Trekking to Everest Base Camp is one of the world’s great mountain adventures. The route takes you through Nepal’s Khumbu Valley, past Sherpa villages and some of the highest mountains on earth, before reaching Everest Base Camp at 5,364m.
If you’re considering an Everest Base Camp trek with Earth’s Edge, you’ll probably have questions about the difficulty, altitude, accommodation, food, training and what the experience is really like. We’ve answered the most common ones below.
Everything you need to know about trekking Everest Base Camp
- How hard is it to trek Everest Base Camp?
- Do I need previous trekking experience for Everest Base Camp?
- How long does it take?
- What is the food like?
- How much does it cost?
- How do I cope with altitude at Everest Base Camp?
- What’s the accommodation like?
- Is it safe to trek Everest Base Camp?
- What do I need to pack?
- How do I train for Everest Base Camp?
- When is the best time to trek Everest Base Camp?
How hard is it to trek Everest Base Camp?
We give all of our expeditions a difficulty level, so you know what to expect. We classify our Everest Base Camp trek as a Level 4 expedition. You should be comfortable hillwalking for 6 to 7 hours at a time over consecutive days, with some longer days during the trek. The altitude adds to the challenge, with Everest Base Camp sitting at 5,364m and an optional climb of Kala Patthar reaching 5,550m.
You don’t need to be an experienced mountaineer, but you do need a good level of fitness and proper preparation.
Read more about how hard it is to trek Everest Base Camp in our detailed guide.
Do I need previous trekking experience for Everest Base Camp?
You don’t need mountaineering experience to trek to Everest Base Camp, but you should have a good level of fitness and ideally some experience of long days of hillwalking. Our EBC trek is rated Level 4, and proper training before departure is important.
How long does it take to trek Everest Base Camp?
Our Everest Base Camp expedition takes 16 days in total. We spend 13 days on the trail, including two acclimatisation days, giving your body time to adjust gradually as we gain altitude.
We reach Everest Base Camp on Day 9 of the expedition before beginning the descent through the Khumbu Valley.
Read more about how long it takes to trek Everest Base Camp on our blog.
What is the food like?
You need to keep your energy levels up on an expedition like this one, so you can expect to eat plenty! We stop in tea houses along the way, and there’s often a choice of local dishes like Dal Bhat (rice, poppadum, lentils, curry), noodles and garlic soup. You’ll usually find a selection of Western dishes too, like egg and chips, toasted sandwiches and even the occasional pizza! Those with a sweet tooth will go mad for the Snickers Pie, a.k.a a deep fried snickers bar covered in maple syrup.
Read more about what the food is like on Everest Base Camp in our extensive Food Diary blog post.
How much does it cost?
The cost of trekking to Everest Base Camp varies considerably depending on the itinerary, level of support and what’s included.
Our Everest Base Camp expedition includes your accommodation, most meals, internal flights in Nepal, transfers, an experienced Nepalese expedition leader, dedicated expedition doctor and pre-departure training weekend. International flights are not included.
You can see the current price and full list of inclusions on our Everest Base Camp expedition page.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our guide on how much it costs to trek Everest Base Camp.
How do I cope with altitude at Everest Base Camp?
Everest Base Camp sits at 5,364m, and altitude is one of the biggest challenges of the trek. Everyone responds differently to altitude, regardless of age or fitness, which is why gradual acclimatisation is so important.
Our itinerary includes two acclimatisation days and we move at a slow, steady pace. We also send a dedicated expedition doctor on every Everest Base Camp departure, working alongside our expert local guiding team.
Drink plenty of water, eat well, walk slowly and, most importantly, tell the expedition doctor immediately if you begin to feel unwell.
Read more about coping with altitude in our blog post.
What’s the accommodation like on Everest Base Camp?
Unlike a lot of other expeditions, on the trek to Everest Base Camp we stay mostly in tea houses along the way, rather than camping. Tea houses are simple rather than luxurious, but you’ll have a proper bed each night and hot showers may be available for an additional charge. Electricity, device charging and Wi-Fi may also cost extra.
Read more about the accommodation on Everest Base Camp in our blog post.
Is it safe to trek Everest Base Camp?
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is very different from climbing Mount Everest, but it is still a high-altitude trek in a remote mountain environment and should be taken seriously.
At Earth’s Edge, every Everest Base Camp expedition travels with a dedicated expedition doctor and a highly experienced local Nepalese Sherpa team. We also build two acclimatisation days into the itinerary and move gradually through the Khumbu Valley.
Read more about how we manage safety on Everest Base Camp in our blog post.
What do I need to pack?
A good equipment list is essential for Everest Base Camp. You’ll need suitable trekking layers, a warm insulated jacket, sleeping bag, daypack, trekking poles and well-worn hiking boots, among other items.
See our full Everest Base Camp equipment list for the complete breakdown.
How do I train for Everest Base Camp?
The best preparation for Everest Base Camp is regular hillwalking. Build gradually towards consecutive days of 6-7 hours on hilly terrain while carrying the daypack you’ll use on the trek. Cardiovascular training and strength work can complement this, but time spent walking in the hills is particularly important.
Everyone travelling with Earth’s Edge is also invited to a pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland.
Read our full guide on how to train for Everest Base Camp.
When is the best time to trek Everest Base Camp?
The main trekking seasons for Everest Base Camp are spring and autumn. March to mid-May and September to mid-November generally offer some of the best trekking conditions and mountain visibility.
Earth’s Edge runs Everest Base Camp expeditions during these spring and autumn trekking seasons.
Ready to trek Everest Base Camp?
If Everest Base Camp is on your list, you can explore our full Everest Base Camp trek, including the 16-day itinerary, upcoming departure dates, what’s included and current pricing.
If you’re not sure whether it’s the right expedition for you, get in touch with the Earth’s Edge team and we’ll be happy to talk it through.
