Know before ABC Trek Food, Drinks and Lodges

Is The Food Facilities Along The Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trail Satisfactory? 

Yes, the food facilities along the ABC trek are satisfactory as it caters to the range of traveller no matter if they want to try out western or traditional cuisine options. 

ABC trek is considered among the best in the world, and more to the point, hundreds, if not thousands, of people trek to Annapurna Base Camp annually. Ultimately, the food facilities along the trail have gradually improved over time because of the progressive increase in the number of trekkers that pass through the trail.

Apart from the teahouses and lodges, there are also a few bakeries and restaurants on these lower elevations on the Annapurna trail, like Ghorepani (2860 m) and Chhomrong (2140m). The friendly pocket foods comprise pulses, which incorporate lentils and rice, vegetables and other local foods, including Dal Bhat food, typical of Nepal. 

However, the food facility may be limited, and the cost may increase as you move from lower to higher elevations. But what remains unchanged even to this date is the simple 'dal that' served at all the teahouse lodges where you have a stopover. If your tea house is located at such a very high elevation, there is very little chance that fresh products will be sourced locally. This being said, the local porters and yak caravans must source them from a place at a distant lower elevation.

This limits the availability of fresh produce, so meals focus on canned and preserved goods, such as rice, lentils, root vegetables, and dried foods. The more one goes up, the more the cost of meals increases as supplies have to be transported to these remote villages. Now, a simple Dal Bhat may cost a couple of dollars in lower elevations, but once you are at Deurali or Machhapuchhre Base Camp, it could cost between $5-10. 

Meat dishes are present but not suggested as the food is usually sourced and has taken a long time to arrive; thus, the freshness is questionable. In general, when talking about food facilities in the trekking area of ABC Trail, trekkers can expect to have a rich food choice in the lower elevations. However, after they cross the elevation of around 2000m, the menu may be limited, or the food menu may be rich, but the cost might be higher. The foods are tasty and satisfying but may be repetitive, especially in the higher reaches. 

How Many Meals Will I Get Served in a Day on Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Most trekkers on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek will be offered three hearty sit-down meals per day at their teahouse lodges. These meals are typically included as part of a full trekking package arranged through a local Nepali agency.

The day starts with a morning breakfast, usually consisting of a simple fare like porridge, eggs, toast or pancakes accompanied by black tea or coffee. This carb-heavy breakfast is meant to fuel you up for the strenuous uphill hiking ahead. After 4-6 hours of trekking, you'll stop for a lunch break around midday. The teahouses offer up-filling lunches like vegetable curries, fried noodle dishes or the classic Nepali Daal Bhaat (lentil soup with rice). It's important to rehydrate and refuel with a hearty meal before continuing on.

In the evening, after setting up at your overnight teahouse accommodation, dinner is served traditionally around 6-7 pm. This is often the most substantial meal, with items like potato/veggie curries, pasta dishes, soups and the ubiquitous "Dal Bhaat" on offer to replenish calories after a long day on the trail. While the meal options are fairly basic and repetitive, especially at higher elevations, these three daily meals provide hot, nutritious and filling food to keep you going on the challenging Annapurna trek. Supplementing with energy bars and snacks in between meals is recommended.

Different Food on Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Breakfast on Annapurna Base Camp Trail

While doing the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, numerous things, including the daily breakfast, which one can look up to. Also, there is variety in the types of food offered in different teahouses. ‘Time’ or ‘Tongue’ is one of the favourite breakfast foods among the Tibetan populace, and it is simply a kind of Tibetan bread. 

These crispy, thin fried bread slices are served alongside a fried or boiled egg dish. It can be eaten in a spicy chilli sauce for hours or with honey and jam. One common choice for breakfast among Annapurna Base Camp Trekkers is the Nepali set breakfast, which consists of vegetables in curry/stew. Other bread options on the menu for your breakfast are Gurung bread, Gurung Bread with Cheese, Chapatti, pancakes, Chapatti with Cheese, Chapatti With Omelette, etc. 

This egg recipe can be a simple omelette, scrambled eggs, freshly made flatbread, or Nepali recipes such as roti or paratha. This filling meal will offer plenty of protein and complex grains to sustain you during the trials. Tibetan Nepali foods such as Serabja, a mixed vegetable stew, are famous for breakfast at higher elevations. For trekkers craving a more Western-style breakfast, pancakes are widely available and can be ordered plain or with delicious sweet or savoury toppings like chocolate sauce, honey, apple compote, or cheese. French toast is another option that makes for a nice breakfast treat.

