What are some of the toughest treks on our list at Indiahikes? Lots of experienced trekkers ask us this, sometimes to challenge themselves, sometimes to see extraordinary landscapes that only a challenging trek can show you.

Before I get into the list, you must know that it's ideal to talk to us before you sign up for any of these treks, so we can guide you better. To do that, just fill out this form, and we’ll guide you better.

The top trek on our list of toughest treks in Indiahikes is Bali Pass—and with good reason.

This is a trek that starts from the Har Ki Dun valley and crosses over the Bali Pass into Yamunotri. The pass itself is at 16,200 feet. But that’s not the most difficult part.

The first two days might feel easy, almost like a warm-up. But then you reach the Advanced Base Camp, set at a staggering 15,100 feet. It's like camping right on top of Rupin Pass or Buran Ghati for a full day, and then beginning your climb the next morning.

The ascent to the pass is along a knife-edge ridge, sometimes covered in snow, sometimes not—but both conditions are equally tricky. And just when you think the hardest part is behind you after reaching the pass, you realise the descent is even tougher.

So, Bali Pass is not for the faint-hearted. It's not for someone who has never trekked before. You need prior experience, high fitness, and a strong mental setup.

Next on our list is the Warwan Valley trek in Jammu & Kashmir.

This is not your everyday trek. The kind of landscapes you see here are rare, even within J&K. But it’s also a test of your endurance and mental resilience.

First, there’s the climb to Kaintal Pass (also referred to as Aarsi Pass) at around 14,500 feet, through scree, boulders, and steep terrain. Then comes the descent across the Bracken Glacier, and it’s not just a short crossing. You're walking down the glacier for 6 to 7 hours.

To make things harder, there are deep crevasses all around. You can toss a rock into one and hear it hit the bottom only after several seconds. There are also icy river crossings and constant fears of bad weather.

Plus, it’s a long trek. You're walking 13–14 km every day. It’s definitely not for beginners.

Our technical team fondly calls this trek "The Beauty and the Beast."

The Pin Bhaba trek is extremely scenic, but equally difficult. The highlight—and the toughest part—is the pass crossing at around 16,000 feet. You begin the climb around 2 AM, walking on scree, boulders, and moraine.

Every step forward is a slippery challenge.

When you finally reach the pass, you’re rewarded with a grand view of Spiti’s stark mountains, but the descent isn’t easy. Endless scree and steep slopes test your knees and patience.

Throughout the trek, you're walking beside rivers—either the Bhaba or the Pin. There are multiple cold-water stream crossings, and if that wasn’t enough, this trek typically happens during the monsoon, almost guaranteeing bad weather for a few days.

This is unlike any other trek on this list because it takes you to an active volcano in Indonesia.

You start the trek at 3,700 feet. By the first day, you climb to 8,600 feet and camp. Then, at 2 AM, you begin your summit climb—going up to 12,200 feet and descending back down to 6,600 feet—all within a matter of two days.

But the altitude gain isn’t the only challenge.

The terrain is made up of volcanic ash and slippery mud. Every step forward feels like two steps back. Your hands, feet, and face are covered in ash. You're walking on exposed ridgelines—it’s windy, cold, and exhausting.

It’s a mental battle—constantly asking yourself: Should I keep going? But when you see the sunrise from the summit, you realise it was worth it.

Last on our list is Kedartal—a trek that appears short and sweet on paper, but it’s deceptively difficult.

The trek begins from Gangotri at about 10,000 feet. The very next day, you’re climbing to over 13,000 feet—and spending the next two days hovering at very high altitude. The lake itself, Kedartal, is at 15,500 feet. But it's not just the altitude.

What makes Kedartal tricky are the spider walls—narrow ledges on giant boulders with a river gushing far below. One wrong step here could be dangerous. These sections can’t be roped or secured, which adds to the risk.

Sometimes, snow makes it even more treacherous. In rare cases, wooden bridges are made to avoid these ledges, but they’re not always reliable.

You need excellent agility, a calm mind, and good experience to do this trek safely.

So that’s our list of the toughest treks we organise at Indiahikes.

We consciously avoid organising treks that are riskier than this, because no trek should come at the cost of your life. Everyone Must Trek, Safely.

While we do our best to make these treks as safe as possible, a lot of the safety lies in your hands—in how well prepared you are mentally and physically.

So train well, choose wisely, and if you're unsure, talk to us first. 

