Trekking In Nepal

[MabelStark]

My son is travelling to Nepal in July and I'm just trying to get all his kit together. I have no experience at all of such a trip and I'm feeling really overwhelmed with it. I have bought quite a lot of gear for him, massive rucksack, sleeping bag, hiking boots,waterproof coat, large water bottle, liners, dry bags, travel towel, money wallet, head torch etc from Go Outdoors.
I just wondered if anyone else's child has done this trip and what they really needed to take - I'm looking at insect repellent and travel soaps as we speak and he really needs some appropriate clothing. We've got lists of items but as always I'm just sure I'll miss something really important!
It's a World Challenge trip.
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to help us. 😁

I don't know this type of trip, but I assume that by trekking you mean he's going to be walking and carrying all of his gear with him and sleeping in a tent/bunkhouse sort of set up?

The three things I would say is to go for smaller and less rather than bigger and more. Try to get away with having a little gear as possible, so don't go for the massive rucksack and the large water bottle. Go for the smallest he can get away with. It all adds weight and that adds difficulty to the trek.

Secondly, make sure the walking boots he has are good quality and properly fitted. And that he breaks them in well for several months before he goes. And good quality proper walking socks.

As for stuff to bring like soap, etc. I'd buy it out there. I'm not sure I'd be massively worried about insect repellent. He will be at a high ish altitude I presume and there won't be much in the way of mosquitoes. I have been in the Himalayas and I can't really remember us using any insect repellent at all. One thing I would take with him would be some emergency immodium and also some ibuprofen/paracetomol (the latter is easy to buy in a pharmacy there too, so he doesn't have to literally take it from home).

Some friends lived in Nepal for a while . They took pens to give to the local kids.

Did you buy the shoes without him? Make sure re wears his shoes beforehand to break them in and to ensure they’re comfortable.

Rucksacs - make sure these are properly fitted. People in camping shops usually know how to adjust the straps do they’re comfortable (both in terms of length of strap over shoulder, and length of back)

Plasters and blister plasters
travel towels
spare shoelaces
jelly beans/high protein snacks

Has a kit list been provided? If not I'd ask for one. Sometimes on these trips you need a small backpack as your main kit is carried for you.

Blister plasters (compeed) and make sure he wears his shoes in on proper stony ground. Good insurance (my nephew had to be airlifted out due to getting really sick) not to scare you - he had a great experience prior to that! Hat and suncream both essential at higher altitudes. Drill handwashing into him and using antibac - the facilities are basic and over used.

I've been trekking in Nepal. His gear will be carried by a porter, he'll just need a small rucksack with some basics to carry each day. He'll need warm stuff to sleep in at night as the guest houses are basic (draughty wirh just mattresses). Good layers for the daytime because it can get hot. And meds for high altitude.

Very helpful so far thank you so much for your responses. There is a kit list - I'm working my way through it! I hope this is a life enhancing experience for him! I really want him to see how big the world is and not get stuck in one place all his life like I have.

Reddit is possibly your easiest friend for this.

• onebag
• ultralight
• Nepal
• trekking
• hiking

Plenty of dross but lots of good advice, too.

Other sites include https://project-himalaya.com/nepal-trek-gear.html