Trekking to Everest Base Camp Trek, EBC, is a major financial decision. The total cost is not one single number. It changes based on your trekking style, your comfort level, and the duration of your trip.
A trek to Everest Base Camp can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $5,000. A budget trekker arranging things independently will spend less. A trekker on a full-service, premium tour will spend more.
This article breaks down every cost. We will detail permits, flights, guides, food, and gear. This information helps you plan your budget. Glacier Safari Treks provides clear, all-inclusive pricing. This removes surprises from your budget.
Three Ways to Trek and Their Costs
Your trekking style is the biggest factor in your total budget. You have three main options.
1. The Package Tour
This is the most secure and common way to trek. You book with a company like Glacier Safari Treks. We handle every detail from the moment you land in Kathmandu.
What is included: Airport transfers. Hotels in Kathmandu before and after the trek. All trekking permits. Round-trip flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. A professional, licensed guide. A porter to carry your main bag. All accommodation in teahouses during the trek. All meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, on the trek.
This option removes all logistical stress. You do not need to worry about booking flights or finding a room. Your guide manages safety, acclimatization, and daily schedules. This is the safest option. If bad weather cancels a flight, the company manages the rebooking.
Cost: $2,500 to $5,000. The price varies based on the level of hotels in Kathmandu. It also depends on the inclusion of extra services.
2. Hiring an Independent Guide and Porter
This is a middle-ground option. You arrive in Kathmandu and hire your own staff. You hire a guide and perhaps a porter. You pay them a daily rate. You pay for your own food, accommodation, and flights as you go.
This style gives you flexibility. It is cheaper upfront. It also carries more responsibility. You are the manager. You must handle all bookings. You must pay for everything in cash along the trail. If your guide gets sick, you have no backup. You must ensure the guide has proper insurance.
Cost breakdown:
- Guide: $25 to $40 per day
- Porter: $20 to $25 per day
- Your food and accommodation: $35 to $60 per day
- Lukla flights: $360 to $400 round-trip.
- Permits: $50
Total: $2,000 to $3,000. This option appears cheaper. You must carry a large amount of cash. You also bear all the risk.
3. The Independent Trek (No Guide)
This is the cheapest option. You trek completely alone. You navigate the trail yourself. You find your own teahouses. You carry all your own gear.
This is not recommended for most people. The EBC trail is well-marked. The risk of getting lost is low. The risk of altitude sickness is high. An independent trekker has no expert to monitor their health. If you get sick, you are on your own. It is difficult to arrange an emergency evacuation yourself.
You also must arrange your own permits. You must book your own high-demand Lukla flight. You must find a room every night during the busy season.
Total: $1,800 to $2,500. The small savings do not outweigh the significant safety risks.
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Your total cost is a sum of many small parts. Here is a complete list of expenses.
International Flights
This cost is not part of the trek itself. It is your largest single purchase. A round-trip flight from Europe, such as Paris, to Kathmandu varies by season. Expect to pay between $900 and $1,400. You should book this flight many months in advance.
Nepal Visa
You get your visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The process is simple.
- 15-day visa: $30
- 30-day visa: $50
- 90-day visa: $125
The standard EBC trek takes 12 to 14 days. You also need days in Kathmandu on both ends. The 30-day visa is the correct choice for most trekkers.
Trekking Permits
You need two permits for the Everest Base Camp trek. You do not need a TIMS card for the Everest region.
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit: This is a local government fee. It costs 2,000 NPR, which is about $17. You get this permit in Lukla. Your guide will handle this.
Sagarmatha National Park Permit: This is the national park entrance fee. It costs 3,000 NPR, which is about $25. You get this permit at the park entrance in Monjo.
If you book a package, these permit fees are always included.
Domestic Flights: Kathmandu to Lukla This is a critical part of your budget. The flight to Lukla is the start of the trek. It is a 30-minute flight. It is one of the most scenic and famous flights in the world.
Cost: $180 to $200 one-way. A round-trip ticket will cost $360 to $400.
These flights are often canceled due to weather. Clouds in Lukla or Kathmandu can shut down the airport. This is a major reason to book with an agency. An agency has the connections to get you on the next available flight.
During the peak season, flights may operate from Ramechhap. Ramechhap is a town a 4- to 5-hour drive from Kathmandu. This is done to reduce air traffic. Our packages include the transport to Ramechhap if this is the case.
