Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days

Best Time for Everest base camp trek

Although achievable at any season, the best time for the Everest Base Camp trek is spring (from March to May) and autumn ( September to November). In spring, the temperature in the Everest region increases to a pleasant 16 degrees Celsius during the day and drops to -8 degrees at night. While in autumn the temperature ranges between -1 to 15 degrees Celsius.

You can expect clear and sunny days with unobstructed views of the snow-capped mountains. In addition, the spring months coincide with the colorful charming festival of Holi while the autumn months coincide with the greatest festival of Dashai and Tihar.

Get the opportunity to immerse in the festive atmosphere of the country and observe the culture and traditions of Nepalese people.

Elevation and trekking distance

Everest Base Camp is perched at an altitude of 5364 m above sea level at a distance of approximately 200 to 300 km from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. It will take you almost two weeks to cover this distance from Kathmandu.

But first, you need to fly from the capital to Lukla which is around 367 km away from the city. Then from Lukla, you have to start hiking to cover the distance of around 65 km to reach Everest Base Camp.

Our Everest Base Camp Trek is of 15 days itinerary consisting of 12 days of actual trek. Therefore, the actual distance you travel each day is approximately 15 km – a perfectly attainable distance with an average of 5 to 7 hours of walking each day.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

On our 15 days of Everest Base Camp trek, you will engage in 5 to 7 hours of hiking routine each day. The trekking duration depends on the destination of the day and the nature of the trail you will be walking along. From the first day of the trek, you will hike for about 4 to 7 hours each day crossing the villages of Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche.

The maximum walk will be on days 10 and 11 of the trek. On the 10th day, you will hike to Everest Base Camp and trek back to Gorakshep which needs 8 to 9 hours of trekking duration. The next day, you will hike to Kala Patthar and trek to Pheriche demanding about 7 to 8 hours of trek. From here on, the return journey will be comfortable and easy.

Difficulty

Contrary to the common belief, the Everest Base Camp trek is a moderately challenging trek that needs no specialized equipment or mountain climbing skills. Anyone in decent shape can take part in this trek. In fact, the only things you need to equip yourself with are comfortable mountain shoes, warm clothing, an appropriate sleeping bag, good fitness, and about two to three weeks of vacation.

The trail comprises easy sections with a lesser risk of avalanche. However, as the altitude increases, the terrain alters from lush vegetation to rocky alpine and sometimes snowy landscape. Here, you need secure footing, confidence, and a gradual pace. Also, be prepared for temperatures of -10 degrees C (temperature at night and when climbing Kala Patthar).

Can a beginner trek to Everest Base Camp?

Yes, even if you are a beginner, you can conquer the dream of seeing the grand beauty of Mount Everest range with your own eyes. You don’t need many years of experience in extreme mountaineering, trekking, or competitive sports.

If you are a fit active traveler with average fitness, you can easily accomplish this trek. If you can walk for long hours each day and are ready to give up the pleasures of luxury for a few days to be closer to nature, this trek is perfect for you.

Please keep in mind along with physical and mental readiness, you also need to be conscious during the trek. Sure footedness is important and climbing to Kala Patthar can be demanding on the legs. but overall, the trail to the Everest Base Camp is not technically difficult at all.

Your Health

It takes 15 days to complete the Everest Base Camp trek with 12 days of walking daily. For 5 to 7 hours of average hiking each day, you need to be active and physically fit with a good endurance level. Also, your leg and core muscles should be strong enough as traversing through the rough and steep terrain can be a bit challenging.

You should also be mentally fit and capable of dealing with minor discomforts of basic lodge accommodation and limited food options. Hot shower, attached bathrooms and toilets, laundry, and fast WIFI connections are luxuries you have to forget for 2 weeks.

Preparation and training

Before joining the Everest Base Camp trek, it is helpful that you join some sporting practices to increase your physical endurance. We recommend you practice cardio exercises and training practices such as long walks, running, cycling, and climbing.

In addition, to strengthen your leg muscles, consider carrying out altitude training before your trip, such as hiking in the mountains. This will help your body adapt better to the high-altitude conditions while trekking.

As for strong mental health, we advise you to practice yoga or meditation. These practices can help you keep calm in any discouraging situation such as conflicts between group members or basic lodging amenities.

