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Everest Base Camp Trek Cost [Updated: Feb, 2022]

Mount Everest

Everest Base Camp Trek is for everybody. Whether you would like to helicopter your way in and have a fancy breakfast at Hotel Everest View or make a budget trip without any support staff, there are amenities to cater to all.

Since the price to trek to the Everest Base Camp largely depends upon the trekking style you choose- Independent trekking, Trekking with Independent guides, or Joining an organized group, we will simply limit ourselves to the actual cost on the ground rather than package cost in this post.

Cost Breakdown of Services

Here’s the cost breakdown of all kinds of services and possible expenses one might incur during the Everest Base Camp Trek to help you plan your expenses.

Basic Trek Expenses
Title Cost to a Single Trekker (USD)
Permit- Khumbu Rural Municipality USD 20 (~NPR 2000 )
Permit- Sagarmatha National Park USD 30 (~NPR 3000 + 13% VAT)
Flight- Kathmandu to Lukla (both ways) USD 364 (182*2)
Flight- Ramechhap to Lukla /with KTM-RHP transfer (both ways) USD 294 (147*2)
Bus from Kathmandu to Ramechhap (one way) USD 5 – USD 15
Bus to Jiri/ Salleri (one way) USD 7/ USD 14 
Helicopter Charter Price (One way, Gorakshep- Lukla-Kathmandu, for 3 to 5 people) USD 3200- USD 3800
Hotel-Phakding/ Monjo (Npr 500) USD 5
Hotel- Namche Bazaar (2 nights, Npr 1000 per night) USD 20
Hotel- Dingboche / Pheriche (Npr 500) USD 5
Hotel- Dingboche / Pheriche (2 nights, Npr 500 each night) USD 10
Hotel- Lobuche (Npr 700) USD 7 
Hotel- Gorakshep (Npr 700) USD 7 
Hotel- Dingboche / Pheriche  (Npr 500) USD 5
Hotel- Namche  (Npr 1000) USD 10
Hotel- Lukla (Npr 500) USD 5 
Meals- 12 days x ~USD 30 per day 12 breakfasts/lunches/dinners with tea/ hot water USD 360
Total Cost of Everest Base Camp Trek (Including two way flights, 12 days trek accommodation, permits and all meals) USD 848
  • All rooms are on twin sharing basis so room cost can be divided between two trekkers.
  • Hotel rates above are for basic rooms. Rooms with attached bathrooms cost USD 10 and above depending on the services included. In luxury lodges, room rates can go up to USD 230 per night.
  • Both permits can be bought on the trail. You do not need the TIMS for trekking in the Everest Region. Read details about permits here.

HoneyGuide’s Everest Base Camp Trek costs USD 1,149 per person and includes Lukla flights, trekking guide from Kathmandu, porter, accommodation in rooms with attached bathroom (wherever available), breakfast, first-aid kit, and permits. See all treks in heli tours by HoneyGuide here.

Cost of Hiring Trekking Guides, Porter-Guide & Porters

Hiring A Local
Title Cost
Cost of Hiring a Porter (includes accommodation and food, carries up to 30 kgs, shared by 2 people)

Daily wages:  USD 18 
Tips: 15% of wages or higher
Cost of Hiring a Porter-Guide (includes accommodation and food, carries upto 15 kgs) Daily wages:  USD 25
Guide Insurance: USD 30
Tips: 15% of wages or higher
Cost of Hiring a Local Guide (includes accommodation and food) Daily wages: USD 25 – 35
Guide Insurance: USD 30
Tips: 15% of wages or higher

 

Hiring a Trekking Guide from Kathmandu
Title  Cost
Cost of Hiring a Trekking Guide (includes accommodation and food)

Daily wages: USD 25 – 100
Guide Insurance: USD 30
Tips: 15% of wages or higher
Kathmandu to Lukla Flight for Guide (one way) USD 70 one way
Buses for Guide [Jiri/ Salleri] USD 7/ USD 14

Miscellaneous Trek Expenses

Trekkers trekking in the Everest region.
Title Cost
Hot Water USD 3-7 per liter
Hot Shower (per shower) USD 3 – USD 7
Battery Charging (per hour) USD 1.5 – USD 5 
Everest Link Wifi Cards  [600 MB/10 GB] USD 5.5 / USD 17.5 

Other Costs

Non-Trek Costs
Title  Cost
Travel Insurance USD 150
Nepali Visa (30 days) USD 40
Taxi from Airport to Thamel USD 10
Hotel in Kathmandu Varies (USD 15+)
Sleeping Bag for Hire USD 3 per day
Down Jacket for Hire USD 2 per day

Payment Options / Cash Vs Card

Although a few hotels and restaurants in Namche Bazaar, Lukla, and some other places in the trails have POS machines, a card is not a supplement for cash. Cash is inevitable for paying bills in most of the tea houses, permit fees, lunch bills, paying wages, and tips to guides in the Everest Base Camp trek. Also, you have to bear the additional transaction charges if you pay by credit cards.

However, if you don’t want to risk carrying cash, booking flights, accommodations, and guides beforehand through online platforms can be a smart move. That way, you can take a limited amount for lunch, permits, and tipping. 

Money Exchange– There are plenty of money exchanges in Thamel, Namche Bazaar, and Lukla. But the commission rates will be higher in the trails, so it’s better to get your money changed in Kathmandu. And if you’re wondering what cash denominations to take- checks of 1000 and 500 are just fine for the trails. In that case, the bundle will be small and easy to carry. You will get a smaller amount of money when you buy things or make payments anyway.

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HoneyGuide Staff

This post was created by an internal staff writer.

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