The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is an enticing destination that leads you to the heart of the Himalayas. The incredible mountainous views, humble local interactions, and rich biodiversity of the trail make this an experience like no other. Due to its unparalleled natural beauty, the ABC trek has become one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal, enough to go head-to-head with the Everest Base Camp.
What makes the Annapurna Base Camp highly popular apart from the obvious beautiful mountain landscapes is that it is actually very accessible and can be done in 5-7 days. And while the attractions of this track is truly what pulls people from all around the world, there are many curiosities needing to be answered before you actually decide to do the trek. Among many things like preparations, difficulties, elevations, etc., questions regarding food and accommodations are some of the most asked ones. On this blog, you will be presented with the ultimate guide.
Trekking to high elevation is not a small feat to achieve. While the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is considered to be very beginner-friendly and a moderate trek overall, you will need to do everything you can to make it comfortable and a good experience. Your diet on the trail determines your experience.
Having a good meal, whether for breakfast, lunch,or dinner, is an important part of our day. Food gives us energy and motivation to go about our day and do our tasks successfully. Especially during a trek, which is a physically demanding activity, eating a proper meal is extremely important.
The trail of the Annapurna Base Camp has many tea houses scattered in the area. The tea houses operate on a menu system, so anything you want to eat, the price will be set on the menu. Typically the price does not vary on different tea houses of the same location; rather, the price differences will depend on elevation gain. Which means, the higher you ascend, the price will be set higher. So, you are more likely to pay more for your food and accommodation in the base camp compared to Jhinu Danda.
The food on the trail can be categorized into two different parts: Local Nepalese Food and western food
You probably have heard the phrase “Dal Bhat Power, 24 Hours.” And it isn’t exactly an exaggeration; Dal Bhat is a staple Nepali food that the people of here consume twice a day without fail. If you’ve seen the porters carrying the load, that is five times more than their own weight, that means they’re running on Dal Bhat. The Dal Bhat meal contains a well-rounded diet consisting of a combination of lentil soup, rice, and vegetable curry that gives you all the energy required for hours of hiking. What more is that the meal has the freshest local ingredients that are better for the body than packaged food. And of course, it is very delicious.
The Dal Bhat is your two meals, lunch and dinner. While you do not have to eat Dal Bhat for your every meal, we do recommend you have it at least once a day. For breakfast, Tibetan bread with some sort of curry and eggs is a staple among the trekkers. Other local foods include fermented spinach called gundruk, thukpa, porridge, different curries, momo, etc.
Nepalese meals include the fresh and locally grown veggies, which are very good for your health and give your body all the required energy to successfully complete the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
You can easily find western food in the tea houses of the Annapurna Base CampTrek; however, you need to be a little more flexible with your palette and not expect a hundred percent authenticity when it comes to eating the western food. The tea houses offer food like pasta, pizza, pancakes, eggs, toasts, etc. There won’t be a large variety of western dishes but just enough to satisfy your cravings.
The trail is quite friendly for both vegans and vegetarians. In fact, the trail is known to be a vegetarian trail, mainly because of the religious beliefs of the people. You can see along the trail that meat is not allowed. Places like Jhinu Danda offer meat dishes but further up from there, the trail is vegetarian, along with the local people.
One thing we need to understand and be aware of before embarking on our trekking journey to the Annapurna Base Camp, is that the facilities will be limited and sometimes you need to compromise in certain situations. Mountain regions are known to be remote with limited facilities, so do not go expecting a five-star luxurious experience in accommodation.
The layout of all tea houses will have connected rooms, a separate dining hall, and separate common bathrooms, with exceptions to some that have attached bathrooms.
Depending on the trail you have chosen for the trek, you can encounter a variety of accommodations types. While tea houses are the standard accommodation, there are other options as well, and they are:
Tea houses are the most commonly found accommodation on the trails of the Annapurna trek. They offer a basic room with twin beds and common bathrooms. The higher you ascend, the more basic their facilities get. Extra facilities, such as hot showers and charging devices, will cost extra.
Trekking lodges offer more facilities and comfort compared to the tea houses. You can find lodges to stay in the lower elevations, depending on your favorite trekking route. For example, there are an ample number of lodges in Ghandruk that provide facilities like a good room with a private bathroom that has hot showers.
There are homestays in some parts of the trekking route as well. A prime example is the Ghandruk village. Homestays give you an authentic glimpse of Gurung culture. You will stay at a traditional home and eat authentic local food prepared by the homeowners.
Camping is a great way to have a thrilling outdoor experience. But you need to prepare all the camping equipment, such as tents, sleeping bags, food, etc. It is not always reliable but can be an adventurous experience if done with the right preparations.
