Winter has got to be the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp. I trekked in February and, as winter is the dry season, it generally boasts the clearest skies in the Himalayas. We were able to get amazing views of Everest and the incredible surrounding landscape as we hiked.
Yes, it was cold. The EBC trek in winter is at least 10-15°C colder than the peak season. While most days were bright and clear, we did encounter blizzards, fog and ice over our 13-day trek. The evenings in the teahouses were particularly chilly, dropping to -25°C outside the lodges’ thin, wooden walls.
This variation in weather and temperature meant that packing was all about layers. I also planned to carry all my kit myself (with the exception of my rented sleeping bag and on occasion my bigger coat) so it was important to stick to the essentials. I managed to perfectly fit everything on this packing list into a 40-litre rucksack. This also made sure I kept the weight to around a manageable 10kg as well.
When researching what to pack for EBC in February, I couldn’t find a single blog post or recommendation from anyone who had hiked the trail in winter. Not one! I started to think I was an idiot for visiting the Himalayas in February. However, it turned out to be the best decision, so I’m sharing my winter packing list and recommendations.
Below is my packing list with everything I took for a successful EBC trek in winter.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission if you make a purchase via these links. For more information, visit my disclosure page.
It may not seem like a lot for a two-week trek, but clothing really starts to add up! My t-shirts were moisture wicking, so they didn’t stay damp for too long whilst I was hiking. I went with a tight, tank-top style so I could wear them under my thermal vests.
I’ve seen pictures of people hiking to EBC in only their t-shirts, but it was definitely too cold in winter for us to do that. I wore a long-sleeved thermal vest with my t-shirt all the time, except in bed. On our first couple of days I was able to hike in just these two layers when the sun was shining.
I took sport leggings and fleece-lined tracksuit bottoms. I live in leggings all the time anyway so this was an easy one. They are easy to move in and dry quickly. In fact, it worked so well that I never wore the tracksuits to trek in, instead saving them to throw on when we reached our teahouse for the night.
I invested in merino wool Icebreakers, and it was such a good decision. Merino wool regulates temperature and wicks moisture so is perfect for wearing in winter trekking conditions. I wore them under my sports leggings every single day without fail and never too hot nor too cold.
Having a separate outfit for the night is so important when hiking, to avoid getting cold from the day’s sweat. As soon as we arrived at the teahouse for the evening, I would change into my pyjamas, then pile my layers back on as the evenings got colder. I slept really well each night in a running t-shirt, velvet-lined leggings and woolly socks.
I went for a thin merino wool jumper and a thin down jacket. Initially I did question whether I was going a bit far with balancing out weight over practicality. However, this turned out to be an ideal combination. The down jacket packs down into a tiny bag and is really light. Moreover, merino wool is an absolute dream when it comes to warmth, and it has anti-microbial, wicking properties as well. This makes it amazing for a freezing, two-week trek with minimal changes of clothes. Long live natural fibres!
I went with something light but very waterproof, with underarm air vents. I was able to wear it whilst I was hot from trekking so it still kept me safe from the falling snow. Mine is made by Paramo, and served me during Everest’s winter blizzards. It’s also purple, so it looks great in photographs!
I used my hollowfibre Paramo puffer coat, while my friends rented big, puffy down coats in Thamel. Though mine wasn’t down, luckily I wasn’t any colder than they were. I rarely wore mine to hike in, except when summiting Kala Patthar before dawn. Instead, I mainly wore it in the evenings and around the chilly teahouses.
My waterproof trousers seemed like a waste of space until we got caught hiking in a blizzard. Especially in winter, I wouldn’t have wanted to travel without them. I trekked with a North Face pair that fold into the pocket.
I’ve heard it said that the EBC trek can be done in normal trainers but I wouldn’t want to risk this in winter. Almost half our trek was through the snow, and my feet were cold enough without them being wet as well. I hiked in leather walking boots that kept the snow out whilst also having great grip on the soles for the icy terrain.
This definitely depends on hiking boot preference, but I went with two pairs of thick socks and six pairs of thin socks. That way I was able to layer to avoid blisters. The one thing I wish I had brought but didn’t is these waterproof socks for especially snowy days.
