Catching a glimpse of Mount Everest is a dream many hikers have, however, climbing this great mountain is a huge task that only a certain amount of people can complete. If you’re not ready for that huge challenge just yet but want to experience a slice of the pie, the next best thing is the Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC)! This is exactly what we did and have broken down everything you need to know about completing this trek yourself.
Whether you’re a hiking expert preparing for the Everest Base Camp Trek or a novice wondering if you could do it, we have all the information you need to help you along your way! We will be discussing the cost of the trek, what to pack, accommodation and how to prepare yourself for this amazing hike in the Himalayas below!
Our Journey to Everest Base Camp.
Like many other hikers, climbing to the base of the top of the world was an amazing dream and after researching this amazing hiking trail we knew we had to give it a go ourselves. So we booked our flights, prepared as much as we could and off we went!
We found this trek to be tough in some places, but overall a moderately difficult trek! We hadn’t done too much preparation beforehand and still managed to hike to the basecamp without any issues. The views along the trek are so beautiful, mixed with the lovely Nepalese culture and friends we made along the way, made this trek more special than we ever thought it would be.
It took us 8 days of hiking to reach Everest Base Camp (including two acclimatisation days) and another 3 days of hiking to get back down to the bottom for our flight back to Kathmandu.
What We Will Cover..
- General Information of Everest Base Camp!
- Where to Start The Trek?
- How Long will It Take to Trek Everest Base Camp?
- How Much Will it Cost?
- How Hard is the Everest Base Camp Trek?
- Accommodation Along the Trek.
- Food and Drink Along the Trek.
- What Should I Pack?
- Should I Book a Guide and/or Porter?
- Do I Need Any Visas or Permits?
- A General Itinerary of the Trek.
General Information of Everest Base Camp!
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world and its base camp is a hike in its own right! The summit of Mount Everest being a huge 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 ft) above sea level, the base camp, still at an impressive altitude is 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) above sea level.
There are actually two base camps one at either side of the mountain. South base camp is located in Nepal within Sagarmatha National Park, and the North base camp is located in Tibet. Both are used for mountaineers to start their epic climb to summit the tallest mountain in the world, however, the Southern base camp is one most people refer to.
The South base camp in Nepal is the route we took. This base camp is situated at the bottom of the famous Khumbu Glacier and every year a pop-up village of tents appear, full of groups about to embark on a journey of their lifetime!
Where to Start The Trek
We stayed in Thamel, Kathmandu for a week before our hike to Everest Base Camp started. If you are staying in the city first, you can find any last minute items and get some permits you need while you’re there. See below for more details on this! There are loads of shops that sell everything you need for hiking so have a mooch around for the best deals.
From Kathmandu, you will need to get your flight to Lukla Airport, which is the beginning of the trek. We did the trek outside of peak season, so we were able to get a flight directly from Kathmandu Airport. From the centre you can get a taxi to Kathmandu Airport for about NPR 500-1000 (£3-6). The ticket for this flight can be booked online in advance, or with a travel agent. You can choose from a range of flight times for both flights to Lukla and your returning trip. The cost is around £145-£165 ($180-$200) per person per way.
During peak season, the Civil Aviation Authority stops flights from Kathmandu and you have to make your way to Lukla via Ramechhap Airport.
There are other ways to get to Lukla, some cheaper (eg. walking from Jiri) and some more expensive (eg. Private helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla at approx $2000). However, the flight from Kathmandu/Ramechhap is the route that most take to start their journey.
How Long Will It Take to Trek Everest Base Camp?
Due to the high reputation and popularity of this amazing hike, over the last few years the trail has suffered with overcrowding and its ever-increasing demand is continuing to grow. Although the trail can be quite busy at some points throughout the year, this doesn’t distract from the breathtaking views that comes with climbing to the base of the top of the world! Once you make your way from the small airport at Lukla and officially start your trek, you won’t be able to look away from the scenery.
Distance
Your starting point at Lukla Airport is 2,846 meters (9,337 feet), meaning you’ve got 2,518 meters elevation to climb in order to reach Everest Base Camp, which approx is 40 miles (making it a 80mile round trip). This high altitude climb usually takes around 12 days of long trekking to complete the round trip!
