Everest Base Camp Trek Cost in 2026/2027

Everest Base Camp trek costs around $1,200 per person for a standard 14-day adventure. However, the cost of the trek is not fixed and depends on various factors. There are various trekking packages with different facilities. While you can complete the trek at $1,200, other packages even go up to USD 4,500+. So, the trek cost of EBC depends on how you manage your costs and how comfortable you want your adventure to be. 

In this Everest Base Camp Trek cost guide for 2026/2027, we clear up all your questions regarding the journey’s expenses. From general cost inclusions to the cost of individual expenses, and expenses you should expect for budget and premium treks. The main purpose of this guide is to make it easier for you to set a realistic budget before beginning one of the world’s most iconic high-altitude treks.

What’s Included in the $1,200 Everest Base Camp Trek Package

A $1,200 Everest Base Camp trek is one of the most budget-friendly trek packages you’ll find. Because of the affordable cost, many trekkers get curious and ask: “How can you offer it at such a reasonable price? What did you cut?” But they don’t have to ask; they can simply go through our cost inclusion section, where included services and exclusions are transparent. 

Just know that we, Outbound Treks, won’t compromise on our trekkers’ safety and quality because we don’t want them to suffer. So, the reason our Everest Base Camp Trek package is affordable is not that we cut services, but because we don’t add unnecessary costs to the price. 

So, what exactly does the $1,200 cost include? Here’s a clear breakdown showing where your money actually goes and how we keep the price fair without compromising necessary logistics:

Porter 

• The EBC trek cost covers one porter for every two trekkers. 
• We follow a strict rule of an 18 kg weight limit per porter. 
• We are open about how much we pay our porters for a clear and fair charge.
•  Every porter is covered by medical and life insurance. 

Guide 

• We ensure your trek is led by a government-licensed, English-speaking guide trained in first aid.
• We also keep a fixed guide-to-trekkers ratio, so you travel in a small group with full assistance from a guide. 

Health and Safety Monitoring 

• Daily oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse checks at every tea house.
• First-aid kit with necessary medications.
• Water purification tablets

Permits

• Sagarmatha National Park entry permit 
• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit

Meals and Accommodation

• 3 meals a day on the trekking days (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and farewell dinner.
• Twin-sharing accommodation at teahouses throughout the trek. 

Refundable Gears

• Sleeping bags 
• Down jacket 
• Duffel bag

Transportation 

• All overland transportation required during the journey.
• Domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu.

Is the Lukla Flight Included in This EBC Package?

Yes, the Lukla flight is included in the Everest Base Camp Trek package. The package covers the round-trip flight ticket, which costs between USD 500-550 per person for foreign nationals, which is 40-45% of your entire $1,200 package price. However, airfare fluctuates by season; still, we offer the same cost for the package. Thus, you don’t need to book them separately or worry about finding a seat during the busy trekking season. This shows that a lower package price does not mean important services are removed or compromised. 

Everest Base Camp Trek Permit Costs

An Everest Base Camp Trek permit is required to access the Khumbu Valley and is not optional. Most first-time trekkers are unaware of how much they cost, where to get them, and why they are necessary. The cost of the EBC Trek permits is fixed by the government and does not change; it is the same for everyone. So, permit cost is one of the most transparent expenses in your entire budget. 

The Everest Base Camp Trek requires a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit. 

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit 

• Cost for Foreign Nationals: NPR 3,000
• Cost for SAARC Nationals: NPR 1,500 
• Available at Lukla during peak season and at Monjo throughout the year.
• Covers entry into the UNESCO-listed protected area, the Sagarmatha National Park. 

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit Cost

• Cost for Foreign Nationals: NPR 3,000 
• Cost for SAARC Nationals: NPR 2,000
• Only available at the checkpost in Lukla or at Monjo

Other information worth knowing: 

• TIMS Card is no longer required to trek in the Everest region.
• If you are starting your journey from Jiri or Salleri, you’ll also need a Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit that costs NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. 

Guide and Porter Costs During Trek to Everest Base Camp

A guide and porter are two valuable people and a wise investment you can make on your EBC trek. Also, their prices are a major part of the entire Everest Base Camp Trek cost, but paying for them is worth every penny you spend. 

