Everest Base Camp Trekking Guide

Posted on Jun 27, 2017 by Anujghimire under Trekking

Tags: Everest Base Camp, EBC, EBC Trek

Everest Base Camp definitely has to be one of the most renowned trekking trails in the world. Taking you right into the footsteps of the highest mountain in the World, The Mount Everest,  the Everest Base Camp Trek has a lot to offer.

How to start EBC Trek?

The gateway to Everest is Lukla airport. Though not the only option, flying to Lukla is the most conventional method of getting into Lukla. Or else, a jeep up to Salleri and few days of walk will take you to Lukla.

There are few Airlines making a daily flight to Lukla Airport, Tara, Simrik, Goma. The prices vary mostly but the average cost of a both way ticket is around 10k NRs.

The jeep to Salleri will cost around Nrs 1600.

How much will it cost for EBC trek?

Everest Base Camp trek is quite expensive compared to other trekking destinations. The rooms are cheaper but the food can be quite expensive as you go higher in elevation. A minimum of at least Nrs 1500 for the first 3 4 days and around 2000/day as you go higher would be good enough.

Itinerary for Everest Base Camp Trek

Day 1: Kathmandu-Lukla-Phakding (Trek)

The first day of the trek starts at the Tribhuvan International Airport. After a short and rough flight to Lukla, and a quick breakfast, you start the trek to Phakding. Phakding is about 8 km from Lukla. The short trek takes you through small village in Chaurikharka vdc. Starting from Lukla, the first day ends in an overall gradual descent.

Day 2: Phakding- Namche Bazar

The Second day of the trek starts from the small village of Phakding. Namchce is about 11 km from Phakding and much of the first half of the trek is quite easy, until you reach the famous Hillary Bridge. The climb up to the Hillary is quite thrilling with the expectation of being at the famous bridge. But from the bridge onward the climb goes almost steeply up. A quick stop for a rest at a small resting spot will give you the first view of Mount Everest from the route. There is a place with two toilets and resting stones, so you most probably will no miss the point. There is a small tap, stand right next to the tap and then look right in the middle of the open canopy of the tree, you will see the Everest far into the distance. The 2^nd day of your trek will end at the beautiful village of Namche.

Day 3: Namche Bazar- Tengboche

While in Namche, start up early, go up to the Museum for an amazing view of sunrise on Everest, Nupste, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Then come back to the hotel, have your breakfast and start the trek. The trek is quite easy. The trail is relatively flat until you reach Kyanjuma. From there onward you descend down to the river and climb a relatively steep hill until you reach the village of Tengboche.

Day 4: Tengboche- Dingboche

Tengboche to Dingboche is quite enjoyable and fun trail. It is not that steep and you get to see beautiful views. Especially a very close up view of Ama Dablam. The trail goes down at first and then gradually climbs up until Dingboche.

Day 5: Dingboche- Lobuche

Starting from Dingboche, you climb a small hill at Dingboche then walk along a alpine meadow for almost an hour or so until you reach the barren Dhugla. From there you climb up a small steep hill to the Dugla pass where the memorial resides for people who lost the lives in Everest. From there the walk up to Lobuche is quite easy.

Day 6: Lobuche- Gorakshep- Everest Base Camp- Gorakhshep

Day 6^th of the trek is a very long day so start up ever early. Head to Gorkhshep, which takes about 3 hours to reach, then find a hotel to stay in, keep your bags in the room. Eat something and starting walking up to the Everest Base Camp. Though the Everest Base Camp seems not so far from Gorakhshep it takes almost 3 hours to reach the Base Camp.  The day ends at Gorakhshep.

Day 7: Gorakshep- Kalapatthar- Gorakshep-Periche

The most tiring of all day can be day 7^th. Walking up early in the morning to go up to the Kalapatthar and then getting back to Periche. Wake up as early as you can, as early as 3 am and then descend down, have your breakfast and descend down to Periche. An alternative can be, Walk from Lobuche to Gorkhashep and instead of going to Base camp, walk up to Kalapatthar, for the sunset (which I was told was amazing, more amazing than the sunrise, the sunrise was not that good, because the sun rises right in the middle of Lhola and Everest and once the sun is up, you can barely see Everest, so the sunset would be a good option). And then start up early the next morning, walk to the Base camp and return back to Gorkhashep for lunch and head down to Periche or even Dingboche.

Day 8: Periche- Namche

Day 8 is a long walk as well, but most it is a descent so not that tortuous. Following the same route that you took before, you walk down to Namche.

Day 9: Namche- Lukla

Start early in the morning try to reach Lukla as soon as you can, if there are any planes flying in to Lukla from Kathmandu, you might be able to take a flight back to Kathmandu. If not then enjoy the final day of trek at Lukla. And Fly back to Kathmandu the next day.

Day 10: Lukla- Kathmandu 

Best time to go for EBC Trek

In a year it is recommended to Trek bewteen April to May or Mid June ( During this time, there wont be cold and chances of Rainy season). This month will start after the end of winter in Nepal which usually start from December and ends at the end of March. 

Another month is from Septemeber to November, which starts after the end of Monsoon in Nepal. 

So best time to go for Everest base camp trekking is : April to may and Septmeber to Novermber

Best Season for Everest base camp trek

After the end of Monsoon: Septemeber to November

After the end of Winter: April to may 

Everest base camp trek Permit Fees and Tims Card

National Park Trekking routes in the Everest region lie within Sagarmatha National Park. Foreigners are required to obtain a Sagamartha National Park entry permit as well as a TIMS card to trek in the Everest Region.

1. Sagarmatha National Park entry permit fee for foreigners: 3,000 NPR + 13% VAT, totaling 3,390 NPR (Approx. US $34)
2. Sagarmatha National Park entry permit fee for SAARC nationals: 1,500 NPR
3. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district has started levying entrance fee of Rs 2,000 (approximately $20) on every foreigner entering the rural municipality from October 1, 2018 replacing the TIMS permit: 1,000 NPR (Approx. US $10)

 

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