Travel tipsters - Nepal

We asked for your travel tips for a couple heading off to Nepal. Here's what you suggested ...

I found that the best thing I could have taken to Nepal was wet-wipes. They were handy for cleaning crockery, cutlery and hands etc. I recommend they be taken out of the container they come in and put them in small snap-lock plastic bags, they take up much less room.

Mary Dowler

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Don't take a plastic drink bottle, buy a metal one and a bottle holder which straps around your waist so you can take a drink without having to take your backpack off.

If using tablets to kill the bugs in the water take a couple of Refresh sachets (orange flavour), otherwise the water tastes pretty rough.

The teahouses cost between 50c and $2 a night, why take a tent? Leave it in Pokhara.

Ross Berry

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IFI - identification, finance, insurance. Everything else takes care of itself.

Viiu Booker

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Teahouses are a great why to meet the locals. The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. The food is great, but I recommend everyone order the same dish - that way you will get your food quickly as they tend to only have one fire/gas ring.

Support the local people by buying their food, as a small amount of money to you is a lot to them. Buy loads of chocolate in Kathmandu before you go walking. It is extremely expensive on the trail.

Take a couple of good books, once read these can be swapped with other travellers.

Take a good first aid kit including: diastop tablets, you will probably need them. Also include antiseptic cream, plasters, and painkillers, but if you get headaches check that it is not the altitude that has caused it.

Take good hat, gloves, weatherproof jacket, polar fleece, etc.

Don't give freely to the children, let them earn money by doing your washing etc, and remember not to give too much as they will learn to expect that from the next traveller.

Take laundry soap and a nailbrush for scrubbing the clothes, and a stretchy washing line for drying them.

Remember not to take too many clothes, one change is enough, wear one - wash one. A wee mirror is handy.

Jane Tainish

* Let us know what advice you would offer to someone going on their big OE - where to go, what to take and places to stay.

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