Everest Base Camp Budget Trek

Trip Information
  • Duration12 Days
  • Trip Grade Moderate
  • Altitude 5,644 m
  • Best Time Spring & Autumn
Major Attractions
  • Explore the Khumbu region and reach Everest base camp on a budget
  • Trek with an experienced, friendly guide
  • Short flights in and out of Lukla airport, the trailhead
  • Enjoy beautiful mountain landscapes, spend time with locals, and come across a range of flora & fauna
  • Trek through lush forests, remote mountain villages, lovely waterfalls, and green pastures
  • Cross suspension bridges, streams, moraines, and glacial paths
  • Get to have a close glimpse of the lifestyle of Sherpas and their culture
  • Visit ancient Tengboche and Pangboche monasteries
  • Catch gorgeous sunrise from Kala Patthar and other viewpoints like HOtel Everest View Hotel & Nagarjuna Hill

For backpackers and nomads on a budget, we have a 12 days budget Everest Base Camp Trek. To maintain the safety of the trek and trekking experience, we have not compromised on the acclimatization days in our Everest Base Camp budget trek itinerary. You get ample time to adjust to the altitude while trekking to Everest Base Camp. To offer a budget-friendly package to our guests, we have removed arrival/departure from Kathmandu along with trek preparation day from the itinerary.

It gives us space to provide you with a better price point and also gives you the freedom to stay as long as you want in Kathmandu. The Everest Base Camp Trek on a budget is for travelers whose endurance is strong. During the trek, you stay in very basic lodges and have simple meals. The facilities will be limited, so you have to be able to adjust with a bare minimum. Of course, you are free to buy additional drinks, snacks & services by paying on your own.

Now let's talk about the trek. Whether you trek to Everest Base Camp Trek on a budget or do a luxury EBC trek, the trekking experience is phenomenal both ways. You'll follow an adventurous route that winds through Sagarmatha National Park, home to hundreds of flora & fauna. There are of course, many ups & downs, twists & turns along the trail. However, every new turn will unfold a magical scenery that will win your heart.

The Himalayan mountains like Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Chamlang (7,319 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Thamserku (6,608 m), Pumori (7,161 m), Khumbila (5,761 m), Island Peak (6,160 m), and many others are seen throughout the trail. Likewise, the mountain landscape and gorgeous sunrises from the viewpoints like Hotel Everest View (3,962 m), Nagarjuna Hill (5,100 m), and Kala Patthar (5,644 m) are jaw-dropping.

You stay overnight in beautiful villages such as Phakding (2,610 m), Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), Tengboche (3,860 m), Dingboche (4,410 m), Lobuche (4,940 m), and Gorak Shep (5,164 m). The trail also goes through many other small settlement areas. These villages let you have memorable encounters with the natives and give you a close glimpse of their daily life. Learn a lot about the legendary Sherpas and visit ancient monasteries.

Is this trip right for you?

Budget Everest base camp trek might be tempting to hear, but it has its fair share of cons. Apart from the difficulty of the trail, the accommodation and meals during the trek are very bare and simpler than the regular EBC trek. We have not compromised on our Everest base camp trek itinerary, however removed arrival and departure from the package.

So, you have to bear your overnight stay in Kathmandu out of the offered itinerary by yourself. If you are adjustable, have high endurance, and limited budget, then you can consider Everest base camp budget trekking.

Difficulty & altitude sickness

The difficulties of the budget Everest base camp trek are moderate. The venture involves overwhelming flights between Kathmandu and Lukla airports. Then the trail to EBC has a mixture of rough and steep sections. The terrain has many ascends & descends along rugged foothills. You walk through dense forests and high alpine pastures that go to glacial paths & moraines.

Altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness risk is always there during a trek in the Himalayas. The Everest base camp budget trek goes above 5,500 meters and spends many days above 2,500 meters in general. So, there are chances you may see symptoms of altitude sickness. At the same time, we also have ample acclimatization days in the itinerary to avoid it. In case of any medical emergency, the trek guide will take care of you and give you first aid.

