Best Tea Houses on the Annapurna Circuit: Honest Reviews

The tea houses on the Annapurna Circuit range from basic family guesthouses to surprisingly comfortable lodges with hot showers and Wi-Fi. After 7 treks on the Circuit, I have stayed in most of them. Here are the honest reviews — the best and the worst — to help you plan your overnight stops.

How I Rated the Tea Houses

Each tea house is rated on:

• Room comfort (bed, mattress, blankets, heating)
• Food quality and menu variety
• Toilet and shower facilities
• Hot water reliability
• Wi-Fi and charging availability
• Host family warmth and service
• Value for money
• Location and views

Best Tea Houses on the Annapurna Circuit

1. Hotel Marshyangdi River View, Jagat (1,300 m)

The best tea house in the lower Marshyangdi valley. Family-run by a Tibetan-Nepali family, with clean rooms, hot showers (solar), and the best dal bhat I have had on the entire Circuit. The dining room overlooks the Marshyangdi river. Rooms $5, meals $4–$7.

2. New Tibet Guest House, Dharapani (1,960 m)

Excellent mid-Circuit stop with attached bathrooms (rare at this altitude), reliable hot showers, and a great menu including Tibetan specialties. The owner is a former trekking cook — the food is exceptional. Rooms $6, meals $5–$8.

3. Tilicho Guest House, Chame (2,710 m)

The best of the 8 tea houses in Chame. Wooden rooms with great mattresses, hot showers (hydroelectric), and a wood stove in the dining room. The owner is a Manangi woman who speaks excellent English and is a great source of local information. Rooms $5, meals $5–$8.

4. Hotel Yak & Yeti, Upper Pisang (3,300 m)

The standout in Upper Pisang — wooden rooms with mountain views, solar hot showers, and a great menu. The dining room has picture windows facing Annapurna II. Book ahead in peak season — only 8 rooms. Rooms $7, meals $5–$9.

5. Hotel Wide View, Manang (3,540 m)

One of the best tea houses in Nepal, full stop. The name says it all — panoramic views of Annapurna II, III, IV, Gangapurna and Glacier Dome from every room. Solar hot showers, attached bathrooms, Wi-Fi (Ncell), and a fantastic menu. The owner is a former climbing guide. Rooms $10, meals $7–$12. See our Annapurna Circuit vs ABC guide for the full Circuit itinerary.

6. Hotel Last Resort, Yak Kharka (4,050 m)

The best of the 3 tea houses at Yak Kharka. Despite the funny name (the owners know), this is a comfortable stop with thick blankets, a hot dining room stove, and surprisingly good food. Solar charging only. Rooms $5, meals $7–$10.

7. Hotel Thorong Peak, Thorong Phedi (4,525 m)

The last stop before Thorong La — basic but adequate. The owners are well-prepared for the altitude (4,525 m) with thick blankets, a wood stove, and emergency oxygen. The dining room is the warmest place in any tea house on the Circuit. Rooms $5, meals $8–$12. Bring earplugs — every trekker wakes at 3 am.

8. Hotel Grand Shangri-La, Muktinath (3,760 m)

The best of the 20+ tea houses in Muktinath — comfortable rooms, hot showers (rare at this altitude), and a great menu. The owner is a Manangi man who has been running the lodge for 25 years. Walking distance to the Muktinath temple. Rooms $8, meals $7–$12.

9. Apple Garden Guest House, Marpha (2,670 m)

The best apple-themed guesthouse in the apple capital of Nepal. Set in an apple orchard, with apple pie, apple brandy, and apple cider on the menu. Clean rooms, solar hot showers, and the friendliest family on the Circuit. Rooms $7, meals $5–$9.

10. Hotel Oasis, Tatopani (1,190 m)

The best of the Tatopani tea houses, with attached hot spring baths (private!) — a luxury after 12 days of trekking. Rooms $10, meals $6–$10. Book ahead in peak season.

Tea Houses to Avoid

Hotel Trekker's Camp, Bahundanda (1,310 m)

The family is friendly but the rooms are damp and unheated, the toilets are dirty, and the food is sub-par. Walk 10 minutes further to the next village instead.

Mountain View Lodge, Letdar (3,700 m)

The owner is rude, the blankets are thin, and the food is overpriced. Only stay here if every other tea house in Letdar is full. Better yet, walk an extra 30 minutes to Yak Kharka.

Himalayan Guest House, Jomsom (2,720 m)

Trading on its location — overpriced, dirty, and the food is the worst on the entire Circuit. Avoid. Stay at the Hotel Om's Home or the Hotel Snowland instead.

Tea House Food — What to Order on the Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit has some of the best tea house food in Nepal. Highlights:

• Apple pie in Marpha — made with local apples, $3–$4. A trekking tradition.
• Yak steak in Manang — locally sourced, $8–$12. The best meal on the Circuit.
• Dal bhat everywhere — the trekker's staple. $4–$7 with unlimited refills.
• Apple brandy in Marpha — locally distilled, $3 for 250 ml.
• Tibetan bread with honey — breakfast staple, $2–$3.
• Sherpa stew in Muktinath — hearty meat and vegetable stew, $5–$7.
• Fried yak cheese momos in Chame — local specialty, $4–$5.
• Garlic soup above 3,000 m — said to help with altitude sickness, $3–$4.

How to Book Tea Houses in Advance

In peak season (October–November), it is worth booking tea houses in advance, especially in the smaller villages. Options:

1. Through your guide or trekking agency — the standard way. Your guide will call ahead each morning to book your night's stop.
2. Directly by phone — most tea houses have a phone number listed on Maps.me or on the Annapurna Circuit tea house list maintained by Trekking Partners.
3. Just show up — usually fine outside peak season, but risky in October.

Tea House Etiquette on the Annapurna Circuit

• Take off your shoes before entering the dining room
• Order dinner by 6 pm — the cook needs time
• Be patient — everything is cooked fresh on a wood stove
• Tip the cook NPR 100–200 ($1–$2) per group per meal
• Be quiet after 9 pm
• Use water carefully — all water is carried by hand
• Ask before photographing the family or kitchen

Average Tea House Costs on the Annapurna Circuit

Region	Room Cost	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Daily Total
Below Chame (1,300–2,710 m)	Free (with meals)	$4	$5	$6	$15
Chame to Manang (2,710–3,540 m)	Free (with meals)	$5	$6	$8	$19
Manang to Thorong Phedi (3,540–4,525 m)	Free (with meals)	$6	$8	$10	$24
Muktinath to Tatopani (3,760–1,190 m)	Free (with meals)	$5	$6	$7	$18

The tea houses on the Annapurna Circuit are generally excellent — far better than those on the Everest Base Camp trek, and at lower altitude. Pick the right stops and you will have comfortable nights, great food, and warm hosts. For the full Circuit itinerary, see our Annapurna Circuit vs ABC guide — and for general tea house advice, see our tea house trekking guide.