Lodges during Nepal Treks

Along the main treks there are many places to stay and there is no need to bring a tent. Trekkers stay in village lodges, hotels and rooms in a villagers’ house. Lodges often have private rooms, showers and good menus. A sleeping bath will almost always be useful to avoid unwanted things in the beds and if it is cold, often proper warm bedding is not given especially during the high-season.
Communication should be fairly easy on a main trekking route. Most of the time someone in each lodge will speak English and the menus will be in English.

When you arrive at a lodge, you may want to see the menu of the place. Usually the room (bed) rate will be low, and you will be expected to eat at the place you are staying at. If you do not eat at the place you stay at, you may be charge more to stay there. You may want to ask trekking coming in the other direction, what lodges are good that they just stayed in.

After booking a spot you should immediately go and save your sleeping spot by spreading you sleeping bag out onto a bed. Many trekkers do this before they do anything else.

A place to stay will usually range from Rs 25 to Rs 60. Competition can be really tough, so prices are usually quite reasonably and often very little profit is made. Prices at most lodges are fixed and are usually reasonable, so this should be taken into consideration when bargaining. Rates may be increased when flights are backed up in Jomsom or Lukla or in Manang or Muktinath when Thorung La Pass in closed because of snow. It will also be difficult to find a place.

On the less trekked routes, you may have to sleep on the floor.

Rooms at higher elevations usually only have dorms and do not have private rooms. Usually rooms sleep 10 to 20. Sometimes it can be noisy, with door being slapped, people talking, and people moving above. It is usually best to sleep in a room with foreigners and avoid the locals. Trekkers can be exhausting for many people and one may need 10 or more hours sleep, especially if one gets sick. You may feel even more tire then usually because of being in a higher elevation. Guides and porters, who are used to trekking may only need six or seven hours sleep. If you have problem sleeping with other people, you may consider taking a tent.

If you stay in a smaller place with a family, it may be difficult to get to sleep until the entire family falls asleep. The local villager need less sleep that most trekkers, because they are not working as hard. Often a card game, drinking, loud radio may take place in the next room or your bedroom. It may be a good idea to inquire whether this will happen before choosing a place to stay.

There are some good hotels in the hills in such places as Jomsom and Lukla that have private rooms and may charge $25 or more.

During the high trekking season hotels can get crowded. It does not pay to walk extra quickly to arrive at the next stop to get the best place in town. Moving to fast can help increase the possibility of getting altitude sickness.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides