Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

Thousands of trekkers come to Nepal every year just to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest. The best and most popular option to witness Everest in all its glory is signing up for the Everest Base Camp trek. One of the most frequently asked questions is, ‘What is the cost of the Everest Base Camp trek?

Taking the trek of a lifetime to the Base Camp of Mount Everest (EBC), guarantees you get to experience the true natural beauty, ancient Sherpa culture and the incredible mountain views.

However, one thing that most people worry about and which you cannot be 100 percent sure of is the Everest Base Camp trek cost.

For the Everest Base Camp trek cost, it varies depending on the itinerary you plan, the type of adventure you want to do, and the amount you plan to spend on beverages, wifi, shopping etc.

Breakdown of Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

Cost of Transportation

Round trip Flights to Lukla in 2024 costs USD 432 per person. 

The best way to start the trek is to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. You can buy tickets online which cost USD 216 for one way, which means USD 432 in total including the return.

These flights allow maximum 10 kilos, which 10 kilos of luggage (check-in bag) and 5 kilos of daypack (carry-on bag). If you have extra baggage/luggage, you can keep them in your hotel in Kathmandu or ask your tour operator to store it for you.

Buses or SUV – USD 24 for bus and USD 36 for local share Jeep

One of the best way to save a big portion of the Everest Base Camp trek cost is skipping Lukla flight and by going from Kathmandu to Salleri over land. Salleri is 265 km away from Kathmandu. The ride is about 8 hours costing USD 16 per person for a local bus. Buses depart daily from Chabahil Chowk, Kathmandu.

You can also take a local shared SUV which costs around USD 25  per person. For private SUV, it costs about USD 175.

Cost of Accommodation- USD 120-150

On the trekking trails, the average cost for a bed per night per person is around USD 10 and USD 15 for a room with two beds.

Lobuche has a fixed accommodation rate that is USD 15. If you want to upgrade your stay up to Namche then Yeti Mountain Home is available too; cost of Yeti Mountain Home (changed their names now to Mountain Lodges of Nepal) is bit on higher end.

The rooms in the tea houses are very basic. They usually have two beds with a pillow, blanket, and shared toilet. If you are lucky, you may even get a nightstand.

All teahouses have a large dining hall where you can eat and relax with other Everest Base Camp trekkers. In the center of the room is a fireplace where you can keep yourself warm in such freezing temperature.

Cost of Food, Drinks, and Snacks- USD 425

The teahouses along your journey from Lukla to Everest Base Camp will have extensive menus to your surprise. However, you will notice that the higher you go, there will be lesser options and the more expensive things become.

The staple food you will find is Dal Bhat which is a carb-heavy meal that refuels your energy level for a full day’s trek. Also, you can expect to see dishes like momos, potatoes, sandwiches, pasta, etc.

You can even enjoy desserts like apple pie and cheesecakes. So on average, the total money you spend on food will be about USD 35 and expect USD 5 for some snacks.

As for water, it is no different too. Water cost starts at about  USD 1 for 1 liters, but it goes up to USD 4 as you reach Gorakshep.

You can, however, save around USD 70 by sterilizing the drinking water. And you can do this by using chlorine or purification tablets, LifeStraw or Steripen UV sterilizing device. If you use LifeStraw, make sure not to let your bottle freeze full of water as this can spoil the filter.

So if you are looking for the daily budget for the EBC trek of a 12-day trek, the cost for food, drinks, and snacks will be around USD 425.

Cost of Guide or Porter -USD 420 for Guide, USD 275 for Porter

Having a guide is very helpful. They speak the local language and usually know the owners of the tea houses. So you don’t have to worry about where you are going to stay.

And if you run into any sort of problem, they are always there to help you.

Having a guide also enriches your trekking experience as they inform you about various things you should know while on the trek. They help navigate the route, and will always alert you when there is danger ahead. The cost of the guide ranges from USD 35 to 40 per day.

Guide is your best friend on this high altitude adventure and we strongly advise every one of you to hire an experience guided on your journey even though you have to add more to your total Everest Base Camp Trek cost.

And if you cannot carry your own bag, hiring a porter is always a good decision. As you walk higher, with the increase in altitude, the trekking becomes more difficult.

At that moment, having a porter allows you to walk freely which in itself is a huge relief.

Hiring a porter costs USD 25. The porter can carry up to 20 kg of luggage. The price of the guide and porter is generally agreed upon beforehand.

Other than getting their support, you are also helping local economy by hiring guide and porter.

Cost of Nepal Visa- USD 50

Except for Indian citizens, nationals from all other countries need a visa to enter Nepal. And you can buy the Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport and pay at the given rates:

• 15 days multiple entry Nepal visa: USD 30
• 1-month multiple entry Nepal visa: USD 50
• 3-month multiple entry Nepal visa: USD 125

The safest way is to purchase a 1-month visa as most Everest Base Camp trek is around 16 days. So one-month visa covers all, even in case of any unplanned delays or flight cancellations, etc.

Doing so also allows you time to explore other areas of Nepal such as Pokhara and spend some days in Kathmandu.