And if you've done any of these treks—or think other treks should be on this list—drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

The toughest treks that Indiahikes runs and why they are difficult

5 Toughest Treks Of Indiahikes

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There are two ways to trek. The first is where you race from one camp to another, rush to the summit, and head back home. The second is where you slow down, take in the mountains, observe the trees around you, listen to bird calls, and truly enjoy your trek. The summit is just one part of the entire experience.

At Indiahikes, we believe in the second way of trekking. That’s why our Trek Leaders are extensively trained as naturalists — to bring the mountains to life around you, to make the entire trail come alive.

But what if you're not trekking with Indiahikes? Or what if you spot a beautiful tree and don’t know what it is — and your Trek Leader is far away?

So, I’m going to tell you about five apps we’ve been using extensively — apps that can bring your trek to life. All you need is to have them on your phone while you're trekking, and you’ll notice how the entire experience transforms around you.

Peak Finder

This is the first app we’ve been using for several years. You may have already heard of it, or even used it.

PeakFinder started as a website, then became a web app, and is now available as a mobile app too. What we love about it is how it helps you identify all the mountain peaks you see on the trek — not just the prominent ones. Even on smaller, local treks, it can identify the surrounding hills.

The best part? It works offline. Most treks don’t have internet access, so all you need to do is download the data for the region you’ll be trekking in — and it will show you every peak you're looking at.

It is a paid app — one of the only paid ones I’ll mention in this video. It costs around ₹330 on Android and ₹499 on Apple. It’s a one-time payment. But if you’re a regular trekker, it’s absolutely worth the investment.

Pricing: One-time payment; approximately ₹330 on Android and ₹499 on iOS

Merlin Bird ID

The second app you must have — especially if you’re a birder — is Merlin Bird ID. This is an app we've come to love over the past six or seven months. It’s a bird identification app that’s surprisingly accurate in the results it gives.

Audio ID: If you hear a bird call but can’t see the bird, just record the sound. The app identifies the bird based on its call — a brilliant feature.

Step-by-step ID: If you’ve seen the bird but couldn’t photograph it or hear it, you can use clues like size, beak colour, tail length, and behaviour to identify it step by step.

Photo ID: If you’ve taken a picture of the bird, upload it and the app will identify it.

What’s great is that the app has bird packs for specific regions of the world. If you're trekking in India, just download the India bird pack. It then limits its search to birds found in this region, which makes the data far more accurate than general tools like Google Lens.

It works offline (once you’ve downloaded the bird pack), and it’s completely free.

Offline functionality: Yes (after downloading regional bird packs)

Recommended sister app: eBird check listing app

iNaturalist

Next on the list is iNaturalist — a nature identification app we’ve also come to love. It helps you identify any natural element around you — plants, fungi, insects, anything.

All you need to do is take a picture and upload it as an observation. The app then gives you an idea of the species or family you're looking at, along with detailed information.

One limitation: It doesn’t work offline. So, you’ll need to make your observations and recordings on the trail and refer to them later when you’re back in a network area.

It’s available on both Android and Apple, and is free to use.

Gaia GPS

The fourth app is Gaia GPS, which many of you may already be familiar with. It’s a trail navigation app, and excellent for recording trails during explorations.

We use Gaia extensively for our exploration treks. We also share GPX files with trekkers and recommend using Gaia to follow those files.

Here’s how it works:
Say you’re doing the Kuari Pass trek. Download the GPX file from our website, load it into the app, and you’ll be able to follow the trail offline, just like Google Maps, but for the trekking world.

Offline functionality: Yes (with downloaded maps)

Pricing: Free for basic version. Premium subscription approximately ₹6,000 per year

Stellarium

My final recommendation is for all night sky lovers — and who isn’t fascinated by the stars?

Stellarium is an app that replicates the night sky on your phone. Just point your phone at the sky, and it tells you exactly which stars or planets you’re looking at — along with detailed information about them.

It’s a deeply informative app, offering insights into the significance and history of stars, planets, and constellations.

It’s free, available on both Android and Apple, and works offline too — perfect for treks, where the sky is clear and free from light pollution.

Pricing: Free version available. Stellarium PLUS costs approximately ₹1500 on Android and approximately ₹2000 on iOS

So, those are the five apps I’d recommend to every trekker, whether you're trekking in India or anywhere else in the world.

And just to clarify, this is not a paid promotion. These are simply apps we’ve loved using, and we genuinely believe they’ll help you bring your trek to life.

