What to Pack for Hampta Pass Trek?
Are you preparing for the Hampta Pass trek and wondering what to pack? Trek packing can feel like a long list of essentials, especially if you’re new to high-altitude trekking. For seasoned trekkers, it’s part of the adventure — but for beginners, it often feels overwhelming. Hampta Pass gives you a very raw experience of Himalayan trekking and it is essential to come prepared.
Each trek brings its own set of requirements based on the terrain and season. Hampta Pass is a crossover trek, taking you from the lush green valleys of Kullu to the stark, barren landscapes of Spiti. It’s a monsoon trek, so you must be well-prepared for rain, chilly winds, and high-altitude cold, especially for the Balu Ka Ghera and Shea Goru camp sites.
So here’s a quick checklist of things you must pack for the Hampta Pass Trek:
The first category is Basic trek Essentials: These are few items which you must have on a trek
- A Rucksack to Carry all your stuff. A 55-65 Litre Rucksack is an ideal size.
- A rain cover for your bag
- Summit bag of about 15-20 L for your packed lunch and other quick access items this is only needed if you choose backpack offloading on mules
- A Poncho or Raincoat
- Trekking poles – they save your knees, especially on steep descents.
- Trekking shoes with good grip (must be waterproof/resistant)
The Second Category is Clothing: We divide the clothing into two parts.
1st Clothing for the day and 2nd Clothing for the nights
For the day you need at least 2 layers on the upper body. on the summit day you might need an additional 3rd layer which is a windproof jacket.
- 3 Dry-fit T-shirts (preferably full-sleeve)
- 2 Trek pants (one for trek, one as backup)
- 1 Fleece jacket
- 1 Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- 1 Windcheater (optional but helpful)
- 1 pair of gloves (one fleece/woolen + one waterproof)
- 1 Woolen cap + 1 Sun cap or Buff
- 5-6 pairs of socks (include 1-2 woolen)
- Sun hat and Sunglasses
For the night time you need atleast 3 – 4 layes of clothing on upper body and 2 layers on the lower body
- Thermals – upper and lower
- Padded/Down jacket
- 1 Fleece layer
- A T shirt and warm pajama for sleeping
- A Woollen cap
- A pair of warm socks
- Head or Hand torch
The 3rd Category is Personal utilities and toiletries which includes
- Hand Towel, soap, facewash, toothbrush and toothpaste. You dont get to take a bath on this trek
- Toilet paper/wet wipes, Hand sanitizer (because of dry toilet tents with pit-style setup)
- Sunscreen (Spf 30 or more), Moisturisers
- A 1 Litre water bottle
- Energy bars and dry fruits for snacking
- Lunch box for packed lunch
- Sandals/Flip Flops for ease at the camp site as the whole day you will be in shoes and they might be wet
- A photo id which is needed for your permits
- Ziplock bags for stuff like batteries, phones or other electronics to add a layer of waterproofing.
This is a general list which shall suffice for a majority of people. In case you are more susceptible to cold then you can always add extra layers of clothing.