Packing List for a Himalayan Bike Tour

The single most common packing mistake on our tours is underestimating the cold. Even in June, Kedarnath and Gunji drop close to freezing at night. Here's what actually earns a place in your luggage, by category.

Riding gear

• Riding jacket and pants, or at minimum a good waterproof over-layer
• Riding gloves — a warmer pair for altitude, a lighter pair for lower stretches
• Sturdy riding boots, ankle protection
• Sunglasses and a high-factor sunscreen — UV is stronger at altitude than it feels

Helmets are provided free with every rental, so you don't need to bring your own.

Cold-weather layers

• Thermals, top and bottom
• A proper down or insulated layer — not an optimistic one
• Waterproofs, separate from your riding jacket if it isn't already waterproof
• A warm hat and a buff or scarf for wind at speed
• Lip balm — altitude and wind dry lips out fast

Documents

• Original driving licence and government photo ID (or passport + IDP for international riders)
• Printed copies of your Chardham e-pass or Inner Line Permit, if your route needs one
• Travel and medical insurance details, ideally printed

See our documents guide for what's mandatory versus what's just sensible to carry.

Health and altitude

• Any personal medication, with a few days' spare in case of delay
• Basic rehydration salts
• Diamox, if your doctor has approved it for altitude — ask before you travel, not on the road

See our altitude sickness guide for which routes carry real risk and how to manage it.

Electronics and cash

• A power bank — homestays and guesthouses at altitude often have limited power
• A headtorch, for anything after dark at a homestay with patchy electricity
• Cash — ATMs stop being reliable past the last major town on most of our routes

What to leave behind

Pack light. Our backup vehicles carry luggage on multi-day tours, but every extra kilogram is still a kilogram someone has to manage at 4,000 m. One change of riding gear, layers you can combine rather than a separate outfit per day, and nothing you'd be upset to lose on a rough stretch of road.