Factors affecting the cost of the Manaslu trek
Certain elements determine the cost of your Manaslu Trek and, if managed properly, can save you a fortune. Before getting directly into the cost breakdown, let's go through each factor determining the Manaslu Trek Cost so you can plan accordingly.
Duration of the trek
A standard Manaslu Circuit Trek takes 14 days to complete. But there are variations to the standard route that either decreases or increases the number of days. The cost also varies accordingly. The higher the number of days, the higher the cost goes due to the apparent increase in the food and accommodation cost and the permits, which we'll discuss later.
Group size
Traveling in a large group always has financial advantages over traveling solo or in a small group, and the same applies to the Manaslu trek. The accommodation cost reduces as you can share the rooms among the group members. You can even hire a private vehicle and share the cost to make road transport faster and more comfortable instead of traveling by a local bus.
You're also likely to get discounted rate while booking the trip for a large group with a travel agency. Share the journey with your friends and family to make it pocket-friendly and far more enjoyable and memorable.
Note: Due to its location in a restricted area, it's mandatory to travel in a group of at least 2 foreign tourists.
Services you take
The services like trekking guides and potters you take for a safe, informed, and comfortable hiking journey significantly make a difference in the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost. We'll come to the amount they charge in a while. The type of services you treat yourself with also makes a huge difference. For instance, if you opt for a luxury stay in Kathmandu instead of taking a budget hotel, it'll cost you a handsome amount. The kind of food you eat during the trek or in Kathmandu also reflects on your total cost.
Note: Due to its location in a restricted area, it's compulsory to travel with a licensed guide in the Manaslu region.
Season
The peak seasons of spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) are when the locals earn by providing accommodation and food services. It is also when guides, potters, and travel agencies earn their living, so the prices are pretty high during the peak season. If you make the trip during off-seasons, you might lower the price slightly as the market is down.
However, trekking in the Himalayas during the off-season is challenging due to rainfall and snowfall. You might get stuck in a remote area for some days or even weeks, which will eventually raise your total cost to a relatively high amount. So, take the risk wisely.
Circumstances
As discussed in the previous point, trekking in the off-season invites some obstacles along the way. However, we're not entirely secure even in the peak season because of the uncertainty in the weather of the Himalayas. Even a minor injury may strand you in the mountains due to inadequate healthcare facilities. Natural calamities like earthquakes, avalanches, and landslides are even more significant troubles for your wallet. So, be ready for any such circumstance.
Manaslu Circuit Trekking Cost Breakdown
Now that we've known the factors that fluctuate the total cost for the Manaslu trek, let's get into our main issue, the cost of Manaslu Circuit trekking. We've broken down the total cost into smaller segments, which will help you estimate the budget for your upcoming Manaslu trek.
Food
The food you consume in the Manaslu Trek is mainly sourced locally, and the meals are fresh. The cost of food increases as you hike up the elevation due to tougher accessibility.
The lunch and dinner primarily consist of a typical Nepali meal Dal Bhat with white rice, lentils soup, seasonal vegetables, salad, and pickles. The meal is rich in carbohydrates and protein and costs $5 to $10.
For breakfast, you'll be served Tibetan bread, potato curry with eggs, and tea/coffee for about $4 to $8. Some tea houses may offer you simple bread, butter, and eggs or a cereal bowl for a similar price.
You can also treat yourself to other meals if the food menu has alternative options, but the price might be higher. We suggest you eat light and fresh when you're hiking for better health and mobility.
Note: The food cost for 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek is usually included in the trek package price if you're traveling with a travel operator.
Accommodation
Tea houses and mountain lodges operated by the local communities are the accommodation options during the trek. These lodges offer a basic room with a bed, mattress, bed sheets, pillow, pillow cover, and warm blankets, costing you around $5 to $10. You'll be offered a lower cost for beds if you have the meals in the same lodge.
You might have to share a room with other trekkers in peak seasons as a room has 2-4 beds. The washrooms will be on sharing basis, and WiFi may be available at selective tea houses.
On the other hand, you'll find hundreds of options to stay in Kathmandu ranging from $10 to $200 per night.
Note: The accommodation cost in a basic lodge during the trek is usually included in the trek package price if you're traveling with a travel operator.
Transportation
The only transportation you'll use during any trek is between Kathmandu and the trailhead (both start and end point). In the case of the Manaslu Trek, the starting point is Soti Khola, and the endpoint is Dharapani or Jagat, which takes 6-8 hours to complete each way. The only way to get there is by road; the roads are a combination of black-topped and off-road.
