Type of Bags:

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

  1. Hiking stick (collapsible preferred)
  2. Sunglasses/spare glasses or contact lenses
  3. Sun protection cream and preparation for relief of sunburn
  4. Washing kit and toiletries (bio-soap is best for environment)
  5. Light-weight towel
  6. Scissors
  7. Hand cream
  8. Insect repellent
  9. Lip salve
  10. 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..
  11. Re-hydration sports drink/powder
  12. Water purifier  (though all water is carefully boiled in camp)
  13. Wet wipe tissues
  14. Tissues
  15. Umbrella/Rain gear
  16. Camera, film, Memory cards, accessories, polarizing filters, spare batteries, tripod etc.
  17. Books. Notepads and pencils
  18. Rain cover for your daypack and camera pack
  19. High-energy snacks-granola bars, fruit chews (unavailable in Bhutan ), dried fruit (available).
  20. 1 litre water-bottle
  21. A few plastic bags ( Zip loc)
  22. Penknife, whistle

For Camping

  1. Down (sub-zero temperatures) sleeping bag (extra inside fleece or silk liner is nice)
  2. Flashlight (a headlamp is very useful and/or one that can hang or stand upright in the tent) with spare batteries.