Everest Base Camp Trek Cost: How Much Can You Expect In 2023?

How much does it cost to do Everest Base Camp Trek in 2023? The Everest Base Camp trek cost is one of the trickiest things to consider if you are planning to climb the Base Camp. No matter how much money you spend, the view always remains the same for everyone. The most important thing is with who, how and when you are travelling here. Many factors can determine your cost while trekking Everest base camp but it is always helpful to know the maximum amount you might spend undertaking this massive journey. 

Since there is no exact cost, we will try our best to help you determine how much cost you need to complete Everest Base Camp Trek. We will break down the cost factors that might help you figure out what affects your total cost.

1. Accommodation Cost: Accommodation cost is one of the major factors to consider in Nepal. Your Accommodation cost in Nepal may vary from Budget hotels to Luxury hotels depending on where you want to stay. As you will be spending most of your time trekking, it is really important to know how much it might cost for accommodation every night in the Everest region. Here are a few costs breakdown for both Kathmandu and Everest regions.

• • Kathmandu: Kathmandu has multiple types of hotels with a variety of prices and facilities. You can choose economically budget hotels for USD 15 to higher-end 5-star hotels for USD 500 per night. However, if you want something decent, you have many options of 2 or 3-star hotels for 50 to 200 USD as well.

• • Everest Region: Accommodation gets cheaper in the Everest region. The minimum cost in a basic tea house in the Everest area is $3 per bed and it can go up to $10 as you go higher. If you get a room with 2 beds, the price may differ. However, a place called Lobuche has a fixed price of $7 per bed. Eating your food at the same place you are staying is really important. Otherwise, you might have to pay the additional cost for your room which might be around $10 extra.

All these rooms come with a pillow, blanket, two beds and an attached bathroom (except few locations).  Bringing a light weighted sleeping bag with you is important for more comfortable sleep. All these tea houses have a big dining room with a centred fireplace where you can eat and relax with other hikers on the journey. 

Most of these locations have extra facilities with extra additional cost and they are:

• • Hot Shower: Hot shower is something that is not included in your accommodation in the Everest region unless you pay for it. It may cost you around $2 to $5 depending on how high you are in your trek.

• • Battery charging: Most of these locations may charge your electric devices on an hourly basis. It usually costs $2 to $10 depending upon the kind of device you have.

• • Internet: The Internet is free in some places but if you want to use it in higher areas, you might have to pay an extra $2 to $6 per hour. Due to the remoteness of the area, the internet services are very slow.

• • Electric heater: Depending on the place, you can use an electric heater in your room for $20 per night.

• • Water bottle/Hot Water: You might have to pay an extra $2 to $5 for a bottle of water and hot water in some higher areas.

Although your accommodation cost seems to be less while trekking, the amount of money you will spend in Kathmandu has a big impact on your overall cost. Hench, we would highly recommend you choose decent hotels in Kathmandu for your cost flexibility. 

2. Transportation Cost: The major transportation cost is a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla which is around $350 to $390 round trip per person. The flight is usually cheap when you book it in the off-season and in advance. There is an option to take a vehicle from Kathmandu to Jiri and walk to Lukla if you have extra days for your trip. This way you can save a few dollars. Kathmandu-Jiri-Lukla is the old hiking trail people take to go to Base Camp.

Note: A Kathmandu to Lukla flight only allows 10kg of luggage. Make sure you pack only essentials and leave behind your extra stuff in the hotel you stay in Kathmandu.

Besides your domestic flight, you might spend a few dollars in Kathmandu for Taxi and local vehicle.

3. Trekking Permit cost: Unlike other costs, trekking permit cost always remains the same. To undertake a complete journey to Everest Base Camp, you need to purchase two different permits.

• • Sagarmatha National Park Permit: Sagarmatha National Park permit can be bought either in Kathmandu at the tourism board or at a place called Monjo that is on your way to base camp. A National Park permit cost you exactly $30 including VAT.

• • Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit: Khumbu region permit can be bought either at Lukla or Monjo. The cost for this permit is $20 per person. Before 2020 trekkers had to buy the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card which is now replaced by the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance permit. Also, if you are hiking through Jiri, you have to obtain Gaurishankhar Conservation Area Project Entry Permit.

It is always a good option to buy both permits at Monjo as you can save time and effort.

