Travel Preparation & Checklist

3–6 months before

• Check passport: At least 6 months validity remaining and 2 blank pages. If necessary: apply for a new one (takes 4–8 weeks)
• Start vaccinations: Rabies requires 3 doses over 21–28 days. Hepatitis A/B as well. Make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist (tropical institute or travel medicine-qualified GP)
• Book flights: In peak season (October/November), good connections are quickly booked out. Search via comparison portals, but book directly with the airline (better support for rebooking)
• Travel health insurance: A policy with helicopter evacuation and coverage up to 6,000 m altitude is mandatory for Nepal. Check: emergency evacuation, mountain rescue, repatriation. Recommended: Allianz Global Assistance, World Nomads, DAV insurance (particularly affordable for club members)
• Set trekking date: And possibly pre-book a guide/porter through an agency, especially in peak season

1–2 months before

• Fill out visa form online: At nepaliport.immigration.gov.np (saves 30–60 min at the airport)
• Get a travel credit card: DKB Visa, ING Visa, or Revolut — no foreign transaction fees, free worldwide cash withdrawals. Apply for and test the card in time!
• Inform the bank: Notify your bank that you are traveling to Nepal — otherwise, the card will be blocked for security reasons
• Build fitness: For treks over 3,500 m: endurance training (running, cycling, stair climbing). You should be able to walk 6–8 hours a day with a 5–8 kg backpack
• Assemble a travel pharmacy: Imodium, electrolytes (ORS), ibuprofen, plasters, blister plasters, sunscreen (SPF 50+ for altitude!), lip balm with UV protection, hand sanitizer, possibly Diamox (get a prescription from a doctor), broad-spectrum antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin, prescription), mosquito repellent (DEET for Chitwan)

1–2 weeks before

• ELEFAND registration: Register with the Foreign Office's crisis preparedness list (elefand.diplo.de) — the embassy can contact you in an emergency (earthquake, political unrest)
• Passport photos: Bring 4 recent passport photos (for SIM card, trekking permits, visa backup)
• Make copies: Passport, insurance policy, flight tickets — store digitally in the cloud AND bring paper copies
• Get USD cash: $50–100 in small bills for the visa ($30–50), plus backup cash
• Create a Nepal playlist: Download "Resham Firiri" (Nepalese folk song classic) and "Nepali ho" — you'll hear and sing them a thousand times on the trek!

Packing List — Essentials

For Kathmandu/Pokhara/Chitwan (Non-Trekking):

• Light, modest clothing (cover shoulders and knees in temples)
• Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy sandals
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
• Water filter bottle or SteriPEN
• Universal adapter, power bank
• Flashlight/headlamp (for power outages)
• Travel pharmacy (see above)
• Earplugs (Kathmandu is LOUD)

Additionally for Trekking:

• Sleeping bag: Comfort temperature -10 to -15°C for EBC/Annapurna Circuit. Rent in Thamel from 100 NPR/day
• Down jacket: Lightweight, packable, warm. Available in Thamel from 2,000 NPR
• Trekking shoes: Broken in! At least ankle-high, waterproof. Bring from home
• Trekking poles: Essential for the descent (knees!). Available in Thamel from 800 NPR
• Rain jacket: It can rain even outside the monsoon
• Thermal underwear: Merino wool is ideal (lightweight, odor-resistant, quick-drying)
• Gloves, hat, buff/scarf: Needed even during the day from 3,500 m
• Power bank: 20,000–30,000 mAh — charging on the trek costs 200–500 NPR and outlets are scarce
• Zip-lock bags: For electronics, documents, dirty laundry — the most underrated packing aid
• Toilet paper: Not always available on the trek!
• High-altitude snacks: Energy bars, nuts, chocolate — buy in Kathmandu (Thamel has everything)