Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek Introduction

Everest base camp trek is one of the world’s great iconic hikes, following the path of legendary mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. If you are a trekking enthusiast; it must be on your bucket list. Wilderness Excursion’s 12-Day Everest Base Camp trek with a carefully designed itinerary authentically follows in the footsteps of these famous mountain climbers and allows plenty of time to acclimatize appropriately and enjoy the views of the Himalayas.

Where does the Everest Base Camp trek start?

The trip starts with two overnight stays in the magical city of Kathmandu, which is known as “the city of the temple.” Increasing numbers of tourists, retain it eastern, mystical charm. If you have the energy after your flight, make sure to check out some of the best sites, including the temple at Swayambhunath, for magnificent views over the Kathmandu valley, and to Boudhanath, the magnificent Boudhanth stupa with all the seeing eyes, which symbolize “combination compassion and wisdom” according to Buddhist perspective. Our journey starts with the rollercoaster flight into Lukla. Make sure you sit on the left for your first great views of the chain of the Himalayas. The landing at Lukla can be a white-knuckle affair but the pilots are incredibly skilled at dropping the plane down onto a short, steep runway.

Once safely landing at Lukla; a bustling mountain town situated at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level, you will meet with your porters and after a final check, you will start your trek. On this lower part of the trek, you will be walking through a series of prayer walls, manis, and Sherpa villages with well-cultivated fields in a remarkably fertile area. If you are hiking in mid-spring, you will also see the most dazzling displays of native rhododendrons.

trail is generally downhill for the first day, although as the guides will explain Nepali flat means a whole lot of little ups and downs that don't gain you any overall height.  Day two is completely different as nearly all the day is spent crisscrossing the valley on overwire bridges spanning the Dudh Koshi River.

And all the time you are climbing steeply up to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Khumbu region. Namche is a surprisingly large town where you can even find authentic Illy coffee and a great chocolate brownie. Fill up here this is as good as it gets! From Namche, you drop down and climb back up again to reach Tengboche with its incredible monastery set against the backdrop of Ama Dablam, Everest, and Lhotse. The next stop is Pheriche and then after a few more days you arrive in Gorak Shep the last stop before Everest Base Camp.

 Everest from Kala Pattar Gorak Shep is an unattractive town as by this time you are well into the glacial zone and vegetation is sparse to non-existent. The star of the show here though is the trek to the top of Kala Pattar (5545m) immediately behind the village where you can get breath-taking views of Everest, the highest mountain on Earth.

From Gorak Shep, you make your way up to base camp itself. This is a fairly flat hike over very rough and rocky terrain before you arrive at the entry to base camp itself where you will have time to rest, take pictures, and soak up the views.  You will then descend to Dingboche and over the next three days retrace your steps to Lukla where you can relax and celebrate with an ice-cold beer.

When is the best time to trek to Everest base camp? 

There are two trekking seasons in Nepal. For Everest base camp, the Spring season which is from March to late May, and Autumn from September to the end of November is the best season to trek. The summer months are very wet with the monsoon and winter is cold. For a more detailed explanation of the weather in the Everest region and other factors that you should consider before deciding when to trek see the Best time to hike in the Everest region. A summary of the weather conditions is below.

March to May
As Nepal moves out of its winter the weather starts to get warmer and showers are generally brief and infrequent. The early months are very quiet on the trails, the latter months less so, but still not as busy as in the Autumn. April and May a fascinating times to visit Base Camp as this is when all the Everest climbers are in residence

June to August
With the arrival of the monsoon, temperatures rise, humidity goes through the roof and daily downpours in the afternoon are the norm. Unless you particularly like being wet this is a bad time to be in the Everest region but the Annapurna region remains dry.

September to November
The busiest trekking season in Nepal starts in September and lasts into the early days of December when temperatures fall away rapidly. Warm, dry days and clear, chillier nights become the established pattern and rain showers are brief and light.

December to January
As the days get shorter the temperatures drop dramatically and with increased precipitation, there are regular snowfalls which make for beautiful mountains but difficult trails. Trekking at this time of year can be exciting but only with the best of warm weather gear. We also have a guided trek to Everest Base Camp in winter. Check our video of the Everest Base Camp winter trek.  

Everest Base Camp Trek – How much does it cost? 

Here is information below for your financial consideration about Everest Base Camp Trek for the year 2025 in various topics.

What is the accommodation and cost of the Everest Base Camp Trek? 

Everest Base Camp is very popular as a lodge-to-lodge trek. There are even chains of luxury lodges available in many places and locations. Everest Summit Lodgeand Yeti Mountain Home costs USD 160 – 200 per night on a double occupancy basis. If you are staying in simple trekking lodges you get to indulge in the local culture, traditional houses, and lives of the welcoming Sherpa people who make the trip more enjoyable. The cost of a room on a sharing basis usually ranges from NPR 800 – 1200 (USD 8 – 12) for 2 pax in simple lodges. En suite rooms in moderate lodges may cost some USD 15-25 a night on a twin/double sharing basis depending on the quality and your selections. The price goes high as you walk higher. There are no en-suite accommodations at Dingboche, Pheriche, Lobuche, and Goraksep on the Everest Base Camp trek route as of our recent last treks.

