Nepal is one of the major trekking destinations in the world, and every year, there is always a surge of travelers from all around the globe. And you may be one of such travelers looking forward to a breathtaking experience.
So, is Nepal a budget-friendly destination? Yes! Among numerous countries, Nepal is one of the most affordable locations with untouched beauty, rich cultural values, and friendly locals. But having said that, the long Himalayan treks are on the pricey side.
Today we will describe the ins and outs of every estimated expense that will cost you during your trekking journey. It includes food, transportation, a guide, a permit, and other miscellaneous costs.
Top Three Budget-Friendly Treks In Nepal
Often treks cost much less when it is for a few days than treks for an extended timeframe. Below we present some of the affordable treks you can try.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Starting And Ending Point: Pokhara
- Trekking Duration: 11 Days
- Trekking Region: Annapurna
- Nature Of Trek: Lodge to Lodge Trekking
- Maximum Altitude: 4,130 meters at Annapurna Base Camp
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Best Seasons: February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, and December.
One of the most stunning walking routes leads to the foot of Annapurna, the tenth-highest mountain in the world (8,091 meters). Your tour will take you through places that are rich in culture and across a variety of landscapes.
It also incorporates the well-known Poon Hill route, which serves as a vantage point for watching the sunrise and sunset. The Jhinu Danda’s natural hot water pool is delightful. This journey is known as the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek because it passes through the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Cost Estimates Of The Trek
Transportation Cost
From Kathmandu to Pokhara, you can go via flight, local bus, tourist bus, or even private car. Often flights cost you around USD 120, while local buses take in around USD 3.5-5. You can also choose tourist buses which cost USD 8-30 depending on the bus Company and the time you travel.
The last option is the private bus that costs you USD 40-60. After you reach Pokhara, you will need to reach Nayapul to start your trek. To reach there, you have three options; local bus, tourist bus, and private vehicle.
A local bus will cost you USD 1-1.5, a tourist bus will be around USD 5, and a private vehicle will take you there for USD 20. All these prices are the same when you return as well.
Trekking Permits
Yes, trekking in the Annapurna region does require a permit, in fact, two permits. One of the permits is a TIMS card which costs you around USD 20 per person. This particular permit is required even if you trek anywhere in Nepal except the Everest region. You can get it from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Another permit is ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) which costs USD 28 per person. This permit is needed to trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Guides And Porters
If you are hiring a local professional guide, it will cost you around USD 30-35 per day. Likewise, a porter can cost you around USD 15 or a bit above per day.
Accommodation, Food, And Drinks
While you trek in the Annapurna region, you will find multiple tea houses for accommodation. A standard room with two beds often ranges from USD 3-5.
Moving on to your meals, the teahouses also offer you food and drinks as per the Nepali menu. You can estimate around USD 3-5 per meal unless you do not order something fancy or alcoholic beverages.
Langtang Valley Trek
- Starting And Ending Point: Syabrubesi
- Trekking Region: Langtang
- Trekking Duration: 8 Days
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Maximum Altitude: 4800 meters / 15655 feet (Kyanjing Ri)
- Best Seasons: Fall (September, October, November, and December) and Spring (March, April, and May).
It is one of the closest trails to the Kathmandu valley. Langtang Valley offers over 70 glaciers and reaches a maximum altitude of 4,773m at Kyangjin Ri. This high altitude provides a panoramic view of the Langtang range that looks stunning with winter snow cover.
Here, the trails are rough but give you a warm experience. Likewise, it is also an opportunity to get a closer look at the ethnic culture of Tamang and Sherpa. While here, you can also visit Langtang National Park and observe wildlife like Himalayan monal, Himalayan tahrs, wild dogs, and snow leopards.
Cost Estimates Of The Trek
Transportation Cost
From Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, you can go via local bus, tourist bus, or jeep. A local bus ride will cost you around USD 3.5-6, and the tourist bus will take you USD 10-15, also depending upon the car Company and time of the travel. Lastly, the jeep ride will cost you USD 8-10.
Trekking Permits
Yes, trekking in the Langtang region does require a permit, in fact, two permits. One of the permits is a TIMS card which costs you around USD 20 per person. This particular permit is required even if you trek anywhere in Nepal except the Everest region, and you can get it from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu.
