Do you know the biggest contributor to the national economy of Nepal? Well, tourism and remittance contribute more for national revenue. Therefore, the tourism industry is the cornerstone for smooth functioning of Nepal. Tourism industry is largely dominated by the trekking activities even if there are many activities that you can do like peak climbing, expeditions, and tours. Today’s blog is about the complete guide to trekking in Nepal: Routes, Seasons, Costs & Tips. This blogger is very happy to share the facts related to trekking in Nepal which can be helpful for prospective travelers to plan for the trip.
Let’s delve into finding out the complete guide to trekking in Nepal: routes, seasons, costs & tips. I hope that you will be able to budget for the trip properly after reading the blog. Suitable routes to trek, right time to trek, budget, and tips information can help you plan a hassle free trekking journey.
Complete Guide to Trekking in Nepal: Routes, Seasons, Costs & Tips
Information is the biggest tool that breaks or makes any event or activity a grand success. If you know the requirements, then you can prepare according to it avoiding any kinds of mistakes later on. Similarly, a well-informed traveler is likely to enjoy the trek taking back all the travel investment he or she made for the trek. Before finding the complete guide to Trekking in Nepal: routes, seasons, costs & tips, let’s know about trekking in Nepal and understand about the biggest contributor of national economy.
Trekking in Nepal
You must know the difference between hiking and trekking. Many people consider trekking as hiking but it is not true. However, trekking is an advanced form of hiking and it involves overnight stay in the trekking trail. Hiking is normally simple and short which lasts less than a day without spending overnight. The word trekking is made famous by Nepal as it has the walking trails that traverse through diverse landscapes, foothills of mountains, multi – ethnic villages, and spectacular mountain vistas. Interestingly, hiking is shorter and it may not traverse through challenging terrain.
Majority of people visiting Nepal are for trekking activities. The regions like the Everest region, the Annapurna region, the Langtang Region, the Manaslu region, and off the beaten regions like Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, and Dolpo are mainstays of trekking activities in Nepal. Every season, thousands of trekkers flock to the trails of Nepal to knit the momentous walking holiday.
Nepal Trekking Routes Overview
Now, let’s talk about the trekking routes of Nepal. You don’t need to worry about the types of trekking routes. There is something for everyone here in Nepal. Trekkers can find different types of trekking routes to trek in Nepal. From short easy trails to long detours and challenging trails are available for trekkers to test their perseverance and stamina. Furthermore, well – trodden commercial routes are also the popular choice for trekkers. Overall, you can get diverse options for trekking in Nepal.
For now, let’s talk in brief about the various themes of the trekking routes of Nepal.
Short and Easy Treks
Well, there are countless short and easy treks to do in Nepal. These types of short and easy treks are suitable for family trekkers and those trekkers who are crunch on time yet they want to experience walking in Nepal. Remember that the short and easy trekking routes can also offer you the sights of magnificent Himalayas and experience of multi – ethnic communities. Trekking trails which are possible to trek in less than 10 days’ itinerary and don’t demand huge fitness levels are listed under the short and easy treks category.
Here is the list of the popular short and easy treks to do in Nepal. Note down that some of the easy and short treks to do in Nepal are also the commercial trekking routes that attract large number of trekkers from across the globe.
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Mohare Danda Trek
- Khopra Ridge Trek
- Chisapani Nagarkot Trek
- Dhampus Australian Camp Sarangkot Trek
- Everest View Trek
- Annapurna Royal Trek
- Helambu Circuit Trek
- Ghandruk Landruk Trek
Adventurous and Challenging Off the Beaten Treks
Never ever underestimate the geographical terrain of Nepal. There are countless High Mountain Passes and smaller peaks where trekking is always treacherous. A trekker must be in an absolute best cardio vascular condition and physical fitness level to complete these adventurous and challenging off the beaten treks in Nepal. Some of the trekking routes are inside the commercial trekking regions too. Make sure that you are walking in these trekking routes with the help of an experienced trekking guide under the banner of the reliable trekking company like the Nepal Trekking Rangers.
Check out the list of the adventurous and challenging off the beaten treks:
- Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
- Upper Dolpo Trek
- Three High Passes Trek
- EBC Chola Pass Trek
- Tilicho Lake Trek
- Meso Kanta La Pass Trek
- Ganjala Pass Trek
- Ruby Valley Ganesh Himal Trek
- Dhaulagiri Round Trek
- Api Himal Base Camp Trek
- Saipal Base Camp Trek
Commercial Treks to do in Nepal
It is no exasperation to say that Nepal has countless trekking routes to walk on. However, there are few established trekking routes which became the face of the Nepalese Trekking Industry. These trails are full of all the amenities required to support trekkers from lodging to internet signals. Therefore, these trails are also known as the commercial trekking routes of Nepal. Over 80 % of the trekking activities happen in these commercial trekking routes of Nepal.
