Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek - 12 Days

Duration: 12 Days(5)of 125 reviews

Overview

  • Duration 12 Days
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Max. Altitude 5,555 m | 1,8225 ft
  • Trip Start and End Kathmandu- Everest Base Camp-Kathmandu
  • Trip Area Khumbu Region
  • Best Season Autumn & Spring

Highlights

  • Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek Package  
  • Hiking the Khumbu Valleys with the Sherpas  
  • Take in the breathtaking views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other towering peaks.  
  • Explore Sherpa hospitality with ease  
  • Reach the Everest Base Camp, a high-altitude achievement at 5,364 meters  
  • Fly to Lukla aboard a twin-otter aircraft, landing at one of the world’s most thrilling airports  

Follow the footsteps of legendary mountaineers Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary. Join our Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek of 12 Days.   

Explore the world’s most memorable and picturesque walk. It is popular among passionate trekkers around the world for several reasons. Traverse the landscape with thin air, dense forests, the Dudhkoshi River and glaciers and ice falls. Cross the suspension bridges festooned with prayer flags. Explore culturally rich Sherpa villages, rich biodiversity, flora, and fauna. Feel the vibrant Buddhist heritages that take trekkers to a wonderland.  

Join the 12-day Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek to interact with the ever-smiling locals. Get an insight into the tradition and culture of the legendary Sherpa people. Reach the legendary viewpoint of Kala Patthar for an iconic view of the Himalayas up close. Get blessed by the maroon-dress-clad monks and nuns in the monasteries of the region.  

The trekking begins with the 15-minute dramatic flight from Manthali to the marvelous hill town of Lukla. With the gentle introduction of trekking after the trek to Phakding, real trekking in the Everest region begins. You'll pass through the Sherpa hub of Namche Bazaar. Explore the culturally rich settlement of Tengboche. Reach the highest year-round settlement of Dingboche. Trek through Lobuche and Gorakshep. Visit Everest Base Camp, where there's no overnight stay. Finally, trek back to Lukla, the starting point.  

The 12-day cheapest Trekking to the base camp of Mount Everest demands reasonable fitness. It needs the ability to walk through steep gradients. Besides an average walk of 5-6 hours per day besides mental endurance. Prepare for the trek with cardiovascular training such as cycling, swimming, hill-climbing, and walking.  

Everest Base Camp Trekking Distance 

The total distance you will cover is around 130 km when you complete the round trip to Everest Base Camp. You need to cover all these distances within 12 days on the standard. But you have various options, and you can customize your own itinerary if you feel like you will not be able to complete the trek within 12 days. 

The 12-day trek includes 2 days of acclimatization so that you can adjust to the thin air and lack of oxygen at higher altitudes. The cheapest hike to Everest base camp is difficult without these acclimatization days, as you need to cover a total of 65 km of distance and hike up to an altitude of 5,500 meters. 

How difficult is the trek to the Everest Base Camp? 

Everest Base Camp Trekking up to Kalapathaar is a moderate trekking journey suitable for all age groups. If you don't have previous trekking experience, you don't need to worry, as you can easily hike without any issues. If you can walk about 4 to 6 hours a day and are used to doing long hiking, then the trek is going to be easy for you. 

Besides strength and athleticism, the most challenging thing during this trek is altitude sickness. Going unprepared would undoubtedly put a significant obstacle in the way of your goal of arriving at your destination and taking in the breathtaking scenery along the route. There is no cure for altitude sickness; the only option is to return home and try again later. 

You should be able to walk for 5 to 6 hours each day while carrying a rucksack weighing about 5-7 kg. As a result, to participate in the Everest base camp trip, you must be in good physical and mental health.  

Guide for the Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek 

Choosing a trained and licensed guide is the most crucial choice you will make while organizing your trip. You won't experience any unpleasant surprises about the terrain, the weather, or any other facets of the trip if you have an experienced guide. 

