Chhomrong Cottage is one of the long-established lodges in Chhomrong, a Gurung village that climbs a steep spur above the Chhomrong Khola. It is known on the Annapurna Base Camp trail above all for its chocolate cake, baked fresh each day by the family that runs the lodge and eaten by trekkers on the way up as a reward and on the way down as a celebration. The cake has been written about in trekking accounts and travel press for years.
As a teahouse it offers simple twin rooms, a dining room where trekkers gather around the stove, and a menu of dal bhat, noodles, potatoes and baked goods. Washrooms and hot showers are typical of the trail rather than hotel standard. We use it as a lunch or overnight stop on our ABC treks depending on the itinerary. Because teahouse rooms fill quickly in October and April, we reserve ahead where the lodge accepts bookings; otherwise your guide arranges a room on arrival in the village.
Why we book it
- Freshly baked chocolate cake that the trail is known for
- Close view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre from the village
- Last full-service village before the gorge to base camp
Best for
- Solo
- Groups
- First-timers
- Couples
Questions travellers ask
Is the Chhomrong Cottage chocolate cake worth the stop?
For most trekkers, yes. It is a warm, dense slice baked that day, and after several days of dal bhat it is welcome. Expect to pay roughly NPR 400–600 a slice, more than in Pokhara because everything is carried in. Many people eat one on the way up and another on the way down. Ask early in the afternoon, as it can run out.
Can I stay overnight at Chhomrong Cottage?
Yes, it is a working teahouse with rooms. Rooms are basic twins with blankets, so bring a sleeping bag rated to around −5 °C for the higher nights of the trek. In peak months of October, November and April we book ahead where possible; at quieter times your guide can arrange a room on arrival. Charging and hot showers usually cost extra.
How far is Chhomrong from Annapurna Base Camp?
About two days' walk up and one long day down. From Chhomrong at 2,170 m most itineraries sleep at Bamboo or Dovan, then Deurali at 3,230 m, and reach Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m on the following day. The return from base camp to Chhomrong takes 7–8 hours for fit walkers, though many split it with a night at Bamboo.
