Makalu Base Camp Trek Cost and Permits (2026)

Quick answer: The Makalu Base Camp Trek costs more than busier treks because it is remote, with three permits, flights to Tumlingtar, and a self-sufficient crew on the upper trail. So group size and season set the price. In short, the 2026 breakdown below covers budget, mid-range, and comfort options.

A guided Makalu Base Camp Trek costs about US$1,600 to US$2,400 per person in 2026. It costs more than most teahouse treks, for two clear reasons. First, the region is very remote. Second, some sections need camping support, not just lodges. So you pay for flights, a full crew, and harder logistics.

Key Takeaways

• A guided Makalu trek usually costs US$1,600 to US$2,400 per person.
• You need three permits, and together they cost about US$45 to US$60.
• The flights to Tumlingtar and the remote crew are the biggest costs.
• Makalu is not a restricted area, so the permits are cheaper than Manaslu or Dolpo.
• There is no Khumbu permit, because Makalu is not in the Everest region.

This guide breaks down every cost in simple terms. For the full plan, see the Makalu Base Camp Trek guide and our 18-day Makalu Base Camp Trek.

Quick cost breakdown (2026)

Here is what a typical Makalu trek costs, item by item. Some costs are fixed. However, others depend on your group and style.

A guided package rolls most of these into one price. So you pay one clear amount and skip the planning stress.

What three permits do you need?

Makalu needs three permits, and together they cost only about US$45 to US$60. This is much cheaper than Manaslu or Dolpo, because Makalu is not a restricted area. For how Nepal’s permit and guide rules work everywhere, see our Nepal trekking permits guide.

• Makalu Barun National Park entry permit. This is about NPR 3,000 for foreign trekkers (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-20).
• Local rural municipality permit. This is a small extra fee for the area, usually around NPR 2,000.
• TIMS card. This is about NPR 2,000 for non-SAARC trekkers.

However, a common myth is that Makalu needs a Khumbu permit. It does not. Instead, that permit is for the Everest region, and Makalu sits in Sankhuwasabha district. So you only need the three permits above. So Spade Himalaya arranges them all.

Why does Makalu cost more than busier treks?

The permits are cheap, but the remoteness pushes the total up. So three things drive the higher price.

• Flights to Tumlingtar. You fly in and out, which adds a fixed cost for you and the crew.
• Remote logistics. Food and supplies travel a long way, so they cost more.
• Camping support. Some sections have few lodges. So a cook and camping crew may be needed.

In short, Makalu trades cheap permits for costly logistics. As a result, it usually costs more than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, even though its permits are far cheaper.

How much are the flights?

The round-trip flights to Tumlingtar cost about US$320 to US$400 per person. First, you fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, a small airstrip in eastern Nepal. Then you reverse it at the end. The flight is shorter and cheaper than the famous Lukla flight.

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However, mountain flights can face weather delays. So it is wise to keep a spare day before any onward international flight. Also, on a package, these flights are already included in the price.

What are the daily costs on the trail?

Budget about US$30 to US$45 per day for food and lodging, plus the guide and crew. However, teahouse rooms are cheap, but meals cost more the deeper you go, because everything is carried in.

Also, the crew is a core cost on Makalu. A licensed guide costs about US$30 to US$35 per day. A porter or camping crew adds more, especially where lodges are scarce. Still, this is money well spent. So the crew handles the remote logistics, reads the weather, and keeps you safe far from any road.

Sample budgets: budget, mid-range, and comfort

Your final price depends on your style, so here are three simple examples. Each is per person, for the full 18-day trip.

• Budget (small group): about US$1,600 to US$1,800. You share the guide, crew, and jeep. Also, you keep extras low.
• Mid-range (private, well supported): about US$1,900 to US$2,200. This is a private trip with a full crew, flights, permits, lodging, and meals.
• Comfort (private, more camping support): about US$2,300 to US$2,600. You add more crew, more comfort where possible, and a bigger extras budget.

In short, a small group costs less per person, while a fully supported private trip costs more.

What is not included?

A package covers the core trek, but a few costs sit outside it. So plan for these too.

• International flights to and from Nepal
• Your Nepal visa (US$30 to US$125)
• Travel insurance with helicopter cover
• Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
• Drinks, snacks, hot showers, and charging on the trail
• Tips for your guide and crew

These extras add up. So set aside a few hundred dollars on top of the package price.

How do you keep the cost down?

You cannot cut the flights, permits, or crew, but you can still save. Here are a few honest tips.

• Travel in a small group. The guide, crew, and jeep are shared, so a group lowers the cost for everyone.
• Carry enough cash from Kathmandu. There are no ATMs on this remote trek.
• Bring your own base layers and boots, and rent only bulky gear in Kathmandu.
• Refill and purify your own water instead of buying bottled water.

Do not cut insurance, though. On a trek this remote, a rescue means a helicopter, which can cost thousands without cover. So that is the one saving that is never worth it.

What does a Spade Himalaya package include?

Our 18-day Makalu Base Camp Trek covers the essentials in one price. That includes the flights to Tumlingtar, all three permits, a licensed guide, porter or camping support, lodging, and all meals on the trek. So most of the costs above become one clear amount.

See the full plan on our 18-day Makalu Base Camp Trek page. For how hard it is, read our Makalu difficulty guide.

FAQs

How much does the Makalu Base Camp Trek cost in 2026?

A guided trek usually costs US$1,600 to US$2,400 per person. The price depends on group size and how much camping support is needed. Flights to Tumlingtar and the remote crew are the biggest costs. The permits, by contrast, are cheap at about US$45 to US$60.

How much are the Makalu permits?

About US$45 to US$60 in total. You need the Makalu Barun National Park permit (about NPR 3,000), a local permit (around NPR 2,000), and a TIMS card (about NPR 2,000). Makalu is not a restricted area, so there is no costly special permit.

Do you need a Khumbu permit for Makalu?

No. The Khumbu permit is for the Everest region. Makalu sits in Sankhuwasabha district, so it needs its own National Park permit, a local permit, and a TIMS card. This is a common myth, so it is worth clearing up before you book.

Why is Makalu more expensive than Everest Base Camp?

Mainly because of remoteness. Makalu needs flights to Tumlingtar, a full crew, and sometimes camping support, since lodges are scarce. Everest Base Camp has more teahouses and more competition, so it can cost less, even though Makalu’s permits are cheaper.

Are there ATMs on the Makalu trek?

No. There are no reliable ATMs once you leave Kathmandu for this region. So you must carry enough Nepalese rupees in cash for the whole trek. Use the cash for drinks, snacks, charging, hot showers, and tips along the trail.

Accuracy note: official fees, rules, and hard facts in this guide are cited inline from their sources; trail and price details are Spade Himalaya field research; route details reviewed by Yubaraj Katel, government-licensed trekking guide (Licence No. 19827) with 10 years of experience across the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, and Manaslu regions.

Author

Pawan Bhattarai

Pawan Bhattarai is a co-founder of Spade Himalaya, a Nepal-based trekking and tour company he started to help share Nepal's mountains with the world. A keen traveller with a background in technology and content, he writes carefully researched guides to help people plan their trip. On the ground, Spade's treks are led by licensed local guides.