Langtang Gosaikunda Trek Cost Includes
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek includes the expenses on the services provided, facilities, and items or the amenities covered by the package cost. Different small costs incurred for several expense heads are added to form an overall cost. The offered package cost of US$ 770 can be split into individual cost heads to facilitate your understanding of cost distribution during the trekking journey.
Transportation Costs
The trek journey starts from Syabrubeshi, which is accessible by roads from Kathmandu. The cost of transportation between Kathmandu to Syabrubesi varies depending on the type of vehicle. If you go by bus, the fee is affordable; however, traveling by jeep or taxi can demand high transportation costs. If you are a group of more than three people, we will provide you with a private transport facility. For the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek journey, the transportation from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi by tourist bus costs around US$ 10 to US$ 20. While returning, the cost of driving from Dhunche to Kathmandu ranges from US$ 5 to US$ 10.
The transportation costs for pickup from and drop to the airport by private vehicle come around US$ 40 to US$ 60 both ways. During the sightseeing tour at Kathmandu city, the cost of a city guide, World Heritage Sites entry fee, and vehicle charge altogether range from US$ 30 to US$ 40.
Permit Costs
The Permit cost for the Langtang Gosaikunda trek is not so high. Total permit cost for Lantang Gosaikunda trek is US$ 40. For the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, you only need to obtain the following two permits:
Langtang National Park Entry Permit
The Langtang Gosaikunda trek passes through the Langtang National Park, a protected area in the Langtang region. Langtang National Park Entry permit is required to access the protected area for trekking purposes. The cost of this permit is NPR 3,000 per person.
The permit cost supports the environmental sustainability and conservation initiatives within the park. While trekking through Nepal’s first Himalayan National Park, you can get enriched insights into the valuable biodiversity of the region. Proceed the trekking journey, marveling at the mesmerizing flora and fauna of the Langtang National Park.
Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS card)
A TIMS card is a mandatory trekking permit for all mountain treks. It holds detailed information about the trekkers along with the trekking destination. The responsible authorities can use the information on a TIMS card to track and send you a rescue team if an emergency occurs during the trekking journey. The cost of a TIMS card is NPR 2,000 per person.
Explorer Adventure gets you both these permits prior to the trek journey. All you have to do is, to provide us with your passport copy and the pp-size photograph.
Guides and Porters Costs
Guides and porters are the crucial people during the trek. Guides provide informative and immersive trekking experiences with valuable insights into the regional flora, fauna, landscapes, cultural importance, etc. This is because the local Sherpa guides are region-familiar and do not let to skip the highlights of the trek. They know more about the people and local language, facilitating friendly interactions. We will hire a licensed guide who is familiar with the region’s terrains and ensure your safe navigation. Langtang Gosaikunda trek cost of hiring a guide can range from US$20 to US$30 per day.
Likewise, a porter assists you with your backpacks and carrying other loads during the trekking journey. They ease you from the burden of heavy loads. We will hire one porter per two people with proper equipment who can charge around US$15 to US$25 per day. The costs for guides and porters include their food, accommodation, daily wage, and insurance.
Note: In account of your safety and comfort, we make sure whether the guide is a government license holder or not. We thoroughly check their credentials before hiring and going for the trek.
Cost of Accommodation
The accommodation cost for a three-night stay in a standard hotel in Kathmandu is approximately US$ 40 to US$ 60 per night. You will be having a room on a sharing basis with comfortable bed and breakfast services.
During the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, teahouses and lodges are widely available as common forms of accommodation. They provide basic accommodation services, and the cost greatly depends on the altitude, location, and facilities served. Despite the teahouses and lodges at higher elevations being more basic with simple amenities, their prices may be higher. The teahouse accommodation cost usually ranges from around US$ 10 to US$20 per night.
Teahouse and lodge accommodations during the trek are available on a sharing basis. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining spaces come with shared nature. If you desire to get extra facilities like a hot shower and wifi connection, you will have to pay US$ 5 to US$ 10. We can expect the teahouse accommodations to be budget-friendly with fair price rates in comparison to its remote location, where transportation and electricity facilities are limited.
Cost of a Duffle Bag
A trekking duffle bag is a cylindrical shaped, large-size bag. This bag is generally made up of weather-resistant and durable materials. Duffle bags are suitable for carrying or transporting items during difficult and longer periods of outdoor activities like treks. You can carry your clothes, gear, and several other essentialities of the trek in a duffle bag provided by our agency. The bag is of simple design and spacious, which favors the organization of trekking items.
The cost of a duffle bag varies due to its used materials, features, and branding. The price of a simple duffle bag can range from US$ 20 to US$ 50. However, the high-quality advanced duffle bag of reputable brands costs around US$ 50 to US$ 200 or even more. We will provide a duffle bag that fits the trekking needs and is durable enough for the trekking conditions you will encounter for the Langtang Gosaikunda journey, costing from US$ 50 to US$ 100.
Note: Lastly, all the governmental taxes and official expenses are included in the package costs. Several fees are imposed by the local authorities to manage and regulate the trekking areas and activities. Likewise, to obtain the permits, necessary paperwork is handled, and official expenses incurred are covered in the trekking package.
