Solukhumbu District, Nepal
Everest Base Camp Trek:
the complete 2026 guide
The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the world's most iconic treks, leading through the Khumbu Valley to the base of Mount Everest at 5,364 metres.
Route to Base Camp
Currently near Lukla · 2,860 m
Overview
The trek at a glance
The Everest Base Camp Trek is a non-technical multi-day trekking route in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, following the southern approach to Everest through Sagarmatha National Park to the South Base Camp beside the Khumbu Glacier. TIMS registration hasn’t applied to this route since 2018. The Khumbu’s local exemption from Nepal’s guide-mandatory rule held through 2025, though 2026 enforcement at the Monjo checkpoint is tighter and no official notice confirms the exemption still stands.
2,860m
Start: Lukla
5,364m
End: Base Camp
130km
Round trip
12–21days
Duration
11
Routes
Itineraries
Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary Variations
Everest Base Camp Trek by Road: 18 Days (No Lukla Flight)
Classic Everest Base Camp Trek: 14 Days
Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes Trek: 17 Days
EBC Trek with Helicopter Return: 10 Days
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour: 1 Day from Kathmandu
Everest Base Camp + Island Peak Climbing: 18 Days
Everest Base Camp Trek via Jiri: 21 Days
Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek: 14 Days
Everest Panorama Trek: 9 Days
Everest Base Camp Trek: 12 Days
Everest Three High Passes Trek: 20 Days
Not sure which fits? Tell us your time and fitness level →
Difficulty
Compare Trek Difficulty by Itinerary
Maximum elevation reached and difficulty rating for each of the 11 itinerary variations. Difficulty depends on pace, altitude exposure, and terrain, more than how high the route goes alone.
Elevation
Everest Base Camp Trek Elevation by Day
The region
Explore the Everest Region
Where the trail actually goes
All 22 destinations →The Everest Base Camp Trek is defined by the villages, monasteries, and viewpoints it passes through on the way to the Khumbu Glacier.
3,440 m
Namche Bazaar
The Khumbu's trading and administrative hub, and the mandatory first two-night acclimatisation stop.
3,860 m
Tengboche
Home to the largest and most significant monastery in the Khumbu, with panoramic Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam views.
5,644 m
Kala Patthar
The actual Everest summit viewpoint, 280 m higher than Base Camp, and positioned to clear Nuptse's ridge.
5,486 m
Khumbu Icefall
The dramatic, constantly shifting river of ice rising directly above Everest Base Camp.
Beyond Base Camp
All related treks →Most of these extend directly from an Everest Base Camp itinerary rather than requiring a separate trip.
Seasons
Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp
- Peak season
- Shoulder season
- Monsoon
March – May
Spring
Brings the clearest mountain views of the year alongside blooming rhododendron forest below Namche. Daytime temperatures at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) typically reach 10–15°C, dropping below freezing overnight; at Gorak Shep (5,164 m), nights regularly fall to −15°C or lower.
September – November
Autumn
The most reliable season for stable weather and Lukla flight operations. Namche daytime temperatures sit around 8–12°C, with Gorak Shep nights similarly falling well below freezing.
December – February
Winter
Offers the clearest skies of the year but the coldest nights. Gorak Shep can drop to −20°C or colder. Fewer trekkers on the trail, but some high lodges reduce services.
June – August
Monsoon
Brings daily afternoon rainfall, leech activity at lower elevations, and a higher Lukla flight cancellation rate due to cloud cover. Namche stays a humid 15–20°C by day; views above Tengboche are frequently obscured.
Safety
Altitude Sickness on the EBC Trek
Lake Louise Score: self-assessment reference
| Symptom | Score 0–3 |
|---|---|
| Headache | 0–3 |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | 0–3 |
| Fatigue / dizziness | 0–3 |
Total score 3-5 = mild-to-moderate AMS. Total 6+ = severe: descend immediately. Golden rule: no more than 300–500 m net elevation gain per day above 3,000 m. Mandatory rest: 2 nights at Namche (3,440 m) and 2 nights at Dingboche (4,410 m).
Permits & cost
Everest Base Camp Trek Permits and Cost
| Requirement | Fee (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park entry | NPR 3,000foreigners, verify current 2026 rate |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee | NPR 3,000trek card, bought in Lukla or Monjo |
| TIMS card | Not requiredsuperseded on this route since 2018 |
| Licensed guide | Not legally requiredlocal Khumbu exemption, most trekkers go guided anyway |
NPR figures are approximate at current exchange rates. Confirm with your operator before departure.
Illustrative per-person cost breakdown2 pax private, budget–mid range, USD
Why this guide
What Makes This Guide Different From Every Other EBC Site
Interactive AMS Self-Assessment
A real Lake Louise Score tool, scored live, beyond a bullet list of symptoms.
Read morePer-Checkpoint Cost Breakdown
Room, shower, WiFi, and charging costs at every teahouse from Phakding to Gorak Shep.
Read moreManthali Airport Full Guide
The pre-dawn Ramechhap logistics most sites cover in a single sentence.
Read morePorter Welfare Standards
IPPG load limits, fair wages, and how to identify a responsible operator.
Read moreJournal
From the Blog
comparison
Kala Patthar vs Everest Base Camp: Which One Actually Shows You the Summit?
Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) does not have a view of Everest's summit. Nuptse's west ridge blocks it. Kala Patthar (5,644 m), 280 m higher, is the actual summit viewpoint.
logistics
The Manthali (Ramechhap) Airport Situation: A Complete 2026 Guide
Since 2019, most spring and autumn Lukla flights depart from Manthali (Ramechhap), 132 km and a 4-5 hour drive from Kathmandu, not the single sentence most guides give it. The full 2026 picture: why it happens, what the morning looks like, and three ways to avoid it.
comparison
EBC vs Annapurna Circuit: Which Nepal Trek Should You Choose?
Everest Base Camp (5,364 m, NPR 6,000 in permits) is a there-and-back Khumbu trek; the Annapurna Circuit (Thorong La, 5,416 m, NPR 3,000 ACAP permit) is a longer loop through more varied terrain at a lower permit cost.
Everest Trekking Guide is an Everest-region trekking agency, guiding trekkers to Base Camp and across the Khumbu since 2016.
Enquiries
Plan Your Everest Base Camp Trek
Frequently Asked Questions
Not legally. Nepal's Tourism Board mandated licensed guides nationwide from April 2023, but the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality — whose jurisdiction covers the entire EBC route — exempted trekkers in its area from that rule and has maintained the exemption every season since. Genuinely independent, guideless trekking is legal here, though most trekkers still choose a licensed guide for altitude judgement and logistics support.