How Hard is Everest Base Camp Trek?
The Everest Base Camp Trekking adventure has a moderate level of difficulty. It is suitable for trekkers with a basic level of fitness and strong commitment. The Everest Base Camp trek route doesn’t involve any technical climbing sections. However the journey does demand resilience due to the high altitude nature of the trek long walking hours and daily elevation gains.
During this trek, you will be hiking an average of 5 to 6 hours each day. You will need to traverse rocky terrains, suspension bridges and glacial terrain. The maximum elevation reaches Kalapatthar (5,550m/ 18,208ft). At this altitude, the oxygen level is 50% of what it is at the sea level. Hence, due to major altitude gain along the way proper acclimatization days, slow ascend and hydration are crucial.
Although having some high-altitude trekking experience is helpful, with the right preparation, physical conditioning, pacing and mental stamina, even a beginner can complete this trek without any issues.
Best Time for Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days
The two most popular seasons for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
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Spring season welcomes stable weather, blooming rhododendrons and crisp mountain views. Snow remains on high peaks, especially during early March. So, besides the incredible natural allure, there are also postcard-perfect mountain sceneries. Similarly, temperatures are warmer, trekking trails are comfortable and the teahouses are fully operational.
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Autumn the fall season offers clear skies, mild temperatures and dry trails. It is one of the most beloved periods for trekking and mountaineering in Nepal. After the monsoon atmosphere the landscape is fresh and the visibility is exceptional. Cultural festivals like Dashain and Tihar also take place during this period which add cultural depth to your experience.
Trekking in Nepal is also possible during the winter season (December to February). However, the temperatures can be freezing and snowfall covers the trekking trails, especially above Dingboche (4,410m/ 14,468ft). Monsoon season (June to August) is generally not recommended due to flight disruption, view obstructions and leeches infestation on lower trails.
Note: You should consider your best time for Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days based on what you value most, scenery, solitude, or ideal trekking conditions.
Necessary Permits
For the Everest Base Camp Trip you will need to collect two official permits:
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Sagarmatha National Park Permit: This permit allows entry to the protected area of the Everest region which has also been enlisted as a UNESCO Heritage Site.
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Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit: For accessing the protected municipality after landing at Lukla.
If you are booking this trek with Eco Holidays Nepal or other reputable agencies these permits are usually arranged for you in advance. Make sure to carry the physical copies of your permit and keep them handy. These permits will be checked at multiple points along the Everest Base Camp Trek route.
Food and Accommodation
Throughout the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, you will stay at teahouses/lodges on the trailside. These are basic but cozy establishments that are run by local families. They offer warm hospitality, healthy meals and shared accommodations. The rooms at the teahouses usually include twin beds, blankets and pillows. However, we still recommend you to carry a four-seasonal sleeping for more comfort and warmth.
You also have the option to upgrade to lodges, which are premium accommodation options in this route. Lodges offer more comfortable stays and extra amenities to the trekkers. The food menu along the trail is also surprisingly varied. Standard meals at the teahouses include:
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Dal Bhat
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Dhindo
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Sherpa Stew
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Thukpa
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Tsmapa Porridge
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Momo
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Noodle and Pasta
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Pancake
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Museli, Eggs
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Chapati
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Soup
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Yak Steak
As you ascend higher, food prices increase as it is challenging to transport goods. The food options are vegetarian by default, but you will find your comfort food to keep your energy up daily. Filtered and boiled water is available at the teahouses. And, it is best to avoid untreated tap water even from clean stations.
Guide and Porter
Having a licensed guide enriches your experience of Everest Base Camp Treks on every single level. The guide will ensure your safety, monitor your health conditions daily, explain the local culture and geography and handle all logistics. In unforeseen circumstances like weather delays or minor injuries their presence becomes invaluable.
Porters are the other crucial members of your trekking team who take care of your luggage. A porter in general will carry about 12 to 15 kg (26 to 33 lbs) of baggage per trekker. This will allow you to focus on the trail and truly enjoy the journey without physical strain.
Most of the porters come from the local mountain villages and their support is critical for the trekking ecosystem. If you are doing the trek through a reputable agency, they will arrange highly experienced, knowledgeable and friendly guides and porters for your trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost
The Everest Base Camp Trek cost for a standard package is around US$ 1,300 to US$ 1,800. The cost of the package is generally determined by the total duration, itinerary plans, quality of services, transport options, etc. If you are doing Mount Everest Base Camp Trek with Eco Holidays Nepal, we are offering a valuable and memorable adventure at US$ 1,225.
