The 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek takes you through Nepal's beautiful Khumbu Valley on the classic route to the foot of the world's tallest mountain. This famous EBC Trek offers an amazing journey, where you'll experience authentic Sherpa culture while reaching the base camp of Mount Everest at 5,364 meters.
The Everest Base Camp Trek stands as Nepal's most famous mountain adventure, taking you deep into the Khumbu region where the Sherpa people have called these valleys home for generations. This EBC Trek follows the same path that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used during their historic first ascent, giving you a chance to walk in the footsteps of legendary mountaineers while experiencing life among the world's tallest peaks.
Your adventure begins with an exciting flight to Lukla, then continues up valleys carved by ancient glaciers as you pass through traditional Sherpa villages. You'll cross suspension bridges over rushing rivers, encounter yaks carrying supplies, and walk beneath colorful prayer flags that flutter in the mountain wind. The sounds of yak bells, boots on rocky trails, and wind through the peaks become your daily soundtrack as you trek through forests, alpine meadows, and rocky landscapes with Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the perfect pyramid of Ama Dablam towering above you.
The real magic happens when you meet local families along the way. Sherpa culture has flourished in these high altitudes for centuries, built around ancient trading paths, deep Buddhist traditions, and a remarkable ability to thrive in extreme mountain conditions. Each night you'll stay in teahouses run by local families who welcome you with genuine warmth and share their simple yet incredibly generous hospitality.
This Everest Base Camp trek peaks at Kala Patthar at 5,645 meters, so you'll need good endurance for daily walks and the patience to let your body adapt gradually to the thin air. As you make your way through this journey, you'll find yourself deeply connected to a landscape formed by untamed nature, centuries-old traditions, and the remarkable resilience of the people who call these mountains home.
This 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek gives you 12 days of actual trekking plus two well-placed rest days that help your body adjust to the altitude and avoid getting sick. Your adventure begins with an exciting mountain flight into Lukla at 2,860 meters, and from there you start following the fast-flowing Dudh Koshi River as it winds through the lower Khumbu valley.
In those first few days, you'll be walking through beautiful pine forests and small mountain villages before you reach Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters. This bustling town is often called the gateway to Everest Base Camp, and it's where your real mountain adventure truly begins. Here you take your first acclimatization day, typically with a hike to Everest View Hotel, where you get your first clear glimpse of Mt Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam on clear days.
From Namche, the trail climbs through forested ridges and small monastery villages until you reach Tengboche Monastery at 3,860 meters. This sacred site sits directly beneath Ama Dablam's summit and serves as the most important monastery in the entire Everest region, offering a perfect example of Himalayan Buddhism.
As you continue higher, the landscape opens into alpine meadows and rocky moraines left by ancient glaciers. The trail leads you through Pangboche village and then up to Dingboche at 4,410 meters, where you get your second rest day. This break gives you a chance to hike up Nangkartshang Hill for some amazing views of the Himalayas, including Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, and Thamserku stretching out before you.
The final stretch takes you through valleys that become more and more rugged as you climb higher, passing through Lobuche before reaching Gorak Shep at 5,164 meters. This will be your last place to sleep before base camp. That same afternoon, you'll walk along the rocky trail next to the Khumbu Glacier until you finally arrive at Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters. Standing there in the shadow of Everest with the massive Khumbu Icefall towering above you is a moment you'll never forget.
The next morning, you wake up in the dark and start climbing to Kala Patthar at 5,645 meters. This is as high as you'll go on the whole trek, and it gives you the clearest views of Everest's summit, with the sharp rocky peaks of Nuptse and Pumori all around you.
Once you reach this amazing spot, you head back down through Pheriche and Namche Bazaar and end up back in Lukla. By then, you've walked a complete loop through some of the most beautiful high mountain country in all of Nepal. This Everest Trek route follows a gradual ascent pattern that allows proper acclimatization while showcasing everything the Khumbu has to offer: dense forests, massive glaciers, rushing rivers, ancient monasteries, and authentic Sherpa culture.
All of our routes include complete access to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, but we shape the overall experience to match your chosen option. Whether you want to spend more time in the mountains, take a quicker return journey, or explore beyond the standard route, we have created the perfect Everest Trek for your goals.
Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lakes Trek - 17 Days
We consider this our most scenic and diverse route to Everest. After guiding you along the classic trail to Namche Bazaar, we branch off into the beautiful Gokyo Valley, famous for its turquoise lakes and amazing glacier viewpoints.
