03 September 2013

How Much Does an Everest Base Camp Trek Cost?

To read all posts on my Everest Base Camp trek, click here for the complete series.


my porter Dhan Kumar and guide Madan
Taking a 5 to 10-minute break in the middle of nowhere. With my porter Dhan Kumar (left) and guide Madan (right). That thing seen at a distance is a suspension bridge.  

People think an Everest Base Camp trek is costly. I always say it depends on where you're coming from. It's definitely not dirt cheap, but it's something you can realistically save up for. The biggest expense is airfare--so if you live in Asia like I do and you want to go on an EBC trek, consider yourself luckier than those living in North America and Europe.

But if you remove airfare costs from the equation, here's how much you should budget for an Everest Base Camp trek:


Guides and Porters. Guides are normally paid anywhere in between US $20-40/day and porters for US $10-15/day, excluding tips. The fee already includes their food and teahouse lodgings. You can also hire a porter-guide (a combination of both) if all you need is just one person to accompany you. However, I wouldn't know how much a porter-guide would charge; I had a separate guide and a porter during my own EBC trek. (I was glad to have both. I didn't feel like carrying my own stuff which is about 10 kilos, since I had a fractured collarbone years back, and it has never really felt the same before the injury. Carried my own day pack though, which was about 3-5 kilos.)
Everest Base Camp Trek - playing cards with my guide and porter
Downtime with Dhan Kumar and Madan. We normally play cards after a day's trek.

Standard tip is usually 20%, but if you are very happy with your guide and/or porter, 40% of the total fee would be great.

I've been very lucky to have a really excellent guide and porter with me. We ate together, played cards until we couldn't see in the dark anymore, and we laughed on the trail a lot.

Sometimes, while waiting for a herd of yaks to pass, we would dance to an invisible beat--or worse, they would teach me a Nepalese trekking song, and I'd fail horribly at memorizing the lyrics. The Nepalis are generally friendly people, so do take some time to know your guide and/or porter. They are going to be, after all, your companions for the entire 12-day trek, so it's good to establish a rapport with them.

Side note: Porters usually carry a maximum load of 20 kilos, so in group treks, it is normal for two people to share a porter as long as the combined load doesn't exceed the maximum.  I asked Dhan Kumar what's the heaviest non-trek-related load he's ever carried in his life, and he replied, "105 kilos."  Super Sherpa indeed. But even if they've been doing this most of their lives, I really couldn't bear seeing so many porters carry heavy packs on the trail, and I felt relieved that Dhan Kumar only had to deal with my 10 kilos for the entire 12 days.


Food, Lodging, and Miscellaneous Items. Budgeting for food and lodging can be a little tricky simply because things get more expensive as you go up. A 1-liter bottle of mineral water, for example, can cost 100 NPR (Nepalese Rupees) in Lukla, or US $1, but can go as high as 300 NPR (US $3) in Gorak Shep, past the 5,000-meter altitude level. Everything is carried up the mountains by yak or by Sherpas, so naturally, as goods get scarcer at certain heights, the price goes up as well.

Here's a rough breakdown of how much things cost on the trail:

price list at Tengboche teahouse
Cute price list at my teahouse in Tengboche. This is how
much things cost at an elevation of 3,800 meters. Yes, I
would love some eXpresso coffee!
  • teahouse lodging: 350-500 NPR per room per night (w/ shared common toilet & shower) and 1,000-1,500 NPR per room per night (w/ private toilet & shower). But do not expect all teahouses to have rooms with private showers and toilets. Usually, the higher one goes up, the more basic the accommodations are. One to two persons can fit in 1 room, which is normally composed of 2 single beds, a side table and clothing hooks on the wall.
  • food: 200-500 NPR per meal (when you reach Lobuche and Gorak Shep, meals start to be 400-500 NPR each)
  • water: 100-300 NPR per 1-liter bottle
  • hot tea/chocolate/coffee: 100-200 NPR per cup, 200-400 NPR per pot, 300-600 NPR per thermos
  • bucket shower / gas shower: 200-500 NPR
  • battery charging: 100-300 NPR per hour
  • Wi-Fi: 100-300 NPR per hour
  • a bar of chocolate: I remember paying 100 NPR per bar at lower levels, and around 300 NPR for a bar of Bounty chocolate past Tengboche! 

