Nepal Trekking from China: CNY Prices, Chengdu Flights & Guide

Last updated 9 October 2026. Yuan figures use the European Central Bank reference rate of 8 October 2026, US$1 = CNY 6.70, and move daily. Chengdu return fares are as seen on 9 October 2026.

Trekking in Nepal from China: the short answer

Why China is one of the easiest places to start from

From western China, Nepal is a morning flight. Air China flight CA437 was listed leaving Chengdu Tianfu at 09:15 and landing in Kathmandu at 10:55 local time, about 3 hours 55 minutes in the air, and Sichuan Airlines flies it too. The visa costs a Chinese passport holder nothing. Nepal is only 2 hours 15 minutes behind China all year. All of that makes a short trek over a holiday week realistic.

The thing that does not shrink is the mountain. Everest Base Camp is 5,364 metres, you sleep at Gorak Shep at 5,164, and the schedule has acclimatisation days that cannot be removed. If you live in Kunming (about 1,900 metres) you start with a small advantage; in Chengdu or on the east coast you start low.

Treks for travellers from China, with live prices

Per person. You pay in US dollars. The yuan figures are a guide.

Price notes, per person: Ghorepani Poon Hill, 6 days: two to four trekkers; solo Standard is USD 960 and solo Luxury USD 1,930; Langtang Valley, 8 days: one trekker; two to four pay less (USD 320, 570 and 800); Poon Hill from Pokhara, 4 days: two to four trekkers; solo is USD 770, 980 and 2,020.

Everest Base Camp needs 12 days on the trail plus a day either side. Annapurna Base Camp takes nine and has no Lukla flight. Poon Hill, the four-day version from Pokhara in particular, fits a public holiday plus a few days of leave. Mardi Himal and Langtang are quieter ridge and valley treks, and Manaslu is a restricted-area circuit with a pass at 5,160 metres, for people who have trekked at height before.

What each tier gives you: Budget means shared rooms, your own pack and your own food. Standard means private rooms, all meals and one porter shared by two. Luxury means a dedicated porter, private deluxe rooms and, for Everest, the helicopter to Lukla and back. On Standard and alone, the guide carries up to 10 kg because there is no porter. Kathmandu accommodation is separate, and USD 15 a night per person gets you a bed at our family homestay.

What a whole Everest trip from Chengdu adds up to

There is no separate cost guide for China, so the sums are here. One traveller, 12-day Everest Base Camp trek. The flight column is the lowest and highest Chengdu return seen on 9 October 2026. The extras column adds insurance, tips, and either trail meals (Budget) or spending money (Standard, Luxury). The visa is free. Kathmandu hotels are not included.

On Budget you pay for trail meals yourself, roughly USD 25 to USD 40 a day. On Standard and Luxury, keep 20,000 to 30,000 rupees (USD 130 to USD 195) for showers, charging and snacks, and draw it in Kathmandu. A guide is tipped USD 15 to USD 20 a day and a porter USD 10 to USD 15.

Chengdu flights, 9 October search

Economy, one adult, a checked bag, out on Sunday 25 October 2026 and back on Wednesday 11 November, one change at most each way, one ticket. The cheapest results, USD 906, were China Eastern via Kunming outbound (with an overnight wait in Kunming) and Sichuan Airlines nonstop home. The nonstop pair, Air China CA437 out and Sichuan Airlines 3U3902 home, was USD 950. Sichuan Airlines both ways was USD 1,002. China Southern via Guangzhou was around USD 927 to USD 990, and the highest ticket was USD 1,075. Land in Kathmandu at least a full day before any Lukla flight. Only Chengdu was priced, so search your own city.

The visa is free

Chinese nationals receive a free (gratis) tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan Airport. You still get a visa, and you pay no fee. Bring a Chinese passport with at least six months of validity and a passport photo. You can fill in the arrival details beforehand on the online immigration portal to shorten the queue. The process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Our visa on arrival guide walks through it. Check the length of stay allowed with the Nepali embassy before you fly.

Holidays, seasons and when to book

October and November are the clearest months, and the National Day Golden Week at the start of October falls in that peak season, so flights and teahouse beds fill early. The Spring Festival in 2027 falls on 6 February, which is deep winter at altitude, so for that break I would send you to a lower trek such as Poon Hill. The May Day break and late April are in the spring season, with rhododendrons in bloom on the lower slopes. China's State Council sets the public holiday calendar each year, so confirm the dates before you book flights. The monsoon runs from June to mid-September. In Nepal, Dashain is 17 to 23 October and Tihar 8 to 12 November 2026, when offices close and permits need 48 hours of working days. See the best time for Everest Base Camp. The 2027 dates are set by the lunar calendar, so ask me before you fix flights for an autumn 2027 trip.

