After ten years of running mountain trips across Himachal, Uttarakhand and Ladakh, we've seen every packing mistake possible. This list fixes them all.
The Layering Rule
Mountains swing 20°C between noon and midnight. Three layers beat one heavy jacket:
- Base: moisture-wicking thermal top (never cotton)
- Mid: fleece or light down
- Shell: windproof/waterproof outer
The Non-Negotiables
- Broken-in walking shoes — never new!
- Lip balm + SPF 50 (altitude burns)
- Headlamp (power cuts love mountain towns)
- Basic meds: paracetamol, ORS, band-aids, motion sickness tablets
- Power bank 20,000 mAh
- Cash — ATMs are rare above 2,000 m
Leave Behind
- Hair dryers (most hotels provide)
- More than two pairs of jeans (heavy, slow-drying)
- Drones without permits — confiscated at checkpoints
One Pro Move
Pack a spare set of clothes in your daypack. If your main bag reaches camp hours after you do — or doesn't arrive at all — you'll thank yourself endlessly.