Expect to spend US $15 per day on food, lodgings and other optional niceties (as mentioned above) during the first 3 days, and then around US $18-25 per day as you go higher. Again, these are estimates, as the prices are not all the same as you go up and down the Everest trail.

It's okay to have a tight budget, but try and 'treat' yourself to something nice once in a while (like a hot shower or a pot of tea). When you're tired from a day's trek or just feeling really crummy at some point, it's the little treats that help you feel better.


Other Expenses. A roundtrip domestic Kathmandu-Lukla flight costs around US $324 (new rate as of September 1, 2013), while costs for trekking cards and entrance fee to the Sagarmatha (Everest) region vary, depending if you're trekking independently or through an agency. The required Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card can be acquired at Kathmandu or at a sort of registration/check point in Monjo before reaching Namche Bazaar. This card allows the government to keep track of all trekkers within the Sagarmatha Region for safety reasons. A blue TIMS card like mine (around US $10)  is issued to trekkers using the services of a trek agency, while a green card (around US $20) is given to independent trekkers. The yellow slip is the entrance permit which costs about US $28 (3,000 NPR).

Sorry, had to remove my passport-sized photo here. I mean, let's face it. Nobody looks good in their passport photo,
and nobody wants to broadcast that kind of photo to the rest of the world.

And don't forget to buy travel insurance before setting out on a trek. I paid US $95 for World Nomads travel insurance, which is recommended by Lonely Planet, as this covers adventure sports and activities such as hiking up to 6,000 meters. Good for you if you can find travel insurance in your own country that supports such 'risky' activities. I couldn't find any in the Philippines! Fortunately, you can buy a World Nomads insurance policy online, even on the day before you travel.


So what's the total? If you do end up trekking independently (meaning you hire your own guide and/or porter, and do all food and lodging arrangements by yourself) and not go through an agency, you'll spend a total of around US $1,000-$1,250 on the Everest Base Camp trek, excluding international flights and hotel/hostel lodgings in Kathmandu. The said trek costs can go lower if you share a room with someone.

P.S. If you live in Asia and you're looking for budget airfare to Nepal, AirAsia offers the cheapest flight I've seen so far via the Kuala Lumpur-Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur leg.  Now, all you have to figure out (if you're not based in Malaysia) is to find a cheap plane ride from your own country to KL. FYI, I traveled via Thai Airways, but in hindsight, I should have done the whole AirAsia thing to save more on costs.


What I spent. To be honest, I learned about some of the above-mentioned prices by asking fellow trekkers while I was on the trail; I also took down notes on costs of food and miscellaneous items I saw on teahouses along the way. However, I did not trek independently because I opted to have all logistics done through a local Nepalese trekking agency, Himalayan Planet Adventures. Arranging things through an agency is admittedly pricier, but it was the right decision for me. I did not want the hassle of looking for my own guide and porter, nor did I want to find a teahouse at the end of each trekking day and settle the bills for food and lodging every single morning.

When I arranged for this EBC trek, my 33rd birthday was coming up, and I wanted to treat myself and allow for a no-hassle type of trek. (Just to let you know what kind of traveler I am, I went DIY and backpacked independently in Western Europe and in other parts of Asia.  As for Egypt, being a Muslim country with safety requirements, I arranged for a local Egyptian agency to take me around Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the White Desert.)

And when I computed the difference between the Everest Base Camp trekking package I got and the expected costs of trekking independently, the price difference wasn't much in my own opinion.  The full package cost included my 4-star hotel in Kathmandu (splurged a bit in celebration of my birthday!), teahouse lodgings for the whole 12-day trek, guide and porter fees, all permits and fees, domestic flights, airport transfers, and other nice inclusions. The package allowed me to pick ANY food item on the menu in any teahouse I was in, and I could also have my choice of hot drink with each meal plus a bowl of soup a day. This may not seem much of an advantage when you're in lower altitude levels, but food costs tend to add up as you ascend. (I think three square meals at Gorak Shep already cost 1,700 NPR, including the hot drinks.)

