Everest Base Camp trek is one of the most beautiful trekking destinations in the world. Every year thousands of trekking and travel enthusiasts come to Nepal to get glimpses of the Himalayas from the Everest Base Camp.
Everest Base Camp is the starting point of the ascent to the highest mountain in the world- Mt. Everest. The views of the mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, etc. that you get while you are on the way to the Everest Base Camp are almost unrivaled.
Not only is the Everest Base Camp trek wonderful in terms of the views but you also get a feel of the beautiful culture of this region during this trek. So you are bound to make some awesome bonds and friendships along the way with the people you meet on this journey.
Everest Base Camp trekking starts after a thrilling flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. This 35-minute long flight will take you to Lukla airport- an airport that has a uniquely small runway. The flight is quite scenic as you will get views of the awesome Himalayas of the Everest region during the flight.
From Lukla, you will head out to some iconic places in the Everest region like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Kala Patthar, Gorak Shep, and finally to Everest Base Camp itself.
Namche Bazaar is the capital of the Sherpas- the local people of the Everest region. This place is also home to the hotel Everest View- a hotel that once held the Guinness Book of World record for being the highest in altitude in the world. The hotel has some panoramic views of the mountains in the Everest region. You couldn’t look for a better place to locate a luxurious hotel.
Tengboche, the town that is home to the Tengboche Monastery, is a wonderful town located at an altitude of 3860 meters. Tengboche Monastery has its ties to the Rongbuk Monastery of Tibet and reflects the Tibetan Buddhism of this region. The monastery is surrounded by panoramic views of mountains like Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.
Kala Patthar is another place in the Everest region that gives you some staggering views of the mountains in the Everest region. An early morning hike to Kala Patthar is something that all trekkers to Everest Base Camp take. The views of the sunrise from Kala Patthar amidst mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, etc. are astounding.
Everest Base Camp trek highlights
Scenic Flight to Lukla
Lukla is generally the starting point of your Everest Base Camp trek. As there are no roadways that connect Kathmandu to Lukla, the only means to get there is by flight. An alternative to this would be the Jiri to Everest Base Camp trek.
Lukla is a quaint little town Sagarmatha zone in the Solukhumbu district. The airport in this town is called the Lukla Airport or Tenzing-Hillary airport. With a small runway, this airport is regarded as one of the most thrilling airports in the world. The views of the mountains you can see during this flight are nothing short of wonderful.
Tengboche Monastery
The largest monastery in the Khumjung region is the Tengboche Monastery. The monastery lies within the boundaries of Sagarmatha National Park. This monastery is deeply linked with its mother monastery known as Rongbuk Monasteryin Tibet.
This location of the monastery is sumptuous. On the backdrop of this monastery are various mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Tawache, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. There is a huge annual celebration in this monastery during the Mani Rimdu festival. Lots of Buddhists and trekkers come to this destination during this festival to receive the blessings of the Lama.
Kala Patthar and the awesome views of mountains
The highest point along the Everest Base Camp trek is Kala Patthar. The altitude of Kala Patthar is 5643 meters compared to 5380 meters of the Everest Base Camp. The Nepalese word “Kala Patthar literally translates into English as “Black Rock”.
After the visit to Everest Base Camp, trekkers set out early in the morning to Kala Patthar to view Mt. Everest closely. You can catch the golden-colored view of the Everest mountain from Kala Patthar during the sunrise.
Due to the geography of the Everest region, the views of Everest are blocked by Nuptse while trekking in the surrounding areas. This makes Kala Patthar one of the best places to view the Himalayas of the Everest region.
Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp is considered to be the Mecca of trekkers. There are two Everest Base Camps- one on the northern side and one on the southern side. The southern Base Camp lies in Nepal while the northern Base Camp lies in Tibet. While you trek to the Base Camp, you will be able to see the Khumbu glacier.
Everest Base Camp trek Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300 meters)
Day 02: Flight to Lukla (2860) and trek to Manjo (2850)
Day 03: Monjo to Namche Bazaar (3440 meters)
Day 04: Acclimatization Day at Namche Bazaar
Day 05: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3870 meters)
Day 06: Tengboche to Dingboche (4430 meters)
Day 07: Dingboche to Chhukung (4710 meters) and back to Dingboche
Day 08: Dingboche to Lobuche (4910 meters)
Day 09: Trek to Everest Base Camp and return to Gorak Shep (5180 meters)
Day 10: Gorak Shep to Kala Pathar and descend to Gorak Shep and back to Pheriche
Day 11: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
Day 12: Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Day 13: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu / Rest Day in Kathmandu
Day 14: Rest and Sightseeing day in Kathmandu
Day 15: Departure
Are you looking for a customized itinerary for 12 days,13 Days,14 days or 15 days and more contact us or send an email: info@sublimetrails.com
Everest Base Camp Weather/ Climate
Everest Base Camp has four seasons- summer, winter, autumn, and spring. The weather of the Everest Base Camp will depend upon the seasons you will trek there.
