What to pack for Everest Base Camp
The trek runs from about 2,860 m (9,383 ft) at Lukla to about 5,140 m at Gorak Shep, with a climb above 5,500 m on Kala Patthar. That range of height means cold nights, strong sun and changing weather within a single day. Packing for it is mostly about layers, sun protection, clean water and being able to call for help.
This is an independent guide, not an official equipment list. No authority sets one for ordinary trekkers, and there is no required sleeping bag rating, because season, lodge and your own sensitivity to cold all change what you need. Ask your agency what the lodges provide in your month, and talk to a doctor about your personal medical kit before you leave.
The checklist
General planning categories, not a legal requirement. Add personal items and leave out what you cannot carry.
| Category | What to bring | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Functional layers, wind and rain protection, warm layers for evenings and early starts | Temperatures swing between the day and the night, and between villages |
| Sun | Hat, strong sunglasses, covering clothing, sun cream above SPF 50 | Advised by the German Foreign Office for high altitude |
| Feet | Boots that you have already walked in, spare socks | Worn-in boots are a standard planning item for a walk of many days |
| Sleeping | A sleeping bag suited to your month and your own cold sensitivity | No official rating exists; ask your agency |
| Light | A head torch | Early starts, such as the climb of Kala Patthar |
| Water | A bottle and a way to treat water | Clean drinking water is recommended by the Nepal Tourism Board |
| Health | A personal first-aid kit, put together after talking to a doctor | Medicines only as part of a plan agreed with a doctor |
| Communication | An emergency communication option, a charged phone, a power bank | Mobile coverage has gaps, according to the German Foreign Office |
| Documents | Passport, insurance details, a note of your route and agency contacts | The Khumbu Trek Card needs a passport, and insurers need your details |
Everest Base Camp trek packages
Guided treks with lodges, flights and guides, with live prices and availability.
Baggage on the flight to Lukla
Tara Air allows 10 kg of checked baggage and 5 kg of hand baggage. Extra weight is charged. Children under 12 get 7 kg free, as the terms state. These are airline limits, not the load a porter may carry, so do not treat them as the same number.
Check the current allowance with your airline before you fly, because the flight may leave from Ramechhap, and see the Lukla page for delays. Your total budget for the trip is on the cost page.
How cold does it get? Lukla in 2025
Monthly means from the Lukla Airport weather station (2,786 m), published by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for 2025.
| Month | Mean daily high (°C) | Mean daily low (°C) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.4 | −0.2 | 3.1 |
| February | 9.7 | 0.4 | 15.2 |
| March | 14.2 | 3.0 | 35.9 |
| April | 16.6 | 6.0 | 64.7 |
| May | 17.6 | 9.5 | 162.0 |
| October | 17.0 | 6.9 | 251.7 |
| November | 14.4 | 2.6 | 37.3 |
| December | 12.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
Read these with care. They are one measuring year, not long-term climate normals, and they describe Lukla, which lies far below Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar. They are not temperatures at the base camp, and higher stages will be colder. Use them to compare months, not to size your sleeping bag. The operator seasons, March to May and October to November, are described on the weather page.
Packing points that are easy to get wrong
Three habits that matter more than any single item.
Water you can trust
The Nepal Tourism Board recommends clean drinking water. That does not make river, lake or untested tap water safe. Carry a way to treat water and ask your guide what is safe at each stop.
Itinerary →Medicines
Pack a personal kit after talking to a doctor. Medicines for altitude belong in a plan agreed with a doctor, and this guide gives no doses. They do not replace a slow ascent or a descent when symptoms appear.
Altitude →Insurance details
The German Foreign Office recommends insurance that covers mountain risk and helicopter evacuation. Carry the policy number and the emergency line, and ask whether your planned height is covered.
Helicopter tours →Packing list: frequently asked questions
Is there an official packing list for Everest Base Camp?
No authority publishes a required equipment list for ordinary trekkers. This checklist is a general planning aid. Your agency can tell you what it supplies and what you must bring.
What sleeping bag do I need?
There is no verified official rating. Claims such as "you must have minus 20" are not a rule. The month, the lodge and your own sensitivity to cold all matter, so ask your agency what the lodges provide.
How much luggage can I take on the flight to Lukla?
Tara Air gives 10 kg of checked baggage and 5 kg of hand baggage, and charges for extra. Children under 12 get 7 kg free. Confirm the current terms with your airline.
Can I drink the water on the trail?
Use clean drinking water, as the Nepal Tourism Board recommends. Treat water from rivers, lakes and untested taps, or buy it, and ask your guide at each stop.
Should I bring altitude medicine?
Only if a doctor has put it into a plan for you. Talk to a doctor before the trip. Medicine does not replace a slow ascent, rest days and going down when symptoms get worse.