Teahouse and Camping Trekking in Nepal

‘adventure in the comfort of lovely local lodge or with exciting tented camping’

Overviews:

Teahouse or Camping Trekking in Nepal, a great choice to enjoy fascinating scenic adventure around the high Himalayas. Besides Nepal, there are only a few places in the world to provide such facilities in harmony with scenic mountain views. Tea House and Camping Trekking in Nepal

Around Nepal Himalayas, trekkers can relive the days after a pleasant walk in the comfort of nice lodges and resorts. As well as choices of camping which makes the adventure even more classic spending overnights in cozy tents.

Nepal is regarded as the world’s leading and renowned adventure destination, where travelers have the options of tea-house / lodge or camping. 

In the early days, trekking started with camping, and over the years with more arrival of trekkers, then tea house flourished. On Tea House trekking spending overnights and having meals in local lodges, and camping on off the beaten tracks.

Teahouse Trekking in Nepal:

Information on what is Teahouse Trekking:

Teahouse Trekking is spending overnights in local lodges, having meals in the same place, with lunch stop on the route. 

In early days on mains trekking trails around villages, where trekkers could find refuge and shelter in local small tea shops. Which served as simple lodges and inns with basic meals the famous Nepalese Dal-Bhat. As the flow of trekkers increased every season of the year, then nice lovely huts and cottages were built. 

At present visitors can find comfort staying overnights in good lodges known as tea-house, with fancy rooms and a large dining hall. All lodges or Tea House caters to all the needs required by trekkers from nice accommodation to the excellent food menu. Along with great facilities provides hot and cold showers as well Wi-Fi and internets with warm cozy dining rooms. 

Teahouse with various standards to choose from as per one’s budget from simple basic, standard to luxury class lodges. Where most Tea houses and lodges offer all types of rooms, either twin sharing or single supplement / private rooms.

Trekkers in search of high standard comfort can book in for luxury lodges or resorts, especially around Annapurna and Everest region.

Single Supplement / Private Rooms:

Private rooms are also known as single supplements in the tourism and hotel industry, where customers can book for single supplements. At extra expenses on top of the trip package cost, normally the price is set on a twin sharing basis.  

Private rooms where available as of season-wise, during high and peak times, most lodges are full with limited rooms. It also depends on the trekking region, where most main large villages have many good lodges of different categories and standards. But higher up around smaller villages and temporary settlements, single supplement, private rooms might not be available depending upon seasons.

Where trekkers have to compromise on twin sharing room for few days, till main villages are reached on the way back. This type of situation normally happens around high seasons, your guide will inform ahead regarding the possibilities of private rooms.   

Around main large villages, single/private rooms are available with attached bath and toilets. Higher areas the facilities lack with the only choice of common bathrooms, where one needs to pay for using hot showers.

Twin Sharing Rooms:

Twin-sharing rooms are normally allocated by all travel and trekking agencies’ for customers based on trip cost. Where couples and friends share the same rooms on treks as well on hotels in Kathmandu or other major cities.

Twin sharing rooms depending upon the region of trekking, around major villages and towns either with attached or common bath. For individual travelers without close partners or friends have to share the room with other trekkers of the same group. Sharing rooms allows mutual friendship among the group of trekkers and makes the trip more enjoyable. For odd numbers of trekkers in the group like 3, 5, 7, and 9 people, on route treks. Have to share with other new people, apart from your group which happens sometimes in high peak season. 

Sharing Rooms in a Dormitory:

Normally happens staying in a dormitory for shoe-string budget trekkers, who cannot afford single or twin sharing rooms. This condition applies to a group of close friends and relatives or family members, who like to stay together in a dormitory. Dormitory rooms on treks have 4 to 6 beds or more, the cheapest way to enjoy the treks in Nepal. All dormitory without attached bath and toilets, needs the common facilities, as well paying extra for hot/cold showers.    

One has to share the dormitory room among other trekkers, guides, staff, and porters as well in some places. All dormitories have pillows, clean bedsheets, and blankets, but always good and hygienic to carry your sleeping bags.

Teahouse Hospitality and Other Etiquettes:

In Nepal from cities, towns, and remote hill villages the landlord and villagers are always polite, helpful, and supportive. Taking good care of all types of customers reminding them of happy and enjoyable times during their stay. 

