Everest Three High Passes Trek: Meals & Accommodation Guide

Where You'll Sleep and What You'll Eat on the Three Passes

On the Everest Three High Passes Trek, every night is spent in a hotel or teahouse, so there's no camping. Teahouses are family-run mountain lodges with simple bedrooms and a warm communal dining room, where you'll eat hearty, freshly cooked meals and swap stories with fellow trekkers. They're the heart of the trekking experience in the Khumbu.

Standards change a lot along the 19-day circuit. Lower villages such as Namche Bazaar have cosy lodges with bakeries, Wi-Fi and some attached bathrooms, while remote stops like Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak and Lungden are basic, cold and simple. Knowing what to expect at each stop helps you pack smart, budget well and enjoy every night of the trek.

This guide covers your day-by-day accommodation and meals, teahouse standards, typical menus, water, hygiene, charging, Wi-Fi and extra costs, followed by the 15 questions trekkers ask most.

Quick Summary

Detail	Information
Trip length	19 days, 18 nights
Kathmandu	2 nights in a 3-star hotel (twin sharing, with breakfast)
On the trek	16 nights in teahouses (twin sharing)
Meals included on the trek	Breakfast, lunch and dinner (Day 2 to Day 17)
Total meals included	18 breakfasts, 16 lunches, 18 dinners (incl. welcome and farewell dinners)
Highest overnight	Gorak Shep, 5,164 m
Room type	Twin rooms with beds, pillows and blankets; unheated
Bathrooms	Some attached in Namche and Lukla; shared above
Extra costs	Hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi, bottled or boiled water, snacks and drinks
Sleeping bag	Essential (rated -15°C to -20°C); available on loan

Day-by-Day Meals and Accommodation

Day	Route	Overnight altitude	Meals	Accommodation
01	Arrival in Kathmandu	1,400 m	Welcome dinner	3-star hotel in Kathmandu
02	Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding	2,610 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Phakding
03	Phakding → Namche Bazaar	3,440 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Namche
04	Acclimatisation day in Namche	3,440 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Namche
05	Namche → Tengboche	3,860 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Tengboche
06	Tengboche → Dingboche	4,340 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Dingboche
07	Acclimatisation day in Dingboche	4,340 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Dingboche
08	Dingboche → Chhukung	4,700 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Chhukung
09	Kongma La → Lobuche	4,940 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Lobuche
10	Everest Base Camp → Gorak Shep	5,164 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Gorak Shep
11	Kala Patthar → Dzongla	4,830 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Dzongla
12	Cho La → Thangnak	4,700 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Thangnak
13	Thangnak → Gokyo	4,790 m	B, L, D	Lakeside teahouse in Gokyo
14	Gokyo Ri & explore Gokyo	4,790 m	B, L, D	Lakeside teahouse in Gokyo
15	Renjo La → Lungden	4,350 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Lungden
16	Lungden → Thame → Namche	3,440 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Namche
17	Namche → Lukla	2,860 m	B, L, D	Teahouse in Lukla
18	Fly to Kathmandu	1,400 m	Breakfast & farewell dinner	3-star hotel in Kathmandu
19	Final departure	—	Breakfast	—

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner. On pass days (9, 12 and 15), lunch is usually a packed lunch or a simple meal at the next lodge.

Meal Summary

Meal	Total included
Breakfast	18
Lunch	16
Dinner	18 (including welcome and farewell dinners)

Nights by Location

Location	Nights	Standard
Kathmandu	2	3-star hotel
Phakding	1	Comfortable teahouse
Namche Bazaar	3	Comfortable lodge
Tengboche	1	Good teahouse
Dingboche	2	Good teahouse
Chhukung	1	Basic teahouse
Lobuche	1	Basic teahouse
Gorak Shep	1	Very basic teahouse
Dzongla	1	Very basic teahouse
Thangnak	1	Very basic teahouse
Gokyo	2	Basic–good lakeside teahouse
Lungden	1	Very basic teahouse
Lukla	1	Comfortable teahouse
Total	18

Accommodation Guide: What Teahouses Are Really Like

Hotels in Kathmandu

You'll spend two nights in a comfortable 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, one before and one after the trek, on a twin-sharing basis with private bathrooms, hot showers, Wi-Fi and breakfast. Leave extra luggage at the hotel while you trek.