List of the commercial trekking routes of Nepal:
- Everest Base Camp Trek
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Langtang Valley Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Manaslu Circuit Trek
When to trek in Nepal? Best Season for Trekking in Nepal
All the trekking routes mentioned above are just the known trails and trips. However, there are countless places where you can trek in Nepal either by customizing or simply booking the set itineraries. Trekking in Nepal is obviously the best holiday activity to do in Nepal but it has to be done in the right season for best trekking experiences. You must travel in the time when skies are clear and the weather conditions are stable including the dry trails to walk on. For this, you need the best season for trekking in Nepal. The months of spring season (March – May) and months of autumn season (September – November) are ideal times to do trekking in Nepal.
Guide and Porter Salary/Wage
The salary of a trekking guide starts from 35 $ up to 50 $ per day. The cost depends upon the experience level and language proficiency of a trekking guide. Moreover, the salary is also determined according to the trekking destination. Normally, the trekking guide charges more while guiding in the off the beaten places and challenging destinations. Similarly, the salary of porter starts from 20 $ to 30 $ per day according to the load capacity and trekking destination. Note down that a porter carries maximum 20 to 22 kilograms of luggage and the trekking company assigns one porter for two trekkers in their trekking package.
Accommodation and Meals Cost
Some of the off the beaten trekking routes of Nepal don’t have any facilities of accommodation and meals. Therefore, trekkers may have to do the camping trek in such trails. For example, you don’t find any proper lodging and meals facilities in the Dhaulagiri Round Trek. Nowadays, the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek has basic facilities of accommodation and meals for trekkers. However, the commercial trekking routes and short trails have good facilities of lodging and meals in the trekking route.
Accommodation and meals cost largely depend upon the preferences of a trekker. Allot around 35 $ to 50 $ per day per person for meals during the trek. You will be eating breakfast, snacks, tea/coffee, lunch, and dinner during the trek. As for the accommodation facilities, you must allocate around 5 $ to 15 $ for standard tea house and lodges. If you want to spend overnight in a luxury mountain lodges, then the price may exceed more than 125 $ per night on BB basis. The cost of staying overnight in the Everest View Hotel is about 300 $ to 500 $. However, in the Annapurna region, the luxury mountain lodges may charge you around 100 $ to 150 $ per night on BB basis.
Staying in the make shift tents and herder’s hut may not charge you for accommodation. You have to use your own cooking crew members to prepare meals during the trek. Doing the tea house trek is comparatively cheaper than doing the camping trek in terms of the accommodation and meals during the trek. For this, you have to hire more porters and cooks in your trekking team.
Transportation Cost
Reaching the trailhead for trekking in Nepal is either by road or by flight. Generally, the local transportation cost to reach the trailhead of Nepal Trekking Routes starts from NRs. 1500 and may reaches up to 50 $. Private transportation may start from 120 $ to 250 $ per jeep or private vehicle. As for the flights, the price starts from 100 $ per person per flight and exceed up to 300 $ per person per flight. Helicopter flight is also the popular choice of transportation among trekkers which start from 1200 $ on sharing basis and for the private charter flight the cost can be beyond 3500 $.
Miscellaneous Cost
Besides the regular costs, you need to allocate certain sum of money for miscellaneous costs. Furthermore, you should note down that a trekker must pay extra for varieties of services they use during the trek. I have kept the miscellaneous cost heading in the complete guide to trekking in Nepal: routes, seasons, costs & tips to make sure that everything is included in the blog. Around 5 $ to 15 $ per day is enough for miscellaneous cost. What are the miscellaneous costs for trekking in Nepal? Internet, hot showers, laundry, hot drinking water, tips gratuities, etc. is included in the miscellaneous costs. You can also consider the personal shopping as the miscellaneous cost.
Permit Cost
Permits are necessary for trekking in Nepal. If I don’t include the permit cost in the blog of the complete guide to trekking in Nepal: Routes, Seasons, Costs & Tips will be incomplete. The conservation area permit costs NRs. 3000 to foreigners and NRs. 1500 to SAARC nationals and the permit cost for national park are also similar. Besides parks, you may have to get the entry permit into certain rural municipalities. Its costs start from NRs. 1000 to NRs. 3000. The restricted area permit is different and its cost ranges from 20 $ up to 50 $ per day depending upon the region. There are rules of the fixed permit cost for a week with additional cost of 10 $ to 15 $ extra for each day.
Budget for Nepal Trekking: Average cost for treks in Nepal
The budget for Nepal trekking depends upon the trekking route that you have chosen. The average cost for trekking in Nepal starts from 220 $ per person for standard package to 2500 $ + depending upon the services and trails.
Tips for successful trekking trip in Nepal
Respect the local culture and traditions. Make sure that you are trekking in Nepal with the help of a trekking guide. Heed the instructions of a trekking guide and follow the safe walking style especially in the higher elevation places. Be honest to the acclimatization activities. Buy the trekking package from the reliable trekking company to ensure that you are traveling safely and there is someone to answer if incase the plan goes haywire. Remember that trekking in Nepal is always safe and momentous if you are traveling with the right traveling companion.