What our Everest Base Camp packages cost
We run the base camp trek in three main versions. The 12-day trek from Kathmandu flies to Lukla, walks up via Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche and Lobuche with two acclimatisation days, reaches base camp and Kala Patthar, and walks back down in three days. It costs from ₹1,22,000 or US$1,390 per person on twin sharing. The 14-day version adds a gentler pace and a buffer day, from ₹1,40,000 or US$1,590.
The 11-day heli-return trek walks up the same way but flies from Gorak Shep after Kala Patthar, saving the three-day descent. It costs from ₹1,93,000 or US$2,190, because a share of the helicopter is built in. At the top end, the 11-day luxury lodge trek stays in Yeti Mountain Home lodges and turns round below 4,600 m, from ₹3,51,000 or US$3,990.
Our INR prices reflect the lower SAARC permit fees paid by Indian passport holders; our USD prices reflect foreign rates. Both assume at least two trekkers sharing a room, a guide and a porter. Kathmandu hotel nights before and after the trek are not included in the 12-day price, so add about ₹4,000–8,000 per room per night for a 3-star hotel.
- 12-day Everest Base Camp trek: from ₹1,22,000 / US$1,390
- 14-day Everest Base Camp trek: from ₹1,40,000 / US$1,590
- 11-day trek with helicopter return: from ₹1,93,000 / US$2,190
- 16-day base camp, Gokyo and Cho La trek: from ₹1,49,000 / US$1,690
- 1-day Everest heli tour with Kala Patthar landing: from ₹1,05,000 / US$1,190
Trail costs line by line
If you plan the trek yourself, these are the figures we budget with for the 2026 seasons. Everything above Lukla arrives by porter, yak or helicopter, so prices rise with every day you walk. A plate of dal bhat that costs NPR 700–900 in Phakding costs NPR 1,200–1,500 at Gorak Shep, and a pot of tea doubles in price between Namche and Lobuche.
Room prices are low because lodges earn their money on food. Many charge NPR 500–1,000 a night on the lower trail if you eat dinner and breakfast with them, but expect NPR 1,500–2,500 for a basic room at Lobuche and Gorak Shep in peak weeks, and more for an attached bathroom in Namche.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu–Lukla return flight | ≈ US$440–500 for foreigners | Includes the Ramechhap leg in peak months; road transfer extra |
| Sagarmatha National Park permit | NPR 3,000 + VAT foreigners; NPR 1,500 SAARC | Check current status before you travel |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu fee | NPR 3,000 most foreigners; NPR 2,000 SAARC | Replaces TIMS in the Khumbu |
| Licensed guide | ≈ US$30–40 per day | Usually covers the guide's own food and bed |
| Porter | ≈ US$20–25 per day | Carries up to 20–25 kg; shared by two trekkers on our trips |
| Teahouse room | NPR 500–2,500 per night | Highest at Lobuche and Gorak Shep |
| Three meals and hot drinks | ≈ US$30–50 per day | Lower in Phakding and Namche, highest above Dingboche |
| Tips | ≈ US$120–180 per trekker | For guide and porter on a 12-day trek |
Lukla flights and the Ramechhap transfer
Flights are the single largest line in the budget. Foreign passport holders pay about US$220–250 each way between Kathmandu or Ramechhap and Lukla, and fares are quoted in dollars. In the busy months, roughly late March to May and late September to November, scheduled flights have operated from Ramechhap (Manthali), so you also need a road transfer of 4–5 hours each way. A shared seat in a tourist vehicle costs little, while a private car runs to roughly NPR 15,000–20,000 one way.
Weather delays carry a cost too. Each extra night in Lukla means another room and three meals, and if the delay runs to two or three days, many trekkers switch to a shared helicopter seat at about US$500–600 to make an international connection. We build the Ramechhap transfer into every package and keep a spare day in the 14-day version for this reason. Check current status of the flight arrangements before you travel.
Permit fees for Indian and foreign trekkers
Two fees apply on the base camp trail. The Sagarmatha National Park entry permit costs NPR 3,000 plus 13 percent VAT for foreign nationals, about US$25, and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals, which includes Indians. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality collects its own entry fee at Lukla: from 2024 it was NPR 3,000 for most foreigners and NPR 2,000 for SAARC and Chinese nationals. Children under 10 have generally been exempt from the municipality fee.
That means an Indian trekker pays about NPR 3,500, roughly ₹2,200, against about NPR 6,400 for a European or American. Indian nationals also need no visa, which saves the US$30–50 that other visitors pay on arrival. The TIMS card is not used in the Khumbu. Fees and exemptions have changed several times in recent years, so check current status before you travel. All our packages include both permits.
Independent trek or agency package
Nepal's 2023 rule requires foreign trekkers in national parks to hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. The local municipality in the Khumbu has not enforced it in the same way as other areas, and independent trekkers are still seen on the trail, but the rule can tighten at any time. Plan on a guide either way, especially for the high days above Dingboche.
Here is the arithmetic for one foreign trekker spending 11 days on the trail and booking everything separately: flights about US$470, permits about US$47, guide about US$385, half a porter about US$125, food and rooms about US$450, Ramechhap transfers about US$60 and tips about US$150. That totals roughly US$1,690, against our 12-day package from US$1,390. With two trekkers splitting one guide the gap narrows, but it rarely disappears.