The facilities and amenities provided by the tea houses on the trails of the Annapurna Base Camp vary from location. You can get more options, such as attached bathrooms and hot showers, in the lower parts of the trail compared to the higher altitude. So here is what you can expect from a standard tea house on the ABC trek:
The tea houses provide the following facilities:
Charging Electronics: You can charge your devices by paying $2-$5 per charge.
Internet: You can use wifi freely in the lower area but as you ascend higher, you will have to pay for it and it is not as reliable. ($3-5$ recharge card)
Hot Showers: Taking hot showers in the mountains can be pretty expensive, $5-$7 dollars, as they have to manually boil water with wood.
Drinking Water: While cold tap water is free of charge, hot water and mineral water will cost extra, anywhere from $2-$3 per bottle.
The cost of the food really depends on the menu set by the tea houses. While the prices of the food on the menu remain constant, it does change with a gain in elevation. Same food will be much cheaper in places like Jhinu Danda and Chhomrong compared to Machhapuchhre Base Camp or the Annapurna Base Camp. It is mainly because transportation of goods is very difficult at higher altitudes.
While how much you spend on food totally depends on you, on average for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it can cost anywhere from around $20-$25 per day.
All the tea houses on the trail of the Annapurna Base Camp charge a similar range for accommodation. As already mentioned above, the price increases with an increase in altitude. The price of a room will be higher in the base camp compared to a place like Chhomrong. That being said, the average starting price of a room is $5 per night, and may increase with the type of accommodation you choose. For example, a room with an attached bathroom will cost more than a basic room.
Keep in mind that the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a high-altitude trekking, which means your diet plan needs to be the one that can adhere to your body and give you energy throughout the journey. Altitude sickness is very common, and you can easily be a victim if you do not look after your immune system. That means eating a good diet and keeping your body hydrated.
A healthy body means fewer chances of getting altitude sickness. Acclimatization and diet go hand in hand while doing a high-altitude trek. When you have a fit body and good mental strength, tackling any challenge will be much easier. So, during your hiking hours on the trail of ABC, always make sure you are eating good diet food and keeping your body frequently hydrated.
And another thing is, you should also be aware of things you should be avoiding, such as meat at higher altitudes, dairy products, especially if you are lactose intolerant, and alcohol, which can cause your body to dehydrate and even increase your chances of getting altitude sickness.
For your hygiene, carry wet wipes, hand sanitizers, toilet papers, and sanitary pads or tampons (for girls). It might not always be convenient to shower, especially after you’ve reached high altitude, so wiping your body with wet wipes will ensure that your body stays clean and sweat-free.
There are a lot of ways to enhance your overall experience during the trek. As the accommodations are pretty basic, you can always carry your own essentials to make it more comfortable, and some examples for packing list are:
The trek can be done all year round; however, generally speaking, people prefer spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) because of good weather and moderate temperatures. But summer (June-August) is good for monsoon treks, and winter (December-February) is good for winter treks. Summer and winter are off season, so the trail is quieter with fewer people.
No, the rooms you sleep in are not heated. Some lodges in lower altitude might provide you with heaters but the chances are very low. But the dining hall has an internal heating system, so you can stay there till dinner and then go to your room to sleep.
Yes, western food is available on the trek. Though the menu might be limited, you can definitely find something that will satisfy your cravings, but Nepali food is much more common.
The tea houses do provide a bed with bedding and blankets that can be enough to sleep through the cold night, and they even offer extra blankets if asked. But taking your own sleeping bag is ideal, especially if you are doing winter.
Yes, the tea houses will heat up water for showering, but only for an extra charge of $5-$7.
No, almost all tea houses prefer cash transactions. It is mostly because the internet isn’t always reliable and the online transactions might not go through.
The bathrooms are very basic, with squat toilets in most tea houses (some selected, a few do offer western style). It is better to bring your own toilet paper but water will be provided.
Not necessarily. But it is recommended as it will save you the hassle of going around looking for a room. Especially during peak seasons such as spring and autumn, it can be hard to find a room, so pre-booking is your best bet.
Unless it is already purified or boiled, then no. So keep in mind to carry a portable purifier or water purifying tablets. Carry your own water bottle for reuse instead of buying mineral water to minimize plastic waste on the trail.
The absolute breathtaking adventure of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek can be enhanced even more once you know how the food and accommodation there work. A little research will go a long way. And even if the facilities of the accommodation might be very basic, the experience will be anything but. It gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the local cuisine while reveling in stunning mountain views and mountain cultures. So, if you are planning a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and want all the food and accommodations looked after, giving you the best time, then make sure to contact us via WhatsApp or email at +977 9851175531 or info@alpineramble.com.
