How to reach Everest Base Camp?

Well, it may sound so odd to write about how to reach Everest Base Camp due to its popularity. However, you should know in detail about it for a hassle – free walking holiday. Nowadays, the trail’s condition is improving rapidly. You must know about the latest developments in the trekking trail. It saves time and money. Today’s blog tries to cover all the aspects of accessibility to the Everest Base Camp. Moreover, we will also talk about difficulty, cost, and few tips for safe trekking and better experiences. Let’s focus on basic things before answering the question of how to reach Everest Base Camp.

Where is Everest Base Camp Located ?

Travelers must know the location of the destination before finding out how to reach Everest Base Camp. The location of the Everest Base Camp (5364 m) is in the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Note down that there are two base camps of Mt. Everest. One is in Tibet (autonomous region of People’s Republic of China) and another one is in Nepal. Southern is in Nepal and it is probably the most popular base camps out of these two. Interestingly, you can reach by road to the North Everest Base Camp but Nepal’s South Everest Base Camp requires you to trek or take helicopter flight.

How to reach Everest Base Camp? Different Routes for Everest Trek

As mentioned above, Tibetan North Everest Base Camp is easily accessible by road. Even if it is accessible by road, few people use the Tibetan route. There are two ways to reach the Everest Base Camp (5364 m). First one and the most popular one is by trekking. Similarly, you can reach the base camp directly by helicopter flight. The cost of the helicopter flight to base camp is expensive whereas the trek costs lesser.

How to reach Everest Base Camp? Yes, as mentioned above, trek or flight is an option. As for a trek, there are different routes. The most popular one is the Lukla route. However, there are different routes possible now after the construction of road network.

Kathmandu to Lukla Flight: The Classic Starting Point

Ever since the construction of the Tenzing Hillary Airport Lukla, the place has become the classic starting point of the trek. Majority of trekkers use the flight to Lukla and start the trek. Moreover, it costs around 450 $ to 500 $ per person for the two-way flight to and from Lukla. Please note down that the Lukla flights may not take place from Kathmandu during peak trekking season. Instead of Kathmandu route, flights take place from Manthali Airport Ramechhap.

Road Route Option: Drive from Kathmandu to Surke or Paiya

Fortunately, you can also drive to the trail head of the Everest Base Camp Trek route. The road to the trail head until Phaplu or Salleri is well paved but not from this town. Trekkers have to drive through new off road until the Surke village or Paiya depending upon the road condition. The drive is about 5 to 6 hours long due to the condition of road. Nowadays, getting alternative to the Lukla flights means a lot. The chances of flight cancellations are high due to unpredictable weather conditions. People have got options now if incase they can’t board the flight to Lukla. So, how to reach Everest Base Camp? It’s by road as well not to the base camp but at least to the trail head.

Trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp: Step-by-Step Route

Finally, upon reaching Lukla, trekkers formally begin the trek to Everest Base Camp. Remember that it is also the trail head for multiple trekking and climbing activities. For example, the Everest Three High Passes Trek, the Island Peak Climbing, the Lobuche Peak Climbing, the Mera Peak Climbing, and Gokyo Lake Trek start from Lukla.

Now, to answer the question of how to reach Everest Base Camp, we are telling you the detail information on the trek itinerary. Let’s find out step-by-step route to Everest Base Camp (5364 m). The first night is in Phakding followed by two nights stay in Namche Bazaar. The acclimatisation activity to the Everest View Hotel is taken place in Namche Bazaar before heading to Tengboche Village. Another two nights are in Dingboche Village, including an acclimatisation hike of Nagarshan Hill (5100 m). Eventually, trekkers reach the Everest Base Camp after spending a night in Lobuche Village.

Alternative Route Without Lukla Flight (Drive + Trek)

Keep in your mind that there are different routes to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Here is the list of the routes or treks that you can do without Lukla flight.

1. Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek
2. Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek
3. Everest Base Camp Trek by Road
4. Pikey Peak Trek with Everest Base Camp

Required Permits for Everest Base Camp Trek

If you are looking for an answer to the question how to reach Everest Base Camp, then you must know about permits. Get the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit that costs NRs. 3000 to foreigners and NRs. 1500 to SAARC nationals. Similarly, you must also obtain the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit that costs NRs. 3000 to all. You can get the rural municipality entry permit in Lukla and national park entry permit in Jorsalle near Monjo.

Best Time to Travel to Everest Base Camp

Safely reaching the Everest Base Camp matters more. Choose right season to trek for safety. Therefore, always travel during the months of spring season (March – May) and the months of autumn season (September – November) for best experiences. It is possible to trek during monsoon and winter season too but it may not guarantee better experiences. However, winter season is also best in terms of clear skies but you must remain wary of the heavy snowfall.

How Difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

A fit person both mentally and physically can surely complete the Everest Base Camp Trek. The biggest challenge in this journey is the altitude. Heed the instructions of your trekking guide and follow the safe trekking pattern to avoid any kinds of sicknesses. Therefore, you must prepare your body at least one month prior to the trek. Furthermore, you must get the travel insurance that covers emergency helicopter rescue. Prepare all around after consulting with the expert travel planners of the leading trekking company like the Nepal High Trek. Doing all these can surely reduce the difficulty level of the trek.

Cost Breakdown: How Much Does It Cost to Reach EBC?

Normally, the Everest Base Camp Trek costs around 1300 $ plus. The budget largely depends upon the personal preferences of a trekker. Allot around 35 $ to 50 $ per day for meals and around 5 $ to 15 $ for standard tea house lodging. Besides basic costs, you need to allocate budget for hot showers, internet, battery charging, and tips. The tip that this blogger can give you is buying the trekking package. Buy the trek package and have all these basic facilities included. Moreover, buying the package means you don’t have to worry about any kinds of trip logistic management. Enjoy the trek without any hassles!

Altitude Sickness and How to Prevent It

The most important thing that you must not avoid during the Everest Base Camp Trek is the threat of altitude sickness. Therefore, you must not skip acclimatization activities during the trek. The principle of acclimatization is to reach higher altitude place and return back to lower altitude place for overnight. During the journey to the Everest Base Camp, you must do two acclimatization activities in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche.

Besides acclimatization, you must remember to follow correct trekking style under the instructions of trekking guide. Eat soupy food and stay hydrated all the time. Avoid greasy foods and alcohol throughout the trek. Similarly, you can also take half dose of Diamox medicine twice a day from the start of the trek until the very end.

Hiring a Guide or Porter: Is It Necessary?

The Everest region doesn’t have rule of compulsory hiring of a trekking guide like the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal. Almost all restricted regions of Nepal require you to get a trekking guide. This is not the case with the Everest Base Camp Trek. However, it doesn’t mean that it is safe to trek without a trekking guide. If you have a trekking guide, you can enjoy the trek without any hassles of trip management. Moreover, getting best deals of lodging and meals options is comfortable with a guide. Hire a porter too and help to contribute the local economy. Carrying baggage high up in the mountains is very challenging. It may increase the trek difficulty. Therefore, hire a guide and enjoy the trek. I hope that you got an answer to the question of how to reach Everest Base Camp.