Are you on the lookout for a spectacular, yet budget-friendly trekking experience? Recently, Nepal has been listed among the top cheapest destinations for travel in 2019. With numerous trekking routes all over the country, there’s no better place offering high-altitude trekking experience at a more affordable price.
If you’re planning a trek in Nepal, it might be hard choosing specific treks from so many available ones. We have listed the best three budget-treks in Nepal to make your job easy. Have a look:
#1. Langtang Valley Trek
Another perfect option for a budget trek is the Langtang Trek. Within a close distance from the capital, this trek offers everything you would expect from a trekking experience in Nepal. The unspoiled natural beauty of Langtang National Park with warm and hospitable Tamangs makes up for an enjoyable trekking experience. The towering peaks of Langtang and Lirung are sure to leave you in awe.
Anyone with a regular fitness level can go on this trek. You too can opt for it if you have the desire and right attitude. With a relatively low budget, you can get much more than you would expect from this trek.
Transportation Cost
Public Transport:
Kathmandu -Syabrubesi: NPR 350-600 (USD 3.5 – 6)
Tourists Bus:
Kathmandu -Syabrubesi: USD10-15 (depending on the standard of buses, and time of travel)
Jeep:
Kathmandu – Syabrubesi: NPR 800-1,000 (USD 8-10)
Trekking Permits
TIMS Card: TIMS Card costs you USD 20 i.e, NPR 2,000 per person.
Langtang National Park Permit: Langtang National Park issues permits for visiting Langtang. You can get this permit in Kathmandu or on your way to Langtang. It costs USD 30 i.e., NPR 3,000 for the permit if you purchase it in Kathmandu.
Accommodation
On the trail, you can find teahouse accommodation. You will be served your meal on the same teahouse that you stay. The costs will range from USD 2-5 per night for accommodation. This doesn’t include the cost of the food.
Food and Drinks
The costs of food and drinks differ as you move along the trail. Since food is carried on mules from Syabrubesi, the price becomes higher as you go up. It costs USD 2- 5 in the lower regions, whereas in the higher regions the same meal will cost you USD 4-6.
Guide and Porter
Though Langtang Valley Trek is possible to complete by yourself, it is always better to have a licensed trekking guide or porter with you. A trekking guide provides you knowledge on most of the things you are interested in while on the trek. Whereas, a porter will carry your heavy backpack. It costs around USD 22-25 per day for hiring a trekking guide. Similarly, a porter would charge you USD15-18 per day for carrying your goods.
#2. Ghorepani Poonhill Trek
Ghorepani PoonHill Trek is a short and easy trek that takes you through the hills of Kaski district. Throughout the trek, you can experience the rich culture and lifestyle of Gurungs, enjoy the panoramic view of more than 32 peaks, and have an authentic trekking experience in Nepal.
It takes 4-5 days for a complete trek to Ghorepani and eventually to Poonhill. The walk is not so hard in terms of difficulty. Another great thing about Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is that the trek is doable any time of year. However, for the best view, the best seasons are autumn and spring.
For an overall estimate of the cost, check out the list below:
Transportation Costs
For transportation, there are four options available.
Flight: You can choose to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara for the start of your trek. A one-way ticket costs about USD 120 for a 20-minute flight. If you’re short on time, this is the best option for you.
Public Transport: If you choose to travel independently, public transport is the way to go. The cost of public transportation are as follows:
Kathmandu – Pokhara: NPR 350 – 500 (USD 3.5 – 5)
Pokhara – Nayapul: NPR 100-120 (USD 1 – 1.5)
Tourist Bus: You have an option to opt for tourist buses as well. The cost of traveling in tourists buses are:
Kathmandu – Pokhara: USD8 – 30 (depending on the standard of buses, and time of travel)
Pokhara – Nayapul: USD 5
Private Car: If you want a comfortable car for a ride, you can get it too. It is slightly more expensive, but it is convenient.
