Everest Base Camp Trek: Best 16-day EBC trek 2023/2025 (2024)

Arrival and Departure

Your trek will commence by landing in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport. A representative from our team will welcome you at the airport and drive you to your hotel.

The visa process is easy. You must apply for a Nepal tourist visa from your country and get the visa stamp upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Other requirements for the visa application are:

• A valid passport: You MUST have a passport of at least six month's validity with at least one blank page to get the visa stamp.
• You must apply for your visa before reaching the entry point to Nepal. Click here to apply.
• Visa fee payment can be made either pay by cash or via your credit card.
• Online visa applications will remain in the system for only 15 days. It will be automatically deleted from the system after 15 days. Thus, we recommend you submit the visa application only 15 days before your arrival date at the entry point of Nepal.

Note: There are a few countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Cameroon, Swaziland, Iraq, Ethiopia, Liberia, Palestine, etc. People from these countries do not get visas from the immigration entry points of Nepal.

A multiple-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 50 or the equivalent in foreign currency. Another option is a 90-day multiple-entry tourist visa that costs US $ 135.

Check our website for clarification on the visa process. You can also contact the Nepal Embassy or Nepal Consulate in your country for prior information regarding visa requirements.

On the last day of your Everest base camp trek package, one of our team members will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport from your hotel.

Accommodation in Kathmandu

We have arranged a 3-star hotel in Thamel, the city's tourist hub, for your stay in Kathmandu. It is within walking distance from all the major attractions, such as restaurants and shops, banks and business centers, and other recreational facilities.

If you prefer to upgrade to a 4-star or 5-star Hotel, we can make arrangements for that, too. The cost of upgraded accommodation will vary depending on the hotel you choose. You will be spending a total of 4 nights in Kathmandu.

Lukla Flight

Your Everest Base Camp trek starts and ends at Lukla. Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) and Manthali Airport (Ramechhap) are the only two air bases providing flights to Lukla Airport.

For Manthali – Lukla flight: Manthali Airport in Ramechhap is 132 km from Kathmandu. It takes around 4 hours to reach Manthali airport from the capital. Hence, to board the Lukla flight from Manthali, you must wake up at 2 am and drive to Manthali airport via a tourist vehicle. During the peak trekking months of March to May and September to November, all flights to Lukla are from Ramechhap.

For Kathmandu – Lukla flight: To board the Lukla flight from Kathmandu, you need to wake up at around 5 to 6 am, drive to the domestic airport in Kathmandu, and fly to Lukla (35 minutes flight).

Helicopter Option: To avoid driving to Ramechhap, you can take a helicopter ride to Lukla. The shared helicopter flight will cost you US $ 450 per person for one way. The extra charge will be added to the cost of your EBC trek package.

The aircraft flying to and from Lukla are smaller than other domestic flights in Nepal. The mountainous region of Lukla airport and its short and narrow runway make it very challenging to maneuver bigger aircraft.

Weather condition above there is also susceptible to frequent changes causing delays in operating flights, hence, we recommend you to include additional days in your travel plan for emergencies.

Your Everest Base Camp Trek package, has a buffer day for such scenarios, but it is safer to have more days aside to avoid missing the international flight back to your home country.

Lukla Flight Delay/Cancellation

Lukla's unpredictable weather can cause flight delays from time to time. That's why we have kept aside a buffer day to tackle such delays.

If you miss your flight on the scheduled day, we will arrange another flight ticket for you as soon as possible. Or you can take a helicopter, which is more reliable, by paying an extra price.

We must remind you that the expenses for food and accommodation incurred until your next flight will be borne by you, it is not included in the trip package.

Weight Restriction

The baggage allowance for Lukla's flight is 15 kg max. You are advised to strictly follow this rule for safety measures. Hence, make sure your luggage is within the 15 kg limit.

Everest Base Camp Trekking Permits for 2023/2024

You need to obtain two permits for your Everest Base Camp trek. They are;

• Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, and
  Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit.
• The cost of these permits is included in your package.

Both of these permits can be obtained once you reach Lukla. You will have to show your passport to get these permits.

The "Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit" is issued at a counter in Lukla. It costs NPR 2000 per person and is valid for four weeks. If you plan to stay for more than four weeks, the permit fee will be NPR 2500 per person.

You will get the other permit, "Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit," at the national park's entrance in Monjo. It costs NPR 3000 per person for foreigners, NPR 1500 per person for SAARC country nationals, and NPR 100 per person for Nepalese.

