Everest Base Camp Trek 2026 — Full Itinerary, Cost & Permits
Lukla flight, the classic Sherpa-village route through Namche, Tengboche, and the Khumbu icefall to Base Camp at 5,364 m.
- Duration
- 12-16 days
- Max altitude
- 5,545 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate to Strenuous
- Cost from
- NPR 1,30,000
Quick answer
The Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek is a 12-16 day Sherpa-village route from Lukla (2,860 m) to Base Camp at 5,364 m, with the optional sunrise climb of Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for the postcard Everest view. Yatra For Fun books the trek with Sagarmatha National Park + Khumbu Municipality permits, Lukla return flights, an English-speaking IFMGA-trained guide, porter, teahouse accommodation, and three meals daily, for NPR 130,000-280,000 per person (2-pax group, spring/autumn season).
Why this trek
EBC is the trekking world's most famous big-mountain pilgrimage — the trail Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay walked in 1953 before their summit. The route passes Sherpa villages (Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Tengboche), the spiritual heart of the Khumbu at Tengboche monastery, and onto the Khumbu icefall lapping at Everest's south face. The final view from Kala Patthar at sunrise — Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Nuptse, Pumori — is one of the great alpine panoramas. Compared with Annapurna Base Camp, EBC is roughly double the budget and double the days. The trade-off is the scenery: the Khumbu valley is at a consistently higher altitude (Namche is 3,440 m, EBC itself is 5,364 m) so the views are more relentlessly Himalayan. The cultural payoff is also bigger — you sleep in actual Sherpa villages, attend dawn prayers at Tengboche, and meet families whose ancestors guided the first Everest expeditions. Yatra's concierge books the standard 14-day Lukla → EBC → Kala Patthar → Lukla itinerary with two built-in acclimatisation days (Namche day 4, Dingboche day 8). For more time, we add the Gokyo Lakes lobe (16-18 days total) which crosses the Cho La pass (5,420 m) and adds three turquoise glacial lakes.
About the route
The trek opens with a 30-minute mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m), one of the most dramatic STOL airfields in the world. Day 1 walks down-valley to Phakding (2,610 m), an easy first day to ease into altitude. Day 2 is the iconic climb to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) — the Sherpa capital — via the suspension bridges of the Dudh Koshi. An acclimatisation day at Namche includes a 1-hour climb to the Everest View Hotel for the first sight of Everest. The route then continues to Tengboche (3,860 m), Dingboche (4,410 m, second acclimatisation day), Lobuche (4,940 m), Gorak Shep (5,164 m), and the final 2-hour walk on the Khumbu glacier moraine to Base Camp itself. The descent retraces in 3-4 days. Lukla's flight schedule is weather-dependent in early spring; Yatra builds a 1-day Kathmandu buffer at the end of every itinerary to avoid missed international connections.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Kathmandu → Lukla flight → Phakding
- Altitude
- 2,610 m
- Walking
- 3h
30-min mountain flight to Lukla (2,860 m), trek 3h down-valley to Phakding.
Day 2
Phakding → Namche Bazaar
- Altitude
- 3,440 m
- Walking
- 6h
Cross the Dudh Koshi suspension bridges and climb to the Sherpa capital at Namche.
Day 3
Namche acclimatisation (Everest View Hotel)
- Altitude
- 3,880 m
- Walking
- 3h
Rest day with a 3h round-trip climb to the Everest View Hotel for first Everest sighting.
Day 4
Namche → Tengboche monastery
- Altitude
- 3,860 m
- Walking
- 5h
Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m) for the most important monastery in the Khumbu and evening prayers.
Day 5
Tengboche → Dingboche
- Altitude
- 4,410 m
- Walking
- 5h
Cross the Imja Khola to Dingboche (4,410 m); first view of Ama Dablam south face.
Day 6
Dingboche acclimatisation (Nangkar Tshang)
- Altitude
- 5,050 m
- Walking
- 3h
Rest day with a 3h climb to Nangkar Tshang (5,050 m) for AMS adaptation.