We then cross Cho La Pass at 5,420 meters and rejoin the main base camp route. We also climb Gokyo Ri, where our views of Mt Everest, Makalu, and Cho Oyu stretch across the horizon.
When you want variety and extra challenge, we recommend this route as our top option.
Everest Base Camp Short Trek - 13 Days
When you have limited time but want the complete experience, we offer the Everest Base Camp Short Trek, which keeps all the essential trail highlights while reducing the time spent in Kathmandu.
We maintain our acclimatization stops in Namche and Dingboche, and we still bring you to both Base Camp and Kala Patthar. We design this as our well-structured EBC Trek for fit trekkers who prefer a more focused adventure.
Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek - 15 Days
We designed this Everest Base Camp Trek Package to follow the same trail to base camp but with upgraded accommodation and services. After completing your trek, you stay in the best available lodges with superior facilities and enhanced comfort throughout your journey.
We suggest this option if you want the full Everest trek but with some extra comfort along the way. You get better food, more comfortable places to sleep, and additional team members to help you out, which makes the whole mountain experience much more enjoyable.
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Return Trek - 12 Days
We created this EBC Hike to follow the same trail to base camp, but save you two walking days on the return journey. After completing our visit to Kala Patthar, we will fly back from Gorak Shep to Lukla by helicopter. We then return to Kathmandu the following day.
We recommend this when you want the complete trekking experience but prefer a faster return. Our aerial views on the flight back are exceptional, particularly after completing the climb on foot.
We at Escape Himalaya operate all our Everest region routes with complete support from our experienced guides, reliable porters, and our dedicated 24/7 coordination team.
We plan every trek with your safety at high altitude as our top priority. We're always ready to slow down or speed up based on how you're feeling and how well your body is adjusting to the environment. You can count on our team to give you solid support throughout the whole Everest Base Camp trek so you stay safe and actually enjoy the experience.
Whether you decide to join one of our group treks or want to go with just your private trek, we'll make sure your trip is safe and we adapt to your needs.
If the provided schedule isn't suitable for you, we are able to create personalized travel arrangements according to your preferences and requirements.
Getting to Nepal Upon arrival in Nepal, an Escape Himalaya representative will meet you at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Our team members will be waiting in the arrivals area holding our company sign so you can easily find them. We'll help you with your bags and give you a private ride to your hotel in the Thamel area.
Getting Your Nepal Visa. You can get a visa when you arrive in Nepal at Tribhuvan International Airport or any other entry point. This visa lets you come and go multiple times and stay in Nepal for up to 150 days in one year.
To get your visa, you can fill out the tourist visa form online before you come or use the machines at the airport when you get there. Get your receipt with the barcode, then go to the immigration desk with your passport, arrival card-payment receipts, and the receipt from the online form. Submit your documents to an immigration officer. The visa fee is payable in Nepalese Rupees, US dollars, or other currencies.
You can also apply for your visa in advance at the Nepal Embassy in your country. Through this process, you can reduce the time you spend on immigration during your Everest Base Camp Trek Package.
The Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal is somewhere between moderate and tough, but most people can do it if they prepare well and get in good shape first. The EBC trek is a long walk to the highest places over 4,500 meters and usually takes 12 to 14 days, with about 6 to 7 hours of walking each day.
The Everest trek takes you through all kinds of different ground, with lots of uphill and downhill parts, plus rocky areas near glaciers. You need to have good stamina and be able to carry a backpack while you walk for hours each day.
On top of the physical stuff, you also need to be mentally tough to deal with the thin air and rough mountain conditions.
The weather in the Everest area changes fast and without warning, which makes this trek more exciting but also harder. The weather can shift quickly and cause flight delays from Lukla, heavy rain, strong winds, or even snow. Bad weather can also cause landslides, avalanches, and flooding in the area.
Even with all these challenges, if you follow a good 14-day plan that includes two rest days in Namche and Dingboche to help your body adjust, you can finish the trek without too much trouble.
The best times for a trek to Everest base camp are spring (March, April, May) and autumn/fall (September, October, November). Most people think these are the perfect months for trekking in Nepal. During these times, you get steady weather, clear mountain views, and great conditions for the EBC trek, but these are also when most tourists come.
