Nepal is a paradise for backpacker travellers who are looking for a cheap long holiday. For more than a century now, the mountains of Nepal have been a hub for tourists who seek adventure in life but travel at a very reasonable price. Being a third-world country, the conversion of money in Nepal is quite cheap, making everything from hotels to food very affordable.
While Nepal is already a cheap country to visit, there are some magic hacks that can make your stay in Nepal cheaper than you can imagine. Here are ten ideas to answer the question: How to hike Nepal cheaply?
Travel in a bigger group
When you travel in a larger group, the most common advantage is your ability to share the cost of a guide and porter among the people. For a ten days trek, you will pay around $250 for the guide alone. You can share this cost with seven to eight People if you travel in a group. Similarly, you can share the porter cost, i.e., $15 per day, with two to three people, depending upon how much kg your bag is.
In the trekking region, you share a room with 2 to 3 people at most. You can also save the cost of accommodation when travelling in a group.
Avoid popular routes
The most popular route in Nepal, the Everest base camp trek, is also the most expensive among the trekking routes of Nepal. This is because of heavy crowds in the peak season of Autumn and spring. If you are travelling in Nepal, then you can choose a rather offbeat trial such as Langtang Valley Trek or Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Avoid routes with domestic flight.
Some popular routes, such as the Everest base camp trek, and other less popular routes in the remote region, such as the Dolpo trek or Rara Lake Trek, require you to book a domestic flight. The cost of a domestic flight to Lukla, the starting point of the Everest base camp, is $200. This means it is $400 for the flight alone. Such routes that are far from the capital city or Pokhara and require domestic flights are expensive in comparison to trekking data closer to Kathmandu or Pokhara Valley.
Remember to bargain
Bargaining is quite popular in Nepal. Whether you’re buying some clothes, booking a taxi or getting a room, you can try some bargaining before you get the final deal. In the shop, you can bargain 60 to 70% of the total price, while in the Hotel, you can bargain for about 10% to 20% discount.
Do not eat in hotels in city
In cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, if you are staying in a good hotel, then the food inside the hotel is probably more expensive than that of other restaurants around the hotel. In the city, you can find restaurants which offer you a better deal on food. In the trekking region, however, it is compulsory that you eat your meal in the Hotel where you spend the night.
Carry your own water bottle.
Depending upon the route and altitude, a bottle of water can cost you from 40 cents to 1 dollar in the higher Himalayan region. And since you need 4 to 5 L of water each day, it is very wise to carry your water bottle. You can buy self-purifying water bottle or purification tablet and refill the bottle for free from natural springs or hotels along the way.
Well, it there anything you want to know about trekking to Nepal? Feel free to contact Himalayan Masters.
