bottles - please be able to carry 2 liters of water and use bottles that can handle boiling water and/or hot water
• Head torch
• Spare batteries for your equipment
• Walking sticks

Our Gear Rental Options

• Sleeping bag
• Down jacket

What to Take With You in Your Day Pack

• 2 liters of water
• Sunscreen, sun glasses, sun hat
• Rain jacket and pants
• Warm fleece or thermal layer and gloves
• Your camera
• Any money to purchase snacks and drinks along the trail
• Take any personal medications you require during the day – you may not see your kit bag until the evening
• Passport copy

The rest you can put into your kit bag which will be carried by the porters, whom you might not see until camp in the evening.

What About Gear I Want To Leave In Kathmandu?

Before departure if you do not want to take your valuables or unnecessary items, then just ask at the Kathmandu Travel Center to store your items in our storage room. We strongly suggest you to pack your valuables in different bag so that they fit in our safety box.

Tea House Facilities

You will share a room on your trek with common toilets, unless you specifically request to travel as a single (a supplement is charged to cover the additional cost.) Please note that during the peak season, a single room may not be available and you may need to overnight in dormitories as well.

Tea House Food

You have opportunity to try different kinds of dishes in tea houses. Your guide will choose and provide you with different kind of dishes on different days, but please do not expect the highest quality, taste or variety. You are up in the mountain, so you will trek in mountain style.

Health Tips

• Do not drink or brush your teeth with tap water.
• Drink only properly boiled water or use water purification tablets, such as iodine. Bottled water is available, but as the plastic cannot be recycled, we ask that you consider the impact of your bottles on the environment.
• Do not try to test your fitness and walk too quickly. Listen to you guide and take their advice as they are trained to look after your safety. Altitude sickness must be taken seriously.
• Your hands are perhaps your biggest enemy in terms of your health. Wash your hands before every meal or snack. People often think they get sick from the food, but it’s far more likely they forgot to wash their hands.

First Aid Kit

Your guide will have a first aid medical kit for the trek with medicine for stomach, headache, fever, diarrhea, pain, altitude sickness, and antiseptic liquid). It is recommended that you bring a small personal medical kit including your preferred painkillers, throat lozenges, plasters, strapping tape for blisters, etc. If you are taking regular medication you must bring those medicines with you plus an extra supply in case one pack is lost. If you have any allergies to any medicine please advise us at the time that you book your trek with us and please bring substitute medicine.

The Trails

Trails vary from wide, road-like avenues to narrow, slippery paths built over enormous drops. In many places, a fall from the trail is fatal. You must pay attention at all times to where you are placing your feet. Be especially careful not to move while looking through the view finder of your camera! It is common to get leeches in the rainy season or when it rains, so please be prepared.

Flights

Flights to the remote area of Lukla depend on the weather, so there is a chance of flight delays or even cancellation. You will only be allowed to carry a 10 kg bag as luggage and a 5 kg hand bag. Excess kg will be charged extra.

The Weather

Nepal has the widest altitude range of any country on Earth. Each altitude has its own weather, from tropical heat to arctic cold. In the main trek season in the spring and autumn, the weather is generally stable and even the high passes may be free of snow and relatively easy to traverse.

Some who have encountered an easy day at altitude may spread the word that boots and warm clothing are not required. This is a mistake. Sudden storms can occur at any time, dumping snow on the passes without warning. Any one poorly equipped will not be able to proceed and may even be stranded for a number of days, risking their life and the lives of others.

You are heading into the world's highest mountain range. Be prepared for changes in temperature and weather.

The Altitude and Preventing Altitude Sickness

Being in a hurry in the mountains can be deadly. Acclimatization is the word used to describe the adjustments your body makes as it ascends to higher altitudes. Ascending slowly, with appropriate rest days and drinking plenty of water, is one of the best ways not to get Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

You should not plan to venture into high altitudes if you have heart disease, difficulty breathing at sea level, or are pregnant. You should consult your doctor about any known medical conditions if you are considering trekking over 2500m.

Avoid sleeping pills, alcohol and smoking while at altitude as they tend to decrease breathing capacity and can lead to AMS. Data indicates that drinking 3 to 4 liters of fluids (water, soup, etc.) per day to avoid dehydration helps in the acclimatization process. Never try to attempt to go higher up if you have altitude sickness, either stay at the same elevation or, if you feel worse, trek to a lower elevation.

The first aid kit carried by your guide includes Diamox and your guide is trained in the identification of AMS symptoms and their treatment. You must follow their advice.

You will be given a comprehensive briefing about what to expect and what to do to avoid AMS before embarking on your trek.

Tipping

Do not forget to bring some Nepalese rupees for drinks or snacks that you might want to purchase along the way. You will be surprised by what is available on the popular routes now. The amount to carry with you depends on the area you are going to trek, so please ask your guide for advice.

Tipping is now common in Nepal, but there is no strict rules about how much to tip should be.

Photographing People

During your trek you will have many opportunities to photograph local people and the amazing scenery. When you want to take a photo of a person, please respect their right to refuse and ask them first – you will be surprised how easy it is to convey the request to take someone’s photo even when you don’t share a common language! It is considerate to show your new friend their photo and, if it’s possible, to arrange to have copies printed and sent to them. However, do not promise to do so if you are not sure you can deliver on the promise, so please consult your guide! Photos can be a brilliant way to establish a connection with local people, but please respect their right to privacy.

The Environment

While trekking you should be careful not to destroy the environment you are enjoying. It is not only for your enjoyment - the local people and wildlife rely on this environment for their drinking water and food supply and many places are of religious significance to the local people.

There are many ways you can help to conserve the environment of the area in which you trek. Here are some simple tips:

• Pick up any litter along the trail
• Burn all your toilet paper and bury your faeces when not in camp, making sure you to go at least 50m away from any water source.
• In camp, when using a toilet tent, you may deposit paper in the hole, but ensure the hole is at least 30cm deep and make sure it is at least 50m away from any water source.
• Do not make a campfire, nor consume food cooked on wood fires. Your crew uses kerosene stoves to help conserve the local forests.
• Drink boiled/treated water instead of mineral water as the plastic is not recyclable.
• Stick to the trails to prevent erosion and damage to fragile alpine flora.
• Ensure all rubbish is packed (or burnt/buried if appropriate.)

Insurance

All tour participants must obtain their own personal insurance which covers medical and emergency evacuation at a minimum. Helicopter evacuation is provided in emergency cases but please make sure that your insurance covers the cost of the evacuation. You will of course also want cover for loss or damage to personal effects, flight or trip cancellation, etc. as with all Go Beyond trips.

Final Tips

To ensure that you have the best time possible and that Nepal benefits from your visit, please respect local traditions, customs, values and the environment. You will have a great time if you are open to the warm-hearted Nepali hospitality and if you respect their efforts to protect their local culture and maintain local pride.

• Respect privacy when taking photographs.
• Respect holy places and dress appropriately.
• Refrain from giving money or food to children. There are many good organizations working to help street children. We recommend you give to them instead of encouraging kids to stay on the street.
• Your attempts at speaking some Nepali will open hearts and bring huge smiles!
• Protect the natural environment.
• Respect the local people and earn their respect. Sometimes you might feel personally challenged to intervene or say something or may not agree with everything, but remember you are not here to change Nepal but to experience a different way of living.