In this article, we are going to discuss the Manaslu Trek Cost and other informational details of the trek.
Circumnavigating the eighth-highest peak in the world, Mt. Manaslu(8163 m), the Manaslu Circuit trek beckons all the trekkers and adventurous alike to take the off-the-beaten-path for unfolding the splendor of natural wonders and cultural encounters. You will unravel the winding paths passing through the dense forest and verdant meadows of the Manaslu Conservation Area.
Meandering the quaint villages under the dominance of snow-glistening Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, Hiunchuli Peak, and other surrounding peaks, you will discover the cultural and religious essence of the isolated region. Reaching the top of Larke La Pass will offer you a profound sense of accomplishment as you stand beneath the blue sky, contrasting with snow-capped Larke Peak and Cho Peak.
While planning to bask in the adventurous journey, it is necessary to consider the overall cost that will ensure a memorable Manaslu Circuit Trek. However, there are various factors, such as highlights, itinerary, logistics, facilities, and amenities, that will determine the Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost. Usually, the cost for this thrilling journey will range between USD 1200 to USD 1600.
If you are planning to embark on the foothills of the Himalayas with Base Camp Adventure, then it will only cost you USD 1440 for 16 days to make a seamless experience. In case you are not satisfied with the available itinerary packages or you want a different highlights exploration, then we are more than ready to make your custom-tailed Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Why is a Comprehensive Cost Breakdown Necessary for Manaslu Circuit Trek?
People may take trekking as carrying luggage on the back and walking on the trails. However, a lot of meticulous planning must be done beforehand to actually hit the trails. Among such planning, cost management remains at the top. A comprehensive breakdown of the Manaslu circuit trek cost allows you to know about the expense for each overhead. This will ensure smooth and economical budget planning.
Additionally, you can be well-informed about the level of comfort and service that you want throughout the trek. You can choose the accommodations and transportation as per the budget you have decided, whether you want to stay strict on the budget or go overboard.
What Are the Costs Included in the Manaslu Circuit Cost Trek Package?
Our team has decided on specific factors that will be included in the cost. Most of the variables during the trek remain inclusive, but some factors that are out of our hands are not included in the cost.
Manaslu Circuit Permits Cost
Permits are the legal documents that will give you authorization to have access to certain trekking trails. If you embark on the Manaslu Circuit Trek without permits, then it can be considered illegal trekking. You will have to face legal consequences such as fines, deportation, banning from trek, etc. So, acquiring permits is a crucial aspect of your voyage. You will have to acquire two permits. One is a Restricted area permit, while the other is a Manaslu Conservation Area permit.
Restricted Area Permit
The government of Nepal has declared the area between Jagat and Dharapani as a restricted area. Since those areas are close to the border of Tibet and the inflow of tourists shall be maintained in those areas, you will have to acquire a restricted area permit to enter those regions.
The cost of this permit during the autumn season from September to November will be around USD 100 per person/week. If you exceed the duration of one week, then you will have to pay an additional USD 15 for each day you spend in the restricted area. Likewise, from December to August, the cost of the restricted area permit will be USD 75 per person/week. If you have to spend additional days in the restricted areas beyond one week, then you will have to pay an extra USD 10 per day.
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit
Since the Manaslu Conservation Area Project covers the region beyond Philim, your Manaslu conservation area permit will be checked by authorities at different checkpoints, including Philim. The cost for this permit is given below:
For foreign nationals other than SAARC Nationals: Nrs 3000( around USD 30)
For SAARC nationals: Nrs. 1000(around USD 10)
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
The area from Dharapani to Besisahar falls under the care of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Therefore, you will need to acquire an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit to have access to those regions. Like other national park and conservation area permit costs, this permit will also cost you Nrs. 3000 or around USD 30 if you are a foreign national other than SAARC nationals. In case you are SAARC nationals then it will cost you about Nrs. 1000 or about USD 10.
Cost of Meals
It is important to have nutritious meals during your Manaslu Circuit trek. You will have to traverse through the rugged terrains and walk back and forth on the steep uphill and downhill, so it is natural that your body will consume a lot of energy.
