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Everest Base Camp Trek Cost – Financial Considerations 

The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most iconic in the world. By retracing the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and countless other pioneers, the Everest Base Camp Trek provides a unique opportunity to view the inner workings of the Khumba region.

Breathtaking views of Everest, cultural traditions of the local Sherpas and sightseeing in the Sagarmatha National Park are just some of the highlights of the amazing trek.

Getting to the region and completing the Everest Base Camp Trek involves various costs ranging from international airfares to park permits and tour guides.

This article will detail all the major Everest Base Camp Trek costs involved with the expedition to help you budget and ultimately have an enjoyable and safe trek to the base camp of the highest mountain in the world.

Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

Below is an estimation of the cost to trek to Everest Base Camp. The estimation includes all costs, including international flights, visas and permits, insurance, equipment, tour operator fees and other miscellaneous costs.

Please note: you could reduce the cost by trekking independently, but will then need to arrange all the logistics for your trek, self-guide and make all accomodation and travel arrangements. We estimate that after international airfare costs, independent trekkers save approximately $400-$700.

Cost Estimated Value
International Travel $500-$1000
Visas and Permits $100
Insurance $120
Equipment $200-$500
Tour Operators $1300-$1600
Miscellaneous Costs $200
Total Costs $2500-$3500

International Travel

everest-base-camp-trek-cost-kathmandu
Typically, airfares and related taxes will form a large chunk of the total cost of the trek. Reaching the remote nation of Nepal often requires two flights with the first generally flying into the Middle East, China or India and the second flight connecting to Kathmandu airport.

Depending where you are departing from and when you are travelling, the flights will cost somewhere between $500 and $1000. Flights departing from Europe will be in the lower cost range and those form North America in the higher range.

Booking in advance is highly recommended, especially for treks planned during the peak seasons of Feb-May and Sept-Nov. An early booking will also give you plenty of time to train hard before you take on the trek!

Once in Nepal you will need to take an internal flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla Airport) which will cost approx. $400 return (including the cost of your guide). This cost is often included in your trek price (see below)

You can trek to Everest Base Camp without flying to Lukla, however, this necessitates a 6-8 hour bus ride or taxi from Kathmandu to Jiri, and will cost approx. $10 each way. From Jiri the trek to Everest Base Camp is lengthened by 3-4 days.

Visas and Permits

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Nepal requires a visa for tourists from all countries excluding India, but this visa does not have to be organised or bought in advance and can simply be purchased on arrival in Kathmandu. The price of visas start at US$25 for a 15-day multiple entry and go up to US$40 and US$100 for 1 month and 3 month visas respectively.

On average the Everest Base Camp Trek takes 14 days (incl. pre and post nights in Kathmandu), so it is advised to purchase the 1 month multiple entry visa to be certain that you won’t overstay your welcome!

Two permits are required for the trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp; the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS card) and the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. It is recommended to go through a tour operator in which case all permits will be obtained for you and included in the tour cost. If you decide to trek independently the combined cost of the permits will be around $50.

Insurance

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Personal travel insurance is not offered by most tour operators but is not a large cost in the greater scheme of things. We advise taking out travel insurance that will cover basic events such as cancelled flights and lost baggage in addition to trekking insurance that will cover medical expenses and emergency evacuations. You will need to find an insurance provider who will cover you for trekking up to 6,000m. A 30-day insurance policy is likely to cost around $150. See our Everest Base Camp travel insurance recommendations.

Equipment

everest-base-camp-trek-cost-gear

The cost of equipment needed for the trek is highly variable and largely depends on how much of it you already own and if you are wanting to hire or buy the rest. The basics that you will need to bring include a cold weather sleeping bag, thermal clothing, hiking boots, trekking poles, a backpack and duffle bag, a warm waterproof jacket, gloves, sunglasses, a peak cap and a beanie.

Buying the full list of equipment from scratch will set you back as much as $2,000 but most people tend to own some or most of the equipment listed so the cost tends to be a few hundred dollars instead. We recommend using good quality worn-in shoes and comfortable clothing as there is nothing worse than getting blisters on day 1 of the trek!

Read our detailed Everest Base Camp equipment check list.

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Tour Operators

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The biggest single cost of the trip to Everest Base Camp will be the tour operator as they provide almost all logistical services, will provide a guide and arrange for board and lodging needed for a successful trek.

In addition, most operators will meet you at Kathmandu airport and provide hotel accommodation in Kathmandu for before and after your trek. After that they will organise your domestic flight to Lukla as well as the related transport to and from the airports.

