The Mardi Himal Trek follows a traditional teahouse trekking system, with accommodation and food becoming more basic as you gain elevation. Lower settlements offer more facilities and meal choices, while higher camps prioritize warmth, simple food, and shelter.
A typical teahouse features:
- Twin-Sharing Rooms: Most teahouses provide two single wooden beds in each room, along with mattresses, pillows, and blankets. Rooms are generally unheated, so a warm sleeping bag is important, especially at higher elevations.
- Shared Bathrooms: Lower settlements such as Landruk and Sidhing generally have better-developed bathroom facilities. As you climb higher, bathrooms become more basic, with shared toilets common at the upper camps.
- Meals: Meals are served at the same teahouse where you stay, usually in a shared dining area. Menus typically include Nepali, Tibetan, and simple Western-style dishes, with options becoming more limited at higher elevations as supplies become harder to transport.
- Hot Showers: Hot showers may be available at lower elevations for an additional charge, but availability becomes more limited at higher camps.
- Electricity and Charging: Electricity is available at most established teahouses, although charging electronic devices may cost extra. A power bank is useful, particularly at higher elevations.
- Wi-Fi: Some teahouses provide Wi-Fi, but connections can become slower or unreliable as you climb.
Facilities become increasingly basic as you gain elevation. At High Camp (3,600 m), expect simple accommodation and shared facilities rather than hotel-style comfort.
Since your accommodation and meals are provided by the same teahouses, you can expect a straightforward menu throughout the trek. Choices are generally more varied at lower elevations and become simpler as you approach High Camp.
| Meal |
Common Options |
| Breakfast |
Porridge, eggs, toast, pancakes, chapati, Tibetan bread, tea, coffee |
| Lunch |
Dal Bhat, vegetable fried rice, chow mein, momos, pasta, sandwiches, thukpa |
| Dinner |
Dal Bhat, vegetable curry, noodles, pasta, soup, potatoes, momos |
| Drinks |
Tea, coffee, hot lemon, ginger tea, hot chocolate, treated or boiled water |
Dal Bhat is one of the most practical meals during the trek because it combines rice, lentils, vegetables, and curry into a filling meal suited to long hiking days. Other popular choices include momos, noodles, pasta, soups, and Tibetan-style dishes.
At higher elevations, sticking to freshly prepared, simple meals is generally the safer choice. Garlic soup is commonly available and can be a warming meal, but it should not be considered a treatment or prevention for altitude sickness.