In order to replenish your energy for hiking for about 6 to 8 hours, you should eat nutritious foods without skipping meals. Additionally, we recommend you to skip on hard drinks and excessive consumption of tea and coffee since they can obstruct your acclimatization process and will cost you more money.
As the teahouses and lodges on the trekking trails want to accommodate trekkers worldwide, they will offer you an extensive menu, including traditional Nepalese foods, regional foods, Indian and Tibetan cuisines, and even some Western specialties.
Usually, the food in teahouses and lodges is affordable and reasonably priced, so it will cost you, on average, around $8 to $12 per day for meals. However, altitude plays a vital role in determining the price of the meal. The Manaslu region is an isolated and secluded region with no proper infrastructure development. So, difficulty in food transportation can somehow increase the food cost.
The package cost will include all 3 time meals ( Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) on the trekking trails however, the cost will only include breakfast while you stay at the hotel in Kathmandu. Hence, you will have to be responsible for lunch and dinner during your stay in hotels in Kathmandu. It will cost approximately you around $20 to $30 per meal.
Accommodation Cost
Teahouses and lodges are the common modes of accommodation alongside the trails of Manaslu Circuit Trek. After the long, tiring day of trekking, an overnight stay in the teahouses gives rest to your body and allows your body to reduce all fatigue and exhaustion of the day. Teahouses offer you twin-sharing rooms with well-equipped beds. The beds will be equipped with mattresses, blankets, and pillows. Moreover, they will provide you with common toilets and a bathroom with communal-style dining spaces.
The accommodation cost in the teahouse can range between $7 to $10 per person, but if you do not want to share the room with others, then you can book a room for yourself, which will be comparatively expensive. Likewise, the accommodation cost for staying at the tourist-oriented hotels will cost you approximately $25 to $45 per night. However, the accommodation cost for the whole trek will be included in the package if you opt for our Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Similarly, another mode of accommodation during the trek can be camping. If you want a different experience and to connect with nature more, then this option might be appropriate for you. You can either decide to rent or buy the camping tools such as sleeping bags, tents, etc. However, managing all the camping equipment, along with carrying those things to higher elevations with porters and mules, can be quite expensive.
Cost of the Trekking Staff
Having guides and porters in your Manaslu circuit trek enhances your journey with their expertise and guidance, Since you are going to an unfamiliar place, the guide will navigate the rugged terrain along with providing you with necessary information about the region.
Moreover, they can be a mediator when you are having trouble communicating with the locals. Additionally, they are well trained in basic first aid, so in case of any accidents and mishaps, they will give you an immediate response either by taking you to health centers or evacuating you to a safe place.
Hiring a guide can cost you an average of $25 to $35 per day. If you hire a more experienced and professional guide, then it can cost you around $50 per day.
Like guides, porters are also an integral part of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. They will carry the weight of your luggage and equipment, allowing you to enjoy the trek with more ease. Hiring a porter will cost you anywhere from around $20 to $30 per day. But this price will depend on the distance and difficulty of the trek.
With our package, we will provide you with a government-licensed English-speaking guide and one porter who will carry the luggage of two trekkers.
Transportation Cost
You will start and end your thrilling Manaslu Circuit Trek with a drive from Kathmandu. You will have a scenic drive to Soti Khola by heading north on Prithvi Highway. At the end of your journey, you will have a ride from Dharapani to Kathmandu via Besisahar.
There are different modes of transportation. You can either choose from a bus drive or a jeep ride. It will cost about USD 15 -20 if you choose a local bus from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. The cost might slightly increase by a few dollars if you choose a tourist bus. Similarly, the jeep ride from Kathmandu to Soti Khola will cost you around USD 205.
While deciding on the return transportation, the jeep drive from Dharapani to Besisahar will cost you approximately USD 150. From Besisahar to Kathmandu, the jeep ride will cost you around USD 200. If you want to start your trek from Maccha Khola, which is a few miles forward from Soti Khola, then the cost of a jeep drive from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola will cost you around USD 225.
Expenses That Exclude from the Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost
Tips for Trekking Staff
Tipping culture has been recently introduced in Nepal. Even though tipping is not mandatory and is just a way to show gratitude, tipping guides and porters are usually expected in the tourism business. Usually, it is said that you should tip the amount they deserve, but estimating such an amount can be quite confusing.
