Know what to expect in Annapurna Base Camp teahouses, including showers, Wi-Fi, electricity, charging, and mobile phone signal along the trail.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek has hot showers, electricity, phone charging and Wi-Fi along the route, including at Annapurna Base Camp. Mobile phone coverage is available on much of the trail, although there is no mobile network at Annapurna Base Camp itself. Services become more basic and less reliable as you go higher, but trekkers still have access to the facilities needed for a teahouse trek.
I first reached Annapurna Base Camp in 1996 as a porter. At that time, it was a camping trek, so we carried tents, food, cooking equipment and other supplies and established camps along the trail. There were no teahouses providing the facilities trekkers use today.
I have returned to Annapurna Base Camp many times over the years, first as a porter and later as a trekking guide. I have watched the route develop as more teahouses were built, local electricity systems were installed and communication services became available.
Today, you can trek to ABC without carrying camping equipment. You can sleep in a teahouse bed, eat hot meals, take a hot shower, charge your phone and use Wi-Fi at different points along the trail. In this guide, I explain what you can expect from Chhomrong to Annapurna Base Camp and what I recommend carrying for communication, charging and staying connected.
The ABC Trek has far more facilities than it did when I first worked on the trail, although services become more basic and less reliable as you go higher. The main facilities available to trekkers are hot showers, electricity, phone charging and Wi-Fi, while Nepal Telecom provides mobile coverage on much of the route.
| Facility | What to expect |
| Hot shower | Available throughout the route, including Annapurna Base Camp |
| Electricity | Villages have local electricity; ABC uses solar power |
| Phone charging | Available at teahouses, including ABC |
| Wi-Fi | Available at many teahouses, including ABC |
| Mobile signal | Nepal Telecom works on much of the route; no mobile signal at ABC |
| Heated bedrooms | No, teahouse bedrooms are not heated |
The availability of these facilities does not mean that every teahouse provides exactly the same service. A lodge in Chhomrong may have stronger Wi-Fi and more facilities than a lodge higher in the sanctuary, while electricity at ABC is more limited because it comes from solar power.
The important point is that the ABC route is no longer a camping trek where you have to carry everything needed for accommodation and cooking. The teahouses provide the basic services that make the trek much easier than it was when I first worked on the trail.
Hot showers are available throughout the ABC route, including at Annapurna Base Camp itself. Most teahouses charge an additional fee for a hot shower, and the system used to heat the water can differ from one lodge to another.
In the lower villages, hot water facilities are generally easier to operate because there is more electricity and a larger supply of water. As you go higher, the facilities become simpler, but hot showers are still available.
At Annapurna Base Camp, the teahouse facilities are basic compared with Chhomrong, but you can still take a hot shower. After several hours of walking in cold mountain weather, having hot water available at the end of the day is something most trekkers appreciate.
You should not expect a hotel-style bathroom on the trail. These are mountain teahouses, and their facilities are built around the conditions of the route. The shower room, water pressure and heating system can therefore vary between individual teahouses.
Every village on the Annapurna Base Camp route has electricity, although many of the higher settlements are not connected directly to the national electricity grid. Instead, they use small local hydropower systems to produce electricity for the village and its teahouses.
Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya, Deurali and Machapuchare Base Camp have small hydropower stations. These are not large power plants. Water from nearby rivers or streams is directed through pipes to small turbines, which generate electricity for the local area.
The electricity is mainly used for lighting, charging and other basic teahouse facilities. The amount of power available can depend on the local water supply and the condition of the small hydropower system.
Annapurna Base Camp is different because the teahouses there use solar power. The settlement is much higher and does not have the same local hydropower setup found in the villages below.
This is one of the changes I have seen during my years on the trail. When I first went to ABC in 1996, a trekking group had to carry camping equipment and supplies. Today, local electricity systems and teahouses provide services that were not available to trekkers in those days.
