Trekking up to Mount Everest’s base camp is the closest to climbing the world’s highest peak without climbing it. And trekking up to the base camp is generally cheaper than climbing Everest. There is no fixed price for the Everest Base Camp Trek. The trip would cost anywhere from USD 1480 to USD 2000 depending on the route, the operator and services.
So, the total cost is primarily based by the needs of the trekkers, it is impossible to draw a direct conclusion and offer some flat rates. The cost of trekking in Nepal’s diverse mountainous terrains ranges from low-cost trips to very expensive luxury climbs, excluding international flights.
The overall cost of the Everest Base Camp Trek can be breakdown into many factors, which we will discuss briefly. For a clear understanding, we have presented a cost analysis of the EBC trek below. This is a rough estimate that various international luxury and mid-range operators will spend on your trekking holiday.
How Hard is the Everest Base Camp Trek?
It may sound like one of the hardest and most challenging tasks to trek around the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. However, the difficulty of Everest Base Camp trek is not as shocking as it feels.
Well, not to be confused with climbing to the top, the base camp trek takes you only to the starting point of the wildest Mount Everest excursion. From where you can get the most glorious views of the mountains.
About 40,000 trekkers in nearly visit the Khumbu area all year round to see and enjoy the magnificent view of the highest mountain.
It might be a little surprising to know that people of all ages and with all kinds of body structures have succeeded this trek. It can be achieved with a little determination and good preparation!
Required Visas and Permits for the Everest Base Camp
If you are in Nepal, you must obtain a visa which can be purchased when you arrive in Kathmandu (airport). Visas start at USD 25 for entry for 15 days, USD 40 for entry for one month and USD 100 for entry for three months.
You are advised to purchase the one-month entry to spend a few buffer days in case of unexpected delays. In addition to your visa, you must obtain two more permits during your stay in Nepal.
Travel Insurance for the Everest Base Camp
Most international travel agencies do not offer personal insurance. We advise you to take travel insurance covering basic events such as medical expenses and emergency evacuations.
You will need to find an insurance company that covers you up to 6000 m for trekking. A 30-day policy is likely to cost approximately USD 150.
Packing list for the Everest Base Camp Trek
The equipment required at the Everest Base Camp Trek can be expensive and depends on the amount of equipment you already own and if you want to rent or buy the rest of your equipment.
A backpack, a cold weather sleeping bag, thermal clothes, hiking boots, trekking poles, a warm waterproof jacket, gloves and a beanie are the basics you need. It is recommended to use worn-in boots of good quality to protect your feet. More information find out here.
Food & Drinks Cost on the EBC Trek
The cost of food and water varies by places. The higher you go, the more expensive food and water become. Surprisingly, teahouses along the trail have extensive menus with less options as you ascend higher.
The carbohydrate-heavy meal Dal Bhat is the most common food along the trail, and the price ranges from USD 5 at the start of the trek to USD 12 at Gorak Shep. Similarly, bottled water is no exception. 1-liter of bottled water will cost USD 1 and go as high as 4 USD.
The daily cost of food and water will be around USD 30 to USD 40 on average. Vegetarian dishes are also much less expensive and are considered to be fresher and healthier.
Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp
The best time to trek to the Everest Base Camp is from March to May or from late September to November. These two seasons are the mostly dry and usually have clear mornings and cloudy evenings. The spring season is when the base camp of Everest is full of climbers who try to climb Everest.
If you want to cross paths with climbers and feel the buzz in the base camp, it’s a great time to go. Base Camp is empty in the fall except for trekkers to their final destination.
During October the weather is warm and sunny mornings, cloudy afternoons and cool nights. Spring and fall are popular, so be ready to share the path with other trekkers, local people, yak trains and porters.
International Flights
Your airfare and related taxes normally account for a substantial part of the total cost of your trek. Depending on where you depart and when you travel, flights cost between USD 530 and USD 1000.
You are strongly advised to book in advance, especially when you travel during the peak seasons of Feb – May and Sept – Nov.
You should also consider paying a little extra to have a flexible ticket that allows you to change the dates. This is important because any delay in your journey may mean that you miss your flight.
Miscellaneous Costs
As guides and porters often stay away from their families for several weeks, it is always helpful when you tip your guide and porter. Although your tip is entirely up to you, you should give your guide a daily rate of about 10 percent of your tour price.
Guest houses charge Wi-Fi, hot showers and electronic charging. In addition to food and drink money, it is therefore recommended that you bring USD 100 to USD 200 in cash to cover any random purchases.
Final Say
Everest Base Camp Trek is pretty easy and affordable. We presented an overview of the budget for the Everest Base Camp trek in this article.
We are not a luxury company in terms of price, but in terms of the services we provide, which include all land costs, fully personalized service, and a day tour of Kathmandu. We have staff with first-hand knowledge. The majority of them have completed all of the Himalayan Everest and Annapurna treks as well as multiple mountain climbs.
Regardless of the number of climbers or the time of year, our trips are guaranteed to run. In addition, regardless of the number of climbers booked, the price of our trips will remain the same.
So, Why Himalaya Discovery should be your next adventure partner? We have numerous reasons to support our position in order to persuade our loyal guests to keep coming back to us.
However, if you choose to stay in hotels in deluxe and enjoy delicacies, your costs will increase. If you have anything in your mind, please do not hesitate to ask us.
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