The high altitude of the trek is one of the main reasons it takes so long to climb to Everest Base Camp. Taking acclimatisation days at points along the route is the best way to reach Base Camp without being ill or too tired to succeed. Don’t think you’re getting a full rest day though, as you will still need to complete smaller hikes during your rest days too!
Day to Day
Depending on what point of the route you’re on and how fast of a walker you are, walking times can range from 4-9 hours each day. Not including when you stop for a bite to eat or to take in the natural beauty of the Himalayas; and of course, to get lots and lots of pictures.
How Much Will It Cost?
When it comes to the cost of completing the Everest Base Camp Trek, it totally depends on how you plan to hike up the mountain, whether that’s with a group or with a local guide. Don’t forget you will need to factor in costs for your food, drinks, permits, showers, accommodation and tips! See ‘How Much Will The Everest Base Camp Trek Cost?‘ for a full breakdown!
Tour Groups $$$
There are many tour groups that will take you up to Everest Base Camp that you can book online or when you arrive in Kathmandu, these can cost anywhere from a few hundred pounds to thousands! If you are travelling on a budget, like us, we recommend hiring a local guide to show you the way or going alone! (The trail is pretty easy to follow, especially if you’re a good hiker and able to read maps!)
Local Nepali Guide $
Not only will a local guide help you on your way to base camp, but they will also help you understand the Nepalese culture, their lifestyle and enhance your trekking experience. Local guides can be booked in advance or in Kathmandu and usually cost around $20 – $30 per day. There are plenty of agencies in Kathmandu where you can organise this, just be sure to do a bit of research first!
If you don’t want to carry your own bags, your guide can also get a local porter to come along with you to carry your belongings. All you will need to carry is your day pack with essentials in! Porters usually cost around $20 per day and can carry up to 25kg, sometimes even more! You should be able to hire a porter in Namche Bazaar higher up the trek if you feel you need one after the initial few days hiking, however, this isn’t guaranteed.
Make sure to take plenty of money with you on the trek. The higher up you go the more expensive items become due to the difficulty of bringing supplies up the mountain. You don’t want to be left without a way of purchasing anything when you need it.
Our Total Spend
In total, for two of us, we spent around £1,325 ($1600 US) We used a local guide, no porter and budgeted our daily spend to around £31 per day (NPR 5,000). This total included everything as soon as we left Kathmandu from the flight to Lukla, food and drinks and all accommodation along the way.
How Hard is the Everest Base Camp Trek?
Unsure if you’re fit enough for this once in a lifetime trek? The Everest Base Camp Trek isn’t just long days of trekking, it’s the high altitude and terrain that makes it a challenging hike! Saying that, lots of hikers complete the trek without any prior training and have no issues reaching base camp. If you’re in general good shape, determined to make it and acclimatise yourself correctly, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reach base camp!
There is a lot of factors within the hike that make it challenging, the terrain, altitude, long days of hiking and the weather being the most demanding! There is a lot of elevation gain and loss throughout the hike, which can be tough and exhausting.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is one of the biggest dangers on Everest Base Camp trek, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Basically, if you gain altitude too fast, you can get sick. Whether you’re a hiking expert or a newbie, you can still get altitude sickness.
The best way to avoid getting altitude sickness is to let your body adjust slowly to the high altitudes. Taking acclimatisation days once you’ve reached 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) and above is a good way to let your body adjust slowly.
On acclimatisation days you should do small hikes to a higher elevation and come back down to sleep. We took two acclimatisation days, and did hikes around 400meters on these days to help acclimatise our bodies. We didn’t suffer with any sickness apart from very slight headaches when we were at Gorekshep at 5,164 meters (16,942 feet).
A lot of trekkers use Diamox, which can help with altitude sickness and this can be bought in Kathmandu or Namche.
Accommodation Along The Trek.
All the accommodation along the EBC Trek are teahouses! They’re not just somewhere to stop for a quick cuppa, these are bed and breakfast lodges that are solely for hikers to get some grub and have a rest after a tough day of hiking!
Most teahouses are pretty simple. Basic rooms, single beds, minimal decoration but clean and comfortable and just what you need to have a rest for the night. Depending on the teahouse, some have in-room heating, others are warmed up by a heating stove put on each night. Some offer hot showers and phone charging for an extra cost, so make sure to plan for this in your budget as most are just cold showers!