I took eight pairs of underwear, deciding that this way I would only have to wash them once, halfway through the trek. This didn’t exactly go to plan, but more than eight pairs would definitely have been excessive. I also made the bold decision to only bring one sports bra. It might have been nice to change into a clean one for the teahouses as my friend did with glee every evening, but I’m more on the #freethenipple wavelength anyway.
I’m lucky I had a waterproof pair lying around at home, but it’s also possible to rent a pair in Thamel for really cheap. I’m still torn on the gloves v. mittens debate, but I think mittens were pretty much all they had on offer in Thamel.
Thin gloves are important to have under the thicker gloves or mittens. Specific thermal glove liners are great, but thin, woollen gloves work just as well. In fact, I rarely wore my thick gloves, sticking mainly to my thin liners.
Especially in winter, a woolly hat is an absolute necessity. It was also the perfect way to regulate my temperature as we trekked. Sometimes it wasn’t practical to stop every time I got too hot or too cold to take off a layer. At these times, I could just whip off my hat to cool down, then pop it back on when I got chilly again.
I love my buff! I bought it for my EBC trek but now I wear it every time I go camping or hiking. It’s a balaclava when it’s cold and a hair band when it’s hot. On the EBC trek it kept the cold, dusty air out my lungs whilst walking and whilst sleeping. It was also great to subtly wipe my nose on when I got the inevitable EBC cold (just keeping it real).
The EBC trek in winter is known for its really clear days. Some days I used a cap instead of (or under) my woolly hat as extra protection against the sun.
I invested in a pair of polarised sunglasses especially for the Himalayas, and it was such a good call! February boasts notoriously clear days on the EBC trek. While so much of our trek was through snowy terrain, the sun shone brightly most of the time as well. I had been told nightmare stories about snow blindness, so I’m glad I went for this pair of polarised glasses to help avoid it.
I loved having these for the teahouses. To confirm, I never, ever wore them without at least two pairs of socks (I’ve never looked cooler). It was a relief to free my toes from the confines of walking boots after a day’s hike.
The only things I used from my first aid kit were plasters and medical tape to avoid blisters. I also carried a lot of ibuprofen in case of altitude sickness, which apparently works as well as Diamox except without the side effects. Luckily I didn’t end up needing it.
I had two showers on the whole trek. One (in Lukla) was warm; one (in Namche) was freezing cold and a massive mistake. Washing my hair wasn’t something I ever considered, even at the lower altitudes where it was slightly warmer. However, I’m glad I took shower gel for my one joyous shower on our final day. I love Dr Bronner’s because it doubles up as washing liquid, and bought it in bulk to do my little piece for the environment.
For when showers and running water are a thing of the past. In freezing cold winter, that’s most of the time.
Potentially a waste of space, but I made an effort every morning anyway!
I found that the best (only?) way to stay fresh trekking in winter was to focus on how clean my teeth were!
The combination of dry, dusty air and beaming sunlight made this an absolute necessity for me.
While the winter is a cold and unpredictable time to trek to EBC, it’s also one of the clearest. This means blue skies and a lot of sun. I always applied factor 50 each morning, come blizzard or shine, and got more colour in my cheeks than I did in three months in Africa.
High altitude plays wild tricks on periods. Be prepared!
Supplies are carried up the trek much less frequently in winter, and even a lot of teahouses didn’t have any toilet roll. We stocked up in Kathmandu and had between one and two rolls each for the whole trek.
Anything that helped me avoid being ill on the trek was a win in my eyes! Pretty much all the water we came across was frozen, so I was glad I could wash my hands at least with this.
Because fewer supplies get carried along the trek during winter, luxuries like chocolate or fizzy drinks are expensive and hard to come by. Even in Kathmandu, trekking snacks were catered to tourists and thus expensive. Anticipating days when I would need a pick me up, I brought a massive amount of snacks with me from home. While some were the more sensible fruit and nut bars, I mainly packed chocolate. Highly recommend.
I had playing cards for when I was feeling sociable and Harry Potter audio books for when I wasn’t. Anything to take my mind off those freezing teahouse evenings!