We offer a skilled and experienced guide for your trek. They will support you throughout the journey, ensuring your trip is unforgettable and enjoyable. This cheapest package of all time includes one guide for the smaller groups, and if the group size surpasses 10 individuals, there is provision of an additional guide for your trip. 

Accommodations used for the Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek 

In this package, the accommodation is basic. There will be two single rooms, well-maintained lodges of the region in every location. We do not provide an ensuite bathroom here. There are communal bathrooms in every location. So, be prepared to go for the real adventure of the cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek. 

The beds will have one blanket in each bed. So, we always suggest carrying sleeping bags, especially for the high altitudes. You can easily get good-quality sleeping bags for rent in Kathmandu. 

Note: In some cases, depending on availability, you might also be sharing the room with three trekkers.

Itinerary

Show Detail ItineraryClose Detail Itinerary

As we have already packed our bags the previous night, the thing we do straight in the morning is the drive to the airport for an early morning flight to Lukla.

With the excitement of being in the region of the highest mountain in the world, we board a small, fixed-winged aircraft and set off on an adventurous yet worthy aerial journey to Lukla. Soon after an incredible flight experience, we will find ourselves at the amazing mountain town of Lukla, the gateway to Everest. We will meet all our supporting crew members at Lukla before setting off on the first day of the trek.

Once we sort out our stuff, we start the trek to Phakding today. After about 2/3 hours of the easy trek on the gentle and gradual downhill trail, we reach Phakding on the bank of a beautiful mountain river called Dudh Koshi. The very first day of Everest trail walking will take us past some beautiful cultural and spiritual wonders in the forms of prayer flags, shortens, mani walls, etc. 

We enjoy our breakfast with the serene sound of flowing Dudh Koshi before starting our second day of the trek to Namche Bazar today. The walk today mostly involves uphill effort with some steep going up. We cross several suspension bridges today on the trail as we proceed towards the destination. We check into the Sagarmatha National Park entrance checkpoint just above the beautiful village of Monjo before continuing up towards Namche Bazar.

Once we reach Namche Bazar, a prosperous mountain trading town in the Everest region, we will be able to observe and experience more of the amazing culture and lifestyle of the beautiful and famous Sherpa people. A nicely settled town on the terraced slope, Namche Bazar showcases some spectacular views of mountains like Thamserku (6,6232m) and Kongde Ri (6,187m) to its west.

We spend an extra day here at Namche today for acclimatization as we are already at 3,440 meters above sea level with a large portion of the stretch left to go higher in the days to come. As this is an acclimatizing day, we will go for a hiking trip to Everest Viewpoint called Everest view hotel(3880m/12730ft) right above Namche Bazar to have the very first glimpse of Mt. Everest. This spectacular viewpoint brings wonderful mountain views including Mt. Everest that keep us motivated to go higher towards the base camp.

Once we return back to Namche Bazar after the hike, we can explore the town going from one end to the other of the town. We can indulge in some conversation with locals there; surf internet cafes, or simply relax and save the energy for the days to come.

We start the day early after breakfast and proceed towards Tengboche, a beautiful village in the Khumbu region on a hill in the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Imja River. The uphill walk passes through forest and involves ridge walking. After about 6 hours of uphill walk, we reach Tengboche village. Once we reach Tengboche village, we can enjoy Mountain View of the peaks like Tawache, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam including Everest.

Once we settle into our accommodation, we can set out on an exploration of Tengboche Monastery, the biggest Buddhist monastery in the region where Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first man to summit Mt. Everest along with Sir Edmund Hilary, was sent to be a monk once. The galore magnificence of the monastery is simply overwhelming. 

Dingboche is the destination for today. After we finish our breakfast with a view, we set off on the trekking journey for the day. We follow the downhill trail towards Dingboche and past it, we reach Pangboche village.

We will take some time to explore the village and an ancient and beautiful monastery. Pangboche is a beautiful and the biggest Sherpa settlement in the region. After starting ahead from Pangboche village, we head towards Dingboche leaving the route to Pheriche.

