Packing Guidance for Nepal

In general, most items you will need are available in country and locally acquired items are often the best at helping you integrate into your community. However, locally available items may not be the brands, quality, prices, or sizes you are used to. Bringing some key items from home might make your transition to service more comfortable.

This guidance has been compiled by Peace Corps staff and Volunteers and is based on their experience. Use this information as an informal guide as you make your own packing list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no perfect packing list!

This packing guidance is designed to help you think through different categories of items and consider what you might want to bring, considering work expectations, cultural considerations, and your own personal preferences.

Nepal has four distinct seasons. The average temperature ranges from 41-68 °F in winter to 73-100 °F during the hot season. June to September is the monsoon season, when it rains almost every day. There are great variations between districts where Volunteers are placed, and Volunteers should be prepared to live in both hot and cold weather. There is no central air or heating system in Nepali homes.

Mobile phone: All Peace Corps Volunteers are required to carry a smartphone for communication, location reporting, and work activity reporting. Peace Corps/Nepal is a “bring your own device” (BYOD) post. If you do not have a smartphone already, we will provide a stipend for a basic, locally available Android phone. For all Volunteers we provide pre-paid phone plans and SIM cards (includes voice and data).

Bicycle: If the Peace Corps determines the site’s topography is suitable for bicycle use, and a Volunteer desires to use a bicycle, they can receive a one-time allowance to purchase a locally available bicycle. Peace Corps Nepal will provide a helmet to these Volunteers.

Mosquito net: Upon arrival, Volunteers will be provided with an insecticide-treated mosquito net. Volunteers must place their mosquito net properly and always sleep under it, from day one. Even if malaria may not be endemic in their area of service, sleeping under mosquito net can reduce the risk of other mosquito-borne infections, like dengue.

Medical kit: Peace Corps/Nepal provides all Volunteers with a medical kit. See the full list of items.

Water filter: In Nepal, water from community taps and wells is not potable. All Volunteers receive a high-quality water filter for water purification at site.

Reading materials: The Volunteer lounge at the main office in Kathmandu contains a small lending library. Volunteers are able to borrow these materials for work-related or personal use. Bringing an e-reader, like a Kindle, is recommended for those who enjoy reading.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take:

• Pets
• Weapons
• Explosives
• Radio transmitters (shortwave radios are permitted)
• Drones
• Automobiles or motorcycles
• Flammable materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers
• Valuables such as precious jewelry or family heirlooms

Drugs

Do not bring any drug that has not been authorized by the Peace Corps for medical purposes without prior consultation with Office of Health Services Pre-Service. This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Illicit drugs, including marijuana and related products such as CBD and herbal substances such as kratom, are prohibited during Peace Corps service, even if they are legal in your home of residence. If you use, possess, or distribute illicit drugs, you will be administratively separated from service.

Work supplies

Peace Corps Nepal discourages Volunteers bringing job aids from outside that may create conditions that are not replicable after the Volunteer’s departure. The Volunteer is responsible for working with counterparts to identify local solutions to resource constraints using available means.

Food

Other than snacks such as trail bars or trail mix that you may want for your first week of transition to the local diet, please do not bring large quantities of food. Part of cultural integration is learning to embrace and share local ways of eating.

Peace Corps/Nepal highly recommends that you plan on transitioning to locally available clothing as part of integration into your new community. That said, what community members wear will depend on site placement. In some areas, kurtas (loose shirt/tunic) may be common, and in others, western clothes may be more popular. Since climates vary between sites, waiting to buy new clothes will ensure what is bought will be practical for the duration of service.

We recommend that you bring enough clothing for your first four months in Nepal. Clothes are washed by hand and line dried. Most Trainees wash their clothes on Saturdays with some spot cleaning throughout the week. Washing clothes by hand is harder on clothing than washing machines, and as laundry is dried outside in the sun fabrics may also fade noticeably during your service. Consider the material of the clothes you choose to bring, as hand-washing denim and other stiff fabrics can be a tedious experience. Thinner, lighter items are much easier to hand wash and dry faster, but may be less durable. White clothes are more difficult to maintain.

Below is guidance on clothing expectations and cultural norms for work as well as leisure and recreation.

