Best Tea Houses on the Annapurna Base Camp 

The Annapurna Base Camp abbreviated as ABC trek is one of the most famous treks in Nepal which provides magnificent glacier views of the Himalayas, flora and fauna, and a generic Nepalese experience. This also includes accommodation in local Tea houses during the whole trekking; where trekkers can get warm food, comfortable rest, and meet other travelers. The tea houses on the Annapurna Base camp trek range in the scale of accommodation from simple to very comfortable though with some of them being excellent trekking lodges.

Here is a list of the best tea houses that you will come across while you trek up to Annapurna Base Camp.

1. Green Hill Guest House located at Ghandruk

Ghandruk is the typical Gurung village and the first overnight stop for many trekkers on the ABC Trek. If you are looking for a warm family environment, then definitely Green Hill Guest House in Ghandruk can be recommended. This guest house’s rooms are very large with balconies that overlook the Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre (fishtail) mountains which trekkers get an idea of what they are to expect. The eating area is relaxed where one can take delicious dal bhat and other Nepali-style curries after a day’s trek.

2. Chhomrong Cottage (Chhomrong)

The best-surviving memory from Chhomrong Cottage is a magnificent meal, or rather meals, I tasted here – tea and other dishes – clean kitchen, and warm and friendly atmosphere of this place is a proof of it – Chhomrong Cottage is considered to be one of the best tea houses on the ABC trek. Most of the trekkers use the cottage as their halt while the small and steep windows offer a spectacular view of the mountains and the valley.

That’s why it’s known for homemade apple pie – a delicacy that trekkers don’t taste very often! The rooms are comfortable, the landlords pay enough attention to sanitation, so it is comfortable to rest before climbing the steep slopes of the trail.

3. Panorama Guest House (Sinuwa)

Sinuwa does not have many visitors but some people take rest after trekking, Panorama Guest House is perfect for the rest. Located in the Himalayan foothills the tea house famed for its stupendous south Annapurna and Machhapuchhre views and a bed for the night though it’s pretty basic.

It also has a tea house dining hall where the trekkers can have their meals together. This friendly staff here do every effort to make trekkers feel like they are in their homes and the views of the sunset associated with the guest house are truly amazing.

4. Hotel Himalaya (Himalaya)

This tea house is in the off-beat village of Himalaya where guests are surrounded by towering mountain range and rhododendron forests. The particulars about the Hotel Himalaya include cleanliness with good food, accommodation, and professional service. This position allows trekkers to get a view of the heavens towering Annapurna Sanctuary peaks just from their rooms. The dining area is comfortable with soft lighting and nice seating that allows trekkers to engage in conversations or have warm beverages even after day hikes.

5. Machhapuchhare Base Camp also known as MBC Lodge

To fortify my statement, it can also be vouched that out of all the places to stay on the ABC trek, Machhapuchhre Base Camp is thrilling. MBC has a simple tea house to provide comfortable lodging with a homely atmosphere along with an unveiled view of the Machhapuchhre and other Annapurna ranges.

MBC Lodge has a high altitude and therefore provides a great view before getting to see Annapurna Base Camp. Food here is kept basic but healthy since all food is ferried up by porters; a special feeling to be given food to warm you up before the final stretch to ABC.

6. Annapurna Guest House

It is a little way up from the Annapurna Base Camp at 2,630 meters above sea level.

Acoustically, the most unforgettable and essential part of the path is Annapurna Base Camp; the Annapurna Guest House is one of the outfitted lodges for such heights. The rooms are simple and neat, and there is nothing like a dining hall where people are served hot meals, this area has a Doppler view of the surrounding mountains.

This tea house is one of the highest points during the trek and trekkers can watch the sunrise and sunset over the Annapurna massif. The people here are accustomed to catering for trekkers who have made a long trek meaning it is a rewarding experience for those who trek.

7. Dovan Lodge (Dovan)

Most travelers heading downward from ABC use Dovan as their lunch stop. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, excellent services from the staff, and beautiful scenery along the river at Dovan Lodge. The atmosphere is very serene, and the food served here is more than decent being reasonably priced, especially after the turmoil of a high-altitude trek.

