You do not need any climbing experience to stand at 5,364 meters above sea level at the foot of the world's tallest mountain. The Everest Base Camp Trek is hard work, but it involves no technical climbing. Thousands of trekkers from the United States and around the world complete it every year. With proper training, a good guide team and careful acclimatization, it is within anyone's reach.
What is the Everest Base Camp Trek?
The Everest Base Camp Trek is a 12 to 18-day guided trek in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal. It begins with a mountain flight to Lukla, a small town at 2,840 meters, and its goal is Everest Base Camp, at 5,364 meters. Along the way, trekkers pass through Sherpa villages, old monasteries and rhododendron forests, with close views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many other peaks over 6,000 meters.
The trek is not technical. There is no rock climbing, no ropes and no glacier crossing. The only difficulty is the altitude, and altitude is managed through pacing. That is why choosing a good guide team matters more than your own fitness level.
How Long Does the Everest Base Camp Trek Take?
On average, the Everest Base Camp trek takes 14 to 18 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. The 18-Day Everest Base Camp Premium Trek from SherpaHolidays gives your body time to acclimatize at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche before going higher, which greatly reduces the risk of altitude sickness. Some treks cover the same distance in 12 or 14 days, but we do not advise that if you are a first-timer or have not spent much time at high altitude.
What is the Best Time to Do the Everest Base Camp Trek?
There are two main seasons for the trek. The first is spring, from March to May, the most popular time to go: the weather is stable, the rhododendrons are out and the days are long. The second is autumn, from late September to November, when the sky is clear and the mountain views are at their best. Both seasons are good. The main difference is temperature: spring is warmer and autumn is cooler. Autumn also gives the clearest view of Mount Everest from Kala Patthar. Avoid December to February, when temperatures are usually below freezing, and June to September, the monsoon season, when the rain is heavy, especially on the lower sections of the trail.
If you are planning a trek this autumn, our guide to trekking in Nepal this autumn covers this season's roads, flights, weather and permits.
How Fit Do You Need to Be?
You do not need to be an athlete. What the Everest Base Camp trek asks for is steady walking, day after day: 5 to 7 hours most days, up to 8 on the longest, for 12 to 18 days in a row. Anyone can build up to that with 8 to 12 weeks of training.
Train your endurance more than your strength. Walking, hiking, cycling and stair climbing are the best ways to prepare. If you can walk comfortably for 5 hours a day, several days in a row, with a light daypack on your back, you are fit enough for the trek.
What Does the Everest Base Camp Trek Cost?
The cost of an Everest Base Camp trek varies a lot with the level of service, the length of the trek and the accommodations. Budget operators charge $1,500 to $2,500 per person for a 14-day trek with basic lodges. Luxury treks with the best lodges, an experienced Sherpa guide and a full support staff can cost $4,500 to $7,000 per person.
The 18-Day Everest Base Camp Premium Trek with SherpaHolidays starts from $3,975. That includes premium lodges, all meals on the trek, an experienced Sherpa guide, flights to and from Lukla, all permits and park fees, private airport transfers and a full briefing in Kathmandu before the trek.
What Permits Do You Need?
Your route requires park and local entry documents. The Nepal Tourism Board also lists Everest Base Camp in its national TIMS guidance. We confirm the documents required for your route before you travel and arrange the required trekking permits as part of your trip. Ask us for the current permit list for your dates.
What is Included on the SherpaHolidays Everest Base Camp Trek?
The 18-Day Everest Base Camp Premium Trek through SherpaHolidays includes four nights in a Kathmandu hotel with breakfast, thirteen nights in the best mountain lodges on the trail, all meals on the trek, the mountain flights to and from Lukla, an experienced Sherpa guide, porters to carry your main bag (one for every two guests), all permits and national park fees, private transfers in Kathmandu, entry fees for the Kathmandu Valley sightseeing, and a detailed briefing before the trip on altitude, gear and the day-by-day route. The trip page lists everything that is and is not included.
What Should You Pack?
The basics for the Everest Base Camp trek are a four-season sleeping bag rated to minus 10 degrees, waterproof trekking boots broken in before the trip, base layers, a warm insulated mid layer, a waterproof outer layer, trekking poles, sunscreen of at least SPF 50, a headlamp, and a basic first aid kit with altitude sickness medication prescribed by your doctor before you leave.
Every SherpaHolidays booking comes with a full packing list for the Khumbu, matched to the season and the altitude.
Booking This Trek
Our Sherpa guides know this route well.
The Everest Base Camp trek is one of the best-known treks in the world, and with the right support behind you, it is more achievable than most people think. The SherpaHolidays 18-Day Everest Base Camp Premium Trek departs every spring and fall, with small groups and personalized service.
See our Everest Base Camp Premium Trek page for departure dates, prices and the itinerary, or contact the SherpaHolidays team to start planning your trek. If you are choosing between the Everest region and the Annapurnas, our complete guide to the Annapurna Circuit covers Nepal's other classic trek.
