What Is a Tea House?

A tea house — also called a trekking lodge — is a basic guesthouse found along Nepal's major trekking routes. They are the backbone of trekking infrastructure in the Himalayas, turning multi-day treks into accessible adventures where you can sleep under a roof and eat a hot meal every night without carrying a tent or stove.

Tea houses range from simple stone buildings with a few rooms to surprisingly comfortable lodges with solar-heated showers and menus running to twenty pages. What you get depends largely on altitude, remoteness, and which route you are on.

Rooms and Facilities

Most tea house rooms are twin-share with two single beds, a thin mattress, a pillow, and blankets. Walls are plywood or stone, and sound insulation is essentially nonexistent. At lower elevations, you may find attached bathrooms and hot showers included. Above 3,500 meters, expect shared squat toilets and bucket showers — if showers are available at all.

Electricity is common but unreliable at higher altitudes. Charging a phone or camera typically costs NPR 200-500 per device. WiFi exists in many tea houses along the Annapurna and Everest routes, though speeds deteriorate dramatically with altitude. Budget NPR 300-500 per session and do not count on it for anything essential.

Food and the Mandatory Meal Policy

This is the single most important thing to understand about tea houses: room prices are kept low because owners expect you to buy all your meals there. A room might cost USD 3-5 per night, but if you eat dinner and breakfast elsewhere, the room charge can jump to USD 15 or more. This unwritten "mandatory meal" policy is how the system works — accommodation is subsidized by food revenue.

Dal Bhat (rice, lentil soup, curried vegetables, and greens) is the most economical and filling option at USD 5-8. Western dishes like pasta, pizza, and pancakes are available on popular routes but cost more — USD 8-15 per meal. Prices climb steadily with altitude because everything above the road head is carried in by porters or mules.

Expect to spend USD 20-30 per day on room and meals combined at lower elevations, rising to USD 35-50 at higher altitudes on popular routes.

How to Choose a Good Tea House

Arrive by early afternoon if possible. Walk through and check a room before committing. Look for mattresses that are not damp, windows that close properly, and a dining room with a working stove — the communal room around the heater is where you will spend your evenings. During peak season (October-November, March-April), tea houses on popular routes fill up, so having a guide who can call ahead is valuable.

Etiquette and Tipping

Remove your shoes before entering the dining area if others have done so. Do not bring outside food into the dining room — this undercuts the owner's livelihood and is considered rude. When paying or tipping, use your right hand or both hands; the left hand alone is considered impolite in Nepali culture.

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Leaving NPR 100-200 per night at a tea house is a kind gesture. For porters, the standard tip is USD 10-15 per day of trekking, and for guides, USD 15-20 per day. Tips are typically given at the end of the trek in a single sum.

What to Bring

A sleeping bag rated to at least -10C is essential — blankets alone are not enough above 3,000 meters. Bring a headlamp for nighttime bathroom trips, earplugs for thin walls, and a quick-dry towel. Toilet paper is rarely provided; carry your own.

Tea houses are what make Nepal's treks uniquely accessible. You trade some comfort for the chance to walk through the highest mountains on earth and sleep in a warm room every night. That is a good deal.

Sources: Mosaic Adventure, Mission Himalaya Treks, Himalayan Recreation, Mountain IQ, Anywhere We Roam, OneSeed Expeditions, Follow Alice, Stingy Nomads.