Everest Base Camp Trek

Sir Ranulph Fiennes once said, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” With that in mind, the autumn (mid-September to early December) and spring (March till mid-June) seasons are considered the best time for the Everest Base Camp trek and any other treks in Nepal. These seasons offer mild temperatures, good weather, clear mountain views, and a crisp surrounding that attracts many trekkers.

However, if you cannot trek during these seasons, you can still join the trek during off-seasons. Summer/monsoon (mid-June onward till mid-September) and winter (mid-December to the end of February) are the off-trekking seasons. These months may have more hostile weather and lower temperatures than during peak months.

If you are planning to trek during winter, you must be prepared to face the cold, with temperatures dropping to minus degrees; about minus 20 or even below that. If you plan to trek during summer, you must be equipped with proper rain gear.

Trekking to Everest Base Camp means walking inside the Sagarmatha National Park in the Khumbu region. Therefore, to walk through the region, you need to obtain two different permits currently. They are the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit (USD 20 per person) and the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit (USD 30 per person).

When you book one of our EBC tours, these permits are included and arranged by us, so you do not have to worry about them.
When you book one of our EBC tour, these permits are included and arranged by us so you don’t have to worry about it.

The total cost of the Everest Base Camp trek is USD 1330 per person. This amount covers the cost of your food, accommodation, the guide and porter charges, permit costs, transportation costs, flights, etc. To learn more about the cost, please click on the “Inclusion/Exclusion” tab.

The Everest Base Camp trek is considered a relatively strenuous trekking route in Nepal. However, it does not require any previous trekking or mountaineering experience.

You are attempting to reach the base camp, not the summit itself, so technical experience is not required. You only need to be in good physical condition and able to walk for four to six hours per day over hilly terrain with a light backpack.

If you are not an experienced trekker or do not exercise regularly, we recommend embarking on a training program well in advance of commencing this trip. You will have plenty of time to rest throughout the trek, and the pace will be slow to help you acclimatize safely to the increasing elevation.

In Kathmandu, your accommodation will usually include an attached bathroom and facilities such as air conditioning, reception, and dining services. The level of accommodation is Nepalese 3-star and is comfortable and clean. If you require an upgrade of accommodation in Kathmandu, there are many 4-star and 5-star options available at an extra cost. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require an upgrade.

Once you start your trek, you will be staying in “Teahouses.” You will be sharing a twin room at these teahouses. The bed mattresses are usually firm and not sprung mattresses that you may be used to at home.

The accommodation is very basic, and there will usually be shared shower and toilet facilities. There is a communal dining hall in all teahouses offering limited meal choices. Although basic, the teahouses are clean and provide a welcoming, friendly, and warm resting place after a day of trekking.

We organize both fixed and customized tours. Fixed tours are operated on a group-joining basis, with dates available under the ‘Dates/Availability’ tab. We also operate tailor-made itineraries for the trek. For those trekkers wanting to do short and longer treks, we have different itineraries, such as a 12-day EBC trek, 20-day EBC and Gokyo Lake trek, Everest Panorama trek, Everest Base Camp Helicopter trek, and so on.

These are customizable itineraries that you can modify depending on your convenience. You can lengthen or reduce the number of trekking days from these itineraries. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in booking a customized trek to EBC.

You will find many tea houses on the trail that offer a wide variety of food and drinks. From typical Nepali dishes to continental dishes, you can find all types of food and drinks on the trekking trail. You can enjoy popular Nepali dish – Dal Bhat with seasoned vegetables and pickles. Additionally, you can enjoy pizza, momo, noodles, macaroni, sizzler, sandwich, burger, and more. You can also enjoy different types of coffee, fruit juice, and alcoholic drinks. However, since this is a high altitude trek, it’s important to maintain body hydration, so it’s a good idea to avoid alcoholic drinks.

We ask that all our customers bring water purification tablets and a water bottle with them. (They can be bought in Kathmandu if forgotten.) Mosaic Adventure supports responsible tourism, so we do not encourage trekkers to buy bottled water in the Himalayan region. Although it is available, there is no proper disposal system for plastic bottles, and we would like to keep our mountains clean and trash-free.

