Most people walk to Everest Base Camp in 12 to 16 days from Kathmandu, flying to Lukla and back. You need two local permits that cost about NPR 6,000 together. Guided packages listed for 2026 run from about US$1,250 to US$2,500 per person. Whether a guide is legally required in the Everest region is still disputed; the facts are below.
Everest (Khumbu), Solukhumbu · Permits: Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee (trek card)
Key facts
- Days
- 12 days at the shortest, 14 most common, 16 with spare days for Lukla flight delays (nepalhikingteam.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Base camp altitude
- 5,364 m (South Base Camp) (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Highest point
- 5,644 m at Kala Patthar, the usual viewpoint (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Best seasons
- March to mid-May and September to mid-November (en.wikivoyage.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Other months
- Summer rain and cloud delay Lukla flights; in winter deep snow can block paths above Tengboche and lodges there often close (en.wikivoyage.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Getting there
- A flight of about 25 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla (en.wikivoyage.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Difficulty
- Strenuous (our scale)
Permits
| Permit | Fee and conditions |
|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park entry permit | NPR 3,000 per person per entry for foreigners; NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals; NPR 100 for Nepali citizens. (snp.gov.np, checked 2026-10-30) |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee (trek card) | NPR 3,000 per person for foreigners; NPR 2,000 for SAARC and Chinese nationals; children under 10 free. Set for the fiscal year that began on 16 July 2024. (en.himalpress.com, checked 2026-10-30) The municipality's own website did not load when we checked; this fee comes from press reports. |
Guide rule
Unclear Everest region (Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality)
Contested. The Nepal Tourism Board's 2023 guidelines list Everest trails, but the local municipality said solo trekkers are allowed with its own trek card, and in November 2025 The Kathmandu Post still described the guide rule as applying in all trekking areas except Everest. Many agencies now write that guides are enforced everywhere. We found no official notice settling it. (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-10-23)(kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-10-23)(thehimalayantimes.com, checked 2026-10-23)(kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-10-30)
What it costs
Ranges published by agencies and guides, per person, in US dollars. They are not quotes. Check what each price includes.
- Guided package
- US$1,255 to US$2,500 per person (2026) for permits, domestic flights, guide, porter, lodges and meals (en.wikivoyage.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Guided group vs private
- Standard guided group US$1,250 to US$1,800; private guided US$1,800 to US$3,000 (nepalhikingteam.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Lukla flight
- About US$238 one way from Kathmandu for foreigners, or US$188 from Ramechhap plus the road transfer (nepalhikingteam.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Guide and porter
- Licensed guide US$25 to US$35 a day, porter US$20 to US$25 a day, before tips (nepalhikingteam.com, checked 2026-10-23)
Everest Base Camp: cost and permit calculator
Per person, from the fees and day rates on this site. Permit fees are official where the issuer publishes them; guide, porter and flight prices are what agencies publish. Change any number.
Sources: permit fees on permits and rules; day rates, flights and package prices in each trek guide's cost section.
Altitude: the real difficulty
No technical climbing is needed on this trek. What makes it hard is the thin air. Go up slowly, keep the rest days in the itinerary, drink water, and tell your guide about headaches, nausea or breathlessness at rest. If symptoms get worse, the treatment is to go down. A good agency will plan acclimatisation days and never push you higher when you are unwell.
Is a guide required for Everest Base Camp?
This is the one big trek where the answer is not settled. The Nepal Tourism Board's 2023 guidelines list Everest trails, but the local municipality, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu, has said solo trekkers may walk with its own trek card. We found no official notice that settles it, so our rules page shows both sides with their sources. If you go without a guide, have a plan B and confirm at the permit counter in Lukla.
How to book this trek safely
- Find the agency in our directory of TAAN General Members and open its TAAN profile link to confirm the name and registration number match what the agency sent you.
- Ask for the agency's Department of Tourism trekking licence number as well. TAAN membership and the government licence are two different records.
- Get the itinerary, the price and what it includes (permits, flights or transport, guide, porter, lodges, meals) in writing before paying anything.
- Buy travel insurance that covers trekking up to at least 5,644 m and helicopter rescue. Read the altitude limit and the evacuation clause yourself.
- Pay the deposit to the company's own account or by card, not to a personal account or wallet, and keep the receipt.
Travel insurance for Everest Base Camp
Check three things in the policy wording before you buy:
- Trekking is covered up to at least 5,644 m, the highest point of Everest Base Camp.
- Helicopter rescue or evacuation from the mountains is covered, and what you must do first (most insurers want a call to their emergency line before a helicopter is sent).
- Any conditions about using a licensed guide or staying on official trails.
We do not link to any insurer yet. When we do, we will show each policy's altitude limit and rescue terms next to the link.
Questions
- How many days do I need for Everest Base Camp?
- Plan 12 to 16 days from Kathmandu. Fourteen days is the most common itinerary; the extra days cover acclimatisation and Lukla flight delays, which are common.
- How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost?
- Guided packages listed for 2026 run from about US$1,255 to US$2,500 per person, including permits, flights to Lukla, a guide, a porter, lodges and meals. Private trips cost more. Check what each quote includes.
- Which permits do I need?
- The Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee (NPR 3,000 for most foreigners). See our rules page for sources.
- Do I need a guide?
- Unclear in the Everest region. The national guideline lists Everest trails, while the local municipality allows solo trekkers with its trek card. Our rules page shows both sources.
Get quotes for Everest Base Camp
Tell us your dates and group once. Only agencies we have checked against TAAN's member directory will see it, and only to send you a quote. Free, and no account.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Everest base camps. Checked 2026-10-23.
- Wikipedia: Kala Patthar. Checked 2026-10-23.
- Wikivoyage: Everest Base Camp Trek. Checked 2026-10-23.
- Nepal Hiking Team (agency): Everest Base Camp trek cost, updated 2026-07-24. Checked 2026-10-23.
Permit and rule sources are listed on the permits and rules page. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.