Everest Base Camp Trek Cost: Full Budget Breakdown
- Margaux
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
The Everest Base Camp trek cost varies depending on whether you book locally or internationally, how much you spend on extras, and whether you plan buffer days. In this guide, I break down the real cost of trekking to Everest Base Camp, including tours, daily spending, tips, wifi, showers, equipment rental, and emergency helicopter expenses.
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is not cheap, but compared to what you’d be paying for a similar experience in Europe or North America, it’s a great deal, and in my opinion worth every penny.
Contents
Planning the Everest Base Camp Trek? See my complete guide to find out everything you need to know about the itinerary, packing, top advice, FAQs, and much more.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost Summary
Local operator: ~$1,200 - $1,500
International company: $3,000 - $4,000
Equipment rental and essential purchases: $15 - $30
Showers and wifi: $3 - $10 per day
Tips: $200 - $300
Helicopter backup: $500+
Total realistic budget: ~$1,800
Everest Base Camp Tour Costs: Local Tour Operators vs International Travel Companies
There are countless companies offering the EBC experience, and with that comes a huge range of price points. Probably the biggest decision you will make is whether to book through a local tour operator or an international travel company.
I booked through Pristine Nepal, a local operator, and paid $1250 for the two weeks, which included absolutely everything: transfers to and from Kathmandu airport, a hotel before the trek, transfer to and from Ramechaap, flights to and from Lukla, all accommodation, all food, a guide, a porter, water purification tablets, medicine (including altitude sickness tablets if you need them), and a hotel when I returned.
International travel companies such as Intrepid and G Adventures offer the trip for up to three times that price. In my experience, the extra cost did not translate to additional value: everyone gets the same treatment, the same tea houses, the same food, the same planes, and the same guides and porters. We shared several tea houses with the Intrepid group and other more expensive tours.
Everest Base Camp Tour Costs: Booking in Kathmandu vs Online
If you are not pushed for time, book your trek in Kathmandu when you arrive. There are countless companies all over the tourist area of Thamel, including in all hostels, and they can sort you out on the spot. You will most likely save money on your trek this way. There may not be as big of a price difference for EBC because of the flights to Lukla, but for other treks in the Annapurna region and beyond, there will be a significant price saving.
Everest Base Camp Equipment Rental Costs
If you decide to rent equipment in Kathmandu, such as a sleeping bag, down jacket, trekking poles, or any other items, you will need to budget for this. I rented a sleeping bag and down jacket, and this cost approximately 2500 Nepalese rupees (approx. $12.70) for the entire 2 weeks. You will also need to buy toilet paper before you go, but the cost of this is negligible, maybe $2! Read more about equipment and packing in my Everest Base Camp packing list post.
Everest Base Camp Shower and Wifi Costs
The cost of showers and wifi along the Everest Base Camp route vary with altitude, as does the quality and availability of both. Here is a breakdown of these costs.
Showers in Phakding, likely to be your first stop, are normally free, but don’t expect hot water. There is wifi at the teahouses, but you will have to pay for it, around 500-600 Nepalese rupees ($3.76 - $4.51).
At Namche Bazaar, I had hot and free showers, although this will depend on your tea house. There are several places around town which have free wifi, including many tea houses, but don’t expect it to be strong.
The teahouse in Debouche was the first where you had to pay for hot showers, around 600-800 Nepalese rupees ($4.50-$6). Wifi also came at a cost, again around 500-600 Nepalese rupees ($3.76 - $4.51), and it is not very strong. I stopped paying for wifi at this point, and decided to spend the next 6 days off-grid, which was actually great.
You also have to pay for showers in Dingboche, around 600-800 Nepalese rupees ($4.50-$6). I paid for one shower over the two nights here, which felt amazing. Wifi also came at a cost, again around 500-600 Nepalese rupees ($3.76 - $4.51).
There are very limited showers in Lobuche, the penultimate stop, and you have to pay for all of them. Don’t expect your teahouse to have one. There is no running water or electricity in the rooms. Wifi is weak and you will have to pay a bit more for it up here, around 700-900 Nepalese rupees ($5.26 - $6.77).
Gorak Shep accommodation is extremely basic, with no showers and shared, non-flushing toilets, no running water, and no electricity. Wifi again is extremely weak but if you decide to pay for it, you’ll have to pay more again, around 700-900 Nepalese rupees ($5.26 - $6.77).
On the way down, in Pangboche, showers were still paid for, back to the prices of around 600-800 Nepalese rupees ($4.50-$6). However, wifi became cheaper, back to around 500-600 Nepalese rupees ($3.76 - $4.51).
Everest Base Camp Daily Spending
If you have booked a good tour and pack well, you won’t have many additional daily costs, apart from water at Lobuche and Gorak Shep. I managed to find a little shop in Lobuche that had the best deal going on water, which was 1,000 Nepalese rupees (approx. $7) for 4 2L bottles (8 litres total). This was enough for the next two days. Any other purchases you make will be personal snacks or other items, and beware that the higher you go, the more expensive these will be. Stock up in Kathmandu.
Everest Base Camp Tips for Porters and Guides
To cover tipping and extra costs, I recommend bringing at least 20,000-30,000 Nepalese Rupees. Guides are paid a rate of US$35/day, and porters are paid US$15/day. It is customary to tip your guide between 15,000 NPR - 20,000 NPR+ (US$110 - US$150+), and your porter a little less, between 13,000 NPR - 18,000 NPR+ (US$97 - US$135+). Some people tip more, but I would not tip any less. It largely depends on how satisfied you were with your guide and porter, but remember they and their families rely on these tips and need the money much more than you.
Everest Base Camp Hidden and Extra Costs
Don’t forget to budget for your visa to Nepal. This cost me $50 for 30 days. You will also need travel insurance that covers you at altitude, including a helicopter evacuation (usually excess). This is a personal decision based on what other travel you do.
Everest Base Camp Backup Helicopter Cost
If you are in an unfortunate situation and flights from Lukla are cancelled, you may need to get a helicopter out of Lukla. This will depend on your tour company: international travel companies will force you to take one on the day (if conditions are safe), and will charge you additional for it. Their prices are listed on their websites.
For local companies, it is usually your decision, up until a certain point. If you decide to wait another day or two in Lukla for the plane and it does eventually go, then you won’t have these costs, but your guide may leave you if they have another group coming. However, if you have not planned any buffer days (please do this!) and need to get out of Lukla, you will have to order a helicopter. You will need to budget at least $500 for this.
Everest Base Camp Daily Budget: Grand Total
If you are well prepared, do not have to take a helicopter, limit your shower and wifi spending, and tip along the lines I have given above, you will need to budget around $150 per day, or $1800 total. This is about what I spent.
You can do it for less if you book in Kathmandu, do not pay for any showers or wifi, bring your own equipment, and carry your bags, but with tips, I would not recommend less than $100 per day, or $1200 total. If you go with an international tour company and do not limit your spending, you could be looking at upwards of $300 per day, or $3600 total.
I hope this is a good guide to how much trekking to Everest Base Camp really costs. For a complete guide to the trek including a full itinerary, FAQs, and my top tips and advice, see my post here.
As always, please look after the beautiful place that is Nepal. Its environment is incredible, so don’t contribute to its downfall. Remember to only leave your footprints behind :)
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