The first thing that comes to people’s mind while hearing about the Makalu Base Camp Trek is the amount of money required per day. The trek is very attractive but also considered one of the most isolated trips in Nepal. Due to its remoteness from big cities and limited number of lodges, the daily cost may be a bit higher compared to other treks. To figure out the average daily cost, we should really think about what money the trekkers necessarily have to spend on - food, lodging, permits, guides, porters, transport, and minor personal needs.
This simple story-like explanation will be our guide through each day of what we might spend when going on to the Makalu Base Camp Trek. The objective is to make it very simple, just like explaining it to a little kid, so that you can make a wise plan of your trip and not have any surprises later on.
The Big Picture of Cost
On a Makalu Base Camp trekking trip, you will have to pay for very basic things such as food, lodging, and walking each day. As a result of it being far from the city and a few people visiting that area, things like food and rooms get a bit more costly as you go higher. The majority of trekkers have a daily average expenditure ranging from $40 to $60. However, this can be altered to some extent by the choices you make. There could be days when you spend a little less and days when you spend a little more.
Guiding and porting will increase your daily costs but will also make your trip easier and safer. Going alone and carrying all your stuff makes the trip cheaper but harder. The overall expense depends on the level of comfort and assistance you desire during the trek.
The Cost of Food
Food is one of the most significant aspects of trekking. Consuming proper food is a must because mountain walking requires a lot of energy. On the Makalu trail, there are small tea houses or lodges in almost every village providing meals. The food served is basic, but it is hot and satisfying. In the lower regions, the food is cheaper as it is easier to transport the supplies. However, the food prices increase as you go higher because everything has to be transported by porters or on animals.
In lower villages such as Num, Seduwa, or Tashigaon, a meal may cost you around five to seven dollars. A full day of eating which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner might be around fifteen to twenty dollars. In the case of high places like Khongma Danda, Mumbuk, or Makalu Base Camp, the price of a meal can be approximately eight to ten dollars because food supply is difficult. Therefore, the daily food cost may increase up to twenty-five to thirty dollars.
Most of the time, the food consists of rice, noodles, potatoes, soup, lentils, eggs, tea, or coffee. Meat is scarce in upper regions because of the problem of freshness and the travel time. The most common meal is dal bhat — rice, lentil soup, and vegetables — which is very energizing for trekking.
The Cost of Sleeping
Lodging on the Makalu Base Camp path is very humble. You will be staying in small tea houses that have been built by local families. They offer basic rooms with wooden beds, mattresses, and blankets. The room cost in the lower areas could be five dollars per night. As you move further up, the price may go up to ten to fifteen dollars per night because of the scarcity of lodges.
The rooms normally have two beds and no bathroom. Bathrooms are usually shared; thus, hot showers may cost extra. If you want a hot shower, you may have to pay an additional amount of two to five dollars. Some trekkers do not take a shower every day because it is cold, and water is scarce.
Camping is not a cheaper option because you have to pay for camping permits, a cook, and helpers. Hence, sleeping in tea houses is the best and the easiest way for most trekkers.
The Cost of Permits
Special permissions are needed for every trek in Nepal. The Makalu Base Camp trek is no exception. Two main permits are required: one for the Makalu Barun National Park and another one called the Restricted Area Permit for the region from Num to Yangle Kharka.
The permit for the Makalu Barun National Park is valued at approximately thirty dollars per person. The Restricted Area Permit can be ten dollars per week during the off-season and twenty dollars per week during the main season. It is your guide who usually helps in arranging these before the trek.
Where you trek, how long for, and the number of days you walk will determine the daily cost you pay for permits. It works out to an average of three to five dollars a day if you split the cost of permits across the whole trek.
The Cost of a Guide and Porter
To make your trek safe and enjoyable, the best thing is to have a guide and porter with you. As the Makalu trail is a remote area and sometimes hard to follow, a guide helps you to get the correct way and also ensures your safety. On the other hand, with the help of a porter, you can carry your heavy bag and free up your hands so that you can have fun on the way.
Usually, a professional guide may cost from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per day and this price includes his/her meals and stay. The price for a porter is about twenty to twenty-five dollars per day. If both are engaged, they will cost you an extra forty-five to fifty-five dollars daily.
To make it cheaper, some trekkers divide one guide among their two or three members. Another very important thing is that by hiring local people for these jobs, you are helping the mountain communities and contributing to their living.
The Cost of Transportation
In order to get to the trek point, you should take a flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, and after that, a jeep or local vehicle from Tumlingtar to Num. One-way flight Kathmandu to Tumlingtar will set you back around one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars. The jeep cost from Tumlingtar to Num is about fifty to sixty dollars, and this charge can be divided by a number of passengers.
Try and break down your total travel expenses by the number of travel days to get a more realistic estimate of your daily costs. This is how the transportation from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar adds about 5-10 dollars to your daily trekking budget.
You will follow the same route when you finish the trek. So, you will spend nearly the same amount when coming back to Kathmandu.
The Cost of Drinks and Snacks
While trekking, you might want extra snacks and drinks like tea, coffee, or soft drinks. A cup of tea in the lower regions may cost you around one dollar, but in the upper parts, it can be two or three dollars. Drinking water sold in bottles is quite expensive in the mountains, and in some cases, one bottle may cost three to four dollars. That is why most trekkers have water filters or purification tablets with them so that they can make river or tap water drinkable.
Chocolate, biscuits, or noodles are also quite costly. The reason is that everything is either carried by hand or on the back of a mule. If you happen to be a great fan of snacks, you may find that this will add five to ten dollars to your daily budget.
The Cost of Wi-Fi and Charging
Wi-Fi and charging service can be found in some tea houses; those are mostly in the lower regions. However, throughout the larger part of the Makalu area, power is limited, and the source of electricity is often solar panels. Charging your cell phone or camera may cost you one to three dollars. Some lodges offer Wi-Fi if you pay an extra fee, which is approximately three to five dollars.
If you choose to be offline and use your devices less, then you can save some money. On the other hand, if you are fond of always being online and taking lots of photos, then this little fee is just one of your daily expenditures.
Average Daily Spending
For one person, we can make an approximation of the average daily cost from the addition of everything. A straightforward trekker who is able to carry his own bag, consume basic food, and stay in normal rooms might spend around forty to forty-five dollars each day.
A comfortable trekker who decides to hire a guide and porter, consumes extra snacks, and takes hot showers occasionally, may spend around sixty to seventy dollars each day.
The daily cost for people who opt for camping or want an elevated level of comfort can get as high as eighty or ninety dollars.
Therefore, most trekkers spend on average between forty and sixty dollars per day. This depends on the choices and the level of comfort of the particular ones.
Saving Tips
In case you want to save some money, you could bring a few snacks from Kathmandu before starting your trek. It would be very helpful if you carry your own water purification tablets so that you would not have to buy bottled water. The cost of guides, porters, and jeeps can also be shared among more people thereby lowering the expenses. The trek will be less stressful if you walk slowly and spend your money wisely.
Conclusion
Besides money, the Makalu Base Camp Trek is about the adventure, tranquility, and the beauty of nature. But, knowing your daily cost will enable you to plan and have a worry-free journey. The average daily spending by most people is from forty to sixty dollars, and this sum includes food, lodging, permits, and other minor expenses.
This expenditure brings you comfort, safety, and a chance to connect with friendly locals and stunning mountains. When you are walking through lush green forests, crossing rivers, and eventually standing at the bottom of Mount Makalu, you will realize that every dollar spent was worth that incredible experience. The memories, views, and peace that you get from the Makalu Base Camp Trek are way beyond the cost itself.