Work clothing

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, your appearance reflects on you, your peers, and the Peace Corps. You are therefore expected to dress appropriately whether you are in training, traveling, or on the job. While you may see young Nepalese dressing in many different ways, you are expected to dress as your professional counterparts dress, appropriate to the occasion.

While working in the field, Food Security and Environment Volunteers wear casual shirts that cover shoulders along with untorn jeans, trousers, or shorts that are loose fitting and cover the knee. While working in the school, Education and Environment Volunteers wear uniforms required by their schools, and Peace Corps provides an allowance to purchase these materials.

Appropriate professional attire for all sectors (Education, Environment, and Agriculture) consists of long pants, long skirts, or long dresses, and collared shirts/tops that cover the shoulders and upper arms, waist, and lower back. All dresses and skirts should cover the knees, even when sitting. We recommend that you bring at least one outfit such as button-down blouse/shirt and slacks/skirt for high-level meetings. For Education and Environment Volunteers, two or three collared shirts are helpful for technical sessions and practice teaching.

Shorts are normally worn for exercise, or by children and students rather than adults. They are not appropriate in professional environments or for women in most public settings. Similarly, short skirts, tops that expose the stomach or lower back, low-rise pants, backless dresses, tank tops and spaghetti-strap tops are considered inappropriate in rural and professional settings. Modest and culturally appropriate baggy shorts are available in local markets; however, finding the right size may be difficult (e.g., a female Volunteer who wears a size XS in the States may be a size 3XL in locally available shorts).

Plastic flip-flops are not appropriate for professionals outside of the home, and especially not when taking part in any formal meeting, working at school, or visiting a district office.

Sun protection

The sun in the dry season can be strong. Sunscreen is provided to Volunteers in the medical kits. Refills are available through the medical unit. We recommend bringing a hat. Some Volunteers bring clothing to block the sun like sun shirts, sun hoodies, or loose and breathable button up shirts. Sunglasses are available locally but may not be the quality you are used to and may not offer the same level of protection from UV. Many Volunteers and community members in hotter sites will use an umbrella to protect themselves from the sun during the summer.

Rainy season/monsoon

Raincoats and umbrellas are available in Nepal but may not be the quality you are used to. We recommend bringing a lightweight but breathable rain jacket and umbrella. Summer gets hot and humid throughout Nepal.

We recommend bringing a warm jacket or a hooded sweatshirt for the winter and chilly nights during the rainy season. We do not recommend bulky jackets, but rather thermals or clothing that you can layer during the colder seasons.

In some homes, mold can pose a challenge during monsoon season. Be cautious about bringing leather clothing and shoes.

Leisure and recreational clothing

Leisure: Undershirts, tank tops, lightweight T-shirts, shorts, yoga pants, and leggings are appropriate for sleep and lounging at home. Shorts that don’t go below the knee and spaghetti straps are only appropriate in your own room.

Exercise: For men, it is appropriate to wear shorts and tank tops for sports and exercise. For women, if exercising in your room or at home, leggings, tank tops, or shorts are acceptable. If exercising in public, avoid leggings, shorts, tank tops, or tight-fitting clothing. Current female Volunteers recommend bringing loose-fitting, quick-dry track pants for exercise.

Socks: We recommend bringing several pairs of long socks for hiking, especially wool and absorbent materials like cotton. Avoid white socks since these are difficult to clean.

Swimming attire: Peace Corps policy does not permit Volunteers to swim in open bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers. However, there are often pools at hotels in larger cities and some towns. Swimsuits are difficult to procure in Nepal. If you are interested in swimming, we recommend bringing at least one swimsuit.

Undergarments

Underwear and bras are available locally but may not be easily available in your size. They also tend to wear out more quickly due to handwashing and line drying.

In Nepal, standard bathrooms have bidets or buckets of water instead of toilet paper, so there is inevitable dampness. Therefore, it is recommended that Volunteers bring moisture-wicking, functional/high-coverage underwear. Additionally, while washing and drying underwear, they may be visible to family and community members. To mitigate awkwardness, consider packing neutral-colored undergarments.

Shoes are available for purchase in Kathmandu and at local markets. They are available in a large variety of quality and sizes, but it may take some hunting to locate a good pair of shoes in your size. We recommend that you use the guidance below to bring at least one pair of each type of shoe you think you will need to get you started. If your feet are larger than size 12 in either men or women, consider bringing more than one pair.