Porridge or hot cereal is also popular, especially on colder mornings at higher elevations. You'll find oatmeal porridge, Tibetan tsampa porridge (made from roasted barley flour), and porridge flavoured with apple, cinnamon, honey, or chocolate. Muesli with hot milk is another warming option. Of course, a hot cup of freshly brewed English breakfast tea, sweet Nepali milk tea, or coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any breakfast. If you're very hungry, toast with jam, honey, peanut butter or cheese is an easy side to add as well.

For those with a light appetite, lighter options like vegetable soup, fried or boiled eggs, or Tibetan bread with jam can suffice. No matter what you choose, the tea houses offer hot, hearty fare to keep you energised on your trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

Lunch On Annapurna Base Camp Trail

The selection of meals for lunch and food during the Everest Base Camp Trek has much variety, ranging from simple snacks like Tibetan bread with jam to various vegetable and meat soups, sandwiches, dumplings with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian stuffing, pasta dishes and pizza. But nothing beats the nourishment factor and the zeal provided by Dal Bhat. Rice with vegetable curry, lentils and beans makes for a heavenly meal during the trek. Garlic soups are also great for altitude sickness.

Any Himalayan trek is the opportunity to discover varieties of Nepali cuisine, giving enough stamina to trek 5/6 hours a day in the arduous landscape. Lunch is considered to be the main course of the meal in Nepal. So, all the tea houses prepare Dalbhat as the major item, along with many other varieties. Many international trekkers have also preferred to take dal baht for their lunch recently. The reasons behind it are the nutrients it provides and its price. Once you order a set of dal bhat, you can add as much as you desire without any extra charge.

The following are the items most teahouses offer for lunch: rice: Dal Bhat (veg./non-veg.), Thakali Khana Sets, rice with chicken curry, and rice with veg. Curry, Mixed fried rice, Egg fried rice. Noodles: Veg. fried noodles, Egg fried noodles, Mixed fried noodles, Fried noodles with cheese, Spaghetti: Spaghetti with cheese, Spaghetti with tuna or tomato sauce, Spaghetti with veg. sauce. Pasta: Vegetable fried pasta, Mixed macaroni, Pasta with cheese, Pasta with egg, Pasta with tomato sauce, Fried pasta with cheese. Pizza: Mixed pizza, Mushroom pizza, Chicken Pizza. Burger: Mix burger, Veg. burger, Chicken burger, Hamburger, Hot dog. Dumpling: Veg. dumpling, Buff dumpling, Chicken dumpling, Cheese dumpling, Potato dumpling, Paneer dumpling.

Dinner On Annapurna Base Camp Trail 

After finishing the day's hike, trekkers stay at a teahouse or lodge, freshen up, and eat dinner in the dining hall. Most evenings from 7-9pm, the tea houses along the Annapurna trail serve meals. As it gets cold outside in the evenings, there is usually a firewood stove in the middle of the dining hall to provide warmth during dinner.

At high altitudes, trekkers sometimes suffer from loss of appetite. However, it's important to keep your stomach full even if you don't feel hungry, as this helps prevent altitude sickness and keeps your body nourished. Dinner menus are similar to lunch, with hearty options like local dumplings, noodles, pasta, spaghetti or porridge. Rice and vegetable dishes reign supreme as replenishing, energising meals for trekking.

As the sun sets rapidly amidst the mountains, trekkers tend to huddle around the dinner tables, lingering over beer and tea while swapping stories after their filling meals. Dinner is a pleasant respite after a tiring day on the trail. The tea houses offer comparable menus for lunch and dinner, though many Nepalis prefer the classic dal bhat for both meals, while foreigners often opt to sample other dishes. 

Drinks and beverages on Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Hot Drinks

Tea and coffee are hot beverages one can enjoy while on the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Hot drinks like tea and coffee have been popular for hikers in the Himalayas for several years. The price per hot beverage cup ranges from $2 to $5 depending on the type of food and beverages. For many people, having tea or coffee in the evening after a tiring walk has become a tradition. Tea and coffee should also be consumed in moderate amounts because they contain caffeine, which will assist in powering the body during hiking exercise. Some other drinks you will see on the menu are lemon tea,  Tibetan tea, black tea, mint tea,  milk tea, ginger tea, and green tea. You can also order a black coffee or milk. In addition, you can ask for hot lemon soup with ginger, honey, and garlic, which goes a long way in treating cases of altitude sickness. 

Cold, Soft Drinks and Alcohol Beverages

The cold drinks in the ABC route comprise beverages like Coke, Fanta, Sprite, and Pepsi, canned juices, energy drinks, and many more, which are easily accessible. If you are thirsty, you can easily have a good portion of these cold drinks. However, soft drinks contain caffeine; if you take a lot of it, your altitude sickness will rise. So, it is safe to consume soft drinks occasionally. These beverages may be sold at a price higher than the MRP and as the altitude increases, so does the price. 

