What to Pack for Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp is a teahouse trek, not an expedition — you do not need to carry a tent or cook your own food. But you are walking to 5,364 m, where it is cold and the air is thin, so the right kit matters. Here is what we tell our trekkers to bring.

Layers (the system that matters most)

Dress in layers you can add and shed as the day and altitude change.

A few moisture-wicking base layers (merino or synthetic — not cotton).
An insulating mid-layer: fleece or a light down/synthetic jacket.
A warm down jacket for evenings and the cold mornings higher up.
A waterproof, windproof shell jacket and trousers.

Footwear

Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support. Do not bring new boots.
Several pairs of trekking socks, plus a warm pair for sleeping.
Camp shoes or sandals for the evenings in the lodge.

Sleeping

Teahouses provide a bed and blankets, but rooms are unheated high up.

A sleeping bag rated to around -10°C to -15°C. We can advise on rental in Kathmandu if you don't own one.
A liner adds warmth and keeps the bag clean.

Head, hands, and sun

Warm hat, plus a sun hat or cap.
Liner gloves and warm outer gloves or mittens.
High-SPF sunscreen, SPF lip balm, and category-3 or -4 sunglasses (glare off snow is fierce).

Daypack and trail kit

Your porter carries the main bag; you carry a daypack with what you need during the day.

A 25–35 L daypack with a rain cover.
A reusable water bottle and/or hydration bladder, plus water-treatment tablets or a filter (we follow a pack-out, refill-don't-buy approach — see sustainable tourism).
Headtorch with spare batteries (cold drains them fast).
A power bank — charging costs extra and gets scarce higher up.

Documents and insurance

Passport and the permits we arrange for you (TIMS, Sagarmatha National Park entry).
Travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation up to the trek's maximum altitude — this is required, not optional. Carry the policy number and emergency line with you.

Health and altitude

A personal first-aid kit and any prescription medication.
Talk to your doctor about acetazolamide (Diamox) for altitude before you travel.
Rehydration salts, blister plasters, and hand sanitiser.

What we provide

Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and a group first-aid kit, and we build conservative acclimatisation into the itinerary. Porters carry your main bag within the TAAN load limit, so you are not hauling everything yourself.

What to leave at home

Heavy jeans, large hard-shell suitcases (use a duffel the porter can carry), and more "just in case" gear than you will use. Every kilo is carried by someone. Pack honestly.

Unsure about any item? Ask us before you fly — we reply within one working day, and we would rather sort it now than at 4,000 m. [OWNER: confirm whether sleeping-bag and down-jacket rental is offered in-house]