Our trekking package will cover all general expenses such as food, accommodation, a guide, all transport (flight and land), medical supplies, official expenses, government taxes, etc. As for the personal expenses, US$ 15 to US$ 30 per day for food items, hot showers, charging and occasional snacks or drinks along the trail will be enough.
Note: While tipping is not mandatory for trekking in Nepal, it is customary and appreciated. For guides, a typical tip is around US$ 10 to US$ 15 per day. Meanwhile, for porters, US$ 8 to US$ 10 is common.
Everest Base Camp Trek Packing List
Packing for the Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days is all about practicality, preparation and layering. During this trek you will traverse across different climatic zones. It can be sunny and warm in the lowlands to freezing and windy above 4,000 meters.
So, your gear needs to support you across those changes. At the same time, it needs to be lightweight enough so you don’t have to carry extra weight by yourself. Our detailed and well-structured packing list is designed to ensure comfort, safety and efficiency along the Everest Base Camp Trek route.
Clothing and Footwear
Upper Body
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Moisture-wicking t-shirts
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Thermal base layer tops
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Fleece jacket or pullover
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Down jacket
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Waterpoorf and windproof outer shell
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Long sleeve shirts
Lower Body
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Lightweight and breathable trekking pants
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Insulated trekking pants for higher altitudes
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Thermal base layer bottoms
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Waterproof and windproof shell pant
Undergarments and Accessories
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Sun brimmed hat
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Warm hat
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Neck gaiter or buff
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Thin inner gloves
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Insulated and waterproof gloves for cold weather
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Sunglasses with UV protection
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Moisture-wicking undergarments
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Thermal sleepwear
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Liner sock to prevent blister
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Thick wool trekking socks
Footwear
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Waterproof trekking boot with ankle support (well broken in)
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Sports shoes for short hikes
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Camp shoes or sandals (for evenings at teahouses)
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Gaiter for muddy and snowy trails (optional)
Personal Hygiene and Toiletries
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Quick-dry travel towel
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Toothpaste and toothbrush
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Biodegradable soap and shampoo
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Wet wipes, tissue paper and toilet paper
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Lip balm, body lotion and sunscreen with SPF
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Feminine hygiene products
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Small first aid kit with general medication
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Water purification tablets or filter
Trekking Gear and Equipment
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Backpack or daypack (25 to 35 liter)
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Duffle bag
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Sleeping bag rated for -10°C or lower
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Sleeping bag liner for hygiene and added warmth
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Trekking poles (collapsible is highly recommended)
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Headlamp with extra batteries
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Waterbottle (with 2 to 3 liter capacity)
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Thermos flask
Other Accessories
Booking Process
For booking this thrilling mainstream trekking adventure, you can click the booking button on the product page. This will lead you to our booking page for the Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek. You will have to fill in your general details and can also notify us about any special requirements you have for the trip.
We have integrated a secure payment system on the page that will show you the overall cost for the trek depending on the size of the group. If you have any kind of personalization touches for the trek, you can also mention them in the special requirement box.
If you are not that adept with the online booking system and find it a hassle to go through the booking steps, you can just get in touch with us. Contact us with the information provided on the contact page, and our representative will assist you with the booking procedure.
Note: Our representatives are available 24/7 for your assistance. Feel free to contact us if you have any kind of queries or need assistance booking our services.
Pickup and Drop Facilities
During your trek with Eco Holidays Nepal, we will arrange your transportation needs throughout the trek. We will handle all of your transport needs for hotel pickup and drop-off as well as driving to a designated location.
Before the start of the trek, our staff will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for the flight to Lukla. Similarly, after completing the trek, we will drop you off at your hotel. Even if you need transport facilities before and after the trek, you can book the services from us for convenience.
Day-to-Day Activities
During this exciting Himalayan adventure to the base of the highest base camp in the world with Eco Holidays Nepal, you will follow the standard Everest Base Camp Trek map. Your journey will commence after landing in Lukla (2,845 m), and you will gradually follow the ascending route across the major highlights of the region.
Your journey will typically start after a warm breakfast at the teahouse at around 7 to 8 AM. Then you will move along with the exciting routes, checking the major highlights en route and taking your time to soak in the surreal Himalayan beauty.
After trekking for about 3 to 4 hours on the Himalayan route, you will reach the point secluded for a lunch stop. All the break and lunch stops along the route are preplanned so you can take shorter breathers without completely exhausting yourself.
