Everest Base Camp Cost (How Much I Paid for 14 Days Trekking)

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is an unforgettable adventure, but it also requires a good chunk of coin. When I factor in flights, permits, accommodation, and extras, trekking Everest Base Camp cost me roughly $1988 USD over 14 days.

Unfortunatly, when planning the trip, I struggled to find good information on how much I needed to budget, and what other expenses I could expect outside the package tour itself.

(Like tipping)

((working out how much to tip is STRESSFUL))

So in this blog post I break down how to properly budget for your EBC Trek, what you’ll need to pay for up front, and what cash you’ll need to bring along for small costs along the way.

Quick Summary: Everest Base Camp Cost	Per Person Cost
Package Tour: Includes guide, accommodation, 3 meals a day airport pickup, and flights to/from lukla	$1250 USD
Water: Your best option is packing water purification tablets	$10
Hot showers: the first few days showers are free, and later you’ll need to pay around $8 for shower. Up to you if you feel you need it!	$48
Extra Food and Drink: Snacks, drinks, celebratory beers, and meals where not provided by the tea house	$99
Wifi: cell coverage is patchy for the first few days and non-existant after that. Tea houses sell satellite wifi vouchers for around $6.	$66
Tipping: Expect to pay around $200 USD to tip your porter and guide. You can read more on tipping in this blog post.	$200
Travel Insurance: You’ll most likely need a special insurance policy to cover high altitude trekking. (See who i recommend here)	$315
Total	$1988

Firstly, DIY Trekking vs. a Guided Tour

99% of people will book this adventure as a package tour with a trekking company. That’s what I did, and what I’d recommend.

However, it is still permitted to trek Everest Base Camp solo (or unguided).

I say still because in 2023 the Nepalese government banned self guided trekking in all parts of Nepal EXCEPT for the Khumbu region (where Everest is).

If you do chose to go this route, you’ll need to cover the following expenses yourself. If taking a tour, skip ahead as all these are included.

• Permits
• Domestic flights
• Accomodation
• Meals

Jump to the end if you want to read about the costs of a self guided trip, otherwise keep reading for us package tour people 🙂

How Much I Paid For 14 Days of Trekking

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the expenses I incurred.

High Altitude Travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is a must, especially for high-altitude treks. It covers medical emergencies, helicopter evacuation (which can cost as much as $10,000), and trip cancellation. I paid $745 for full coverage. Costs vary from one provider to the next, so I recommend budgeting around $1000.

I recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance for most people. You can get a 30 second free online quote HERE.

Otherwise, checkout this blog post where I reviewed 5 travel insurance providers who specialise in high altitude trekking cover.

The Cost of Meals and Additional Food and Drink

Most tour companies will cover all the costs of food for your hike. They will say something like ‘3 meals a day’ or ‘B/L/D’ (Breakfast, lunch, dinner) on the package inclusions.

This means you’ll get to order 1 menu item from each tea house for each meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My guide also specifically said we were allowed 4 cups of tea every day too. (Which actually meant 4 cups of any hot drink off the menu, like coffee, chai, and herbal tea too!)

If you want extra dishes, sweets, snacks, beer, or soft drinks, you’ll have to pay for that yourself – and settle your bill when you leave each tea house.

We often ordered an extra dish to share (like a plate of momos – YUM!). A beer to celebrate the days hike. Or a bottle of coke to help replenish sugars and electrolytes. In particular, I found coke really satiating when the effects of the altitude started kicking in!

Some prices for reference;

• A Beer – 800 NPR or $6 USD
• A plate of Momos – 700 NPR or $5.50 USD
• A Dahl Baht set menu – 1100 NPR or $8 USD
• A bottle of coke – 450 NPR – or $3.50 USD

Note: There’s an unspoken rule that you should only eat at YOUR tea house, as that’s how they make their money. It’s not allowed (or at least good manners) to go other tea houses for food, or resurants. It is OK however to have your main meal at the tea house and then go to a bar or snooker hall afterwards.

Recommendation: I’d allow for $9 per day per person (or 1200 NPR) to cover additional food, like an entre meal, a beer, or a few snacks while hiking.

Tipping:

Hiring a guide and porter ensures safety and enjoyment on the trek. I paid $15 per day for a guide and $15 per day for a porter. There’s also a tip to factor in.

Tipping is customary, so factor in an additional $200-$250 for the guide and $50-$100 for the porter at the trek’s end.

A common approach is to tip as a percentage of the total tour price. This ranges from 10-15% of the trek cost. Another method is to tip based on a daily rate. 

Note that in large groups your total tip should be slightly more, but your per person tip will be less. Guides elicit a higher tip than assistant guides, whom are tipped more than porters. If you’re trekking for longer, you’ll also need to tip more! … confusing huh?