Communal areas in the teahouses tend to be in the dining room, mostly heated by a hot stove in the room which get switched on around 5pm at night. These are the perfect place to meet other travellers, have a cup of tea and chat about the trek! Teahouses cost around NPR 500 – NPR 1200 (£3-£8), depending on how high up you are!
As we did this trek outside of peak season, all our teahouses were NPR 500 (£3) for a double room per night, however, once peak season hits they generally increase them or double the price.
Food and Drink Along The Trek.
After a long day of hiking through the mountains you’re bound to want a good hearty meal to fill you up! The teahouses along the Everest Base Camp Trek will have just what you need from small snacks to a good comforting meal. The menus are typically the same the full way along the trek, however, vary to each chef’s taste!
The most famous dish along the EBC trek is Dal Bhat! It’s a beautiful lentil stew filled with goodness to help you warm up after your day of hiking. Usually served with rice, some flatbreads and veggies, and is the go-to meal for most hikers along their journey. Often its refillable too, so you can get extra servings if you’re not full. Usually ranges from 600-1200 NPR (£4-£8) (The higher price being higher up the trek).
You can also normally get toast, omelettes, chips, and other Sherpa stews along the way which are always filling and tasty! Some teahouses even try to make a pizza!! It’s best to bring a few snacks with you as chocolate bars etc can get quite expensive the higher up you go. Buy some snacks in Kathmandu before you go! (Snickers can cost around NPR 500 (£3) each in some places higher up!)
What Should I Pack For The Trek?
Depending on what time of the year you are going will depend on what you need to bring! In the wintertime the temperature can get -15degrees or colder so you’re going to need to wrap up! During the warmer months, hiking outside will require sunscreen so you don’t burn, but it still might be chilly on the nighttime so double check the weather conditions before you pack.
Try and pack as light as possible. We chose to hike at the beginning of March, where the weather averages around 10 degrees during the day and around 0 – -2degrees on a nighttime. (At one of the highest points we stayed, it was -14 degrees on the night and snowed during the day.)
Our full packing breakdown can be found here, ‘Packing for Everest Base Camp Trek’. (We didn’t use a porter and carried everything ourselves)
Daytime Trekking
Layering up is key! You want a few base layers that are easy to take off and on, such as a moisture wicking long sleeve top, t shirt and a fleece/light down jacket. These are light and breathable and easy to adjust to the temperature outside. Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses too! Thin walking trousers or leggings are ideal for the first part of the hike, and we added a layer of warmer trousers when we got to higher altitudes.
It’s unlikely to rain in March, but we still took a waterproof outer jacket for an extra layer as the weather can change in an instant! You’ll need an outer jacket for when you’re closer to Base Camp when it gets a bit colder too. We took a couple of neck scarfs that can be used to cover your mouth and nose too. These can prevent you getting a bad cough due to the cold, but humid conditions of the trek. (Known by the locals as Khumbu Cough!)
Good hiking boots and comfy socks are also a must! Make sure you’ve worn them in plenty of time before you start the climb so you can avoid blisters as much as possible. Merino socks are the best ones to buy as they are very comfortable when you’re hiking for 8hours! These are the ones we used and prevented us from blisters the full way: Unisex Merino Wool Socks
Nighttime
You’ll still have quite a few layers on at nighttime as it can get pretty cold in the teahouses at night. We hired good quality sleeping bags (suitable to -10degrees) in Kathmandu before we set off to make sure we were warm enough. Along with sleeping bag liners which we brought, and a few layers of comfy clothes made sure we were cosy enough on a night.
There are not many options to clean your clothes higher up without paying quite a bit, never mind a hot shower, so be prepared to wear items of clothing for multiple days! I packed some tumble dryer sheets in my bag to keep my clothes smelling fresher along the way.
Should I Book a Guide and/or Porter?
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of April 2023, Nepal Tourism Board has released an official statement confirming that foreigners must hire an official guide or porter for their journey. This has been met with objections from the local authorities, however, you could face a fine of NPR 12,000 (£75) if found on the trail without an official guide. Read their new guidelines here.
