Cost Reality (Family Perspective)
- Big-ticket items are usually guided treks and multi-stop tours.
- Local meals can still be great value away from top tourist strips.
- Transfer-heavy routes look cheap on paper but add up fast.
Mistakes We Made
- Too many hard days in a row around altitude-sensitive locations.
- Underestimating recovery time after long overland transport.
- Accepting tight day-tour pacing that looked better in brochures than in reality.
What We Would Do Again
- Buffer days before major hikes.
- Mix one high-effort day with one light day.
- Keep kids involved by choosing one key highlight per location.