If you’re looking for the very cheapest place to travel in the world, then Nepal can be your first choice.
There is a very famous saying, that money matters!!!!
Really it does, especially when you are planning for long distance trip around the world.
So, deciding upon a budget is one of the most important aspects associated with trekking in Nepal.
To decide the right kind of budget for your trips involves careful and thoughtful planning.
Nonetheless, there are some aspects that are related to the cost of a trekking in Nepal. The cost depends on the following factors:
- Trekking destination that you want to visit
- The activities that you plan to undertake during the trekking trip
- Trekking seasons that you want to visit
- The length and duration of your trekking trip
- Mode of accommodation
- Mode of transportation
- Food and drinks
- Other extra miscellaneous expenses
Trekking in Nepal costs some of the lowest in the world. Particularly during the treks, you can spend little more than a few dollars a day.
Today I will discuss trekking in Nepal costs considerations that most of the people want to know before planning trip.
Cost of Transportation
Transportation is an important factor that impacts your budget while trekking in Nepal. As if you are traveling from one destination to another that involves costs to be incurred.
There are many traveling options available such as local buses, tourist buses, daily flights and even private jeep.
You can go for the public transportation to cut down some expenses. Moreover, traveling in the public transportation is an adventure and new experience in itself.
Buses in Nepal are cheap and most remote and rural areas are becoming more accessible.
The tourist bus is available to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu, that will cost less than $8 to $30 one way per person. The range is due to the extra services that may vary.
You also can take Kathmandu to Pokhara flight and will cost $120 one way per person.
Another option is to travel by jeep or car depending on the journey. As an example, you can go for luxurious options at the following prices:
Kathmandu-Bhulbhule: $150 (NRS. 15000)for two
Pokhara-Kathmandu: $65 (NRS. 6500)
If you are traveling in the remote area
Cost of Trekking Permit
As you will be trekking in different regions and conservation area. So, you need to pay a certain amount to enter in this area. The government of Nepal will issue permits for foreign tourists who are trekking in the controlled areas of Nepal.
For trekking in the restricted areas, you need to get special trekking permits. During the trek, if you are to enter into the conservation areas and national park. Then, you need to have a conservation area permits to enter into these sanctuaries.
Chitwan National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area are some of such protected areas and required permits.
The entry fee for foreign nationals for National parks and Conservation areas:
Annapurna Conservation Area: NRs. 3000 per person
Manaslu Conservation Area: NRs. 3000 per person
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area: ) Nrs 2,000 per person
Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit : Nrs 3000 Per Person
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit: Nrs 2,000 per person
Langtang National Park Entry Permit: NPR 3000
Makalu-Barun National Parks: NPR 3000
- SAARC nationals have to pay NRs.1500 as the permit fee.
For restricted areas, the charge depends on the duration of the trek in the region and the trekking season.
Trekking in restricted areas such as Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo, you need to pay $500 per person for first ten days. After that, you need to pay $50 per day per person.
Thus, the trekking permit cost in Nepal depends on the trekking season, duration and destinations for which you are opting to.
Cost of Accommodation
The accommodation costs vary along the trekking trails and season. The rooms of tea houses in most popular trekking trails are of standard designed to provide you extra comfort.
Almost all tea houses offer two bed in one room. Showers might be available in more developed areas.
Most of the tea houses accommodation cost around $5 (NRS. 500) – $ 10 per person per night. But you need to have your meals in the tea houses. The lodging prices in the Annapurna region are affordable. But prices rise steeply as you gain altitudes and the services are also more basic.
Everest Base camp route is little expensive than Annapurna region. If you are doing trekking in the offseason the price can be as little as $1 (NRS. 100)-$2 (NRS. 200). The price of the single room goes down and it’s very easy to negotiate.
The price of the accommodation can rise when you further go higher altitude along the trail as $10 (NRS. 1000) per night.
Also during the peak season prices are often set high and it is very hard to negotiate also.
Most of the tea house along the trail does not include the hot showers in accommodations prices.
At the lower elevation, most of the tea houses in the Annapurna region and Everest region provide the hot shower for $2-$3. But if you’re on the budget, cold bucket showers are available.
Cost of Meals
Most of the tea houses along the popular trekking trails offer nice traditional local meals.
During your trekking period, you will get a standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner including tea or coffee. As most of the trekking trails of Nepal lies in the remote area. So, the cost of the food is generally more expensive than in Kathmandu.
There is the simple rule that as the elevation increases the cost of the food also increases.
This is because it is very difficult to transport the food to the higher elevation. As most of the remote area of Nepal is still not fully accessible to transportation.
Besides all this, most of the tea houses provide tasty and hygienic food at affordable prices.
The cost of the food at the start of the trek can start from $2 per meal and at the high camp can go for $10-15 per meal.
Also, the prices vary between high and low trekking seasons.
While hiking, staying hydrated is essential and it’s become more important as you hike in higher elevation. Again, the one liter of bottled water can start at $0.48 and at high elevation cost $2.
In Manang and Muktinath you can easily get any kinds of bars or chocolate at $0.48-2.
Cost of Guide and Porter
Trekking Guide organizes everything in advance in trekking route. They will lead you along the trail and you can ask everything.
Porter will help you to carry your backpack on the trails. On camping trek, more than one porter is necessary.
The cost of trekking guide in Nepal, or porter or porter-guide can vary quite a lot. As some Nepal trekking guides will cost a lot of money and for others Nepali guide you’ll pay very little.
The standard daily rate of hiring a highly skilled Nepal guide range from $30 (NRS. 3000) to $40 (NRS. 4000).
The porter is always ready to carry your heavy backpack throughout the trails. The standard daily rate of Nepali porter ranges from $20 (NRS. 2000) to $30 (NRS. 3000).
Porter-Guide-The Jacks of all trades. They know where they’re going. They also help you get there if you need it.
The standard daily rate of Nepali porter-guide ranges from $24 (NRs. 2400) to $30 (NRs. 3000)
Other Miscellaneous costs
For any kind of trekking in Nepal, the following are extra costs you have to consider your budget:
- Charging your electronic gadgets such as Camera, phone, iPhone would definitely cost you $2 (NRS. 200)-$5 (NRS. 500) at a time. But in the remote area, it can cost more. Sometimes if there is less crowd at tea houses, then they let you charge your gadgets for free. But in the peak season, they will charge you around $3-5 per hour for charging your devices.
- Likewise, along with the most popular routes, some of the tea houses sell WiFi. In the Everest region, you will get pre-paid WiFi cards at around $3 (NRS. 300) for 100 MB. On the Annapurna Circuit, you may get one-time fee of $3 (NRS. 300)-$5 (NRS.500) for WiFi access.
- If you are satisfied with the services of your guide and appreciated their work then you are free to express your thanks for a little tip.
- If you visit some monasteries, gumba or stupa, you can donate some small amount. Although it is not mandatory they do expect for the maintenance of the area.
Conclusion
Thus, the trekking in Nepal costs can be reduced and increased as per the services you get from the agent. What type of the hotel you want to stay or what kind of service you want to use. All these matters while you are making the budget to travel in Nepal.
Hopefully, this article gave you some insights on how much you should budget for trekking in Nepal.
Enjoy and good luck! Get walking!
Note
We are always ready to provide hiking details of cost, itinerary, guide, permits and flights details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us https://nepalecoadventure.com/contact-us
