Quick answer: Trekking food on a guided Himalayan trek is cooked fresh at camp: breakfast, a packed lunch on the trail, evening tea and snacks, and dinner. On Trekkaro's treks every meal is pure vegetarian. For food and water you carry only trail snacks, two water bottles and a reusable lunch box.
What food is served on a Himalayan trek?
On a guided trek you do not cook or carry food for the trek. Mountain kitchen staff travel with the group and cook at each camp, and mules or porters carry the group equipment. On Trekkaro's treks the food is simple, freshly prepared and pure vegetarian, with evening snacks and tea at camp; on Kuari Pass, Chopta Chandrashila and Gulabikantha, tea, coffee, soups and snacks are served during the trek. A trek day has four meals.
| Meal | Where you eat it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | At camp, before the day's walk | On Kedarkantha the summit climb starts before dawn, with hot tea from the guide's thermos on the way |
| Lunch | On the trail as a packed lunch on most walking days; on short days it is served at camp | Carry a reusable lunch box; on the Gulabikantha summit day you eat it at the top |
| Evening snacks | At camp, with tea | Served at camp after the day's walk |
| Dinner | In the mess tent at camp | Early before the Kedarkantha summit day, then a celebratory dinner at Juda Ka Talab after the summit |
Chadar works differently because the walking is on a frozen river in Ladakh: a hot lunch is served on the way every walking day.
Which meals are included on each trek?
Meals run from the start of the trek to its last day, but the first and last meal differ from trek to trek. This is what each fee includes.
| Trek | Meals included | Lunch on walking days |
|---|---|---|
| Kedarkantha | Day 1 dinner to Day 5 breakfast | Packed lunch |
| Brahmatal | Day 1 dinner to Day 5 dinner | Packed lunch on most walking days |
| Dayara Bugyal | Day 1 dinner to Day 4 breakfast | Packed lunch; lunch at camp on Day 2 |
| Kuari Pass | Day 1 dinner to Day 5 dinner | Packed lunch |
| Chopta Chandrashila | Day 1 dinner to Day 4 dinner | Packed lunch; lunch at camp on Day 2 |
| Gulabikantha | Day 1 dinner to Day 4 dinner | Packed lunch at the summit on Day 3; lunch at camp on Day 2 |
| Nag Tibba | Day 1 lunch at the trailhead to Day 2 lunch | Included from the first lunch |
| Chadar | Day 4 breakfast to Day 8 lunch; meals in Leh are not included | Hot lunch on the way |
Food on the drive to and from the trek is not included, for example on the road between Dehradun and Sankri for Kedarkantha or between Rishikesh and Lohajung for Brahmatal. The Kedarkantha drive has chai stops at roadside dhabas; carry small notes, because cards are not accepted on the trail.
Is the food on a trek vegetarian?
On every Trekkaro trek, yes: all meals are pure vegetarian. The kitchen cooks for the whole group at each camp, and the menu is simple, warm food made for cold days on the trail, not restaurant food. Pure vegetarian meals are part of the fee on each Trekkaro trek.
If you follow a special diet for health reasons, speak to our team before you book, so you know what the camp kitchen can and cannot do on that trek.
What snacks should you carry on a trek?
Meals cover the day, but you will want something to eat between them on the trail. Trekkaro's kit lists ask for a few kinds of snack, and the Uttarakhand Health Department's travel health advisory gives the same advice for travel in the state's hills: bring dry fruits and biscuits, and eat a nutritious diet on the journey.
| Snack | Why it suits a trek |
|---|---|
| Dry fruits and nuts, or trail mix | Light, filling and quick to eat at a short stop, and they do not spoil in a few days |
| Energy bars | Easy to keep in a jacket pocket and eat while walking on a long climb |
| Chocolate and biscuits | Quick energy at rest stops; on Chadar, chocolates join dry fruits and energy bars on the snack list |
| ORS or electrolyte sachets | Mixed into your water to replace salts on long walking days and in dry air |
Keep the day's snacks in a pocket or the lid of your backpack, not deep inside it. Carry every wrapper back down with you; on Chadar you carry your waste back from the river camps. Our leave-no-trace guide explains why.