The summer season in the Everest Base Camp falls in the months of June, July, and August. This season is quite hot. Even in the highest points along the trek like Kala Patthar in the summer season, the minimum temperature is around -5 degrees. So this season is quite easy in terms of the cold you have to deal with. But this season also coincides with the monsoon. So the trails are wet and the views of the mountains can be obstructed quite regularly.
Winter in the Everest region lies in the month of December, January, and February. This season is the coldest with the temperature in Kala Patthar as low as -20 degrees C. However, the views of the mountains are the best in this season. You need to hire a guide this season as some trails might be closed due to heavy snow.
Autumn lies in the months of September, October, and November. This is also the most popular season for trekking in Nepal. This season has a moderate temperature and the wind speed is also quite low. The views of the mountains can be obstructed in odd days but are generally quite clear.
Spring is the second most popular season for trekking in Nepal. Spring falls in the months of March, April, and May. The temperature in this season is quite similar to that of the autumn season. You might also encounter some mountaineers in spring as this is an expedition season as well.
Everest Base Camp Trek Route
There are various available routes for the Mt. Everest Base Camp trek. The most popular one starts after a flight to Lukla. From Lukla, you will trek along with the various picturesque towns in the Everest region and finally get to Everest Base Camp.
From Lukla, you will head out to Namche Bazaar. The next stop from Namche Bazaar is the town of Tengboche. Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep are other towns along the way to Everest Base Camp.
You will also go to Kala Patthar during the Everest Base Camp trek. Other alternative trekking routes in the Everest region include trekking to Gokyo valley or trekking to the various high passes of the Everest region.
So there is no definite route to Everest Base Camp. You can decide which places in the Everest Base Camp region you want to go to. We, at Sublime Trails, will help you make a customized itinerary that is suitable according to your needs.
Best Time to trek Everest Base Camp
Depending upon the seasons which you are most comfortable with, you can choose in which month you want to trek to Everest Base Camp. The trekking route to Everest Base Camp is open all year round.
In terms of popularity, Autumn (September, October, and November) is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp. This is due to the low amount of precipitation seen in this season. Another major reason that the autumn trek is extremely popular is the mild amount of sunshine and moderate wind speed.
Along with the autumn season, many people also consider spring to be the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp. The Spring season falls in the month of March, April, and May. The weather of this season is extremely similar to autumn.
In these seasons, you can also meet fellow trekkers from all over the world. Almost all trekking routes to Everest Base Camp are open in these two seasons. The views of the mountains are clear almost all throughout these two delightful trekking seasons.
If you are looking for some solitude in your trekking, winter trek to Everest might be the best time for you. During the winter, the views of the mountains are the best. Besides, the low number of trekkers in this season gives you a chance to immerse in the beauty of the mountains all by yourself.
Everest Base Camp trek cost
You will have to bear various costs while trekking to Everest Base Camp. These costs include the cost of food and accommodation, permits, flights, guides, porters, trekking gear, travel insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.
The first cost of the Everest Base Camp trek is the flight to Everest Base Camp. The cost of a flight ticket from Kathmandu to Lukla is US $ 177. The same charge applies for a flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla.
You can find accommodations and food in the Everest region for US$ 25 - US$ 35 per day. Food in the Everest region generally costs around US$ 10 - US$ 20 per meal. You should bear in mind that Nepalese food is generally cheaper than continental food.
You must get a Permit Sagarmatha NatPark.Park. The cost of this permit is around the US $ 34. You should also get a local permit in Luka which costs the US $ 20. If you are planning to trek to Everest Base Camp from Jiri, the cost of the permit will be the US $ 20 in Kathmandu and US $ 40 in Shivalaya.
You will have to ensure that you have a guide and a porter so that they can make it easier for you to complete the trek. Guides will cost US $ 30 -US$ 40 while hiring a porter will cost you US$ 20 - US$ 30 per day.