Best Time for EBC trek

Autumn and spring seasons are the ideal time for the EBC trekking. Though the EBC trail is open for trekkers throughout the year, some months are unfavorable due to weather conditions.

Autumn and Spring (September- November/March-early May): The clear sky, relatively low precipitation, and comfortable temperature make it the ideal season to visit the coveted Everest Base Camp.

However, evenings are chilly, with temperatures dropping below freezing point. If you plan to visit the EBC during these seasons, you can expect a temperature of 18°C (max) and -7°C (min).

If the plus point of trekking in autumn and spring is getting the best mountain views and having crystal clear sky to witness cloudless sunrise and sunset, this also has downsides.

Being the best time for trekking to EBC, the trail is generally full of people flocking to and from the Everest base camp. Hence, the teahouses are packed with people, making it challenging to find preferred lodgings if you have yet to make advance bookings.

Monsoon or Rainy Season (early June to mid-September): Summer and monsoon are undesirable for trekking in Nepal as we get heavy, incessant downpours during these months. Due to this, the Everest base camp trail is the least crowded in monsoon, and it is an off-season for the Everest base camp trek. However, some tourists always want to explore the mountains during this time of the year. Temperature for this season generally ranges from 20°C (max) to -5°C (min).

Winter (December to March): Early winter is preferable to trek to Everest Base Camp. The trail is generally empty, so you can have a peaceful hike with your team. The only downside is the chilly temperature during this season, which causes snowfall at specific points on the trek. We recommend you wear enough warm clothes and appropriate gear to fight the cold.

You can expect a maximum temperature of 10°C and a minimum of -15°C.

We advise not to trek during the mid and late winter as it is freezing and there are high chances of heavy snowfall and avalanches.

The Buddhist festival of Mani Rimdu celebrated at the end of autumn at Tengboche Gompa, is a cultural activity many wish to witness on their Everest base camp trek. During the three-day festival, Guru Rinpoche is worshipped and honored by monks who perform rituals, masked dances, and religious skits.

Weather Forecast/Temperatures for your EBC Trekking

The weather and temperature on the Everest Base Camp Trek varies from place to place. It generally depends on the altitude at which you are hiking. We have listed a tentative forecast of each month's maximum and minimum temperatures for your convenience.

January: Maximum 10 °C (50 °F) minimum -15 °C (5 °F)

February: Maximum 10 °C (50 °F) minimum -15 °C (5 °F)

March: Maximum 14 °C (57.2 °F) minimum -10 °C (14 °F)

April: Maximum 15 °C (59 °F) minimum -5 °C (23 °F)

May: Maximum 18 °C (64.4 °F) minimum -4 °C (24.8 °F)

June: Maximum 20 °C (68 °F) minimum -2 °C (28.4 °F)

July: Maximum 20 °C (68 °F) minimum -2 °C (28.4 °F)

August: Maximum 20 °C (68 °F) minimum -2 °C (28.4 °F)

September: Maximum 18 °C (64.4 °F) minimum -5 °C (23 °F)

October: Maximum 15 °C (59 °F) minimum -7 °C (19.4 °F)

November: Maximum 13 °C (55.4 °F) minimum -12 °C (10.4 °F)

December: Maximum 10 °C (50 °F) minimum -15 °C (5 °F)

Accommodation On Everest Base Camp Trek

Tea houses are the main form of accommodation on the trail to Everest Base Camp. They generally provide lodging and meals for trekkers. Sherpa families run these teahouses by extending their family houses to accommodate guests. The standards and facilities provided by these teahouses vary from place to place.

For instance, teahouses at Lukla, Phakding, and Namche have rooms with attached bathrooms, but beyond Namche, teahouses have only the basics with no attached bathrooms.

We generally arrange rooms with twin beds for accommodation. It will have mattresses, pillows, quilts, and a table. You can use your sleeping bag to sleep in and layer the top with the blanket for added warmth.

Every teahouse has a standard dining room to meet and socialize with other trekkers. It is the only room with heat from a stove at the center, making it the coziest room to chat and catch up with your fellow trekkers while dining.

As you trek to higher altitudes, you will have to stay at lodgings that do not have Western-style toilets or bathrooms. Please keep an open mind and a positive outlook to enjoy your trip.

Note: If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with another person, we can arrange a single room for your entire EBC trek at an extra charge of US $ 150. However, we remind you that rooms are scarce during peak season, so it will be best to board with another person sharing twin beds.