Where independent trekkers save money is by skipping the guide and porter altogether, carrying their own pack and eating simply. That can bring the trail cost down to about US$1,000, but it brings more risk at altitude and, if the guide rule is enforced, a problem at the checkpoints.
Cash costs that catch people out
These extras are paid in rupees, in cash, at almost every lodge. Namche has ATMs that work most of the time, but there is nothing reliable above it, so carry NPR 25,000–40,000 per person in small notes for a 12-day trek on a package.
- Hot shower: NPR 500–1,000, often a bucket shower or gas heater above Dingboche
- Battery charging: NPR 300–700 per device per charge above Namche, priced by the hour in some lodges; carry a 20,000 mAh power bank
- Wi-Fi: Everest Link prepaid cards cover most villages and cost roughly NPR 2,000–3,000 for a data bundle that lasts much of the trek
- Drinking water: NPR 150–400 per litre for boiled or filtered water; refill stations along the trail are cheaper than bottles
- Snacks: chocolate bars and crisps cost three to four times Kathmandu prices at Lobuche and Gorak Shep
- Bakery stops in Namche and Tengboche: NPR 500–900 for cake and coffee
- Sleeping bag or down jacket hire in Kathmandu or Namche: roughly NPR 100–300 per item per day if you do not bring your own
Insurance and the cost of a rescue
A helicopter evacuation from Gorak Shep or Lobuche to Kathmandu typically costs US$3,000–5,000 if chartered for one patient, and Kathmandu hospitals ask for payment or an insurer's guarantee before treatment. Your policy must cover trekking to at least 5,700 m and include helicopter rescue. Many standard travel policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m, which leaves base camp and Kala Patthar uncovered.
Specialist trekking policies for a three-week trip to 6,000 m usually cost US$100–250 for foreign travellers, depending on age and country. Indian travellers can buy overseas policies that include Nepal, but adventure activities are often excluded unless added, so confirm the altitude limit in writing. We ask for policy details before departure and the guide carries a copy.
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Questions travellers ask
How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost?
Our 12-day Everest Base Camp trek from Kathmandu costs from ₹1,22,000 or US$1,390 per person on twin sharing, including Lukla flights, both permits, a licensed guide, porters, teahouse lodges and all trail meals. The 14-day version costs from ₹1,40,000 or US$1,590. Add Kathmandu hotels, insurance, tips and roughly NPR 25,000–40,000 in cash for extras on the trail.
What is the Everest Base Camp trek cost from India?
From Kathmandu, our 12-day trek costs from ₹1,22,000 per person, twin sharing. Add your flight or train to Kathmandu, which varies by city and season. Indian trekkers pay SAARC rates of NPR 1,500 for the national park and NPR 2,000 for the municipality fee, and need no visa. Check current status before you travel.
How much is the Lukla flight ticket for foreigners?
Foreign passport holders usually pay about US$220–250 each way between Kathmandu or Ramechhap and Lukla, so a return costs about US$440–500. In peak months, when flights leave from Ramechhap, add a 4–5 hour road transfer each way. A shared helicopter seat costs roughly US$500–600 one way. Our packages include return flights and transfers.
How much are Everest Base Camp permits?
As we understand the current rates, the Sagarmatha National Park permit costs NPR 3,000 plus VAT for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee is NPR 3,000 for most foreigners and NPR 2,000 for SAARC nationals. TIMS is not used in the Khumbu. Check current status before you travel.
How much does a guide cost for Everest Base Camp?
A licensed trekking guide in the Khumbu costs about US$30–40 per day in 2026, usually including the guide's own food and bed. For an 11-day trail section that is about US$330–440, split between everyone in the group. Add a tip at the end of roughly US$10–15 per trekking day. All our Everest packages include a licensed guide.
How much cash should I carry on the Everest Base Camp trek?
On a package with meals included, carry about NPR 25,000–40,000 per person for showers, charging, Wi-Fi, water, snacks and tips. Trekking independently, add NPR 5,000–8,000 per day for rooms and food. Namche has ATMs that usually work, but there are no reliable machines above it, and lodges rarely accept cards.
Is the Everest Base Camp trek cheaper without an agency?
Only a little, if at all. Once you pay for flights, permits, a licensed guide and half a porter, one foreign trekker booking separately spends roughly US$1,500–1,700, against our package from US$1,390. Savings come only from skipping the guide and porter, which carries more risk and may conflict with Nepal's 2023 licensed-guide rule.
How much does a helicopter return from Everest Base Camp cost?
Our 11-day trek with a helicopter return from Gorak Shep costs from ₹1,93,000 or US$2,190 per person, about US$800 more than the 12-day trek that walks down. Added to a walking trek, a shared seat from Gorak Shep to Kathmandu costs roughly US$800–1,000 per person. Flights leave in clear morning weather and may shuttle in two lifts.
Are tips included in the Everest Base Camp trek price?
No. Tips for the guide and porters are not included and are given at the end of the trek, usually at the last dinner in Lukla. A common total for a 12-day trek is about US$120–180 per trekker, shared between guide and porters. Tip in Nepali rupees, in an envelope, and hand porters their share directly.