Kathmandu – Pokhara: NPR 4,000- 6,000 (USD 40-60)
Pokhara – Nayapul: NPR 2,000 (USD 20)
Trekking Permits
TIMS (Travel Information Management System) Permit: This is a permit needed to trek anywhere in Nepal except for the Everest region. It costs NPR 2,000 per person. You can get it from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): This is the permit that is needed to trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area. It costs USD 28 per person.
Accommodation
There are many tea houses along the trail, and the cost of accommodation in these teahouses vary depending on services available. Most of the tea houses have rooms with two beds. Facilities like hot shower and Wifi are common in these teahouses.
It costs USD 3-5 per night. In places like Kathmandu and Pokhara, you can opt for luxurious hotels too. The price may range from USD 5 – 250 in such hotels.
Food and Drinks
The average fooding cost is between USD 2-5 depending on the place and food item. As you progress on the trek, the price starts to get a little higher than in the city. A bottle of water can cost around USD 0.4 – 1 generally. If you’re concerned about how to purify water, the best thing to do is to carry water purifying tablets.
Guide and Porter
Though Ghorepani Poonhill Trek is possible without a guide, having a guide or porter will surely help you in many ways. For Guide and Porter, the costs are:
Licensed Trekking Guide: NPR 3,000-4,000 (USD 30-40) per day
Porter: NPR 2,000-2,500 (USD 20-25) per day
Porter Guide: NPR 2,500-3,500 (USD 25-35) per day
#3. Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a widely popular trekking destination in Nepal. This trek takes you to the base of Annapurna peak. Besides Annapurna massif, peaks like Himchuli, Machapuchhre, Gangapurna, etc. offer a magnificent panoramic view. The entire journey is filled with picturesque sceneries. If you’re a photographer or a vlogger, or even if you’re just an enthusiast, this trek can be your stepping stone to start a vlog.
Starting from the foothills of Pokhara, you will be trekking in the Annapurna Conservation Area. This region is known for its welcoming people and warm hospitality. People here live a very traditional lifestyle and have a rich culture. Gurungs and Magars dominate the majority of the population.
Within a relatively short time, you can get an overall experience of trekking in Nepal during Annapurna Base Camp Trek. To know more about the cost, check out the list below.
Transportation Costs:
Flight: You can fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara to start your trek. A one-way ticket costs about USD 120 for a 20 minutes flight.
Public Transport:
Kathmandu – Pokhara: NPR 350 – 500 (USD 3.5 – 5)
Pokhara – Nayapul: NPR 100-120 (USD 1 – 1.5)
Tourist Bus:
Kathmandu – Pokhara: USD 8 – 30 (depending on the standard of buses, and time of travel)
Pokhara – Nayapul: USD 5
Private Car
Kathmandu – Pokhara: NPR 4,000- 6,000 (USD 40-60)
Pokhara – Nayapul: NPR 2,000 (USD 20)
Trekking Permits
Just like any other trek in the Annapurna region, you need two permits for Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
TIMS Permit: This is a permit needed to trek anywhere in Nepal except for the Everest region. It costs NPR 2,000 per person and you can get it from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): ACAP permit is needed to trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area. It costs USD 28 per person for the permit.
Accommodation
Annapurna Base camp trek consists of many tea houses providing services of food and shelter. You will get a room with two beds in most of these teahouses. The price for these rooms ranges from USD 3-5.
Food and Drinks
During this trek, you do not need to carry food. There are teahouses offering services for food too. You can enjoy traditional Nepali food or order from the available menu. The prices range from USD 3-5 per meal. But it varies depending on your appetite.
Guide and Porter
A guide will enhance your knowledge and experience in the local context. Hiring a professional guide will cost you around USD 30-40 per day, including accommodation and food. Whereas a porter-guide would cost you the same but will carry about 15 kg of your backpack.
#Final Words
This article gives you all the information regarding the costs of these top 3 budget treks in Nepal. However, there might be additional charges for things like tipping or charging your device. You will need to pay an extra charge for charging your devices in most of the teahouses.
Since you will be trekking in the Himalayas, you might not find any source of power backup besides solar power. Also, it has not been long since Nepal became free of load-shedding. So, the advice is to carry a power source for backup.
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