Introduction of Everest base camp trek
Everest Base Camp lies at an elevation of 5380m above sea level, shows such amazing and spectacular landscape of particular views of the world’s tallest mountains. The EBC trek is one of the world-famous in the world of medium / high difficulty as it is challenging and that can be performed in 12 – 14 days. The trek start and finishes in Lukla and It takes around 7 days to ascend, 3 days for acclimatization and 3-4 days to descend the accommodation is mainly in teahouses and food is cooked by the locals.
How long does it take to trek Everest Base Camp?
There are 51 Km to go in order to reach Everest Base Camp. The starting point is at 3000mts above sea level and you’ll get to climb 2400mts to reach base camp at 5365mts.
Typically, the trek to the Everest takes about 12 days to complete the round trip, 8 days to ascend and 4 ways to descend.
Is trek to Everest base camp hard?
There are 51 Km to go in order to reach Everest Base Camp. The starting point is at 3000mts above sea level and you’ll get to climb 2400mts to reach base camp at 5365mts.
The walk is around 15 Km per day for about 2 weeks, you should know that the surface is not flat and there are many ups and downs. So, to be clear you’ll end up walking 4 to 8 hours a day for 12 days with an In between 1 or 2 days for acclimatization
The difficulty of Everest Base camp should not be so hard, and you don’t need to be superfit to be able to reach the base camp, however, the altitude makes it quite though and the weight on you back influences a lot. If being fit enough you should be able to do this hole trek carrying your own backpack, In case you’re not porters will make it easier.
Which is the Best time for Everest base camp trekking?
There are 2 great seasons for trekking to Everest Base Camp those are the Pre-monsoon and Post monsoon
Pre-monsoon from February to May is the most advisable, the weather should be stable and mostly dry, that is great for trekking, March could also be good as the landscapes and the view are spectacular. April gets quite busy. Everest base camp trekking in spring.
May to August MOSSON time not advisable there is a lot of rain, it gets impossible to trek and the views are not the best during this time of the year.
Post – monsoon late September to November, this is the period that will normally provide better views and the best landscape compared to the rest of the year. Also is the best time to hike the Gokyo Lakes but beware the time is colder. It is most advisable to do it in September. October can get packed and some people get frustrated with the freezing water pipes. Trek to Everest base camp in autumn.
From December to February is also possible but not recommended, cold temperatures can reach up to -30ªC at night! Trekking with a lot of snow could cause passes to get and the risk gets higher
Can you trek Everest base camp without a guide?
Can you trek to Everest Base Camp on your own?
Yes, actually you can do it 3 different ways. With a travel agency, tour guide or solo.
1.- You can buy a package from a travel-tour agency is always an easy and a great option especially if you are not confident you can be alone and unassisted on the treks, also all logistics trekking permits, transports will be taken care of, but of course it’s the most expensive option. We suggest booking your package with trekking for the safety reasons.
2.- In Kathmandu you can found porters and guides easily in pretty much any agency, they can assist you to organize and gather the staff you need depending on your needs. You can trek by hiring a guide only from Kathmandu. But there is a chance of fraud guides. If the guide does not belong to any agency then you may face problems to contact them if they left you or got a discussion during the trek.
3.- Doing it independently will be the cheaper option, although it needs more planning, and the purchasing of external transportation of Plane, Bus, or jeep from Kathmandu to Lukla.
Also, trekking permits need to be handled, if you’re confident enough to be alone on the treks this is a great way to save up some money, and the rest is quite easy to follow everyone stays in the same town although you can find many tea houses for accommodation and no booking is needed. But if you are traveling in the best season(autumn/spring) the chance of teahouse overbooked is very high. if you feel sick or any other problems in the Himalaya you may lose your life because of being alone. We don’t suggest you for solo traveling. Safety always comes in first for saving some money you may lose your life.
How much does it cost to trek Everest Base Camp?
Depending on how you decide to trek the EBC is around how much it is going to cost you, also it depends a lot on you’re traveling style, whether you are travel on a budget or on a more luxury style.
- Independent from around $600 USD on a tight budget
- With Porters and Guides Help around $850- $1000 USD
- Travel / Tour Agency $1000- $2000 USD depending on the number of people, and travel style (Luxurious or Backpacker
Which permits do I need to have in order to trek the EBC?
You need to have 2 permits, the National Park Entry is available at Kathmandu or Monjo and the other one in Lukla
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit $30 USD + 13% Government tax
- Local Permit in Lukla (2000 NPR) $20 USD
- TIMS – Trekkers information Management System Nepal $10 / 20 USD
How much does it cost to trek Everest Base Camp if I do it Independently?
What would be my daily expenses?