Mine was metal. What seemed like a smart, ethical decision ended up frozen for most of the trek, though it made an excellent hot water bottle in the evenings. This is one of the only occasions I would recommend a plastic bottle if you want to save yourself some hassle. My friends had Nalgenes and loved them.
Trekking in winter, it was often hard to stop hiking even for a moment because I knew that the cold would hit me as soon as I stopped moving. Having a platypus hydration bladder was perfect because it meant I could sip away without stopping. I relied on this much more than I thought I would after my water bottle froze!
I did contemplate a bottle that automatically filters but they don’t work below freezing temperatures so not ideal for winter trekking. While our wonderful guide, Parshu, brought us chlorine tablets for water purification, we ended up using a Steripen. As someone who often travels to areas with dodgy water, this was an investment I’m glad I made. It only takes a minute to purify one litre with the UV light, so was much quicker than waiting for chlorine tabs to settle. And none of us got sick from the water, so it definitely worked!
The lights and electricity were fine in all the teahouses I stayed in, but I did need my headtorch for summiting Kala Patthar at sunrise. I have this Petzl headtorch and it’s never let me down.
I took a GoPro, which was great for holding in my had for quick action shots whilst trekking. I also packed my bigger Panasonic DMC-FZ72, which served me well as an amateur to intermediate camera. My only regret was having my big camera so bundled in my rucksack. I wish I’d had it more to hand because I honestly could have photographed pretty much everything.
For some reason, the thing that terrified me most about trekking to EBC in winter was getting stranded with no batteries. I carried spare batteries for both my cameras and lithium batteries for the Steripen and headtorch. The Steripen lasted two weeks for two people without running out of power so I needn’t have worried, but I was prepared just in case!
Winter at high altitude is not to time to skimp on a battery pack as the cold weather wreaks havoc on battery life. I made sure all my electronics were kept as warm as possible, on my person or wrapped in spare clothes. Charging electronics gets more expensive the higher up you go so it’s easier to do one big charge and rely on that for as long as possible. I took my EasyAcc powerbank and it lasted my phone and GoPro a full week before I had to recharge.
I’ve heard rumours that some EBC trekkers have had towels provided by the teahouses. I didn’t experience this, probably because winter is low season so there’s less demand. A quick-dry towel that folds up small is the best way to go just in case.
I knew my sleeping bag would be carried by Cami, our porter, so it was the one thing I didn’t find a small, lightweight version of (sorry Cami!). I hired a -30° down sleeping bag in Thamel, and it made a massive different to my mindset trekking in winter. I’d definitely stick with a rented sleeping bag rated -20° or lower during the winter months. Knowing that I could crawl into my sleeping bag at night kept me going through the cold evenings in the teahouses. It was the only time of day that I knew I would definitely be warm!
I brought my silk sleeping bag liner from home in case I could only find an old, grim sleeping bag to rent in Thamel. As it turns out, mine was brand new and warm enough that I didn’t need to use the liner at all. It’s the one item I could have left at home, but I’m glad I brought it just in case.
Hiring walking poles in Thamel was the biggest revelation of my trek. I could rave about them for hours! In fact, I did in my post about 10 underrated essentials for the EBC trek. The poles were really cheap and so worth it, especially to stay steady on the icy, winter terrain.
I organised everything I packed by using different coloured dry bags. They do a similar job to packing cubes, and can be compressed to save space. However, they’re also reasonably watertight, making them perfect for hardcore treks like EBC in winter.
Kelty’s Redwing was the only rucksack I could find that had sufficient padding for long-term trekking whilst still adhering to aeroplane carry-on dimensions. I carried everything listed above (except the sleeping bag) in my 40-litre pack and it ended up weighing about 10kg, which was really manageable.
There we have it! I hope this packing list gave a snapshot into the preparation I did for trekking to EBC in winter. Despite the cold, I definitely believe that it’s the best time of year to go. If you’ve ever considered hiking to EBC, do it! I hope this winter packing list helps you prepare for the trek of a lifetime.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission if you make a purchase via these links. For more information, visit my disclosure page.
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