Teahouse Standards Along the Route

Section	Stops	Standard	What to expect
Lower Khumbu	Phakding, Namche, Lukla	Comfortable	Some attached bathrooms, hot showers, good Wi-Fi, bakeries and cafés
Mid altitude	Tengboche, Dingboche, Thame	Good	Shared bathrooms, solar showers, Wi-Fi cards, varied menus
High valleys	Chhukung, Lobuche, Gokyo	Basic	Shared toilets, limited hot water, paid charging, smaller menus
Remote high stops	Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak, Lungden	Very basic	Shared and often outdoor toilets, few or no showers, very limited power

Your Room

• Twin-sharing rooms with two single beds, a foam mattress, pillow and blanket
• Thin plywood or stone walls, so earplugs are useful
• No heating in bedrooms; above 4,000 m, rooms are very cold at night and water bottles can freeze
• Single rooms are often available in lower villages for an extra charge, but may not be possible at high stops in peak season
• Bring a four-season sleeping bag rated -15°C to -20°C; Nepal Trip Services provides one on loan if needed

Bathrooms and Showers

• Lower villages: Western-style toilets are common, and some lodges in Namche and Lukla have attached bathrooms.
• Higher up: toilets are mostly shared, often squat-style and sometimes outside.
• Hot showers: gas or solar showers are available for a fee in most villages up to Gokyo and Dingboche; at Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak and Lungden they are rare or unavailable.
• Bring: toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitiser and a quick-dry towel.

The Dining Room

Every teahouse has a communal dining room heated by a stove that burns yak dung, wood or kerosene. It's where you eat, warm up, charge devices and socialise in the evening. Stoves are usually lit only in the late afternoon and evening, so mornings can be chilly.

Teahouse Etiquette

• Eat where you sleep. Room prices are kept low on the understanding that you buy meals from your lodge.
• Respect quiet hours, as most trekkers go to bed early.
• Remove shoes where asked and don't hang wet clothes on the stove without asking.
• Be patient: meals are cooked fresh, often on a single stove for the whole lodge.

In peak season, rooms at Dzongla, Thangnak, Gorak Shep and Lungden are limited. Nepal Trip Services books all teahouses in advance so you always have a bed.

Meals Guide: Eating Well on the Three Passes

What's Included

Your Nepal Trip Services package includes three meals a day on the trek, from breakfast on Day 2 to dinner on Day 17. You choose from each teahouse's menu, typically one main dish per meal, with tea or coffee. In Kathmandu, breakfast is included at the hotel, along with a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner. Seasonal fruit is served after dinner where available.

Typical Teahouse Menu

Meal	Popular choices
Breakfast	Porridge, muesli, Tibetan bread, chapati with honey or jam, eggs (boiled, fried or omelette), pancakes
Lunch	Dal bhat, fried rice, fried noodles, vegetable soup, momos, potatoes, spring rolls
Dinner	Dal bhat, thukpa (noodle soup), Sherpa stew, pasta, pizza (lower villages), fried potatoes with cheese
Hot drinks	Ginger-lemon-honey tea, black or milk tea, coffee, hot chocolate, garlic soup
Snacks (extra cost)	Chocolate bars, biscuits, crisps, cake and apple pie (bakeries in Namche)

Best Foods for High Altitude

• Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, usually with free refills. It's the best fuel for long pass days, hence the trekker saying "dal bhat power, 24 hour."
• Garlic soup: a local favourite believed to help with acclimatisation and warming on cold evenings.
• Sherpa stew (shakpa): a thick, hearty soup with vegetables and hand-pulled dough.
• Porridge and Tibetan bread: slow-release energy for early starts.
• Ginger-lemon-honey tea: soothing for the dry "Khumbu cough".

Tips for eating well at altitude:

1. Choose vegetarian meals above Namche. Meat is carried up for days without refrigeration.
2. Eat even when you're not hungry. Loss of appetite is common at altitude, but your body needs fuel.
3. Favour carbohydrates, which your body uses more efficiently at high altitude.
4. Avoid alcohol, which worsens dehydration and altitude symptoms.
5. Stick to cooked, hot food and avoid raw salads high up.

