Teahouses are the backbone of trekking in Nepal, providing accommodation, meals, and basic facilities along the trails. Whether you’re trekking to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang, or Manaslu Circuit Trek, you’ll be staying in teahouses for most of your journey.
These lodges vary in quality depending on the region, altitude, and remoteness, but they all offer a welcoming atmosphere and a glimpse into local culture. Here’s what you can expect from teahouses in Nepal in terms of rooms, food, Wi-Fi, charging, and other facilities.
Rooms: Basic but Comfortable
Teahouse rooms are simple and functional, usually with twin beds, a mattress, pillow, and blanket. The walls are thin, often made of wood or stone, which means sound travels easily between rooms.
At lower altitudes, rooms may have attached bathrooms, but as you ascend higher, shared toilets are the norm. In more popular trekking trails like Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna, some teahouses offer deluxe rooms with private bathrooms and hot showers, but these come at an extra cost.
Most trekkers bring a sleeping bag for added warmth, as teahouse blankets may not always be enough, especially in higher elevations where temperatures drop below freezing at night. Rooms are not heated, so expect cold nights, and many trekkers gather in the dining area, which is the only heated space in most teahouses.
Food: Hearty and Carb-Rich Meals
Teahouses serve nutritious meals designed to keep trekkers energized for long days of hiking. The most popular meal is Dal Bhat, a traditional Nepali dish consisting of rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, and pickles. It’s all-you-can-eat in many teahouses, making it the best option for those who need extra energy.
Breakfast options include pancakes, Tibetan bread, porridge, eggs, and toast, while lunch and dinner menus offer fried rice, noodles, pasta, momos (dumplings), and soups. Meat is available in some teahouses, but it’s best avoided at higher altitudes as it’s not always fresh due to the lack of refrigeration.
Teahouses also serve hot drinks like tea, coffee, and hot lemon, which are essential for staying warm and hydrated. Prices for food increase as you go higher up the trek, as all supplies are carried by porters or yaks.
Wi-Fi and Internet: Limited and Slow
Wi-Fi is available in most popular trekking regions, but the speed and reliability vary. In places like Namche Bazaar, Manang, and lower parts of the Annapurna region, the connection is decent for messaging and browsing.
However, at higher elevations like Gorakshep (Everest region) and Thorong Phedi (Annapurna Circuit), Wi-Fi can be extremely slow or unavailable due to weather conditions and network congestion.
Teahouses charge a fee for Wi-Fi usage, and in some areas, you need to buy a Wi-Fi card to connect. Even with Wi-Fi, streaming or video calls are rarely possible, so it’s best to download offline maps and entertainment before the trek.
Charging: Paid and Limited Power Supply
Charging electronic devices in teahouses is not free. In lower altitude villages, you can charge your phone or camera in the room, but at higher altitudes, charging is only available in the dining area and costs $2–$5 per hour.
Since most teahouses rely on solar power or small hydroelectric sources, electricity can be unreliable, especially during cloudy days. It’s a good idea to bring a power bank or solar charger to ensure your devices stay powered throughout the trek.
Toilets and Showers: Basic and Varying with Altitude
In lower-altitude teahouses, Western-style flush toilets are available, often with attached bathrooms in deluxe rooms. As you go higher, toilets become squat-style and are often shared among guests.
Hot showers are available for an extra fee in most teahouses, typically $3–$10 per shower. Some places provide gas-heated showers, while others rely on solar heating, which means you may not always get warm water, especially on cloudy days. At very high altitudes, trekkers often skip showers for multiple days due to freezing temperatures and limited water availability.
Warmth and Heating: Limited to Dining Areas
Teahouses are not heated, except for the dining area, where a wood or yak-dung stove is lit in the evenings. Trekkers gather here to stay warm, socialize, and eat meals before heading to their cold rooms for the night.
Since firewood is scarce in higher elevations, heating is only available for a few hours in the evening. Some teahouses offer a hot water bottle for your sleeping bag for an extra charge, which can help keep you warm during the night.
Drinking Water: Bring a Filter or Buy Bottled Water
Teahouses provide boiled drinking water for a fee, usually $1–$3 per liter. Bottled water is also available, but it gets expensive at higher altitudes and increases plastic waste along the trails. The best option is to bring a water filter, purification tablets, or a UV sterilizer to safely drink water from streams and taps.
Hospitality and Atmosphere: A Home Away from Home
One of the best aspects of staying in teahouses is the hospitality of the local hosts. Many teahouses are family-run lodges, and the owners go out of their way to make trekkers feel welcome. In the evenings, the dining area becomes a social space, where trekkers from around the world share stories, play cards, and warm up by the fire.
Final Thoughts: Be Prepared and Embrace the Experience
Teahouses in Nepal offer a unique and authentic trekking experience, providing basic yet comfortable accommodation, hearty meals, and a warm atmosphere. While Wi-Fi, charging, and showers come at an extra cost, these lodges allow trekkers to travel light without the need for tents and cooking equipment.
Understanding what to expect from teahouses will help you prepare better, whether it’s bringing a sleeping bag, power bank, or extra cash for amenities. Embrace the simple lifestyle of the mountains, and you’ll find that the teahouse experience is an essential part of trekking in Nepal.