Lodging

Most trekkers in Nepal, both foreign and local, make use of Nepal tea houses - small rustic lodging known as Bhatti in Nepalese. They offer a place to sleep and eat home-cooked meals. Tea houses at lower altitude often have flush toilets and hot showers (in return for a $4 fee). As you move higher up into the Himalayas the toilet and shower facilities become more and more basic, starting with standard toilet systems without flushing mechanisms (you use a bucket of water to flush). Hot water and showers become an increasingly scarce facility as you ascend in altitude. At the more remote tea houses, you can pay for a pot of hot water to clean yourself. Most tea houses have a communal restaurant area with a central fireplace. Trekkers will usually gather in the communal restaurant to eat, socialize or read. Generally rooms are set up as twinshare, featuring two beds with a mattress, pillows, duvet (blanket) and sheets. Hygiene throughout most tea houses is not fantastic. We recommend putting a cover over the pillow and using a sleeping bag. It can get very cold at night, particularly higher up, so using a four season sleeping bag is recommended. Walls are not insulated and are thin, making earplugs a wise choice. Most tea houses will have basic access to electricity for lighting and central plug points in the communal restaurant for charging devices like mobile phones. Teahouses may charge between $3-$5 to charge your device. Please note that access to charging points are often limited in the busier tea houses where demand for charging points are high, another reason to disconnect to reconnect.

Food

Tea houses on our route offer a wide choice of beverages from traditional tea to beer and a food menu. Drinks and snacks (like Pringles crisps and chocolates) increase in price as you ascend in altitude. Generally, you can get a variety of rice and noodle dishes in every tea house. The standard combination is mixed vegetable rice or noodle dish with a choice of beef or chicken. Dhal Bhat – rice and lentils – is the national dish, which will be available at every tea house and is a great shout! Many tea houses will also serve basic cheese and vegetable pizzas, garlic soup, omelets, and chapati. For breakfast, you will have a choice of boiled eggs, omelets, and porridge. Please feel free to bring snacks but remember what you pack you will be responsible to carry

Next steps to ensuring a smooth wandering…have a look at our checklist

• Flights to and from Kathmandu on desired travel dates (Remember, our meeting day is on September 30th, but you are most welcome to arrive earlier or leave later. Our recommendation is to arrive 1-2 days prior for acclimatization)

• Hotel bookings in Kathmandu

• Travel insurance (our package does NOT include insurance. We recommend that you get usual travel protection insurance to the degree you feel comfortable with, including considering emergency evacuation at the relevant altitude)

• Visa and vaccinations

• Spending money (only for tips, spending in Kathmandu and otherwise)

• Suggested packing list (do you have everything you think you need for this trip? see our list below!)

• Did you already read the FAQ??

• Lastly, don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure and curiosity!

Suggested Packing List