Pass-Day Meals

On Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La days, you'll have an early breakfast, often around 4:00–5:00 AM. Lunch is usually a packed lunch from your lodge (Tibetan bread, boiled eggs, potatoes) or a meal on arrival at the next stop. Carry energy bars, nuts and chocolate from Kathmandu for extra energy on the trail.

Dietary Needs

• Vegetarian: very easy, as most dishes are vegetarian.
• Vegan: possible with care; ask for dishes without butter, ghee, cheese or egg.
• Gluten-free: rice, potatoes, dal bhat and eggs work well; bring some snacks of your own.
• Allergies: tell us when you book, and your guide will speak to each lodge.

Prices of Extras (Approximate)

Item	Lower villages	Above 4,500 m
Cup of tea or coffee	NPR 100–250	NPR 250–500
Soft drink or beer	NPR 250–600	NPR 500–900
Chocolate bar	NPR 200–400	NPR 400–800
Bakery cake (Namche)	NPR 300–600	Rarely available

Prices rise with altitude because everything is carried up by porters and yaks.

For comparison, read our Classic Everest Base Camp Trek Meals & Accommodation guide.

Drinking Water

Staying hydrated is essential for acclimatisation; aim for 3–4 litres a day.

Option	Details
Refill stations	Safe drinking-water stations in many villages; cheapest and greenest choice
Boiled water	Available at every teahouse for a fee; ideal for filling insulated bottles at night
Purification tablets or filter	Use with tap or stream water; bring from home or buy in Kathmandu
Bottled water	Expensive and discouraged in the Khumbu to reduce plastic waste

Never drink untreated tap or stream water. On pass days, carry 2–3 litres in insulated bottles so it doesn't freeze.

Hygiene

• Wash or sanitise your hands before every meal and after using the toilet.
• Carry wet wipes, as showers are limited above 4,500 m.
• Use biodegradable soap and avoid washing in streams.
• Pack out all rubbish, including toilet paper where bins aren't provided.
• Don't share water bottles, to avoid spreading illness in the group.

Charging and Wi-Fi

Area	Charging	Wi-Fi
Lukla, Phakding, Namche	Easy; sometimes in rooms	Widely available, often paid
Tengboche, Dingboche, Thame	Paid, in the dining room	Everest Link cards
Chhukung, Lobuche, Gokyo	Paid; solar power	Everest Link (slow)
Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak, Lungden	Very limited, expensive	Unreliable or none

• Carry a 20,000 mAh power bank and keep batteries warm inside your sleeping bag at night.
• Bring a universal adapter (Nepal uses Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V).
• Buy an Everest Link card in Namche for multi-day Wi-Fi in most villages.
• Download offline maps and entertainment before leaving Kathmandu.

Daily Budget for Extras

With meals and accommodation included, your main on-trail costs are extras. Budget about US$ 20–30 per day.

Item	Approximate cost
Hot shower	NPR 300–1,000 (higher up)
Device charging	NPR 200–800 per device
Boiled water (per litre)	NPR 50–400
Everest Link Wi-Fi card	NPR 2,000–3,500 (multi-day)
Snacks and extra drinks	NPR 500–1,500 per day

Carry enough Nepalese rupees in cash. ATMs are only in Lukla and Namche, and they don't always work.

Top Tips for Comfortable Teahouse Stays

1. Bring a warm sleeping bag; blankets alone are not enough above 4,000 m.
2. Keep tomorrow's clothes in your sleeping bag so they're warm in the morning.
3. Fill a bottle with boiled water at night and use it as a hot water bottle.
4. Pack earplugs and an eye mask for light sleepers.
5. Carry a headlamp for night-time toilet trips.
6. Snack between meals to keep your energy up.
7. Save hot showers for Namche, Dingboche and Gokyo, where they're more reliable.
8. Respect your hosts: you're a guest in their home.

FAQs About Meals and Accommodation

1. What kind of accommodation is used on the Three Passes Trek?

You stay in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu for two nights and in teahouses (family-run mountain lodges) for 16 nights on the trek. There is no camping. All rooms are on a twin-sharing basis.

2. What is a teahouse?

A teahouse is a family-run lodge offering simple bedrooms and a communal dining room heated by a stove. Owners cook meals to order from a set menu, and the dining room is where trekkers eat, warm up and socialise in the evening.