Trekking in Other Times of Year:
Beginners can definitely finish the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal if they get ready for it properly and have the right attitude. People who are in decent shape and can walk for five to six hours a day can do this trek without needing any special mountain climbing skills.
At Escape Himalaya, we have successfully organized the Everest Base Camp Trek Package for teenagers and seniors in their late 60s and 70s, proving that age is not a limiting factor. What truly determines success on the Everest Trekking adventure is one's spirit, physical health conditions, and mental determination.
Trekking solo in Nepal's Everest region is officially permitted. But going alone has some real problems like figuring out all the travel details, finding places to stay up in the mountains, dealing with changing weather, and getting all your permits sorted out quickly.
Our team strongly recommends hiring a local guide to ensure your safety and minimize potential issues during your EBC trek. When you go with a guide, you get better help adjusting to the altitude with 2 rest days, quick help if something goes wrong, like needing a helicopter rescue, more flexibility, and a good plan for the Everest Base Camp trek that fits how fit you are.
Escape Himalaya only organizes guided Everest Trek adventures in Nepal, including all routes to Everest Base Camp.
Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are the primary entrance for trekkers heading to the Everest region, offering a quick yet thrilling way to begin your Everest Base Camp Trek. The flight to Lukla airstrip typically takes around 25 to 30 minutes, covering the 138-kilometer distance between Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla.
Three airlines fly this route: Tara Airlines, Summit Airlines, and Sita Air. These flights usually leave in the morning, starting around 6:00 AM and running until about 10:00 AM. But because the weather in the mountains changes so fast, flights get delayed or canceled a lot, especially in winter and monsoon season.
During peak Everest Trekking seasons (Spring and Autumn), flights to Lukla are often rerouted to Manthali Airport - Ramechhap, because of heavy air traffic at Kathmandu Airport. Trekkers must take a 4 to 5-hours drive from Kathmandu to Manthali airport for an early morning departure. In non-peak seasons, flights usually operate directly from Kathmandu.
Altitude sickness, also called Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS, happens when your body can't adjust to having less oxygen at high elevations during your Everest trek in Nepal.
You usually start feeling it above 2,500 meters, and you might get headaches, not feel like eating, have trouble sleeping, things look fuzzy, feel like throwing up, can't catch your breath, your heart beats fast, and you feel worn out.
While these problems are pretty normal, really bad cases can turn into serious lung problems (HAPE) or brain swelling (HACE). The risk of AMS while trekking to Everest Base Camp is significantly lower if prepared well before the trek, hydrating enough, and taking a calm pace during the hike.
To avoid mountain sickness during your EBC Trek, we recommend taking medicine to treat acute mountain sickness a day before climbing to high elevation, particularly at Namche Bazaar, until you reach high altitude areas.
If you get altitude sickness, our guide will check how you're doing with a small device, oximeter that measures your heart rate and oxygen levels, make you rest or go down to lower places, give you water and fluids, give you medicine like Diamox, and if it gets really bad, call our main office to get a helicopter to take you out.
Travel insurance is mandatory for the Everest Base Camp Trek because it saves you from paying a lot of money in emergencies, like if you get sick, hurt, or if your trip gets canceled. The EBC trek takes you to real high altitudes where the weather changes without warning and you're far from hospitals, so getting help can be tough.
Your travel insurance should cover getting sick or injured, accidents, emergency helicopter rescues, if you accidentally hurt someone or break their stuff, if your bags or gear get lost or stolen, if your trip gets canceled or flights get delayed, and someone you can call for help anytime, day or night.
Make sure your policy works for trekking up to at least 5,500 meters. Double-check that it covers those local flights too, because the flights from Lukla get canceled all the time due to bad weather on your Everest Base Camp trek.
To complete your Everest Base Camp Trek in 2025, you need the following permits:
The TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card is no longer required for Trek to Everest Base. After you complete your booking with Escape Himalaya, we will arrange all necessary trekking permits for your EBC Trek.
Hotel Stay in Kathmandu During your stay in Kathmandu (2 nights), you will be accommodated in a 3-star category hotel in the Thamel area, where all essential amenities like hot showers, Wi Fi, and electricity are available. Likewise, they provide a safe store, where you can leave extra items not required for the Everest Trekking and retrieve them after you return.