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Langtang Gosaikunda Trek Cost Excludes
While most of the costs for the trek are covered by the trekking agencies, some are not. So, for these expenses, you have to make a personal payment. Following are some expense heads of Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, whose costs are not accommodated in the package.
Food and Drinks
Our package does not include the cost of food and drinks during the journey, costing approximately US$20 to US$30 each day. However, along the way, you can find several teahouses offering decent meals and beverages. Local and international meal varieties are available with an option of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. Meals at teahouses usually cost around US$10 to US$15 per day.
For drinks, you can choose from a range of available options. Canned juice, fresh fruit juices, tea, coffee, milk, hot water, soups, etc, are offered in teahouses, costing around US$ 5 to US$ 8. The price is different for each meal and drink. We do not cover the cost of drinking water, which price varies depending on altitude and usually becomes more at higher elevations.
Personal Expenses
The costs of your own personal expenses have to be borne by you, which may include the price of shopping, personal trekking gear, laundry, buying souvenirs, etc. The cost of personal expenses depends on your choices and preferences of items and the level of comfort that you desire during the trek. Carry adequate money estimating the personal expenses that may be incurred for the Langtang Gosaikunda trek. On average, you may need around US$ 500 to US$ 1,000 to spend for buying gear and equipment (USD$100 to US$500), souvenirs (US$50 to US$200), laundry (US$100 to US$200), etc.,
Tipping
Our package does not cover the tipping expenses during the trek. The tip costs are provided as gratuities for guides, porters, and other support staff in the trekking journey. The amount can differ based on the trek destination and the level of service achieved throughout the trip. Tipping is not mandatory for the Langtang Gosaikunda trek or any other trek in the Himalayas. But, it is a customary practice as your guide and porter may expect some rewards after the end of the journey. You can give US$80 to US$100 for guides and USD$70 to US$100 for porters as a tip.
Donations
While having remote wilderness experiences in the Himalayas, you may often encounter cultural and religious monasteries, community schools, and funding libraries along the trails. It is not compulsory for you to donate to any of these; however, you can give some amount out of your will. The donated amount works for the development and welfare of communities and remote villages. Trekkers are usually found making small donations across the trails, which is a humane practice. You can normally separate small amounts of US$ 5 to US$ 15 as donation costs.
Travel Insurance With Evacuation Coverage.
Travel and evacuation coverage insurance generally includes emergency evacuation for medical facilities and several other benefits for a safe trekking journey. The insurance cost can depend on the coverage limits and duration, age of the insured, trekking destination, etc.
Medical insurance covers the expenses incurred due to unexpected illnesses or accidents during the trek, including the necessary medication, hospital stays, and doctor visits. Likewise, evacuation coverage takes care of the cost of immediate evacuation to the most possible nearby hospital, which is important in remote trekking. Travel insurance reimburses in case of trip cancellation by illness or any unpredicted disruptions.
The travel insurance cost for trekking activities ranges from 5% to 10 % or even more of the total trip costs. As for the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek, of total cost of US$ 770, the insurance cost can be between US$ 38.5 to US$ 77.
Communication Costs
The other costs can be communication expenses during the journey. You may have to stay connected with your family and friends during the trek or connect to the trekking crew in emergencies. You need to handle every cost related to communication purposes like purchasing local SIM cards, internet devices, wifi connections in teahouses, and other potential costs for essential communication. For SIM, you also have the option of using international roaming. You can rent a communication device like a satellite phone for smooth, safe, and communicative trekking. The general costs for communication can be around US$15 to US$ 20.
Miscellaneous
The miscellaneous costs are the additional expenses incurred during the trek. Generally, expenses for snacks, unforeseen circumstances, charging electronics, etc., fall under miscellaneous charges for the trek. It normally costs around US$ 5 to US$10 per day is required to cover these expenses. Likewise, we do not cover charges for hot water and wifi facilities during the journey, which costs approximately US$2 to US$5 per day. Likewise, the expenses in case of natural disasters and trip cancellations are not included in the trekking package.
Note: The cost of international flight fare and Nepal visa fee of $50 is not included in the package, which falls beyond the trekking journey. Carry some extra cash adequate enough for the whole trekking journey and aid in emergencies.
Discounts and Tips for Cost Management
Seasonal and group discounts are often available for trekking. If many people book together, forming a large group to participate in the trek, then group discounts are offered. Seasonal discounts depend upon the time of the year. These discounts are implied more during off-seasons (summer and winter) in order to attract more trekkers. We also provide packages at discounted rates for large groups and off-season trekking.
Below are some tips to cut costs for trekking activities
- Buy water purification tablets instead of hot and bottled water to save money and reduce environmental impact.
- Consider traveling during off-peak seasons for lower rates and affordable accommodation and services.
- Focus on either renting or borrowing the gear rather than purchasing.
- To cut costs for food and drinks, carry some lightweight dry meals.
- Consider traveling in a group for transportation and accommodation discounts.
- Try to get the best exchange rates from reliable currency exchange services in Kathmandu or along the route.
- Negotiate prices and find the best deals that suit your budget estimation.
