Packing List

This is a general packing list which covers all our yoga treks. Please select your gear judiciously considering the general principles (second tab).

Trekking gear

• Underwear: Comfortable breatheable sports underwear
• Long underwear: 1 pair of thermal breatheable long underwear (undershirt and leggings). This acts as a base layer on high altitude treks. It is best if it fits snugly to the skin (reducing air pockets and flow) and consists of high wicking materials to facilitate moisture transfer.
• Hiking socks: 4 pairs (include thermal socks if trekking at high altitude), and you might want to add 1-2 very thin socks for underneath to prevent blisters.
• T-Shirts: 2 pairs, depending on altitude, season and personal preference (it can be good to have one short and one long sleeve option). For high altitude treks, these could be breathable and lightweight long-sleeved trekking shirts, preferably coming up to mid-neck or higher.
• Fleece jacket or woollen jumper
• Trekking shorts/trousers: 1 pair of light weight breathable trekking pants, 1 pair of wind and rainproof pants, 1 pair of shorts depending on season and personal preference
• Warm jacket: either down or synthetic (down is recommended)
• Rain jacket or poncho: Big enough to be put on over the warm jacket.
• Hat for sun protection
• Warm headband/hat/beanie
• Balaclava (neck cover/dust mask)
• Gloves
• Hiking boots: Your boots should be lightweight and waterproof, have ankle support and a durable sole, preferably vibram for better grip in muddy or icy/snowy conditions. Boots should fit well, with generous and ample room for toes (thicker weight socks are also worn in the cold and that feet can swell a little when you have been trekking in the heat, and also when trekking at altitude).
• Snow gaiters: They can be useful to keep snow and pebbles out of your boots. These are optional and we can hire them for you if you wish.
• Daypack: A light-weight 30daypack to carry essentials – like camera, suncream, personal items (i.e. money and passport) and hat. The best daypacks have compression straps to reduce weight stress on your back and side mesh-pockets for quick access to your water bottles. If your rain jacket/poncho does not cover the daypack, be sure to bring a rain cover for your daypack.
• Trekking Poles: These are optional but can be very useful to have. Can easily be hired.
• Sunglasses: Polarized for use at high altitude.

At the teahouse

• Yoga clothes: Take two pairs of comfortable tops and bottoms for yoga, and to wear at the teahouse in the evenings.
• Yoga mat: We provide this, so there is no need to bring this unless you really prefer to have your own mat with you at all times.
• Sleeping clothes: Something warm and comfortable to sleep in. You may also use the same clothes as you are using for yoga.
• Sleeping bag: A high quality sleeping bag (good for temperatures down to -15°C or -20°C for high altitudes) is essential. This can easily be hired on the preparatory day, if you do not have one, or don’t want to bring it in your suitcase because of its bulkiness).
• Sleeping Bag liner: This is optional but many of our guests prefer this to keep their sleeping bag clean and fresh.
• Headlamp: Optional. Can be useful to find the bathroom at night (take spare batteries).
• Trekking towel: One quick-drying lightweight towel is essential on all our treks.
• Trainers/sandals: Once we arrive at the teahouse after trekking, you will want to put on something more comfortable. Choose trainers or sandals which can easily be slipped on or off. Plastic sandals can be good to have for showering.

Others

• Water bottles: We recommend bringing 2x1liter metal water bottles which will withstand being filled with hot water every day.
• Sunscreen/Lip balm: This is essential on all of our treks. Be sure to take a good sunscreen (at least SPF 30+) and protective lip balm.
• Waterproof Ziplock Bags and other plastic bags: These are optional but always come in handy. Ziplock bags can be used for waterproof and easy storage of belongings such as mobile phones, to carry medicine, and for many more things. Other bags can be used to separate used or wet clothing or shoes from your other belongings.
• Camera/Videocamera: No matter which one of our trekking routes you will experience, one thing is for sure: There will be plenty of picture-worthy moments, and the stunning nature is worth capturing with a good quality camera.
• Book/Kindle/Audiobook: You might like to
• Notebook/Journal and pen
• Playing cards or other games
• Water Purification Tablets
• Baby wipes/Antibacterial wipes: For quick and easy wet washes when no showers are available (such as during the cold season at high altitude, when water pipes are frozen).
• Toiletries: Toothbrush and tooth paste (note: please use purified water when brushing teeth as bacteria enters cracked gums easily), 2 x rolls of toilet paper (this can easily be bought on the trail but the quality is often poor), shampoo/shower gel.
• Blister plasters: Hopefully you will not get any blisters, but if you do, these are very helpful.
• Washing powder: In case you would like to wash any of your clothing on the trek. This is when lightweight, fast-drying clothes come in handy.
• Personal medication: Please be sure to bring any personal medication you might require.

The more difficult the trek and the higher the altitude, the better your equipment should be 

If you are going on a trek such as the Everest Basecamp Yoga Trek or the Annapurna Circuit Yoga Trek, and to some extent the Annapurna Basecamp Yoga Trek, high quality gear is essential. Weather conditions in the mountains can change rapidly and it is important to be well prepared, including for very cold weather. The lack of oxygen at high altitudes also means that low temperatures have a greater impact on our body due to vasoconstriction in the body’s extremities like fingers and toes, so that blood is redirected to core areas in the body. This means that conditions like frostnip and frostbite set in a lot quicker at high altitudes where the impact of cold temperatures are exacerbated by the low oxygen levels.

Easy hikes and treks such as the Panchassee Yoga Trek, the Nagarkot Yoga Hike, and to some extent the Poon Hill Yoga Trek, can be completed with less sophisticated gear.

Please use your judgement and be sure to contact us with any questions in advance.

Layering is key

Layering works by allowing moisture to pass from one layer to the next – this is called wicking. Each of the layers that you use should therefore be made from wickable fabric and support the wicking process. Cotton, for example, is a hydrophilic material, which means it traps moisture and should therefore be avoided.

Weather can changed dramatically as you ascend or descend in altitude, and therefore the ability to layer up or down is important, particularly on the higher-altitude treks.

Seasonal variations are also a key consideration for your clothing layering system.

You can save money by thinking carefully about what to bring from your country and what to rent here

Not everything needs to be bought. Think about which items you already have, which ones you would like to have, and which ones you might not need to use more than once (i. e. only during this trek). Also consider the space in your suitcase — things like sleeping bags can be bulky.

For instance, we do not recommend saving on hiking boots/shoes, but good quality sleeping bags on the other hand, can easily be rented in Nepal.

How does renting in Nepal work? 

All our treks include a preparatory day (‘Day 0’) either in Pokhara or Kathmandu, depending on the route. We meet in the afternoon and together assess your gear, and accompany you to places where you can rent the things you are still missing at a good price.

Please note that, during the trek, you will not need to carry all these items yourself, but only a small daypack.

Before departing on the trek, part of your preparation the day before will be to separate out your items which you need to have with you at all times, and pack them in a small daypack (20-30 lt). You may then pack all your other equipment and necessities in your “trekking sack”, which we provide, and which the porters will carry during the day.

Generally, your daypack should contain a warm top or jacket, rain jacket or poncho, money, water bottle, camera gear and personal items such as sun screen, lipbalm etc. Consider carefully each day before departing which items to pack in your daypack since it is very difficult to access the main luggage once porters set off for the day. You want to make sure that you have all that you may need but also that you carry the lightest load possible.

Please note that there is no need to feel uneasy or guilty about the loads that the porters carry. This is the traditional method of transporting everything in Nepal and it provides much needed employment, and therefore brings wages into the community. It is also the most natural way of goods transport for local people who are used to it since their childhood.