You can also arrange with your local trek agency to offer 3-star Kathmandu hotel or hostel lodgings in the package instead of 4-star/5-star accommodations. They are pretty flexible and can handle reasonable travel requests easily.

Miscellaneous expenses I shelled out personally were mineral water, hot showers, energy treats (like chocolate), toilet paper, battery charging and Wi-Fi. Depending on how much of a shutter bug you are and how long your camera battery lasts, expect to charge 2-3 times on the way up to base camp. Better yet, bring a fully-charged spare batt to save on charging costs.

To each his own, really. To me (and I'm sure other trekkers would share my opinion), there is great value in going through a local agency.

But not all trekkers are the same, nor do we all have the same kind of budget or the same idea on how an adventure like Everest Base Camp should be.  Some even choose to really rough it and go camping all the way up! (Which is surprisingly MORE expensive than the regular teahouse trek, by the way.)  So choose whichever trekking option suits you best.

Everest Base Camp trek - a typical teahouse dining hall
A typical teahouse common dining hall. Food is cooked and served here.  


* * *

If you want the same Everest Base Camp trek experience I had, visit Himalayan Planet Adventures and go for the 16-day Everest Base Camp trek package.




18 comments:

  1. Great description. Please click the link Everest Base Camp Trek for more details. Naba - Adventure Consultant @ Himalayan Planet Adventures P. Ltd.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We (a couple from Sweden) did the Everest base camp trek in late Oct- beginning of Nov 2013. It was great! the main trekking season, but we still had really nice weather and nice days in the mountains. We flew into Lukla and hiked for a total of 12 days. Our original plan was 13 days of trekking, but due to bad weather we were delayed for one day on our way to Lukla. Since we missed one of our acclimatization days, our trek became one day shorter and we did not make it to Kala pattar or Everest base camp. If it is important for you to reach base camp, you have to make a deal with your Independent trekking guide ; otherwise you will not be able to reach your goal without the risk of getting altitude sickness if you are short on days. On our way down we walked to Khumjuung and visited Khunde, which we really liked and recommend. We used the guide book “Trekking the Everest Region” by Jamie McGuiness, and we really enjoyed to read it during the evenings.
    Our trip was organized by Mr. Sanjib Adhikari and his “Nepal Guide info Trek” www.nepalguideinfo.com for approximately 1200 USD per person he met us at the airport, arranged and paid for our room at Katmandu Guesthouse. The price also included the plane ticket Katmandu – Lukla –Katmandu, He was very Nice and a porter. During the trek, all food (but not drinks) and accommodation was also included. We recommend using Sanjib and his services, he met all our expectations and we are very happy with our trip. We defiantly recommended to him
    Email-:sanjib-adhikari@hotmail.com
    htpp://www.nepalguideinfo.com
    http://www.hikehimalayas.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Everest Base Camp Himalayas.... all I can say is do it!! Thankyou Sanjib Adhikari for everything!”
    5 of 5 starsReviewed October 5, 2013
    Am currently sitting in Lukla (the worlds shortest runway), waiting till tomorrow for hopefully clear skies and takeoff back to Kathmandu, what an adventure I have had here in the himalayas for almost two weeks!!!!
    After googling reviews and emailing a few tour operators, I decided to go with Sanjib Adhikari from www.nepalguideinfo.com. Email sanjib-adhikari@hotmail.com Best decision ever and after making friends along the trek who were unhappy with their guides they have also decided to employee Sanjib on their next nepal trek. Having an experienced guide (over 150 trips to EBC), he made our time, informative, stressfree. We got headaches like most trekkers, but didnt suffer altitude sickness as we were continually monitored. The best thing about having a guide is having everything taken care of for the whole trip, not worrying about flights, passes, meals, nothing.. just enjoying the journey.. and what a journey.. The weather changed with the days and well as the scenery, so pack for all conditions, but dont worry you can buy or hire everything in Kathmandu or in Lukla or Namche Bazaar along the way.
    We took 12 days because we had a short time frame, but most people seem to take 14 days for the EBC trip. Everyday of the walk is different and beautiful with only two of the days being somewhat harder than the rest, but manageable. I dont think this will be my only time to the himalayas, I now want to trek the Annapurna trail. This place is magical.
    I recommend bringing baby wipes,tissues and antibiotics and nurofen.
    The children are so cute along the way, watching and being inspired by the hard working sherpas and the hospitality at the teas houses are just some highlights. The food is fine, i enjoyed my meals the whole way, the accomodation was better than i expected and the toilets not being so good... bring antibacterial wipes
    I highly recommend this trip and again Sanjib Adhikari made the trip run so smoothly, he is such a hardworking man who started as a porter and now is an amazing guide.