Alternate Routes

What sets the Everest Base Camp trek different from other treks in Nepal is the availability of several alternative routes. Instead of following the classic route to the base camp, you have the option of other alternative routes such as:

• Everest Base Camp via Three Passes: Crossing the amazing three passes of Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La, you will make a stop at the Everest Base Camp.
• Everest Base Camp via Jiri: Instead of a direct flight to Lukla, venture with a drive from Kathmandu to Jiri and trek through the unconventional trail through the unspoiled nature of rustic villages.
• Rolwaling to Everest base camp via Tashi Lapcha: Reaching the Everest Base Camp after crossing the famous Tashi Lapcha Pass is an adventure of a lifetime. With a one-day drive to Charikot from Kathmandu, the trek begins ultimately taking you to the foot of Everest.
• Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lake: Instead of returning through the same path, you will take a brief tour of the breathtaking Gokyo Lake with the option of summiting the peak of Gokyo Ri.

Altitude Sickness

It is usual to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness in the Everest Base Camp trek. When traversing to a high altitude, the air becomes thin with less amount of oxygen. It is normal that you feel a slight difficulty in breathing. But our bodies adapt as we keep walking and gain altitude gradually. In addition, we have set aside 2 days for rest and acclimatization at Namche and Dingboche.

Still, if you feel headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, and loss of appetite, it is time you take some action. You can go down to a lower elevation at once. For reducing the symptoms, a tablet of Diamox is always a great help.

We also suggest you drink plenty of fluids with at least 3 liters of water per day. Staying away from cigarettes and alcohol is also a necessary precaution you should follow.

Food and Drink

Our company will provide you with complimentary breakfast during your 3-day stay in Kathmandu. During the entire trekking period, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided based on the lodge menu.

The lodge provides the option of diverse food options mainly influenced by continental and Nepalese cuisine. Boiled egg, fried egg, bread, porridge, and french toast can be a great option for the morning breakfast. For lunch and dinner, Chowmen, Sherpa stew, Soup & Breads, Momos, Dal Bhat Tarkari (Rice with lentils and vegetable curry), pizza, and pasta are the main options.

Regarding drinks, you can enjoy hot masala tea, Tibetan Tea, honey lemon tea, Himalayan black tea or coffee with every meal. Fruit juices and soft and hard beverages are also available but at an additional cost.

Gadgets charging and Internet

Being the most popular trekking route in Nepal, the infrastructure for promoting Western tourism is well-developed in the Everest region. The lodges and tea house accommodations along the trail are comfortable enough for a night stay. The electrical sockets are available in the dinning/room for charging our devices (mobile, laptop, camera, power bank and so on).

Likewise, the lodges nowadays also provide WIFI for the convenience of their guests. But the connection may not be as speedy as you are used to at your homes. You can also choose the Data Package provided by the NCELL and NTC for internet usage.

In lower elevations, the lodges may provide these services at free cost. But don’t expect the free services at higher elevations, USD 2 to USD 3 may be the price the lodge may charge.

Permits for Everest base camp trekking

For the Everest Base Camp Trek, you need only two types of permits:

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit: This permit is required for entry into the restricted zone of Sagarmatha National Park. The permit costs NPR 3000 (approximately $30) per person for foreign citizens and NPR 1500 (approximately $15) for SAARC citizens. This permit is available in the Nepal Tourism Board office of Kathmandu or Monjo village.

Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit: This permit is issued instead of TIMS cards at the cost of NPR 2000 (approx. $20) per person. The permit allows you to enter the protected zone of Khumbu. You can obtain this permit in Lukla or Monjo village.

A typical day during the trek

Each day of the Everest Base Camp trek fills you with an immense, memorable experience and the best views of the grand Himalayas. Each day, you will traverse through diverse Sherpa settlements and observe their everyday life and customs. Every day, you will walk through varied landscapes of lush vegetation and rich forests to the mountainous terrain of the high glaciers.

Your day starts early morning witnessing the amazing sunrise over the mountains. After some exercise and breakfast, you will hike till the afternoon. You will have freshly prepared lunch at the lodge along the trail.

The trek then continues till evening, when you take shelter in the comfort of the mountain lodge. In the warm dining area, you will enjoy a hot dinner with fellow travelers and spend the night under the beautiful star-filled sky.

Transportation

Our comprehensive Everest Base Camp Trek package includes all your transportation expenses. At the exit gate of the international airport, our representative will welcome you. He will take you to the reserved hotel in the city via a private transportation mode (car, van, or jeep based on group size).

The next day, for the exclusive Kathmandu sightseeing excursion, we will provide a private vehicle with a driver and a guide. We will book the early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla for the beginning of this extraordinary journey.