Preparation

The preparation for the EBC budget trek does not demand anything special. To prepare for the Everest base camp trekking, you can do the following things:

  • Body: You should be able to walk 6 hours a day. Good health and physical fitness will let you enjoy the trek to the fullest. To prepare your body for the trek, go on hikes or do activities like cycling, jogging, swimming, etc. These are cardiovascular activities that will increase your stamina.
  • Mind: As the trail is remote and facilities are simple, it's better to prepare your mind to leave without the modern comforts which are common in the city. You may have to go days without having western food, internet, or even a hot shower if you are very tight on your personal expenses.
  • Packing: Packing properly is necessary. You need to pack even small things like toilet paper and soap. Follow our packing guidelines.packing
  • Travel Insurance: Because of the high elevation and remote area, we need travel insurance from our guests. The travel insurance should cover emergency evacuation and medical bills.

Alternative trek packages

You can customize the Everest base camp trek itinerary by contacting us. These are some other famous treks in the Himalayas of Nepal;Everest Short trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Khopra Danda Trek, Poon Hill Trek, etc. All of the above treks are not particularly pocket friendly but have a difficulty level of moderate.

Booking

The booking for budget Everest base camp trek 2023/2024/2025 is now open. You can place the booking through our site. The booking process is simple and takes no time. We do not have any hidden charges, so you can freely book a trek with us.

Contact us at +977-9841396817 for quick support.

Itinerary

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Wake up early in the morning and get ready to leave the hotel. The guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby and drive you to the airport. Taking an early morning flight, you reach Lukla. From Lukla, the trail goes to Phakding village where you'll be spending the night. The trekking route from Lukla to Phakding goes along the Dudh Koshi river, crossing multiple bridges and small villages. 

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:2,860 m
  • Time:3-4 hours

The trail from Phakding to Namche Bazaar walks past rhododendron forests. You cross streams and bridges. The views along the trail are great. From Monjo village, the trail ascends through the dense forests of Sagarmatha National Park and remote settlement areas. The final climb is steep.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:3,440 m
  • Time:6 hours

Today is your first acclimatization day. You spend the day hiking to the Everest View Hotel and Syangboche Airstrip. You also have the optional hiking to Khumjung monastery. Later in the day, explore Namche Bazaar and visit Sherpa Culture Museum & Everest Photo Gallery. You'll get to see the daily life of mountain people and get ample time to enjoy the mountain views.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:3,962 m
  • Time:4-5 hours

The trail moves along the Dudh Koshi valley. We walk by Phungki Thanga, enjoying stunning views of mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, etc. The trail gradually ascends above the river to Tengboche village, which is surrounded by beautiful rhododendron forests. Here, you visit the Tengboche monastery, the biggest monastery in the Khumbu region, and see monks ding their practices.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:3,860 m
  • Time:6 hours

Leaving Tengboche, continue trekking crossing the Imja Khola multiple times on suspension and wooden bridges. You'll soon reach Pangboche village and follow an uphill route that leads to Dingboche. The trail also involves walking through terraced fields and pastures. Dingboche will welcome you with striking views of the snow-capped mountains.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:4,360 m
  • Time:5 hours

Spend the second rest day in Dingboche village. Hike Nagarjuna Hill (5,100 m) to catch a beautiful sunrise and mountain landscape. The hike is short and steep. From the hill, you get to see breathtaking views of Everest, Kangtega, Lobuche, Thamserku, Taboche, and many other mountains. Spend the remaining day relaxing in your lodge and exploring the village.

  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:5,100 m
  • Time:4-5 hours

From Dingboche village, the trail passes through Dhugla and Pheriche. You walk on a glacial path for a few hours. Stop by the Himalayan Rescue Association to learn about altitude sickness and continue trekking, relishing towering mountain views. The trail further offers tempting views of the Khumbu Glacier and leads you to Lobuche village.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Altitude:4,940 m
  • Time:5-6 hours

Today is the big day for you as you reach Everest base camp. Leaving Lobuche, walk on a rocky path and further goes through the Khumbu glacier moraine. The trail is steep. You walk past Gorak Shep, where you'll drop the heavy luggage before continuing towards the base camp. The EBC is a piece of moving glacier marked with big stones. Spend some time exploring the views and later trek back to Gorak Shep to spend the night.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:5,364 m
  • Time:8 hours

