Nobody camps in Sagarmatha unless they are on an expedition. Every village on the main trails has family-run lodges — “tea houses” — offering a simple twin room, a dining room warmed by a stove, and a menu of dal bhat, noodles, soups, potatoes and momos.
Standards have risen quickly in the lower park. In Lukla, Phakding, Monjo and Namche Bazaar you can choose rooms with private bathrooms, hot showers and electric blankets; a handful of upgraded lodges and one famous hotel can be booked online. Above Namche, lodges are simpler and are normally arranged on the spot or by your guide, and at the highest settlements — Gokyo, Lobuche, Gorak Shep — expect thin walls, shared toilets and very cold nights.
What tea houses cost: a basic room is often only a few hundred rupees in the lower villages on the understanding that you eat dinner and breakfast in the lodge, and rather more higher up or with a private bathroom. Food is where the money goes: the price of a plate of dal bhat rises steadily with altitude, because everything is carried in. Hot showers, device charging and Wi-Fi are usually charged separately. As a rough guide, independent trekkers often budget the equivalent of US$30–50 a day for food and lodging; check current rates locally.