You can charge your phone throughout the ABC Trek, including at Annapurna Base Camp. Depending on the teahouse, charging may be available inside your room or at a shared charging point in the dining or common area.
Charging can become more limited higher up, particularly when many trekkers are trying to charge their devices at the same time. For this reason, I still recommend carrying a power bank even though charging is available along the route.
Cold weather is another issue at higher elevations. A phone battery can lose power much faster in cold conditions than it does at lower elevations, especially when you are taking photographs, recording video or using maps throughout the day.
Keep your phone and power bank warm inside your jacket or another insulated place when you are not using them. This simple habit can help you keep enough battery for communication and navigation.
Wi-Fi is available at many teahouses along the ABC route, including at Annapurna Base Camp. You can normally use it for messages, email, browsing and other basic internet activities.
The main difference as you go higher is the speed and reliability of the connection. Chhomrong and the lower sections generally have better internet service, while the connection can become slower or less reliable higher inside the sanctuary.
Mountain weather, the number of people using the connection and the equipment installed at each teahouse can all affect the service. One lodge may have a better connection than another nearby teahouse.
I would not plan to depend on trail Wi-Fi for large file uploads, long video meetings or continuous online work. If you have documents, maps, booking information or other files you need during the trek, download them before going higher.
For most trekkers, however, the available Wi-Fi is enough to send messages home, check email and let family know that everything is going well.
Wi-Fi is available at many points along the ABC trail, but the quality of the connection generally changes as you move higher. The following gives you a general idea of what to expect, although individual teahouses can have different service.
| Location | General Wi-Fi and facilities |
| Chhomrong | Generally better Wi-Fi, electricity, hot showers and mobile coverage |
| Sinuwa to Bamboo | Wi-Fi available at many teahouses, but service can vary |
| Dovan to Deurali | Wi-Fi available, but less reliable |
| MBC | Wi-Fi available, with more limited service |
| ABC | Wi-Fi available, with solar electricity and hot showers |
The table is a general guide rather than a guarantee for every lodge. Conditions can change because of weather, power availability, local equipment and the number of trekkers using the network.
Nepal Telecom works on much of the Annapurna Base Camp trail and can reach surprisingly high into the Annapurna Sanctuary. From my experience guiding trekkers, I have used Nepal Telecom on this route many times, and the signal can continue around Machapuchare Base Camp.
Mobile data around MBC can sometimes work on 3G or 4G. When the signal is available, this is enough for messages, basic internet use and simple communication with family or your trekking company.
The signal is not continuous, however. The ABC route passes through deep valleys and areas surrounded by high mountains, so there can be sections where the phone loses connection.
At Annapurna Base Camp itself, there is no mobile phone connection. If you need to make an important normal mobile call, make it before reaching ABC.
For trekkers who want to stay in touch with family, this means you are not completely disconnected during the trek. You simply need to expect some gaps in coverage as you move through the sanctuary.
Based on my experience guiding on the ABC trail, Nepal Telecom is the more useful SIM card if mobile coverage is important to you. Its coverage continues higher into the Annapurna Sanctuary than Ncell.
Ncell can work around Sinuwa, but after Sinuwa its coverage becomes very limited. If you plan to use mobile data during the trek, make sure your SIM and data package are working before you start going higher.
I recommend getting your SIM card and setting up your data in Kathmandu or Pokhara rather than waiting until you are already deep into the trekking route. It is easier to solve any SIM or data problem before you leave the city.
You cannot rely on making a normal mobile phone call from Annapurna Base Camp because there is no mobile network there. If you have an important call to make, it is better to make it before reaching ABC.
Nepal Telecom can work at several points before ABC, including around Machapuchare Base Camp. Wi-Fi at teahouses can also provide another way to communicate when the internet connection is working.
If family members are expecting regular updates, tell them before the trek that there may be periods when you cannot respond immediately. This avoids unnecessary concern when you are simply walking through an area without coverage.
