Teahouse trekking is also known as lodge trekking and relatively cheap way of trekking in Nepal.
It is quite comfortable, specialized and unique method of hiking in the Himalayas.
In Nepal, it is quite popular to trek the trails, stopping in each night to eat and sleep at local tea houses.
Most of the popular trekking trails have reasonably comfortable tea houses.
Teahouse trekking is one of the great ways to connect with the local people and their culture. Also, it is perfect for those who don’t want to carry back-crushing rucksacks.
A tea house trek day starts with hot breakfast served in the tea house restaurant usually at 7:00 am. The trek normally begins at 8:00 am accompanied by your guides and porters.
On average after 3 hours of hike, you will have your lunch in tea houses along the trail. After lunch 3 more hours are covered before reaching the final destination of the day. At the destination, dinners are served around 7:00 pm before taking rest for the night.
The popular trail such as EBC trek and Annapurna region has a wide variety of quality tea houses. Quality and prices of tea houses vary according to competition and number of customers. If you are planning for tea house trekking in Nepal, then you should be familiar with tea house trekking Nepal prices.
Tea Houses Trekking Nepal Prices
The services of tea houses trekking can vary according to the trekking region such as Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang.
In these regions, most of the tea houses offer good facilities. They offer good accommodation with attached bathroom, western food, Nepalese meal. Most of the tea houses offer hot and cold shower as well.
You can also get battery chargeable facility in some of the high places. Telephone and internet facilities are also available in each trekking destinations.
But around the less traveled trekking routes, the facilities are very basic.
Here I am providing some guidelines related to tea houses trekking Nepal prices.
Accommodation
In the popular trekking regions, the tea houses at lower altitudes tends to be nice, often provides western facilities.
A typical tea houses room includes two beds with mattresses, pillows, and blankets. Although you can use a four season sleeping bag as it gets extremely cold during the night. Since the wall of the room is thin and uninsulated you can also use earplugs for extra warmth.
Most of the tea houses accommodations cost around $5 (NRS. 600)- $10 (NRS. 1200) per night. If you have your meals in the tea houses then the price can be little less.
As you move up into the Himalayas the accommodation facilities become more basic. You will find the basic toilet systems without flushing systems (you have to use the bucket of water to flush).
Hot showers become scarce as you ascend in the altitude. At the remote area, even you have to pay for a pot of hot water to clean yourself.
If you are doing trekking in the off season then accommodation costs around $5 (NRS. 600)-$10(NRS. 1200). During this time, the price of the single room goes down and you can easily negotiate.
Everest Base Camp route is little expensive than Annapurna and Langtang region. Also, the price of the accommodation can rise when you further go higher altitude as $15 (NRS. 1800) per night.
During the peak seasons, prices are often set highs and it is very hard to negotiate also.
Food
Most of the tea houses along the popular trekking trails offer basic (and repetitive) food.
For breakfast, you’ll find some pancakes, porridge, varieties of eggs and different pieces of breads. For lunch/dinner, Dhal bhat (rice and lentils) national dish is available at every tea house.
A plate of Dal Bhat includes steamed rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and sauteed spinach. You will find the variety of daal bhat. As some curried, some spicy, and some plain. It depends on how the chef prepares it on your choice.
If you are craving something other than Daal Bhat. Also, there are plenty of other options for food at tea houses. You’ll find basic cheese vegetable pizzas, garlic soups, Momo (dumplings), chapati and noodles.
The cost of the food at the start of trek start from $5 (NRS. 600) and at the high camp can go for $15 (NRS. 1800) per meal.
This is because it is very difficult to transport the food to the higher altitudes. Also, the most of the remote areas of Nepal still not fully accessible to transportation.
Most of the tea houses serve vegetables that are produced from their own field. This is usually organic and good for your health.
Note that you need to totally avoid the meat while trekking in Nepal. On the EBC trek, there is no meat beyond the Namche Bazaar. In the higher altitude, the animals are not allowed to kill. So all the meat products are carried up to the tea houses by foot for 2-3 days.
It is obvious that the cost also varies according to your appetite and number of your meals.
Drinks
Currently, the teahouses in the popular trails offer a vast menu. As Beverages range from traditional tea to beer.
While hiking, staying hydrated is essential and it’s become even more important when you hike in higher elevation.
The 1 liter of bottled water can start at $1 (NRS. 120) and at high elevation might cost $5 (NRS. 600).
You can also use water purification tablet or water filter. As the water in the mountain is not as polluted as in the city.
The cost of the drink is quite similar in all trekking regions. A cup of tea and coffee costs $1.5-5 (NRS. 180-600) and $2-5 (NRS. 240-600). Similarly, the cost of the beer is $5-8 (NRS. 600-960).
At the higher elevation, there is a chance of altitude sickness. So, it is better to avoid the hard drinks on the trail.
Other Miscellaneous Costs
If you require something extra, then you will be charged additionally and don’t expect it to be cheap. These are some extra costs that you may have while doing tea house trekking in Nepal.
Hot Shower
In the popular trekking regions, most of the tea house does not include the hot showers in the accommodation prices.
On the EBC trek tea houses charge a small fee $5 (NRS. 600) for hot showers. With the altitude, this fee increases and can reach $7(NRS. 840). Above Namche Bazaar, you’ll be using a bucket of water if you want to shower.
On the Annapurna Circuit, the showers are free at the very beginning of the trek. But tea houses start to charge at higher altitudes up to cost $3-5 (NRS. 360-600).
At the more remote area, you have to pay even for a pot of hot water. But in the higher mountain, it is not practical and as well as economical to have a shower every day. So you can use some wet wipes instead of a bucket water
Internet Services
In most of the tea houses along the popular trail, mobile connectivity is good at affordable prices. But internet connectivity is not always available.
In this case, there are a better options that you can use prepaid cards. In Everest region, you will get these cards at around $25 (NRS. 3000) for 20 GB. In the Annapurna region, you may get the one-time fee of $5-10 (NRS. 600-1200) for WiFi access.
Sometimes in the remote areas, these are usually unreliable and not all tea houses will have connections.
Charging Electronic Devices
Electricity is available to charge your electronic devices for a small fee at most of the tea houses.
There will be a few plug points usually located in the communal areas of tea houses. They will charge $3-5 (NRS. 360-600) per hour for the use of the plug point.
Also please note that access to charging points is often limited in the busier tea houses or during the peak seasons.
General Tips
- While choosing the tea houses, you can take the help of tour operators. As they will have the advantage of knowing which tea house is the best and also book your rooms in advance.
- In the peak seasons, accommodation may not be available in the best tea houses. So, you need to arrive earlier at your final destination of the day. You might get a good room during high seasons.
- You need to take extra precaution in the tea houses. You can bring a pillow cover or use your sleeping bag in cold night.
Conclusion
The tea houses are basic lodges offering accommodation and food for travelers.
Most of the trekkers rely on these tea houses for food and shelter and thus require minimal equipment.
The quality of tea houses depends on the remoteness of the area and the altitude of the place.
Tea houses trekking are the most popular trekking type in Nepal. Because you will find all above facilities at most of tea houses trekking.
The tea houses are the meeting point for trekkers from various parts of the world. The main benefit of the tea houses trekking is that your local guide will arrange for your accommodation. Thus, you can trek at your own pace.
Finally, tea house trek can be done with ease during any season.
Hope this article gave you some insight on tea houses trekking Nepal prices.
Happy walking!!!!
