13 days Everest Base Camp trek

Everest Base Camp Trek Information

Arrival, Welcome, and Trek Start

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our representative will greet you at Tribhuvan International Airport, holding a signboard with your name. As a warm welcome, they will offer you a traditional garland and then escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. On the second day, we’ll arrange a guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu.

On the third day, we’ll fly you to Lukla. During peak trekking seasons (March, April, May, September, October, and November), flights to Lukla may be rerouted from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu to Manthali Airport due to high air traffic. In these months, our guide will pick you up from your hotel around 12:30 AM for a five-hour drive to Manthali, followed by a 20-minute flight to Lukla.

During the quieter months (December, January, February, June, July, and August), flights to Lukla depart directly from Kathmandu. On those days, we’ll take you to Kathmandu Airport early in the morning for a 40-minute flight to Lukla.

Accommodations

In Kathmandu, your package includes three nights of stay at a three-star hotel in twin sharing rooms.

Throughout the trek, we arrange comfortable accommodation in the best available lodges. In the lower regions like Lukla, Phakding, and Namche, you'll stay in rooms with private attached bathrooms while higher up in places like Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and Pheriche, you will stay in standard rooms.

While most lodges provide Wi-Fi, electricity for charging your devices, and hot showers, they come with an additional cost.

Meals

Meals on the trek are thoughtfully designed to supply the essential nutrition needed for high-altitude environments. You’ll be provided with full-board meals (main course), consisting of 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 13 dinners. Nutritious choices include Tibetan bread, Sherpa stew, noodles, and a variety of soups and vegetables.

We advise drinking fluids like ginger, green, or lemon tea and garlic soup to enhance energy and support acclimatization. The menu features both local and international cuisine, though options may become more limited as the trek continues. For health and hygiene reasons, we recommend avoiding alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and dairy products. Drinks (cold, hot, or alcoholic) are not included in this package.

Luggage

Porters will handle your luggage during the trek, with a 9 kg weight limit per trekker. We allocate one porter for every two trekkers and suggest combining your belongings with another trekker in a duffle bag exceeding 60 liters in capacity. Carry essentials like documents and valuables in a small daypack. Extra luggage can be stored at no cost at your hotel or our office storage in Kathmandu.

Facilities and Essentials

Water

Keeping hydrated is crucial, particularly at high altitudes. You can buy bottled mineral water from local shops and lodges along the trail. Alternatively, you can refill your water bottle with boiled water at teahouses for a small additional fee, which is an environmentally friendly choice. Always use water purification tablets before drinking. Avoid drinking directly from rivers, taps, or wells.

Communication

You can buy a local SIM card in Kathmandu, though signal strength may be inconsistent in remote regions. We stay in daily contact with trek leaders via phone to track the trek’s progress and ensure your safety. Additionally, we remain on standby to address any issues that may arise.

Travel Essentials

Visa

All foreign nationals, except those from India, need a visa to enter Nepal. You can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The visa application requires a passport valid for at least six months, a passport-size photo, and a visa fee (USD 50 for a 30-day visa). For more information, visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/en.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory. Ensure your policy includes medical treatment and emergency helicopter rescue up to the trek’s maximum altitude (5,500 m). We suggest verifying with your insurance provider that emergency helicopter rescue is covered.

Currency Exchange

The official currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR), with 1 USD approximately equal to NPR 138. You can exchange major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP) for NPR at banks or money changers in Kathmandu. We advise converting cash to Nepalese Rupees, as trekking areas lack currency exchange services. While ATMs are available, note the associated transaction fees. Make sure to bring clean, new bills for exchange, as Nepali banks accept only new currency notes.

Extra Expenses

Although the trekking package includes major costs, you’ll need to budget for additional expenses like meals in Kathmandu, personal snacks, Wi-Fi access, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), extra meal courses, souvenirs, and tips for your trekking crew. Plan for approximately USD 20 per trek day to cover these miscellaneous costs.

Trek Season and Weather Conditions

The optimal periods for Everest Base Camp trekking are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), when clear skies and moderate temperatures offer breathtaking Himalayan views. Winter (December-February) brings extreme cold and heavy snowfall, while summer (June-August) experiences monsoon rains that may disrupt plans. Daily temperatures at high altitudes vary: 15°C to -15°C in winter, 18°C to -12°C in spring, 25°C to 5°C in summer, and 20°C to -5°C in autumn.

Flight Delays

Flights to and from Lukla depend on weather conditions and may face delays. We’ll make every effort to manage these changes, but flexibility is key, as flights could be rescheduled or canceled due to unfavorable weather. We suggest arriving in Kathmandu one or two days early to account for potential delays.

Typical Day

Each day on the Everest Base Camp trek begins early with a hot drink and breakfast, followed by departure around 7-8 AM. After a few hours of trekking, lunch is provided around midday with an hour of rest. The afternoon includes 2-3 more hours of trekking, followed by free time to visit local villages or unwind at the lodge. Dinner is served around 6-7 PM, after which your guide will brief you on the next day’s plan. Evenings offer opportunities to play games, socialize, or relax before bedtime.

Trip Conclusion

Farewell Dinner

After finishing the Everest Base Camp trek, we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu to celebrate your successful journey. This dinner offers a great chance to share feedback about your experience. Afterwards, we will present you with a certificate of trek completion.

Departure

Following your trek, we will arrange a complimentary airport transfer. Please provide your hotel name, room number, departure date, and time to facilitate this. We look forward to welcoming you back to Nepal for more trekking adventures.

Trek Bookings

Private Treks

We offer private treks with flexible schedules for a personalized experience. We accommodate all group sizes and provide discounts based on the number of trekkers. Additionally, for groups of 12 or more, we include an assistant guide.

Safe Trek Bookings

We are a government-licensed and bonded trekking company with over 12 years of experience. Additionally, we are affiliated with the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). To confirm your booking, a 10 percent advance payment of the trek cost is required, payable via bank transfer, credit card, Wise, or Western Union. The remaining balance is due upon your arrival in Kathmandu, where cash payments are also accepted. We will send you payment details via email. Please provide essential documents, such as a passport photocopy, within one week of booking confirmation.

Last-Minute Bookings

While we recommend booking in advance, we recognize that plans can emerge unexpectedly. Therefore, we offer a last-minute booking option. For last-minute bookings, we accommodate travelers who pay the full tour cost 24 hours prior to departure. However, we cannot be held accountable for delays caused by external factors, such as flight unavailability, in these cases.

Flexible Schedule

Our treks operate on fixed departure dates. If these dates don’t work for you, please let us know, and we can arrange to reschedule your trek for a more convenient date.

Trip Extension

For those wishing to prolong their time in Nepal, we provide thrilling activities like sightseeing, jungle safaris in Chitwan, or additional treks.

Tipping Culture

Tipping is a standard custom in Nepal. We suggest determining tips according to the quality of service, the total cost of your trek, and its duration. For the sake of clarity and equity, we recommend that tips be collected and distributed as a group at the conclusion of the trek.