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How Much Does Food Cost on The Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Food costs on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek are reasonable for trekkers. A budget of around $25 USD per day should cover 3 hearty meals, which comes out to about $8 per meal. Breakfast and dinner tended to be slightly cheaper, while lunch was often the bigger meal.

The prices of food vary along the Annapurna trail, generally getting a bit more expensive with an increase in altitude since porters have to carry everything up the mountain. However, overall food prices are quite similar to other popular trekking routes in Nepal, such as the Everest Base Camp trek or the Poon Hill trek.

Common breakfast choices included porridge, pancakes, or eggs, with a variety of toppings like honey, fruit, and chocolate available. The cost of these plain breakfast dishes will be around 500 Nepali Rupees ($4.30 USD), with toppings adding an extra 100 Rupees (70 cents). A cup of tea may cost 100 Rupees, and instant coffee will cost 150 Rupees, making a typical breakfast around 600 Rupees ($5 USD).

The classic Nepali daal bhat meal, consisting of lentil soup, vegetable curry, and rice, is not exorbitantly priced at approximately 700 Rupees ($5.50 USD) per plate. A great advantage of ordering daal bhat is that you can request free refills once your plate is empty, making it a satisfying and nourishing feast.

The price of daal bhat increased at higher elevations along the following points:

• Ulleri: 650 Rupees for rice, daal, and vegetables
• Tadapani & Chhomrong: 650 Rupees with rice, daal, vegetables, and papad
• Dovan: 700 Rupees with rice, daal, vegetables, and papad
• Ghorepani: 850 Rupees for chicken daal bhat in the traditional Nepali style
• Annapurna Base Camp: Rs. 850 for Dal Bhat (Rice, Dal, Veg & Papad)

With a range of hearty meal options available at reasonable prices, trekkers can adequately fuel themselves on the Annapurna trail without overspending on food. Check out Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost for all costs and prices during the trek.

Food Varieties in Chhomrong With The Cost

Food Varieties in Tadapani With Cost

Food Varieties in Ghorepani With Cost

Food Varieties in Ulleri With The Cost

Food Varieties in Dovan With The Cost

Food Varieties in Annapurna Base Camp With The Cost

Is There a Drinking Water Facility On The Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Yes, drinking water is readily available along the Annapurna Base Camp trekking route through teahouses, lodges, and shops where you can purchase bottled mineral water or refill reusable bottles. However, the tap water is unsafe to drink directly. Bottled water can get quite expensive, so more affordable options include boiling water from local streams to make beverages like tea and coffee. Water purification tablets and chlorine solutions are also viable for treating stream water and making it potable.

At the teahouses, boiled water is provided for drinking purposes. Staying properly hydrated is essential, especially at higher altitudes, to help prevent altitude sickness. Trekkers should aim to drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water per day, including hot drinks like tea, coffee, and soups. Since trekking causes increased sweat and water loss, drinking 4 litres or more daily is recommended to maintain hydration and aid acclimatization.

The isolated mountain locations mean there is no treated drinking water access - locals rely on untreated springs and rivers which can harbor bacteria unsafe for tourists. Teahouses heat water for guests, charging around $1-2 per litre from shops along the trail. For extra precaution, you can further purify boiled water using tablets or liquid treatments. Filtering natural water sources with a personal filtration bottle is another excellent option.

What Types of Accommodations Are Available on Annapurna Base Camp Trek? 

Lodge or Hotel and Homestay Accommodation

You can get tourist-friendly hotels and lodges during the trial of the Annapurna Base Camp. It also provides a comfortable and lavish hotel and teahouse that suits your pocket budget. With the increase in tourism, all forms of accommodation, roads, and anything else are developed. Besides the usual low-budget hotels and lodges, the Annapurna Base Camp trek also offers luxury and deluxe hotels and lodges conveniently located on the trail. The lodge provides you with comfy beds, a pillow, an electric blanket, a hot and cold shower, free WIFI, and so on. These luxury lodges may not be available in the upper elevation. 

Ghandruk and Ghorepani are some of the most traditional houses in the Annapurna region, and local people welcome any traveller to spend the night in their homes. Homemakers of traditional Nepal may extend a welcoming hand physically and socially through the homestay. The village people will host you and your family, and they will welcome you to come and stay at their house. With homestay options, tourists can encounter the day-to-day life of people dwelling in the Himalayan villages and get acquainted with the Himalayan civilization and how they live.

Camping 

Another part of the experience that any trekker would wish to have is camping, and Annapurna Base Camp Trek provides it to a greater extent. While hiking on the trail, you will likely encounter special camping zones; however, you must bring your camping accessories, or they can be hired in KTM or Pokhara before the trek. However, ordinary people, physically fit people, and those who want to go for general camping can also go to the Annapurna Base Camp and back. Staying at tented camps may be more hassle than staying in a tea house since you have to carry everything needed for the journey. Therefore, you will require help from porters. 