If you’ve used any other apps that you’ve found useful during your treks, I’d love to hear about them. Drop a comment below and tell us how they helped you experience your trek better.

How to use apps to navigate and know your treks better

5 Must-Have Apps That Will Change The Way You Trek

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If you're planning a trek in Karnataka — be it Netravathi, Kudremukh, Kumara Parvatha or any other — there's one important step you can’t miss. You need to obtain permits from the Karnataka Forest Department.

These permits are not just for formality. They help the forest department regulate footfall on the trails and protect the ecosystem we are trekking through. However, we have seen that getting a permit can sometimes feel a bit confusing. 

So here’s a simple guide to help you through the process, step-by-step.

This guide was created by our trekkers, Isha Bhartiya and Naveen KS when members of the Indiahikes Trekking Club (Bangalore Chapter) went out to document the Brahmagiri Trek.

Steps to Obtain Permits for Trekking in Karnataka

Step 1: Visit the Aranya Vihaara Website  

All permits are issued online through the official portal: https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in 

The website is available in both English and Kannada. First-time users need to create a login ID.

These are general rules that apply to most forest treks in Karnataka:

Bookings must be made at least 2 days in advance.  

You can book permits up to 30 days ahead.  

Most forest treks are open seasonally, generally from September to February.  

Daily quotas are enforced to reduce pressure on the trail. These range from 100 to 300 visitors per day depending on the trek.  

One login can be used to book for up to 10 people.  

There is a minimum age requirement for each trek, and the cut-off age can vary depending on the trek. Even the permit fee may differ based on the age group you fall into.

You need the following information for each person:

Government ID (Voter ID, PAN, Driving License, Ration Card, or Passport)  

Make sure you are logged in with your ID before you search for Trek Availability. Once you are logged in:

Go to the "Search Trek Availability" section  

Select the District where your trek is located. If you do not know which district your trek falls under, refer to this table.

If slots are available, you will be able to proceed with booking

Select the available time slot (usually morning hours like 6:00 am to 10:00 am)  

Make payment using Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or Wallet

Go to the “My Bookings” section on the website  

Download or print your permit. This must be carried with you on the trek along with the Government ID you used to book your trek.

District-Wise List of All Treks on Aranya Vihaara

District Wise List of All Treks on Aranya Vihaara Website

The Aranya Vihara website requires you to know the district your trek falls under before you can proceed. You need to first select the district, after which you’ll see a dropdown of treks available in that region.

But we noticed that figuring out the correct district for your trek can be tricky. This often leads to confusion and takes up unnecessary time and effort.

To make things easier, Isha Bhartiya — one of the most enthusiastic members of our Indiahikes Trekking Club (Bangalore Chapter) — put together a district-wise list of all treks listed on the Aranya Vihara site. You can use her table to quickly find your trek.

For a long time, getting permits for forest treks in Karnataka was quite a maze. Many of us remember struggling with the old Karnataka Eco Tourism website — it was clunky, slow to load, and left trekkers confused and frustrated. Independent trekkers often gave up midway or landed at the base without a permit, not knowing what to do next.

At Indiahikes, we see the new Aranya Vihara portal as a much-needed upgrade. It has brought all forest treks under one roof and made the booking process far more streamlined. We’ve used it ourselves and found it to be much more reliable. Not only does it help you plan better, but it also supports the forest department’s efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems.

How Transparent Regulations Help Both Trekkers and the Trekking Trails

What stands out the most is how well the new system regulates trekking — from daily caps on trekkers to fixed entry timings and strict rules like the plastic ban. 

This kind of regulation is something we strongly resonate with at Indiahikes. Even in Uttarakhand and Himachal, where we run our Himalayan treks, we’re in ongoing conversations with forest authorities to implement similar systems. It helps ease pressure on crowded trails and brings attention to equally beautiful but lesser-known ones. If trekking has to grow in India, this is the only sustainable way forward.

Now that the Karnataka Forest Department has rolled out regulations, we’re seeing the results firsthand. Popular trails like Kumara Parvatha and Kudremukha are less crowded, and the overall experience has improved noticeably. 

Just a few years ago, Kumara Parvatha was littered with plastic. But when some of our team members trekked there this February, they were pleasantly surprised — the trail was impressively clean, and forest staff were strictly checking for plastics at the entry gates.

This shift has also nudged trekkers toward lesser-known trails like Brahmagiri or Ramadevarabetta. That’s been further reinforced by the improvements in how information is shared on the Aranya Vihara portal. 