4. Nepal Visa Cost: Nepal is very flexible with visas for foreigners as you can get your visa on arrival to Nepal. Except for India, all nationals are required to get their visa on arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. If you are entering through India or Tibet, here are some entry points to Nepal.

• • Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
  • Central Nepal – Birgunj, Parsa
  • East Nepal – Kakarvitta, Jhapa
  • West Nepal – Rupandehi (Belhiya, Bhairahawa)
  • Northern Nepal – Kodari, Sindhupalchowk)
  • Mid-Western Nepal – Banke (Yamuna, Nepalgunj)
  • Far-West Nepal – Kanchanpur (Mahendranagar, Gaddachauki) / Kailali (Mohana, Dhangadi.

On-arrival visa fees at entry points

• • 15 days – USD 30
  • 30 days – USD 50
  • 90 days – USD 125

Visa Extension Fee

• • Tourist visa extension can be done for 15 days with an additional USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days.
  • There is also a late fine of USD 5 per day in case of a delay of fewer than 150 days.

Note: For other travel information you can visit the government site.

Requirements needed to get a Nepal visa

• • A valid passport (Should have a validity of at least 6 Months)
  • Two passport-size photos
  • The application form that you can get at the airport or another entry point. You can fill out the application online on http://www.immigration.gov.np/
  • Application fees should be paid in cash.

5. Food cost: The most popular and relatively cheaper food you can get in Everest Base Camp Trek is Dal (Lentel) and Bhaat (Rice) with some seasonal vegetables, and homemade Pickles with the option of meat as a protein (in some places). This is the most stable carb food you can rely on in your whole journey. Nepalese say “Dal Bhaat power 24 Hours”. It will cost you anything between $6 to $15 as you go higher up.

However trekking Everest can be fancier as most of the hotel offers a food menu with Pizzas, pasta, soups, salads and many other food items for trekkers as well.

Kathmandu is diversly infused with many cuisines from around Nepal. Street foods in Kathmandu are very popular and cheaper. Food cost in Kathmandu is way cheaper than Everest region. You can taste varieties of food in the streets of Kathmandu.

6. Guide and Porter Cost: Guide charges vary from the lowest $30 to $50 per day depending on experience and language skills. Porters in Nepal carry about 20 kg of weight and they charge $20 to $25 per day. If you add more weight then they might charge you an extra $10 per day.

Tipping guides and porter is very common and important. Most trekkers tip at least 10% of the overall cost depending on the quality of services they get.

7. Travel insurance cost: Trekking in the Himalayas is not always fun. Sometimes you might get into a very rough and tough situation. Our government has designed many protocols to make sure on safety of our tourists but sometimes it is really hard to prevent risk. Due to few transportation options in Nepal, the only fastest way to rescue anyone from the mountain is a Helicopter which could be very expensive. Therefore, we would like you to get insured through a trustworthy insurance company just to be safe.

Travel insurance might cost you $150 to $200 for 30 days depending on what is included, age, nationality and also the duration. Most travel insurance covers up to 6000 M elevation above sea level. It is very important to get your travel insurance before you book your trekking completely.

8. Trekking Gears cost:  Trekking in Everest region requires good gear and equipment as you will be on a route for at least 14 days.  To buy good gear, you have to invest anything between $250 to $500 if you don’t have any gear at all. These are a few essential gears you want to bring with you while trekking at Everest Base Camp.

• • Shoes: Pair of exceptionally good hiking boots and sandals

• • Clothes:  Thermals, down jacket, wind and rainproof jackets, trekking pants, sports t-shirt, fleece, warm gloves, towels, winter hat, Inner garments, shorts, and a few pairs of good socks.

• • Accessories: Good trekking bag pack, sunglasses, water bottle, water purifier, sunscreen, lip balm, Swiss pocket knife.

• • Equipment: Sleeping bags, duffel bag, hiking poles

• • Medicine: First-Aid Kit, Altitude sickness medicines (eg. Diamox), bug spray.

9. Extra Personal Expenses: Extra expenses depend on yourself. However, it is important to carry extra money just in case you might want to do some souvenir shopping and treat yourself to some extra activities in Nepal.

10. Value-Added Tax Cost: Value-added tax is the amount which has been added to a product at each stage of production, exclusive of initial costs. If you are wondering why Value Added Tax? The Government of Nepal charges 13% of VAT to all Trekking operators including Everest Base Camp.