Education sector: Closed-toed shoes are appropriate for all school-related activities and government-related events. Open-toed sandals, sneakers, running shoes, sports shoes and mountain shoes are also allowed, but NOT during school-related activities and government-related events.

Agriculture sector: The Agriculture sector requires frequent walking to field work locations. We recommend sneakers or durable, fully secured sandals commonly found at sports or outdoor clothing stores. Lightweight, inexpensive leather shoes, loafers, and ballet flats are appropriate for higher-level work meetings.

Environment sector: Since Volunteers will be working both in schools and in fields, closed-toed shoes are recommended for school-related events and sneakers or fully securing sandals for field-based activities.

Leisure and recreation: Bring one pair of shoes for your preferred form of recreation, such as hiking, trekking, running, trail running, bicycling, etc.

Rubber slippers: Many Nepalese wear inexpensive rubber or plastic slippers while going about their daily activities. These are appropriate for casual public activities such as going to the market or visiting friends during off hours or for wearing around the house. They are inappropriate for professional settings and important public events such as weddings but wearing them when appropriate will help you integrate and prolong the life of your work and leisure footwear. Though most Nepalese are adept at walking long distances and carrying out everyday tasks in these slippers, most Volunteers find them slippery and will opt for other shoes. A pair of rubber slippers costs around 200-600 Nepali rupees ($1.50-5) and are readily available in most market areas.

Fully securing sandals: We recommend bringing a pair of supportive sandals with good traction to be worn during monsoon season. Volunteers often wear rubber sport sandals.

Rainy season/monsoon: During the rainy season, roads and paths become extremely muddy. Many Nepalese wear rubber slippers and some wear rubber boots during the rainy season. Although available locally, they may be difficult to find in sizes larger than men’s 10, and the quality may not be the same as in the U.S. Although not strictly necessary, consider bringing waterproof sandals, boots, or shoes. Keep in mind they should be comfortable to walk in. Additionally, during the monsoon, sections of paths may regularly flood and it might be too hot to comfortably wear rain boots.

You should bring a three-month supply of any prescription and/or over-the-counter medications you use that are authorized/approved by the Peace Corps. While the Peace Corps provides you with prescribed medications, they may not be the brands or in the forms you are used to. The medical unit will replenish prescriptions after the initial three-month training.

Prior to service, Peace Corps supplies all Volunteers with a medical kit containing basic, over-the-counter medications, as well as multivitamins on request. See a detailed list of items included in the medical kit.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs (of the current prescription) with you. Contact lens use will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Peace Corps does not recommend use of contact lenses and will not provide replacement of contact lenses or solutions required for using contact lenses.

See additional guidance from the Office of Volunteer Health.

Most toiletries such as soap, shampoo, face wash, and lotion are available in Nepal, but there may be a limited variety of brands. Deodorant is difficult to find, so bring at least a 6-month supply. In most cities, international brands are commonly available, including Dove, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Colgate, Cetaphil, CeraVe, and Nivea. We recommend bringing at least one month's supply of toiletries.

Additional guidance for Nepal:

Hair: Salons and barbers are available in most towns in Nepal. Alternatively, some Volunteers seek haircuts from fellow Volunteers, while others choose to groom themselves. You may consider rechargeable clippers/trimmers, hair-cutting scissors, and/or razors.

Menstrual products: The Peace Corps/Nepal medical unit provides tampons and one reusable menstrual cup upon request. However, menstrual pads are not provided by the medical unit. Volunteers who menstruate are provided an additional allowance to assist in purchasing these products. Some Volunteers choose to bring reusable cloth pads and period underwear, as waste facilities are not commonly available.

Electric outlets in Nepal typically provide 220 V (volts) of power, and electronics sold in Nepal are 220 V compatible. Most phone and laptop chargers are compatible with both 120 V (US standard) and 220 V. Before bringing electronics from the U.S., make sure that they are compatible with 220 V. Electronics that are only 120 V compatible may burn out, catch fire, or damage the battery if they are plugged into 220 V outlets. Small travel voltage converters are available for purchase online, but are generally low amperage and will not support high amperage electronics such as hair dryers or kitchen appliances.

