Budget Friendly Treks in Nepal

13 Sep 2024 Himalaya Trip

Nepal is a paradise for trekking in Nepal. There are many luxurious treks in the country that are quite expensive, but also a few amazing budget-friendly treks in Nepal. These treks provide fantastic adventure in the lap of the Himalayas.

Some of the most popular treks in Nepal are the Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Langtang Trek, but they are also equally expensive. In order to look for budget-friendly treks in Nepal, it is wise to look for some hidden gems and underrated treks. There are many underrated treks in every popular region of Nepal. In this blog, we will be sharing 10 of the best budget friendly treks in Nepal.

10 Budget Friendly Treks in Nepal

1. Everest Panorama Trek

Everest Panorama Trek is one of the underrated treks in the Everest region. This short trek, as the name suggests, is mainly for the majestic panoramic views of the mountains of the Everest region. In this trek, the trekkers board the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, start trekking to Phakding, and then continue their trek to Namche. Stay a day in the Namche for acclimatization, and then trekkers will move to small Sherpa villages like Thame Khumjung and finally reach Tengboche.

The trekkers then climb the Tengboche monastery, from where the majestic panoramic views of the mountains in Everest region like Mt Everest, Mt AmaDablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho-Oyu, and others. Due to the short trek duration, the overall expedition’s price is lower than that of other trekking destinations in Nepal.

2. Langtang Valley Trek

Langtang Valley Trek is another excellent trekking destination and is incredibly budget-friendly. The average trek duration of the Langtang Valley Trek is about 10 to 12 days, but you can increase the duration by a few more days if you add the Gosaikunda Lake Trek. However, increasing the number of side treks will also increase the cost of the trek.

The major attractions of the Langtang Valley Treks are Langtang Village, Langtang National Park, Kyanjin Gompa, Kyanjin Ri, and Tserko Ri. The low trek duration makes the cost less expensive, and since the Trek is quite close to the capital, it lies in a developed area, which is why the services are also generally cheaper, making it one of the budget-friendly treks in Nepal. 

3. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most beautiful and budget-friendly treks in Nepal. Hence, this is also why this trek gets lots of attention from trekkers who like cheap treks but still enjoy quality experiences and stunning views. Some of the reasons for Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is budget-friendly because of the short duration, more accessible accessibility point from Pokhara, the developed region, low altitude trek, doesn’t require to pay for permits. Also, basic accommodations make the cost a little less expensive.

4. Pikey Peak Trek

Pikey Peak Trek is another underrated trek in Nepal that can be curated to become a budget-friendly trek. It is the new trekking route in the Khumbu region, has gotten tons of attention, and attracts trekkers to explore it. The trek takes everyone to the top of Pikey Peak, which is at an elevation of 4,065m. The average trek duration is about six to seven days, so the meals and accommodation costs are less than the regular trek in the Everest region.

So, if you want to explore the Khumbu region in a budget-friendly experience, then make sure you book the Pikey Peak Trek. In this trek, the trekkers don’t incur additional expenses like extra gear, equipment, porters, guides, and other costs.

5. Mardi Himal Trek

Mardi Himal Trek is also one of the new and mostly unexplored treks in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Several high-tier trekking destinations in the Annapurna region have longer duration but are more expensive. Still, if you are looking for a budget-friendly option, then Mardi Himal Trek is the trek. The average duration of this trek is about 6-7 days.

The basic accommodation facilities during the trek and the lower option of incurring extra expenses like guides, porters, etc., will make this trek a bit cheaper. For the Mardi Himal Trek, the trekkers have to pay for permits, meals, accommodation, transportation, and arrival visas. The Mardi Himal Trek is much cheaper than other trekking destinations in the Annapurna and Everest regions.

6. Khopra Danda Trek

The Khopra Ridge trek is a budget-friendly option in Nepal that can be completed in a week. It is suitable for beginners and does not require specific skills, only a good level of physical fitness. Trekkers can enjoy stunning views of Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Bara Shikhar, and Mt. Machhapuchre (Fishtail). The trek also includes visiting Khayer Lake, a holy site worshiped by the local community. Along the way, trekkers will pass through picturesque villages such as Ulleri, Bayeli Kharka, and Naya Pool, offering a glimpse into the region’s simple lifestyle and breathtaking landscapes.

For Khopra Ridge Trek, you must pay for the permits, which are ACAP and the TIMS card. This trek also has two most common expenses: meals and accommodation. To make your trek easier, you can hire guides and porters, for which you must pay a certain amount. Transportation costs should also be considered, such as a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara or taking a car or jeep to reduce costs.

7. Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Several excellent trekking destinations in the Annapurna region, like the Annapurna Circuit Trek and Lower Mustang Trek. Still, you can curate the Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek for a friendly trek. This short trek of ABC can be completed in 5 to 6 days. Due to the low duration of the trek, the meals and accommodation costs will be less, and in this trek, the crew won’t hire guides and porters, which will save additional costs.

