Rooms, beds and blankets
A standard room has two single beds with foam mattresses, a pillow and a blanket, and plywood walls. Rooms on lower routes such as Poon Hill and Ghandruk often have attached bathrooms. Higher up, at ABC, Gorak Shep or Thorong Phedi, rooms are basic and bathrooms are shared.
- Rooms are unheated. The dining-room stove is the only warm place in the evening.
- Blankets are provided but not always washed often, so bring a sleeping bag or liner.
- Walls are thin, so earplugs are worth carrying.
- Rooms are cheap, often USD 3–15, because the lodge expects you to eat there.
Food: dal bhat power
Dal bhat is rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickle, usually with free refills. It is the staple of the trail, and the saying "dal bhat power, 24 hour" isn't a joke. Menus also offer fried rice, noodles, momos, pasta, pizza, porridge and Tibetan bread. Menus in each village are often set by the local lodge committee.
| Item | Near the road (NPR) | At base camps / high passes (NPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Dal bhat | 500–700 | 1,000–1,500+ |
| Porridge / eggs breakfast | 400–600 | 700–1,000 |
| Pot of tea (small) | 300–500 | 600–1,000 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | 100–150 | 300–500 |
| Beer | 500–700 | 900–1,200 |
Eat vegetarian above the road
Meat is carried in without refrigeration, sometimes for days. Most guides eat vegetarian on the trail, and upset stomachs are less common if you do the same.
Water: refill, don't buy
Plastic bottles are a big waste problem on Nepal trails. Many villages in the Annapurna and Everest regions have refill stations with treated water for about NPR 50–150 a litre. Lodges will also boil water for you or sell hot water.
- Treat tap and stream water: use a filter bottle, UV pen, chlorine dioxide tablets, or boil it.
- Carry two 1-litre bottles. A hot-water bottle filled in the evening doubles as a sleeping-bag warmer.
- Some trails, including the Annapurna Sanctuary, have banned or limited plastic bottles in places.
Showers, charging, Wi-Fi and toilets
| Facility | Lower trail | Higher up |
|---|---|---|
| Hot shower | Often free (solar or gas) | USD 3–5, or a bucket of hot water |
| Charging | Often free in the room | USD 1–5 per device, in the dining room |
| Wi-Fi | Free or cheap lodge Wi-Fi | Paid, slow; Everest Link data cards in Khumbu |
| Mobile data | NTC / Ncell 4G in many villages | Patchy; NTC usually better |
| Toilets | Western, attached | Squat, shared, sometimes outside |
In the Everest region, Everest Link sells prepaid Wi-Fi cards that work across many lodges from Lukla to Gorak Shep. Carry toilet paper and hand sanitiser, and put used paper in the bin rather than the squat toilet.
Etiquette and booking in peak season
- Eat dinner and breakfast where you sleep. That's how lodges earn their money.
- Order dinner early and all at once, because the kitchen cooks in batches.
- Take boots off inside, and keep your feet away from the stove and from people's food.
- Ask before photographing people, prayer rooms or monasteries.
- Walk clockwise around stupas and mani walls.
- Keep noise down after 21:00. Everyone is up early.
October and April
Popular stops such as Ghorepani, MBC and ABC, Gorak Shep, Lobuche and Thorong Phedi can fill up. Guides phone ahead to hold rooms. Independent trekkers should start early and may end up sharing or sleeping in the dining room.
Frequently asked questions
What is a teahouse trek?
A trek where you sleep and eat in family-run lodges along the trail instead of camping. You carry only clothes and personal gear, and you pay for your room and meals each day.
Do teahouses in Nepal have Wi-Fi?
Most do, although it gets slower and more expensive with altitude. It's often free on lower routes and costs USD 3–10 higher up. In the Everest region, Everest Link data cards work across many lodges.
Is it safe to drink water on Nepal treks?
Not straight from the tap or stream. Use village refill stations with treated water, or purify it yourself with a filter, UV pen or tablets. This is cheaper than bottled water and avoids plastic waste.
Do I need to book teahouses in advance?
Usually not, except in October, November and April at popular stops such as Ghorepani, ABC, Gorak Shep and Thorong Phedi. Guides phone ahead for their clients.
Are there hot showers on the trek?
Yes, in most villages. They're often free, solar-heated showers low down and USD 3–5 higher up. Above about 4,000 m, or on cloudy days, it may be a bucket of hot water or nothing at all.
Treks to read next
Got a question we didn't answer?
Our team in Pokhara answers trip-planning questions for free by email. If you'd like us to arrange your trek — licensed guide, permits and transport — we can quote that too.