Accommodations while trekking

Nepali girl in her kitchen

You may wondering how accommodation could be in the middle in nowhere at 3000 meters high in the Annapurna?

Trekking is nothing new in Nepal: in 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary was the first to reach the summit of Everest and since then, many many people have visited Nepal for climbing, mountaineering and more recently trekking in the Himalaya.

Accommodation alternatives during trekking, are limited and you should not expect the comfort of a four star hotel! We will eat and sleep in relatively simple family run homestay with an average of 10 to 15 rooms available for 2 to 4 people. You will have dinner with other trekkers in a large dining room with a wood fire (in the colder, higher areas).

Unless you have chosen to be on our own, you will share your room with another member of our group. You don’t nee to bring your own sleeping bag as every lodge has good and clean blankets to keep you warm.

Most of the guesthouses have shared bathroom facilities but sometimes you might have you own bathroom but you will always have access to a hot shower (mostly solar system).

 Simple kitchen but excellent food

Food is quite good and menus full of surprising dishes like pizzas (Nepali style but good), apple pies or Tibetan tea. The main food still is the “Dahl Baht” a full plate with rice, lentils, curried vegetables, pickles and various additions depending on the cook. For meat eater, chicken, goat meat or buffalo meat is what you will get. Personally I like few days of vegetarianism, it felt lighter walking up and down the trail…

The price of food varies according to the distance of the next market! The higher you are and the higher the prices. You may start with a dish that will cost 250 rupees (3 US$)  in the first village and the same dish at 4200 m at the Annapurna Base Camp will be double that price, still quite reasonable according to western standards.

In every lodge you will find properly boiled or filtered water and you will be able to fill up your bottles for free or sometimes for a small fee.

We use water purifier pills or drops but you can also bring a portable backpacking filter as there is now some good option on the market. See http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Backpacking-Water-Filter-Reviews/buying-advice.

When I started to trek in Nepal, some thirty years ago, the quantity and the quality of the lodges was often a problem compensated by the very low number of trekkers and the amazing landscapes. There is definitely more people on the trails now but the lodges are quite comfortable, the food good and the people really nice and English speaking (it helps!)… And the landscapes are still amazing!

More details on our next photography and trekking workshop here: http://www.photography-trekking.asia/

See you there

Bruno L’Hoste

Guesthouse in Muktinath, 3800 m high in the Annapurna