    Enjoy your trip to Nepal,

    Kylie Rokich
    kylie.rokich@gmail.com

    Visited October 2013
    http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g734640-d1485902-r179802503-Mt_Everest_Base_Camp-Tingri_County_Tibet.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for writing your experience about Everest Trekking.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You see the incredible, royal, and the best creation of Mother Nature standing right in front of you and that is “Mount Everest”. You get ultimate experience of Everest base camp trekking with www.gofornepal.com.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 Days

    Everest has always been the desirable name among all the people around the world, mostly the adventure lovers. To reach at an altitude of 8,848m is not an easy task; it requires a lot of hard effort and dedication. It can be the greatest achievement in one’s life, overcoming the fear of the harshness of the nature. Mount Everest 8848 mt and base camp 5350 ,m
    http://nepalguideinfo.com/everest-base-camp-trek/
    http://nepalguideinfo.com/

    http://www.hikehimalayas.com/trekking-in-nepal/trekking-region/everest-region/everest-base-camp.htm
    Email-:sanjib-adhikari@hotmail.com
    https://www.facebook.com/Independenttrekkinguidenepal
    http://www.nepalguideinfo.com/about-us/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mount Everest Base Camp Trekking one of the most fascinating trekking around the world is best things to do in Nepal. As this treks takes you to the heart of Mount Everest, Lukla to Everest Base Camp along with some other multiple side trips and villages through out the trail. Before heading for Mount Everest Trekking you need to know more about some other factors like Map and weather. Normally trekking on Mount Everest Base Camp last for 13 days to and from Kathmandu using Lukla Flight to and from Kathmandu, If one is looking for trekking in Nepal and has around fifteen days in total then no doubt Everest base Camp Trekking is best choice.

    Nepal Everest Base Camp Trekking Blog

    Nepal Everest Base Camp Trekking can be a good experience as it is one of the best trekking destinations around the world. If you are looking for best Everest Base Camp Trek Season then no doubt it is best in October and November. Since it is one of highest trekking destination one need to manage proper gear for Everest base camp trek like proper jackets, gloves and walking sticks. Some question might arise like how to train for Everest base camp trek then there is some artificial lab with reduced pressure and oxygen rate.

    Top 5 best trekking in Nepal Himalaya

    There are several trekking holidays in Nepal with numerous option of mountain to be chosen. Among all those available Top 5 best trekking in Nepal Himalaya can be shorten out. Although it depends on several factors like time, budget, stamina etc. Everest trekking is always dominating, followed by Annapurna, Langtang Manaslu and Kanchenjunga Trek. Out of these Top 5 best trekking in Nepal Himalaya Manaslu and Kanchenjunga needs special permits where as general TIMS card and conservation area permits are ok to trek rest of the area.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We found Nepal Planet Treks among other companies from the web and were finally made up my mind to use their service due to very prompt and personal reply from Sanjib by email and Skype. During our trekking we felt like giving up due to unexpected weather conditions and long hours trek but we still made it in the end thanks to Ram, the warm hearted guide whose friendly demeanor made the trek more enjoyable. The porter Neem is also a great boy with polite and humble disposition. All in all we enjoyed our trek and their accompanies much and satisfied with all the arrangements. Given chances we would like to trek in Nepal again with them next year.
    We are fully recommended Nepal Planet Treks and Expedition and Sanjib
    http://www.nepalguideinfo.com/
    http://www.nepalguideinfo.com/about-us/
    email-:sanjib-adhikari@hotmail.com
    Nepal Planet Treks & Expedition P. Ltd
    Paknajol Thamel
    977-1-4252196
    P.O. Box=4453 Kathmandu Nepal