As the Manaslu region isn't among the most popular and established hikes, you won't have the option of tourist buses. You'll, however, get a local bus for $15 to $20 each way. It stops at a midpoint for about half an hour for lunch and makes several other halts for passengers to get in and out of the vehicle.
If you want more comfortable and faster transport, you can hire a jeep for $180 to $200 each way. You can stop at any point for quick refreshments or breaks at your convenience when you hire a private jeep.
Note: The transportation cost via a local bus is usually included in the trek package price if traveling with a travel operator.
Guides and potters
Unlike other trekking destinations in Nepal, you cannot embark on the Manaslu Trek alone. You must be accompanied by an authorized professional (licensed trekking guide) from Nepal Trekking Association to go on this restricted area trek.
The daily wage of a trekking guide is from $25 to $50, including the guide's food, accommodation, and insurance, based on their professional skills. A skilled and experienced guide makes a lot of difference in the safety of your expedition.
Potters are available for $20 to $25 daily, including their food, accommodation, and insurance. A potter can carry a load of 20-22 kg. Hiring a potter is entirely your choice but rethink before canceling a potter that you'll have to walk in high altitude for several days carrying your stuff by yourself.
Note: If you book your trek with a travel operator, you'll usually be provided with 1 licensed guide for a group and 1 potter for every 2 trekkers. Potters carry a total of 20-22kg from 2 hikers. The trek package price includes their salaries, food, accommodation, and insurance.
Permits
Permits are an essential part of any trek in the Nepalese Himalayas, as most of the trekking regions are under protected areas. While Nepalese trekkers don't need any permits, foreign nationals are required to acquire trekking permits before they begin. The permits are issued according to the route you're taking, the number of days you spend in that particular region, and the month of visit.
For Manaslu Trek, you'll require the following permits.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) - US$ 30 all year around with no limit on the number of days
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) – US$ 30 all year around with no limit on the number of days
Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP)
- For autumn (September to November) - US$ 100 for the first 7 days, US$ 15 per day for additional days
- For spring (March to May) - US$ 75 for the first 7 days, US$ 10 per day for additional days
- If you're stretching the trek to TSUM Valley, you'll have to pay US$ 35 per week
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for trekkers trekking to the Manaslu region. Due to the uncertainty of harsh climatic conditions in the Himalayas and the increased risks of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and other physical injuries, you might need helicopter assistance to move you to a well-equipped hospital for treatment. In such unfortunate circumstances, travel insurance comes to your rescue.
For a 30-day period, the cost of trekking insurance for a trip higher than 6,000 meters is between $150 and $250. The insurance price varies according to your age, nationality, and trek length.
Note: Make sure to get insurance that covers the expenses for a helicopter rescue.
Additional expenses
Apart from the cost elements mentioned above, other additional expenses account for the Manaslu Circuit trek cost. These include large sums for international airfares to a few dollars of refreshment charges.
Here's the list of additional expenses you must cover during your Manaslu trek.
International airfares to and from Kathmandu
Nepal entry visa cost (issuable upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport)
- US$ 30 for 15 days
- US$ 50 for 30 days
- US$ 125 for 90 days
Trekking gear (buy or rent in Kathmandu)
- WiFi charge (during the trek)
- Battery Charging (during the trek)
- Hot water and hot showers (during the trek)
- Personal expenses (snacks and drinks)
- Tips for guide and potters
Outfitter Nepal - Manaslu Trekking Packages Cost
Outfitter Nepal is a well-established and registered trekking agency that has been providing trekking and tour services all over Nepal, even in Bhutan and Tibet, for over a decade. Our English-speaking trekking guides have been licensed and have worked in the Himalayas for years. Our guests have always left Nepal with big smiles after a fantastic hiking journey. We have 4 different trekking packages for the Manaslu region with a competitive price range. Please, have a look yourself.
Manaslu Trekking 12 Days Itinerary (US$ 699 – US$899)
The 12 days Manaslu trekking itinerary is the shortest that we offer. In 12 days, we'll take you across the standard Manaslu route with enough acclimatization days. The trip begins with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola, followed by 5 days of continuous trekking, then spending a rest day at Sama Gaon before crossing Larkya La Pass and trekking again for 4 days then finally, a drive from Dharapani to Kathmandu.