Tea House Accommodation 

A teahouse is perhaps the most traditional and commonly used form of accommodation during the ABC hiking path. They can be located near the trails or in a small village where a hiking trail is visible. A tea house is usually locally owned; it is a typical house but has extra space for the hiker to relax as a tea house. Facilities vary depending on the size and type of tea house; some include Wi-Fi and hot showers. Still, you will find a warm hotel with blankets, a comfortable pillow, a beautiful room, and a television.

Some of the services that you are likely to find in any teahouse include twin sharing, dining halls, and separate restrooms (sometimes with an option of squat toilet). The locals who own the restaurant or food business are hospitable and kind, and the environment encourages people to enjoy their dishes. In the tea houses, it is possible to quiz other trekkers on their hiking and get information concerning the trail's condition. Lodges and tea houses along the trail are made of stones and are simple and small with style local rooms. For most of your washroom needs, you will be using the Asian squat toilets located in the compound and shared with others. Tea houses and lodges have a cooking zone, a space used for preparing meals, and a dining space near the fireplace. 

Communal dining areas are designed for trekkers in lodges and tea shops to share stories of their different experiences while having meals. Food is prepared, and the cooking area is warm, boiling water in a pot placed within the hearth. Spending time in front of the fire and sharing stories or jokes with friends or family is fun after an exhausting day. 

Are Amenities Available On Accommodations on ABC Trails?

Yes, most of the amenities, like hot showers, Wi-Fi, etc., are provided in the tea houses. It is good for the trekkers to understand that although they may have the pleasure of having so many facilities available in the lowland, the facilities are limited as you trek to the upper area. There may be no luxuries to access at the elevated place, and if anyone wants to, they must pay extra. Here are some additional amenities and related costs:

Hot Showers

Tourists can have hot shower services in some of these teahouses for a little more cost. As you trek to the higher altitude, shower availability decreases, and you have to extend your shower using water from the bucket. 

Wifi Facility

Internet connection is available at most teahouses on the lower grounds. However, it is pretty slow and available at a small extra charge. To ensure that one has uninterrupted service during the entire trek, he or she is advised to buy a SIM card with a data plan from the local market. The Wi-Fi charge in the tea house may cost between $1-3 dollars per head. 

Restroom Facilities

Restroom facilities vary regarding the availability of flushable and squat toilets. Pack some other basic personal effects since these are unlikely to be provided by the tea houses.

Electricity Facility

Some places don’t have hydroelectric supplies, but solar lights are used in the eating area, kitchen, and rooms. There are no installation and charging plugs in the rooms, but Pops will provide a charging port where visitors can recharge their phones, camera batteries, power banks, torches, and equipment. While charging your device at the charging station, please respect other people from other tea houses since the station aims to charge all the trekkers' devices at a particular teahouse.

How Much Does Accommodation Facility Cost on Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route?

The cost of accommodation along the Annapurna Base Camp trek route can vary considerably depending on the location, season, and amenities. The trek follows a series of teahouses and lodges that provide basic accommodation and meals for trekkers.

At lower elevations near the trailheads, accommodation prices are usually quite affordable, ranging from around $2-5 USD per night for a basic room during the off-season. As you ascend higher into the mountains, prices gradually increase due to the remoteness and difficulty of transporting supplies. Many of the teahouses between 3,000-4,000 meters charge $5-10 USD per night.

During the peak trekking seasons of spring and autumn, accommodation prices can double or even triple at the most popular stops due to high demand. At Annapurna Base Camp itself, set at over 4,100 meters, rooms typically cost $10-20 USD per night in high season. Basic rooms are extremely rudimentary, often requiring sharing blankets and buckets of water for washing, but allow trekkers to experience staying at high altitudes.

For more detailed information on the accommodation types and costs, go through the table below: 

Accommodation Cost in Chhomrong

Accommodation Cost in Ghorepani

Accommodation Cost in Ulleri

Accommodation Cost in Dovan

Accommodation Cost in Annapurna Base Camp 

Final Say

ABC Trek is famous for its Himalayan views, pleasant environment, delicious food, and cosy lodges. We believe that the participants will have a lot of fun tasting traditional Nepalese cuisine and having the best accommodation experience during this peculiar trekking in the territory of Annapurna. The ABC Trek offers food, drinks, and accommodations where clients can choose the kind of foods they want to eat, which, to some extent, can be advantageous. This trip can be made even more realistic by following the advice and recommendations provided on food, drinks, and Accommodations on ABC Trek. Thus, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is arguably the ideal culinary tour for people keen to explore the Himalayas and savour delicious Nepali dishes.