Compared to the older platform, it’s far more transparent. You now get access to details like starting points, ending points, and sometimes even downloadable GPX files — making it much easier to plan your trek. While these files can occasionally be outdated, it’s still a move in the right direction.

There’s definitely room for improvement — especially when it comes to real-time updates and accuracy. 

Sometimes, starting or ending points change, but those updates don’t reflect on the website. In other cases, it’s unclear whether a guide is mandatory for a particular trail. This is particularly true for the lesser-frequented treks, where unexpected changes can catch you off guard. So we always recommend cross-checking with locals or recent trekkers before you go, just to be sure.

That said, from what we’ve seen at Indiahikes, this system is already making forest treks in Karnataka more accessible and better managed. It’s a strong foundation to build on. If you’re planning to trek independently in Karnataka, you now have better tools at your fingertips. And more importantly, the new regulations are ensuring that trekking in Karnataka becomes more sustainable.

How to navigate Aranya Vihaara Site and Detailed District-wise list of all treks

How to Get Permits for Trekking in Karnataka

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How to Get Permits for Karnataka Treks like Netravati, Kudremukh, Kumara Parvatha and others

Trekkers often ask us for hotel recommendations before or after their treks. Finding a good place using online listings can be tedious and tricky.

So, through our network of trekkers and trek leaders, we have put together the best hotel recommendations near cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Manali, Srinagar and Kathgodam. 

These are tried-and-tested recommendations—places we trust for comfort, cleanliness, and convenience. They’re also located near town centers and your pick-up points.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay or something a little more premium, you’ll find an option that suits your needs below.

Disclaimer: The hotels or places of stay we’ve suggested are simply recommendations from our side. We encourage you to take your time, go through photos, read reviews, and check anything else that matters to you before making a choice.
This article was last updated on- 16th April 2025.

Hotel Options at Rishikesh

Live Free Hostel Rishikesh

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 800- 1,000
Distance from Pick-up: This is the pick-up point
Amenities: Free wifi, restaurant, entertainment
Phone number:
Booking link: Click here



Joeys Hostel Rishikesh 

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,200- 2,000
Distance from Pick-up: 500 metres
Amenities: free wifi, airport shuttle, restaurant
Phone number: 07217482824
Booking link: Click here



The Hosteller, Upper Tapovan (3-star)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 600- 5,000
Distance from Pick-up: 1 km
Amenities: Free wifi, airport shuttle, indoor games
Booking link: Click here



GoStops

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 600- 3,000
Distance from Pick-up: 3.5 km
Amenities: Laundry service, movie room, doctor on call
Phone number: 7428882828
Booking link: Click here


Hotel Options at Dehradun

Lords Eco Inn

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 2,500- 3,500
Distance from Pick-up: 1.5 km
Amenities: Free wifi, complimentary breakfast, doctor on call, 
Phone number: +91 750 022 0777/ +91 750 011 0777
Booking link: Click here



Grand Legacy Beacon (3-star)

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 3,000- 5,000
Distance from Pick-up: This is the pick up location
Amenities: Restaurant, high quality staff
Phone number: -
Booking link: Click here



Nomads Hostel

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,000- 1,200
Distance from Pick-up: 100 metres
Amenities: Kitchenette, Cafe, Luggage Assistance
Phone number: 9760596464
Booking link: Click here


Hotel Options at Kathgodam

Naini Hill Inn (2-star)

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 3,000- 5,000
Distance from Pick-up: 500 metres
Amenities: Wifi, air conditioning, free cancellation (till 24 hrs)
Phone number: 7302228955
Booking link: Click here



Royal Windsor Hotel (3-star)

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 2,500- 6,000
Distance from Pick-up: 2.7 km
Amenities: Restaurant, 24 hour room service, laundry service
Phone number: 78957 63000
Booking link: Click here


Hotel Options at Srinagar

Hotel Akbar Inn (2-star)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 2,500
Distance from pick-up: 3.5 km
Amenities: Wifi, laundry service, cafe
Phone number: 09811028204
Booking link: Click here



Hotel Green Leaf (3-star)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 6,000- 8,000
Distance from pick-up: 3.4 km
Amenities: Room service, 24-hour frontdesk, wifi
Phone number: -
Booking link: Click here



Take a look at these options if you would like to experience the famous houseboats of J&K:

Floating Heaven Group Of House Boats (3-star)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price range: Rs 5,000- 8,000
Distance from Pick-up: 5.5 km
Amenities: 24x7 room service, customized meals, luxurious rooms
Phone number: 08803357716
Booking link: Click here



Royal Athena Houseboats

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: -
Distance from Pick-up: 6.5 km
Amenities: Parking, wifi, power back-up, laundry service
Phone number: 9103111178
Booking link: Online booking unavailable 



Houseboat Nightingale (3-star)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price range: Rs 5,000
Distance from Pick-up: 1.6 km
Amenities: pet friendly, kitchen
Phone number: 09419439155
Booking link: Click here



Hotel Options at Manali

Fursat - Boutique Homestay & Hostel (Near IH Jungle Line Campus)

Location: Click here
Price Range: Rs 3,000 
Distance from IH Manali campus: 200 metres 
Amenities: Yoga room, game room, restaurant
Phone number: 9999629900
Booking link: Click here


Sterling Manali (Near Beas Bridge, Manali)

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 5,000- 10,000
Distance from Pick-up: 3.2 km
Amenities: Pet friendly, scenic location, Kullu kitchen; serving authentic Himachali food
Phone number: 7969792040
Booking link: Click here


Hotel Options at Rohru (Buran Ghati and Rupin Pass)

Shaktan homestay

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 400- 500
Distance from pick-up: 10 metres
Amenities: A very basic accomodation
Phone number: 9816071623
Booking link: Book on call



Hotel Park View

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 800- 1,500
Distance from pick-up: 400 metres
Amenities: Close to market and ISBT
Phone number: 8091059987
Booking link: Book on call



Hotel river view 

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1000- 1,800
Distance from pick-up: 1 km
Amenities: Restaurant, laundry
Phone number: 9816041737
Booking link: Click here



Monal Hotel and Restaurant

Location: Click here to view on Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1000- 2,000
Distance from pick-up: 900 metres
Amenities: Restaurant
Phone number: -
Booking link: Book on call

Hotel Options at Siliguri

Hotel Insta18

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,800- 2,500
Distance from pick-up: 6 km to NJP Railway Station
Amenities: Newly built & very clean rooms. Close to bus stand and main road. Can get sharing auto easily to NJP station. 
Phone number: 09593906660
Booking link: Click here




Hotel Saluja

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,300- 2,000
Distance from pick-up: 5 km to NJP Railway Station
Amenities: Clean rooms, easy access to Hong Kong market, easy to get autos and buses
Phone number: 09800417999
Booking link: Click here


Mansons Homestay Bagdogra 

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 2,000- 3,000 (for a double room)
Distance from pick-up: 1 km to Bagdogra airport
Amenities: 15 mins walk to the airport, clean and neat, a garden
Phone number: 09932964841
Booking link: Click here




Himmat Giri Farmstead Bagdogra 

Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,000 for a single bed in double sharing room, and Rs 2,500 for a double room.
Distance from pick-up: 1 km to Bagdogra airport
Amenities: 15 mins walk to the airport, farmstay experience, good host
Phone number: 09734011183
Booking link: Book on call

Indiahikes is India's largest trekking community, and this article exists thanks to trekkers like you.

If you come across any incorrect or outdated information, please email us at experience@indiahikes.com and CC upayan@indiahikes.com.

Have better recommendations? We'd love to hear them! Share your insights with us at the same email.

Tried and tested budget plus premium hotel recommendations at Manali, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kathgodam, and Srinagar.

Hotel recommendations by Indiahikes

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Where to Stay Before or After Your Trek? Our Hotel Recommendations

Nepal’s trekking infrastructure makes it an attractive destination for independent trekkers. The trails are well laid and marked in most places. Almost all big treks have a network of tea houses, where you can stay and get fresh cooked meals. So, if you are fit and confident about directions, you can trek solo on a lot of trails, without a guide or a porter.

If you are planning a solo trek to Everest Base Camp, you need to plan your expenses carefully. The ease of access comes with the disadvantage of a lot of temptations, when it comes to food, beverages and facilities – usually at inflated costs.

This guide demystifies the expenses for this trek. We have broken down the expenses into these subheadings for each trek – travel, accommodation, food, drinking water, wifi and charging, SIM cards, guides/porters and trek permits.

Lukla is the starting point for the Everest Base Camp trek. To get here, you first need to reach Kathmandu. During the trekking season, the traditional way of taking a flight to Lukla directly is not available. 

You need to go to Ramechhap on road, and then take a flight to Lukla. 

