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Pack light. Pack right.

Things to Carry

One master checklist for every Monk Trails trek — clothing, footwear, gear, documents and medication. Print it, tick it off, then leave the rest at home.

The checklist

Trek Packing List

Pack light and carry only essentials. Keep your valuables safe and dry. Avoid single-use plastic. Respect the mountains — leave no trace.

Clothing

  • 3 quick-dry T-shirts
  • 2 trekking pants
  • Thermal upper & lower (1 pair)
  • Fleece jacket
  • Down jacket (-10°C rated)
  • Waterproof jacket & rain pants
  • 4–5 pairs of trekking socks
  • Woollen socks (2 pairs)
  • Innerwear
  • Sun cap
  • Woollen cap / beanie
  • Neck gaiter / buff
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Woollen gloves

Footwear

  • High-ankle waterproof trekking shoes
  • Camp slippers / sandals

Trekking Gear

  • 50–60 L backpack
  • 20–30 L daypack (optional)
  • Rain cover
  • Trekking poles (recommended)
  • Headlamp with extra batteries
  • 2 water bottles (1 L each) or hydration bladder
  • Sunglasses (UV protection)
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+
  • Lip balm
  • Quick-dry towel

Personal Items

  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Soap / face wash
  • Wet wipes & tissue paper
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Moisturiser
  • Toilet paper
  • Personal toiletries

Personal Medication

  • Personal prescription medicines
  • Diamox (only after your doctor's advice)
  • Pain relief tablets
  • ORS sachets
  • Band-aids
  • Crepe bandage
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Blister tape

Documents

  • Original government ID
  • Medical fitness certificate (recommended)
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Cash (no ATM available on the trek)

Avoid Carrying

  • Jeans
  • Cotton hoodies
  • Heavy suitcases
  • Single-use plastic bottles
  • Unnecessary electronics
You do not need to bring these

Monk Trails Provides

All camping and safety equipment is included in your trek fee. You only carry personal kit.

  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • Dining tent
  • Kitchen tent
  • Microspikes (when required)
  • Safety equipment
  • First aid kit

Personal equipment such as a down jacket, trekking poles or a backpack is available on rent — ask us before your departure date.

Ask about rentals
Trekking group with full packs on a snow slope in Himachal Pradesh
Important notes

Four Rules We Ask Everyone to Follow

Pack light

Carry only essentials. Every extra kilo costs you on the pass day, and the pass day is always the longest.

Keep valuables dry

Use dry bags or thick zip-lock bags for documents, cash, phone and power bank. Rain cover on the pack at all times.

No single-use plastic

Bring reusable 1 L bottles or a hydration bladder. Single-use plastic bottles are not allowed on our treks.

Leave no trace

Everything you carry up comes back down with you, including wrappers and used batteries.

Good to know

Packing FAQs

Do I need to buy a down jacket?

A jacket rated to about -10°C is essential on Pin Parvati, Buran Ghati and Hampta Pass. If you do not own one you can rent it from us — personal equipment is provided on rent only.

Can I wear jeans on a trek?

No. Jeans hold water, take hours to dry and chafe badly. Cotton hoodies have the same problem. Bring quick-dry synthetic trekking pants instead.

Should I take Diamox?

Only after your own doctor's advice. Do not self-prescribe altitude medication. Carry your regular prescription medicines, ORS, pain relief, band-aids, crepe bandage, antiseptic cream and blister tape.

What size backpack do I need?

A 50–60 L backpack with a rain cover, plus an optional 20–30 L daypack if you plan to offload your main bag.

Is there an ATM on the trek?

No. Carry enough cash from Kasol or Manali. You also need an original government ID and a passport-size photograph for permits.

Can I charge my phone?

Not on the trail. Additional charging is not included and there is no power at the high campsites. Bring a fully charged power bank and expect no signal for several days.

Ready to walk into the high Himalaya?

Small fixed-departure groups. Certified trek leaders. Permits, camps and meals sorted. Tell us your dates and we will hold a slot.

Enquire & Book