Everest Base Camp Trek Guideline

Trip information

·         Location: Nepal

·         Itinerary: Trekking

·         Duration: 11 to 15 days

·         Is trekking to Everest Base Camp complex: Quite difficult

·         Spirit Of Travel: Mountains, hiking, people, wide-open spaces, nature and photography, meeting people and culture

·         Accommodation: Hotel, mountain refuge, lodge

General overview

The trek to Everest Base Camp, one of the most popular in Nepal, is undoubtedly the most desired route for trekking enthusiasts. The hike to Everest Base Camp, which can be done from Lukla airfield in about 11 to 15 days, offers an incredible panorama of the Roof of the World and the most beautiful mountains on earth to the brave ones.

Itinerary: The Stages at A Glance

Let's look at a summary of the various stages along this fantastic Himalayan trek to the base of the world's highest mountain.

· Day 1 - Kathmandu

· Day 2 - Visit Kathmandu

· Day 3 - Flight to Lukla - Start of the trek

· Day 4 - Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3 440m)

· Day 5 - Trekking around Namche Bazaar

· Day 6 - Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3 860m)

· Day 7 - Tengboche to Dingboche (4 410m)

· Day 8 - Rest and hiking day in Dingboche

· Day 9 - Dingboche to Lobuche (4 910m)

· Day 10 - Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,140m) - Base Camp on Mt. Everest Region(5,365m)

· Day 11 - Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5 600m) then Pheriche

· Day 12 - Pheriche to Namche

· Day 13 - Namche Bazaar to Phakding

· Day 14 - Phakding to Lukla

· Day 15 - Return to Kathmandu

· Day 16 – Departure

Organized trekking in Nepal to Everest Base Camp includes:

1. Hotel accommodation,

2. Full board plus additional snacks,

3. Private transfers,

4. Sagarmatha National Park permit,

5. TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) card,

6. Trekking equipment (sleeping bag, down jacket, etc.. ),

7. Certificate of appreciation after successful trekking,

8. Compression first aid kit,

9.  All local administrations and taxes,

10. Certified trekking guide in the English language,

11. Medical/baggage insurance and covid-19.

The price includes:

· 3 nights in Kathmandu - 3-star hotel based on BB (air conditioning, tv, wifi, hot water, toilet service) - Eco Hotel in the heart of Thamel district

· Welcome dinner and farewell dinner

· Tims card and entrance fees for Sagarmatha National Park, permit card for the trek

· 12 nights with the trek night package with three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

· Round trip flight Kathmandu Lukla for the group and the team at your service

· Meals and wages for porters

· First aid

· Your guide

· 1 porter for 2 trekkers - 12 kilos per person

The price does not include:

· Drinks

· Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu

· The equipment

· Battery charger, hot water, wifi

·  Private driver - Click here to book your  airport transfer with private chauffeur (affordable and reliable)

· Tips (for the guide and porter) - At your convenience

· Visa for Nepal

· International flights to Lukla

· Your insurance for the trekking activity with heli-lift (mandatory)

Price for Everest Base Camp:

1.480 € per person (from 2 to 6 persons)

1.320 € per person (7 to 10 persons)

What are the stages of the Everest Base Camp Trek?

The classic stages of the Everest Base Camp trek are:

1. Lukla - Phakding

2. Phakding - Namche Bazaar (+1-day acclimatization)

3. Namche Bazaar - Tengboche

4. Tengboche - Dingboche

5. Dingboche - Lobuche

6. Lobuche - Base Camp - Gorak Shep

7. Gorak Shep - Kala Patthar - Pheriche

8. Pheriche - Namche Bazaar

9. Namche Bazaar - Lukla

• Preparations

Trek permit, good season, organization, health. all the elements to know to prepare for your trek.

• Visas and permits

To go to Nepal, you only need a passport that is still valid for six months and a tourist visa, issued at the Kathmandu airport, with a passport photo (bring two). 25 € for 15 days, 40 € for 30 days, 100 € for 90 days, payable in euros.

• Trekking permit

You'll need a Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card, issued by the Nepal Tourism Board, which is located on Exhibition Road, east of Thundikhel: 2,000 rupees (NPR, or €17) through an agency, 4,000 NPR (€34) for individuals. 

Two photos are required (free booth in the office for the stunned). If an agency organizes your trek, it will take care of these formalities.

• Entrance to the national park

An entrance fee (NPR 3,500, €30) is required at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, at the Monjo checkpoint.

• Local tax of Khumbu

Since the fall of 2017, local authorities in Khumbu have implemented an additional tax of 2000 NPR (17 €).

When is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp?

The two best seasons to visit Nepal are spring (March-April) and autumn (October-November-early December). From June to the end of September, the monsoon starts, except for some regions like Mustang or Dolpo, which remain more preserved.