We wake up early in the morning and trek to Kala Patthar. It is a steep uphill climb. From Kala Patthar, you get to see the gorgeous sunrise and huge snow-capped mountains around you. You'll feel like standing in clouds at this point. After enjoying the views, descend to Gorak Shep and trek to Pheriche via Lobuche village.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:5,644 m
  • Time:7-8 hours

After breakfast, begin walking following the same trail back to Namche Bazaar. It's a long walk, so maintain your pace. The trail descends through Dingboche, Pangboche, and Tengboche villages. Walking past meadows, you join lush forests and cross bridges. Upon reaching Namche Bazaar, relax and enjoy the night.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:3,440 m
  • Time:6-7 hours

From Namche Bazaar, steeply descend through dense forests and small settlement areas. Cross numerous suspension bridges. The trail comes out of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo and goes to Phakding. From here onwards, you walk along the Dudh Koshi river to Lukla.

  • Accommodation:Lodge
  • Meals:Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Altitude:2,860 m
  • Time:8-9 hours

Fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning. You get to see fantastic mountain views during the flight. Our team will drop you at the hotel. The remaining day is free. You can explore tourist sites and shop. In the evening, meet us over farewell dinner.

  • Accommodation:Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast & farewell dinner
  • Altitude:1,300 m
  • Time:35 minutes flight
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Useful Info

Best time

Trekking in the Everest region is most favorable from March to April (spring) and October to November (autumn). These months have an average temperature of 5C to 23C. The upper part of the trail is comparatively colder than the lower, especially in the mornings & nights. So, we do recommend you carry a few warm pieces. 

The visibility is great, which makes the mountain views fantastic. Likewise because of stable weather conditions, you are most likely to be on the itinerary without any delays. The climate remains moderate in spring and autumn, perfect for walking.

Itinerary

The budget Everest base camp trek is 12 days long. The trek begins from Lukla. From Kathmandu, we fly to Lukla early in the morning on the first day of budget Everest base camp trekking. Spend the first night in Phakding village, which is located a few hundred meters below Lukla. It's a gentle descent from Lukla to Phakding village. The next stop is Namche Bazaar. From Phakding, we walk past many small villages, crossing the Dudh Koshi river multiple times on suspension bridges.

The trail ascends through lush rhododendron and magnolia forests to Namche Bazaar, the biggest Sherpa settlement area in the Everest region. We’ll spend a couple of nights here for acclimatization and trek to Tengboche village, passing by Phungi Thanga and crossing Imja Khola. From Tengboche, the trail descends to Pangboche village and ascends to Dingboche via lush forests & terraced fields.

We spend the second acclimatization day in Dingboche and hike to Nagarjuna Hill. From here, we walk on a glacial path and cross the Dughla pass before reaching Lobuche village. Further, it's a steep, rugged ascent to Everest base camp via Lobuche village and Khumbu Glacier moraine. After exploring the base camp, we hike to Kala Patthar and descend to Pheriche. The trail then retraces the way back to Lukla, and the Everest base camp budget trek ends.

Accommodation & Meals

The accommodation during the budget Everest base camp trek is the most basic one. We try our best to book you the best teahouse/lodge on budget. You can expect a small room with twin sharing and a common washroom. The bedding and blanket will be clean. The room may not be warm enough, so carry a sleeping bag for extra comfort.

You get three meals a day during the budget Everest base camp trekking. The meals will not be fancy. Dal bhat with veggies/curries and other side dishes is the most common dish. In general, dal bhat is the authentic staple Nepal meal. The enticing flavors and freshness of this dish usually win the hearts of travelers. You are free to buy snacks & beverages by paying yourself.

Guide & Porters

Even though it's a budget-friendly trek, we will arrange a professional and experienced trekking guide for you. We assure a safe Everest base camp trek on budget with us. The guide will be native, so you'll get to learn many insights about the Khumbu region and its residents. Likewise, to accompany you and carry the heavy luggage, there will be one porter for every two trekkers in the group. If the group has more than 8 trekkers, there'll be an assistant guide too.