Chhomrong has more accommodation and food choices than the higher settlements because it is a larger village and an important point on the ABC route. Some teahouses there have attached bathrooms, hot and cold showers and sinks.
After Chhomrong, the basic facilities remain broadly similar as you go toward ABC. You will find teahouse rooms, food, common toilets, hot showers, electricity and Wi-Fi, although the buildings and services become simpler as you go higher.
| Area | Facilities |
| Chhomrong | More accommodation and food choices, some attached bathrooms, hot and cold showers and sinks |
| Sinuwa to MBC | Similar rooms, food menus, common toilets, hot showers, basic electricity |
| ABC | Basic teahouse accommodation, meals, hot shower and solar power |
The main difference is not that the higher villages suddenly lose all facilities. Instead, the rooms, buildings and services become more basic as you move farther from the larger settlements.
Many people involved in teahouses and trekking businesses around the Annapurna Sanctuary route are from Chhomrong. This is one reason Chhomrong has more accommodation and food choices than the smaller settlements farther up.
The bedrooms in the teahouses are not heated, including at Machapuchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. No teahouse offers a heated bedroom, even for an additional payment.
The dining room is normally the warmest place because there is usually a heating stove. Trekkers gather there in the evening to eat, talk and warm themselves after the day’s walking.
Nights around MBC and ABC can be very cold. A warm sleeping bag, thermal layers, fleece, down jacket and warm socks are therefore important.
This is another major difference from the camping days I knew when I first worked on the trail. Today, trekkers sleep inside proper teahouse buildings with beds, blankets and dining rooms rather than having to carry tents and establish a campsite.
Cold temperatures can reduce phone and camera battery life quickly at higher elevations. This is especially noticeable when you are taking many photographs or recording video throughout the day.
Keep your phone, spare batteries and power bank inside your jacket or another insulated place when you are not using them. Do not leave spare batteries exposed to the cold for long periods.
At night, switch your phone off if you do not need it. When there is no mobile service, flight mode can also help save battery.
If you are carrying a camera, keeping spare batteries warm is equally important. You do not want to lose the ability to take photographs simply because the battery became too cold.
You do not need a large amount of electronic equipment for the ABC Trek. For most trekkers, a smartphone covers photographs, maps, communication and travel information.
I recommend carrying:
A waterproof pouch is useful because rain and snow can occur along the trail, particularly during wetter periods. Keep electronics protected inside your trekking bag when you are not using them.
Your smartphone can also hold your itinerary, hotel information, emergency contacts, transport details, maps and travel documents. Having these available offline means you are not dependent on an internet connection every time you need to check something.
For a complete equipment list, see the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Packing Guide.
Download important information before going higher because reliable internet cannot be guaranteed throughout the trail. This is especially useful if you need maps, documents or contact information during the trek.
I recommend downloading:
Do this in Kathmandu, Pokhara or during the lower part of the trail when you have a stronger connection.
Offline maps are especially useful because they allow you to check your location without depending on mobile data. Keep important travel documents and contact information accessible on your phone even when you are offline.
You may need a travel adapter depending on the type of plug used in your home country. Nepal commonly uses Type C, D and M sockets.
Check your phone, camera and other chargers before leaving home. A universal travel adapter is useful if you are carrying equipment with different plug types.
You do not need to carry a large charging setup. Keep it simple and make sure your main cables, chargers and power bank are protected from moisture and cold.
You can normally stay in contact with family during the ABC Trek using mobile coverage or Wi-Fi at different points along the route. Nepal Telecom can provide coverage on much of the trail, while Wi-Fi is available at many teahouses.
You should still expect interruptions. The trail passes through deep valleys and mountain areas where the signal can change, sometimes within a relatively short distance.
If your family is waiting for an update, let them know before you leave that there may be periods when you cannot respond. Send important messages when you reach a place with reliable service rather than waiting until Annapurna Base Camp.
This is especially useful if your family is unfamiliar with Himalayan trekking. A short message when you have a good connection can avoid unnecessary worry later.