Power outages

The electrical grid in Nepal experiences unpredictable power outages, so we recommend using a surge protector with your electronics. Surge protector multiplugs are available in Nepal but may be more expensive than those available in the U.S. Before buying a surge protector, make sure that it is 220 V compatible.

Access and reliability

Access to electricity varies greatly at Volunteer sites. Some Volunteers will have electricity in their homes more regularly than others. Many Volunteers find extra batteries, portable chargers, and/or solar chargers useful for keeping phones and other small devices charged.

With this in mind, we recommend you bring at least one rechargeable headlamp and/or rechargeable flashlight/torch. Candles, flashlights, and rechargeable LED strips are widely available in Nepal. Disposable batteries are available but harder to find. Outlets in Nepal are not sourced from a single country. It is common to find Nepali, Indian, U.S. and Chinese outlets—sometimes in the same room. Plug adapters are available for purchase in Nepal but are sometimes low quality and may present a fire hazard if they fit poorly. We recommend bringing at least one high quality adapter or adapter that is compatible with all these plugs/outlets.

Laptops/tablets

Peace Corps/Nepal does not require Volunteers to bring laptops/tablets but does recommend bringing a device if you have one. You will be able to use your smartphone as a hotspot, but most Volunteers have home Wi-Fi. Many Volunteers find laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other personal devices helpful for work and entertainment. Please use your own judgment before deciding what to bring. If necessary, laptops and electronic devices can be repaired in larger cities in Nepal, most commonly, Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Based on your interests and personal preferences there may be additional items you will want to consider bringing with you. This list is compiled from what different Volunteers have said they enjoy having and may be hard to find in country. Note: these items are not required or even recommended but might be nice to have.

Widespread availability of goods

Nepal has almost anything you could want or need during service. In Kathmandu, there are shopping malls with familiar clothing and shoe brands, English bookstores, trekking stores, and supermarkets with familiar snacks and ingredients. Additionally, many Western toiletry brands are relatively common even in smaller cities. Nepal also has an online shopping platform similar to Amazon called Daraz. Once training starts, you will be able to receive things you order online at the Peace Corps office in Kathmandu.

Books

The Peace Corps/Nepal Volunteer Lounge has a lending library of novels and educational textbooks that are available to Volunteers. Some Volunteers prefer e-readers to paper books due to the weight of transport.

Cooking

Some Volunteers find comfort and connection in cooking for themselves and others. Traditional Nepali kitchens are very different from kitchens in the United States. Cooking is typically done in pots rather than pans, food is cut while being held in the hand rather than on cutting boards, and meals are heated over wood fires, or gas burners rather than stove tops – although most Volunteers use a two-burner gas range similar to a stove top. For Volunteers who love to cook, good quality pans, cutting boards, decent chef’s knives and sharpening rods, and other cooking utensils are available in Kathmandu.

Food

Traditional Nepali cuisine consists primarily of rice (bhaat) with a lentil soup (dhal) known as “dhal bhaat.” It is often accompanied by side dishes of leafy greens (saag), vegetable curries (tarkari), pickled sides or sauces (achaar), and, less frequently, meat (maasu).

Snacks and supplements: High-nutrition snack foods such as granola or protein bars can be difficult to find or are expensive, so many Volunteers supplement their diets with locally available peanuts and peanut butter. Snacks like chips, cookies, and crackers are widely available. Vitamins and nutritional supplements are difficult to find, even in Kathmandu, and are generally expensive.

Spicy foods: Generally, Nepalese love spicy food. Vegetable curries and instant pickles are generally hot and spicy.

Coffee: Instant coffee is widely available in Nepal and you can find coffee beans in more urban areas. While coffee is not common in rural Nepal, tea is a very common beverage, and it is customary to offer tea to visitors/guests.

Gardening

Many Volunteers take up gardening as a physical outlet, but it’s not required as part of their project responsibility. If a Volunteer wants to garden, they will need to coordinate with their host family.

Greens: Nepal has abundant cooking greens, such as mustard leaves and spinach, but other fresh greens like lettuce, leek, celery, and kale are harder to come by.

Herbs: Herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, dill, cilantro, turmeric, ginger, and sage grow well in the Nepali climate, but are very rarely found in the market.

Vegetables: Fresh vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, bitter gourd, green peas, and pumpkin are available seasonally.

