Food & Drinks on Trek
What to Expect — and What to Try
Food is one of the things we are always most excited to talk about with our guests. Eating well in the mountains makes a real difference — and the teahouses along Nepal's trekking routes do a wonderful job of keeping trekkers happy and well-nourished.
One important thing to know from the start: please always eat at the guesthouse where you are staying overnight. Room rates along the trail are kept low on purpose — the families who run these lodges rely on food and drink sales to make a living. Eating at your lodge is one of the most direct ways you can support them.
If you are trekking with one of our guides, he will take care of everything — ordering your food, communicating with the kitchen, and making sure you are well looked after. Our guides and helpers typically eat separately from the guests, as is the local tradition.
The menus at the teahouses offer a lovely mix of Nepali and international dishes. Our honest advice: always lean toward the local options. They are the chef's specialties, prepared with fresh ingredients — many of them grown right outside the kitchen door.
The dish we recommend to every guest is Dal Bhat — Nepal's national meal of rice, lentil soup, and curries. It is hearty, warming, and endlessly satisfying after a long day on the trail. And a wonderful thing about Dal Bhat: you can refill the rice, lentils, and curries at no extra charge. We always say: Dal Bhat power — 24 hours! Another absolute favourite is Momos — small steamed dumplings served with a spicy dipping sauce. If you see them on the menu, please do try them.
For breakfast, you can expect a good selection of omelettes, porridge, muesli, and pancakes. A warm cup of morning tea or coffee is always a very welcome start to a trekking day.
Meat dishes are available but more limited at higher altitudes — we generally recommend the vegetarian options higher up, as they are fresher and more reliably prepared.
If you are on a package trek with us, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included in your price, along with a morning tea or coffee. All other drinks — soft drinks, juices, beer — are paid for separately.
Please do bring a refillable water bottle. Water is sold from large tanks along the trail to reduce plastic waste, and it is available almost everywhere. Just be aware that prices for food and drinks are generally higher the further up the mountain you go — this is perfectly normal and expected.
One gentle note on alcohol: it is available in the mountains but very expensive, and we would always advise caution at higher altitudes where it can increase the risk of altitude sickness.
Finally — a word of reassurance. The food along the trail is always prepared fresh and with clean ingredients. However, some guests do experience mild stomach discomfort in the first day or two, as the body adjusts to a different environment and different bacteria. This is very common and almost always passes quickly. If you are trekking with us, your guide will always carry some light local remedies and is very happy to help.
A Taste of What Is Waiting for You
A few of our favourite moments from the trail — because food in the mountains always tastes better with a view.
Still Have Questions About Food on Trek?
Please do not hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help — whether it is a question about dietary requirements, what to expect at a specific altitude, or simply what our personal favourite dish on the trail is.