There will be plenty of water available along the way to fill your bottles, and most brands of purification tablets take just 30 minutes before you can drink your water. You can carry a water bottle of about 1.5 liters and fill it as you go; there’s no need to carry water for the whole day. We recommend that you drink a minimum of 3 to 4 liters of water per day while on your trek.

Showers are available at the teahouses, usually in shared bathrooms, especially as you go higher up. You will have to pay for a hot water shower per person. The higher you go, the colder it gets, and you may find that you do not want to shower as often. You can wait just a few days until your descent. If you do not want to take a shower, you can use wet wipes to clean your body. You may not find them during the trek, or if you find any, they may cost more. So it’s a good idea to buy them in Kathmandu.

Walking poles are not compulsory but can be useful, especially on the way down. Poles help you balance on the way down and take the strain off your legs (quad muscles) on some of the steep climbs. You can buy poles in Kathmandu, and they easily collapse, so you can attach them to your backpack when they are not needed.

There are plenty of trekking shops in Kathmandu selling equipment inexpensively compared to the prices you would normally pay at home. However, the quality of these products cannot always be guaranteed.

If you do not want to take the risk, we recommend that you buy major items, such as trekking shoes, before you arrive in Nepal. It is also recommended that you buy your shoes well in advance of your trek so you can “break them in” and avoid blisters during your trip.

If you want to manage the trek cost, you can even rent some gear after paying a deposit amount.

Or, if you happen to forget some gear in Kathmandu, you can buy them at Namche Bazaar as well.

Yes, you can recharge your electronic devices in the teahouses. Please remember that the plugs might be different than those at home, so don’t forget to bring adapters with you or buy them in Kathmandu before the trip. You will have to pay for the use of electricity to recharge your electrical items, usually at a cost of $3-5 US per hour.

The local currency in Nepal is Nepali Rupees. We recommend that you bring US dollars or other widely accepted currencies like Euros, GBP, etc. to Nepal and exchange them here as it is easily done and widely accepted. Make sure to exchange them to NPR before heading out on the trek as teahouses might not accept other currencies. Also, you will not find ATMs in places higher than Namche Bazaar on the trek. Even those available at Namche or Lukla might not work all the time. So it is wise to carry enough NPR cash on hand.

The amount of money you will need on a daily basis depends on your spending habits. A guide would be $15 per day for extra drinks and the bar bill during your trek and $20 per day to cover lunch/dinner while in Kathmandu.

You will need to carry a reasonably sized daypack, big enough to carry personal items, water, camera, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, a fleece jacket, and gloves for higher altitudes.

For the trek to Everest Base Camp, the most important things you should carry in your daypack are personal items that you need for the day.

Do not forget to pack enough snacks and a water bottle. Also, include lip balms, moisturizers, sanitizers, and sunscreen.

While you carry the light pack, your porters will carry the bigger packs with your clothes, etc. They will carry packs up to 20 kilos (10 kilos of each participant).

Please note that on a flight to Lukla, the weight limit is 15 kilos – 10 kilos for check-in and 5 kilos for carry-on, and the weight is combined. So your check-in and carry-on bag should not exceed 15 kilos in total. If you have any items that you don’t need on the trek, they can be stored in the hotel in Kathmandu without any additional cost.

It depends on the nature of the sickness. Usually, if you become sick, you will descend to a lower altitude with the help and support of the guide or porter. If you are seriously ill, we will arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation service. You should purchase travel insurance to cover such expenses.

Our guide will take immediate action according to the situation. Please make sure you arrange travel insurance that covers you for a medical evacuation service and trekking at high altitudes.

Do not take altitude sickness lightly. It can be fatal! Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness before your trek. Do not ignore even the mildest of symptoms, and inform your guide immediately.

Our guides carry basic medicine and first aid equipment, including simple painkillers, altitude sickness tablets, bandages, balm for muscle ache, and medication to treat diarrhea and vomiting.

Our experienced guides will walk with you throughout the trek. If anything happens to you, they will take care of you. If, by any chance, you fall sick, there are health posts in Lukla, Namche Bazaar, and Pheriche where you can get medical services.