Meals and Drinking Water during the Trek

All three meals of the day on your trek to EBC will be provided at the local teahouses. The food served at the teahouses is fresh and healthy, so you can put your mind at ease while dining there. They generally include seasonal vegetables and local delicacies.

The breakfast menu will have several options to choose from. They are cereal, oats, Tibetan bread, chappati, sliced white bread, hash browns, apple pie, scrambled or boiled eggs, etc. You will also have tea, coffee, milk, and juice.

For lunch and dinner, you can either have Dal-bhat (a traditional meal comprising of boiled rice, lentil soup, a variety of vegetable curries, pickles, salad and pappad (dried lentil cracker)) or other local favorites like chowmein (sir-fried noodles), Sherpa stew, steamed or fried momos (dumplings with vegetable or meat fillings), pasta, spaghetti, pizza, parantha (roti with potato stuffing), burger with fries etc.

During your trip, you will also have gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian meal options. Please inform your guide about your food preferences before the trek so they can arrange them for you beforehand.

If you are a vegan, you must avoid having yak and milk cheese, which are this region's famous delicacies.

For drinking water, you can bring either sterilizing tools like steripen and Lifestraw or purification pills to purify your drinking water. You can also buy boiled drinking water from the teahouses. Mineral water bottles are available, but we recommend not purchasing them as they add to the problem of trash on the EBC trail.

Food and beverages in the Khumbu region will be four to five times the original price because of heavy transportation costs.

Acclimatization and Safety Protocols

Acclimatization is essential for our trek to Everest Base Camp, as you will be walking up to a height of 5,545 meters.

We have set aside two days to acclimate you to the rarified air. We recommend you trek slowly at a comfortable pace without straining yourself.

As you tread higher on the trek, you may get acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms, such as headache, shortness of breath, nausea, sleeplessness, rapid heart rate, vomiting, etc. In that case, you can have Diamox – a medicine to treat AMS, drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated and get enough rest. Doing these will ease your symptoms.

However, if your symptoms are severe and medication doesn't help, our guide will escort you to a lower elevation and stay with you till you feel okay. If your symptoms worsen, you will be immediately evacuated by air ambulance to a medical facility in Kathmandu. Please ensure your insurance covers the cost of high-altitude mountain rescue and evacuation.

We know how inconvenient it is to get evacuated back to Kathmandu without realizing your dream of trekking to the Everest base camp. We suggest you keep hydrated and sleep well on your trek to avoid such a mishap. You will adjust and achieve more by walking at an even pace rather than trying to finish your trek in a rush. So take your time. Let yourself acclimate to the new heights at a proper speed.

Our guide will regularly monitor your blood oxygen levels with an oximeter as part of the safety protocol. They will carry a first-aid box with all the essential medicines and stuff needed for emergencies. Our guide is trained in providing first-aid and wilderness emergency response. They will be in touch with our main office in Kathmandu and give us regular updates about your trek.

Should any emergency arise, help will be dispatched as soon as possible.

Typical Trekking Day

Your day will start after having breakfast at the teahouse. Carrying your day pack, you will trek with your guide to the next destination. Your trail will lead to beautiful sceneries, which you can capture by taking photos. Following the route, you will halt at a local teahouse for lunch at mid-day. Lunchtime will be for an hour or so.

On our treks, we let one staff lead the group while another walks at the end to ensure no one is left behind. You are advised to inform our guides before wandering on your own. You may lose your way where there are multiple trails.

After you reach the last stop for the day, you will be taken to the teahouse, where we will have booked rooms for you in advance. If you feel energetic enough, you can rest and recuperate to prepare for the next day or explore the nearby village around your teahouse. Usually, trekkers gather in the teahouse's dining room, swap stories, and play games sitting near the warm wood stove. After dinner, you will head back to your room to sleep.

Internet and Mobile Connectivity

Everest Link is the local internet service provider of Everest Region. Most of the teahouses use this service to provide Wi-Fi for their customers. You can avail of this Wi-Fi service by paying extra money to the teahouse or buying internet data from them.

Another option to get connectivity and internet is to buy mobile sim cards from either Ncell – a private telecom company, or Nepal Telecom – a state-owned telecom company.

But we must warn you that the internet connections of these companies could be more dependable. Still, you can make calls and get connected with your loved ones.