On the actual trek, all teahouse accommodation and permits and passes needed will be arranged and paid for by the operator in advance, and guides will ensure your safety while simultaneously enlightening you about the history and cultures of the surrounding area.

All the amenities provided by tour operators allow for a smooth, relaxing and enjoyable trek without the hassle or worry of permits, logistics, flights and the rest. Both local and Western operators cover the trek so there is a wide range of service quality and prices available to choose from.

Cheaper, local agents will offer their services from as little as $700, but be careful as costs like permits, flights, transfers ect. might not be included and quality of service / guides is often questionable. Large local operators or international operators with ground teams will charge in the region of $1,000 to $2,000.

We recommend spending around $1,200-$1500 for a well-priced and safe trek that will let you enjoy the beauty of the region. This should be an all-inclusive trek (including internal flights and hotels pre and post your trek, but will usually exclude food on the trek).

For food and drinks on the trek we recommend budgeting around $20-$30 a day. For a 12 day trek this would come in at around $250-$350. Almost all teahouses on the Everest Base Camp trek these days have relatively sophisticated menus and food options.

Miscellaneous Costs

everest-base-camp-trek-cost-tips

Tipping guides and tour staff is customary in Nepal although the amount you tip is entirely at your discretion.

Guides and porters often spend weeks away from their families to help tourists navigate the mountain so they really appreciate the little bit of extra income a tip provides.

Most operators will recommend a $15 tip per day per group for a guide and $8 tip per day per group for a porter. As a rough estimate you should pay about 10% of your trek price (tour price less flights/lodges/food).

Teahouses will charge for wifi use, hot showers, snacks and electronic charging, so in addition to food and drink money, we recommend bringing $100-$200 in cash to cover any spontaneous buys.

Total Cost

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With a bit of basic maths skills, you can see that someone travelling from Europe or North America can expect to pay around $2,500-$3,500 in total. For this price, you are guaranteed an Everest Base Camp Trek that is sure to rank among some of the best experiences in your lifetime.

Tags: How much does it cost to trek to Everest Base Camp, Everest Base Camp Trek Cost, Cost to trek to Everest Base Camp

Mark Whitman


Hi, I'm Mark! Welcome to EBC Trek Guide - the Web's No.1 Trekking Guide to Everest Base Camp. I have trekked all over Nepal, but the Everest region remains my favourite. I hope you find all the answers you are looking for on this site. If you have any questions don't hesitate to drop a comment below! Happy Trekking!

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  1. Hi there,
    Im going to EBC now at the beginning of September. Thankyou so much for your detailed kit list, I found it a lot more beneficial than the list provided by my tour company.

    I just wanted to ask about currency. Im travelling from the Uk so would you recommend bringing USD in small denominations throughout the trip, Bank of England notes to exchange in Katmandu or just withdraw local currency from an Atm. I note i will need USD for my visa. Thanks so much 🙂

    1. Hi Cathy, I generally use ATMs when I travel to draw cash. I find they are often cheaper or about the same price of exchanging into local currency. You will however need some dollars on arrival or your Visa and it’s always worth having a few extra for the first day. All the best!

      1. Hi Mark, thanks for all the info! We are doing the EBC trek in May 2019 and have heard the Tribhuwan airport will be periodically closed from April-June overnight, so our tour company needs to drive us to the Ramechhap airport to fly to Lukla. We arrive at 8 pm and will be driving to the other airport at 2 am so barely have any time in Kathmandu. With respect to obtaining cash from ATMs, I have heard it is difficult to find working ATMs once we fly to Lukla and start the trek. Would you happen to know if there are ATMs at the airport we could use (albeit I’m sure at a worse rate) or if we for sure will be able to access cash in Namche? Thank you so much!!

        1. Hi Sam, there are cash machines at Tribhuwan airport. Failing that I recommend bring dollars which you can exchange in Kathmandu or in Namche.

  2. Hi, great information. We are planning a trip To Everest Base Camp in the end of March 2019 from US. Any recommendations about a local tour co?

  3. Hi. Thanks for your website really informative. I am planning an ebc trek but I’m happily to go solo but I would like to get to chukkung and summit island peak but I would like to use a guide or possibly join a group there and hire all necessary equipment to do so. Is this possible and could you recommend any guides I could use? Thanks Chris

    1. Hi Chris, in terms of gear rental there is a rental store in Chukkung where you can rent all the gear you need for Island Peak – ice axe, crampons, hard shell shoes, harness, carabiners etc. In terms of an experienced guide this is more challenging. Unless you are an experienced climber I would recommend taking an experienced guide. You may be able to find one in Namche, otherwise I recommend contacting a respectable company to arrange this segment of the trek for you.