To ensure that you are well protected against trekking related injuries like altitude sickness, muscle sprains, and accidental cuts and bruises, you need to get travel insurance. Travel insurance typically costs US$ 150 for 30 days. Read the policies of the travel insurance carefully to know what kind of things are covered in your insurance. Finally, you need to ensure that an evacuation of up to 6000 meters is included in your travel insurance.
Everest Base Camp Trek difficulty
There are various factors that contribute to the difficulty of the Everest Base Camp trek. These factors include the number of trekking days, trekking routes, weather, training, and whether you hire guides and porters for your trek.
There are various trekking options in the Everest region. If you are planning to trek to the Everest Base Camp as well as the high passes, the trek will be strenuous. This is because the high passes trek requires extremely high levels of fitness. However, the normal Everest Base Camp trek is moderately difficult.
You might also want to take the short Everest Base Camp trek. But you cover long distances in a single day in the short Everest Base Camp trek. Also, the number of acclimatization days are low in the short EBC trek. Due to these reasons, you might find it difficult than the Everest Base Camp trek.
If you prepare for the Everest Base Camp trek well with 3-4 months of running, jogging, strength training, preparatory hikes, your body will be able to deal with the challenges of the EBC trek. Good preparation is also a way to keep the altitude sickness at bay.
If you come to trek to EBC in the winter season or the summer season, you might find your trek a bit difficult than trekking in the autumn or spring season. Summer season coincides with the monsoon which makes the trails slippery. In the winters, heavy snowfall might make trekking difficult.
Finally, if you hire porters and guides, you will find your trek immensely easy as you won’t have to deal with your heavy backpack.
Everest Base Camp trek altitude/ elevation
There is a great amount of variation in altitude in the Everest Base Camp hike. The starting point of your trek, Lukla, is merely 2800 meters in altitude. The highest point along the trek- Kala Patthar- has an altitude of 5545 meters.
Besides, there are many trekking routes to Everest Base Camp. The elevation of the places that you go during the Everest Base Camp trek also depends upon which route you take.
There are other ways of getting to Everest Base Camp as well. For instance, you can start the trek to Everest Base Camp from Jiri. The altitude of Jiri is merely 1905 meters.
You can also go to Everest Base Camp trek along with the high passes. You can also go for Island Peak climbing trek in the Everest region along with the trek to Everest Base Camp. This is the highest you can trek in the Everest region without a trekking permit.
The following table gives a list of all the places you will go to in the Everest Base Camp Trek:
Place | Altitude |
| Kathmandu | 1400 meters |
| Jiri | 1905 meters |
| Bhandara | 2200 meters |
| Sete | 2645 meters |
| Junbesi | 2675 meters |
| Nunthala | 2440 meters |
| Kharikhola | 2020 meters |
| Puiyan | 2700 meters |
| Lukla / Phakding | 2800 meters / 2610 meters |
| Namche Bazaar | 3441 meters |
| Namche Bazaar | 3441 meters |
| Tengboche | 3860 meters |
| Dingboche | 4350 meters |
| Nangkartshang Peak | 5083 meters |
| Lobuche | 4910 meters |
| Everest Base Camp | 5367 meters |
| Kala Pathar | 5555 meters |
| Chhukung | 4710 meters |
| Island Peak Base Camp | 5240 meters |
| Island Peak | 6187 meters |
| Gokyo | 4790 meters |
| Gokyo Ri | 5483 meters |
| Thangna | 4500 meters |
| Cho La Pass/ Dzongla | 5300 / 4710 meters |
Alternative trekking routes in the Everest region
There are plenty of trekking alternatives in the Everest region besides the regular Everest Base Camp trek.
One of the most popular treks in the Everest region is the classic route to Everest Base Camp from Jiri. This 25-day trek starts from Jiri, a picturesque village in Dolakha. This trek is perfect for anyone looking for good acclimatization as the trek starts from a low altitude region.
Another equally popular trek in the Everest region is the Gokyo Lake trekking. This trek takes you to the awesome valley of Gokyo. This valley is home to the Gokyo lakes- the highest freshwater lake system in the world. The fifth Gokyo Lake is an awesome vantage point for viewing the mountains of the Everest region.
Everest High Passes Trekking is also a delightful trek. It is a challenging trek and requires you to have a very good fitness level for trekking. You will cross 3 mountain passes during the high passes trek- Renjo La pass, Cho La pass, and Dzongla pass.