Electricity

The Everest base camp trail has electricity at all of its teahouses. You need not worry about charging your electronic devices. But during peak seasons, the plug points at local teahouses are in high demand, so we recommend you bring power banks for personal use. You will, however, need to pay extra cash to charge your electronic devices at the teahouse.

The two-pin and triangular three-pin varieties are common plug points or electrical sockets in Nepal. The electrical standards of Nepal are (voltage of 230 V) and (frequency of 50 Hz).

Recommended Travel Insurance Companies

Standard travel insurance is compulsory to book your trek to the Everest base camp. A high-altitude mountain adventure like EBC Trek is filled with risks, so you must be prepared for any emergency should it arise. Your insurance must cover the cost of high-altitude mountain rescue, evacuation by air, and other accidents. It will be beneficial if your insurance policy also covers your medical bills, lost baggage, and flight cancellations.

While buying your insurance, you should choose the one that covers trekking up to 5000 m. There are various online portals providing travel insurance. We have listed a few for your convenience:

• USA and Canada: Tugo, United Health Care, World Nomad, Blue Cross
• Australia and New Zealand: Fast Cover, World Nomad, Allianz Australia
• Singapore: Ergo, World Nomad (Explore plan level 3)
• Europe: Europe Assistance, Austrian Alpine Club, Allianz Europe
• India: ICICI Lombard

Disclaimer: Our recommendations are just a suggestion. You can purchase travel insurance from other companies not included in the list. However, we advise you to go through each policy in detail before buying since policies and their coverage vary from company to company.

Guides and Porters

Our team consists of experienced and well-trained guides. They have received training under TAAN (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) and NATHM (Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management), the major tourism boards of Nepal. Being registered guides, they are licensed to guide trekkers in mountainous regions. Most have over a decade of experience in this field, equipping them with the best knowledge on managing and leading trekkers on the Everest base camp trek. Although their English speaking skills are average (some have proficient English speaking skills), they are good communicators and care for their group in the best way possible.

Born and raised in the mountains, they are familiar with their surroundings. You can have an insightful trek by listening to their knowledge about those mountains and their vegetation, wildlife, and the local culture. We are sure you will have a memorable time with our guides.

As for porters, we have strong and dependable porters. They will carry your luggage throughout the trek. The recommended weight for each porter is 25 kg, which is the combined luggage of two trekkers. Please make sure your bags are at most 12 kg.

At Nepal Hiking Team, we provide our porters a decent wage for their hard toil and cover their insurance for the trek. We also equip them with necessary clothing and gear and help them out whenever they are in need.

Money Exchange

Exchanging currency is very convenient in Kathmandu. The Thamel area is filled with money exchange counters, where you can easily exchange foreign currencies. You can also use your debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro, Diners Club) to withdraw local currency at the local ATM booths.

It would help if you carried enough cash to pay for expenses on your trek, including Wi-Fi, hot showers, beverages, and snacks. We suggest carrying approx—20,000 Rupees per person for the mountain.

Tipping for your guide and porters

Tipping is a common practice in Nepal, so feel free to tip if you are satisfied with the services you get throughout your trip. You will come across many people who will help you accomplish your trek to the Everest Base Camp. They will include your guide, porter, and drivers. You can show your appreciation for their hard work by tipping them generously.

Physical Fitness and Training for Everest Base Camp Trek

You will walk for more than 120 km at a high altitude on your EBC trek. Although we have prepared a well-planned itinerary for the expedition, you must be physically and mentally well-prepared to avoid unforeseen mishaps. We recommend you consult a doctor for health issues like weak knees and legs or respiratory or heart disorders.

Anyone with good physical health can opt for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Previous trekking experience is a plus point, but optional. The ideal time to prepare for your trek will be 2 to 3 months before you start trekking to the Everest Base Camp.

You can start training by including aerobic exercises, jogging, and stair climbing in your daily routine. Cardio endurance and strength training are necessary as you will walk daily for 5 to 8 hours at a high altitude. You can go for long hikes carrying a daypack to asses and achieve your ideal fitness level. You can choose to hike on hills with rough terrain and steep ascents. You can also break into your new hiking boots by using them for these hikes. Using your trekking boots way earlier is recommended to make sure they are comfortable enough; otherwise, you will end up with sore feet on your actual trekking.

If you do not have time for outdoor hiking, you can exercise at home and work on your stamina. Treadmill walking, cycling, and swimming are good endurance-building exercises.

