Trek Guide
Nepal runs on 230V with a mix of Type C, D and M sockets. The adapter that works, how to stay charged on the trail, and what else to land with.
By Prakash Tamang · Oct 8, 2026
Nepal runs on 230 volts, and its sockets are a mix of three types: C, the two round pins used across Europe, D, three large round pins in a triangle, and M, a bigger version of D. You will often find more than one type in the same room. A European plug fits…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Round pins, in two or three shapes. Type C is the thin two-pin European plug. Type D has three large round pins in a triangle, a design that came from old British standards and is still common across South Asia. Type M is a larger version of D used for…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
A universal adapter that explicitly lists Type D. Many all-in-one adapters handle European, British, American and Australian plugs but not D, which is the one that matters here. Check the product listing before you buy. Phone, camera and laptop chargers are…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Essential
Universal travel adapter with USB-C (Type C/D)
A universal adapter with its own USB-C ports means one wall socket charges three things, which matters when a lodge has exactly one and six guests — the cheap ones have no fuse, so do not…
↑ Swipe up
A universal adapter with its own USB-C ports means one wall socket charges three things, which matters when a lodge has exactly one and six guests — the cheap ones have no fuse, so do not run a laptop through it.
Not for: Nothing. Everyone arriving from the UK, US, EU or Australia needs one.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Best cable
Anker PowerLine USB-C Cable
Take two — a failed cable at 4,500 m turns a working power bank into ballast, and this is the cheapest failure in the whole department to insure against.
↑ Swipe up
Take two — a failed cable at 4,500 m turns a working power bank into ballast, and this is the cheapest failure in the whole department to insure against.
Not for: Nobody. If you take one thing from this page, take a spare cable.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Charging gets harder and pricier as you climb. Lower teahouses often charge for free or for a small fee; above Namche on the Everest route it costs a few dollars a time, and power can be solar-only. A 10,000 to 20,000 mAh power bank covers a phone for days…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Best overall
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3
The best capacity-per-gram you can buy and it clears every airline limit without a conversation — 10,000 mAh is about two phone charges, so on a fortnight above the solar line you will…
↑ Swipe up
The best capacity-per-gram you can buy and it clears every airline limit without a conversation — 10,000 mAh is about two phone charges, so on a fortnight above the solar line you will still be paying a lodge occasionally.
Not for: A camera-heavy trip or a group sharing one bank. Take the 20,000 mAh instead.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Best capacity
Anker Power Bank 20,000 mAh
Four to five phone charges, which is genuinely a whole Everest Base Camp trek without ever paying a lodge — you carry 350 g up to 5,545 m to save perhaps twenty dollars.
↑ Swipe up
Four to five phone charges, which is genuinely a whole Everest Base Camp trek without ever paying a lodge — you carry 350 g up to 5,545 m to save perhaps twenty dollars.
Not for: Short treks, or anyone whose porter weight allowance is already tight.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Best panel
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
Genuinely charges a power bank in a Himalayan day of clear sun, which is a real advantage on a camping trek — on a teahouse trek it is 670 g replacing a service that costs a few dollars.
↑ Swipe up
Genuinely charges a power bank in a Himalayan day of clear sun, which is a real advantage on a camping trek — on a teahouse trek it is 670 g replacing a service that costs a few dollars.
Not for: Any lodge-based trek. Lodges charge for power precisely because they already have panels.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
US dollars for the visa, a way to get online, and somewhere safe for your passport. Nepal's visa on arrival is paid at the airport, and a local SIM or an eSIM gets you online in Kathmandu. Our SIM card guide covers the options. Our Kathmandu and Pokhara tour…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Best document carry
RFID-blocking neck wallet
Your TIMS card and national park permit get checked repeatedly on trail and a lost passport in Nepal is a week in Kathmandu — the RFID lining is largely theatre, but the "attached to your…
↑ Swipe up
Your TIMS card and national park permit get checked repeatedly on trail and a lost passport in Nepal is a week in Kathmandu — the RFID lining is largely theatre, but the "attached to your body" part is not.
Not for: Nobody. Even if you dislike them, carry permits somewhere better than a jacket pocket.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Costs and solar power up high. Getting online in Nepal. What is worth carrying. Packing for the Lukla flight. The verdict: one universal adapter that includes Type D, a power bank, and a spare cable. That is the whole electrical kit.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Plan your trek
NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.
Free guide
Permits, costs, seasons and routes — the essentials we send every traveller, plus a free, no-obligation trip quote.
↑ Swipe up
Read the full report and grab the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide — or ask our Pokhara team for a tailored, no-obligation quote.
Read more & get the free guide Plan my trip — free quote