When spending some weeks in the mountains far away from shops, you have to bring everything yourself. (Note: if you go teahouse trekking, you can pack somewhat more lightly). The key is to leave out non-essentials, and not to forget the important stuff. I have always packed blindly according to this list, and never missed a thing. And porters have never complained that my bag is too heavy either ;)

This list looks long, and some items are really not that essential. But as long as you don't bring more than 17kg, that's alright.

Bear in mind that somebody will have to carry all that (and it won't be you), so it's usually appreciated if you refrain from bringing 3 pairs of hiking boots, two down-jackets and 50 power-bars!

Very Essentials duffel bag, if possible water-resistant (otherwise put all your stuff inside in plastic bags) sleeping bag (when trekking in late autumn, it can get below -20 C°) cotton or fleece inliner for sleeping bag (US$10 in Kathmandu, gives you about 5 C° more in the sleeping bag insulation mattress (thermarest are really nice, but everything will do) small day pack trekking boots Clothes light shoes (sneakers) for Ladakh in summer: flip flops or sandals to hang out in camp thin socks (2) thick socks (3) underwear (4) shirts (3) cotton pants or trekking pants (2) long-sleeved shirts (2) sweater (fleece) down jacket rain coat / windbraker rain proof pants sun hat gaiter woolen cap gloves Medicine Micropur Bioflorin Bepanthen Lip balm Immodium Mebucaine (Cough and throat medicine) Alcacyl Disinfectant Band-aid Blister band-aid Elastic bandage Stock cube (good when you're feeling sick but still have to eat) Vitamin pills Toiletries high-factor sun cream moisturizer tooth paste tooth brush shaving cream washcloth small towels (2) razor liquid soap/shampoo (biodegradable), I also use it to do laundry nail clipper mirror scissors toilet paper Q-tips (10)

Odds and Ends ski poles water bottle sun glasses umbrella swiss army knife locks (2) small binoculars / monokular torch light spare batteries alarm clock (otherwise you might miss the sunrise) ear plugs thread and needle tweezer cord to hang clothes clothes pegs plastic bags old newspaper (to dry shoes) candles lighter books notebook pens travel guide map walkman / MP3 player with charging cable (walkman?, yes I started this list over decade ago ;) games (cards, dice, mastermind, rumicub, uno, frisbee, small ball etc.) pictures from your home and family Photography camera Some Hints about taking pictures in the mountains enough memory cards enough extra rechargable batteries battery charger adapter for Nepal/India if SLR, viewfinder eye piece cap (not that important since you'll lose it on the trek anyway ;) remote control for camera tripod microphone Snacks Cereal bars Glucose sweets Chocolate Packaged cheese and tofu-sticks Peanuts Documents passport and some copies spare passport pictures creditcard traveller's cheques $ 200 cash, some in small bills important addresses and phone numbers insurance info visiting cards flight tickets phone number and address of hotel