In peak trek season (March, April, October & November), we will take a short road trip via a private vehicle to Ramechhap. From here, we will then take a short flight to Lukla. As the trip concludes, we will return to Kathmandu via a domestic flight from Lukla.

Your Extra Expenses

We have taken care of almost all your expenses during the trek, but there can be other personal expenses that you have to bear yourself. For example, you have to pay for the additional cost of charging your electrical devices, hot shower, and usage of WIFI services.

The costs for beverages, except for hot tea and coffee are excluded from our travel package. Such as cost for alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, Cola beverages. They come at relatively cheaper prices at the lodges, but they may be expensive at higher altitudes.

Likewise, the cost of buying souvenirs at Namche, Lukla, or Kathmandu can also put an additional burden on your pocket. But all these expenses are based on your spending habit which you can control depending on your budget.

Tipping ideas for guides and porters

Guides and porters involved in the trekking journey do not request payment for their services. But they expect tips after the trek for the hard task they have performed for you. It is not compulsory; however, you can observe their service and reward them based on their performance and your satisfaction.

What to expect on our Everest base camp trek package?

In our 15-day Everest Base Camp Trek, you will walk through the most iconic and beautiful trail in the world. All along the route to the camp, you will have the company of numerous gigantic mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and so on.

Apart from the incredible views, you will get the opportunity to be a part of the high mountain climbers community. You will have the interaction with the bravest Sherpa people, and other travelers, and maybe you will be inspired to go on another expedition.

You will be able to immerse yourself in a multicultural melting pot. You will learn about the traditions and everyday life of Nepal, a fascinating combination of influences from Hinduism, Buddhism, and local beliefs.

Icon. Additionally, you will visit Kathmandu – a city full of history, culture, and spiritual atmosphere.

Private trip vs group joining.

Both private trips and group trips come with their own advantage and disadvantages. If you want to experience the cultural and natural beauty of Nepal in a more personalized way, then a private trip is best for you. But a private tour can be a bit expensive. However, you will have your own guide who will be more attentive to your needs. The trip will be more flexible and you will be able to enjoy the greatest landmarks at our ease, convenience, and time.

If you want to explore the country on a more reasonable budget and want to socialize with new people and share each other’s experiences, a group tour is more appropriate for you. When traveling in a group, the cost is distributed among group members. Therefore, group trip is a more budget-friendly option.

Insurance

When engaging in high altitude trekking such as Everest Base Camp trek, obtaining travel insurance is mandatory. Hiking in high-altitude zones often comes with its own risks. Even though you keep a keen eye on the weather conditions of the Everest region, you can’t deny the unpredictability of the climate here.

The speedy wind, avalanche, heavy snowfall, and probability of injuries and sickness cannot be neglected. In such cases, your insurance can be a great aid that can reduce the financial load on your pocket.

Ensure your insurance supports you when traveling to more than 5000 m altitude. It should also cover all your medical bills, hospital expenses, and above all emergency helicopter evacuation when needed. It should also financially support you in case of luggage loss, flight cancellation and extra day stay in the country.

Everest base camp trek, booking open for 2024 and 2025

We announce booking open for our Everest Base Camp trek for 2024 and 2025. Please contact us via the contact tab we have provided on our website. Or directly send us the mail to the specified email address or contact us via WhatsApp.

We advise you to go through all the information we have provided regarding the Everest Base Camp trek. Read all the FAQs where the questions you may have are answered. Of course, we are still available by phone or e-mail if you have any questions.

Please book the trip at least a month before your date of arrival. Remember that places are limited and may sell out before this date arrives.

After you decide to sign up for this trip, you can book this trip online. Please fill up the form available on our website and send it to us with your scanned passport, photo, and insurance copy along with the 20 % advance payment.

Book today and receive an early bird discount on travel dates of 2024 and 2025.

Trip extension

Dazzled by the pristine beauty of Nepal and want to spend some more time here! if so, why not extend your stay and venture on other trips to Nepal? We have many options from the short and easy trip to Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, Nagarkot Hill trip, Ghorepani Poonhill trip to the more thrilling trip of Annapurna Base Camp trek, Mardi Himal trek, Annapurna Circuit trek to Everest Circuit trek.

We have everything for everybody- from cultural trips to natural trips, from adventure trekking to bird-watching trips. Please go through the different trips we have listed on our website and book the trek to your liking.