If you’re trekking with a group, then porters will probably be organised for you within the cost of the expedition. Double check the weight that you can pack for them as this can differ.
Getting a Guide:
We travelled up to Everest Base Camp with a local guide. Our amazing guide was called Madan, and we booked him online before we set off for Kathmandu. Madan lived in Lukla and met us when we got off our flight from Kathmandu. He was very very knowledgeable about the culture, the mountains and how to stay healthy along the trek! During peak season, having a local guide can be very handy as most teahouses get booked up quickly if you’re the last to arrive, a guide will have places booked for you and will make sure you get dinner quickly too!
Getting a Porter:
Porters are the literal heroes of the Everest Base Camp trek. They are truly astonishing and transport most of the bulk of trekkers bags and equipment up the mountain, stopping with you at points along the way. They usually carry one bag per hiker at a maximum of about 10-15kg per person. This just depends on the porter as they all offer different services and we seen some carrying at least 35kg on their backs!
We chose not to use a porter as we only took small backpacks up with us and limited items. If you think you will need more items, then I would recommend hiring a porter as the hike is hard enough without having all your equipment on your back. Usually, your local guide can organise a porter for you if you ask.
If you choose a porter, make sure you take a day bag with you for essentials such as snacks, water and waterproof layers etc. A day backpack about 20litres should be enough for essential items.
Do I Need Any Visas or Permits?
Getting into Nepal usually requires a Visa, however, some nationals from certain countries can enter without one. Depending on how long you plan to stay for the Visa can cost between £25-£100. We chose the 30 days entry Visa as we planned on leaving Nepal not long after our trek. These Visas are multiple entry too, so you could go and visit somewhere else and come back into Nepal, aslong as your days haven’t expired!
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of April 2023, Nepal Tourism Board has released an official statement confirming that a TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System) will now be necessary to obtain before starting your trek. Read their new guidelines here.
For trekking any routes within the Everest Region, you will need three permits for entry! These can be organised in advance, or they can easily be purchased on the trail itself, so don’t panic if you left this until last minute. You will need your passport for these permits.
1- Khumbu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit
The cost for Foreign Nationals is NPR 2,000 per person (for the first four weeks). Anything over than four weeks is NPR 2,500 per person. This rate is the same for all foreigners.
This pass grants access for the whole Khumbu Region. You can obtain this permit at the starting point of the trek at Lukla. This permit is not available in Kathmandu.
2- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit
The cost for Foreign Nationals is NPR 3,000 per person, per entry (inc 13% VAT). For SAARC nationals, the cost is NPR 1,500, and for Nepalis, the entry fee is NPR. 100.
This permit is the gateway for you entering the National Park where Mount Everest is located. This entry permit can be bought on the trek, at the entry gate to the National Park, however, during high season there might be a long queue. We would suggest buying this permit before you start your hike at the Department of Tourism in Kathmandu.
3- TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System)
As of April 2023, you must obtain a TIMS card to trek to Everest Base Camp. The cost for foreigners will be NPR 2,000 per person and SAARC nationals, the cost is NPR 1,000. Buy this permit at the Department of Tourism Building or through an authorised trekking agency.
Check out ‘What Permits Do I Need For Everest Base Camp?’ for a full breakdown and information on them!
All permits can only be bought with Nepali currency only.
A General Itinerary of The Trek.
Day 1 – Kathmandu to Lukla to Phakding (1,400m – 2,860m – 2,610m) 3 Hours Trek
Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport to meet our guide and officially start the trek. After a long wait in the airport we made it to Lukla about 11am. We trekked from Lukla to Phakding which is where we spent our first night on the trail. This trek took us about 3hours and we went down in elevation around 200meters.
Day 2 – Phakding to Namche Bazaar (2,610m – 3,440m) 6/7 Hours Trek
After having breakfast at the teahouse in Phakding, we started our journey towards Namche Bazaar. This route was absolutely beautiful. Walking through the Sagarmartha National Park and across the rivers towards Namche was amazing. The tough part of the trek is a steep uphill to Namche which takes about 2hours. One you’re there you forget about how tired you are and take in the beautiful scenery of this amazing town.