Some trekkers spend a night here after strenuous exercises of reaching to ABC, though there is still no water resource over here but there are some tea houses which allow trekkers to rest and have sound sleep but just around the tea houses there is a wonderful scene of mountains, river testifying the beauty of the path which trekkers use for reaching to ABC.

Guideline to Staying in Tea Houses during the ABC Trek

• Bring Cash: As you will use cash at some places, especially when buying food, or paying for accommodations, there are no ATMs on the trail.
• Pack Warm Clothing: Although most tea houses supply blankets the rooms may cool down because they are at a high altitude, more so the walls are thin and they can get cold at night.
• Carry Essentials: As tea houses can get supplies depleted faster esp. Particularly during the peak season, besides, sticking some of your favorite snacks, a power bank and a headlamp would make all the difference during steep climbs.
• Expect Limited Amenities: But, when you go higher, hot showers, internet and charging facilities may be chargeable or very few in number. There is usually are more basic services at tea houses in Ghandruk and Chhomrong compared to those at higher altitudes.
• Tea houses playing an important aspect of food shelter and providing the warmth of local hospitality, and the adventure spirit of the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Also, each tea house has its peculiarities: apple pie at Chhomrong Cottage, views at Panorama Guest House, night at Annapurna Base Camp. 
• These accommodations make sure that every single trekker can comfortably have a good time traveling and interacting with other trekkers and the wonderful people who make the trek.

Why is tea house so special in Nepal?

Tea houses are a special part of Nepal’s trekking experience because they create comfort, cultural interaction, and togetherness that is pretty rare for the region. Here’s what makes them stand out:

1. Cultural Experience

Tea houses are mostly managed by local families, and that is a beautiful opportunity to directly communicate with people – locals – who are mainly representatives of tribes such as Sherpas, Gurungs, and Tamangs. Some local hospitality means that travelers can get acquainted with the traditions of the locals, as well as with the way of life in the mountains of Nepal, and observe different cultural practices.

Tea house hosts are usually friendly and tea houses usually display traditional items which makes them more attractive.

2. Hospitality in the context of remote areas

Most of the tea houses are sited in remote areas and are even situated above 5,000m (16000 + ft). Here trekkers who will be trekking on steep slopes on great chain-linked ladders get a chance to have meals as well as settle for some resting after the long hours trekking up the steep ravines. Still, hosts are expected to do their best in offering comfortable and cozy environment that might be quite surprising for guests given the level of difficulty of those locations.

3. Individual Lodges depending on the kind of trek done

Each tea house differs with different regions and treks giving the trekkers a different taste of the nation’s Nepali culture and geography. Tea houses located at the Annapurna Circuit or Langtang Valley usually have interesting wooden carvings and localized motifs or the Konkana script While those in the Everest Base Camp trekking trail has thangka monastery touches such as prayer flag and stupas.

4. Communication with other Trekkers

Trekking tea houses are restaurant-style eateries common in the region where people sit in the large dining hall and get to share trek experiences from around the world. Such an atmosphere, complemented by a warm welcome from the guides and porters, further augments the enthusiasm of trekking.

5. The well-known problems of either cost or access are affordability and accessibility

In comparison with camping, tea house trekking is cheaper, and the trekkers carrying less equipment with them. Tea houses are therefore located along almost all the major trekking routes and trekkers can expect a fair amount of basic services places in fairly standard intervals thus making the trekking fairly easier and accessible to more people hence differentiating it from the other models of trekking by offering not only economical but also a cultural way of trekking as you enjoy the Nepali tea.

6. Sustainability and support for local economies

Tea house trekking ensures sustainable tourism throughout the world as they try to explore local amenities. Instead of giving business to several large tour operating companies, trekkers are directly helping the families of the country. At the same time, most tea houses are thinking about their impact on the environment and have begun to use solar energy, control waste disposal, and save water.

In brief, the tea houses help make trekking possible, cheap, and highly rewarding by offering the mountaineering experience along with authentic Nepalese hospitality and responsible traveling This combination makes tea house trekking a unique and memorable experience that cannot be gotten from any other country other than Nepal.