Another permit is Langtang National Park Permit which will cost you USD 30. You can issue this permit in Kathmandu or on your way to Langtang.
Guides And Porters
Langtang Valley Trek is a considerably easy one. Hence, you do not require a guide, which can be completed independently.
However, if you still hire a local professional guide, it will cost you around USD 22-25 per day. Similarly, a porter can cost you around USD 15-18 daily.
Accommodation, Food, And Drinks
During the Langtang Valley journey, you will find several teahouses for accommodation which will cost you USD 2-5 per night.
You will also get food and drinks in the same teahouses. If you stay in the lower regions, it will cost you USD 2-5 per meal. However, the price is a bit higher as you go in the higher regions costing you around USD 4-6 per meal.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Starting And Ending Point: Pokhara
- Trekking Duration: 5 Days
- Trekking Region: Annapurna
- Nature Of Trek: Lodge to Lodge Trekking
- Maximum Altitude: 3,210 meters at Poon Hill
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Best Seasons: February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, and December.
It is one of the most popular short treks that takes you along the foothills of the Annapurna to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. This trail rewards you with some of the most striking scenes of the Annapurna ranges, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri mountains.
During this journey, you will get to explore the Ghorepani Village, where you will experience the rich culture and lifestyle of Gurungs. Moving from there, the trek takes you to the Poon Hill viewpoint.
Cost Estimates Of The Trek
Transportation Cost
From Kathmandu to Pokhara, you can go via flight, local bus, tourist bus, or even private car. Often flights cost you around USD 120, while local buses take in around USD 3.5-5. You can also choose tourist buses which cost USD 8-30 depending on the bus Company and the time you travel.
The last option is the private bus that costs you USD 40-60. After you reach Pokhara, you will need to reach Nayapul to start your trek. To reach there, you have three options; local bus, tourist bus, and private vehicle.
A local bus will cost you USD 1-1.5, a tourist bus will be around USD 5, and a private vehicle will take you there for USD 20. All these prices are the same when you return as well.
Trekking Permits
Yes, trekking in the Annapurna region does require a permit, in fact, two permits. One of the permits is a TIMS card which costs you around USD 20 per person. This particular permit is required even if you trek anywhere in Nepal except the Everest region. You can get it from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Another permit is ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) which costs USD 28 per person. This permit is needed to trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Guides And Porters
If you are hiring a local professional guide, it will cost you around USD 30-35 per day. Likewise, a porter can cost you around USD 15 or a bit above per day.
Accommodation, Food, And Drinks
While you trek in the Annapurna region, you will find multiple tea houses for accommodation. A standard room with two beds often ranges from USD 3-5.
Moving on to your meals, the teahouses also offer you food and drinks as per the Nepali menu. You can estimate around USD 3-5 per meal unless you do not order something fancy or alcoholic beverages.
Miscellaneous Factors And Expenses In The Treks
Transportation, food, accommodation, and guides are not the only factors of expenses during your trek. One of the significant factors is the nature of your walk, whether it is solo, budget-focused, or convenience focused.
If you are traveling solo or independently, you can make your budget frame with the accommodation, transportation, and meals of your preferences. You can travel on your tight budget or expand it at your convenience.
Likewise, traveling in groups depends on whether you focus more on budget or convenience. If you are looking for your budget, you can negotiate the prices with your travel agency. However, if you are looking for convenience, you can ask your agency to help with all the processes and manage within the groups.
If you tip for the services provided, it will be another topic inside. At times, even the trekking cost includes charging your phones. Similarly, it will also have other extra charges for hot showers and wifi.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will want permission because you will go into the Annapurna Conservation Area. Your hiking Company arranges for all permissions. Due to its usual length and level of difficulty, the Annapurna Base Camp Trip is not the most expensive trek in Nepal. Prices range from 700 and 1000 dollars or 600 and 900 euros.
The cost of your trekking depends on how you travel, what you bring, and what you consume while traveling. For example, Everest Base Camp, Annapurna, and Manaslu trekking cost between 500 and 900 USD for 10 and 12 days.