After spending about six hours on the trail past forests, villages, and beautiful sights to see, we reach Dingboche village where a breathtaking view of the Himalayan peaks awaits us. 

We are already at the elevation of 4,410 meters above sea level thus a good full day is what we need to adjust to the high altitude climate here and above.

This extra day at Dingboche works as acclimatization and rest day as well which is essential to go further higher. Even when we are calling it a rest day, we are not staying idle.

We will go for some hiking to higher elevations and return back to Dingboche for an overnight stay. This full day of exploration around Dingboche will expose us to the overwhelming beauty of the place and surrounding mountain peaks. 

As we are already above the treeline on our trek, we now walk through pastures, glacial moraine, boulder-strewn paths, and the like of the terrain all the way to Lobuche.

The walk today involves crossing a small pass called Dughla also known as Thukla with several memorial shrines for the brave mountaineers who lost their lives during their climbing expeditions. Although the walk is slow-paced on the uphill trail, made difficult by the increasing elevation, it brings wonderful views of the mountains into our sight that helps us forget the strenuous effort we are taking up the impressive mountain landscape.

A well-spent seven hours of the effort in the rugged Everest trekking trail that many other adventurers are treading takes us to the small settlement of Lobuche to spend overnight before striving for one more day to reach the base of the highest mountain in the world.

We are eventually going to make it to the Everest Base Camp today after these many days of trekking in and amidst the wonderful Himalayan peaks.

Our determined and sincere effort to be at the base of the highest mountain in the world is going to materialize this afternoon. We are going to stand at the place where many climbers have spent days and nights training, preparing, and attempting the summit of the formidable Mt. Everest.

We walk to Gorakshep, a small settlement on the glacial lakebed in the Everest region, where we are going to spend overnight today as the highest overnight stopover for the trip. After relishing our lunch at our tea house, we set off for the Everest Base Camp. A slow-paced walk on the moraine and boulder-strewn gradual path up to base camp is going to test our excitement and stamina.

Anyway, we are going to get to the base camp regardless of the difficulty of walking at the elevation. We click countless pictures and enjoy the moment of being at the classic Everest base camp before making a return trip to Gorakshep for an overnight stay. 

We get up early, really early, in the morning to hike up to Kalapatthar, the highest elevation on the trip, for a breathtaking view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and other Himalayan panoramas up close with a spectacular sunrise over those mighty peaks. This never-seen-before view and sunrise on earth are going to blow our minds away alluring us to stay there forever. Alas, we wish we could!

We have to make a return trip back to Gorakshep for breakfast. We start the trek back to Pheriche after breakfast. The trek down today is taking us to a new place that we have not covered on the trek. Pheriche is a beautiful settlement in the Khumbu region which is normally the stopover place for many Everest trekkers on their way back down after the base camp and Kalapatthar joy on the trip.

On our trek along and among the magnificent mountains, we are trekking down to Namche today via Khumjung village. We spend some time at the small and beautiful village, Khumjung which boasts perfect views of mountains including Khumbila peak. We visit a monastery there and head towards Namche for an overnight stay. 

We trek all the way back to Lukla today to finish the trekking journey. We trek past Monjo and Phakding villages; encounter the Dudh Koshi River along the trail and eventually reach Lukla. On the final day of the trek, we can celebrate the beautiful adventure.

We see off our trekking potters here today thanking them for all the help they provided to make our trip possible.

We take a morning flight from the Lukla airstrip leaving the mighty mountains behind us. Another exciting flight with adventure takes us back to the city's civilization. Once in Kathmandu, we transfer you to your hotel where the trip comes to end.

Not satisfied with this regular itinerary?

Are you thinking to plan your custom trip now.

