Budget
Trekking budget in Nepal: prices on the trail (2026)
What a trekking day costs by region, the fixed costs to plan for, and how much cash to carry: there are almost no ATMs in the mountains.
A day on the trail
| Trek | Budget per day | Last ATM |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Circuit | 30 to 50 USD (≈ €27 to €45) | Chame, Manang, Jomsom (unreliable) |
| Everest Base Camp | 35 to 60 USD (≈ €31 to €54) | Namche Bazaar |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 25 to 40 USD (≈ €22 to €36) | Pokhara (nothing after Nayapul) |
| Poon Hill | 25 to 35 USD (≈ €22 to €31) | Pokhara |
| Mardi Himal | 25 to 40 USD (≈ €22 to €36) | Pokhara |
| Langtang Valley | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Kathmandu |
| Gosainkunda Lake | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Kathmandu (sometimes Dhunche) |
| Makalu Base Camp | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Tumlingtar or Khandbari |
| Rara Lake | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Jumla (nothing at the lake) |
| Gokyo Lakes | 35 to 60 USD (≈ €31 to €54) | Namche Bazaar |
| Three Passes Trek | 35 to 60 USD (≈ €31 to €54) | Namche Bazaar |
| Khopra Danda | 25 to 40 USD (≈ €22 to €36) | Pokhara |
| Upper Mustang | 35 to 50 USD (≈ €31 to €45) | Jomsom |
| Nar Phu Valley | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Kathmandu or Pokhara |
| Tsum Valley | 30 to 45 USD (≈ €27 to €40) | Kathmandu (nothing in the valley) |
| Kanchenjunga | 30 to 50 USD (≈ €27 to €45) | Taplejung (unreliable) |
| Pikey Peak | 25 to 35 USD (≈ €22 to €31) | Salleri |
| Numbur Cheese Circuit | Agency package (camping) | Kathmandu |
| Phoksundo Lake | 25 to 40 USD (≈ €22 to €36) | Nepalgunj |
| Manaslu Circuit | 30 to 50 USD (≈ €27 to €45) | Arughat, then Besisahar |
Excluding guide, porter, permits and transport: room, three meals, hot drinks and a few extras. Prices rise with altitude.
What you pay for on the trail
- The room: 3 to 15 USD (≈ €3 to €13) depending on altitude, sometimes almost free after negotiation if you have dinner and breakfast at the lodge.
- Dal bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables, unlimited refills): around 400 to 600 NPR (≈ €2 to €3) lower down, 800 to 1,200 NPR (≈ €5 to €7) above 4,000 m.
- Hot shower, charging, wifi: often extra at altitude, 100 to 500 NPR (≈ €1 to €3) each.
- Water: bottles get pricier the higher you go; filtered water stations or purification (tablets, filter) are cheaper and mean less plastic.
Fixed costs
| Item | Ballpark |
|---|---|
| Permits | 5,000 to 6,000 NPR (≈ €29 to €35) (over 100 USD (≈ €89) for the Manaslu). See Permits. |
| Guide / porter | 25 to 50 USD (≈ €22 to €45) / 15 to 30 USD (≈ €13 to €27) per day. See Guide and porter. |
| Transport | From a few hundred rupees by bus to 200-250 USD (≈ €180-€225) one way to Lukla. See Transport. |
Cash: withdraw everything you need for the trek in Kathmandu or Pokhara, with a margin: mountain ATMs are rare, have low limits and are often empty in high season.
What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.
Which visa length?Comments
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Preparing your trek
PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.
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