What to Pack for a Nepal Road Trip

A road trip in Nepal covers hot plains, cool hills and sometimes cold mountain viewpoints in a single week. Pack for variety and keep the essentials within reach.

Clothing

• Layers: a light fleece or jacket for hill towns and early mornings
• A rain jacket, essential from June to September
• Comfortable shoes for temples, stairs and short walks
• A hat and sunglasses for the Terai sun

In the car

• Offline maps downloaded before you leave, since mobile signal drops in the hills
• A phone charger or car adapter and a power bank
• Water, snacks and tissues or hand sanitiser
• A small first-aid kit and motion sickness tablets if needed
• A face mask or buff for dust on busy roads

Documents and money

Carry your passport, licence and International Driving Permit if driving. Nepali rupees in cash are useful for tolls, entrance fees and roadside meals. ATMs are common in cities but scarcer between them.

Leave room

Pack lightly. The best souvenirs in Nepal, from Thangka paintings to singing bowls and pashmina, need space in the boot on the way home.