Things to Carry on a Himalayan Sojourn

For Self

• Shoes – good trekking shoes, preferably waterproof. Quechua 500 is good choice. If you are riding a bike, you might want ankle length riding boots as you may have to negotiate water streams flowing on the road.
• Sandles/floaters
• Socks – again, waterproof / woolen. Check on the number of days and divide by 3 for the days that you’d be in colder areas.
• Gaiters – for water/snow proofing your shoes/socks
• Hats/Caps – to block sunrays and protect your head and ears from cold. Sun is nearest to you on high altitudes and hence quite warm when exposed to it directly.
• Sunblock Cream, SPF 50 or above
• Cold Cream
• Good quality Goggles
• Of course undergarments. Use the same rule as that of socks. You won’t be bathing for most of the days! 😉
• Warm clothing – prefer clothing in layers so that you can add/remove as per the temperature
  • Thermals
  • Jacket
  • Socks
  • Sweater
  • Shawls
  • Scarfs / Mufflers to protect your ears
  • Warm gloves
• Knee Caps (if required)
• No rigid suitcases, carry only soft haversacks
• Shopping bags to store used clothing

Accommodation

• Keep an eye on the festivals in and around the place you are going. It generally tends to be too crowded during festivals and accommodation options run out quickly. Prebook!
• Other than festive period, you do not need to prebook accommodation. Just walk in to couple of Hotels/Guest-houses/Homestays and you are most likely to get it on second or third place. Further, it cuts down on travel agent cost and gives you bargaining power too!
• List of accommodation enroute
• Keep a portable tent with you. Quechua T2 tent is good
• Sleeping bags rated for at least -5 comfort
• Sleeping Mats

General Items

• Photographic Equipments
  • DSLR
  • Lens & filters – fish eye desirable
  • Datacards
  • Tripod to get those star trails
• Printed Maps
• Plan printouts – one to be left at home
• BSNL postpaid connection – if you are going to Ladakh. No other operator works beyond Leh
• Medicines to be procured
• Small gas cylinder with burner / kerosene stove
• Cooking / eating utensils
• 20 Ltr water container
• Ready to eat MTRs and Maggi – at least two days of provisions
• Biscuits, Chocolates, energy bars & toffees
• Copies/registers & pencils (no pens for they contribute to plastic waste) for distribution among local children
• Maps – offline stored maps on smart device
• Accomodation information
• Swiss knife
• Knife
• Multitool
• Waist pouches to store your wallet and items for quick access (medicines, datacard, spare batteries…)
• Zipper pouches
• Large polybags for waste collection
• Toiletries (including toilet rolls, just in case you don’t want to touch ice cold water) 😉
• Deo – very necessary as you’d not be bathing for days!
• List of Petrol/Diesel bunks enroute
• Full trip expenses in cash
• Toilet tents if you have ladies travelling with you
• Coffee powder if you are a coffee drinker. Also helps to fix stomach upsets and diarrhoea
• Thermos flask
• Car electric kettle / warmer
• Cotton wool to stuff your ears – helps at high altitudes from disorientation and cold
• Rock salt – to thaw the ice especially the black ice on the road
• Spare Spectacles
• Passport Photos
• Photo ID (DL/PAN/Voter ID)
• Mediclaim ID Card / Latest Policy Paper
• Lighter / Matches

Tools for Vehicle

• Electronic air compressor
• Spare tyre valves
• Spare air filter
• Coolant
• Engine oil
• Extra fuses
• Extra master fuse
• Extra halogen headlamp bulbs
• Tubeless puncture repairing kit
• Spare tyre
• Spare valve
• Tyre valve tool
• Battery terminal jumper
• Multitool
• DC to AC inverter 200 watt
• Trampoline for carrier and engine
• Jerry can 30Ltrs for Fuel
• Funnel
• 10 ft pipe
• Stock jack – get a hydraulic floor jack if possible
• Stock tool set
• Tow rope – preferably 5 Ton capacity
• Fire extinguisher
• Window breaker cum seat belt cutter
• LED Torch – x 2
• M Seal
• Adhesive tape – both double sided and insulation
• Fevi-Kwick
• Spade
• Hammer
• Hex Saw
• Colin or suitable wind-shield cleaner
• Old newspaper for wind-shield cleaning
• Rope
• Gunny bags / trampoline to cover the engine bay at night to keep it warm
• Spare nuts & bolts

A comprehensive check-list for preparing your vehicle is given at http://www.yayawar.com/preparing-your-vehicle-for-a-himalayan-sojourn/

Documents

• Car Service Book
• Car Owners Manual
• Updated PUC Certificate
• Original Car RC Book
• Original Car Insurance
• Original Driving License
• Spare Car Keys
• Photocopies of Car documents
• Drive Plan

Others

• Dry Tissue
• Wet Tissue
• Liquid Soap
• Razor Blade
• Lighter
• Scribbling Pad/Pens
• Loose change for Toll
• Hand sanitizer

Medicines

• Medicine for AMS – Diamox/Coca 30/6x (Please read the article on AMS before using these medication)
• Medicine for common cold – Sparlox
• Medicine for Headache – Disprin
• Medicine for Motion Sickness / Nausea / Vomitting – Domastal / Avomin
• Medicine for Diarrhoea – Ornof / Lomotil
• Painkiller – Combiflam / Brufen
• Medicine for Fever – Crocin / Metacin / Paracetamol / Dolo 650
• Medicine for Acidity / Stomach ache – Digene / Omaze 20 / Cyclopam
• Pain Balm – Tiger Balm / Moov
• Pain Spray – Moov / Relispray
• Antiseptic liquid – Savlon / Dettol
• Spirit for cleaning open wounds
• Antibiotic Powder – Neospirin
• Antibiotic Liquid – Betadine
• Antifungal powder – Absorb / Zeasorb
• Cotton gauze
• Cotton wool
• Cotton crepe bandage
• Adhesive tape
• ORS / Electral powder
• Glucose

** All the medications listed above are just suggestive as per the generic usage and should not be administered unless advised and verified by a registered medical practitioner.