Nepal's Mountainside Teahouses Elevate the Experience for Trekkers

Summary

Nepal’s Mountainside Teahouses Elevate the Experience for Trekkers Heading to the Top of the World Comforting rest stops dot the trail for adventurers ascending Mera Peak, offering food, rest and a warm cup of the local brew Text and photographs by Erin Trieb January/February 2026 In the valleys and hills of Nepal’s Khumbu mountain range, high peaks tower over teahouses, where a hot cup of tea is more than just a warm gesture. Erin Trieb We were only three days into a 27-day journey through the forests of eastern Nepal, pushing through low clouds and a steady downpour. “Are we going the right way?” I asked Arjun Rai, my guide on the Mera Peak trekking trail. “I think so,” he said, rain dripping from the bill of his baseball cap. “I’m pretty sure.” The mist was so dense we could see barely 100 feet ahead. It was an especially wet September, the end of monsoon season. As we descended a narrow, muddy gulch, we reached a rushing waterfall that cascaded down a rocky incline and directly blocked our path. To cross it, we slipped off our shoes and socks and waded barefoot through the icy torrent, which dropped off sharply to our right. Shelves at Dreamland Lodge store mugs and teapots. Introduced centuries ago through trade routes linking Tibet, India and Nepal, tea has long been woven into the daily life of Nepal’s Sherpa communities. Erin Trieb Did You Know? How high can you go before needing serious gear? In Nepal, some mountain peaks are accessible by trekking, but higher altitude apexes require actual climbing. At 21,247 feet, Mera is considered Nepal’s highest trekking peak. Ascending its low-grade glacial slopes doesn’t require the technical rock or ice climbing that peaks such as Mount Everest (at 29,032 feet) demand. Rai crossed with ease and grace, lightly gliding from one slick river stone to the next. I clumsily grabbed on to rocks in the water to hold my balance, trying not to scrape my feet or tumble down the waterfall to my death. After we made our way to th...