If you’re anything like me, you’re probably the kind of person that takes an entire week to pack for a weekend getaway. Or even worse, you end up bringing 10 jackets and sweaters in your luggage because you don’t know much about the art of layering and don’t want to suffer in the cold. When I started preparing for my trip, I wasn’t quite sure what to bring. But you don’t have to worry – take my trip as your test run and you’ll know exactly what to put on your Bhutan packing list.
Bhutan is cold during the months of December to February, with most days clear and sunny and with very little rainfall. Knowing that I’d be trekking around Bhutan, I wanted to bring along as little as possible to make it easier to carry my things whenever we were on the move, I made sure that whatever I took would fit into one small cabin suitcase and a sports backpack that I would use on my two-day hiking trip.
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What should be on your Bhutan packing list: Layers, layers, layers!
Although we were allowed to leave our luggage at the hotel, we were still advised by our guide to bring extra scarves, gloves and jackets for when temperatures dipped later in the evenings in Bhutan. Temperatures fluctuate greatly in Bhutan – a typical day could dip from 20 degrees Celsius in the days to just 5 degrees at night, and if you are planning to visit higher altitudes like we did, you’ll need to be prepared for sub-zero temperatures!
To save you from overpacking, I would recommend the following clothes items and interchange your outerwear as you go from day to day, instead of bringing more than 1 heavy item:
- Thermals: 3 or 4 long-sleeved thermals to layer over each other, as well as under a good heavy, loose sweater. Depending on your day and activity, you’ll need to be able to remove or add on layers as you go about your day, especially if there’s hiking involved. You can easily find good thermals from Uniqlo’s heat tech range. I also recommend their thermal leggings if you plan on camping outdoors.
- Woollen sweater – 1 good quality woollen sweater to go over your thermals, t-shirts, or tank tops. This will also come in handy if you need to cover up when entering a temple as you’ll need to dress modestly.
- Woollen shawl/scarf – Super handy if you’re feeling a little chilly on the plane or in your tour vehicle – a versatile travel essential. If you don’t have a woollen scarf, you can also visit one of the many craft shops in Bhutan to purchase one made of yak wool, which is extremely soft and feels super luxurious! (I wore my scarf with my woollen sweater over a thermal layer and tank top + jeans to reduce bulk in my luggage). I bought a yak wool poncho that was super soft and comfy and kept me warm throughout my holiday.
- Leather jacket – a leather jacket never goes out of style. Bring one on warmer days over your layers if you’re out for dinner or evening drinks indoors.
- 2 – in- 1 winter jacket + fleece: If you are planning to go hiking at high altitudes, I cannot recommend enough the importance of a waterproof winter jacket/windbreaker. Not only do temperatures dip drastically, the wind cuts straight through your outer layers to your bones. I was lucky enough to find an affordable jacket in Decathlon that came with a detachable fleece jacket!
- Lightweight down jacket/vest – Do not underestimate this piece of clothing, my down vest kept me so warm during the chilly Bhutan evenings even without a jacket on top. I highly suggest bringing along a lightweight down jacket (you can even fold it to compact spaces). If you need to cut down on weight and have to give up one piece of outerwear, make it the leather jacket and keep the down jacket in your bag.
- Bottoms – 1 pair of jeans, 3 active wear long leggings – We were blessed with cool weather and I hardly broke a sweat the whole time we were in Bhutan, so I managed to wear and rotate all my bottoms with my layers. I saved 1 pair especially for the 2-day Bumdra Trek when I knew I would get dusty and dirty.
- Shoes – Unless you’re attending a fancy banquet, there’s absolutely no need for high heels and fancy footwear. IMHO, 2 pairs of sneakers, one for everyday walkabouts and one for hiking is good enough. You will definitely be moving a lot in Bhutan and your trainers will accumulate a good amount of dirt on your trip, so if they are an old pair, you might have to part with them at the end of the holiday.
- Warm accessories – If you are planning a Bumdra Trek or any trek into higher altitudes, especially if you are staying overnight, I highly recommend woollen gloves and socks. At almost 3900m altitude during the Bumdra trek late at night, we were freezing cold and the water in our bottles turned into ice. Without a good pair of gloves, our fingers and toes would’ve broken off from the cold! A nice woollen beanie also helps, if not for the cold, definitely with stopping hair from blowing into your face.
- Rucksack/tote bag – apart from your larger piece of luggage, its good to bring with you a backpack (for hikes) or a tote bag to carry your necessary belongings for the day. Bear in mind that tours normally take a whole day so you’ll have to bring whatever you need for the day out with you. Also great for carrying your shopping (Bhutan has a ban on plastic bags – way to go carbon negative!)
- Sun cream + sunglasses + lip balm + moisturiser – It’s important to note that Bhutan’s high altitude naturally means you are closer to the sun. All that added to cloudless blue skies and chilly winds equals an impending disaster for your skin. Make sure you slather on that SPF 50 and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! After coming back from Bhutan, my lips were so badly wind-burnt that they took almost a month to heal from the peeling and cracking.
- DSLR/mirrorless camera + selfie stick – Yes I said it, SELFIE STICK! For the sake of getting that perfect selfie with the Himalayas in the background, I make a special allowance for the much-hated selfie stick – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. I am not really one for fancy cameras and usually believe my phone takes pictures just fine. However, I really wished I had invested in a good mirrorless camera before the trip as the photos from my phone really didn’t do justice to the beautiful scenery. Luckily, I was travelling with 3 photography buffs which made up for the lack of good photos on my part. Also, Portrait Mode on the iPhone really does make everything look better! If you don’t want to invest heavily in a brand new camera, you can look online to purchase an older model or some can even be rented.
- Toiletries: If you are not fussed about the brand of toiletries, most hotels and accommodation in Bhutan offer the basics: shampoo, conditioner, body soap. They might not be the same brands you’re familiar with back home, but they get the job done. However, I would recommend bringing a lot of travel-sized items of your own, especially if you want to stick to your regular skin care regimen while overseas. Your skin will thank you for it!
- Kindle – Never used it once on the trip, except when I was on the plane. Even during long rides in our tour van through Bhutan, I spent most of my time admiring the views of the Himalayas and the wonders of Bhutan.
In a nutshell, here’s what I packed so you can have a checklist:
Winter Wear:
-Thermal innerwear – 3/4 long sleeved (wear 1 on plane)
-Woollen sweater (wear on plane)
-Shawl/scarf (wear on plane)
-Leather jacket (Lightweight, optional)
-Waterproof jacket (+fleece)
-Down jacket/vest
Bottoms:
-Jeans (wear on plane)
-Activewear trousers x 2/3
Shoes:
-2 pairs (wear one on plane)
-Hiking boots (optional)
Warm accessories:
-Gloves
-Wool hat
-Wool socks
Daily essentials:
-Sun cream
-Sunglasses
-Lip balm
-Moisturiser
-Toiletries
Photography essentials:
-Powerbank for phone
-Camera
So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets to Bhutan and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
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>>Also read: 10 Things You Definitely Need To Know Before Travelling To Bhutan
*Note: These rates are based on search queries made on nz.kayak.com on 14 August 2018. The prices are quoted in NZD. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