The price of the trek depends on the group size, and below is the Manaslu Trek 12 Days Cost:
- US$ 775 per person – for a group of 7 to 10
- US$ 825 per person – for a group of 3 to 6
- Ø US$ 899 per person – for a group of 2
Manaslu Circuit Trekking – 14 Days (US$ 799 – US$ 940)
The Manaslu Circuit Trekking – 14 Days package is similar to the 12 days trek, with the same hiking route and itinerary. The only difference is that we've included the day of arrival in Nepal and the day of departure, adding 2 more days to the standard itinerary. We provide airport pick up and drop in a private vehicle and 2 nights' accommodation in a 3-star hotel with breakfast in Kathmandu under this package.
The 14 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost is as follows:
- US$ 799 per person – for a group of 7 to 10
- US$ 860 per person – for a group of 5 to 6
- Ø US$ 940 per person – for a group of 2 to 4
Manaslu Larke Pass Trekking – 16 Days (US$ 1025 to US$1150)
Manaslu Larke Pass Trekkking – 16 days package again follows the same trek route and itinerary as the above two. What makes this trip 2 days longer than the 14 days one is that we've included a full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city before heading out for the trek. It gives you enough rest time to fight the jet lag to begin the trek with great energy and enthusiasm. Instead of taking a drive back from Dharapani, you'll be trekking from Dharapani to Jagat and then driving from Jagat to Kathmandu, which adds two more days in total to the 16 days Manaslu trek.
The Manaslu Larke Pass Trek Cost is as follows:
- US$ 1025 per person – for a group of 6 to 10
- US$ 1075 per person – for a group of 3 to 5
- Ø US$ 1150 per person – for a group of 2
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking – 23 Days (US$ 1165 to US$ 1295)
Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking – 23 Days is the longest trek package we offer in the Manaslu region and takes an extended route than the previous ones. The trip begins on the day of arrival, followed by the full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. We drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola, where the hiking begins. After trekking for 2 days, we take a different route from Jagat towards Lokpa instead of Deng to take us around TSUM Valley. We hike in the valley for 7 days before returning to Deng to follow the standard Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek Cost is as follows:
- US$ 1165 per person – for a group of 7 to 10
- US$ 1225 per person – for a group of 3 to 6
- Ø US$ 1295 per person – for a group of 2
Tips for cutting expenses
Who doesn't love to save money? Especially if we cut down the expenses without negotiating the experience. There're a few such ways to save you some bucks on your upcoming Manaslu Trek or any trips in Nepal.
Trek in a group.
We've already discussed how trekking in a large group reduces our costs instead to traveling in small ones.
Rent, don't buy.
If you're not a frequent trekker, there's no use in buying all the gear and keeping them in store for the rest of your life. You can get a bargain deal by renting certain trekking gear in Kathmandu instead of buying them. Outfitter Nepal provides a down jacket, sleeping bag, and a duffel bag for each trekker, but you have to return them after the trek.
Buy 4G SIM cards instead of paying for WiFi on the trek.
WiFi isn't available in most lodges. Even if it's available, the service is expensive, and the coverage is patchy. So, buying an NTC or NCell 4G SIM and using mobile data whenever there's network coverage is cheaper and more reliable.
Carry power banks.
The tea houses on the trekking trail rely on solar energy for power. Charging your batteries is expensive and sometimes unavailable in high altitudes. So, carrying your spare batteries and power banks is safe and cost-effective.
Trek during an off-season.
We've already discussed how seasons determine the cost of the Manaslu Circuit trek. So, if you're willing to take the risk that comes with off-season trekking, go for it. The best option is to trek at the peak season's beginning or end.
Book your trek via a registered travel agency.
Booking the Manaslu trek with a travel agency has numerous benefits over trekking on your own, the lower cost being the first. The agencies are well-known for the system and have a good network with hotels in Kathmandu and lodges on the trail. You'll get better transportation service and be paired with experienced guides and skilled potters to assist you during the trek.
The role of the travel agency is huge during emergencies. They'd immediately rescue you from the site in the event of natural disasters and health crises, which will take a long time if you're not linked with a reputable travel operator.
There you go! We've reached the end of the blog. We hope you've found your answer to the question, "How much does the Manaslu Circuit Trek cost?" No matter how you plan your budget, we can assure you that you will get the worth of each penny you spend in the Manaslu region. To witness the true nature over there is such a blessing that no money can buy.
If you wish to book the Manaslu trek or any other Trek with Outfitter Nepal, or have any related questions, feel free to contact us via Whatsapp or mail. We're always there to help. Happy trekking!
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