The tall mountains look down on you, and you feel like mere dust in front of such a massive structure. But you do not go trekking to feel good about yourself, do you? Trekking is all about patience, about hard work, and the astounding views. You will suffer, you will cry, and you will not shower for weeks. All these are what you will feel in the three passes trek.
In this article, I am going to talk about the three passes trek packing list. You will not be able to enjoy your journey if you do not pack wisely. You need to pack light yet enough for three weeks. Yes, three weeks is what it will take you to complete this trek. Also, keep in mind that you will not be able to take a proper shower once you leave Namche behind. So hygiene becomes the major issue in these trekkings.
Here I am going to talk about some of the most important items you must pack. I will also be talking about the aftermath of not packing well. In this article, I am going to focus on both solo and group travelers.
Without further ado, let us explore the beauty of the three passes trek. Let us know everything there is to know about the three passes trek packing list. Let us embrace nature and what she has to offer.
Trek details:
Duration: 17 days
Start/end: Kathmandu/Kathmandu
Max altitude: 5643 (Kala Patthar)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodations: Few hotels and lots of tea houses
Minimum temperature: -15 degree Celsius
Related:
For more detaild information about the treks please Contuct us.
Primary stuff to pack
First of all, I suggest you do a health insurance. Some health insurance covers the emergency helicopter return up to 6000m. It will save you a few bucks.
Second, you would want to download Maps.me app on your phone. After that you have to download the map of the country you are visiting (in this case Nepal).
A high-capacity power bank is one of the most important items for you to pack. Charging your phone in Everest region can cost you more than accommodation.
You do not want your backpack to be heavy. This trekking route offers you one of the hardest paths. Also, you can complete this route without a guide or a porter. However, I suggest you get a guide and a porter if you are traveling solo or in groups. Make your backpack as light as possible. Even if you hire a porter, they are not superhuman.
Let me start with important documents and cards.
Many trekking routes in Nepal require permits for foreigners to get into. You will find a checkpoint at the entrance of Namche Bazaar. Make sure you have all the following items.
- Valid passport
- Visa proof
- Any insurance papers if available
- Tickets
- Extra passport size photos
- Credit cards and bank ATM
- Cash to get a permit
- Get a sim card at Kathmandu.
You better make a copy of the important documents. Also, do not throw the permits away. There might be times when you have to show them.
Now that we have covered the important paper works let us go through the primary accessories and clothing.
Clothing:
Upper body:
Your upper body needs to be warm while resting and breathable while hiking. Do not forget to get lightweight items. The following list includes the necessary clothing. You can add or lessen the items according to your convenience.
- 1 half sleeves shirt
- 2 full sleeves shirt
- Thermal tops. I suggest you pack more than one thermal tops. The temperature in the Everest region can drop low. And multiple layers of thermal tops will make you warm.
- Wind stopper jacket is important. You can pack a pullover as well.
- Do not forget to pack a down jacket.
- Waterproof jacket
- 2 sports bra (for ladies)
Lower body:
The lower body is where you will get cold soon. Also, the lower body needs to be in proper hygiene. Make sure you do not pack anything that does not suit your skin.
- Enough underwear (non-cotton). I would suggest 5 underwears.
- 1 pair of convertible hiking pants
- 1 pair of lightweight hiking pants
- 1 pair of thermal trousers
- 1 pair of hiking trousers
- 1 pair of woolen trousers
- 1 pair of waterproof shell pants
- 1 pair of leggings
Head:
Everything starts with your head. You must keep your head warm at all times. You would not want to catch a fever or headache at such times.
- Make sure you pack a headscarf. A Bandana or a buff can be an excellent choice as well. These are great for dusty trails.
- A warm woolen hat that covers your ears
- Wide straw hat. It will protect you from the sun. Make sure your hat is foldable.
- Beanie
Hands:
You need to make your hands free at most times. At the same time, you need to keep them warm and firm. Here are a few things you must pack for your hands.
- 1 pair of lightweight woolen gloves
- 1 pair of poly liner gloves
- 1 pair of mittens. Sometimes the gloves are not enough for your hands to stay warm. You will need mittens at such conditions.
Feet:
Make sure you keep your feet dry. Remove the hiking shoes and let them try in the sun or by the fire. Check your socks and always wear the dry ones.