Guides and Porters
If you hire independently, you pay a daily rate.
Licensed Guide: $25 to $40 per day. A guide speaks English. They know the trail, the culture, and the teahouses. Most importantly, they are trained in first aid. They monitor you for altitude sickness.
Porter: $20 to $25 per day. A porter carries your main duffel bag. They will carry up to 15 kilograms. This allows you to trek with only a small daypack.
When you hire staff, you must ensure they have insurance. Reputable agencies always insure their guides and porters.
Accommodation on the Trek
Accommodation on the EBC trail is in teahouses. These are local lodges run by families.
The rooms are basic. They usually have two twin beds. Bathrooms are almost always shared. The cost of the room itself is cheap.
Cost: $5 to $10 per night.
Teahouses do not make money from rooms. They make money from food. The rule is simple: you must eat dinner and breakfast at the teahouse where you sleep. Some “luxury” lodges exist in the lower villages like Lukla and Namche. These cost $50 to $150 per night.
Food and Water
This is your biggest daily expense. All food in the Khumbu region is carried up by porters or yaks. The price increases as you gain altitude.
Budget $35 to $50 per day for food and drinks.
Breakfast: A meal of eggs, toast, and tea costs $6 to $9. Lunch: A plate of fried rice or noodles costs $7 to $10. Dinner: Dal Bhat is the best option. This is a large plate of rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry. It costs $7 in Namche. It costs $12 in Gorak Shep. The best part is that it comes with free refills.
Water: Do not buy bottled water. It is expensive ($1-$4 per bottle) and creates plastic waste. Bring a water filter or purification tablets. You can buy boiled, safe water from the teahouses. This costs $1 to $3 per liter.
Travel Insurance
This is not optional. You must have travel insurance.
Your insurance must cover high-altitude trekking up to 6,000 meters. It must also include helicopter evacuation.
Altitude sickness is a real danger. If you get severe altitude sickness, the only cure is to descend. If you cannot walk, you need a helicopter. A helicopter evacuation costs $5,000 to $10,000. Your insurance policy must cover this.
Cost: $150 to $300 for a 21-day policy.
Gear: Renting vs. Buying
You need high-quality cold-weather gear. You have two choices: buy it at home or rent it in Kathmandu.
Buying: If you trek often, buying your own gear is a good investment. A full set of new gear costs over $1,500. You must buy your trekking boots at home. You must break them in. Do not arrive in Nepal with new boots.
Renting: This is the most cost-effective option. You can rent key items in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. Down Jacket: $2 per day. -10°C Sleeping Bag: $2 per day. Trekking Poles: $1 per day.
For a 12-day trek, you can rent your main gear for under $60. Glacier Safari Treks assists you with finding reputable rental shops.
Miscellaneous Costs
These are the small items that add up.
Charging: Electricity is limited. Teahouses charge $3 to $5 per hour to charge your phone or camera battery.
WiFi: Internet is available. It is slow and expensive. Expect to pay $5 to $10 for a few hours of access.
Hot Showers: Above Namche, hot showers are a luxury. They are gas-powered. They cost $4 to $7 per shower.
Tipping: Tipping is expected. You should tip your guide and porter at the end of the trek. Plan a budget of 10% to 15% of your total trek cost.
Cash: You must bring cash (Nepalese Rupees) on the trek. There are no ATMs after Namche Bazaar.
Summary of Costs
Here are three sample budgets for a 14-day trip. These prices do not include international flights.
Budget Path
- Visa: $50
- Permits: $50
- Lukla Flights: $400
- Food and Accommodation: $500 ($40/day)
- Insurance: $200
- Gear Rental: $60
- Misc (Tips, WiFi): $150
- Total: $1,410
Mid-Range Path
- Visa: $50 Permits: $50
- Lukla Flights: $400
- Guide/Porter Fees: $630 ($45/day)
- Food and Accommodation: $625 ($50/day)
- Insurance: $200
- Gear Rental: $60
- Misc (Tips, WiFi): $250
- Total: $2,265
Full-Service Package
- Package Cost: $2,800
- This includes: Hotel, Lukla flights, guide, porter, all permits, all meals, all accommodation.
- Insurance: $200
- Gear Rental: $60
- Misc (Tips, WiFi, Showers): $250
- Total: $3,310
FAQs
1. How much cash should I bring on the trek?