Mountain Accommodation Trekkers can find teahouses, guesthouses, lodges, and hotels as accommodation options along the Everest Base Camp Trek. In lower elevations, private rooms are readily available in most teahouses. We provide twin sharing rooms in the best available lodges, with attached bathrooms and hot showers at Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar for added comfort.
Local Sherpa people often run mountain lodges in the Everest region. The rooms usually have two single beds, simple furniture, and basic blankets so you can get some good sleep. Everyone eats together in the main dining room where trekkers hang out, share meals around a warm stove, and talk about Sherpa culture and their day on the trail.
You can get electricity and internet for extra money, and it's usually available near the dining area. The dining room stays warm with a wood burning stove, which feels really good when you come in cold from the high mountains.
Traveling with Escape Himalaya, you'll experience a wide range of delicious meals available along the EBC Hike route. The Everest Base Camp Trek Package price includes three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with tea or coffee, with dining options available from teahouse menus.
Breakfast Options: Tibetan bread, chapati, toast, French toast served with butter, jam, and vegetable curry. Other options include pancakes, porridge, and eggs in different styles.
Lunch and Dinner: Popular meals include Dal Bhat, a combination of steamed rice, lentils, vegetables, spinach, pickles, and gundruk, often served with unlimited refills during your Everest Trek. Momos, either steamed or fried dumplings, are a favorite among trekkers. Other common meals include garlic soup, pizza, Thukpa, and meat dishes.
Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals are available. We recommend informing us in advance if you have dietary restrictions for your Everest Base Camp Trekking journey.
Drinking Water on the Trek
Drinking water is accessible along the EBC Trek route. Staying hydrated during the trek is vital for maintaining your body's hydration level and avoiding mountain sickness at high altitudes. At least three to four liters of water should be enough for daily trekking.
Boiled water is the safest and most convenient option. Most guesthouses will serve it at some cost during your Everest Trek in Nepal. Cold, untreated tap water is free but not recommended.
Internet and Wi Fi are available at various points along the Everest Base Camp Trek, but signal is never 100% guaranteed. Most lodges and teahouses provide Wi Fi, though connection quality varies. As you reach higher during your EBC Hike, the cost increases. Wi Fi is unavailable at Everest Base Camp since there are no teahouses.
Mobile Network Coverage Mobile network coverage on the Everest Trekking varies depending on elevation, weather conditions, and location. In lower altitudes like Kathmandu, Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche Monastery, and Dingboche, network coverage is generally strong. Signal weakens, and in remote areas like Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp, connectivity becomes unreliable.
Two major mobile network providers operate in Nepal: Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell. NTC is recommended for the Everest region as it provides better coverage at high altitudes. SIM cards for both providers are available at Kathmandu Airport.
Electricity is available during Everest Base Camp Trekking, but it can be limited. The lower section of the trek runs on hydropower electricity, while upper section remote lodges depend on solar energy or generators that run only for few hours in the evening.
Charging stations for devices are near reception areas or dining halls. Teahouse owners charge around $3 to $7 per device depending on elevation during your EBC Trek. Carry a power bank with extra batteries and bring a universal travel adapter.
Trekkers can find modern Western style and Asian style squat toilets along the Everest Base Camp Trek. In lower altitudes like Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar, travelers can find modern flush toilets with hot shower facilities in some teahouses.
As you travel to higher elevations during your Everest Trek, toilet facilities become simpler. In places like Lobuche and Gorak Shep, there are shared squat toilets in guesthouses.
Everest Base Camp has no permanent bathrooms, so trekkers must use portable toilets. For personal hygiene, carry essential toiletries including soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, wet wipes, and other necessary items.
Laundry services are available at additional cost only at lower elevations like Namche Bazaar. Most teahouses along the EBC Hike route offer hand washing facilities, and some offer professional laundry services for a fee during your Everest Base Camp Trekking.
We provide all trekkers with sleeping bags, duffel bags, down jackets, and Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary map during the pre trip meeting at hotel in Kathmandu.
· General Items: Duffel bag (provided), day pack 20 to 22 liter, down jacket (provided), sleeping bag (provided), extra batteries, power bank, chargers, travel adapter, bag covers.
· Clothing: Sun hat, sunglasses with UV protection, scarf and headbands, headlamp, t shirts, fleece jackets, thermal tops, hiking pants, waterproof shell, hiking shorts, lightweight and heavyweight gloves, wool socks, waterproof trekking boots, casual shoes, gaiters.