    ReplyDelete
  9. NEPAL PLANET TREKS - YOUR TRIP PLANNER
    Holiday in Nepal, Tibet & Bhutan
    Nepal Planet Treks and Expeditions focuses on exceptional customer support and service at value-for-money costs.
    We offer personally customized itineraries and activities tailored to the requirements of the client.
    Specializing in organizing tours, trekking, mountain expeditions, peak climbing, rafting, paragliding, bungee jumping, cycling and sightseeing in Nepal, we are your best choice for your trip to this wonderful country
    The friendly team members of Nepal Planet Treks and Expeditions consist of highly experienced adventure travel and mountain experts with high levels of practical knowledge about all that Nepal has to offer the visitor.
    Contact us with your requirements and we will have pleasure in sending you an ideal itinerary with costing.
    We make sure that you will get the most wonderful time of your life when you travel with Nepal Planet Treks…we promise you.
    http://www.nepalguideinfo.com
    http://www.nepalplanettreks.com
    Email:sanjibtrekguide@gmail.com
    Nepal Planet Treks and Expedition
    P.O Box:4453 Kathmandu Nepal

    ReplyDelete
  10. Himalayan Spirit Adventure is well known and dedicated local trekking and tour agency of Nepal. We did more than 20 years experience for the development of the tourism in Nepal and get proper knowledge in trekking in Annapurna, Everest region and Langtang region and many more trekking destinations all over Nepal. Himalayan Spirit Adventure is registered trekking agency affiliated with Trekking Agency Association of Nepal. And associated with Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Tourism Board ( NTB), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) and International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) As a leading agency we have social responsibility too. In some distinct and V.D.C we have been supporting many children and poor people for their change.
    Himalayan Spirit Adventure believes on team works and practical knowledge of the objects. The team of our company experience as the porter and guides. After long exercise in trekking and tour we have established Himalayan Spirit Adventure for our costumers' interest to enjoy in Nepal. From Manager to general staff of the company are well trained and experienced. The qualification in the related subject matter and long experience in the field make secured each and every trekking and tour enjoyable and unforgettable.
    Most of our guides are trained from the government authorized organization. Although we have specific guide in famous and easy as well as difficult route. You can choose the guide whoever you like in your pleasures trekking and tour which is mention in the profile of our entire team. Annapurna, Everest and Langtang are the classical route simple guide can lead you but we never compromise in service that’s why we refer you the professional one. Professional guide helps you to explore the things and culture in particular areas. Moreover, he/she suggest you for upcoming dangers and fortune of the route.
    Finally, we always waiting for comments if our service would not satisfied you according to contract. Hope you can do proper enjoy in Trekking, peak climbing, adventure sports, tour program with the coordination of Himalayan Spirit Adventure.

    http://www.himalayanspiritadventure.com
    himalayanspiritadventuretreks@gmail.com
    himalayan Spirit Adventure Treks & Expedition
    +977-1-4700540
    +9779851180282 +9779849380281

