Bottled water on the trail is carried up by porters and mules, and the empty bottles stay in the mountains. There is no good way to burn or carry them all out. You do not need them: with a bottle and a way to treat water, you can drink safely on every trek in Nepal.
Where the water comes from
Villages and lodges have taps fed by springs and streams. The water looks clean, but it can carry germs from animals and people higher up. Treat all tap and stream water before you drink it.
Ways to treat it
- Tablets or drops (chlorine dioxide is the usual kind): light and simple. Wait the time on the packet, longer in cold water.
- A filter bottle or squeeze filter: quick, no taste. It must remove bacteria and protozoa; most do not stop viruses, so add tablets where water may be dirty. Keep it from freezing at night: a frozen filter can break without you seeing it.
- A UV pen: works in clear water. Batteries are weak in the cold.
- Boiled water from the lodge: safe when it has boiled. Lodges sell it by the litre; it is also a warm bottle in your sleeping bag.
In some areas there are refill points with treated water for a small fee. Use them when you see them.
How much to drink
At altitude you lose water quickly through breathing. Drink often, a little at a time, and add soups and tea. Pale urine is a good sign. Water does not prevent altitude sickness on its own, but being dry makes everything harder. Read more in my guide to altitude sickness.
What to carry
- Two bottles of about one litre each, or one bottle and a soft bladder.
- Tablets or drops even if you have a filter: they are the spare.
- An insulated cover for the bottle in winter and above 4,000 m.
Food and hands
Most stomach trouble comes from hands and food more than from water. Wash or clean your hands before eating, and eat food that is cooked and hot.
Rules change. If something here is out of date, please tell me and I will correct it.Tell me
