Punam Phuyal
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is an adventurous trek leading to the base camp of Annapurna massif, the glory of Nepal. It is famous among both internal and external trekkers. Before planning for a trek, cost always knocks on our heads. Before planning the ABC trek you should know the Annapurna Base Camp trek cost. Minimum and maximum ABC trek costs keep value on setting budget planning.
Annapurna base camp Trek cost generally depends on queries as follows:-
Which season you are choosing? Peak season or off-season. The peak season (Spring and Autumn) is more expensive than the off-season (late summer and early winter). How many destinations do you want to visit along with ABC? There are different destinations along with the ABC trek. ABC, PoonHill, Ghandruk, Mardi Himal, Annapurna circuit, and Khopra Danda are more common. More destination includes more cost and time whereas less destination comprises less cost with less time.
What kind of Trek do you want to do? Solo trek, trek with guide, group trek, or trek with guide and porter. Trekking with a guide and porter is more expensive than a solo trek, but you will not have the risk of the unknown path, places, planning, and mission. If you trek along then it will be a cheaper trek and will have high risk as a drawback. Group trek will have offers, it will be cheaper but you may not feel comfortable traveling with an unknown group. Your own friends in a trek as a group with local guides and porters is an excellent choice.
Annapurna base camp trek cost varies with the days and sites you include in your trek. There are different treks you can do in the Annapurna region. They are:-
Annapurna Base Camp trek package 2023 is USD 600$ - 799$ per person. The cost includes transportation cost, guides and porter costs, accommodation, food and permit costs. if you want Annapurna base camp trek 7 days then cost is 500-550 USD.
Annapurna circuit trek package is 999$ - 1250$ per person. The cost includes transportation cost, guides and porter cost, accommodation and permit cost.
Ghorepani poonhill trek package is 500$-650$ per person. The cost includes transportation costs, guides and porter costs, accommodation, and permit costs.
The Mardi Himal trek package is 650$–769$ per person. The cost includes transportation costs, guides and porter costs, accommodation, and permit costs.
Annapurna base camp and Mardi Himal combine trek package is 999$ - 1140$ per person. The cost includes transportation costs, guides and porter costs, accommodation, and permit costs.
The Khopra Danda trek package is 950$ - 1150 $ per person. The cost includes transportation costs, guides and porter costs, accommodation, and permit costs.
Since all the treks listed above are in the Annapurna region the transportation cost, accommodation cost per day, Guides and porter cost per day and permit cost of trek are nearly the same for all treks. Some treks are shorter and some are longer, so the trek cost varies from each trek. In this article we are talking only about-
Guides are the leaders of your trek. Their briefing, planning, and support are the backbone of a successful trek. Potter are your helpers to carry your bags so that you can walk easily during the trek.
The cost of the guide is 22– 25 $ per day
The cost of potter is 15 – 22 $ per day for carrying a 15kg mass
The local guides are better than International guides, experienced local guides are well known to the place and tea houses. They will manage all required permits and formalities for your trek. Trekking with a local guide and porter will be completely safe with good management. You will have a safe and wonderful journey.
Annapurna base camp trek route is facilitated with tea houses which provide the best place for taking rest and having food as well. Since Annapurna base camp is at a high altitude, you will face remoteness. Tea houses in high altitudes are expensive because of difficulties in hiring goods from sloppy landscapes. Sometimes they should use a helicopter for transporting goods. Sometimes they use horses, donkeys, or yak which increases expenses for food and lodges. Accommodation cost varies depending on the standard of tea houses.
Annapurna base camp trek cost for tea house is 5$ per night.
You will get local and simple Nepali food in all tea houses. Somewhere you can order food of your choice as well, according to availability. The cost of food is 3-5$ per meal.
After arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal, You can spend quality time in Kathmandu. Next day you should travel to Pokhara first for the Annapurna base camp trek. It costs 550 NRs via local bus, 8 -10$ via tourist bus, and Nrs 16000 via taxi to reach Pokhara. You can have a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara as well which costs 80 – 100 $.
From Pokhara, you should travel to Nayapul. You can use the Local bus but it would be too crowded and only a few vehicles are available. Time limitations will be there. Thus, it would be easier to go to Nayapul via private car than by local bus. It costs Nrs. 2500 to reach Nayapul from Pokhara by Taxi. After reaching Nayapul you should walk to reach Annapurna base camp. The transportation cost is the same while returning as well.
Annapurna base camp is in the Annapurna conservation area, it is mandatory to have a permit for entering in conservation area. The ACAP – ( Annapurna conservation area permit) is Nrs 2000 for foreigners and Nrs 200 for SAARC nations. You also need two passport-size photographs for applying permit fee of ACAP.
Another permit for the Annapurna base camp trek is the TIMS (Trekking Intelligent Management System) permit. For solo trekkers, it costs 20$ for a green TIMS card. Permit cost is cheaper for the group via the trekking company. It costs 10$ per person for a blue TIMS card available only for groups trekking through the company. The green TIMS card is for free individual travellers (FIT) whereas the blue TIMS card is for groups trekking through the company.
Both Permits (Blue and green TIMS cards) are valid for a single entry only. Permits are non-transferable and non-refundable and you should carry them with you. You have to show permits to concerned people at the checkpoint.
There are other expenses as well which you should pay for your own comfort. So, you should carry more money than the budget mentioned in the ABC trek package.
Annapurna is a remote area where solar electricity is more in use than hydroelectricity. In off off-season you may get a free charging facility but in peak season, you should give 3-5 $ per hour for charging your gadgets.
In high altitudes, the temperature of the Annapurna region falls to up to -5 degrees Celsius during the night. You may not get an expected warm quilt in a tea house. So a sleeping bag is essential. You can buy your own or hire sleeping bags from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Hiring sleeping bags until your trek cost is 5-10$ per piece.
Every day shower with hot water is not possible in ABC trek. You can ask for a bucket of hot water to take a bath. It costs 1—3 $ per bucket of hot water. Even you can use wet tissues for cleaning your body in case you don’t get hot water.
In some tea houses, you may have to pay for hot drinking water as well. It costs 1-3 $ per bottle. But hot drinking water is available in most tea houses with your meal.
The payment of guides and porters is included in the total budget but by seeing their help and support, you may like to give tips to Guides and Porters.
It is not compulsory to give tips but their support and guidance will be invaluable. You can show your humility and kindness by giving small amounts of money. Tips will support guides and porters in developing their financial condition. You can give tips at the end of the trek or while returning.
There is no fixed amount for tips. You can give money of your choice. Generally, trekkers used to give 25– 200 $ for porters and 50 – 500$ for guides.
Annapurna Base Camp trek cost is high for longer days trek and cheaper for short days trek. Longer days trek includes more destination and rest days as well. There are different treks you can do in the Annapurna region. Your budget planning declares which trek you would like to do.
Choose the trek of your dreams, see the package, and come with some extra money with you. You can have the best trek with great experience in Life. Making your trekking desire successful is our aim. Contact us for further information.
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