At the lunch stop, you will get about an hour of break before continuing with the trail. For the most part, after enjoying your lunch, you will just need to walk about 2 to 3 hours to reach your rest stop. If you have sufficient daylight, you can also do some short sightseeing around the resting destination.
The dinner will be generally served at around 6 to 7 PM, and you will enjoy the meal with your crew. After dinner, your trek guide will brief you about the overall itinerary plans for the next day so you can prepare accordingly.
You can spend the rest of your time playing card games or watching movies and documentaries before bed. Just make sure that you get enough rest so that you will feel energized for the next day’s adventure.
Personal Expenses
The Everest Base Camp Trek cost handles all the general expenses of the trip. Expenses like food, accommodation, permits, transport, guides, porters, taxes, etc., will be covered by the standard package.
However, personal natured expenses such as snacks, desserts, drinks, charging, internet, laundry, calls, etc which are categorized as personal expenses are not covered by package cost. Thus, you have to estimate the budget for these factors and bring sufficient cash for swift transactions.
Note: The cost of such personal expenses may vary depending on the altitude. Due to the lack of proper transportation modes, it is costlier to transfer goods to higher altitudes. Thus, you need to properly evaluate budgeting considering those factors for personal expenses.
Customer Safety and Satisfaction
Every trekking, travel, and tour package of Eco Holidays Nepal has been designed to ensure an enriching experience for our guests. We take the safety factors very seriously and stick to every precautionary method to ensure a seamless journey.
Before starting the trek, your guide will do a proper assessment of every aspect of the trip. Even during the trip, your guide will make sure that you are traveling safely and will also keep an eye on your health conditions.
Our crew will check your health conditions every day throughout the trip and also make sure that you are properly adapting to the rising altitudes. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, our guides, who are trained in high altitudes and first aid, will properly handle the situation.
Considering the situation, if the emergency evacuation is necessary, your guide will then coordinate with our head office and rescue flight operation organization to ensure a quick and efficient rescue. Thus, regardless of which adventure you choose to do with Eco Holidays Nepal, we guarantee a memorable and safe journey where you don’t need to worry about anything.
Training and Preparation
As the Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek is a moderate level of journey in the Himalayas, you should consider an efficient training program to ensure a comfortable journey. The effort you put into your training part will solely determine how easy and comfortable you will feel taking the mountain route on the actual trip and enjoying it.
Thus, you should make arrangements for training at least 3 to 6 weeks for the trek. Depending on your fitness level, you should consider adjusting the training period if it seems like it will not be enough. You should work on your strength and endurance aspects for the trek while also focusing on core strength.
The core strength exercises will help you find balance even on the uneven terrains of the mountain. Similarly, the cardiovascular and stamina training exercises are very helpful in improving your stamina reserve. These exercises will make the long hours of walking a piece of cake and you will also find it much easier to adjust to new altitudes.
Altitude Sickness
While doing high-altitude adventures, it is natural to be worried about the risk of altitude sickness. However, unlike mountain expeditions where climbers have to face severe forms of altitude sickness, on this Everest Base Camp Trek route you will only have to deal with the mild variant.
This mainstream route only has the potential risk of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Even if it is a moderate form of altitude-related sickness, you should follow appropriate precautionary methods to avoid inconveniences caused by it.
During this trek, you will reach the highest point of the entire route at Kala Patthar (5,550 m), which is in the Trans Himalayan zone. Compared to that, the majority part of the trail is not that significantly elevated; thus, the risk of altitude sickness is pretty low.
On top of that, while trekking with Eco Holidays Nepal, you will enjoy a slow-paced journey that lets to adapt to the altitude as you gradually ascend on the route. You will also get two acclimatization days en route at Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and Dingboche (4,410).
Thus, the potential risk of altitude sickness is significantly reduced in this itinerary plan. You don’t have to worry about anything while trekking with Eco Holidays Nepal and just enjoy the experience and create fond memories.
Heli Trek Option
If you want to go beyond the experience of the standard Mount Everest Base Camp Trek package, we also have heli options. Eco Holidays Nepal also has the Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return if you don’t want to give up on the trekking experience and return in style.
In this trek with a heli return option package, you will enjoy a complete trekking experience and fly back to Kathmandu after completing the hike to Kala Patthar. As for the complete flying tour without the need for trekking, we have the Everest Base Camp Landing Helicopter Tour.
This package will help you admire and soak in the beauty of the eastern Himalayas without breaking a sweat. Your flight will start from Kathmandu to Lukla and then from Pheriche to Kala Patthar. Unlike the general flyover, you will actually get to land on the highest viewpoint of the region to admire the beauty of the Himalayas up close.