Trip Map

Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek - 12 Days map

Cost Details

Included

  •  
  • One highly experienced, helpful, and friendly guide with a government-assigned License and High-altitude risk management training.  
  • Accommodation during the trek 
  • All ground transportation on a comfortable shared tourist vehicle as per the itinerary 
  • Assistant guide for the group 10 pax or above 
  • Domestic flights (Manthali- Lukla -Manthali) 
  • Accident insurance for all staff 
  • Himalayan Scenery Hat, Trekking Map, and trip achievement certificate 
  • First aid medical kit, Oximeter to check pulse, heart rate, and oxygen saturation at higher altitudes. 
  • Sagarmatha National Park Entry Fee & TIMS Card Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System (Please bring 2 Headshots printed for permit) 
  • The USD $30 Local Government Tax 
  • Rescue and evacuation arrangement
  • All taxes as on date
  •  

Excluded

  •  
  • Travel insurance 
  • Meals during the trek (If needed: Payable USD 480 per person) 
  • Nepal entry visa fee 
  • Porter- $25 per day (1 porter for 2- 25 kg max weight- 12-13 kgs each trekker) 
  • Personal expenses and Tips & gratuities for trekking staff and drivers 
  • Anything not mentioned in the cost inclusion 
  •  

Departure Dates

We have fixed departure dates as follows for group joining for this package. You can also request a private group trip. 

For Quick information / quick answers, Contact Us on WhatsApp: +977 9851083619 ( Ram Krishna Timalsina ) or drop us an inquiry at i[email protected]  

Showing Dates
Start: SaturdayMay 03, 2025
End: WednesdayMay 14, 2025
Price US $699Status: Available
Start: ThursdayMay 15, 2025
End: MondayMay 26, 2025
Price US $699Status: Available

Useful Info

This trek offers a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the region's culture, trek through diverse landscapes, and witness the grandeur of Mount Everest without breaking the bank. 

Who is this Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek for? 

The Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek is ideal for budget-conscious trekkers who want to experience the beauty and adventure of the Everest region without the high-end luxuries. This trek is perfect for: 

  • Adventure seekers looking for a classic Himalayan trekking experience. 
  • Fit and prepared trekkers who are comfortable with moderate physical exertion and long trekking days. 
  • Budget travelers who prefer to stick to the essentials, such as shared accommodation and standard meals, while still exploring the Everest region. 
  • Those who are flexible and open to a group-joining trek rather than a private expedition, allowing for a more affordable experience. 
  • Age range: The trek is generally suitable for individuals between the ages of 17 and 65, although older participants may join if they are in good health and physically fit. Younger trekkers may also participate with parental consent and guidance, but it's always important to assess individual fitness and readiness for high-altitude trekking. 

Risk Management and Rescue 

The Everest Base Camp Trek involves high-altitude conditions, which can present risks such as altitude sickness, injury, and unexpected weather changes. Therefore, proper risk management is essential: 

  • Altitude sickness: To mitigate the risk of altitude sickness, this trek includes acclimatization days, where you will rest and adjust to the increasing altitude gradually. If you start feeling symptoms of altitude sickness (headaches, dizziness, nausea), it’s crucial to descend to a lower altitude immediately. 
  • Experienced guides: Your trek will be led by an experienced guide who is well-versed in high-altitude trekking, first aid, and managing risks that can arise during the trek. 
  • Emergency rescue: In the event of serious injury or medical issues, emergency evacuation services are available. Helicopter evacuations from Everest Base Camp or other locations can be arranged, although they can be expensive. It’s recommended to have travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation. 
  • Insurance: Ensure that you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment, evacuation, and potential trip cancellations or delays due to weather or health conditions. 

While doing the Cheapest Everest Base Camp Trek, it presents some risks, these can be minimized with the right preparation, acclimatization, and guidance. Always follow your guide's instructions and listen to your body to ensure a safe trekking experience. 

FAQs

  • Q1. Is it safe to carry electronic devices like cellphone, camera or so on?

    Yes, you can bring along your electronic devices with you. However, not all devices can survive the extreme change in temperature and pressure. Digital Cameras are free of danger. If you have a laptop, make sure it is well-packed and shielded.