Start your travel at 12 AM. It takes approximately 5-6 hours to reach Ramechhap. Aim to reach the airport there at 6 AM. 

It will cost you NPR 3,200 per person for the cab. It is usually a van type vehicle that can seat 8-9 people. 

It is very normal for flights between Ramechhap and Lukla to be be cancelled or rescheduled. So make sure you keep a couple of days as buffer before booking your onward journey.

Book your return flight from Lukla to Ramechhap as well. 

Tip: Do not hesitate to reschedule your return flight to Ramechhap if you finish your trek earlier than planned. Given the unpredictability of weather there, airlines do not charge for a reschedule.

You stay in tea houses on the Everest Base Camp trek. These are small lodges that can accommodate 20-30 trekkers. Fresh food is available in all tea houses.

A room in a tea house costs NPR 1500 per day (1 NPR is approximately 0.63 Indian rupees) . At higher altitudes, it can even go up to NPR 2,000 if the demand is very high. As you can see, room rates are not very high. However, you are obliged to have your meals at the same place that you are staying, especially dinner on the night you arrive and breakfast on the following morning.

Tip: Request the owner of the tea house from where you are starting to book a room for you at your next stop. Share a room to bring down the cost.

Food is perhaps the most expensive component of your trek in Nepal. You get everything from sandwiches to dal-bhaat to pizzas and desserts in the tea houses. But they all come at a cost.

Here is a comparison of the costs of meals in different places:

At Lukla, expect to pay NPR 600 per meal; taking the food cost per day to about NPR 1,800.

At Namche Bazaar, expect to pay NPR 750 per meal; taking the food cost to NPR 2,300.

However, at Gorakshep, you will pay NPR 1,200-1,400 per meal; taking the cost to NPR 4,100. 

The meals described here are simple dal-bhat. If you want to eat other items, the cost will go up accordingly. These tea houses serve a wide variety of food. 

Tip: Stick to dal-bhaat for your main meals. The food is wholesome and the servings are unlimited. Carry plenty of nuts and dry fruits to avoid buying overpriced snacks.

Inside picture of a Restaurant (Hotel Kamal) at Namche Bazar. Picture by Vijesh

Tap water is safe to drink at all tea houses. However, this is not the case at Gorakshep. Here, you need to buy drinking water at NPR 500 a litre. The water here is otherwise dirty.

Tip: If you have a water purifying bottle, use it at Gorakshep to avoid paying for drinking water.

Tea houses start charging you money from Phakding onwards. Use of charging points costs NPR 300-600 according to the device that you are charging. It will cost you NPR 300 to charge your mobile, NPR 500 to fully charge a powerbank. Each tea house will have a chart that will display the rates. These costs will go up as you go higher. 

Tea houses also charge for wifi. At Lobuche, it costs NPR 1,200 to purchase wifi for the whole day. And NPR 1,800 for 2 days. 

Tip: Namche Bazaar has restaurants that provide free wifi if you eat there. Finish all your calls and messages before starting from here.

You can purchase a local NCell SIM card for NPR 500 and recharge it for making telephone calls. Around 30 minutes talk time to India will cost you around NPR 50. Network is available up to Dole. Trekkers usually reach Dole on the fourth day of trekking.

Tip: The call costs less if you add 0124 to the Indian number that you dial.

You need two permits to trek to Everest Base Camp. 

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit: This local permit is required to enter the Khumbu region. You can refer to this as trek permit. It will cost you NPR 2,000. 

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit: You will be trekking inside this National Part which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cost of entering the park is NPR is NPR 1,500. 

This is the cost of permits for SAARC Nationals. 

Citizens of SAARC countries can collect this from Monjo. This is close to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park. You can go here after you reach Phakding from Lukla. Other citizens can get this at Kathmandu. 

It is possible to hire a guide and a porter before you begin the trek. You can do this either in Kathmandu or in Lukla. Guides charge NPR 1,700 per day and porters charge NPR 1,500-1,600 per day. If they are local guides and not hired through a company, you will need to pay them in cash.

If you decide to hire a guide or a porter after reaching Lukla, ask around in hotels to find them.

Tip: It is possible to do the entire trek on your own and avoid this cost altogether. It is more expensive to hire guides and porters through a company than on your own.

Trekking in Nepal can be an expensive affair. It's important to budget your trek so you reduce your expenditure at the tea houses and on the trail. This guide demystifies the expenses for this trek. We have broken down the expenses into different subheadings to make it easy for you.

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