Everest Base Camp Trek

Meals and Accommodation on the trek

In comparison with several other trekking routes in Nepal, the Everest Base Camp hike is known to be the most popular route. This also makes it easier to guess that the lodges or tea houses here might be better in quality in comparison. Teahouses/lodges are available throughout the trek from Lukla all the way to Gorakshep. In many places, there are tea houses of different levels, we can categorize them as budget, medium, and luxury lodges. The standard of the tea houses is satisfactory in all places if we think about the location. We can find lodges of different levels until Dingboche. In Lobuche and Gorakshep, the number of lodges is limited and there is no vast difference between them.

The lodges will have twin sharing rooms (2 separate beds in 1 room) throughout the trek. The room will be equipped with a mattress and a blanket. A sleeping bag is highly recommended, we provide you with a sleeping bag if requested without an extra fee. The room will be always basic without heating, air conditioning, or power outlets. Rooms in most places will be equipped with a small light powered by a Solar system.

Our Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary also includes 3 nights of accommodation in Kathmandu. We provide 1 night before the trek and 2 nights after the trek at a tourist standard hotel in Thamel. This will be a private air conditioning room with an ensuite bathroom including a delicious breakfast. For those looking for luxury options, Kathmandu also offers accommodations of all types from traditional-style hotels to modern 5-star luxury accommodations.

In terms of meals, this is a full-board trekking package. We provide breakfasts and 1 complimentary dinner in Kathmandu and 3 meals on the trek. In comparison to Kathmandu, the meals on the trek are going to be very basic. We provide you with a menu for a la carte selection and you can select your preferred main course dish. In Kathmandu, you can visit any restaurants you like, there are quick fast food restaurants to high-level fine dining options available.

Some of the meals for breakfast are porridge, oatmeal, Chapati, Tibetan bread, noodle soup, eggs (boiled/scrambled/fried/omelet, etc.), toast, pancakes, muesli, hot drinks, etc.

Lunch items are similar to Nepali Dal Bhat Set (rice, lentils, curry, pickle, papad, yogurt, etc), noodles, pasta, vegetable items, curries, pizza, spaghetti, fried noodles, sandwiches, soups, egg items, slices of bread, Momos (Dumplings), potatoes and various deserts will be available.

The dinner will be similar to the lunch. Since we will have plenty of time to eat and sleep we can also order meals that take longer to cook such as steaks and grilled items. All our meals are served hot and fresh. The ingredients are locally available herbs and spices which makes the meals tastier and healthier.

Best Season for the trip to Everest Base Camp

It's important to make the trek in the right season. The weather isn't the same in all seasons. This also makes a huge difference in what to pack or what to carry as the temperature in high altitudes changes a lot from season to season. Spring season (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are two popular seasons for the classic Everest Base Camp Trek. This is considered the best time to trek to EBC. It's worth noting that the trek is doable throughout the year. Reaching Everest Base Camp is a dream of many travelers and it shouldn't be ruined due to weather. The views in Spring and Autumn are excellent offering crystal-clear Himalayan panorama, bluish skies, and flowers blossoming in the forests and dry trails.

The months of Spring from March to May are full of various flowers such as Rhododendrons, Gaping Monkshood, buttercup, Bush Morning Glory, Blue Dawn Flower, Mussaenda, and many more blossoming in the forests. The early days of March can be extremely cold so pack wisely while traveling during this time.

In the spring season, the temperature in the lower areas will be around 20C to 25C during the daytime and ranges from 5C to 10C in the higher areas. It gets colder as we ascend the altitude. The temperatures in higher areas will be 15C to 20C during the day time and it can go to -5C during the night time. The temperature may drop below the above range in adverse weather conditions.

The months of Autumn are also equally famous for trekking in the Khumbu region of Nepal. In comparison to the months of Spring, the overall temperature in Autumn is slightly lower in higher elevations. Since the autumn trekking season is post-monsoon, the forests, valleys, and grasslands are full of greenery. Autumn is also famous among travelers as the majority of Nepalese festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath are in this season. Autumn is a great season to experience Nepalese cultures from close.

The temperature in the months of Autumn ranges between 20C to 25C during the daytime in lower areas. The same temperature may go from 5C to 10C during the nighttime. Similarly, the temperature in higher villages like Manang and Yak Kharka may go down from 10C to 15C during the daytime and can go up to -10C during the nighttime. The later days of winter are extremely cold compared to the early days of October.

Trek to the base camp is doable throughout the year. It is still possible to complete the trek in the monsoon and winter seasons however it's not the perfect time and is recommended only if you cannot visit during the main season. In the monsoon season (June, July, and August) domestic flight to Lukla often gets delayed or canceled due to weather. There were cases of flights being canceled for a week in a row. There can be also risks of flooding and landslides in monsoon season.

Similarly, the months of winter (December, January, and February) are extremely cold and temperature often drops below -10C in higher elevations making it difficult to trek. It's recommended to trek with enough warm clothes during the winter season.

How difficult is trekking to base camp?

The trek to Everest Base Camp is moderate to difficult level depending on a particular day. The walks below 4000 meters are relatively easy to moderate level whereas the days above 4000 meters are comparatively tricky. The higher we go, the lower the Oxygen level is which makes it harder to walk. It's doable from Lukla to the Base Camp with high courage and pre-departure training at home.

Cardio exercises, cycling, hiking, jogging, running, etc. will definitely help you to prepare well for the trek. The Everest Base Camp that most people dream to visit is not impossible but it definitely needs lots of energy and courage to complete the entire trek. Trekking at high altitudes is always difficult no matter wherever you are, but the continuous dedicated effort will definitely make you successful.

