Nepal is open for the autumn season, and glad you are coming.
Everest, Annapurna and Thorong La are open. Langtang treks stay paused while the Rasuwa road is rebuilt; Mustang and Manang roads are still being repaired.
Burt's Bees All Weather SPF 15 Lip Balm
SPF 15, beeswax base
4.6 on Amazon (3,611 ratings)
Cracked lips at altitude hurt more than they have any right to and take a fortnight to heal; SPF 15 is on the low side, so it needs applying often rather than well.
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Do not buy this if: Peak climbing above 6,000 m, where you want SPF 30+ and a proper zinc stick on the lips.
Everything else we recommend in sunscreen & lip care, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best overallNeutrogena Sport Face SPF 70+
Survives an eight-hour uphill without running into your eyes, which almost no cheap sunscreen does; it is a chemical filter, so it needs twenty minutes before you set off.
Skip it ifSensitive or reactive skin. Take a mineral zinc stick instead and test it at home first.
Best for nose and earsSun Bum Mineral Face Stick SPF 50
A stick goes on thick where a lotion goes on thin, which is exactly what a nose at 5,000 m needs — it leaves a visible white cast that no amount of rubbing removes.
Skip it ifFull-body coverage. This is for nose, ears, lips and the back of the neck.