A balanced diet with lots of protein is also recommended to build muscles. However, stay within your diet and exercise routine. Keeping it in balance and moderation is essential.

Here are recommended tips to fit on the trekking.

Private or Group Tours

We have both private and group tours. You can travel with your circle of friends and family or with a mixed group of strangers from different corners of the world. We will plan your trip as per your requirements and preferences. We also customize your trips according to your specifications. You can choose your accommodation, activities for the trip, and destinations to explore.

We have flexible itineraries; we can add or deduct days and activities according to your schedule.

Other Trips to the Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp Treks are the most sought-after adventure in our country. People worldwide visit Nepal to realize their dreams of trekking to the Everest base camp. Thus, We have devised different trekking routes to EBC with different schedules to cater to the needs and preferences of climbers of all age groups. You can browse the list below to check out some of our EBC trek packages.

• Everest Base Camp Horse Riding Trek – 14 days
• Everest BC Heli Trek - 11 Days
• EBC Luxury Trek - 16 Days
• EBC trek with Gokyo Lake 19 Days

Are you looking for a challenge, or have you already experienced our EBC trek? Then consider our 22-day Everest High Passes Trek, which includes three passes: Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La, and visits to EBC (Everest Base Camp), Gokyo Lake. This trek is suitable only for experienced hikers.

Trip Extension

We recommend you include extra days in your travel plan to explore other Nepal destinations besides the Everest Base Camp.

This will be a perfect way to unwind after the strenuous trekking to the EBC.

There are many thrilling adventures that you can partake in while enjoying and exploring the rich culture and heritage of our country.

We have exciting day tours for this sole purpose. They are:

• Kathmandu Day Tour -5 Hrs
• Bhaktapur and Patan Day Tour – 5 Hrs
• Chitwan National Park Tour – 3 days

Please let us know if you want any tips on other tour options. We will make your adventure happen!

Responsible Travel

We encourage our clients to travel responsibly by limiting the use of plastics and being mindful of their waste in the mountains. We request they use local vendors and service providers wherever they go to contribute to the local economy. As for us, we have been supporting community-run businesses and projects from the very beginning when we started our services. Wherever we take our clients, we produce minimal waste and use clean energy. We do our best to reuse, recycle, and reduce.

Why Everest Base Camp Trek with Nepal Hiking Team?

Nepal Hiking Team has built a good reputation since its inception in 2009. This has become possible because of our client's trust and confidence in us. In return, we have always impressed them with our hard work and reliability.

We rejoice in achieving a 99% success rate in our organized trips. Most of our clients are repeat clients. Having journeyed with us for the first time and experiencing the quality of our service, they tend to return to us for future trips. Transparency, honesty, and ease with which we conduct our dealings are the chief factors that make our clients choose us.

To highlight some of the reasons as to why you should choose us for your trek to the Everest base camp, we have:

• A team of well-trained and experienced guides who can handle any emergency
• Most of our guides are locals. Being locals, they will have plenty of knowledge about the culture and traditions of the area. Hence, you will hear exciting anecdotes on your trek.
• We get the best rooms on the trail as we have a good rapport with the local teahouse owners.
• We have an efficient network of service providers such as hotels, airlines, etc.
• You can avail prompt communication and support from our sales team while planning and executing your trek.
• We have fair and transparent transactions—no hidden costs.

Lastly, our warm and friendly team members, equipped with the necessary expertise in their fields, will provide you with the best experience on your trip.

Hope we tick all the boxes to become your choice!

Booking Procedure

If you are interested in our Everest Trek, you can book your trip with us via our website. You can also email us at [emailprotected] - we will reserve the trip for you and provide you with further information regarding the expedition.

You must pay a booking deposit of 20% of the total package cost. You can use your credit card to make an online payment or transfer the fund via bank transfer. Our online payment gateway has a secure firewall so that you can rest assured. You can pay the remaining amount of your trek after reaching Kathmandu either by card or cash in US dollars.

For more details, here is a guide to book a tour with us.

Support and Assistance

Looking for guidance and support to plan your adventure? We're here to help with any questions or assistance you might need.

Our sales team is available at (+977) 1 4989212 (office landline, operational from 8 am to 6 pm).

For additional support, feel free to call or send a WhatsApp message to Ganga at +977-9851058678. You can also reach us via email at [emailprotected]

We eagerly await the opportunity to help make your vacation an unforgettable experience.