Everest Base Camp Trek - 12 Days

Trip Overview

Everest Base Camp Trek is a premium trekking destination in the world and the most desired dream hiking goal among trekkers. Our cautiously designed 17-day itinerary allows you for a proper acclimatization process to get a real close-up to see Sagarmatha, literally meaning “The Head of Earth or Sea," internationally known as Mount Everest. To reach this part of the Himalaya Base Camp within a short period of time, we have devised this short trekking tour itinerary to hike to Everest Base Camp, which runs directly, starts, and ends in Lukla. The trek to Everest Base Camp, also called the EBC trek in short form, a very world-famous mountain trek, starts after a 35-minute picturesque flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. We follow the Dudh Kosi River valley, which climbs up to the Sherpa capital of Namche, a busy market that is a junction for all the trekkers, the local Sherpas, and expeditions en route to the mighty Mt. Everest. All along this part of the trail, villages are interspersed with magnificent forests of rhododendron, magnolia, and giant firs. In both the early autumn and late spring, the flowers on this portion of the trek make it the kind of walk you will remember for a long, long time.

From Namche, we trek along a high traversing path where we have our first good views of Everest and then head towards Tengboche Monastery, which is a 2-hour climb away. The monastery stands at a height of 3870 m in a clearing surrounded by dwarf firs and rhododendrons where the Mani Rimdu Festival is held on the October/November full moon day. The monastery is structurally located on a ridge top with commanding views of the Everest landscape. The view from this spot, seen to best advantage in the morning, is absolutely mesmerizing and stunning and is rightly deemed to be one of the most magnificent in the world. We also have the opportunity to trek to Kala Patthar (5,554 m), from where we can get some awesome views of the Himalayan giants, which literally numb your senses with breathless admiration that beholds the eye and makes up for the lung-bursting climb that took you up there. You soon realize it was absolutely worth it. This also includes fantastic views of the southwest face of the colossal Mt. Everest. We then trek down to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the Khumbu ice fall before finally making our way back down to Lukla. We have an open booking for the Everest Base Camp trek package at a very competitive price for the 2026 and 2027 spring and fall seasons.

How to go on the Everest Base Camp Trek?

Generally most of the trekkers start their trek from Lukla and end at Lukla. You need to take a flight that takes 30 – 35 minutes from Kathmandu (flight price is USD 216 per flight per person). Several airlines operate their flights to Lukla daily. Early morning flights are the best flights considering delays and cancellations due to bad weather, fog, and wind, so a Lukla flight is stressful. Online-sold tickets are usually economical, and scheduled to fly after 9am is likely to get delayed. To secure a reliable early flight, we need to book the ticket at least three months in advance. 

What is the baggage allowance on a Lukla flight?

The free baggage allowance is 10 kg per person. Hand luggage is 5 to 6 kg allowed. Excess baggage is charged at the rate of USD 1 per kg.

There is no option other than a flight? Yes, there are alternative ways.

Before Lukla Airport came into existence, all the Everest treks used to start from Jiri, and now they start from Shivalaya, or even a jeep goes to Bhandar. See our traditional Everest Base Camp trek from Jiri. Starting the Everest Base Camp trek from Jiri needs an extra week, and the best is you can fly back to Kathmandu after the trek.

Secondly, now there is proper road access to Salleri from Kathmandu that takes 10 to 11 hours. From Salleri, there is a gravel road to Surke that takes approximately 5 to 6 hours and is only 4WD possible. Check out our Everest Base Camp Trek by Road without a Lukla flight. And well, you do not need to go to Lukla, but the trail detours at Chiplung and meet the people trekking from Lukla. Also, there is a daily flight to Phaplu from Kathmandu; see our Salleri /Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek. And the Lukla flights from the Kathmandu route are changed from Manthali Airport in the Ramechhap district in peak seasons.

Accommodation or Lodges in Everest Base Camp Trekking Route

The entire Everest trek is a lodge-to-lodge trek; that means there are lodges every hour's walking distance, so you do not need any camping gear unless you are going to climb a peak or trek off to the wilderness. The number of lodges is increasing as mountain tourism is growing high. There is good and poor accommodation on the Everest Base Camp trekking route, so you have many choices. Some hotels and lodges are said to be luxurious. 

How much would it cost a night?

Sleeping in normal trekking lodges will cost USD 7 to 10 a night depending on your selection of lodge. Some hotels and lodges are very standard. E.g., Namche Lodge costs USD 25 to 35 a night; Sherpa Shangri or similar costs USD 45-50 a night at Namche Bazaar. Yeti Mountain Home and Everest Summit Lodge cost USD 160 to 200 as per group size and season. You have less choice, and all the lodges are similar as you go high beyond Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. Most of the lodges have twin-sharing bedrooms; couple bedrooms are possible in the lower place only. The price goes high as you walk higher. Please do not expect luxury but something comfortable enough for remote and adventure-keen people. 

A single and solo trekker may have to share the room with other travelers in peak season, as there is limited accommodation. We use the normal mid-range nice and cozy lodges on offer to make sure you have the most comfortable experience on your trip to Everest Base Camp that we can offer in our budget package. Dollar-paying accommodations are not included in our package, but we are flexible if you would like to update it as a tailor-made trip. 

