Tengboche, Nepal: Monastery, Mountain Views & Trek Tips

Cell Service

There is cell service in Tengboche, it’s a bit spotty, but available. The best is to get a SIM by Nepal Telecom for the EBC trek. I had a SIM by NCell, it still had service in Tengboche, but Nepal Telecom works better on the trail in general.

As cell service is available in Tengboche, access to wifi is also pretty good in Tengboche, so in most teahouses in the village you can use the wifi for free.

Location

Tengboche is one of the “lower altitude” villages along the trek. It’s not that low because it’s at almost 4,000 m (13,123 ft), but up until this point, the altitude feels easier compared to the rest of the trek. If you follow a classic EBC itinerary, then you go from Lukla to Phakding, Phakding to Namche, and then Namche to Tengboche.

The trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche took around 6 hours (including breaks), and I got to Tengboche by lunch time. I found this day was one of the easier days on the trek, and the walk got difficult just before arriving in Tengboche.

Then, you stay for a night in Tengboche, and head to Dingboche the next day. Up until Tengboche, wifi and electricity is easily available. Then, after you get to Dingboche, that’s when wifi and electricity is more limited. The trek from Tengboche to Dingboche takes around 5-6 hours walk plus breaks.

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Things to Do in Tengboche, Nepal

Tengboche is a small village and the best thing to do is to relax and gather your energy for the rest of the trek. What is great about Tengboche is that there is a monastery in the village, the Tengboche Monastery which is really cool to visit.

The Tengboche Monastery is the biggest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu region in Nepal, and one of the highest Buddhist monasteries in Nepal at 3,810 m (12,500 ft). (The highest Buddhist Monastery in Nepal is the Pungyen Gompa in the Manaslu region at 4,000 m/13,123 ft).

There is an entry fee (Rs. 300/ USD 2) for the monastery. Once a day, there is a ceremony by the monks that you can also join at around 4 pm.

Teahouses

There are only a few teahouses in Tengboche, and they are like the typical teahouses along the trekking route.

A bit past Tengboche, there is another tiny village Deboche that has a luxury teahouse run by the Mountain Lodges of Nepal. The Mountain Lodges of Nepal has high-end lodges in a few villages on the EBC trek. It doesn’t have a lodge in Tengboche, but if you are looking for a luxury place nearby, then keep walking until Deboche.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at the Tashi Delek Lodge in Tengboche. It’s not a luxury lodge, but it’s like the other traditional teahouses on the trek. I got a single room with a shared toilet, and I found it was alright. It also has an adjoining bakery, and they have some really nice stuff there.

I asked for an extra blanket from the staff, and they gave me two extra blankets (in addition to the one I already had in my room). They recommended it’s better if I have more blankets as it was going to be cold at night. I wasn’t sure if I needed three blankets but I am glad I had them ultimately. So, I found the hotel staff really nice here.

Electricity

There is electricity available in Tengboche, and there are plugs in the rooms so it’s easy to charge electronics. This means charging is free, and you don’t have to pay extra for it. Once you go higher up on the trek (Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep), you have to pay extra for charging.

In addition to the charging in your room, you can also charge your devices in the dining hall and the bakery.

Wifi

As electricity is available in the village, so is wifi. At my lodge, the free wifi was only available in the bakery, so I got all my food there and hang out there when I wanted to use the wifi. My cell network was working most of the time but it was easier to join the lodge’s wifi.

The wifi on the EBC trek is easily available until Tengboche, and you can get it for free up until here in most of the teahouses. After Tengboche, wifi is more limited and you have to pay extra to access it.

Food

The food in Tengboche is similar like in other villages along the EBC trek. The menu has basic Nepali and international dishes, including dal bhat (popular Nepali dishes), momo, eggs, soup, burger, pasta, pizza, and others.

I had veg fried noodles, dal bhat and eggs during my stay. If you are very hungry, go for dal bhat. The fried noodles were fine but if I had been very hungry, it would not have been enough.

Shower

There is a hot shower facility at the teahouse, but I didn’t take a shower. I decided not to take a shower above Namche Bazaar as the temperature outside was way too cold. I was worried that even though there is a hot shower, I could easily catch a cold after taking a shower. Still, if it’s a desperate time, hot water shower is available for a small extra fee.

Toilets

I got a room with shared toilets, and I found the shared toilets here were well-maintained. The shared toilets at some teahouses can get very messy, but here it was clean enough (at least when I was there).

I was considering to book a room with a private toilet further up on the trek or in case I got some tummy problems, but all was well when I got to Tengboche, so I went with the shared toilet. Still, a room with a private toilet all throughout the trek can make it even better.

Should I Book Ahead?

It’s not necessary to book ahead the teahouses in Tengboche even if you are trekking solo. I was also trekking without a guide in peak trekking season, and had no issues finding a place.

Tengboche is not that big and there are not many teahouses (maybe 4-5), but they are pretty big and they have plenty of rooms available. If you are a solo trekker, you can find a place as long as you have normal pace on the trail and you don’t arrive late afternoon. I am a slow trekker, but I usually start early, so I get to my destination before the majority of independent trekkers arrive, so I could book a room on the spot without an issue.

If you are trekking with a guide or booked through a trekking agency, then they pre-book the accommodation for you and your group. They usually have their preferred teahouses where they stay every time, so in this case, your accommodation is guaranteed.

Prices

Up until Tengboche, I found the prices are alright. The food prices gradually increase along the trek, but in Tengboche, you can still get wifi and charging for free. After you leave Tengoche, and go higher up (Dingboche), is when you start spending more as you have to pay extra for wifi and charging.

In total, I paid Rs. 3,400 (USD 22) in Tengboche that included the room, 3 meals and drinks. The wifi and charging was free so I only paid for the essentials. The EBC trek costs start to increase after you pass Tengboche.

I paid the following prices in Tengboche: 

• Room: Rs. 500 (USD 3) per night for a single room with a shared toilet
• Food: Dal bhat for Rs. 1,000 (USD 6.50), veg fried noodles for Rs. 700 (USD 4.50), an omelette for Rs. 500 (USD 3), a cup of tea for Rs. 200, hot water refill (1L): Rs. 500 (USD 3).
• Bottled water: Rs. 250 per bottle
• Charging: free (available in rooms & dining hall)
• Wifi: free at the bakery of the teahouse

Other things you can get at the teahouse:

• Shower: Rs. 500 (USD 3)
• Electric blanket: Rs. 1,000 (USD 6.50)
• Laundry: Rs. 200 per piece