  • The major health issue that can occur is altitude sickness. To avoid this problem, you have to drink lots of water. You should carry an effective medicine called Diamox and have it immediately after the attack. We will provide the guides and helpers who are experienced and trained to take different kinds of precautions and safety measures in this kind of situation. If your condition becomes severe, you will be taken 300m downward from your current position. From there, you can trek again in substitute time according to the rate of your body recovery.

  • There are a few internet cafes in Lukla, Namache and a few villages up to Gorak Shep. They are affordable but not completely reliable. You can connect with yours relatives through satellite phones. Some tea house offer satellite or wired phone service. Just point the device mostly east. It is an easy and inexpensive way to letting those back home know where you are and you are ok.

    Mobile phone service is available with a Nepal Cell phone company SIM card. They work perfectly well even outside the cities. However, as you go higher, you will lose the strength of the network or have no network at all.

  • Everest base camp trek difficulty is moderate to tough. The trail has lots of ascents and descents through rough, steep paths. You go above 5,500 meters and travel in a very remote area.

  • Yes, a beginner can do Everest base camp trekking. You have to be well prepared for the trek. Build walking habits and work on your stamina. Papackul all the essentials and meet us on a given date in Kathmandu. We'll take care of everything else in Nepal.

  • Usually, the Everest base camp cost begins at USD 1400 and goes above your itinerary and services. You need additional money for international flights, tipping, travel insurance, visa, personal expenses, and emergency funds.

  • From Lukla, you'll reach Everest base camp after eight days of walking. The Everest base camp itinerary is usually 14 days or 15 days. You can add a side trip to Gokyo Lakes or one of the high passes if you have time to trek more.

  • Yes, the Everest base camp trek is safe. You trek with an experienced guide and porter. In case of any emergency, they will help you and take care of you. While our professional team arranges all the things for your journey in Nepal, so you'll have a safe trip overall.

  • Yes, you can take a helicopter to the Everest base camp. However, landing a helicopter at EBC can be difficult because of inadequate space. If you are on a helicopter tour, you land at Kala Patthar, which offers better views.

  • Yes, Everest base camp trekking is 100% worth it. You get all the time to unwind and immerse yourself in the Himalayas. The views are sensational and worth all the long, tough walk for more than 10 days. You get to learn about the Himalayas and the natives.

  • Yes, the teahouses have charging plug points. Most of these plugs are powered by solar and are pretty useless during cloudy days. Charging your electronic devices will cost you some money, especially at higher elevations. Carry along spare batteries for your camera. There is a lack of constant electrical supply in Nepal. You may not always get to charge your devices during the power cut time.

  • Walking to Everest Base Camp is not that hard if you are physically fit and have trained well. However, the altitude up to 5,644 meters (18517ft.) can get you mountain sickness and other health issues. But the trained people do not feel quite hard trekking to Everest Base Camp as there are plenty of spaces for resting and having talks with fellow travelers.

  • The standard hike to Everest Base Camp takes 12 days to complete. It will start from Kathmandu, where you will be hiking for continuous 8 days till Everest Base Camp. Then it will take exactly 4 days to get down to Lukla and fly to Kathmandu.

  • Usually, the cost of Everest Base Camp Trek ranges from $1400 reaching up to even $3000. This expensiveness depends upon the package you choose and your own extra expenses. The tour operator generally will charge you $1400-$2000.

  • As EBC is not the most difficult trek in the world, obviously, beginners can do it. But make sure you get trained both physically and mentally before starting the journey.

  • You actually do not climb to Everest Base Camp; you walk. Yes, the normal person can simply trek to Everest Base Camp with proper training and physical fitness. You will trail along the hills first and then the mountain paths all along.

  • A healthy individual aging from 10 years to 70 years with good physical and mental fitness can involve in the EBC trek.

  • Everest Base Camp sits about 200-300 km from Kathmandu. A plane ride to Lukla takes roughly 35-40 minutes. From Lukla, it's a 65 km trek to EBC, requiring around 7-8 hours of walking each day.