If you are looking for light trekking in the Everest region, you can also opt for the Everest Panorama trek or the Everest View Trek. These treks take you to lower altitude regions like Tengboche, Namche Bazaar, and Hotel Everest View. You can enjoy the majestic mountains of the Everest region in this trek without the fear of altitude sickness.
Finally, you can also go for the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. This trip is merely 1 day long and you won’t have to deal with trekking for long days. A helicopter will take you to the Everest Base Camp on a 35-minute flight. You can enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains from the Base Camp and then head back in a helicopter.
How to Go to Everest Base Camp
There are various ways to get to Everest Base Camp. If you are an international tourist, you first need to take a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. From there you have two options. One of the options is to take a flight to Lukla. The other one is to drive to Jiri and start your trek there.
You also need to arrange the various permits to get to Everest Base Camp. You can get them in the office of the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu. You will also need to arrange guides and porters to ensure that your trek becomes comfortable.
We, at Sublime Trails, offer you some of the best travel options to go to Everest Base Camp. Our wonderful services and great hospitality makes our travel packages to get to Everest Base Camp some of the most sought-after trekking packages to EBC.
With us, you can be assured that you will go to the Everest Base Camp in a cozy and comfortable manner.
Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek
The following is a list of items you will need while trekking to the Everest Base Camp.
Clothing
Clothing needs to be multi-layered, high-quality and comfortable. These are all the clothing you will need:
A Baselayer of clothing, which you will need only during the higher altitude of the Everest region.
On top of it will be an insulation layer
You will wear the outermost layer on top of the insulation layer. This layer of clothing will protect you from all the cold in the high altitude regions.
You will also need underwear, trekking trousers and shorts, trekking shirts, and Waterproof Shell jacket and trousers.
Headgear
You will need a hat, a beanie, and a neck gaiter for the protection of your head during the Everest Base Camp trek.
Gloves
Two types of gloves- inner and the outer layer will be the best option for you. The inner gloves can be used during moderate trekking temperatures and the outer one when the temperature gets lower.
Footwear
Hiking boots that are sturdy and comfortable will be indispensable while trekking.
Trekking shoes and sandals will come in handy when you want to roam around the teahouses.
You will also need hiking socks, thermal socks, and gaiters while trekking to Everest Base Camp.
Backpack
A large spacious backpack of 50 - 65 liter where you can fit all the necessary belongings for your trek is a must. Make sure that the backpack has various compartments where you can locate items better.
If you hire a porter to carry your backpack, you will still need a daypack that you will carry and contains items that you will regularly use.
Also, carry a rain cover for your bag.
Others
Sleeping bags, trekking poles, sunglasses, and moisturizers are other items that will be important for you to have while trekking.
Water bottle, pee funnel, basic first aid kit, toiletries, and towels will help you maintain personal hygiene.
A camera, books, and chargers will help you pass your free time easily.
You will also need mosquito repellents and ointments to keep mosquitoes, leeches, and other bugs at bay.
Preparation and training for Everest Base Camp Trek
Preparation and training are an integral part of trekking to Everest Base Camp. Without proper training, your body will not be able to deal with the rigour of trekking to Everest Base Camp.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the Everest Base Camp trek is not the most difficult trek in Nepal. In terms of difficulty, Everest Base Camp trek is rated as a moderate trek. So any person with good fitness and preparation will be able to complete this trek.
There are various forms of preparation you can get involved in for the preparation of the EBC trek. One of them is running and jogging. You should start your jog and increase the intensity with time. You can jog for around 1 hour a day to prepare for EBC trek.
In addition, you should also strengthen your core as that is one of the best ways to prepare for the trek. You can hit the gym for that. In addition, you can also do some home-based exercises like planks, push-ups, pull-ups, and mountain climbers.
You can also alternate your physical preparation by opting to go for cycling or swimming. These activities help you develop strong leg muscles that will help you to complete the EBC trek.
Many people also wear altitude masks in order to prepare for the Everest Base Camp trek. Although preparing by putting on altitude masks is not a guarantee of keeping altitude sickness away, it sure increases your endurance.
Finally, you can also go for a few preparatory hikes before you actually come to Everest Base Camp. You can go for a couple of hikes around Kathmandu valley like Chisapani Nagarkot hiking to see if your body had developed enough strength to take on the Everest Base Camp trek.