The beauty and charm of Nepal apart from spectacular scenery and culture is the warm hospitality of all Nepalese villagers. 

All trekkers are regarded as important and valued guests, greeted with a friendly smile, and adorns customer with traditional welcome and farewell. In every lodge and tea house, where trekker feels homely ambiance with wonderful services offered to all guest. Arrives as a stranger and departs as a friend with unforgettable memories to take home of beautiful Nepalese warm gesture. 

Meals Served in Teahouse / Lodge:

In most major trekking routes around the Annapurna region, Everest region, and Langtang region, Manaslu region meals are available of high international quality. Some high-standard lodges have professional chefs, where trekkers can enjoy a great variety of dishes.

Around most mainstream and popular trekking areas, tea houses and lodge offers a long list of food menu. From continental, oriental like Chinese, Korean, Japanese and European foods along with Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese as well bakeries products. All meals are served hygienically inside a large dining hall with a pot-bellied stove to keep the room warm and cozy. 

Nearly all tea-house and lodge serve almost the same types of food menus from American / Continental or simple breakfast. Includes oats, muesli porridge or corn flakes, toasted bread, eggs of choices, followed with tea, coffee, drinking chocolates. Lunch on the route can be simple of fried/steamed rice, potatoes boiled or fried, noodles, etc…..Dinner is often lavish starting with a choice of soup, main course Nepalese, Indian or continental dish. End the dinner having a desert, either seasonal fresh or canned fruits or bakeries. 

Wi-Fi and Electricity:

Almost every village and tea house/lodge have electrical power from a local hydro project or solar power. Around remote settlements away from the main village, every lodge has a personal generator to run electricity. Some tea-houses with solar energy provide facilities to charge electronic appliances and gadgets on paying the cost for every item. 

In the world of Hi-Tec and modernization, main villages around popular trekking areas do have Network facilities for internet and Wi-Fi. Around remote areas away from main settlements and villages, Wi-Fi is not available only short supply of electricity. Although Wi-Fi is available in major trekking areas, sometimes the network is disturbed due to weather and area of location.

Around deep valleys, gorge, and hills surrounded by high mountains and rocky ridges where networks do not receive clear signals. 

Camping Trekking in Nepal:

The true adventure around Nepal Himalayas is camping trekking, a classic way to enjoy and spend the overnights in tented camps. In the early days till the mid-1990’s camping was the only way to trek around high Himalayan destinations.

Since good lodges known as tea-houses flourished on popular trekking routes, camping has disappeared in mainstream areas. However, camping is still popular for people who are interested in trekking around remote and isolated pockets of Nepal Himalaya. 

Camping Trekking in Nepal is great fun and enjoyable where lodge or tea-house is not available or does not exist. Normally tented camping is necessary if you are trekking around far remote far-flung corners within the absolute wilderness.

Camping trekking, the best way to enjoy an adventure to Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, or any other region off the Beaten Path. As these areas are raw and unspoiled, least ventured by main flow of trekkers, where tented camping is the only way. On camping trekking where trekkers need to book with best-renowned companies, where all logistic support will be arranged. Like good strong two men tents, dining tents as per the size of a group, separate kitchen unit.

Includes cook, kitchen staff, along with guide and porters to carry the camping equipment and foods for the whole trek. Camping also includes toilet tents as well shower tents, the two men or single tents includes thin foam mattress.

Foods are served in large dining tents, with the comfort of portable chairs and tables.

The main course of meals includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea/snacks, and dinner. With the luxury of a morning tea is served in your tents, as a wake-up call, followed by warm washing water to get refreshed. After packing your gear for the potters to carry, and then ready for breakfast, the walk begins for few hours.

Where kitchen staff and cool will reach ahead than the group to prepare lunch after lunch reaches campsite. The tents will be ready by then with warm tea coffee and snacks before dinner time. 

All foods are carried for the treks from Kathmandu, fresh vegetables are bought from local farm villages. Every meal served on camping cooked in kerosene or LPG cooking gas, a good act of eco-trekking and responsible tourism.

Camping cooks know the best with hygiene and care needed to keep the clients healthy and happy throughout the trip.

The last thing to remember on camping trekking, there will be no facilities of electricity to charge your electronic gadgets. Best to carry a small portable solar panel during the trek for your personal use.