A high-altitude adventure such as the EBC Trek is magnificent trekking that gives you the best views of Everest and other Himalayan peaks that take 11 nights and 12 days to complete. These days are hard yet highly rewarding. Adequate training, proper acclimatization, and strong dedication will definitely give you a successful trek up the Khumbu Valley.

Group vs Solo Trekking

Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is suitable for both groups and individuals. This itinerary is suitable for all kinds of travelers whether you want to trek independently, in a small group, or as part of a larger group. It's true that you will get more freedom when you travel independently or in a small group. Traveling solo and traveling with at least 2 people together makes a huge difference in terms of costs since the costs of transportation, guide, porter, accommodation, etc. can be shared in the group. Traveling solo will give you more freedom but you will also be paying more than in a small group. Even though you are alone, there is nothing to worry about, you will meet like-minded people on the trail and in the lodges, you stay in.

The trek is best in small groups in terms of flexibility, affordability, and fun. The main advantage is you won't be walking alone and you always have someone next to you to share your experiences. In addition to this, you will be also sharing the expenses of transportation, guide-porter, and their expenses, accommodation, etc. It may not give the freedom of traveling alone but small group travel also gives you many benefits.

Both group and private treks have their own merits and demerits. Please look closely at what will suit you the best and make the decision. You will meet travelers of all types along the trek.

Communication During the Trek

Mobile reception is available in most parts of the trek. In particular, Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Jorsalle, Namche, Tengboche, Debuche, Pangboche, parts of Lobuche, Gorakshep, Everest Base Camp, and Kalapatthar area is connected by mobile reception. Dingboche, Thukla, and parts of Lobuche are not covered by the phone reception.

The trail is connected by the internet and paid WiFi throughout the route. So, communication is not a problem on the trek. You can always be in touch with your friends and family members. You can buy a Nepalese sim card at the airport or at the city; there are mainly 2 operators Nepal Telecom and Ncell.

We also keep in touch with our leaders on a regular basis until the end of the trek. Even though we may not be in touch with you every day, we get updates about your conditions and about the overall journey regularly. Our trek leaders inform on immediately if any unforeseen incident occurs or if emergency support is needed. It's true that Everest Base Camp is located in a very remote place but communication in the region is fairly accessible with the latest infrastructure developments.

Personal Expenses on the Trek to Everest Base Camp

Like all other treks, you will need to bear some personal expenses on this trek. Expenses such as battery charging, WiFi, hot shower, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, laundry, snacks, desserts, etc. are considered your personal expenses and you need to pay them separately. We recommend approximately USD 10 - USD 15 per person per day for your personal expenses on the trek (in equivalent Nepalese currency). This amount will cover basic expenses on average.

Battery charging is available on the trek. Most places will charge you a fee to charge your devices and it's usually between USD 3 to USD 5 for a full charge. Once you go higher, the electricity is based on solar power which will have limited capacity and may be unable to charge large devices such as laptops and power banks. Please note that in case the sun is not strong, solar charging may not be available.

Drinking water can be arranged in various ways. The best and most recommended way is to purify natural spring water using Steripen, chlorine, or iodine. This is safe to drink as well as best for the environment. In addition, bottled water is also available to buy in most places. This may not be perfect for the environment but it's a quick and easiest solution. Boiled water is also available to purchase and it usually costs between USD 1 to USD 3 for a liter.

Transportation on the Trek

Visiting Everest Base Camp in Nepal has been a lot easier once Lukla airport was developed in 1964 AD. Before the airport in Lukla, travelers had to drive to Jiri and start the trek towards Everest Base Camp which used to take about a month.

In Kathmandu, we provide transportation by private vehicle; this mainly includes 4 airport transfers; 2 for domestic flights and 2 for international flights.

The trek starts from Lukla which is about 25 minutes by a small Dornier or Twin Otter flight that carries about 16 people. It's an adventurous flight with several turbulence. Lukla airport is known as one of the 10 most dangerous airports in the world so Kathmandu - Lukla - Kathmandu flight has always been an adventurous journey for travelers wishing to trek to EBC and Kalapatthar.

Lukla's flight gets delays or cancellations often due to weather. There were cases of flights being canceled for a week continuously in a row. For travelers with tight schedules, alternative ways to start the trek include taking a helicopter to the nearest possible place. Another option is flying to Phaplu if a flight is available. Finally, one can also drive to Phaplu and then start the trek from there. This option is recommended only if there are no other options available. The drive is extremely long, challenging, and bumpy.

In recent years, the airlines have rerouted Kathmandu - Lukla flight from Ramechhap Airport. This airport is about a 4-hour drive from Kathmandu and approximately 135 kilometers. In such cases, Himalayan Leisure will arrange transportation to Ramechhap Airport without additional costs to you.

Staff, Guide, and Porter for the Trek

We provide government-trained and licensed trekking guides with first-aid knowledge. This ensures your safety throughout the journey. Our employees are well-mannered and maintain excellent relationships with our valued customers. Our employees make a wonderful gesture to our customers. Our employees are well-treated by the company, and they are insured for NPR 1 million, which is nearly double the government-required amount.

Similarly, our porters are fairly treated and respected for their hard work. A porter may carry no more than 20-25 kilos on the trek and may be shared by two people if the total combined weight is less than 25 kilos. The trek includes difficult and narrow path walks, we advise our clients to maintain their porter-bag weight to a minimum and to avoid carrying unnecessary items that they may not need on the trail.