· First Aid and Medications: Sunscreen high SPF, moisturizer, lip balm, cough syrup for Khumbu cough, mosquito repellent cream, and your personal medications for the Everest Base Camp Trek.
· Other Essentials: Passport, extra passport photos, reusable water bottle, toiletry kits, water purifier, large plastic bags, light towel, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, dry fruits and snacks, waterproof bags for documents.
The Everest Base Camp Trek Cost ranges from $1500 to $5000 depending on your comfort level, trekking style, duration, and Everest Base Camp Trek Package including permits, government taxes, round trip flights, accommodation, meals, guides and porters, equipment, travel insurance, visa fees, and personal expenses.
Our EBC Trek Pricing:
The EBC Trek package includes airport transfers, 3 star hotel in Kathmandu, domestic flights, meals, permits, an experienced guide, porters, accommodation with hot showers at select locations, Escape Himalaya gear, seasonal fruits, a first aid kit, and government taxes.
For Everest Base Camp Trekking, we recommend carrying an additional $200 to $250 in cash beyond pre-booked costs to cover snacks, hot showers, Wi Fi, electronic charging, souvenirs, and tips for guide and porter.
You can exchange money in Nepal at banks, Kathmandu airport, money changers in Thamel, and some towns along the EBC Hike. You can exchange money in Lukla and Namche Bazaar along the trek, but rates may not be as favorable as in Kathmandu Valley.
Many lodges and teahouses accept US dollars during your Everest Trek in Nepal, though exchange rates may vary. It's best to exchange enough Nepalese Rupees in Kathmandu before starting your Trek to Everest Base Camp to avoid higher rates.
I did EBC trekking with Escape Himalayas. It was such a beautiful experience with them. Its owner Shree Rajendra ji personally involved in minute planning since my booking from india. They have taken care of all the alternatives while lukla flight got cancelled two days simultaneously . Our guide shree Krishna was very knowledgeable and humble. He guided us during entire route with all information and accomodation and food at the best available tea houses.
Thank you very much for such a nice tour Escape Himalayas🙏🙏
We had such an incredible experience with our guide Raj. His knowledge of the trek and the surrounding areas was amazing and his attention to details along the way made the trip so enjoyable. He made us feel safe and taken care of. We really felt like he was an expert at finding the best accommodations and recommended the best food for us to try at every tea house. He even took awesome photos and videos of our family so we have all the memories of our trip to look back on. I would absolutely recommend Raj to anyone who wants to hike anywhere in Nepal especially EBC
I want to start by saying a massive thank you to Raj, our guide on this Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek. He’s hands down the best guide I’ve ever had, and his dedication, care, and expertise turned this journey into an experience beyond anything we could have imagined.
Before the trip, some friends shared their own experiences trekking to EBC, including the many challenges they faced. They had to put up with cold nights with no hot water, basic accommodations, and ended up spending hundreds of extra dollars on essentials like hot water. Plus, when they were ready to fly back, bad weather grounded their flights, forcing them to pay between $700 and $1,000 each for a helicopter – a pricey and stressful ordeal.
But with Raj by our side, our experience couldn’t have been more different. From the start, he ensured we had everything we needed, including hot water every night, which was an unexpected and much-appreciated comfort. When we arrived at each new stop, Raj somehow arranged for high-quality rooms, often with private bathrooms if possible – a rare luxury on this trek. It was far beyond what we anticipated!
And the return journey? While others were struggling to secure helicopter seats as prices soared from $800 to $1,000 due to the weather, Raj worked his connections and got us a morning helicopter at a very reasonable price per person. Thanks to his efforts, we returned to Kathmandu smoothly, without the high costs and chaos others faced.
Raj’s thoughtfulness and dedication made this EBC trek a truly remarkable experience. We couldn’t be more grateful for his support every step of the way!
Highlights of Raj’s Outstanding Service:
🌟 Hot Water Availability: Raj ensured we had hot water every night, providing much-needed comfort!
🌟 High-Quality Accommodation: Comfortable rooms, often with private bathrooms – far exceeding expectations!
🌟 Cost-Saving Arrangements: His careful planning saved us from many extra expenses.
🌟 Smooth Return: Despite weather issues, Raj found us an affordable, early morning helicopter, making the return stress-free.
If you’re considering an EBC trek, I highly recommend Raj and his team. He’s simply the best! 💯
