Every avid trekker dreams of completing the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek by reaching the base camp of the world’s tallest peak, Mt Everest. Nepal is a budget-friendly destination with extraordinary experiences. As a result, many tourists throng here every year for trekking to EBC.
Exploring this part of the Everest region is possible with a limited budget. Yet, there are a few places where you have to spend more money. In a way, the amount of expenses you spend while trekking depends on different factors.
So, continue reading if you have no idea about how much the Everest Base Camp Trek costs.
We have prepared a detailed cost breakdown for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Everything that determines or influences your expenses is fairly described here. How much you need to spend on different things during the trek is also mentioned.
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Factors Determining the Everest Base Camp Trek Cost
Everest Base Camp Trek is among the popular classic treks of Nepal as well as in the world. Various factors that influence your expenses during the trek are:
1. Season for Trekking
In Nepal, there are peak season and off-season for trekking. So, the season that you select for your trek affect the expenses.
Peak Season (Spring and Autumn)
Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for everyone to visit Nepal. The skies stay clear and bright, offering the best vistas of the Himalayas. Also, the weather and temperature remain perfect for trekking and hiking. The pleasant weather and less chance of climatic disturbances make them the ideal time for trekking.
Tourists from different countries visit Nepal for the Everest Base Camp Trek during these seasons. Expect a lot of crowd in Nepal during Spring and Autumn. The lodges and teahouses become quite busy, and it’s best to pre-book rooms. Don’t expect to enjoy any discount on hotels or flights.
So, if you trek during the peak seasons, you’re bound to spend more.
Off-season (Monsoon and Winter)
During the offseason, few tourists and adventure seekers come to explore Nepal. The weather during these seasons is not the best one. However, trekking to Everest Base Camp is possible if you come up with a well planned and scheduled itinerary.
The expenses during off-season treks are quite less compared to peak seasons. As you are among the few visitors, teahouses and lodges offer their services at cheaper rates. Flights are also available at more competitive prices.
2. Duration of Trek
The duration of your trek or the itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Trek affects the overall costs. As we all know, if your trek itinerary is longer or consists of many days, your expenses increase. Likewise, if your trek is short, your costs decrease.
Some people add additional trips during their trek to their EBC Trek’s itinerary. The further popular treks are Gokyo Lakes, and Three Passes along with many others.
If you intend to add some additional destinations, your Everest Base Camp Trek cost is sure to rise.
3. Number of Trekkers
Group trekking is always better than solo one if you plan for saving money. Groups easily get discounts. You can divide the cost of hiring guides. And you can also share transportation expenses.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Visa Expenses
The first thing you spend on is your Visa. The rates of Visa vary according to the number of days you spend in Nepal. You can manage the Visa before arrival, or get it in Nepal upon arrival.
Cost for Visa:
- USD 15 for 15 days
- USD 40 for 30 days
- USD 100 for 90 days
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Transportation
As per the standard itinerary, your EBC trek begins from Lukla. Reaching Lukla is very easy via a flight from Kathmandu. Or, you can drive to Jiri and trek for a few more days to reach the main trail.
Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
The shortest possible way to reach Lukla is an airplane service from Kathmandu. You take a plane from Tribhuvan International Airport to Lukla. The flight is of roughly 30 minutes and offers scenic views of the Himalayas.
Cost per flight:
USD 175 (USD 350 for a return ticket)
Roadway Transportation
If arranging a flight is too expensive, you can add a few days to your itinerary and travel via road. No roads lead to Lukla. You need to take a public bus to either Jiri. Reaching Lukla from Jiri takes about six days of trekking.
Also, you can take a jeep to Salleri. From Salleri, you can skip Lukla by directly trekking towards Phakding, and switch to the main route from there.
Also, if you want to visit Lukla from Salleri, you need another two days of trekking.
Total Transportation Cost (to and from Kathmandu):
USD 60-70 (approximately)
Optional: Helicopter Ride
With the increasing popularity of the Everest Base Camp trek, you have many ways to reach the base camp. You can take a mesmerizing chopper flight to Kala Patthar, and visit the base camp. The whole trip completes in a day and is a luxurious option to reach EBC.
Cost:
One day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Ride: Above USD 900
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Daily Expenses
Nepal is a budget-friendly country. So, you don’t need to spend more to have some quality time here.
The same applies to the Everest Base Camp Trek. The expenses depend on your choices, where you stay, what you eat, and how much you spend. But, one thing to consider is that the cost rises as you trek to higher elevations.
Food Expenses
The food is very cheap in Nepal. But, as you ascend into higher altitudes, you may not have a variety of choices.
Cost: USD 20-30 per day
Accommodation
The Everest Base Camp is a teahouse trek. Accommodation in teahouses is not expensive. But, the accommodation cost gets expensive at places of higher elevations.
Cost: USD 7-20
Other Expenses
Drinking the local tap water in the Himalayas is not a better idea. We highly recommend using a reusable water bottle and water purifying tablets.
Snacks are not cheap in the Everest region. Likewise, you need to carry extra money for miscellaneous stuff like charging phones or hot-water for bathing.
- Cost per water bottle: USD 0.5-5
- Cost of snacks: USD 4-8
- Miscellaneous expenses: USD 7-13
Average Daily Expenses: USD 39- 75
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Permit Expense
Every tourist requires a specific permit to trek in Nepal. For the Everest Base Camp trek, a tourist requires two permits.
1. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit
To enter the Khumbu region, you need to get the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. This permit replaces Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS).
You can get the permit from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu, or at Monjo.
Cost: USD 20
2. Sagarmatha National Park Permit
Entering the Sagarmatha National Park region also requires a permit. Like other ones, this permit is also readily available from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu, or at Monjo.
Cost: USD 30
3. Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit
If you plan on trekking to the base camp via Jiri, you pass through Gaurishankar Conservation Area. You need a permit to enter this area as well.
Cost: USD 30
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is a must if you want to explore the Himalayas. High altitudes are entirely unpredictable. You never know what you may face while trekking. People traversing through such elevations need to make sure they get insured.
Many travel insurance companies don’t cover these policies above 4,000 meters altitudes.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Packing List
For trekking to Everest Base Camp, you need to pack different types of items. Proper clothing, footwear, documents along with trekking gears like sleeping bags and trekking poles, which are crucial.
If you plan on trekking to other places apart from EBC, you need to buy all the essential stuff. Or, you can hire specific stuff like sleeping bags, trekking poles, and down-jackets to minimize the expenses.
Cost: USD 600-1,250 (Depends on buying and renting items of the packing list)
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost- Guides and Porters
The Himalayan terrains confuse many trekkers. Although you can trek alone here, it’s better to travel with someone who knows the area pretty well.
There are small passages, gullies, and alternative paths that many people find puzzling. So, to avoid all such problems and make the trek hassle-free, ‘it’s best to trek with guides.
Likewise, trekking for extended durations with heavy luggage is not easy. Porters help in carrying all your luggage to your destination.
We highly recommend you hire local porters and a well-experienced guide.
Cost for hiring a guide: USD 30-35 per day
Cost for hiring a porter: USD 18-25 per day
Final Say
With all these things in mind, your Everest Base Camp Trek Cost sums up into two parts– one-time cost and daily expenses. After all the calculations, your average total cost for the Everest Base Camp Trek is anywhere from USD 2,450-3,750.
Everest Base Camp is among the high treks in Nepal. Yet, the fantastic Himalayan views, rich culture, and the overall experience of the trek make every penny you spend is worth it.