The snow is still very present at the beginning of the season (March-April), and some high passes can be difficult or even impossible to cross.

Which equipment for the Everest Base Camp trek?

It is (very) cold in the Everest valley! It would help if you were perfectly equipped. Start with a sleeping bag around -10 °C comfort, ideally (even if you sleep in the lodge, without heating).

You should also bring a heavy down jacket, which is helpful in the evenings and the mornings when you start with a headlamp, as well as warm gloves, a hat, category four sunglasses and sun protection, as well as the classic equipment for (high) mountain hikes (waterproof and breathable jacket, tall or mid-top shoes)

How to pack for the Everest Base Camp trek?

The complexity of the trekking bag for the base camp is mainly due to your ability to take the right clothes against the cold.

You will spend four nights at more than 4900m, and at this altitude, in November, it is -10°C in the lodges. So, it is essential to bring a sleeping bag for -10°C.

Here is what you can wear on the major areas of the Everest Base Camp trek:

2500m - 3500m (Lukla, Namche Bazaar,)

· Morning: t-shirt + polar

· Day: t-shirt

· Evening: t-shirt + fleece + down jacket + hat

· Night: sleeping bag -10°C

3500m - 4500m (Tengboche, Dingboche, Thorung Phedi)

· Morning: long sleeved t-shirt + fleece + down jacket + hat + gloves + scarf

· Day: long sleeve t-shirt + fleece + hat

· Evening: long sleeved t-shirt + fleece + down jacket + hat + gloves + scarf

· Night: sleeping bag -10°C + fleece + hat + scarf

+4500m (Lobuche, Gokyo Lakes, Gorak Shep, Dzonglha, Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar)

· Morning: thermal top & bottom + fleece + down jacket + gore-tex + thick hat + thick gloves + scarf

· Day: thermal top & bottom + fleece + gloves

· Evening: thermal top & bottom + fleece + down jacket + gore-tex + thick hat + thick gloves + scarf

· Night: thermal top & bottom + fleece + thick hat + thick gloves + scarf + -10°C sleeping bag

Small Tip: You had better bring book with you. It is great to read books on acclimating days.

Managing the cold on the base camp trek

Everything is fine at a high altitude during the day, even at 5000m. But as soon as the sun disappears, or when it hides behind a thick cloud mass, the cloudy group, the cold can become an absolute obsession.

Here are some tips on how to handle cold:

1. Drinking ginger tea. Ginger tea has many virtues. It stimulates the blood circulation

2. Wear a hat, even when sleeping.

3. Do not take a shower above 4000m, or even 3500m.

4. Order a thermos of hot water around 7 pm, and put the thermos in the comforter.

5. Get used to the cold for 1 to 2 months before leaving.

Where to sleep?

The tourist potential of Khumbu makes it the most equipped region of Nepal, with lodges and services of all kinds. 

You will have no difficulty finding a bed. They are now almost all equipped with blankets. However, beware of the high seasons (October and May), when places can be more expensive.

Camping is still possible, provided that you can carry (or have carried) your tent. Except for specific programs, no agency organizes treks in Khumbu under the tent.

Count between 1000 NPR per person (10 €) and per night in half-board in a low valley and 2000 to 3000 NPR (20 to 30 €) in altitude.

• Supply

In Khumbu, it is possible to find almost everything: food, clothes, and drinks. The only thing to remember is that prices rise (sharply!) with the altitude.

• Tipping

As in many countries, tipping is a tradition. Generally, in Nepal, porters earn around 700 NPR per day (6 €), a cook around 1300 NPR (11 €) and a guide or a sirdar from 2000 to 3000 NPR.

• Some health advice for Nepal

Any trip, especially if it takes place in a remote area or at altitude, requires prior consultation with your doctor. Only your doctor is authorized to issue a prescription for your travel medicine.

• Vaccines: No mandatory vaccines, but some are recommended: typhoid, hepatitis A and B, DT Polio.

• First-aid kit: broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-diarrhoea medication, water purification tablets (Micropur©), and Diamox© if you are prone to altitude sickness.

• Tip: Before going out on the adventure, ensure you're fully insured with a good travel insurance policy. Certain travel insurance firms specialize in providing coverage for hiking and trekking expeditions.

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Things to know

•  Do cell phones work in Khumbu?

There is little GSM in the Upper Khumbu, but the wifi in almost all the lodges (for 100 to 500 NPR, or 1 to 5 €, per half hour).

• Bring cash with you

Bring enough cash for the Khumbu because withdrawals are complicated (an ATM in Namche, when it works.). Exchange, on the other hand, is accessible everywhere. There are ATMs in Kathmandu (especially at the entrance to Thamel).

•  Can you charge your batteries?