3. Are meals included in the trek price?

Yes. Three meals a day are included on the trek (Day 2 to Day 17), plus breakfast in Kathmandu and welcome and farewell dinners. In total, 18 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 18 dinners are included. Snacks, extra drinks and bottled water cost extra.

4. What food is available on the trek?

Teahouses serve dal bhat, noodle soups, fried rice, momos, pasta, potatoes, Sherpa stew, porridge, eggs, pancakes and Tibetan bread. Lower villages like Namche also have bakeries, pizza and cakes. Menus get shorter as you climb higher.

5. Is dal bhat really unlimited?

In most teahouses, yes. Dal bhat usually comes with free refills of rice, lentils and vegetables, which is why it's the most popular and filling meal on the trek.

6. Can vegetarians and vegans eat well on the trek?

Yes. Most dishes are vegetarian, and vegetarian meals are recommended above Namche anyway. Vegans can manage by asking for dishes without butter, ghee, cheese or eggs. Let us know your dietary needs when you book.

7. Is it safe to eat meat on the trek?

Meat is carried up from lower areas without refrigeration, so it may not be fresh at higher altitudes. We recommend eating vegetarian above Namche and enjoying meat dishes in Kathmandu or Namche.

8. Are there private rooms and attached bathrooms?

Rooms are twin-sharing. Single rooms are often available in lower villages for an extra charge. Attached bathrooms are available at some lodges in Namche, Phakding and Lukla, but higher up, toilets are shared.

9. Are the rooms heated?

No. Bedrooms are unheated, and above 4,000 m they can be well below freezing at night. Only the dining room has a stove, usually lit in the evening. A four-season sleeping bag is essential.

10. Can I get a hot shower on the trek?

Yes, in most villages up to Dingboche and Gokyo, usually for a fee. At Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak and Lungden, showers are rare or unavailable. Wet wipes are useful for the highest stops.

11. Which teahouses are the most basic?

Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak and Lungden are the most basic stops, with simple rooms, shared outdoor toilets, short menus and very limited showers and charging.

12. Do I need a sleeping bag if teahouses provide blankets?

Yes. Teahouse blankets aren't warm enough above 4,000 m. Bring a sleeping bag rated -15°C to -20°C. Nepal Trip Services can provide one on loan if needed.

13. Is drinking water included?

Tea or coffee with meals is included, but drinking water is extra. Refill stations, boiled water or purification tablets are cheaper and more eco-friendly than bottled water.

14. Can I charge my phone and use Wi-Fi?

Yes, in most teahouses for a fee. Charging costs rise with altitude, and power is limited at remote stops. Everest Link Wi-Fi cards work in most villages, though connections are slow higher up.

15. How much extra money should I bring?

Budget around US$ 20–30 per day for extras such as hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi, snacks, extra drinks and boiled water, plus tips for your guide and porters. Carry Nepalese rupees in cash, as ATMs are only in Lukla and Namche.

Plan Your Three Passes Trek with Nepal Trip Services

Good food and a warm place to sleep make all the difference on a demanding trek like the Everest Three High Passes. From the cosy lodges of Namche to the simple stone teahouses of Dzongla and Lungden, every night brings a hot meal, a stove-warmed dining room and the famous authentic Sherpa hospitality that makes trekking in the Khumbu so special.

With 16 years of experience in the Everest region, Nepal Trip Services takes care of every detail:

• All teahouses pre-booked, including limited lodges at Gorak Shep, Dzongla, Thangnak and Lungden
• Three meals a day on the trek, plus hotel breakfasts and welcome and farewell dinners in Kathmandu
• Trusted, clean lodges chosen by our experienced guides
• Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag on loan
• Dietary needs catered for, including vegetarian, vegan and allergy requirements
• Licensed guides and porters, with daily health checks using a pulse oximeter

Group size	Price per person
1 person	US$ 1,600
2 people	US$ 1,500
3–6 people	US$ 1,480
7–10 people	US$ 1,450

Ready to book? View the full itinerary and inclusions on our Everest Three High Passes Trek – 19 Days page, explore all our Everest Region Treks, or plan a custom trip with hotel upgrades or extra rest days. Spring and autumn departures fill quickly, so we recommend booking 2–3 months ahead.

• WhatsApp / Viber: +977 982-8696557
• Email: info@nepaltripservices.com
• Office: Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Response time: usually within 0–2 hours