Cost of Trekking Permits- USD 70

You will need to purchase three permits to complete the Everest Base Camp trek. The first one is the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality

Entrance Permit, another is TIMS card and the third one is the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit.

The local government of Khumbu directly collects NPR 2000 (around 20 USD) per person for each foreigner. You cannot obtain this entry permit from Kathmandu.

If you are flying to Lukla, you can get this in Lukla. And if you trekking from Jiri to Salleri you can get it from Monjo.

The National Park entry permit costs about USD 30 (including 13% Government tax) and these are available in Kathmandu or Monjo. These costs, however, include in your tour operator price and they will arrange and purchase it for you.

Cost of the TIMS card is NPR 2000 (about 20 USD).  You can obtain this permit from office of Tourism Board or Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal; both based in Kathmandu.

If you are trekking independently, you need to secure these permits yourself. But, if you are booking organized trek through tour operator then you don’t have to worry about it.

Cost of Travel Insurance- USD 150

The 30 days insurance policy costs around USD 150.

Having travel insurance is by far the most important thing while organizing your Everest Base Camp trek. So make sure that you arrange this in advance.

While purchasing your travel insurance, make sure that your policy includes high altitude coverage. This is very important as there are many cases where many people had to be evacuated by a helicopter.

But their policies didn’t cover anything that took place over a certain altitude.

So one can imagine, how much the cost of an air evacuation will be as it will certainly not be cheap.

So make sure to get a policy that covers various events like canceled flights, lost baggage, medical expenses and an emergency evacuation that occurs below 6000 meters.

Cost of Trekking Equipment- USD 300 to 500

You will need various equipment while trekking to Everest. Some of the equipment are a high-quality boot, sleeping bag, thermal clothing, a warm waterproof jacket, trekking poles, and warm gloves among many others.

Take a look at a full list of the equipment you will need for trekking to Everest. You may already own some of them which can help you save a few hundred dollars.

We highly recommend using a good quality hiking boot and comfortable clothing that will keep you warm in the high altitudes.

There is nothing worse than being cold and uncomfortable during the start of the trek itself. So make sure that you have trusted equipment for the EBC trek.

You can rent few items like sleeping bag, down jacket or purchase almost everything that you need for the trek in Kathmandu.

Miscellaneous Costs

Carrying some extra cash always comes in handy for various unexpected expenses. All the tea houses will charge for WI-FI, charging your devices, hot showers, toilet paper, etc.

So it would be appropriate to carry extra cash to cover these expenses.

Moreover, tipping guides and tour staff is customary in Nepal. Doing so will brighten up their day. Although it is not mandatory, we suggest you give them some extra amount to make them happy after their long hardship.

Packaged Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

For a standard Everest Base Camp trek 2024/2025, the overall cost of the trek can be anything from USD 1445 to USD 2395 excluding the international flights. For example this 11-day Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return costs USD 2395 per person.

Everest Base Camp Trek Cost includes airport transfers, Kathmandu hotel, domestic flight, food, accommodation, guide and porter, permit etc but exclude tips for the guide/porter and other personal expenses like beverages, wifi etc.

Cost Saving Tips for Everest Base Camp Trek

If you prepare and plan well in advance, you can save a few dollars along the way. Here are a few cost saving tips while undertaking Everest Base Camp Trek:

• Best time to trek Everest Base Camp is spring and Autumn, choose off-season instead of these peak season. Flights, accommodation, and some facilities are negotiable during the off-season.
• Take a bus or SUV instead of flights – but only if you have more time.
• You can rent some equipment instead of buying. There are many rental shops in Kathmandu, particularly in Thamel area.
• Take extra batteries and power bank to save on the cost of charging your gadgets
• Carry some medicines with you that might come in handy such as for headache, stomach ache etc.
• Carry tissue papers and snacks as this gets expensive the higher you go up
• Instead of buying bottled water which can get quite expensive, take water sterilizer or treatment pills.
• Avoid consuming alcohol. Not only are they expensive, but they can also cause dehydration resulting altitude sickness.

Conclusion

Trekking in Nepal is budget-friendly compared to other foreign countries.

The Everest Base Camp trek cost can vary depending on which itinerary you choose and the type of trekking you want.

For further questions or queries, please feel free to contact us.

It is our pleasure to help in planning the Everest Base Camp trek cost for you and making sure it is successful.

Madhav Prasad

Madhav started working as a porter in 2001 and then moved on to work as a trekking guide. After working in the trekking and tourism industry for eight years, he co-founded Mosaic Adventure in 2009.

Madhav has trekked to most of the trekking destinations in Nepal, including Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Poon Hill Trek, Jomsom Muktinath Trek, Indigenous Peoples Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, and all of the day hikes around Kathmandu.

He has also extensively traveled to other countries such as Australia, the USA, the UK, France, Hong Kong, Japan, China, the Philippines, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Thailand, Turkey, and India. Madhav is the one who answers most of your questions about trekking and tours and helps to plan your trip by giving a personal touch.