Are you thinking of doing the Manaslu circuit trek? But, wondering that the Manaslu circuit trek looks so expensive at first glance, you are thinking of doing an alternate due to the budget. Now you will not need to worry about how to do the Manaslu circuit trek on a budget, as in this blog we will be discussing these topics only, and we will talk about how and where we can save the money and make your Manaslu circuit trek more affordable along with the best experience of your lifetime, as the Manaslu region is known for its best experience along with the beautiful mountain views and the culture of the region. Well, without any delay, let's get started with our topic on how to do the Manaslu circuit trek on a budget.
Accommodations
The first and foremost thing that you can save money on during your stay in Kathmandu or the trek is accommodations. It's simple: if you pay a lot of money to stay in a luxury place, it will have an impact on your budget. So, to overcome this when you are staying in Kathmandu, try staying in the budget standard hotels, which cost around 20 to 25 USD per day with breakfast. These budget hotels in Kathmandu provide you with all kinds of facilities, but at a budget price.
During the trek, you can save your budget for your stay.
You can contact the local guides or trekking agencies like us, who can give you the rooms to stay in for the very minimum budget of 10 to 15 USD per night in the lower elevations and 20 to 25 USD in the upper elevations. Also, don’t stay in the guest house that you see during the trek, as they might be more expensive than the normal tea house. Also, you can save the budget in the best way by camping throughout the trek. You will enjoy the camping and save money as well, which will give you a win-win situation along with the experience.
Foods
Another place where you can save on your budget is food. The food is at a fixed price during the trek, and it is printed. But there is a clause that if you stay at the teahouses and then have the food and meals, they generally provide discounts for the trekkers. Also, you can contact the guides and porters and have the food with them, as they get a discount from the teahouse owners, so it's good to create a personal relationship with the guides. Also, if you are planning to go camping, then you can carry your food and supplies from cities, which will cost you less than buying them in the cities.
Also, you can carry snacks and energy drinks from cities and have the water filtration equipment to overcome the high prices during the trek. In general, if you are having the food for one time, then it might cost you around 10 USD to 15 USD depending upon the elevations on the per-meal basis, which means if you are having 3 meals, it would cost you around 15 * 3 = 45 USD per day.
Transportation
Another factor that your budget for the Manaslu circuit trek can be saved on is the transportation you use to reach the starting point and return. To reach the starting point, you have 3 starting points, which are Soti Khola, Macha Khola, and Jagat if you want to reach the last starting point. All these places are accessible by public transport. If you are renting a jeep or Scorpio to reach the start point of the Manaslu circuit trek, then it will cost you around 200 USD per vehicle, so to be budget-friendly, you are advised to take the public bus, which departs from the Gongabu bus park area every day from 5 AM to 10 AM with a 20-minute time gap.
The cost to reach the Manaslu Circuit Trek starting point is 1500 NPR. Till Soti Khola, the road is narrow, due to which only buses run till Soti Khola. From Soti Khola, you can take another public vehicle, which is a 4*4 SUV, which will cost you around NPR 2000. So it's better to start from Soti Khola only.
While returning after completion of the Manaslu circuit trek, it's suggested for you to trek down till Dharapani and then take a public vehicle, which will cost you around 2000 Npr, or else you can trek till Besi Sahar and start your trek, which will cost you only Npr 1000 for the public bus.
Guide and Porter
Guides and porters are other places where you can save your budget for the Manaslu trek, as the experienced guide will cost you around USD 30 to 50 per day, and the porter will cost you around USD 20 to 30 per day. But if you are on a budget, you can hire a guide for 20 USD if you are hiring through us, as we have the guides available at the minimum cost as well, and you can avoid hiring a porter, as the porter will increase your cost for the Manaslu trek. So pack light and then pack smartly so that you will not need the porter to carry your weight during the trek. You can check our blog on the topic: Packing List for Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Please note that without a guide and a trekking partner, you will not be allowed to enter the Manaslu restricted area, as this rule is strictly followed. If you are a solo trekker, then you can contact us to provide you with a trekking partner, as we have the option to join on a fixed departure basis so that you can complete your Manaslu circuit trek without facing any issues.
Gear Rentals
It is not suggested to go for the budget when renting or buying gear for the trek. As the trekking gear and equipment are the important things to consider for the trek, you can ask the trekking agency for some of the basic equipment, like trekking poles, duffel bags, and sleeping bags, to save your budget. And other equipment like down jackets, trekking pants, and shoes you can rent, which will cost you around 1 to 2 USD per item, or else you can get those things secondhandfrom the trekkers who completed their different treks in Nepal, like Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp, Langtang Valley, or any other treks. As they have completed the trek, they might sell it to you at a very cheap price compared to renting.
Permits
Permits are the most essential things to consider for the Manaslu circuit trek. There are no facilities to save your money on the permits, as the permit prices are fixed at 75 USD and 100 USD, respectively, according to the seasons, which you can check on the Nepal government site. You will be needing their permits for the treks, which is the Manaslu restricted area permit (RAP), which costs 100 USD for the 1st week and then 15 USD each day during the season September–November, and 75 USD for the 1st week and then 10 USD each extra day during December–August. Another permit is the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, which is NPR 3000, and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, which is ACAP, which also costs NPR 3000.
Key points for doing the Manaslu Circuit Trek on a budget
Accommodation Savings
- In Kathmandu: Choose budget hotels costing USD 20–25/night with breakfast.
- On trek: Stay in budget tea houses (USD 10–15 at lower elevations, USD 20–25 at higher elevations).
- Avoid expensive guesthouses; consider camping for a cheaper and unique experience.
Food Savings
- Eat at tea houses where you stay to get discounts.
- Share meals with guides/porters who get local discounts.
- Bring snacks, energy drinks, and water filtration from the city.
- Meals typically cost USD 10–15 each, about USD 45/day for three meals.
Transportation Savings
- Public bus from Kathmandu to Soti Khola costs NPR 1,500.
- Avoid renting private jeeps (around USD 200).
- After the trek, return via Dharapani (NPR 2,000) or Besi Sahar (NPR 1,000).
Guide & Porter Saving
- Experienced guide: USD 30–50/day; budget guide through agency: USD 20/day.
- Porter: USD 20–30/day; skip porter by packing light.
- A guide and a partner are mandatory for restricted area entry.
Gear Rentals Savings
- Rent essentials like trekking poles, duffel bags, and sleeping bags from agencies.
- Cost: USD 1–2 per item/day.
- Buy second-hand gear from trekkers who’ve finished other treks.
Permit Costs (Fixed)
Restricted Area Permit (RAP):
- Sept–Nov: USD 100 (first week) + USD 15/day after.
- Dec–Aug: USD 75 (first week) + USD 10/day after.
- Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP): NPR 3,000.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000.
Related Topics
Manaslu Circuit Trek Permit and Cost- Essential Guide