I’ve written a full guide on working out your tip amount for Everest base camp here.

Recommendation: I tipped 225 USD for the two of us. Budget at least this amount and some extra if you’re getting a porter. If you’re in a large group, allow a little less.

Gear and equipment (If you don’t already have it!)

I’m an avid hiker, so I had the necessary hiking gear. If you don’t, here’s a checklist to get you started:

• Sturdy hiking boots: Don’t compromise on quality! ($150-$250)
• Backpack: Choose comfort over style (around $100-$200)
• Warm sleeping bag: Rated for at least -15°C/-5°F ($100-$300)
• Thermal wear: Essential for layering ($50-$100)
• Trekking poles: Improve stability ($50-$100)
• Headlamp: Handy for pre-dawn starts ($30-$50)
• Water bottles or hydration bladder: Stay hydrated ($20-$50)

Optional Additional Services

These additional services can make your trek even more comfortable, and some can even be quite helpful! Here are some nice-to-have items to budget for. 

Wifi Internet

If you need to stay connected, some teahouses offer internet access for purchase using internet cards, which generally cost around $50. Connectivity can be spotty in remote areas, so it’s best to manage expectations.

Wifi: cell coverage is patchy for the first few days and non-existant after that. Tea houses sell satellite wifi vouchers for around $6.

Hot showers

A hot shower can feel like pure bliss, especially after a long day of trekking, particularly at higher altitudes where the nights get chilly. Not all teahouses offer them, and they cost around $10 per shower. 

Laundry Services

Most teahouses offer laundry service for a fee. This is a great way to freshen up your clothes during the trek. Prices typically range based on weight.

Side trips (Book ahead of time)

Adding a side trip to Gokyo Lakes (around $100 extra) can enhance your experience, but also adds to the cost. 

Popular side trips include;

• Gokyo Lake
• Chola Pass
• The Three Passes

The best way to think of this cost is that you’re just making your trek longer, so you’ll be paying for additional food, accomation, and staff costs (Guide/Porter).

Souvenirs 

If you do want to shop, Namche is the best place to do it.

Expect to find hand-crafted items for $10-50, and small thangka paintings (Tibetan Buddhist scrolls) for $30-$100. Bargaining is expected at local shops but bargain respectfully. Aim for a fair price, not the absolute lowest. 

Tip: Prices are obviously inflated compared to in Kathmandu. I waited till we were back and spent an afternoon in Thamel, the main shopping district of Kathmandu, where we could get all the same souvenirs for 1/3rd of the price.

Contingency for Emergencies and Unforeseen delays

Obviously travel insurance will cover any big events, but it’s wise to budget a little extra for small things that go wrong.

The Himalayas are known for their unpredictable weather. Allow extra days in your itinerary (and budget) to avoid additional accommodation costs because of delays caused by bad weather.

Plan for the unexpected. Medical/Healthcare issues can be expensive (highlighting the importance of comprehensive travel insurance). Even if its just food poisoning, a cold, flu. or minor altitude sickness, you’ll want to grab some medication and supplements to help you feel better.

Costs of doing Everest Base Camp Self Guided

As mentioned above, it is possible to DIY the everest base camp trek. While that’s not what I did, I made sure to ask my guide all about it and what extra cost are involved.

1. Trekking Permits

You’ll first need to obtain trekking permits. You have two options:

• Do-It-Yourself: You can obtain permits upon arrival in Kathmandu at the Tourist Service Centre or the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. This is a cost-effective option but requires some research and navigation.
• Trekking Company Assistance: Many trekking companies offer to handle the permit process for you (for a fee, of course). This can save you time and hassle, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process – even if you aren’t taking their guiding service
• Permits include the conservation area permit and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card, costing around $500 in total.

2. Domestic flights (Kathmandu to Lukla)

Budget around $300-$500 for a round trip. Booking a return flight with buffer days can help you avoid additional costs incase you experience any delays.

This can be booked through an agent or trekking company too which is great as they handle any rebookings due to weather delaying these flights.

Weather disruptions into lukla are EXTREMELY common. Especially in summer (when I did it) where only 50% of days are flying days.

3. Accommodation

You’ll need to organise all your accommodation in teahouses. Without local connections, you’ll pretty much just need to turn up and ask for a free room. These traditional inns offer basic but comfortable accomdation and meals. One I stayed in cost $15 per night but this price varies based on how busy the route is, and where you’re are.

If you crave extra comfort and amenities, luxury lodges are available at higher price points of approximately $50 per night.

4. Meals

You’ll obviously need to cover all your meals. More on this in the food section below, but budget around 1000 – 1400 NPR or $12 USD per meal which covers one menu item and a hot drink.

Thats around $35 USD per day on food.

I’d also allow $9 per day extra s mentioned above for additional food, drink, beer, snacks etc.