How do you get drinking water on a trek?
Water matters as much as food, and on winter treks the challenge is keeping it from freezing. Carry two 1 L bottles, one of them insulated. Leave plastic bottles at home: Trekkaro's mess tent gives hot water at every camp, and you fill your own bottles there. The health advisory linked above also asks travellers to drink enough water and fluids, preferably lukewarm.
| Trek | Water on the trail |
|---|---|
| Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Chopta Chandrashila, Gulabikantha | Water at camp is boiled or treated with chlorine tablets; refill on the trail only where the trek leader says it is safe |
| Kuari Pass | Sources are limited: fill your bottles at Dhak, and carry all your water on summit day, as there are no sources on the route |
| Nag Tibba | A couple of natural water points on Day 1; carry at least 1.5 litres on summit day, as there is no water on top |
| Chadar | Water freezes quickly and the air is very dry; keep drinking through the day and add ORS sachets |
How should you eat and drink at altitude?
Eat at every meal and snack on the trail, even on days you feel less hungry, because walking in snow and cold uses a lot of energy. Sip water through the day rather than drinking a lot at once at camp.
Tell your trek leader if you cannot eat, feel sick or have a headache. A trekker who stops eating can be unwell in a way the cold hides, which is why SpO2 and pulse are checked twice a day at every campsite on Trekkaro's batches. Our guide to altitude sickness on Himalayan treks lists the signs. The rest of your kit list is in our winter trek packing list.
What should you check before you book a trek?
Meals are one line in a long list of inclusions. Compare the whole list before you pay; the last column gives Trekkaro's answers on its winter treks.
| What to check | Why it matters | With Trekkaro |
|---|---|---|
| Which meals are included, from which day to which day? | Without dates on the list, the first dinner or the last lunch can turn into an extra. | All meals on the trek are listed by day for each trek, pure vegetarian. |
| Is safe drinking water arranged at camp? | Without it you buy bottled water, and the plastic stays on the mountain. | Hot water from the mess tent at every camp; on Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Chopta Chandrashila and Gulabikantha, water at camp is boiled or treated. |
| Is there a mess tent to eat in? | Eating outside at -10°C makes every meal short and cold. | Large mess tents with tables on Dayara Bugyal, Kuari Pass, Chopta Chandrashila and Gulabikantha. |
| Are shoes, a jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes in the fee? | Without them you buy or rent a snow kit before the trek. | Free Trekking Gear on the Uttarakhand winter treks, with a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. |
| What does the fee cover? | Without a written list, extras appear on the trail. | Stays, tents, meals, permits and the gear kit. On the Gulabikantha trek, for example, the fee is ₹8,500 per person plus 5% GST (₹8,925 with GST). |
| What if you cancel? | Without clear terms, a change of plan can cost the whole fee. | 70% back at 30 or more days, 50% at 15 to 29 days and no cash refund from 14 days; up to 8 days before, a 100% TrekCash voucher, a free reschedule or a transfer instead. |
| Is EMI available? | Without it the whole fee is due when you book. | EMI starts at ₹437 a month. |
See Gulabikantha Trek dates and book | Winter trek packing list | How to pack a trekking backpack
Frequently asked questions
What food is served on a trek in the Himalayas?
On Trekkaro's treks you get breakfast, a packed lunch, evening snacks with tea, and dinner, all freshly cooked at camp. Every meal is pure vegetarian.
Do I need to carry food on a guided trek?
No, only snacks for the trail: dry fruits, energy bars, chocolate and ORS sachets. Bring a reusable lunch box for the packed lunch.
Is drinking water safe on a trek?
Hot water comes from the mess tent at every camp, and on Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Chopta Chandrashila and Gulabikantha water at camp is boiled or treated with chlorine tablets. Refill on the trail only where the trek leader says it is safe.
Are meals on the drive to the trek included?
No. Food on the drive to and from the base village is not included, so carry small notes for the roadside stops.
What should I look for when choosing a company for a trek?
Check which meals are included by day, how drinking water is handled and whether there is a mess tent. Then compare snow gear in the fee, SpO2 checks, cancellation terms and EMI.
