Here’s how much it costs to go backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh

A detailed budget guide, illustrating how much it costs to backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh, India. This guide will give you a breakdown of expected costs for the budget backpacker.

Arunachal Pradesh is India’s least touristed state, so up-to-date information is hard enough to find. Add to that the fact that most tourists visiting Arunachal go as part of a tour (expensive!) and things get even more tricky. How to figure out your budget for backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh?

Don’t despair. We tracked our expenses for the 26 days we were there, to save you the headache of having to do endless research and calculations. Read on for our budget guide to backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh, and don’t forget to check out our detailed travel guide on the state, either.

Here’s how much it costs to go backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh

Exchange rate used for this trip: $1 = 65 Rs and €1 = 70 Rs

Total spent backpacking in Arunachal Pradesh for 26 days

• For two people: 57,375 Rs/ €820/ $883
• Per person: 28,688  Rs / €410 / $442

Average cost per person

• Total per day: 1,103 Rs / €15.75 / $17
• Food and drinks per day: 200 – 400 Rs / €2.90 – 5.70 / $3.10 – 6.15
• Accommodation per day: 700- 1,200 Rs / €10 – 17.15 / $10.80 – 18.50
• Long distance sumo ride: 500 – 750 Rs / €7.15 – 10.70 / $7.70 – 11.55

Average cost per day by city

Averages are for one person, including transportation to the city.

• Tawang: 848 Rs / €12.10 / $13.05
  • We recommend the Arunachal Pradesh Tourist Lodge – 600 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Bomdila: 1,079 Rs / €15.40 / $16.60
  • We stayed at Panchieng Hotel – 800 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Itanagar: 1,690 Rs / €24.15 / $26
  • We  stayed at Blue Pine Hotel – 1,320 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Ziro: 1,260 Rs / €18 / $19.40
  • We stayed at Blue Pine Hotel in New Ziro – 1,320 Rs for a double with attached bathrooms. There are home-stays available in the village via Ngunu Ziro for 1,000 Rs a person including breakfast, but these were fully booked when we were there.
• Daporijo: 1,237 Rs / €17.70 / $19
  • We recommend Singhi Hotel – 1,700 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Along (Aalo): 1,196 Rs / €17.10 / $18.40
  • We stayed at Hotel Toshi Palace – 700 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Mechuka: 773 Rs / €11.05 / $11.90
  • We recommend Potala Homestay – 800 Rs for a double with attached bathroom
• Pasighat: 1,093 Rs / €15.60/ $16.80
  • We stayed at Hotel London – 700 Rs for a double with attached bathroom

Note: Solo travelers will probably end up spending more than the above mentioned. Accommodation is often only marginally cheaper for one person. Try to find someone to split the cost with before you head to Arunachal Pradesh.

Know before you go

• All foreigners require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) before visiting Arunachal Pradesh. These can be obtained for 3,500 Rs per person from several Arunachal government outposts. We got ours in Guwahati, but we includes the prices in our calculations below.
• Indians require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Arunachal. ILPs are 100 Rs if you apply online.
• There are only a few places foreign tourists are allowed to visit in the state.
• Unless you’re visiting national parks, sights, such as monasteries, are free of charge.
• Arunachal’s biggest draw is its natural beauty. Walking around is free!
• Due to a lack of decent infrastructure in the state, journeys between places take up time and are uncomfortable. Prepare yourself for bumpy rides while squeezed in the back of a Sumo (Indian version of a Jeep).
• Sumos are much more expensive than other transportation in India. Be prepared to pay several hundred rupees per journey.

Our travel style

• We aim to always walk or take public transport… unless there is none.
• Usually eat cheap meals or fast food, which means a lot of noodles and momos (Tibetan dumplings) in Arunachal.
• We sleep in the cheapest accommodation we can find that isn’t smelly or filled with cockroaches.
• When we visit nature, we just pick a direction and start walking. We didn’t visit any national parks while in Arunachal Pradesh.
• We didn’t hire any guides to take us to villages. If you want to get a better insight into tribal life, or go on long treks, getting a local guide is very useful.

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