For a 14-day EBC trek, you’ll have a licensed trekking guide who manages your daily walk, helps you on the route, assists with acclimatization, and monitors whether you’re doing it right. A licensed guide costs around $25-$35 per day. Similarly, a porter carries your main backpack and lets you walk freely. A porter for the EBC trek costs $15-$20 per day at lower elevation and increases to $20-$25 at higher elevation. 

Accommodation and Food Costs Along the EBC Trail

When trekkers arrange their logistics on their own, food and accommodation are where they spend more, even without realizing it, especially at high altitude. These expenses can add to the overall Everest Base Camp Trek cost and eventually make the journey more expensive. 

Accommodation Cost During Trek to EBC

• Lower altitude villages (Phakding, Namche): $4 per room per night for a basic twin-sharing room. 
• Mid-altitude (Tengboche, Dingboche): $5-10 per room, per night
• High altitude (Lobuche, Gorak Shep): USD 15-25 per night, per room

Note: Room prices are linked to your food. If you don’t eat a meal at your lodge, the room price can increase from $3 to $15. 

Everest Base Camp Trek Food Cost

• Food costs around $25-50 per person, per day. It can increase to $35-90, depending on the altitude and quality of the food. 
• Breakfast Cost: $5-8
• Lunch Cost: $7-12
• Dinner: $8-15

Note: Food costs become more expensive as you trek higher because supplies are harder to transport without proper road conditions. 

What You’ll Still Need to Budget Extra For EBC Trek

No matter how transparent the trekking packages are, there are always some costs that are not included in the package cost, and trekkers should pay for them themselves. For the EBC Trek, we recommend you carry around $250-500 per person for a 14-day adventure that will be used for your personal expenses only. 

Here is a list of expenses you should pay yourself so you can be prepared before starting the trek: 

• Tips ($150 to $250)

Tips are one of the largest parts of your personal budget and are given to your guide and porter. Tipping is a way to show appreciation for their hard work that took you to your destination. You can tip as much as you want, and there’s no pressure on you.

• Bottled water and snacks ($30-$60)

Water is one of the most expensive items on the EBC trail. The higher you go, the more it costs. So, if you want to save money, you can bring a reusable water bottle and water purification tablets. Moreover, snacks (chocolate, energy bars, and others) are not included in the meal package, so you’ll have to pay for them separately. 

• Hot showers ($20-$40)

Hot showers are available at most teahouses but cost extra and are more expensive as you go to higher locations.

• Wi-Fi ($20-$40)

Wi-Fi is not free at the teahouses, as you have to pay on an hourly basis. 

• Travel insurance ($50-$100)

It is mandatory to have travel insurance for trekking to Everest Base Camp. Make sure your insurance covers high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.

• Device Charging ( $2-$3)

For charging your phone or any electronic device, you have to pay extra to your lodge on an hourly basis.

Why Some Everest Base Camp Treks Cost $2,000+

Although a regular Everest Base Camp Trek costs $1,200 per person, there are other itineraries that cost more than $2,000 for the same EBC trek. Wondering how the same trek’s cost can be so different? Here are the answers: 

The Helicopter Return 

The helicopter return from Goarkshep to Kathmandu is a major cost factor that adds to the overall cost of the Everest Base Camp Trek. Since the additional cost is a helicopter return upgrade, it shows clearly where the extra costs go. The Everest Base Camp Trek with helicopter return costs around $2,390 per person, which is $1,190 more than the standard $1,200 trek package. 

Other Reasons

Not every $2,000+ EBC Trek needs to include a helicopter return or extra services. Some packages follow the same route, same days, and have almost the same inclusions, yet cost more because of: 

• Brand Name: Well-known companies can charge more because people trust their name. So, some beginners might pay more for the brand name rather than additional services. 
• Additional Services that may not be necessary: Some trekking packages include things like Kathmandu sightseeing, luxury hotel stays, and private transportation. These can be useful for some luxury-seeking trekkers but useless to others. 

Hari Gurung

I grew up in the mountains and started working as a porter at 17. For more than 12 years, I’ve worked as a trekking guide, exploring Nepal’s trails and sharing the mountains I know with trekkers from around the world.I grew up in the mountains and started working as a porter at 17. For more than 12 years, I’ve worked as a trekking guide, exploring Nepal’s trails and sharing the mountains I know with trekkers from around the world.