As you ascend to higher altitudes, you may be prone to altitude sickness. Some common symptoms include sleeplessness, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, it may be an indication of altitude sickness.

These are minor symptoms of altitude sickness. If you continue to ascend to higher altitudes despite experiencing these symptoms, you may experience more severe symptoms such as difficulty walking, severe headache, tightness in chest, frequent coughing and shortness of breath, confusion, and more.

A high-altitude trek like EBC definitely requires reliable travel insurance. The chances of unexpected accidents and altitude sickness are common during the trek. Sometimes, trekkers fall seriously ill and require immediate helicopter evacuation.

In such emergencies, the cost of evacuation can be quite expensive. Due to these reasons and to ensure the safety of you and your belongings, travel insurance is a must. When obtaining insurance, you should check if it covers you up to a height of 6000 meters.

You will spend your nights in tea houses where you will be provided with a room containing a bed, mattress, blanket, and pillow. However, the blanket provided may not be sufficient. To be on the safe side, it is a good idea to pack a proper sleeping bag.

Yes, even a novice trekker can opt for this trek. To prepare yourself physically for the trek, you need to involve in physical fitness training a few months before the actual trek. Additionally, you must prepare yourself mentally as well because the trek is not going to be easy at high altitudes for many days.

To prepare yourself physically, you can do cardiovascular training like running, swimming, cycling, and so on. For strength and endurance training, you can do squats, lunges, aerobics, push-ups, sit-ups, and so on. Also, it’s recommended to do some short hikes frequently before the actual trek so that your body gets adjusted to walking on uneven terrain.

The Everest Base Camp trekking trail is considered one of the safest trekking trails in Nepal with minimal news of casualties and unforeseen incidents. There are hardly any reports of trekkers facing theft or unpleasant behavior by locals on the trekking trails.

Moreover, as the trails are well-marked, the chance of getting lost on the trails is also minimal. Therefore, except for some natural occurrences, the trails to Everest base camp are safe for all trekkers.

If you book with us, the package will include staff (guide and porter). Although hiring a trekking staff or booking an organized tour for the Everest Base Camp trek is not mandatory, doing it individually without experienced staff is not recommended.

Solo trekking to the Everest base camp is possible. However, it’s only recommended for experienced trekkers with prior experience of high-altitude trekking and other treks in Nepal. Otherwise, novice trekkers walking alone may encounter several unexpected problems.

The Everest base camp trek is among the most popular treks in Nepal, and there are well-developed tea houses serving basic to higher-end facilities. So, a “luxury” stay is possible during the Everest base camp trek, but only up to Namche Bazaar.

On these treks, you will spend nights in high-quality teahouses with the finest services and food. The cost of luxury trekking may be high for the EBC trek, but the services you will enjoy there will make you forget the amount you’ve paid. Luxury lodges are available up until Namche Bazaar only, so beyond that, you have to go for basic teahouses.

Tipping the guide and porter is expected and has become a custom to show gratitude to those who have helped you throughout the journey. You can give them a certain amount depending on your choice at the end of the trek.

The Lukla airport, which rests under the lap of Himalayas, experiences frequent weather changes every hour. Even a hint of bad weather can lead to flight delays in Lukla. Sometimes, when the weather worsens, the flight even gets canceled. So, it is good to be mentally ready to face such unforeseen situations and plan your return flight accordingly, keeping some buffer days.

You will encounter some Buddhist monasteries on the trekking trail, and they are open to all. However, the monasteries have certain opening and closing times. So, you can only enter those monasteries during the opening hours. Also, do not forget to take off your shoes before entering the monastery and ask your guide before deciding to enter.

The spring months (March, April, May) are the time for wildflowers and rhododendrons in Nepal, and it is the same in the Everest region.

If you plan your EBC trek in March, you will see the forest shining in flower buds. While in April and May, you will find flowers blooming everywhere on the trekking trail. The views of the forest shining in different colors under the glistening view of the chain of mountains will leave you in awe during the trek.

Not every season guarantees an encounter with the Everest expedition team. However, if you plan your trek during April and May, you have a chance to meet and interact with the team. The mountaineers typically spend months preparing for the summit, and you may find them doing so while on the trekking trail.