How much will the guide and porter cost if you hire them privately? 

Hiring a guide for the Everest Base Camp trek will cost US$ 30 to 45 a day depending on the quality, level of education, experience of the guide, and season. Hiring a porter will cost US$ 20 to 25 a day. The cost covers wages, accommodation, and food for the guide and porter. Some companies also offer fresh guides and they can act as Guide cum Porter (PcG) he carries some 10-13kg for you and simply guides you. We recommend you take an experienced licensed guide as the Everest Base Camp trek is an adventurous and high-elevation area, if something goes wrong; you need a good guide with all the technical knowledge for safety so that your guide can handle crisis or critical situations. The training and experience of a licensed professional guide can make your trekking more fun and enjoyable. Hiring a Kathmandu-based guide requires his/her transportation fare that costs around US$ 120 for a Lukla round flight. We have our official guides at Lukla in peak seasons, and no need to pay for his flight to Lukla but only a flight back to Kathmandu.

What means of transportation is used for Everest Base Camp Trek? 

Most people start the Everest Base Camp trek from Lukla; a busy small mountain town that offers guest houses, restaurants, shops, groceries, bars, and local bhatties (local teashops and bars). Several domestic flights run to Lukla from Kathmandu that cost USD 215 per flight per person. One can start the trek from Jiri you need an extra week walking up to Lukla and continue to Base Camp (See our Classic Tenzing Hillary Everest Base Camp Trekking Route from Jiri). Also now one can start the trek from Salleri or Phaplu. Local jeep/buses are available to Salleri from Kathmandu which takes 10 to 12 hours drive. Lukla is 3 days walk from Salleri. Also, there are flights available to Phaplu from Kathmandu. See our Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek route)

How much does it cost for meals?

Everest Base camp route is a remote and rural area All the goods are carried by mules, and human muscles from Jiri that take 10 to 14 days and are supplied by charter planes, which makes it so 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 400–900 per meal but it might differ according to your selection of food. Approximately, it will cost USD 20–35, which should be enough for a day for simple meals and tea/ coffee, though it depends on your appetite and the number of meals you order. In every lodge, you are expected to eat in the same place where you sleep. You will enjoy every bite, every sip after a hard day’s trek, and the hard work of the men and mules required to carry them to such elevations. Every single piece of food feels worth every penny for the relief and joy. 

Drinks Cost

Bottle of water/soda/coke/fanta/sprite: Rs. 200 to 400 (US$ 2 to US$ 4)
Bottle of beer:  NPR 600 – 800 (US$ 6–8)

Everest Base Camp Permit

You just need the Sagarmatha National Park entrance fee, which costs NPR 3000 (USD 30) per person, and the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance ticket price of Rs. 2000 (USD 20) per person.

Cost for other extra expenses.

As you go higher, all things become costly due to the effort and cost of transporting them there.  It is the same for all high-elevation treks to the mountains in Nepal.

Charging Devices

You will be required to charge your camera, phones, and others as you spend days there. 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 reduce this cost, you might want to carry a solar-powered battery charger or a portable power bank of your own to make sure that you get to have fun in the beautiful scenery and share it with the world all the time. It will cost some USD 1-2 per full charge.

Hot Shower

Every day of the trek is a draining experience and you may want to take a hot shower to get fresh. However, in the higher places, showers or baths are not possible due to the cold and the cost. A gas geyser shower is available in most of the hotels and lodges, which will cost USD 3–4 per shower. You are advised not to spend a long time in the gas geyser shower room, as it can be fatal for your health.

Tips and donations

You may like to tip the services of the places you visit or the people you meet on the trails, It is usually a good idea to tip your guides and porters for their hard work at the end of the trek at Lukla or in Kathmandu if they make your trip amusing, safe, and enjoyable. Various places in the high altitudes, like monasteries, stupas, and schools, will expect some form of help from tourists to improve their infrastructure. You might want to save a few dollars to contribute to such good causes. Hiking to the mountains of Nepal is one of the most adventurous trips you could ever enjoy. As you take in the magnificent beauty of the mountains and landscape, the warm welcome of the locals, and the thrills of the track, you will get an experience worth every penny you spend. You may be confused about how much to tip your guide or Sherpa. Here is an article that helps you with tipping in Nepal

How much does it cost for the inclusive package?

The amount you pay for the same trek depends on your choice of travel agency. If you choose an international agency, they may charge you around USD 2300 to 2500 per person whilst as we are a local company; our full board package cost is USD 1299 per person on a double occupancy basis for the years 2024 and 2025. Some agencies charge for their brand safety and convenience, and local companies provide equally satisfying services. It is your choice to pick the agency according to your budget and travel plans; however, booking with a local organization is your direct contribution to supporting locals in Nepal.

Everest Base Camp Trek is a great fun, demanding, and remote hike, so you need to be ready to face hiking challenges. As the services (accommodation, food, guides, and porters) are the same as you go up, it does not make much sense to pay more for the same services. Do the research and make an informed decision so you get to enjoy the beauty, tranquility, and unexplored treasures of the region without hurting your pocket.