Day 7
Dingboche → Lobuche
- Altitude
- 4,940 m
- Walking
- 5h
Cross the high-pasture moraine to Lobuche (4,940 m); pass the Everest memorial chortens.
Day 8
Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp
- Altitude
- 5,364 m
- Walking
- 8h
Morning trek to Gorak Shep (5,164 m), then 2h walk on the Khumbu glacier moraine to EBC (5,364 m). Return to Gorak Shep.
Day 9
Kala Patthar sunrise → Pheriche
- Altitude
- 5,545 m
- Walking
- 7h
Pre-dawn 2h climb to Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for the postcard Everest sunrise. Descend to Pheriche.
Day 10-12
Pheriche → Namche → Lukla → Kathmandu
Three-day descent retracing the route. Lukla flight back to Kathmandu the final morning.
Cost breakdown (NPR)
Per person in a 2-pax group, mid-tier teahouse accommodation, spring/autumn season. Yatra concierge confirms exact NPR at booking.
| Category | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu Municipality permits | NPR 5,000 | |
| Kathmandu ↔ Lukla return flights | NPR 45,000-60,000 | USD 200-220 each way per person, weather-dependent |
| Guide (English-speaking, IFMGA-trained) | NPR 35,000-50,000 | USD 25-30 per day × 14 days |
| Porter (1 per 2 trekkers) | NPR 25,000-32,000 | USD 18-22 per day × 14 days, 25 kg max |
| Teahouse accommodation (twin-share) | NPR 14,000-22,000 | Higher above Namche; NPR 1,500-3,000 per night × 13 nights |
| Three meals per day | NPR 35,000-55,000 | Higher above Namche; NPR 2,500-4,500 per day × 14 days |
| Hot showers + device charging | NPR 4,000-8,000 | Premium above Namche, NPR 300-700 per shower |
| Yatra concierge + emergency line | NPR 15,000 | |
| Total per person (2-pax group) | NPR 130,000-280,000 | Lower end = 12-day standard, shoulder season; upper end = 16-day with Gokyo extension |
Required permits
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry
NPR 3,000 - Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality Entry
NPR 2,000 - Local-government TIMS replacement
Included in municipality fee
Best season
March-May (spring, Apr-May peak) and September-November (autumn, Oct-early-Nov peak). Avoid late December-February (intense cold, flights frequently delayed). Monsoon June-August has cloud-covered views and Lukla weather frequently grounding flights for 1-3 days at a time.
Recommended months: Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
Fitness & difficulty
Moderate to strenuous. Two factors make EBC harder than ABC: altitude (sleeping above 4,000 m for 5 consecutive nights, max sleeping altitude 5,164 m at Gorak Shep) and route length (14 walking days). Recommended preparation: 8-12 weeks of cardio + leg strength training, plus a high-altitude trek above 4,000 m if at all possible.
Difficulty rating: Moderate to Strenuous
What's included
- ✓Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu Municipality permits
- ✓Kathmandu ↔ Lukla return flights
- ✓Licensed, English-speaking guide (IFMGA-trained)
- ✓Porter (1 per 2 trekkers, 25 kg max)
- ✓13 nights teahouse accommodation (twin-share)
- ✓All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- ✓Tea / coffee with every meal
- ✓Welcome briefing + farewell dinner in Kathmandu
- ✓Yatra For Fun 24/7 emergency line + helicopter evac coordination
- ✓1-night Kathmandu buffer to absorb Lukla flight delays
What's not included
- ·International flights to Kathmandu
- ·Nepal visa fee (NPR 4,000 for 30 days / USD 50)
- ·Mandatory travel insurance with high-altitude + heli-evac cover up to 6,000 m
- ·Tips for guide + porter (recommended: USD 10-15 per day per trekker)
- ·Hot showers + device charging fees (NPR 4,000-8,000 typical)
- ·Soft drinks, alcohol, chocolate bars + premium snacks
- ·Personal trekking gear (Yatra rents major items)
- ·Lukla helicopter alternative if flights grounded > 2 days (USD 500-800 per pax)
Book Everest Base Camp Trek 2026 via Yatra concierge
We confirm availability with the operator within 2 business hours and only charge your card once your group is secured. Pay in NPR or USD — taxes included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost in NPR?
