Buying a gift for someone going to Everest Base Camp? Get them this, not a jacket
The best gift for a Nepal trekker is small, useful and something they would not buy themselves. Ten ideas, and the big items not to buy.
Prakash Tamang 3 min read
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If someone you love is heading to Everest Base Camp or the Annapurnas, do not buy them a down jacket or a sleeping bag. They will rent those in Kathmandu for a dollar or two a day, and a jacket bought for one trek mostly hangs in a cupboard afterwards. The gifts that get used are small, practical and a bit better than what they would buy for themselves: good socks, a proper headlamp, a liner, a power bank. Here are ten that I would be glad to get.
I earn a small commission if you buy through the Amazon links on this page. It costs you nothing, and anything you are better off renting in Thamel is marked as a rental, with no link.
- Give small, useful kit they would not splash out on: socks, liner, headlamp, power bank.
- Skip the down jacket and sleeping bag; both are rented cheaply in Kathmandu.
- Skip boots too; they must fit and be broken in by the person wearing them.
- A gift that makes the nights better is always used.
Ten gifts they will actually use
Under the price of a meal out
Two pairs of proper wool hiking socks, a buff, a strip of foam earplugs, a lip balm with SPF. None of it is exciting, and all of it is used every day.
Mid-range
A sleeping bag liner, a merino beanie, liner gloves, a good headlamp. The liner is the most thoughtful of these: it goes inside the rented bag every night.
The bigger gift
A power bank, a water filter bottle, or a pair of good sunglasses. Useful long after the trek.
A gift card or voucher option, if you want to add one — paste the Amazon link here before publishing.
What not to buy
| Item | Why not | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Down jacket | Rented cheaply in Kathmandu | A merino beanie and gloves |
| Sleeping bag | Rented or included on most treks | A sleeping bag liner |
| Boots | Must fit and be broken in by the wearer | Good socks |
| Big camera | Heavy, often left in the pack | A power bank |
The gift of the trek itself
If you are going together, the best gift is the booking. A trek is also a thoughtful present for a milestone birthday or a retirement; talk to us about how to give one.
Our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is a four-day first taste of the Himalaya from Pokhara: from US$410 solo. Talk to us about giving it as a gift.
See the Poon Hill trekWhat is a good gift for someone going trekking in Nepal?
Small, practical kit they would not buy themselves: wool socks, a sleeping bag liner, a headlamp, a power bank or a buff.
Should I buy a down jacket for someone trekking to Everest Base Camp?
Usually not. Down jackets are rented cheaply in Kathmandu, and a jacket bought for one trek is rarely worn again.
Is a sleeping bag a good gift for a Nepal trek?
Not for a single trek. Sleeping bags are rented in Thamel or included on most treks. A liner is a better gift.
Can I give a trek as a gift?
Yes. Contact us and we will talk through how to book a trek for someone else.
Keep reading
The small things that fix them.
What to hire in Kathmandu.
Keeping hands and feet warm.
What they will already be packing.
The verdict: socks, a liner, a headlamp or a power bank. Leave the jacket and the sleeping bag to the rental shops.
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Written by
Prakash TamangPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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