- 3 pair of thin woolen lightweight socks
- 2 pairs of heavy woolen socks
- 1 pair of lightweight hiking boots (must be broken-in and water-resistant)
- 1 pair of running sneakers
- 1 pair of sandals (optional)
Travel bags
Carrying a travel bag depends upon different conditions. You need to consider if you are taking a porter with you or not. Many trekkers take porters with them. But there are many others who like to carry their weight themselves.
- 50 to 70 liters hiking bag (compulsory)
- A small backpack (only if you are taking a porter with you)
- Waterproof covers for your bags
Sleeping:
All the lodges in Everest region offer you extra blankets. So it is not mandatory for you to pack a sleeping bag. Pack a waterproof, lightweight sleeping bag compatible with -10 degrees C (if you need to).
Related:
For more detaild information about the treks please Contuct us.
Medical
You need to maintain your personal hygiene. The three passes trek involve the Everest Base camp trekking and the Gokyo lake trek. It is one of the longest if not the longest treks in Nepal.
And you will not be able to take a hot shower throughout the journey. There are some places that offer you a hot shower. But these places are expensive.
Also, this trekking route is one of the most challenging trekking routes in Nepal. Most of the times, you will be hiking over 4000 m altitude. All these passes are over 5000m from the sea level.
Altitude sickness is deadly and can happen to anyone. It’s better to pack measures for different sickness.
You might get wounded through the journey. Here is some medical stuff you must pack for this trek.
- Small first-aid kit (optional)
- Anti-headache pills
- Aspirin
- Band-aids and first-aid tape
- High-quality bandages
- Knee pads or knee bandages (mandatory)
- Cold medicine
- Painkiller
- Antibiotics
- You need to pack the water purifier tablets. You will be drinking tap water most of the times. A water purifier tablet is good to purify such water.
- Skin blister repair kit
- Medicines for your stomach. Anti-diarrhea medicines are necessary. Make sure you have tablets for acidity as well.
Most of these medicines are available in Kathmandu without prescriptions. But I suggest you visit your doctor beforehand. You must buy those medicines which suit your body.
Personal hygiene and toiletries
The Everest region is remote, and there are a few pharmacies in less remote parts. Also, maintaining your personal hygiene is hard in these regions. Your body does not meet its regular requirements.
Very less shower is what you will get in these regions. You will never know how well will your bowel movement be. So, personal hygiene and toiletries are a must in the three passes trek packing list.
- Quick-drying lightweight towel
- Toilet papers are not available at high altitudes. You must have some of them.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Biodegradable soap (organic)
- Deodorants
- You will get sunburn even in the morning when you move towards the higher altitude. Therefore, do not forget to pack a sunscreen with at least 50 SPF.
- Hand and body moisturizer
- Sunblock lip care or chapstick
- Sanitary pads (female)
- Baby wipes are necessary. You will not want to or do not get to shower in such a region. Use baby wipes once you reach your destination.
- Hand wash
Other accessories:
There are some other items you would need. Some of these are optional. You can pack according to your convenience.
- GPS tracker
- Lighter
- 1 pair of portable and retractable crampons
- Headlight with a strap
- You might need large ziplock in your journey. It is because you might want to leave your backpack at a hotel. The ziplock will secure your backpack.
- One small military folding Knife
- Waterproof speaker
- Portable high-capacity power bank to charge your mobile
- Multi-port USB fast charger
- An extra phone that lasts long in terms of battery charge
- Rechargeable camera batteries
Conclusion:
The three passes trek is one of the most challenging trekking routes in the world. This trekking offers you some of the best views one can get. You will be able to summit peaks that are over 5500m. You will walk on glaciers and across rivers.
This ultimate journey will be the best time of your life if you know the basics. You have to pack wisely for this journey. The three passes trek packing list is longer than other trekkings. This trekking is itself long and tiring.
You can buy most of these items in Kathmandu. They are cheaper in comparison. Plus, if you can bargain with the shop-owner, you will get the real items in much less price.
I hope this article is helpful.
Sagarmatha National Park is a world heritage site. This place is home to many animals and plants. Make sure you do not harm these rare species. Make sure you keep your environment clean. Do not make this beautiful place a dumping site. Make sure you follow the Nepal government and local rules.
Related:
For more detaild information about the treks please Contuct us.