Best Nepali Snacks to Carry on a Trek — Chhurpi & More
By Banstola Brothers·Chhurpi·
If you're planning a trek out of Pokhara — whether the Annapurna Circuit, the Ghorepani Poon Hill route, the Mardi Himal trail, or any of the other stunning routes in Gandaki Province — you'll spend a lot of time thinking about gear. Boots. Layers. Sleeping bags.
But the locals who have been walking these trails for generations know something most trekkers figure out too late: the right snack matters just as much as the right boot. You need food that is lightweight, calorie-dense, requires zero refrigeration, and actually gives you energy at altitude — not the kind of sugar crash you get from a chocolate bar at 4,000 metres.
The good news is that Nepal has exactly these foods. They've existed for centuries, built for exactly this purpose. Here's what to pack — and where to get it in Pokhara before you head out.
Chhurpi — The Ultimate Trekking Snack
There is no better trekking snack in the world than hard chhurpi. This is not an exaggeration.
Chhurpi is a traditional Himalayan hard cheese made by pressing and sun-drying the solids from yak, cow, or buffalo milk until they become nearly stone-hard. A single piece contains high levels of protein, calcium, and healthy fat — the exact nutrients your muscles need after a long uphill push. Because virtually all the water has been removed during drying, it is feather-light in your pack. And because no moisture remains, it needs no refrigeration and can last for months or even years without spoiling.
According to a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Ethnic Foods (PMC/Springer), properly dried hard chhurpi can contain 63–65% crude protein by weight — one of the highest concentrations of any natural whole food.
The way you eat it is part of the experience. You don't bite into it like cheese. You put a piece in your cheek and let it slowly soften as you walk, the same way yak herders and Himalayan farmers have been doing it for centuries. Over the next hour or two, it releases a salty, nutty flavour and provides a slow, sustained release of energy — exactly what your legs need on a 5-hour ascent.
There are two main types relevant for trekking:
Hard chhurpi — the classic trekking variety. Rock solid, lasts indefinitely in your pack, ideal for multi-day routes. Yak milk or Chauri milk hard chhurpi is the premium option; cow milk hard chhurpi from Ilam or Gandaki region is excellent and more affordable.
Soft chhurpi — fresher, tangier, more like cottage cheese. Great for the first day or two of a trek, but it won't last more than a few days without refrigeration, so plan accordingly.
Where to buy in Pokhara: At Banstola Brothers, we have been selling chhurpi in Pokhara since 1999 and can pack it properly for your trek.
Titaura and Lapsi Candy — The Electrolyte Surprise
Titaura is a traditional Nepali sweet-sour-spicy candy made from lapsi (Nepalese hog plum), tamarind, amla (Indian gooseberry), or mango. It comes as a soft paste, a hard candy, or a dried strip depending on the preparation.
What makes titaura relevant for trekkers beyond just taste: lapsi is extremely high in Vitamin C, and the salt-sour formulas — particularly piro khattu titaura — provide electrolytes in a form that is far more palatable than commercial electrolyte powder when you are 3,500 metres up and your appetite for anything sweet has disappeared.
A small pack weighs almost nothing and gives your electrolyte levels a meaningful boost while providing a flavour contrast to the salty, savoury profile of chhurpi and sukuti.
What to Pack: A Simple Trekking Snack Kit from Pokhara
Here is a practical suggested list for a 5–7 day Annapurna region trek, based on what you can buy in Pokhara before departure:
Hard chhurpi : Your primary protein and fat source between meals. Yak or Chauri milk for the premium experience; Ilam cow milk for great quality at a better price.
Titaura or lapsi candy : Electrolytes and Vitamin C. Also good for morale on hard days.
Why Buy Your Trekking Snacks in Pokhara
Prices increase significantly as you go up the trail — food and supplies in tea houses and small shops above Ghorepani or Chhomrong can be 2–3x the Pokhara price for the same items. Buying your snacks in Pokhara before you head to the trailhead is simply smarter.
At Banstola Brothers, we have been supplying trekkers and locals in Pokhara since 1999. We stock hard and soft chhurpi, Titaura and other traditional Nepali snacks — and we can tell you exactly where every piece of chhurpi came from.