Day 3 – Acclimatisation Day in Namche (3,440m – 3,880m – 3,440m) 3 Hours Trek
This was our first acclimatisation day. We hiked from Namche to a view spot for our first glimpse of Everest! From there we did a steep uphill hike to the Hotel Everest View Point. It was a steep hike but worth it for the views. Once we had a rest we came back down and had a chilled afternoon and evening in Namche.
Day 4 – Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,440m – 3,860m) 5 Hours Trek
One of our favourite treks was this day. You have views of Mount Everest most of the way, your walking through the valley for hours but there’s aways something new to look at and take pictures of at every turn. There is another very steep climb at the end of the trek which takes about 2hours, but as soon as your at the top, you have made it to Tengboche.
Day 5 – Tengboche to Dingboche (3,860m – 4,410m) 6 Hours Trek
A pretty nice flat trek most of the way. You walk through open fields, over the rivers and it starts to get a bit rocky. The views around are completely different to yesterdays trek. Trees don’t grow above 4,000m so the landscape changes pretty dramatically. Once you arrive you are surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in the world.
Day 6 – Acclimatisation Day in Dingboche (4,410m – 4,730m – 4,410m) 4 Hours Trek
On this trek we hiked through the Chukhung Valley. There was amazing views of the mountain Ama Dablam, and the ridge in front of Mount Everest. Including the mountains, Lhotse and Nuptse. We even got to see the peak of Makalu in the distance. After a stop for lunch we headed back down to spend the night in Dingboche.
Day 7 – Dingboche to Lobuche (4,410m – 4,940m) 4/5 Hours Trek
A small uphill at the beginning but then a long flat walk for most of the journey. Lots of eagles flying around on this part of the trek as most of the land is bare without the trees. After a steep uphill climb you reach the memorial site for the hikers that have lost their lives on the mountain. Once you have had a look about and a rest, its a short walk to reach Lobuche.
Day 8 – Lobuche to Gorekshep to Everest Base Camp (4,940m – 5,164m – 5,364m) 4 Hours Trek
Today is the day all your hard work pays off and you finally get to to visit Everest Base Camp! After a short walk from Lobuche to Gorekshep about 2hours, we stopped for a cup of tea before heading to the base camp. It’s about and hours walk and a very rocky and up and down trail, but you will be able to see Mount Everest, the base camp and the Khumbu ice fall very quickly! After we took a break and lots of pictures we headed back down to Gorekshep to stay the night.
Day 9 – Kala Patthar View Point to Pangboche (5,644m – 3,985m) 9 Hours Trek
We set off at 6am for the view point to catch the sunrise over Mount Everest, it was an extremely tough and vertical hike to the top about 2hours. After taking some picture we had breakfast in Gorekshep and then set off for a very long day of hiking back down to Pangboche. The trek back down was mostly down hill with some slight inclines along the way and took us about 7 hours.
Day 10 – Pangboche to Namche Bazaar (3,985m – 3,440m) 7 Hours Trek
Todays trek was a very tough trek. There are two very steep climbs on the way back and some very steep decent’s too which are hard on the knees. The views are absolutely amazing as you make your way back through the valley as the tree covered mountains and rivers are back in view. We arrived in Namche and had a wander around the shops in the centre.
Day 11 – Namche Bazaar to Lukla (3,440m – 2,860m) 7/8 Hours Trek
Another long day making your way back to the beginning of the trail. The views are again beautiful at every corner and you see things you didn’t notice on the way up. There are a couple of steep climbs along the ay back up to the Sagarmartha National Park entrance and one last steep climb coming back up to Lukla. Once we arrived in the teahouse in Lukla we were definitely feeling tired, we had a few celebratory beers with our guide and some local food.
Day 12 – Flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla
Just like we had only just arrived we found ourselves back on the flight to Kathmandu. Reminiscing over the past 12days and how happy we were that we achieved what we set out to do we got our flight with no issues and landed in Kathmandu early morning. Ready for a full days rest back in the city!
Your Trek!
Hopefully this blog has helped you with planning your trip to Everest Base Camp and give you an insight into our trip too! Enjoy yourself and have an amazing experience hiking to the bottom, of the top of the world like we did! Check out our other blogs for more in-depth information about the trek!
