Are you planning to trek in Nepal? You checked the packages and realized that some treks are expensive. So why is trekking in Nepal expensive? If you are looking for an answer to this question, you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog, we’ll give you 4 reasons why some treks in Nepal are expensive. After reading this blog, you’ll get a clear picture of why you’ll find so much difference in the packages. Read till the end and enjoy.
Let’s get started!
Example of Expensive Trekking Packages
There are some trekking packages you can find in Nepal that are costlier than other packages. Multiple reasons affect these packages, but before jumping straight at the reasons, let us first check the different expensive trekking packages in Nepal.
We’ve mentioned some of the packages below so you can check them.
- Everest Base Camp Trek
- Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek
- Everest Base Camp Heli Trek
- Everest High Passes Trek
- Kanchenjunga Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
First of all, let’s look at the reasons why some trekking packages in Nepal are slightly more expensive than others.
- Transportation Cost
- Accommodations and Food Cost
- Permits Cost
- Longer Duration Trek
1. Transportation Cost
You may doubt that trekking is walking and staying in lodges; why would you use any means of transportation?
Well, for some trekking destinations, different means of transportation are used. These can be helicopters, planes, and also cars/jeeps. The rising cost of petrol and diesel has affected the overall transportation cost in Nepal.
Currently, the flight to Lukla is $191. The price varies according to peak season and off-season. During the peak season, prices may reach up to $200. Therefore, if you want to trek in the Everest region, please consult with your agencies and book the tickets immediately.
Similarly, at Everest Base Camp Heli Trek, the package is expensive due to the cost of the Helicopter from Gorakshep to Kathmandu, which is roughly USD 3500 for a charter Helicopter.
Likewise, flights to Jomson also add an extra cost to the trek in the Mustang region. Similar to flights to Lukla, these flights also do not have a fixed price. The fare price ranges from
$125- $130 during the busiest months, from March to November.
Lastly, for the Kanchenjunga Base Camp, you must catch a flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. The total fare is $180-$190. After landing in Bhadrapur, you must get in a jeep and drive to Taplejung. The cost for the land vehicles depends on whether it is a public bus, shared jeep, or private jeep.
2. Accommodations and Food Cost
Trekking in Nepal is wonderful and exciting at the same time. The uphill and downhill terrains take you on an adventure, with the beautiful peaks and the cherry on the cake.
However, as you move up the remote areas, you’ll notice an increase in the price of accommodations and food. This is due to the transportation cost.
In remote areas or areas where there are no roads, mules are used for carrying the goods. Another alternative is porters, whom you’ll see carrying loads twice the size of their body weight.
Additionally, many lodges and shopkeepers also use helicopters for their goods for faster transportation. This further increases the transportation cost, affecting accommodation prices, meals, snacks, and beverages.
As the teahouses are located in such a high elevation and remote area, the owners do not have another option but increase their prices on basic facilities.
In addition to this, in Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek, the trekking package is a bit expensive due to its premium package. The client’s hotel is upgraded from 3-star to 5-star hotels in this package. Likewise, in Phakding and Namche Bazaar, the accommodation will be slightly better than in others.
3. Permits Fee
This is another factor that causes trekking packages to be expensive. Trekking permits are necessary for entering all trekking regions of Nepal. The cost of the permits differs according to different regions.
These permits are expensive for foreign nationals. But, these permits are used for different purposes like protecting flora fauna and endangered animals and for the villagers' better livelihood.
The cost for the permits is as follows,
Updated Everest Base Camp Permit Cost for Foreigners- There are two permits for EBC.
- Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit- When entering this point, you will have to pay USD 20 per person. This is a one-time payment.
- Sagarmatha National Park Permit - The cost for entering this park is USD 30 per person. This is also a one-time payment and is unlimited.
Updated Upper Mustang Trek Permit Cost for Foreigners- Similar to the above, there are two permits for Upper Mustang Trek.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project ( ACAP) Permit- This is the largest conservation area in Nepal and charges you USD 20 per person on entry.
- Restricted Area Permit ( RAP) - This permit is comparatively costlier than other permits. It will cost you USD 500 for 10 days. If your stay goes beyond 10 days, $50 per day will be charged.
Updated Kanchenjunga Trek Permit Cost for Foreigners- Two permits are required for this trek,
- Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP)- To enter KCAP, you will have to pay USD 20 per person. This is a one-time payment.
- Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit ( RAP) - This restricted area charges the visitors USD 20 per person per week.
Therefore, due to these permits' costs, you’ll also find an increase in the package price.
4. Longer Duration Treks
Longer treks mean you’ll spend more on transportation, accommodations, and permits. The treks which are more than 20 days fall under the category of longer duration treks.
The more extended trekking packages are Everest High Passes Trek ( 22 Days) and Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek ( 27 Days), Upper Dolpo Trek ( 25 Days), Nar Phu Valley Trek ( 21 Days), Makalu Base Camp Trek ( 22 Days), and Rolwaling Tashi Lapcha Pass ( 20 Days).
In the Everest High Passes Trek, sightseeing, acclimatization, and leisure day are included in the itinerary. The acclimatization day is essential to train your body to adapt to the higher altitude as you move up. Similarly, a leisure day is also allocated to keep a day for souvenir shopping and also flight cancellations/delays.
Likewise, at Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, there are sightseeing, two acclimatization days, and leisure day for the same purpose as above.
Similarly, the other treks mentioned above also
Conclusion
With this, we’ve reached the end of the blog. We hope you understand why some trekking packages are expensive in Nepal. If you want to visit Nepal for trekking right away, do read this blog to check the best time to trek.
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