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It always staggers me, when I see the cost of the escorted treks, advertised by our major “adventure” travel companies, for treks in Nepal. It is unreal they can ask for and get 2-3 thousand dollars, for a 10- 12 day trek, when you could organise the same thing, on the ground in Nepal, for only a few hundred dollars!

For anyone trying to work out the costs of independent trekking, let me give you a few, quick, general costs. These may vary according to time of year, how hard you negotiate and other variables, but it should, at least give a general idea -

• Guide - $15.00 USD per day, all inclusive
• Porter - $10.00 USD per day, all inclusive
• Tea House Accommodation - $5.00 USD per night twin share (but you are obliged to buy at least 1 meal from them)
• Tea house Dinner and Breakfast - $10 USD per head (can vary from half that, to twice that, depending on what you want to eat!)
• Trekking permit - USD $10

This is very general, other costs that may or may not be applicable, but where for us on our Annapurna Base Camp trek include

• Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
• Annapurna Conservation Area entrance fee
• Accommodation in Pokhara
• Taxi to trek start point
• windbreaker, sleeping bag, fleece jacket, gloves
• snack foods - mars, crackers

 But, all considered, it is still extremely cheap.Don’t pay for the escorted tour, those guys in the tents looked far more uncomfortable than us in the cold weather and rain!