Personal Expenses

Below are the few things that come under the personal expenses and are covered by the Everest base camp trek cost. So, do have a budget for these expenses.

  • Charging & Internet: In the lodges/teahouses, the charging and internet (WiFi) service may cost you a few extra bucks. Most of the villagers use solar energy, and giving free WiFi at high altitude remote areas is not viable for basic accommodation providers.
  • Tips: We highly encourage our guests to tip our on-field crew members, such as the tour guide, drivers, and trek guide/porters. The tipping is more like a custom and is expected at the end of the journey. You can tip as much as you like.
  • Shopping: Separate some money for shopping. There are many souvenir shops in Thamel and Namche Bazaar selling all sorts of things, from antiques, jewelry, crystals, handicrafts, bags, clothes, etc that you may like to get.
  • International Flight: The flight expense between Nepal and your home country is not included in the package cost. So, you should consider flight rates once before booking the trip.
  • Emergency Fund: You may have to spend additional days in Kathmandu or have to rebook a flight because of unseen events. It's better to be prepared for situations like these, even if they are less likely to happen.

Luggage

As a carry-on, you can use a backpack with a 5kgs weight limit. The duffel bag weight limit for each trekker is 10 kgs. You pack all the heavy trekking clothes and essentials in the duffel bag carried by porters.

FAQs

How high is Everest’s base camp?

From Kathmandu, the Everest base camp takes you all the way up to 5,346 meters. The trek goes further up to Kala Patthar at 5,644 meters. Kala Patthar is the highest point of the Everest base camp budget trek.

How difficult/challenging is the EBC budget trek? Does it fit any trekkers?

In terms of difficulty, the Everest base camp budget trekking is moderate. This is what the expert says, but we believe the trek can get more difficult as the altitude increases, and on top of that you begin on a strict budget. You have to pay for every little thing like charging, internet, etc, which are not included in the package cost. Of course, the budget trek fits anyone who can adjust and has endurance.

How long does it take to reach the EBC on the budget trek?

On a budget Everest base camp trek, it takes eight days to reach EBC and another two days of walk to reach back to Lukla. The total trek distance is 62 kilometers. Every day involves 6-7 hours of walking.

What is the standard itinerary, budget, the best season for Everest Base Camp budget trek, and can I join a group?

Our standard itinerary for Everest base camp budget trekking is 12 days. You can have a budget of USD 2500 USD 3500 to pay all expenses of the journey from arriving in Nepal, night stays in Kathmandu, meals, shopping, travel insurance, etc. You can do the EBC trek on a budget in the spring and autumn seasons. And yes, you can join a group.

Does the EBC budget trek cost the same as foreigners to the Indian and Nepalese Citizens?

No, the EBC budget trek doesn't cost the same for the foreigners as Indian and Nepali citizens. Due to the permit rate and flight fare difference, the package cost goes up. You can expect USD 200 to USD 300 difference in the package cost from Indian citizens.

What types of foods are available during Everest Base Camp Trek?

During the trek, you get Nepali, Tibetan, Indian, and western food. The meals are cooked by the locals. There can be a change in the flavors because of species and ingredients. Rice, lentil soup, and veggies with pickles is the most common heavy meal. Apart from this, you get soup, porridge, chapati, curries, sandwich, momo, chow mein, thukpa, thenduk, pasta, etc.

What should I bring for Everest Base Camp Trek? Can I rent equipment in Kathmandu?

We'll provide you with a packing checklist. You can prepare the trekking clothes and gear as per that. Yes, you can rent or buy trekking clothes/gear in Kathmandu.

Can I use normal drinking water during the trek, and what are the toilets and shower facilities?

Yes, you can use normal drinking water during the trek. We use water purification tablets to double purify the water for extra safety. Boiled water is given in the lodges/teahouse along the way. You can refill your water bottle. Toilets are clean, but water can be freezing, and hot shower facilities are only movable if you pay a few extra bucks.

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