The ABC Trek changed from a camping trek into a complete teahouse trek over the years, and this has changed almost everything about how trekkers experience the route.
When I first reached Annapurna Base Camp in 1996 as a porter, we carried tents, food, cooking equipment and other supplies and established camps along the route. A trekking group needed more equipment and more people to manage the camping operation.
There were no teahouses providing the range of services trekkers use today. We had to carry what was needed for the camp, including the equipment required for sleeping and cooking.
Over the years, more teahouses were built along the route. The camping system gradually gave way to the teahouse system, and the amount of equipment trekkers needed to carry became much smaller.
Today, you can walk to Annapurna Base Camp with a much lighter pack. You can sleep in a bed, eat hot meals, take a hot shower, charge your phone and use Wi-Fi at different points along the trail.
Electricity has also changed the way people live and work on the route. Several villages use small local hydropower systems supplied by nearby rivers and streams, while Annapurna Base Camp uses solar power.
Communication has changed just as much. When I first worked on the trail, there was no mobile phone service or Wi-Fi to check. Today, trekkers can contact family, send messages, use maps and share photographs from high on the trail.
I have watched these changes over many years. The mountains and the Annapurna Sanctuary are still the same, but the way trekkers live on the trail is very different from the camping days I knew in 1996.
You can stay connected on most of the ABC Trek, but I recommend treating phone and internet service as a convenience rather than something you need every hour.
Download your important information before going higher, carry a power bank, keep your batteries warm and make important calls before reaching ABC. If you lose signal for a while, it does not mean that something is wrong. It is simply part of walking through a mountain area where the terrain changes constantly.
The facilities at higher elevations are basic, but you have access to the essentials you need for the trek. You can eat hot food, sleep in a teahouse, take a shower, charge your phone and connect to the internet at different points.
The biggest change I have seen since I first went to ABC in 1996 is how much lighter the trekking experience has become. In those days, we carried camping equipment and supplies. Today, the trail has teahouses and local services that allow trekkers to travel without carrying all of that equipment.
Use the facilities when they are available, but do not make the entire trek dependent on your phone connection. Once you have sent the message you need to send and checked the information you need, put the phone away and enjoy the trail.
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Find quick answers about showers, Wi-Fi, electricity, phone charging, mobile signal, SIM cards, and teahouse facilities on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Yes. Hot showers are available throughout the ABC route, including at Annapurna Base Camp. The heating system differs between teahouses, and the service is normally available for an additional fee.
The price varies between teahouses and locations, so there is no single fixed rate for the whole route. Ask at your teahouse when you arrive, especially at the higher settlements.
Yes. Every village on the ABC route has electricity, with many higher settlements using small local hydropower systems. Annapurna Base Camp uses solar power.
Yes. Phone charging is available at teahouses throughout the route, including Annapurna Base Camp. Depending on the lodge, the charging point may be in your room or a shared area.
Yes. Many teahouses provide Wi-Fi, including at Annapurna Base Camp. It is generally suitable for messages, email and basic internet use, but speed and reliability vary as you go higher.
Yes. Nepal Telecom works across much of the trail and can continue as high as Machapuchare Base Camp. Signal can disappear in valleys, and there is no mobile network at Annapurna Base Camp itself.
Based on my experience guiding on the trail, Nepal Telecom is the more useful option if you want mobile coverage higher into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Ncell can work around Sinuwa, but its coverage becomes very limited farther up the trail.
You cannot rely on a normal mobile phone call from Annapurna Base Camp because there is no mobile network there. Make important calls before reaching ABC or use Wi-Fi when it is available.
No. Teahouse bedrooms are not heated, even for an additional payment. The dining room is normally warmer because of the heating stove, while MBC and ABC can be very cold at night.
Yes. A power bank is useful even though charging is available along the route. Cold temperatures can drain batteries quickly, and a power bank gives you a backup when charging points are busy or unavailable.