Insurance

Travel insurance that covers trekking at altitude and helicopter evacuation is required, and we ask to see the wording before you leave. Look for trekking to 6,000 metres (Kala Patthar is 5,545 metres), helicopter rescue, illness as well as injury, and repatriation. A helicopter from Base Camp to Kathmandu costs USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 if you pay yourself. I would not buy a Nepal-issued policy. See helicopter cover to 6,000 metres.

Paying us from China

Here is how paying works. Ten per cent goes down as a deposit. The balance falls due in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros; cash costs nothing extra and a card adds 3.5 per cent. Payment in yuan or Nepali rupees is not possible. Any trek can be moved free to a new date within 12 months if you give 72 hours of notice (seven days for restricted areas). A booking you cancel instead is not refunded, deposit included. When the cancellation is ours, the refund is what you paid less taxes, bank and card charges, and permit or flight money already spent.

A card payment goes through the Himalayan Bank gateway. An international Visa or Mastercard works after you approve the one-time password, but a UnionPay-only or domestic card may not, in which case bring US dollars in cash and pay the balance in Kathmandu with no fee.

Language and who to call

Treks run in English. I cannot promise a Mandarin-speaking guide, so ask me and I will be straight about who is available for your dates. If you rely on a VPN or apps that behave differently abroad, set them up before you fly. Nepal requires a licensed guide on most routes, and we send one on every trek. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nepal publishes its consular details at np.china-embassy.gov.cn, and Chinese citizens abroad can also use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular hotline, 12308.

Check us before you book

It is sensible to verify any operator, us included. The registrar, TAAN (member 1586), the tourism licence and the forex certificate can each be checked in public records. Licensed firms have been caught up in scams too, so a video call with me is the better test. Travellers have left more than 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot, and the Nagarjun Learning Center receives part of every booking.

Frequently asked questions

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Nepal?

Yes, but it is free. Chinese nationals receive a gratis tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. Bring a passport with six months of validity and a photo.

How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost from China?

The trek is USD 1,399, 2,499 or 4,999 per person by tier, about CNY 9,380, CNY 16,750 and CNY 33,500. With a Chengdu return flight, insurance and tips, one traveller pays about USD 2,835 to 3,371 (about CNY 19,000 to 22,590) on Budget. The table above gives the other tiers.

Is there a direct flight from Chengdu to Kathmandu?

Yes. On 9 October 2026 Air China and Sichuan Airlines both flew Chengdu to Kathmandu nonstop, taking about 3 hours 50 minutes.

What is the best time to trek from China?

October to mid-November and March to May. Golden Week in early October falls in peak season, so book early.

Can I do a Nepal trek in the Spring Festival break?

Yes, but not Everest. The Khumbu is very cold in February. Poon Hill or Mardi Himal are better choices at that time.

Can I pay with a Chinese bank card?

An international Visa or Mastercard works on our payment page. A UnionPay-only card may not, so bring US dollars in cash and pay the balance in Kathmandu.

Does my Chinese passport need extra papers for Nepal?

You need six months of validity and a photo for the visa. Check anything else with the Nepali embassy before you fly.

What insurance do I need?

A travel policy that covers trekking to 6,000 metres and helicopter evacuation, with illness as well as injury cover.

Can I trek alone, and do I need a guide?

A solo traveller can book a private departure or join one of our fixed group departures. A licensed guide is required on most routes and we send one on every trek.

Read next

• Solo Everest Base Camp: cost and single supplement
• Everest permits and fees
• Everest Base Camp weather, month by month
• Poon Hill trek cost for 2027
• Altitude sickness: prevention

Your next step

If you would like a price, message +977 9810351300 on WhatsApp. A trek name, a rough date and the number of people is enough to begin. I answer myself, and I will tell you if I think another trek or another month would suit you better. The email address is [email protected]. Tell me your holiday dates and I will suggest a trek that fits them.

From Shreejan Simkhada, CEO. We have been registered since 2016, we are TAAN member 1586, and guiding runs in the family for three generations.