“What food will I eat during the Everest Base Camp Trek?” is one of the most asked question by the Eve Holidays Guests. Trekking in the Everest region is physically demanding. We understand that eating nutritious food is important to provide you with the energy and stamina needed for several hours of walking in remote high altitude terrain with steep ascents. Your body needs more energy to cope with the lower oxygen levels in high altitude. Proper nutritious meals help your body adapt to the altitude by maintaining healthy blood oxygen levels and reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Good food during the trek is equally important for muscle repair, mental alertness and hydration.
During the Everest Base Camp Trek, tea houses offer a variety of food options and can vary from one teahouse to another, and as you go higher the items in the menu may decrease due to remote location.
While on trekking, we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, each day dinner and breakfast will be at teahouses/lodges where you will stay and lunch will be on the way. Here’s a typical daily diet during the Everest Base Camp Trek.
Breakfast
- Porridge (oatmeal) or muesli with hot milk or water.
- Eggs (boiled, fried, or scrambled).
- Toast or Tibetan bread or Nepali Chapatti served with cheese, jam or honey
- Tea or coffee or Sherpa Tea which is the latter of yak’s butter and salt
- At Namche you will find apple pie, cheese cake and chocolate brownie at Namche Bakery
Lunch
- Dal Bhat: A traditional Nepali meal consisting of boiled rice (Bhat), lentil soup (Dal), range of curried vegetables, pickles and sometimes meat.
- Noodles or pasta dishes.
- Fried rice.
- Dumplings called Momos
- Vegetable Stew served with Tibetan bread or Nepalese Chapatti
- Pizza or sandwiches (available in some teahouses).
Dinner
- Similar options to lunch but with more variety.
- Dal Bhat
- Nepali or Tibetan dishes like momo (dumplings) or thukpa (noodle soup).
- Nepali Chowmein (fried noodles), various curries, fried potato dishes or fried rice plates.
- Occasionally, you might find some Western-style dishes as well. Sausages, creamy mashed potato and grilled dishes and even steaks in some tea houses
Special Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarian and vegan options are usually available, but it’s essential to inform us of your dietary preferences in advance.
- Gluten-free options may be limited, so it’s a good idea to bring your own gluten-free snacks if you have dietary restrictions.
- If you have severe allergies or specific dietary requirements, consider bringing some of your own non-perishable food items just in case.
Some important tips:
- Staying hydrated is crucial at high altitude. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Drink boiled water or water using chlorine tablets. Avoid bottle water to avoid plastic waste
- Avoid alcoholic beverages
- Avoid eating salad or raw food washed with tap water
- Carry some energy bars, chocolate, biscuits, and chips that you can buy at teahouses
- Nepalese food Dal Bhat in the menu is provided with endless refills and includes different varieties of foods giving you different nutrients.
- Avoid eating meat items as they are carried by porter or yak from lower altitude without refrigeration and can upset stomach
- If interested, on the way back you can try local Tongba, a fermented millet seed beer.