Trekking · Nepal
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost
A realistic 2026 budget for the EBC trek — flights, permits, guide, porters, teahouse meals and where your money actually goes.
A guided Everest Base Camp trek in 2026 typically costs between USD 1,400 and 2,500 per person. The biggest fixed items are the round-trip Lukla flights and the licensed guide; the rest is daily teahouse spending that rises with altitude. Independent budget trekkers can come in below that range, while full agency packages with private rooms, porters and extra comfort run higher. Here is where the money actually goes.
The big fixed costs
The Lukla flight is the single largest line item, usually USD 350 to 450 round trip from Kathmandu or, in the busy season, Manthali. A licensed guide — now required in the Khumbu — costs around USD 25 to 35 a day, and an optional porter to carry your main pack adds roughly USD 20 to 30 a day. Many trekkers hire a combined guide-porter to save money. For the wider context on hiring and paperwork, see our Nepal trekking guide.
Permits
Two permits are mandatory: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (about USD 25 to 30) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (about USD 15 to 20). Both are easy to arrange in Kathmandu or on the trail, and agencies normally fold them into the package price. Detailed current figures sit in the day-by-day Everest Base Camp itinerary, which shows where each permit is checked.
Daily costs on the trail
Budget USD 30 to 50 a day for food and lodging. Teahouse rooms are cheap — sometimes free if you eat there — but meals, hot drinks, device charging, Wi-Fi and purified water all cost more the higher you climb, because everything is carried up by porter or yak. A bowl of dal bhat that is a few dollars in Namche Bazaar can double by Gorak Shep.
Gear and extras
Factor in trekking gear you do not already own — boots, a down jacket and a warm sleeping bag can be rented cheaply in Kathmandu — plus tips for your guide and porter at the end. Crucially, you also need comprehensive travel insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation, since a rescue from the upper Khumbu is extremely expensive without cover.
Ways to save
The cheapest approach is to trek in a small group to split the guide cost, carry your own pack, eat dal bhat (often refillable) and travel in the shoulder season. If your real constraint is time rather than money, compare the short Everest treks at lower altitude, or weigh a fly-in option in our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour guide. Whatever you spend, build acclimatisation days into the schedule — rushing to save a day or two is a false economy, as our altitude sickness guide explains. Plan your budget against the full picture in the Everest Base Camp trek guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost in 2026?+
A guided teahouse trek typically runs from about USD 1,400 to 2,500 per person once you add the Lukla flights, the two permits, a licensed guide, a porter, meals and lodging. Independent budget trips can be cheaper, while comfort-focused agency packages cost more.
How much is the Lukla flight?+
The round-trip flight between Kathmandu (or Manthali in peak season) and Lukla usually costs around USD 350 to 450. It is weather-sensitive, so always budget for a possible extra night and consider the much pricier helicopter fallback if you are short on days.
What permits do you need and what do they cost?+
You need the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (around USD 25 to 30) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (around USD 15 to 20). A licensed guide is also now required. Agencies usually bundle the paperwork into their package price.
How much should you budget per day on the trail?+
Plan roughly USD 30 to 50 a day for teahouse meals, lodging, hot drinks, charging, Wi-Fi and bottled or purified water. Prices climb steadily with altitude because everything is carried up by porter or yak, so budget more for the higher villages.
