Large, soft duffle with many grab handles is better than a backpack. This will be put inside a Hessian sack and carried by ponies. Line it with a huge plastic bin bag. Plastic bags are not sold in Bhutan so bring what you need. Pack things like toiletries, first aid kit etc into separate small “stuff bags”, easy to find in a dark tent. Only carry a small backpack as a “daypack” with the items you need during the day’s trek. The rest is carried by the ponies and they go ahead so that camp is set up for the evening.15kgs is the advised weight for your trekking gear.

Clothes: dress in layers, don’t bring too many

1.        One thermal vest/top and thermal underwear

2.        One Long-sleeved shirt (protects against sun)

3.        T-shirts or shirts

4.        One fleece jacket (and fleece/shell pants for evenings and early mornings)

5.        2 or 3 comfortable pants (lightweight, easy-dry)

6.        Nightwear

7.        Down jacket for evenings

8.        Rain jacket and rain pants

9.        3 or 4 pairs (or more) good hiking socks, 1 pair for evening

10.     Thermal gloves

11.     A pair of casual shoes for evening

12.     Hiking boots (Gore-Tex/rain proofed)

13.     Spare shoelaces

14.     Sun hat

15.     Fleece hat (and a spare one)

16.     Gaiters

Other necessities

17.     Hiking stick (collapsible preferred)

18.     Sunglasses/spare glasses or contact lenses

19.     Sun protection cream and preparation for relief of sunburn

20.     Washing kit and toiletries (bio-soap is best for environment)

21.     Light-weight towel

22.     Scissors

23.     Hand cream

24.     Insect repellent

25.     Lip salve

26.     First Aid Kit suggestion: aspirin or painkiller, muscle soother, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream, anti-diarrhea pills, bandages, safety pains, big Band-Aid plaster, sore throat lozenges and your usual medicines etc..

27.     Re-hydration sports drink/powder

28.     Water purifier  (though all water is carefully boiled in camp)

29.     Wet wipe tissues

30.     Tissues

31.     Umbrella/Rain gear

32.     Camera, film, Memory cards, accessories, polarizing filters, spare batteries, tripod etc.

33.     Books. Notepads and pencils

34.     Rain cover for your daypack and camera pack

35.     High-energy snacks-granola bars, fruit chews (unavailable in Bhutan ), dried fruit (available).

36.     1 litre water-bottle

37.     A few plastic bags ( Zip loc)

38.     Penknife, whistle

For Camping

39.     Down (sub-zero temperatures) sleeping bag (extra inside fleece or silk liner is nice)

40.     Flashlight (a headlamp is very useful and/or one that can hang or stand upright in the tent) with spare batteries.