You can determine how much will be the VAT amount by calculating all the above costs that you might spend on Everest Base Camp Trek. This will give you the tentative amount of cost you may need to do the Everest Base Camp Trek. There are multiple companies in the market and they have a huge amount of differences in terms of cost and services. Doing a little research and costing will help find you a genuine company to go with.

11. Trek Duration: The length of your trek will impact the overall cost. A typical Everest Base Camp trek lasts anywhere from 12 to 16 days, but you can choose to extend or shorten your trek as per your preference. The longer the trek, the more expensive it will be.

Cost Break Down

This table is based on 3 weeks duration in Nepal where you are spending a Maximum of 17-18 days in the Everest region.

Note: The above table show how much you would spend when travelling alone in the Everest region. Among all these costs, you can cut some cost factors like Guide and Porter’s charges without taking them with you or sharing them by travelling in a group. You can also cut transportation costs by not taking a flight to Lukla and hiking from Jiri instead. But other than that, most of these above costs are fixed. The above Everest Base Camp Trek Cost in 2023 can be expensive but if you travel in a group, these costs might come down by 25%.

How do the Major Trekking company in Nepal Compare?

There are multiple Local trekking companies in Nepal. However, only a handful of them stands out to be good. Among many competitors, only a few know what they are doing and only a few execute it properly. While researching Everest Base Camp trekking, you might find many companies offering base camp trekking for different costs and those costing have a vast difference. This may make you wonder why and sometimes it is confusing to choose between them. There is nothing to worry about, as we are here to solve your confusion. Here are a few reasons that makes these company different and some Tips you can use to choose the right one.

There are many trekking companies in Nepal, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Here are some factors to consider when comparing trekking companies in Nepal:

• Reputation: Look for trekking companies with a good reputation for safety, quality, and customer service. You can read reviews and testimonials from previous clients online or ask for recommendations from other travellers who have been to Nepal.

• Experience: Check how long the company has been operating in Nepal and how experienced their guides and porters are. A company with experienced staff is more likely to ensure a safe and enjoyable trek.

• Cost: Compare the cost of trekking packages offered by different companies. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best. Ensure that the price includes all necessary permits, transportation, accommodation, meals, and guide fees.

• Services Offered: Check what services are included in the trekking package, such as airport transfers, equipment rentals, and emergency evacuation insurance. The more comprehensive the package, the more convenient and hassle-free your trek will be.

• Sustainability: Choose a trekking company that follows responsible and sustainable tourism practices, such as minimizing waste and supporting local communities. This ensures that your trek contributes to the local economy and does not harm the environment.

• Flexibility: Look for companies that can customize the trek to meet your needs and preferences. This may include adjusting the itinerary, choosing different accommodation options, or hiring a private guide.

• Success Rate: Success rate is another major factor to consider while choosing a company. Not every company has a 100% success rate. But anything above 90-95 % success rate is good. Some companies are very responsible and take their job seriously whereas some do not.

Overall, it is essential to do thorough research and compare different trekking companies before choosing one. It is also a good idea to contact the company directly and ask any questions you may have before making a booking.

However, some packages only include your flight to Lukla, Trekking permits, accommodation and food cost for your trek.

Important Note: Read your itinerary in detail before booking a trip. The itinerary includes all the details of the facilities you get for that price. They are mostly separated by What is Included and What is Excluded at the end of the Itinerary.

Why Hit The Himalayas

“You cannot put a price on the reliability and safety of professional, especially when you run the risk of losing your life if you try to do it alone”.  Hit The Himalaya is a team of professionals. Despite being a new company, our whole crew has already worked in the travel sector for decades.

Hit The Himalaya is a legally well-registered company that organizes trekking, hiking and tours inside Nepal. We are proudly associated with the Government of Nepal, the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal, the Nepal Tourism Board, the Nepal Mountaineering Association and the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project.

We are dedicated to serving our guests without any limitations. Our company is infused with experienced licence guides who are very knowledgeable. Our expertise provides every kind of tailored, customized and requested adventure for groups and individual trekkers. We have full options of long and short-term treks in different difficulty levels. Depending on where our clients want to go, we have popular as well as restricted(rural) trails to explore in Nepal. We are also open to advising the trails that suit you perfectly.

Lastly, Money is not just money, money buys you things that you otherwise could not get right…like Hiring Hit The Himalayas. 

Here is our detailed itinerary for Everest Base Camp Trek Via Gokyo Valley.

https://hitthehimalaya.com/everest-base-camp-trek-via-gokyo-lakes/