Additionally, you can meet the expedition team at Tyangboche monastery, where they collect their final blessing before starting their ascent.

In many places, it is acceptable to take pictures of the locals, monasteries, chortens, and mani walls. However, some locals you encounter on the trail may not appreciate being photographed. Furthermore, taking photos inside some monasteries is prohibited. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask locals or your guide for permission before taking any pictures.

Although the trek to Everest Base Camp is challenging due to the altitude and uneven terrain, there are no technically difficult sections that require special climbing gear, such as ice axes, harnesses, and crampons. Therefore, you do not need to bring such equipment.

However, if you trek during the winter months, we recommend packing micro spikes for your shoes and gaiters.

Almost all teahouses along the trekking trail offer internet connectivity, and telephone services are available, particularly at lower altitudes. However, these services are not free. You must pay a fee to use the Wi-Fi service.

In general, most teahouses charge USD 5 for Wi-Fi access. Telephone service charges vary depending on the teahouse and the duration of the service.

Nowadays, prepaid Wi-Fi cards are available at teahouses. You can purchase them at Namche and use them as you climb higher.

For trekkers who wish to trek to Base Camp and Kala Patthar but do not want to return on foot, we offer an Everest Base Camp helicopter trek package. During this tour, you will walk to Base Camp but return via a direct helicopter flight to Kathmandu. If you become too fatigued or bored to walk back along the same trail from Base Camp, you may choose this helicopter fly-back Everest Base Camp trek.

Many people love standing at the Everest Base Camp, which is 5364 meters high. But not everyone wants to undertake a trek that takes around two weeks. Alternatively, some may be physically unfit to join this long walk. For such travelers, there is an option of an Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. With this tour, you can fly over the Khumbu region and land at the base camp or Kala Patthar to catch the finest views of the Himalayan chain.

Yes, you can take your children on this trek to Everest Base Camp. But make sure they are above 12 years of age. Kids below 12 years of age find it difficult to cope with the increasing altitudes. Besides, it is difficult to detect the symptoms of altitude sickness in them as they may not be able to communicate properly or identify what is happening with them.

Trekking also requires physical strength. Therefore, before trekking with your kids, you must prepare them physically and mentally. Additionally, you must spend a few more rest days than the scheduled itinerary to help your kids adjust to the changing weather.

Alternatively, you can choose short treks like Everest View trek AKA Everest Panorama trek if you are trekking with your children.

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is an easy and convenient way to start the trek. However, this is not the only option for the trek.

Suppose you want to avoid this flight. In that case, you can take a jeep ride from Kathmandu to Salleri and start the trek from there. Or, you can take a bus ride from Kathmandu to Salleri and start the trek from there. These rides will add extra days to your trek but will take you to Lukla without taking the flight.

Most countries’ people can obtain a visa on entry to Nepal. However, there are some countries where a visa will need to be obtained prior to traveling (you can find a list of these countries at www.immigration.gov.np).

If you want to avoid the sometimes lengthy queues at the airport, you can obtain a visa from the Nepali embassy in your home country before you travel. Please visit the appropriate websites in your country for details.

If you want to obtain a visa on arrival, you will need to fill in a landing card (most airlines provide these before landing in Kathmandu; if not, they will be available in the airport), pay a fee (cost differs depending on your length of stay), and provide a passport photo. Don’t forget to bring one in your hand luggage to present to the immigration officers. Visa fees are as follows:

30 USD for 15 days.
50 USD for 30 days.
125 USD for 90 days.
(information from the Nepal Immigration Department)
We would advise you to bring US dollars to pay for your visa. Most major currencies are usually accepted. Although there is a currency exchange in the airport (if they will not accept your currency), you may not get the best exchange rate. Therefore, it is always a safe bet to bring US dollars.

Any luggage that you do not need to take with you on the Everest Base Camp trek can be kept securely in the hotel in Kathmandu or in the store room of our office.

Yes, they do. We carry a comprehensive first aid kit, and our guides are adequately trained to use it. All of our guides are fully trained, hold the required certification and license.

Yes, we arrange for pick up from Tribhuvan International Airport as per your flight time. Once you book the tour, one of our tour coordinators will reach out and request this information.