    1. Hi Karen, in terms of flights, I’m not sure how much it would cost to get from Malaysia to Kathmandu, probably around $800 or so. The trek itself can range from $750 on the low end up to $2500 on the top end. It really depends on whether you plan to trek independently or with a tour operator – and what type of tour operator you decide to go with. For a quote, check out: https://ebctrekguide.com/go

  4. I’m planning a EBC trek within the next two years. I want to make sure my experience is the best it can be. I’m looking into different tours. Anyone have excellent recommendations??

  5. I’m going to EBC from 2 October – 19 October by myself. If anyone wants to come and make a group for going there, I’m glad to connect with you. ?‍♂️ (We can find a guide and share price together)

  6. Hi, I am planning to do everest base camp. How hard is it to find place for accommodation as you go higher for the everest base camp.

    1. Hi Ashim, there are loads of villages and teahouses on the standard trek to EBC. Admittedly teahouses start to get a little thin the higher you go, but generally there is always accommodation availability in each village.

  7. Hi Mark,
    Thanks for the detailed info on your site. I hope to make it to Nepal by Spring of 2021. Preferred going this year, however all travel plans have been postponed due to the virus. I pray you and the people of Nepal are safe and healthy.
    Cheers!

  8. Hi Mark, Thanks a lot for the detailed info. In your article budgeting I can see Insurance is $120. Where as when I check on the worldnomad site. The quote is around $460. I want it only for EBC trek. Can you please help.

    1. Hi, insurance prices vary quite dramatically by country of origin. I also think premiums have gone up in Nepal due to Covid and the long-standing issue of heli-evacs, which are quite common. You may want to try an alternative provider like Dogtag.

  9. Hi Mark..
    Can we go for ECB without guide or porter as an solo trekker. I wna do solo this trek and how many kind of permit
    We need there…
    Thanks

    1. Yes, you can hike to EBC without a guide or porter. You will need a Trekkers Information Management System card (TIMS) as well as a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. Tour operators will include both in their price and will obtain them for you beforehand. If you plan to trek independently, however, you will need $20 for the TIMS card and roughly $40 for the Sagarmatha entry permit.

      Make sure you bring at least four passport-sized photos in case they are needed for permits.

  10. I just want to stay at base camp,could I please get info on
    accommodations?

    Thanks,sincerely,

    Shawnean Gay

    1. Hi Shawnean, it is difficult to arrange accommodation at base camp as the camp is exclusively for climbers. However, if your trekking company has good contacts with climbing outfitters they can sometimes arrange a night at base camp in one of the climbing camps. This usually comes with a cost (around $150). Almost all trekkers hike to EBC from Gorak Shep, take a few pictures and then return to Gorak Shep. I recommend talking with your tour operator to see if they can arrange a night at EBC for you.

  11. Hello and thank you for all the helpful information. Is there a minimum age to do the EBC trek? My son is 10 and is very fit and sporty. We are an outdoorsy family and he has grown up with hiking and lots of sports. He reached the snow-covered summit of the UK's highest peak Ben Nevis without difficulty when he was eight. We are thinking of a trip when he is 11 or 12, is that permitted? Many thanks

    1. Hi Rebecca, there is no official minimum age, but I would recommend 10 as the youngest you want to go. I’m sure he’ll be up for the challenge! All the best!

  12. $15/day tip to guide is about 50% of their salary (or more if agency not really paying guide full amount). That is way more than the usual rate (for decades) of either "1 day pay extra per week" or "15%-20% of guide's daily rate x number of days" (these 2 are actually approx equal).

    Paying 50% of their daily salary is how agencies can get away with not paying staff appropriate rate, expecting tourists to top up missing portion.

    Tipping as a percent of trip cost makes no sense, as this cost usually includes Lukla flights, accommodation, and often/usually food. Why would one tip guide/porters based on flight/lodge/food costs?

    Experience after 15 treks and that of many of regulars….

    1. Hi Darryl, the $15/day is per group. So if you’re in a group of 5 people with one guide, that works out at $3/day per person. I agree that tips should not replace a living wage – this should be paid by the operator. The 10% is referencing the trek price and includes tips for the guide and porters. In other words if the trek price (excl. flights / teahouses / food) is around $500-$700, you should expect to tip around $50-$70. I appreciate this may be on the upper end of the tipping scale by Nepal standards, but I believe if one can afford the luxury of flying to Nepal, one can also afford $4-$5/day to tip their guide and porters.

    1. Hi Hannah, January is not the best month as it is the middle of winter. But if you are well prepared and have warm kit and the right mindset (and expectations), you should be just fine.

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