Seeds: Seeds are available in Nepal. These seeds are mostly open pollinated and local varieties. Volunteers may not bring seeds from outside Nepal; there are prohibitions against bringing seeds and agricultural products into Nepal.

Tools: Most gardening implements are available locally, but pocketknives, gardening gloves, and clippers can be hard to find. Swiss army knives, multitools, and folding pocketknives should be packed in checked luggage, not in carry-ons. If you are in the Food Security sector, hive tools and basic beekeeping tools are available in-country.

Games

Ludo, Carrom board, Uno, and chess are popular indoor games and locally available in Nepal. Games such as cards can be fun and engaging ways of connecting to your friends —just no gambling!

Gifts

While by no means required, a small gift can be a nice way to make connections with host families and community members. Playing cards of American scenes, UNO, T-shirts from your home state, coffee table books, candy, pictures of yourself in the U.S., and small knickknacks are very much appreciated. Chocolate is a good gift for your first host family but may not survive pre-service training.

Household goods

Pillows, bedsheets, towels, and other household goods are available in Nepal, but the comfort and quality may be far below what is available in the United States. One pillow, one duvet, two sets of sheets, and a mattress are provided to each Volunteer upon arriving in-country. Consider packing any “can’t do without” household items. Some Volunteers choose to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner.

Ziploc bags are a handy and versatile household good. They are convenient for sealing food, toiletries, medicine, and miscellaneous products. Ziploc bags are hard to find locally and are often not the same quality as what Volunteers are used to.

Towels are available in Nepal but likely not at the expected quality or size. Towels will also be needed upon arriving in-country and you may not be able to purchase one immediately. It is recommended to bring at least one quick-dry towel. Some Volunteers recommend bringing a long bathrobe and bath shoes to walk to and from showers since the bathroom floor is generally wet.

Music

Many Volunteers who play a musical instrument find comfort and connection by bringing an instrument to Nepal. Please be aware that the climate can be very hard on musical instruments, and they may be attractive to theft. If you consider bringing a musical instrument, please do not bring something of high monetary or sentimental value. Guitars and some other musical instruments are available, but may be low quality and expensive relative to the modest living allowance. Many Volunteers enjoy having a small, portable Bluetooth speaker to play music in their home and with community members. Please see the section on electricity before selecting a rechargeable speaker.

Art supplies

Watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, colored pencils, Micron pens, sketchbooks, and other supplies are available at select locations in Kathmandu but can be low quality or difficult to find. If you are considering getting into art or already practice, it can be a good idea to bring some materials, like your favorite brand of pens or a travel watercolor kit, from home.

Office supplies

Peace Corps will provide stationery for training during your initial orientation (IO) and pre-service training (PST). This stationery will include basic pens, pencils, notebooks, erasers, and a pencil sharpener. These materials are commonly available in local markets. If you feel strongly about the quality of these materials, bring your preferred stationery. You will also receive lots of paperwork, instruction manuals, and miscellaneous learning materials during Staging, IO, and PST. For organizational purposes, you may want to bring an accordion folder or some other method of organizing paperwork, as well as a collapsible bag to manage these materials.

Personal items

Showing photos of your home and family can be an excellent way to connect with your new community and work partners. Consider bringing a small photo album with prints, as internet connectivity is not always reliable. Also consider bringing other sentimental or personal items that help keep you connected to your sense of home and self, but please do not bring anything with high sentimental or monetary value in case of loss or damage.

Photography

Many Volunteers take excellent photos on their smartphones. For avid photographers, consider bringing your camera equipment, but understand that it may present a temptation to theft. Please consider how you intend to use your camera equipment, especially when taking photos of people. “Extractive” photography is highly discouraged by Peace Corps/Nepal and can create conflict when photos are taken without the subject’s consent. Seek consent before photographing others.

Travel items

Many Volunteers travel within Nepal and internationally over the course of their service. Peace Corps/Nepal recommends that you secure checked baggage during international flights with TSA-approved locks. You may also want to consider a backpack, small mouthed-water bottle (easier to drink from on bumpy roads), and a debit or credit card if you intend to travel outside of Nepal. If you bring a credit or debit card, please consider the card’s expiration date. If possible, renew your card before departure so that it expires after your close of service date.