    ReplyDelete
  11. Himalayan Spirit Adventure is well known and dedicated local trekking and tour agency of Nepal. We did more than 20 years experience for the development of the tourism in Nepal and get proper knowledge in trekking in Annapurna, Everest region and Langtang region and many more trekking destinations all over Nepal. Himalayan Spirit Adventure is registered trekking agency affiliated with Trekking Agency Association of Nepal. And associated with Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Tourism Board ( NTB), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) and International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) As a leading agency we have social responsibility too. In some distinct and V.D.C we have been supporting many children and poor people for their change.
    Himalayan Spirit Adventure believes on team works and practical knowledge of the objects. The team of our company experience as the porter and guides. After long exercise in trekking and tour we have established Himalayan Spirit Adventure for our costumers' interest to enjoy in Nepal. From Manager to general staff of the company are well trained and experienced. The qualification in the related subject matter and long experience in the field make secured each and every trekking and tour enjoyable and unforgettable.
    Most of our guides are trained from the government authorized organization. Although we have specific guide in famous and easy as well as difficult route. You can choose the guide whoever you like in your pleasures trekking and tour which is mention in the profile of our entire team. Annapurna, Everest and Langtang are the classical route simple guide can lead you but we never compromise in service that’s why we refer you the professional one. Professional guide helps you to explore the things and culture in particular areas. Moreover, he/she suggest you for upcoming dangers and fortune of the route.
    Finally, we always waiting for comments if our service would not satisfied you according to contract. Hope you can do proper enjoy in Trekking, peak climbing, adventure sports, tour program with the coordination of Himalayan Spirit Adventure.

    http://www.himalayanspiritadventure.com
    himalayanspiritadventuretreks@gmail.com
    himalayan Spirit Adventure Treks & Expedition
    +977-1-4700540
    +9779851180282 +9779849380281

    ReplyDelete
  12. Our trekking with kamal was more than an amazing experience and kamal is more than a wonderful guide. He will help you choose the best trek for you, by taking into account your interests as well as your physical condition. He will show you all the hidden beauties which characterize Nepal and its mountains. Consequently, at the end of your trek, you will recognize all the plants, trees and animals and will have incredible experiences to tell your friends.
    Thanks to kamal, we have been able to experience few evenings among native Nepalese people with whom we have shared a glass of the local alcohol and food.
    We recommend you to get kamal help if you are planning to trek in Nepal, as he is the best! His web site www.alltreknepal.com , his Email is rimalkamal@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Everest Base Camp Trekking – Winter and Spring 2016 - 14 Days

    Everest has always been the desirable name among all the people around the world,mostly the adventure lovers. To reach at an altitude of 8,848m is not an easy task, it requires a lot of hard effort and dedication. It can be the greatest achievement in one’s life, overcoming the fear of the harshness of the nature.Mount Everest is also known as Chomolungma which resembles the meaning as a mother earth. Everest was successfully conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in the year 1953 for the first time. Following the same route discovered by them thousands of travelers each make an attempt to conquer the highest peak of the world annually. Though some of them became successful whereas some lost their life. Though,who cant make it to the peak fulfill the desire of the having glimpse of Mount Everest from its base,from the base camp (5,320m). http://www.nepalguideinfo.com/everest-base-camp-trek/
    http://www.nepalplanettreks.com
    Nepal Planet Treks and Expedition

    Paknajol, thamel, Kathmandu

    Nepal

    ReplyDelete
  14. we know guys you are planning for nepal :D http://daytoursnepal.com/nepal-trekking/everest-base-camp-trekking

    ReplyDelete
  15. Everest Base Camp Trek starting from INR 35000. Get quotes from multiple operators for your requirements. Compare easily and book your trek from any operator on Mojhi.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Kailash Tour
    Ekailash Tour specializes in small group tours and tailor-made trip to Mount Kailash, central Tibet, Guge Kingdom and Everest base camp. An expert’ team, based in Nepal, is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the region having lived or traveled widely there. Our flexible and innovative Kailash tour itineraries are now even better value and take you beyond the tourist sites for a real experience of a lifetime!
    For more information please visit our website
    http://www.ekailashtour.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. well know the best view points to see everest http://daytoursnepal.com/best-view-point-see-mt-everest/
    its helpful to pick

    ReplyDelete
  18. Helpful information about Everest Base Camp Trek. If you want more information about the packages, click Trekkingbuzz.com

    ReplyDelete