You are at home on your chair or a sofa. You could even have a pizza or fresh coffee you just brewed. And you have just opened an article on “Food and Accommodation in Everest Base Camp Trek.” This tells me two things: A) You are planning a trek to EBC, and B) You are curious about the food varieties and lodging options in the Everest region, as well as their costs. If I am anywhere near with my guess. Then, BINGO! This is the article for you.
Don’t worry. You are not limited to the basics of food and accommodations in your Everest Base Camp Trek. There are multiple options, well, at least at lower altitudes. As you climb higher, the options become fewer. The family-run teahouses and private lodges are your place to stay. These accommodation options include amenities like bathrooms, Wi-Fi, hot showers, and electricity.
Talking about the food, remember that pizza and coffee? You might not have to leave them entirely on your trek. The teahouses and lodges in the Himalayas offer a variety of local cuisine along with international dishes. You can either experience the taste of Traditional Nepal dishes like Dal Bhat and Tarkari in this land of snow and mountains, or you can eat different pasta and sandwiches. Read along to learn more about the foods available, accommodation choices, and their costs.
Many people have this misconception about the kind of food at the Everest Base Camp, that it is limited and bland. The misconceptions might be there because of the remoteness of the place. But rest assured! It’s just a myth. The menus are diverse, offering various foods, from local Tibetan breads to Italian culinarians. The teahouses on the EBC have learned to cater to the trekkers in terms of taste. However, the cost of food increases, and the options get shorter with altitude, given that they have to be carried there through rugged terrain as there are no other means of transportation in these regions.
One of the highlights of the trek to Everest Base Camp is experiencing Local cuisines. Nepali dal bhat takari (rice, carry, and lentil soup) is the most common. You will find it in almost every lodge and teahouse. Along with this, you can also try other regional sherpa cuisines like Riki Kur and Tsampa. Most lodges and teahouses offer these hearty meals to fill you up and give you the necessary energy to continue your journey. We suggest you try these items to change your taste buds.
Dear Trekker, Nepali cuisine is not the only cuisine available. You don’t have to eat the same rice and curries on your trek; you can experience different culinary items like pasta, noodles, and pizza. These items are not just a replacement for Nepali taste but also the source of your carbohydrates, which play a crucial role in providing energy for the trek. So, as you climb from Lukla to Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp, you can shift from pizza to burger to spaghetti.
You will be spending a huge amount of calories along the trek. The only way to regain them is through food. So, how important is it? It is as essential as oxygen. As discussed above, your food options are not limited even at high altitudes. However, you must be careful with the portions and the type of food you consume, as you can’t risk your health. You must consume at least three meals daily—breakfast, Lunch, and dinner.
Not consuming something before you start your trek is probably a bad idea. In such cases, you will soon run out of energy and struggle with the thinning of oxygen and the growling stomach. You will have breakfast at the teahouses or lodges where you spend the night. Tea, coffee, eggs, juice, porridge, cereals, breads, toast, and oatmeal are some of the best options you can go for. They are filling and tasty, satisfying both your taste buds and stomach.
For Lunch and dinner at Everest Base Camp Trek, you will mostly eat Rice, Curries, lentils, pasta, and chapatis, which are filling and balanced with proper nutrition. You can add soups and eggs for liquid and protein intake. While you have your Lunch during the trek, dinner will be served at the station where you will spend the night. So, if you are craving some meat, Don’t worry; the lodges or teahouses at lower altitudes have varieties of steak, too. However, the quality of meat is a significant concern at higher altitudes. And lastly, these accommodation facilities also have vegan options. You need to inform them in advance.
The raw materials in these remote houses on the trek to Everest Base Camp are not regional. The owners of teahouses and lodges have to get it by foot from Namche Bazaar or Lukla. So, it’s valid that the food prices significantly increase as you climb up throughout the trek. Your typical breakfast in lower regions costs between USD 3 and USD 8.
The same breakfast in higher areas might cost you up to USD 12. Lunch and dinner at places like Namche and Phakding are cheaper than at Gorak Shep. Depending on how many items you order, your lunch and dinner cost anywhere from USD 10 to USD 20. Now let us look at the prices of different items below so that you can get an approximate estimation;
| Food Items | Prices (approx.) |
| Mo: Mo | 650-950 |
| Rice with curries (various) | 500-1000 |
| Noodles | 400-600 |
| Macaroni, Spaghetti | 650-950 |
| Pizza | 750-900 |
| Burger | 650-900 |
| Steak | 950-1100 |
| Sandwich | 650-900 |
| Eggs (2 pieces) (omelet, boiled) | 550-700 |
| Noodles | 650-800 |
| Potatoes | 600-900 |
| Fresh Baked Bread | 500-800 |
| Pancake, toasts | 500-800 |
Note: These are the approximate prices for all the dishes. As you ascend, the prices increase, and some dishes might be missing from the menu.
Drinking plenty of liquid during your trek, whether the Everest Base Camp trek or any other, does wonders. It keeps you hydrated and reduces the risks of altitude sickness. You must maintain liquid intake through water, tea, coffee, and soups. Even though cold drinks and alcohol items are available, we suggest you steer them as they will do more harm to your body.
Drinking water is not scarce on this trek. You can easily buy bottled water from your accommodation. You can buy hot water and fill your thermal flaks for the journey. If drinking water from natural sources, you can use water purification tablets and portable filters.
