Travel Footprints

We knew, even before we embarked on this journey, that our trip to the Himalayas would be AWESOME! But at what price? We have been asked by various acquaintances and friends to detail the cost of our trip so here goes!

Clothing and Gears

Months before we left Manila for Nepal, we have been following a strict training plan to prepare us with the physical demands of trekking in the Himalayas. For this, we made good use of our mountain bikes (I even had the bitter experience of crashing in one ride!) and at least, that is not costly! What proved to be VERY expensive were all the clothes and gears we had to buy for the trip between January and March, namely:

For Mr. Rono

• Columbia Grizztooth Omni-Tech Shoes – Php 3,470.00 (bought on sale!)
• Columbia Bugaboo Parka – Php 9,990.00
• Columbia Bugaboo Interchange Glove – Php 2,990.00
• High-Neck and Legging Thermal Wear (Marks & Spencer) – Php 4,000.00
• Waterproof Pants (Columbia) – Php 1,970.00
• Performance Shades, Zyon (Rudy Project) – bought a year ago

For Mrs. Rono

• Columbia Pagora Shoes – Php 3,270.00 (bought on sale!)
• Columbia Bugaboo Parka – Php 8,990.00
• The North Face Montana Glove – Php 1,870.00
• High-Neck and Legging Thermal Wear – Various (Marks & Spencer/Columbia) – Php 4,100.00
• UV-resistant/Convertible/Lightweight Pants from R.O.X. (Aigle/Columbia – Php 5,980.00
• Street Jacket/Turtlenecks (Columbia/Mango) – Php 3,160.00
• Performance Shades, Zyon (Rudy Project) – Php 9,120.00 (with 20% discount during Glorietta’s Midnight Madness sale)

Gears

• 40L Mountaineering Pack from R.O.X. (Habagat) – Php 4,919.00
• Headlamp from R.O.X. (P-Tech) – Php 2,890.00
• Wool Socks from R.O.X. (The North Face/Keen) – Php 2,074.00
• Pocket Towel from R.O.X. (Sea to Summit) – Php 1,250.00
• Various medicines including garlic tablets (helps in acclimatizing)

More or less, our clothes and gears for the Himalayas racked up to a total of Php 70,000++ for what’s lacking in our current sportswear. Early on, we already decided we did not want go cheap on shoes (it’s a lot of trekking!) and good pair of lens (to avoid snow-blindness!). Plus, we knew we needed to have some reliable winter clothes with us. We opted to go for Columbia mainly because of their 6-month zero interest installment promo for regular-priced items Php3,000 and up.

In Nepal, we also spent about $200 more for some original UV-resistant Buff headwear (this is sadly not available in Manila!) and some cheap knock-offs of several The North Face products (mostly goose-down outfits) that we felt we needed for more insulation in the freezing, but enchanting, Himalayas.

Travel Expenses

Roundtrip airfare from Manila to Nepal via Thai Airways amounted to PHp 40,000.00 (we bought the ticket in February 2010) with a 12-hour transit in Bangkok.

The Bangkok Airport hotel was way too expensive at $197 for an 8-hour stay in a double room. Coming back from Nepal, we opted to make other hotel arrangements and found a sweet deal in the internet to stay at The Floral Shire, a hotel 10 minutes away from the airport, for just 1,000 THB/room/night.

Of course, the usual Php 750.00 NAIA terminal fee was in our budget. Plus, the airport tax in Bangkok (because it wasn’t included in our ticket somehow) amounting to THB700/person.

Visa fees in Nepal was $40/person.

We also secured travel insurance from Blue Cross amounting to $55/person. Better safe than sorry! At least, we will have this kind of insurance in case we needed to be rescued during the trek!

Tour Expenses

We availed of the package tour with the International Adventure Treks and Expedition for a price of USD1,200 per person which includes :

• Airport – hotel – airport transfer on arrival and departure by car or a van.
• 4 nights at Hotel Marshyangdi or similar in Kathmandu with breakfast & room on twin sharing basis.
• 3 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with Tea & coffee on trek with lodge accommodation.
• An experienced trekking guide, Sherpa (assistant guide) & porters (generally 1 porter for 2 trekkers), their daily wages, food, accommodation, insurance and needed equipment
• Airfare and tax for domestic flight Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu including guide & assistant guide.
• National Park entry permit & TIMS.
• Necessary taxes and company service charge.

And excludes:

• Lunch & dinner while staying at hotel in Kathmandu.
• Soft drinks, bottled water, beer and hard drinks during the trek and bar bills at hotel.
• Sleeping bag with liner and shower facilities for the trek.
• Comprehensive Insurance Policy to cover all travel needs including helicopter rescue incase needed.
• International flight cost and Nepal entry visa fee.
• Expenses of personal nature and emergency cost due to unavoidable situation such as landslide and strike.
• Tips to service staffs.

To sum it all up, we spent about Php 120,000++/person to make this trip of our lifetime possible. But we have to admit, the experience and the memories are certainly priceless!