Climbing to Everest Base Camp does not have to be very expensive. In order to determine how much you should expect to pay, you’ll first need to decide what type of trek you want to take, and how much time you have available. Another important factor in determining how much your trip will cost is the number of people in your group. With more people, you can share porters and a guide, cutting costs for each person.
When we did our trek in September 2011, in a group of 5, we paid $947 USD each, which got us the following:
The $947 covered all the basic necessities, but did not include tip for guide and porters, snacks, additional drinks / water bottles, etc. By the end of the trip we each ended up spending an additional $200-300 each, and that included very nice tips for the guide and porters (we really liked them), ridiculous amounts of bottled water, extra meals, appetizers, soups, soda, candy bars, battery charging, and a $20 change fee each because we changed our flight back to Kathmandu. Things get more expensive the closer you get to base camp, as supplies have to be carried by hand. We basically bought anything we wanted, so if you’re on a budget you can get by with little or no additional expenses (assuming you filter your own water).
When booking your Everest Base Camp Trek through a travel agency, there is a good chance they’ll try to bundle a Kathmandu tour in with it. If you want this fine, but you can see Kathmandu on your own for less in just a couple days.
Basically, once you get to Kathmandu, if you have all your gear, you can trek to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar over 12 days for under $1000 with guides and porters. If you want to stay in nicer places, eat nicer food, and have porters carry everything for you, expect to pay more. If you want to arrange your own flights and show up in Lukla, you can get guides and porters for cheap outside the airport, or even do the hike without a guide and porters, and you should be able to make the Everest Trek for well under $1000. I found our tour to be a nice middle ground, I wouldn’t change it if I could.
One of the great things to take on the trek is a SteriPen. It uses UV to treat water, and so you have a continuous source of fresh water whenever you want it (it only takes a minute). We did the full trek in 2008 – 32 days walking in and out – (and I also did it in 1983), and found we saved money and hassle with the SteriPen and had no stomach problems. We would just take water from a spring or a river or a local tap, treat and go.
The problems with buying water on route are a) cost b) garbage c) can’t be sure if it is really clean, and d) in many lodges they use old kero containers to transport water to the lodge, so their water can have a bit of kero after taste (not nice .. as it can even show up in food that has been boiled or steamed like momos.)
Hi,
I’m very interested in doing the trek to EBC.
What company did you do it with?
Thanks,
Sam
I used AdventureTreksNepal.com, our guide was named Bhuwan, and one of our porters was training to be a guide, his name was Jit. If you can get either of them as your guide I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, our porters didn’t speak much English but they were great as well, all smiles. Overall Adventure Treks was flexible and easy to work with, we had a great trek with them.
Hi –
I’m debating between Annampur and EBC… any thoughts??
Thanks!
EBC is cool because it’s Mt. Everest, tallest mountain in the world, however you don’t summit anywhere (unless you do Kala Pathar, but still it’s not a famous Himalayan peak). You’re not talking about summiting any of the Annapurna peaks are you? Which Annapurna trek are you considering?
how can book this trip for me and my son 14 years old? I intend to go this Nov -Dec and I have a tight budget.
can email me the guide and details at butterflynbee@ymail.com, pleaseee?
Mummy D
We went through this company: http://www.adventuretreksnepal.com/, and they were more than adequate. Our guides name was Bhuwan, and all our porters were great as well, I highly recommend them if you can get the same crew. Not sure what the rate will be for sure as we had a larger group and went very early season, if not right before the season started. Hope this helps!
I just got back from EBC at the end of November 2014. From Namche to Namche I spent less than $300. This included meals, $3-a-liter water, Internet, battery charging, a pair of gloves for myself, sunglasses for my porter-guide, showers and, lest we not forget, lodging. My porter-guide charged $300 for the duration and I tipped plenty on top of that happily. I went all out and stayed at Namche Hotel in Namche for about $35 a night with clean sheets, thick blankets and electric blankets and hot, private showers. I wound up spending almost $1,000 on helicopters in and out of Lukla to keep myself on schedule. Bummer. Doubt I will ever get my money back from Tara Airline for the flights I never took due to weather. Flights to Lukla from KTM are about 160 one-way. I paid about $30 a night in Deboche (just past Tengboche) for a private room with hot shower at Rivendell. Very nice. I tried to withhold no expense to make myself more comfortable. If you want more info, write me at karlcsr@yahoo.com. Lodges vary a lot at Dingboche. I can tell you a nice one with a nice hot gas shower in Dingboche if you write me. Lobuche is the pits. Just get through it. Gorak Shep is acceptable.
Recent Posts
|
Active Categories
|
Popular EventsTravel Gear |
About The Cheap RouteTheCheapRoute.com is the site where you find fresh new travel destinations & ideas. We don't provide guidebook style writeups, we normally don't even offer you all the specifics, you can find that elsewhere. What we do provide are high quality photos & videos, useful tips, and a fresh perspective on travelling the world for cheap.
Social Media |
