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[ubie]

I am just finishing 3 months in New Zealand and 6 months in Australia, and am leaving for India (especially the North) and Nepal next week. I will be traveling with only my backpack and a daypack.
My question is:
What gear to bring and what to send home? What is the likelyhood of using my tent, gas stove, cooking kit, etc... All of my gear is top-quality light-weight stuff. I do plan on taking my sleeping bag and thermarest mattress at minimum.
I have used my camping gear constantly in NZ and OZ. And although I plan on doing some treking in India and Nepal, I'm not sure how often I will need my own equipment, as opposed to hiring what I need when I begin a trek. I've heard that the accommidation is plentiful and quite cheap, that camping/tenting is not a popular option. As much as I love having my own gear, I do not want to carry it all over India if it is only going to be used a few times.
Thanks for any recommendations!

[sharon1306]

I haven’t done much camping in India other than a trip a while ago in the Kullu Manali region in Himachal Pradesh. We had our own equipment so we didn’t really have the need to hire any gear as such.

Accommodation is easily available and relatively cheap, like you say, but I’m not sure if you’ll be able to hire top-quality camping gear in most areas. The gear you can rent might not be of the quality you are used to. I would suggest keeping the gear you absolutely couldn’t do without. There are many camp sites in the Himachal area like Sangla in Kinnaur, Kullu-Manali, Spiti area, Shimla area, etc.

Sharon

[jbeachd]

Hi there,

It gives us pleasure that you are planning a visit to Nepal. A very smart decision, in my opinion. Regarding nepal, if you are planning a backpacking tour, then, you may require your trekking gear in cheap hotels with affordable prices. Because they do not have central heating system with hot water.

If you are doing around the kathmandu valley, Nagarkot, annapurna region, helambu or any other places, just mail me at:
kyronhome@yahoo.fr

We will help you to settle at budget hotels with best values in an affordable price. We can guide you in the cultural areas of kathmandu , bhaktapur or backpacking for our work experience.

Please give us a chance.

thank you

[lraleigh]

Hi Ubie,

If you're going to the mountains and want to go to some more remote areas, then I'd recommend carrying all your gear (you'll have more options). In Nepal, I went on the Makalu-Barun trek and cooked all meals once above the villages. There are many tea house trekking routes in both Nepal and India, though higher it is often impossible without your own food and stove. That said, you could easily go with a group trek and they'd have all the equipment for you (though much heavier and carried by porters).

It depends on what you want to experience, really. Also, the gear you can buy here is of arguable quality.

Camping and trekking is a popular option in the Himalayas of India and Nepal. I'm in Leh now and there are dozens of possibilities, including climbing 6000 meter mountains.

Another option is to leave your gear in places you trust when you don't need it. I left my backpacking gear in Kathmandu for six months as I traveled around areas of India, when I knew I wasn't going to trek or camp.

best,

Lloyd

[mugalo]

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I am just finishing 3 months in New Zealand and 6 months in Australia, and am leaving for India (especially the North) and Nepal next week. I will be traveling with only my backpack and a daypack.
My question is:
What gear to bring and what to send home? What is the likelyhood of using my tent, gas stove, cooking kit, etc... All of my gear is top-quality light-weight stuff. I do plan on taking my sleeping bag and thermarest mattress at minimum.
I have used my camping gear constantly in NZ and OZ. And although I plan on doing some treking in India and Nepal, I'm not sure how often I will need my own equipment, as opposed to hiring what I need when I begin a trek. I've heard that the accommidation is plentiful and quite cheap, that camping/tenting is not a popular option. As much as I love having my own gear, I do not want to carry it all over India if it is only going to be used a few times.
Thanks for any recommendations!