It is possible to recharge camera and cell phone batteries in all lodges for a fee that increases with altitude. Count 200 NPR (about 2 €) at Lukla and up to 1 000 NPR (about 10 €) in the high lodges.

•  Cancellation

If for any reason, you must cancel your trip, the amounts you have paid will be refunded subject to the following deductions:

· More than 30 days before departure, a fixed sum of 50€ per person will be retained

· From 30 to 21 days before departure, the amount of the deposit paid will be retained (30% of the total amount of the file)

· From 20 to 14 days before departure, 50% of the total amount will be retained

· From 13 to 7 days before departure, 75% of the total amount will be retained

· Less than seven days before departure, 100% of the total amount will be retained

• Do you need a guide for Everest Base Camp Trek?

No. A guide is unnecessary because the path is simple to follow, and many people ask for directions during peak seasons.

•  Can a beginner do Everest Base Camp Trek?

In terms of difficulty, the trek is classified as Moderate. However, the Everest Base Camp Trek may be difficult for a beginner. However, the hike may be done with minimal physical and mental conditioning.

Are you ready to go? International air tickets

Flights to Nepal from Europe (from 600 to 1,000 € depending on the season) necessarily make a stopover in the Arabian Peninsula (Qatar Airways, Oman Air or Emirates), Delhi (Air India) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).

At Kathmandu airport (Tribhuvan), you will have no problem reaching your drop-off point, as cab drivers will mob you as you leave the building. Count 800 NPR to get Thamel. Exchange possible at the airport or in Thamel when you arrive.

Local transportation

By air: Lukla airfield is the fastest way to reach the Everest trails. It costs 150 € for a round trip from Kathmandu domestic airport.

By bus: If you choose to travel by road, you have two options: Jiri (one day's journey, about NPR 1,500, or €13) if you are considering the entire historical route, from where you will reach Lukla, in 8-9 days of walking; or, recently, Phaplu, now accessible by bus, and three days from Lukla on foot.

The itinerary in detail

• Day 1 - Kathmandu

Arrival day. Transfer to the hotel to pack, rest and welcome dinner with your guide.

• Day 2 - Visit Kathmandu

The visit is carried out with a guide to the various places (Durbar, the temple of Swayambunath, a temple of Pashupatinath, the stupa of Boudhanath,.)

• Day 3 - Flight to Lukla - Start of the trek

The departure will be early. You will take a scenic flight to Lukla. Arriving in Lukla, you will descend to the Dudh Kosi River, which takes you to Phakding (2610m) - in 3 to 4 hours.

• Day 4 - Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3 440m)

For this second day of the trek, a difference in altitude of 812 meters is at the rendezvous. The slope is quite steep to get to the capital of Khumbu. The high peaks begin to reveal themselves throughout these 5 hours of walking. Sometimes, it is possible to see Everest halfway.

• Day 5 - Trekking around Namche Bazaar

Acclimatization day to prepare for the high altitudes. During this day, you will hike around Namche Bazaar to Thamo. You will have free time to rest and discover the capital of Khumbu. This will also be free time for you to stroll around and get inspired by the atmosphere. You will find many small shops.

• D6 - Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3 860m)

This will be an opportunity to cross the river on the footbridge and walk through the forest - 5 hours walk

• D7 - Tengboche to Dingboche (4 410m)

5 hours of walking.

 • D8 - Rest and hiking day in Dingboche

On the second day of mandatory acclimatization, you will hike for about 4 hours in the valley. The path is easy. From there, the south face of Lhotse (8 516m) and the north face of Ama Dablam (6 856m) are visible.

• Day 9 - Dingboche to Lobuche (4 910m)

You will cross the Dughla Pass (4,830m). The afternoon will be profitable to rest in the best possible conditions for the next day.

• D10 - Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,140m) - Base Camp on Mt. Everest (5,365m)

You will return to EBC and spend the night at Gorak Shep, at the foot of Kala Patthar. On one side, the Khumbu ice tongue, and on the other side, a grey sandy landscape - 5 to 7 hours

• D11 - Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5 600m) then Pheriche

The climb to Kala Patthar is tough. It can be windy, which makes the experience more frigid. When arriving at the top, the most beautiful view of Everest is the region's mountains. This magnificent viewpoint is an incredible panoramic view of this high mountain landscape—a good day of 6 hours of walking.

• Day 12 - Pheriche to Namche

6 hours of walking

• D13 - Namche Bazaar to Phakding

4 hours walking

• D14 - Phakding to Lukla

• D15 - Return to Kathmandu

From Lukla, we will fly back to Kathmandu. For example, you will have some free time to wander around the Thamel district. We will have dinner together to complete the trek and say goodbye.

•  Day 16 - Departure

Transfer from the hotel to the airport with AirportTransfer.com.