If you want to have enough money to do it on your own, and don’t worry that much about your spending is around $40 USD per day should be enough money for food, water, tea, snacks and accommodation. So for trekking the most popular way in 12 days you’ll need to take at least $500.Plus don’t forget about how you’ll be getting there flights are always more expensive.
Permits $70
12-15 days $40*15 $600
*EBC Total daily cost $30 – 40
Food $25 (3*8)
Water $2-3
Accommodation $1-2 low season $2-5 high season
Snacks $2-3
Extras $2-3
What are Everest Base Camp Daily Expenses?
Showering and Charing?
Once on trek Food on Everest Base Camp Trek it’s about $25 a day for 3 good meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) Around $8 each (8*3)=$25
Breakfast is usually heavy and there are plenty of options, you’ll find omelets, pancakes, porridge, French toast & a wide range of Tibetan bread , just have in mind Coffee is expensive in case you can live without it is recommended to take your own.
For lunch you can find momos, sandwiches, bread or a soup.
At Dinner, there will be many caloric dishes with huge portions such as spaghetti with cheese Dahl, potatoes rice, if you don’t see something on the menu you can just ask!
For snacks you can find many snicker bars, cake, and pastries, mars rolls are also available at tea houses also you can find some apples on the way.
*Electric /solar showers are available at most places but the water is not so hot, take care otherwise you could get sick, there are also gas showers at $4-$6.
*Charging – There are no plugs to charge batteries on any rooms, usually you have to pay per charging hour in communal areas.
Is it safe to drink water in the Everest?
How expensive is the water?
No, it is not safe to drink tap water, mineral water will be available for you to buy on the trail, be aware it is going to be quite expensive (probably like 10 times higher than in Kathmandu) Water starts at 100 NPR $1 for 1.5L and 400 NPR $4 once you reach Gorakshep. It is advisable to use purification pills as a cheaper and more comfortable option.
Will I need a porter for my trek? How much do porters Charge?
That is up to you, if you feel you’ll be able to fully enjoy the trek without any weight on you and more comfortable walking by not carryings a heavy bag, then go ahead at the same time this improves the income of the local communities. They usually charge around $20 USD a day, prices are usually agreed before.
Although be considered and do not take to more kg that you would actually carry. An average porter can take from 22 Kg – 30 KG max including their own backpack, so it is advisable not to take more than 20 kg of gear and equipment. If you are booking from a trekking agency in Kathmandu then they will provide required numbers of porters as per need.
Insurance for Everest Base Camp Trek?
Having an insurance, it is very important on any trek, especially on any high ones, it doesn’t really matter you are always at risk and you never know what can go wrong Altitude sickness is very common, and if you get injured or sick you will have to be evacuated by helicopter which is very expensive. Not every insurance cover extreme activity so it’s very important to always read the small letters in order to be properly cover
Packing Tips / Things to bring / buy before trekking Everest Base Camp
- Water is very expensive to take the most convenient option to sterilizing water
- Take a buff of headwear so your neck and face will be protected from sunburn, wind and any type of weather.
- Warm Sleeping Bag and a liner
- Hat, scarf, and mittens
- Sunglasses, sunscreen
- To charge any electronic device you will have to pay, so quite recommendable to charge them all with a portable charger
- Wet wipes are quite handy specially if it gets cold or if it’s quite expensive to shower many people would shower on them.
- Hand sanitizer cleaner will very handy to clean your hands in case you get hungry
- Microfiber towel so recommended as it dries so fast and doesn’t weight that much
- Headlamps! Even most of the trek is during daytime, electricity most of the time is not always on tea houses during the night
- Waterproof / Windproof / Rain jacket one of the most important elements and wearing with a thermal layer underneath
**Many clothes and gear are for sale in Kathmandu and Pokhara so don’t worry to much in case you forget to pack something!
Are there any ATM on the Everest Base Camp?
There are only two places where you will find ATM’s that is Lukla and Namche Bazaar
How can I avoid getting altitude Sickness and ensure good acclimatization?
Everest Base Camp is an extremely high altitude trek, you should ensure a good acclimatization by drinking lots of water and acclimatize every day , your guide can help you how to do that. Take enough rest before starting the journey and just in case you’re not feeling good start descending,
Suggestions
I personally suggest you book the Everest base camp trekking package from a legal trekking agency in Nepal for making your holiday safe and memorable. Everest is the dream of every traveler and does not make your dream destination worse just to save a few hundred dollars. Consult your trip planner and guide about what to bring? Think about safety first then only money. Read experience of Everest trek of previous travelers and try to do what they suggest. You can read more about Everest base camp treks facts on our previous blog.
Tags: 10 things to know before everest base camp trek, everest base camp solo trek, everest base camp trek cost, everest base camp trekking agency, everest base camp trekking facts