Make sure that you have prepared for at least 3-4 months in the form of jogging, running, or other forms of exercise before coming for the hike to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
Available Duration for the Everest Base Camp trek
You can complete the Everest Base Camp trek in 13 days, 14 days or even lower. Some Everest Base Camp packages are available for 11 days as well. However, the trekking package to Everest Base Camp for 15 days that is provided by Sublime Trails ranks the best of them.
You need time for acclimatizing while trekking to Everest Base Camp. If you don’t spend some days in the Everest region acclimatizing, you might suffer from altitude sickness.
In the 15 days Everest Base Camp trek of Sublime trails, you can enjoy the beauty of the various UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. You will also have an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar as well as Dingboche.
This will make sure that your body adjusts well to the high altitude of the Mount Everest region.
Travel insurance and evacuation for EBC trek
Travel insurance is extremely important for Everest Base Camp trek. Your insurance should cover various aspects like immediate helicopter evacuations, medical rescue, flight delays or cancellations, and possible theft or baggage loss during the EBC trek.
Recommendation for Insurance Company
Plenty of travel companies offer you travel insurance for trekking to Everest Base Camp. these travel companies are located in various parts of the world.
However, there are no Nepal based travel insurance companies that offer you travel insurance to Mount Everest Base Camp.
We have compiled a list of various travel companies around the world that will be able to offer you travel insurance to Mount Everest Base Camp trek.
For Canadians and Americans:
For Australians and New Zealanders:
For the British:
Essential Travel (Select Grade 4 cover - Sports Cover)
For Europeans:
For South-Africans:
For people of other regions
Everest Base Camp trek FAQ
1. How long does it take to do the Everest Base Camp trek?
The Everest Base Camp trek can be completed on various days. This will depend upon your fitness level as well as which places in the Everest region that you want to see.
You can complete the classic Everest Base Camp trek in merely 14 days. However, the high passes trek in the Everest region takes 19 days to complete. Similarly, if you want to visit the Gokyo valley during your Everest Base Camp trek, it will take you 15 days.
2. How much Does it cost to climb Mount Everest Base Camp?
The cost of Mt. Everest Base Camp trek depends upon various factors like the cost of shopping for the trekking equipment, flight tickets, cost of food, accommodation, guides, porters, and other expenses.
The prices we have indicated at Sublime Trails are for the year 2019 and 2020.
3. How cold does it get at Everest Base Camp?
As we have mentioned before, the cold at the Everest Base Camp depends upon which season you are trekking in. Obviously, the winter is the coldest season. The temperature in the Everest Base Camp in the winters can be as low as -20 degrees C.
During other seasons, the temperature is not as low. So even in the coldest of nights in other seasons the temperature of the Everest Base Camp will be -10 degrees C or so.
Cold is not simply determined by the temperature but also by the speed of the wind. In the winters, the wind that blows might be chilling. So you might feel that the place is colder than what the thermometer indicates.
4. What is the best time to visit Everest Base Camp?
October, November, April, and May are the most popular of the trekking months in the Everest region.
The winters are some of the least crowded months in the Everest region. In this season, you can also get some discounts on the price of accommodation and food. So if you are looking for a cheaper trek, winter might be the best month to visit the Everest Base Camp.
Winter season also offers the best view of the mountains of the Everest despite its cold.
5. What is the fitness level to do Everest Base Camp trek?
You have to be moderately fit in order to do the Everest Base Camp trek. Even if you have low levels of fitness, you can always start preparing for the Everest Base Camp trek. Training smartly for 3-4 months prior to the trek will help you prepare well.
If you are not supremely fit, you can also take the help of a porter to carry your bags. This will make your trek far easier than you can imagine.
6. Where is Mount Everest Base Camp located?
Mt. Everest is located in the beautiful country of Nepal. Nepal is home to many mountains and trekking destinations. As a result, thousands of trekkers come to Nepal
Mt. Everest is located in the Eastern Part of Nepal. The region is protected under the premises of Sagarmatha National Park. This national park is located in the district of Solukhumbu.
Mt. Everest Base Camp is located in the Mahalangur mountain range. This mountain includes 4 of the 6 tallest mountains in the world. These mountains are Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu.
Final thoughts
We collected all the given information by our own experience. Our Writer, Narrator, and all the team have been to Everest base camp and other trekking routes for a decade. all our peoples have hiked and breathed in the vast Himalayas. All the information provided above is pure and organic. you will face all those things when you come to the real. so feel free to contact us for further information and book the package
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