Everest Base Camp Hike - 17 Days

Everest Base Camp lies in Solukhumbu District of Nepal, a must-visit tourist destination recognized by travel authorities like Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor. The nearest cities to Everest Base Camp are Lukla & Namche Bazaar. Each of these cities has a population of less than 2000. 

Furthermore, during the trek, you will not find many people. The route passes through notable places like Lukla, Namche Bazar, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. The combined population in these villages is roughly 4 thousand. You will be completely trekking in the solace of nature along with our crew. 

We take the following precautions to ensure our valuable clients are as safe as possible. 

• Our guides have completed intensive wilderness first aid training
• Trek leaders and guides have years of trekking experience and are ready to help you if required.
• We will be encouraging and motivating you every day
• We check food & accommodation in trek regions for extra hygiene.

Early in the morning, the Discovery World Trekking guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Tribhuvan International Airport for a 40-minute flight to Lukla. Lukla is the starting point of the trek. 

This package includes three nights stay at a three-star hotel in Kathmandu (Single accommodation for solo trekkers, a twin sharing for the group). You will be staying in the best available lodges in trek regions. We provide six nights' stays at Lukla, Phakding, and Namche in rooms with a private attached bathroom, and seven nights in standard rooms at Tengboche (2N), Dingboche (2N), Lobuche, Gorakshep, and Pheriche. 

The trek takes place in high elevations, so your body requires enough carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients throughout the hike. You will have enough nutritious and tasty food in trek regions, but your choices are limited. There are plenty of options for your meals in Kathmandu.

We will provide full-board (main course) meals in the trek region (13 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 13 dinners). 

Some of the popular menu items are -

Thirteen breakfasts - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French Toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, and Honey Tibetan Bread or Chapati, Muesli Breads, Fruits and Vegetables, Local Tsampa Porridge, Hashed Brown Eggs, Varieties of eggs (Omelets), Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits and Vegetables, Hot Drinks - varieties of Teas, Coffees, Hot Chocolates, etc.

Thirteen lunches - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soup Items, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Sherpa Stew Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (Dumplings) Macaroni Dishes, Vegetable Curry, Potatoes, Salad, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Thirteen dinners - Dal (lentils), Bhat (Rice) & Tarkari (Curry), Tibetan Bread, Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Potato Items, Vegetables, Salads, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks, Papad, Prawn, Korean Ramen, Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple Pie), etc

We select the best lodges that provide fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. The menu includes local, Asian, and Western food items, but as you gain elevation, your choices get limited. 

We highly recommend plenty of liquids such as green, ginger, and lemon tea, hot lemon, garlic soup (must), and fresh vegetables at trek regions.

Though you will have plenty of non-veg options at trek regions, we do not recommend them for hygiene concerns. Similarly, we suggest you avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, hot chocolates, and dairy items. 

The weather is the most crucial factor you need to consider while deciding on the trekking season. 

Though people trek to Everest Base Camp throughout the year, there are seasonal ups and downs. However, you can consider spring and autumn with clear skies, cool temperatures, and stunning mountain views as the best trek seasons.   

The winters are cold with heavy snowfall, and the routes are wet in summer due to the monsoon. However, a different breed of trekkers finds these seasons exciting for Everest treks.

These are the coldest months - throughout January and up to early February. Days are warmer, but the nights are cold. You can expect lots of snowfall pilling all over the route. Though we conduct winter treks to Everest Base Camp, we do not recommend these treks, especially for people who are allergic to colds. 

This is one of the best times to hike to the Everest Base Camp. The weather is very favorable, and you can enjoy stunning views of the Himalayan ranges and glaciers. March marks the beginning of spring, and the weather starts to warm up. During these months, all flora and fauna dormant throughout the winter spring back to life in the sun-kissed temperatures. Temperatures start increasing from the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow mountains look their best. 

It is also the perfect time for Everest Base Camp trekking, right before the rainfall. Monsoon begins in Nepal from the end of June and lasts till mid-August. The mix of spring and summer makes these months favorable for EBC treks. 

The rainfall hits its peak in regions below 3500 meters. Due to heavy rain, flights to Lukla may get canceled at the beginning or end of the trek. However, you will find trekkers on the route to Everest Base Camp. The rainfall makes the hike challenging but not impossible. If you are thinking of trekking during these months, we do organize safe EBC treks. You will get to enjoy spectacular waterfall views from the path. 

This is another perfect season for the EBC Treks. The monsoon slowly retreats, and a perfect trekking climate emerges. The temperature goes up to 20 degrees in the daytime and falls to 5 degrees at night. This season is when trekkers enjoy trekking the most. The clear skies, excellent trail condition, and gorgeous mountain views make this period favorable for treks. In addition, two of the biggest festivals - Dashain & Tihar - fall during these months, adding a festive mood throughout Nepal. 

Winter slowly begins, and snowfalls start, eventually making it tough to trek. However, November treks are not that hard, with clear skies and stable temperatures. From December, the temperatures plummet, and heavy snowfall begins. 

Temperatures:  18°C to -10°C. 

Altitude sickness among trekkers is common at high altitudes, but you should not ignore the signs of altitude sickness. If severe, it requires immediate treatment. 