  • Yes, you can sleep at Everest Base Camp during the expedition time only. But the package itineraries will have accommodations in Gorakshep. You will have to pay separately to sleep in the base camp. The Everest Base Camp location usually keeps on changing every year due to weather and climate change issues. But it is completely safe to sleep in a tent there.

  • For foreigners in Nepal, Passport and ID photos are required to get permits and other documentation for Everest Base Camp Trek. For Nepali, their citizenship and ID photos will work fine.

  • No, you cannot solo trek to Everest Base Camp. Since 2023, the Nepal Government doesn't allow solo treks to EBC, so you'll need to join a group or hire a guide.

    Many trekkers often experience altitude sickness and need evacuation. Plus, it's easy to lose your way if you wander off the main trail. So, getting a guide or joining a group is the best option.
     

  • Yes, the Everest Base Camp is crowded in the peak seasons (Spring and Autumn). Every season, 30,000 to 40,000 adventurers take on this journey. In the busiest times, up to 500 trekkers start their journey daily.

  • If you often hit the gym, swim, run, or train physically, you're well-fit for the Everest Base Camp Trek. But if you're not active, you should walk 4 to 7 kilometers every day at least for 3 months before starting the trek.

  • From either Salleri or Lukla, 95% of trekkers successfully reach Everest Base Camp. The trek to Everest Base Camp takes anywhere from 12 to 15 days to finish.

  • On the trek, porters can carry up to 15kg (33 lbs) of your main pack. Just be careful not to overbuy in Namche. It's a good idea to have an extra bag to leave gear in Kathmandu that you won't need for the trek. Typically, the plane also allows luggage up to 15kg (33 lbs).

  • The Everest Base Camp trek is generally safe and enjoyable, even with the risks of high-altitude sickness or unexpected natural events. Regardless of potential altitude challenges, the trek suits all travelers, depending on the time they can set aside for rest and acclimatization.

  • Yes, you can exchange your money in Namche Bazaar. There are money exchange companies like Western Union and IME are available. Even there are few banks in Lukla and Namche Bazaar that do the money exchange. But the exchange rate is so low in those places. So, it is better to exchange the currencies in Kathmandu.

  • Yes, you can use card payment in Everest Region up to Namche only. The more you elevate the hotels usually prefer cash payments. So, it is more advisable to use cash.

  • Yes, Lukla's flight is completely safe. There are twin-otter airplanes to Lukla. However, the Lukla Airport runway being so short, is considered to be the most dangerous airport in the world.

  • The Lukla flight limits you to carry a weight of up to 15 kg (33 lbs.). This weight is divided into 10kg of luggage and 5 kg of hand carry.

  • Yes, you can smoke as well as drink on the trek. But it is not advisable for your health as you cannot safely elevate to higher altitudes by drinking and smoking.

  • Yes, you can hire a guide as well as a porter in Lukla. Usually, the porters are only hired in Lukla. However, we recommend you to hire a guide from your tour operator in Kathmandu.

  • Yes, the helicopter can take you back to Lukla. This is usually chosen by trekkers because the return route on the trek is the same as the elevation.

  • There are 3-start up to 5-star hotels up to Everest View Hotel in the Everest trek. However, at higher altitudes, there are fewer hotels. In peak seasons, there are tents made available by the hotels in case rooms are not vacant. However, you can also get sharing rooms at higher altitudes.

  • You can see the first view of Everest during the EBC trek on the second day of your trek. This is when you hike towards Namche from Phakding. There is a resting point in the middle. From there you can visualize Everest for the first time during the trek.

  • Yes, there are hot showers available in the EBC. You need to pay an extra charge to the hotels to take hot showers.

  • Usually, you don't need an oxygen cylinder for the EBC trek. But when your oxygen level is so low, then in that case only, oxygen is made available for you. Actually, the oxygen cylinders are for the Everest Climbers.

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