Saver One of three tiers
Saver trips in the Himalaya
Shared jeeps, state buses, homestays and honest numbers
The affordable Himalaya. Shared jeeps and state buses, homestays and government tourist bungalows, local food. Simple, safe, and planned so the money goes to the valley.
24 trips
Saver trips, west to east
Indicative 2026 'from' prices per person, twin sharing, from the trip's start point.
Photo: Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam on a budget
Shared Sumos, the valley train and a shared union taxi in Pahalgam
Photo: Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Gurez Valley on a budget by shared Sumo
JKSRTC or private bus to Bandipora, shared Sumos, one shared car day
Photo: Anirvan Shukla · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Leh, Nubra and Pangong by bus and shared jeep
State bus over Khardung La, shared taxis to Nubra and Pangong, local buses in the Indus valley
Photo: Saurabh Lall · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Srinagar road to Leh and Turtuk on a budget
Shared Sumo taxis, state buses and local shared cars
Photo: Neerajsinghazm · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Manali, Naggar and Kasol on a budget
HRTC local buses and short shared taxis
Photo: Navneet Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Kinnaur by HRTC bus: Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa
HRTC buses and local shared taxis
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Spiti by HRTC bus, the slow Kinnaur way in
HRTC and local buses, with one shared taxi loop from Kaza
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Spiti village homestays: Dhankar to Langza
Shared car to Kaza, then local buses and short taxi transfers
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Deoria Tal, Tungnath and Chandrashila
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and a shared taxi
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund by bus
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and walking
Photo: Krishan09 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Long weekend from Delhi: Nainital and Bhimtal
Overnight train to Kathgodam, shared taxis and walking
Photo: ParthaPratimNath · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Hostel trail: Mukteshwar and Kasar Devi
Shared taxis and jeeps
Photo: Travelling Slacker · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Almora, Binsar and Jageshwar on a budget
Shared taxis and jeeps, with two shared private-cab legs
Photo: Travelling Slacker · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Munsiyari and the Johar valley by shared jeep
Shared jeeps and buses via Almora, Chaukori, Thal and Bageshwar
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Kathmandu valley heritage on a saver budget
Local buses, microbuses and shared taxis
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Pokhara, Poon Hill and Ghandruk on a budget
Tourist bus and shared jeep; three days on foot
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Darjeeling long weekend from Kolkata
Overnight train, shared jeeps, toy train joy ride
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Lava by shared jeep
Shared jeeps, one short reserved car
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
North Sikkim on a budget, 5 nights
Seats on shared permit-tour vehicles
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Sikkim west by shared jeep, 6 nights
Shared jeeps and local taxis
Photo: Afifa Afrin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Bhutan by road from Siliguri, 6 nights
Shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon, then shared vehicle with licensed guide
Photo: Afifa Afrin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Bhutan saver with Phobjikha farmhouse, 7 nights
Shared jeep or bus to Jaigaon, then shared vehicle with licensed guide
Photo: Arunachal2007 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Ziro Apatani homestay on a budget
Shared Sumos, with a shared taxi day in the valley
Photo: Itrajib · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tawang circuit by shared Sumo
Shared Sumos, with one shared taxi day in Tawang
Once you are in the hive
A Saver day, hive by hive
Per person per day, indicative 2026: bed, food and local transport at Saver level. Trip prices add transfers, guides and permits.
| Hive | Per day | What that covers | Trips from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kashmir | ₹2,500–4,000 | Houseboat budget room, JKTDC hut or hostel bed, dhaba meals, shared Sumos and JKSRTC buses | ₹12,500 |
| Ladakh | ₹2,000–3,500 | Guesthouse or homestay with two meals, cafe lunch, buses and shared taxis, monastery fees | ₹23,500 |
| Himachal | ₹1,800–3,000 | hostel dorm or HPTDC/homestay double shared, dhaba meals, HRTC buses and shared taxis | ₹13,000 |
| Spiti & Lahaul | ₹2,000–3,500 | Homestay or hostel bed with two meals, HRTC buses and shared taxi seats, monastery donations | ₹19,500 |
| Garhwal | ₹1,800–3,000 | GMVN dorm or dharamshala bed, dhaba thalis, UTC/GMOU bus and shared jeep seats | ₹11,500 |
| Kumaon | ₹1,800–3,000 | Hostel bed or KMVN/guesthouse room shared, dhaba meals, KMOU buses and shared jeeps | ₹7,500 |
| Nepal | ₹2,000–3,500 | Hostel or simple guesthouse, dal bhat and momos, tourist buses and shared jeeps; teahouse treks ₹3,000–4,500 a day with guide share | ₹12,500 |
| Darjeeling & Kalimpong | ₹2,000–3,500 | Government lodge or homestay bed, local meals, shared jeeps between towns | ₹9,500 |
| Sikkim | ₹2,000–3,500 | Homestay or simple guesthouse room shared, local meals, shared jeeps and seats on shared permit tours | ₹15,000 |
| Bhutan | ₹4,500–6,500 | SDF ₹1,200, simple certified hotel on twin share, shared guide and vehicle, local meals | ₹34,500 |
| Arunachal | ₹2,500–4,000 | Homestay or simple lodge with dinner and breakfast, shared Sumo seats, local food, permit fees | ₹12,000 |
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Compare
The three tiers side by side
Shared jeeps, state buses, homestays and honest numbers
The affordable Himalaya. Shared jeeps and state buses, homestays and government tourist bungalows, local food. Simple, safe, and planned so the money goes to the valley.
Private car with driver, good hotels, the best homestays
A private car and a driver who knows the road, good three and four star hotels and the best homestays, with time built in for altitude and weather.
Comfort tripsThe best lodges in the range and a private guide
The best hotels and lodges each valley has, a private guide, and slow days. The Himalaya at its most comfortable.
Signature tripsThe affordable Himalaya: budgets, cheap months and bus routes