Most people follow the general theory of tipping 10% to 15% of the total trekking cost. Some even tips guides and porters with 15% of their salary. You can take the following chart as a reference for tipping guides and porters.
Trekking Guide- USD $10 to $20 per day
Tour guides- USD $10 to $20 per day
Porters- USD $10 to $15 per day
Flight Cost
As you will be traveling to Nepal from other different countries, the only medium to arrive at Nepal is by airways. This package does not include your incoming and outgoing international flight fare, along with any airport departure taxes. Therefore, you will have to manage these costs on your own. An air ticket can cost you between USD 700 and USD 1000. This may vary on various factors like countries, airplanes, agencies etc.
Travel Insurance
Insurance is mandatory while traveling with Base Camp Adventure. Travel insurance helps you to mitigate the risks and share the financial burden with the insurer. Moreover, you will be spending more than two weeks amidst the Himalayas, so carrying travel insurance is like taking precautions before embarking on the journey.
Your travel insurance shall cover all your medical expenses, hospital bills, air ambulance, and evacuation costs. Moreover, we recommend you take cancellation insurance in case you will have to cancel or postpone your trek due to any reason. This will cover your money in case you have pre-paid any expenses like accommodations, flight fare, etc. The overall travel insurance will cost you around USD 150 to USD 200.
Drinks Expenses
Staying hydrated throughout the trek is very essential to avoid altitude sickness. For that you will need to intake enough water and fluids. The teahouses and lodges along the trail will offer you freshly squeezed juices, water, soft drinks, hot drinks, and even hard drinks.
However, the package cost does not include bottled and bar drinks. You will have to pay out of your own pocket if you want to have access to these drinks. While you have to pay around $2 to $ for a cup of tea, you will need to pay anywhere between $3 to $7 for a cup of coffee. Teahouses can charge you $2 to $7 for bottled water and soft drinks.
Similarly, they will charge you $8 to $10 for hard drinks. This cost may vary depending on what kind of hard drinks you have chosen, Branded wine can cost a lot more than this.
Other Personal Expenses
Other personal-level expenses that you make on the trek will not be included in this package. Renting or buying trekking equipment, personal accessories, toiletries, and snacks shall be borne by you. How much you want to spend on these personal expenses depends upon your requirements and luxury. You can allocate around USD 500 to USD 1000 for these personal expenses.
Trekking equipment like a down jacket, sleeping bag, and duffle bag will be included in the package. However, you will have to return these things back to the company after the completion of the trek.
Some Tips for Reducing Your Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost
Bring Enough Cash
You will not find ATMs on the trails of Manaslu Circuit. However, most teahouses and lodges deal on a cash basis rather than using visas and master cards. In case they accept those cards, it will take a 3% or 4% charge for each transaction. So, it is better to encash Nepalese currency when you have easy access to banks and ATMs in Kathmandu. In case you do not have Neplasese currency, then easily convertible currency like US dollars, Pounds, Australian Dollars, Singaporean Dollars, Malaysian rings, and Euros can come in handy.
Use Data Than Wifi
The teahouses will charge you $3 to $5 for access to WiFi facilities. Instead of that, you can buy NTC or Ncell sims. If you don’t want to use Wifi, you can use data to stay connected with teh world while you are trekking. However, the network reception might not be stable as you trek deep into the Manaslu region.
Buy Snacks From Kathmandu
Buying toiletries, snacks, and medicines on the trail might be expensive. Moreover, you cannot have a large variety of things you want to buy. So, if you want to save some dollars, then you can purchase those things in Kathmandu, where department stores and other shops provide a variety of options.
Use Purification Tablets
Usually, the water in the Manaslu region is fresh and pure. However, if you do not want to drink that water, then you will have to buy bottled water, which will cost you $2 to $7. Additionally, you will have to intake about 3 to 4 liters of water daily in the trek. It might cost you a lot of money in the bottled water. So, what you can do is buy water purification tablets or filters and use them to filter your water.
Bring Power Banks or Solar Chargers
Usually, the teahouse will charge you USD 2 to USD 3 per hour to recharge your electrical devices. Instead of spending a few dollars on recharging, you can bring solar power banks or solar batteries.
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