The budgeted ABC Trek can cost as cheap as $449 for two people, and as you increase the number of trekkers, they will get the group discount in the trek package. The only required cost that the trekkers have to incur is the regular transportation cost.

8. Hotel Everest View Trek

If you can’t afford the Everest Base Camp trek, the next best alternative and budget-friendly trek is the Hotel Everest View Trek. On this trek, you will visit the amazing Hotel Everest View, where you can enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner and see the fantastic mountains’ amazing views.  In this trek, the trekkers will board a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and then make their way to Namche. On the final day of the trek, they visit the Hotel Everest View, return to Lukla, and finally to Kathmandu.

Since this trek the trekkers will only visit up to Namche Bazaar, the trek cost is much cheaper than all the other treks that take the trekkers to the Everest Base Camp and back. The only factor that increases the cost of this trek is the Lukla flight, which is expensive, but if the trekkers want to make it even more budget-friendly, they can use the alternative mode of cars or jeeps.

9. Gosaikunda Trek

Gosakikunda Lake Trek is another budget-friendly trek located in the Langtang region of Nepal. This trek takes you through the different villages of the Langtang region, but its significant destination is the beautiful Gosaikunda Valley and Lakes. The average trek duration of the Gosaikunda Trek if you don’t include the side trekking area. For the Gosaikunda trek, you have to be careful if you want to trek on a budget.

For this trek, you can trek solo without the help of a trekking agency to save some money, but the wise choice is to hire guides by researching different trekking agencies. The duration of the Gosaikunda trek ranges from 10 to 14 days, so meals and accommodation can cost more. However, there is an alternative to the camping trek where you don’t pay for the hotels, lodges, or teahouses.

10. Tamang Heritage Trail Trek

Tamang Heritage Trails is among the best budget treks available in the Langtang region. In this trek, the trekkers trek to different villages of the Langtang region, inhabited by the people following Tamang culture and traditions. The villages that the trekkers will visit are Syabrubesi, Gatlang, Tatopani, Briddhim, Thuman, Lama Hotel and others. To save on the expenses of this trek, the trekkers can stay in the cheap teahouses rather than the expensive Lama Hotel. In this trek, trekkers can also stay in the camp in the wide fields instead of in hotels or lodges. The average seven-day trek duration also reduces the trek’s entire cost compared to other trekkers.

Things to Consider for Budget Trek in Nepal

Many trekkers who visit Nepal are looking to experience adventure in the Himalayas. Some trekkers are here to experience the luxury atmosphere, whereas some want to save money for the budget-friendly experience.  A few things to consider before looking out for budget treks in Nepal.

Trekking Season

The trekking season is the primary factor that the trekkers consider if they want to save money during their trek. Trekking in the off-season is the best way of saving money as the trekking agency offers various discounts since there is the least demand for the trek. During the peak season, accommodation services and meals become expensive due to the oversurge of crowds.

Trek Duration

Another factor to consider for a budget-friendly trek is the duration. The longer the trek duration in any region, the more the costs will increase. Shorter treks have fewer transportation, food, and accommodation costs, which means you will save significantly extra, which is why these treks are budget-friendly. In Nepal, several less-duration treks are equally fun.

Foods and Accommodation

Food and Accommodation are the significant factors affecting every trek’s budget. If you want to save money, paying attention to the offers and prices of the services of hotels, lodges, or teahouses is essential. However, if you are trekking in ideal conditions like Spring, you can also stay in tents or camps, saving you money for accommodation.

Guides and Porters

The guides and porters also affect the cost of the trek. Hiring guides and porters to make your trek easy; however, they also incur extra costs like permit fees, direct fees, and additional tips. Any expenses the trekkers will incur for themselves will also be incurred if they hire a guide and porters, making the trek less budget-friendly. However, hiring guides and porters will also save you additional costs in case of emergencies, so the decision is entirely based on the trekkers.

Emergency Funds

Sometimes, even during budget-friendly treks, the trekkers might incur emergency expenses. Hence, saving some emergency funds for the known and unknown conditions of the trek is crucial. During the trek, the trekkers can suffer from injuries, altitude sickness, illness, loss, property damage, etc. Sometimes, due to the weather conditions, your trekking trails can be blocked due to intense snow, so you may have to stay an extra day in the hotels, which is an emergency expense.

Conclusion

Hence, these are some of Nepal’s best and most popular budget trekking packages. The main attraction of these treks is that they are low-cost adventure treks that will scratch the itch of adventure lovers.

So, if you are planning to trek in Nepal but are concerned about the expenses, looking for a budget-friendly trek with less trek duration is wise. We hope our list provides you with the best budget-friendly trekking options and makes your Nepal trekking cheaper but more effective.

FAQS

Share this