Guide and Porter Hire Costs.

While many of the well-established trekking routes in Nepal do not have strict requirements for hiring certified guides yet, in all the controlled and restricted trekking areas in Nepal, it is mandatory that foreign trekkers be accompanied by a registered guide as per state rule. Whereas hiring a porter is your choice. The cost of an Everest trek guide is USD 30 to 35 a day depending on the quality and experience of the guide, season, difficulty, and areas of the trek. Hiring a porter will cost USD20 to 25 a day. The cost includes their fee and other expenses. Some companies also offer fresh guides and they can act as a guide cum porter (GcP); he carries some 10 to 13 kg for you and simply guides you. Just hiring a guide and porter for the Everest Base Camp trek.

You are highly advised to take an experienced certified guide, as the Everest trek is adventurous considering high altitude sickness and safety concerns; if something goes wrong, you really need a good guide with all the technical knowledge for safety that he can handle critical situations. The training and experience of a licensed guide can make your trekking more fun and amusing. 

How much does it cost for meals on the Everest Base Camp trek? 

A common question would be how much money to take on the Everest Base Camp Trek or financial preparation to consider. As we mentioned earlier, Everest Base Camp is a remote and rural area; all the goods are carried by human muscles, yaks, and chartered planes, which causes things to be expensive. As the elevation increases, the price of food increases and the menu choices decrease as it gets harder to transport more goods to remote places. The cost of each meal is approximately NPR 400 to 1000 per meal, but it might vary according to your choice of food, the number of meals, and appetite. Approximately USD 20 - 30 should be enough for a day's simple meals and tea/coffee. You will like each bite and every sip after a hard day’s trek and the tough work of the men and yaks obligatorily carrying them to such elevations. Every single piece of food feels worth every penny for the relief and joy.

Drinks Cost

Bottle of beer:  NPR 5000 – 800 (USD 4.5 – 8)
Bottle of water/soda: NPR 100 –  400 (USD 0.5 – USD 4)

Everest Base Camp Trek Permit

Sagarmatha National Park entrance fee: NPR 3000.00 (USD 30) per head
Pasang Lhamu Village Municipality entrance fee: NPR 2000 per head
Children under 10 years of age are free of cost for permits. Detailed information on Nepal trekking permit.

Cost for other extra expenses. 

As the altitude rises, everything becomes more expensive due to the effort and cost of transporting goods there. It is the same for all high-elevation treks to the mountains in Nepal. Here is a list of things you might want to indulge in during the trek and their prices.

Charging Devices

You will need to charge your electronic devices like camera, phones, iPods, and others as you spent days in the mountains. The cost is usually a few dollars, but in the long run it will cost you more to charge many things. The cost is higher to support the local hydropower stations, and there is no electricity everywhere but solar power. If you want to avoid this cost, you might want to carry a solar-powered battery charger or a portable power bank of your own. This ensures that you get to enjoy the beautiful sceneries and fun experiences and share them with the world all the time. And you should know the battery—how long does it last after charging till the next one? 

Hot Shower

Each day of the trek is an exhausting experience, and you may want to take a hot shower and get fresh all the time. However, in the higher places, showers or baths are not possible due to the cold and the cost. While some lodges might have proper bathrooms, others provide only pails of water for your bath. These will cost you a few dollars every time, but they will not feel like a proper bath. Instead, it is a good idea to carry wet wipes and a small towel to freshen up in the morning as well as before bed.

Tips and donations

Like other parts of the world, tipping is quite common in Nepal's service industry. If you like the hospitality of the hosts you visit, you might want to tip them. Usually your guide and porter are supposed to get tips and gratitude. It is usually a good idea to tip your guide and porters for their hard work if they make your trip fun, safe, and enjoyable. How much and how to tip your Sherpa? Various places in the high altitudes, like the monasteries, stupas, and schools, will expect some form of a donation from the tourists for the improvement of their infrastructures. You might want to keep aside a few dollars if you feel like contributing to such good causes.
Trekking to the mountains of Nepal is one of the most adventurous trips you could ever enjoy. As you take in the majestic beauty of the mountains and green landscape, the warm welcome of the friendly people and the thrills of the trails, you will get an experience worth every penny you spend. However, it is a good idea to avoid being overcharged for things that you get for reasonable prices.

How much does it cost for the inclusive package? 

The sum you pay for the same trek depends on the travel agency you decide to go with. If you choose an international agency or company based in your hometown, they may charge you around USD 1800 to 2000 per person, while we are a local company; our full board package cost is USD 1299 per person on a double occupancy basis for the same. Some agencies charge for their brands and the safety and convenience; local companies provide equally satisfying services. It is your choice to pick the agency according to your budget and travel plans, though booking through a local agency is your direct contribution supporting locals. The Everest Base Camp trek is an amusing and fun, challenging trek, so you should be ready to face a tough walk on the mountain trail and minimal services. Book now for fixed departure group joining in 2026 and 2027