NPR 130,000-280,000 per person (2-pax group, spring/autumn). The Lukla flight alone is NPR 45,000-60,000 round-trip, which is why EBC is significantly pricier than Annapurna Base Camp. The full breakdown above shows permits (NPR 5K), guide (35-50K), porter (25-32K), accommodation (14-22K), meals (35-55K), and Yatra concierge fee (15K). Booking through Yatra includes a 1-night Kathmandu flight-delay buffer at no extra cost.
How long does the Everest Base Camp trek take?
12 days for the standard route (Lukla → EBC → Kala Patthar → Lukla) including 2 acclimatisation days. 14 days is more comfortable. 16-18 days adds the Gokyo Lakes lobe (3 turquoise lakes + Cho La pass at 5,420 m). Yatra For Fun's most popular itinerary is 14 days door-to-door from Kathmandu, with a 1-day Kathmandu buffer at the end for Lukla flight delays.
Is the Lukla flight really as scary as people say?
Lukla airport has a 525 m runway sloping uphill into a mountain — the takeoff and landing are dramatic but the airline safety record on the Kathmandu-Lukla route has been strong since the 2008 reforms. Yatra books with Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air — all rated 'medium risk' by AlaskaAir's pilot-association assessment, comparable to many regional Himalayan air routes. The bigger risk is weather delays — Lukla closes when visibility drops, and trekkers can be stuck for 1-3 days at either end. Yatra builds a 1-day Kathmandu buffer at the end of every itinerary to absorb this.
What's the maximum altitude on the EBC trek?
5,545 m at Kala Patthar — the optional sunrise climb on day 9 — is the highest point. Base Camp itself is 5,364 m. Maximum sleeping altitude is Gorak Shep at 5,164 m for one night. The two built-in acclimatisation days at Namche (3,440 m, day 3) and Dingboche (4,410 m, day 6) follow the standard high-altitude protocol of 'climb high, sleep low'.
How does altitude sickness risk on EBC compare with ABC?
Materially higher. EBC sleeps trekkers above 4,000 m for 5 consecutive nights with a maximum sleeping altitude of 5,164 m, whereas ABC tops out at 3,700 m sleeping altitude. Yatra's itinerary includes the two mandatory acclimatisation days (Namche, Dingboche), Diamox prescription guidance, and HAPE/HACE symptom briefings during the welcome session. Helicopter evacuation cover up to 6,000 m is mandatory on the insurance policy.
When is the best time to trek EBC?
April-May (spring) and October-early-November (autumn). Late October offers the clearest mountain views and stable Lukla flight weather. Spring is warmer at altitude (-5°C nights at EBC vs -15°C in October) and adds rhododendron blooms in the lower Khumbu. Avoid December-February (extreme cold, frequent flight cancellations) and June-August (monsoon clouds, frequent Lukla closures).
Can I trek to EBC solo without a guide?
Since April 2023, all foreign trekkers are legally required to use a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks. Yatra For Fun pairs you with a Kathmandu-based, English-speaking IFMGA-trained Sherpa guide. We can add a porter at +NPR 25-32K for the trek if you'd rather carry only a daypack.
What gear do I need for EBC?
Cold-weather boots (B0 or B1 rating), -15°C sleeping bag, expedition-weight down jacket, hard-shell layer, base layers, gloves (liner + heavyweight), buff, sunglasses (Cat 4), trekking poles, daypack (35-40 L), water bottles + treatment, Diamox (250 mg, prescription). Yatra rents the bulky items (sleeping bag, down jacket, poles, trekking pants) for NPR 250-700 per item per day from our Kathmandu depot. Bring boots already broken in.