Hot tea or coffee in the cold weather of the Himalayas can be a sensational feeling as it warms your body. Every typical teahouse on Everest serves them. They also serve other varieties of tea and coffee, hot chocolate, mint, and ginger tea. You can also carry coffee sachets, tea bags, and sugar cubes with you all the way from Kathmandu. This way, you can buy hot water and make them yourself.
These Everest base camp trek accommodations offer a variety of alcohol. We suggest you stay away from it. Yes! A hot rum after a long trek sounds like a fantastic option to warm yourself up but remember, this fantastic option can cause dehydration, disrupt sleep, and reduce oxygen absorption, increasing the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
The same rule applies to beverages. The prices go up as you go up. Here is the table providing you with the approximate cost for all of them;
| Type of Beverages | Price at Lower Region (approx. in NPR) | Price at Higher Region (approx. in NPR) |
| Water Bottle | ||
| Hot Water | 120 for a cup | |
| Tea (various) | 180-250 for a cup | |
| Coffee (black and milk) | 180-250 for a cup | |
| Hot chocolate | 250 for a cup | |
| Soft Drinks | 400 | |
| Beer | 650-950 |
Here are some tips from our side that might come in handy for you in your trek;
On your journey to Everest Base Camp, you will encounter two kinds of accommodations: lodges and tea houses. As you trek higher, the cost of lodging increases, and amenities like showering and proper bedding decrease. These teahouses and lodges are located throughout the Everest Base Camp trail. And, as they are built to cater to trekkers, they offer a variety of foods and amenities. Remember that they will charge you for these services, though. And, due to their location, you can enjoy the surrounding views, including the Himalayan ranges, as you relax.
Another accommodation option that many don’t prefer is sleeping in night tents. If you want to enhance your trekking experience and are okay with bringing your food, tents, gas cylinders, and other essential gear, this might be the right choice.
The tea houses on the Everest Base Camp Route are family-run guesthouses that are affordable places to spend your night. You can find them in settlements and villages along the route. They offer rooms with shared facilities and communal dining areas. A private room is an option in some of the teahouses. Most teahouses don’t have private restrooms, especially at higher elevations. This accommodation type features Western-style toilets at lower levels, while higher levels primarily have squat toilets. Facilities like hot showers, electricity, and Wi-fi come with an additional cost. These amenities lessen as you ascend on your trek. Carrying your sleeping bag might be a good idea for that extra warmth and cleanliness.
The other Everest Base Camp Trek accommodation options are hotels and lodges. While tea houses provide a sense of community, these are all about luxury and comfort. They offer private rooms with attached bathrooms. Services like hot showers and charging are included in the prices. The toilets in this kind of accommodation are Western-style and well-maintained. Many of them provide heating blankets to keep you extra warm. However, these luxury lodges are limited to the lower parts. Their prices are comparatively on the higher side. However, remember that the lodges/ hotels are available only at Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
The major difference between tea Houses and Hotels during the Everest Base Camp Trek lies in the services they provide. One is affordable, and the other is comfortable. The table below will help you understand their differences based on various features;
| Feature | Teahouses | Lodges/Hotels |
| Room Facilities | Single or twin beds with mattress, pillow, and blanket Shared Rooms No insulation | Private or upgraded rooms, Better insulation, Quality bedding |
| Toilets | Shared Western-style in lower areas squat in upper areas. | Attached private bathroom Mostly Western-style |
| Hot Showers | Have to pay Limited as you ascend | Often included in the prices Paid at some |
| Prices | USD 5 to USD 10 at lower parts. up to USD 30 in upper regions. | USD 15 TO USD 30 |
| Wi-fi and Charging | Paid | Often included in the Price |
Regarding accommodation during the Everest Base Camp Trek, many trekkers prefer teahouses for their affordable prices; some opt for luxury and comfort. It all comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend. Here are the significant things to consider while choosing accommodations;
The cost of accommodations depends upon mainly two factors: the services it provides and the location they are situated in. Tea houses in the lower parts will cost you between USD 5 and USD 10. The cost increases with altitude, reaching up to USD 30 for a night stay. The tea houses might charge you extra for other services like Wifi and charging. The hotels are mainly available only in the lower regions. They focus on comfort and provide more amenities than tea houses. So, their prices are on the expensive side. They will cost you up to USD 30, even in lower areas.
Note: There are very limited teahouses in the higher parts. We advise you to book in advance, even before you land in Nepal, to ensure you get a good room with proper facilities.
On the Everest Base Camp Trek, food is available in a wide variety of options, from international dishes to pure, authentic Nepali and Sherpa tastes. You don’t have to compromise your tongue and stomach, even if you sacrifice your comfort for the trek. Unlike food, few options are available for accommodation in the Everest region. Lodges or tea houses are your only option. Teahouses are budget-friendly and might charge you for services like showers, charging, and Wi-Fi. Hotels and lodges are all about comfort. Their price often includes the services.
Lastly! Dear fellow travelers, besides the view of Mount Everest, the Everest base camp trek offers the heartwarming hospitality of the wonderful people. Indeed, it is an experience of connection and beauty. It is an exchange of foods and cultures. Enjoy your trek! Enjoy your food!
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