We will be acclimatizing in two places - Namche and Dingboche - during our trek. This hike is less intense than Everest Base Camp 12 and 14 days.

At Namche Bazaar, you can explore this famous Sherpa town while adjusting to the thin air. You will be spending your second day acclimatizing in Dingboche, where you will enjoy the views of several snow peaks.

Our trek leaders/guides are well trained and experienced at high altitudes, and they are extensive first aid trained. Your health and safety are important to us, and they will always be our priority. 

If you are rigorously affected, the only cure is to descend immediately. Your trek lead has the authority to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately, based on the situation. 

The Everest Base Camp trek is a challenging yet rewarding trek. You will be hiking 5 to 7 hours a day depending on the destination, taking regular breaks to soak in the views. 

The trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and forward trails in the rocky paths and through the forests. If you have previous trek experience, it will help but is not required. 

However, please understand that the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the trek. Hence, we advise you to take part in stamina-building exercises a few weeks before the trek. 

We do not recommend this trek for people with heart or lung diseases. People suffering from such conditions must contact us before booking this trek. 

We organize group and private treks. If you have your own group, you will be eligible for discounts. The bigger your group is, the more discount you will get. However, you are not entitled to any discount for the groups we assemble. We can handle all group sizes and add an assistant trek guide for a group of 12 or more trekkers. 

Each day provides you unique trekking experience - climbing, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, exploring the local villages, tasting traditional foods. 

Throughout the trek, our expert guides/Sherpas will accompany you. They will also provide you with information about the places you will be visiting. Porters will carry your luggage, but you may need to carry a regular backpack for your valuables. 

The day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After a wholesome breakfast, we set off on the daily walk around 7 to 8 AM, depending on the duration and nature of that day’s hike.

After trekking for three to four hours, we will serve you lunch around midday, often on the route to the next destination. We take a rest for about an hour and then hit the trails again. 

The afternoon walk is generally shorter - about two to three hours. Once you reach your overnight lodge/tea house/tent, you can snack on the extra dietary food. Then, you are free to explore the nearby places. 

We serve dinner from around 6 to 7 PM. After dinner and before going to bed, your trek leader will brief you about the next day's plan. After this briefing, you can indulge yourself in social conversations, read books, or play games like monopoly, chess, or cards. If available, you can see mountaineering documentaries as well. Most foreigners also indulge in learning light and fun Nepali language from our crew.  

You can use the internet at the lodges by paying a small service charge. However, at high altitudes, you will be communicating by phone for safety.

Discovery World Trekking office remains in contact with all trek groups via trek leaders at least once a day to learn about trek conditions. You can buy a local sim card in Kathmandu, but based on the network, the signals might not be strong enough. 

Though this package covers a significant part of the trek, all expenses are not covered. All our valuable clients will need spending money to pay for lunch and dinner in Kathmandu, visa application fees, travel insurance policy purchases, snacks, Wi-Fi, alcoholic, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips for trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend bringing cash (dollars), which you can exchange for rupees. Trek regions only accept Nepali currency.

Throughout the lodges on the way to Everest Base Camp, electricity for camera and mobile recharge is available. During the trek, you can buy packed mineral water from local lodges and en route shops or fill your water bottle with boiled water at lodges/teahouses for an extra cost. We can also provide you water purification pill if you require. 

This trip grade is ranked challenging as it entails the risk of high altitude trekking, potential altitude sickness, and other unforeseen events - including sudden climate changes.

Travel insurance is compulsory for this trek. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation costs- including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes (up to 6000m).

Based on our client experience, we can recommend insurance companies to help you, but we do not sell insurance policies. 

We request you to send your detailed insurance documents within a week of booking the trek. 

In case of emergencies, we will be using the insurance policy and informational documents you sent us to arrange a quick and effective rescue and transfer you for emergency medical help. Please ensure that your insurance covers the cost incurred for mountain rescue service at the highest trek elevations.

All foreigners except Indians require a visa to enter Nepal. You will get an on-arrival Visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The visa application will require a passport with at least six months validity, a passport size photo, and a visa fee. Currently, the visa fee is USD 50 for 30 days, which you can pay in cash. China and the SAARC country citizens will receive a free visa.

Citizens from certain countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan) may not receive an arrival visa. So if you are a citizen of these countries, contact your local Nepalese embassy.

The Nepal government can change visa rules without notice. Please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/ for the latest information. 

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.

(1 USD = ~ Rs.120 NPR).

You can exchange most foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. These money exchanges display their ongoing rates visibly. If you have Indian Rupees, please note that only Indian Rupee notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. 

Despite the security advantage of a traveler's cheque, we recommend you cash exchange to avoid lengthy processes and high bank commission rates. You can also withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel itself. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee if you are using your foreign card.

If you use the money exchange facility at banks and financial institutions, you will have to pay four percent or more as a service charge depending on banks/financial institutions. 

There are no banks and money exchanges in trek regions, so you should exchange money in Kathmandu only, depending on how much personal expense you require. Only Nepalese currency is honored in the trek regions.

The luggage weight limit is 9 kg per trekker. We will assign one porter for every two trekkers. The maximum weight a porter carries will not exceed 18kg. We also expect you to bring a small backpack for your important documents and costly items. You can leave your excess luggage at your hotel or Discovery World Trekking store for free.