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Everest Base Camp Budget Trek takes you to Nepal’s prime destination since Everest was conquered in 1953. Witness breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and a multitude of other peaks along with the serene Khumbu region. Have an authentic experience of the Sherpa culture and mountain lifestyle with the off chance of encountering some exotic Himalayan wildlife.It is quick, demanding and requires a good level of per-fitness as much of the trail is over 3 000m. A slow, steady pace will help minimize the risk of AMS. There are several long days trekking options.
The Budget Everest Base Camp trek begins with the short flight to Lukla; gateway to the Khumbu region. The trail then drops through farmland and friendly Sherpa villages before rising to Namche Bazaar. A scheduled acclimatization day is spent there. Explore the village of Khumjung and experience the Sherpa’s lifestyle, beliefs, skills and warmth.
The trail then climbs and drops between ridges and river crossings amid magnificent peaks. Night temperatures drop as the altitude increases. Forests change to alpine scrub and the scenery becomes ever more dramatic towards the last village of Gorak Shep. After lunch, walk along the Khumbu glacier to Everest Base Camp: opposite the treacherous ice fall. Return to Gorak Shep. A pre-dawn climb up Kala Patthar, behind the village, affords superb views of Everest the South Col, Nuptse and Lhotse.
Returning on the same route is quicker and easier, but no less dramatic. This budget option for trekking to EBC is alternative package for those who just want to buy trekking part only. It completes within 10 days and starts ends from Kathmandu.
The best times of the year to perform the Everest Budget Trek are during spring (March to May) and autumn (last week in September to mid-December) seasons. During these periods, the weather remains stable and the mountain views are good leading to the best experience. In monsoon, the weather can be unpredictable and the rain can make the trails slippery and perilous. While it is possible to trek in winter, heavy snowfall and harsh temperatures can sometimes make the trek quite difficult.
Everest Base Camp Budget Trek is a moderately strenuous trek that takes you up to altitudes of 5554m (Kalapattar). You will be trekking over rocky hills and semi mountainous terrain for most of the trek for an average of 6-7 hours a day. While previous trekking experience is not a necessity, it will certainly make the trek easier. Good physical fitness and stamina is recommended.
NRS. 3000 ($30) per person
Khumbuu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality
NRS. 2000 ($ 16) Per Person
NRS. 1000 ($10) for organized trekkers
After breakfast, we will drive you to the Domestic Airport for the flight to Lukla in the Khumbu region – south of Everest. Meet your local porters and begin the discovery by trekking into the Dudh Koshi Valley: to Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m). Another hour’s walk takes you to Phakding. Overnight in Phakding
Walk through pine forests along the Dudh Koshi, crossing tributaries, to the Sherpa villages of Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m) and Jorsale (2 830m). This is the gateway and permit checkpoint to the Sagarmatha National Park. Thamserku (6 618m) glistens east of the village. Follow the river to its confluence with the Bhote Koshi: the major rivers draining the Khumbu District. Climb steadily, crossing the high Tenzing- Hilary Bridge, to the first glimpses of Everest and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. A further 3 hr forested climb leads to the region’s administrative and trade centre at Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
This is a scheduled acclimatization day. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) experts recommend at least a 24 hr rest period. Keep active: climb high and sleep low is the acclimatisation advice.
Only Namche offers ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants and bakeries, plus a colourful market each Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Visitor’s Centre has informative displays on Sherpa culture, local flora and fauna.
The village of Khumjung (3 780m) will present a more traditional view of Sherpa life than Namche. Spend a morning walking up to the village. A circular trail is possible. At very least, visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m).
A more adventurous five hour trek west to Thame (3 820m): below the impressive Kongde Ri Ridge (6 187m), offers panoramic Himalayan landscapes not visible from the Gokyo or Everest trails.
From the top of Namche, the trail contours around a hill to Sanasa (3 600m); and a trail fork: NW to Gokyo, NE to Everest. Look for Himalayan tahrs on high ground, shy spotted deer, and birds – including the colourful (male) national bird: the Danphe pheasant. Descend to water driven prayer wheels at Phunki Thenga (3 250m, lowest point north of Namche). Cross the Dudh Koshi near its confluence with the Imja Khola and climb steeply for 2 hrs up the Imja Khola Valley through rhododendron and dwarf conifers to the hilltop village of Tengboche.
Good views from the village include the Everest group. There is an important monastery that is well worth visiting. At October’s full moon the colourful, Mani Rimdu festival is held; with Tibetan Opera and masked dancing. Overnight in Tengboche
Descend to the scattered stone village of Debuche (3 820m): with a nunnery. Cross the Imja Khola to the north and gradually ascend to Pangboche (3 860m) with rear views of towering Ama Dablam (6 856m). The trail follows the river to its confluence with the Lobuche Khola and continues to Dingboche: the last year-round settlement in the region. Walled terraced fields protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from icy winds and marauding animals during the short growing season at this altitude. Overnight in Dingboche.
Ascend slowly to a ridge and the hamlet of Duse (4 500m) with western views of Taboche and Cholatse. Continue through kharkas to Duglha (4 620m). Then ascend the Khumbu Glacier’s huge stony terminal moraine (1 hr). Landmark balanced-stone memorials to lost climbers have been placed along its rim. To the north, border peaks along the Mahalangur Himal include Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori. Everest is hidden by the imposing Nuptse-Lhotse wall. Continue to and overnight in Lobuche.
A desolate trail along the moraine heads for the last, seasonal, village of Gorak Shep below Pumori. After an early lunch, trek to cold EBC: positioned on the Khumbu Glacier opposite the dreaded icefall – the most nerve wracking section of an Everest ascent.
During the April-May ascent season, porters scurry in and out with supplies like an army of ants and the site is a riot of colourful tents perched on the dirty ice. Out of season it is bleak and silent, bar birds wind and avalanches. Everest and the Cwm are hidden behind the West Ridge. Walk back to Gorak Shep for the night.
A long day. From the village, a pre-dawn climb (2-3 hrs) up Kala Patthar, offers sunrise over: Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m) and Changtse (7 550m, north of the Rongbuk Glacier). Then Pumori (7 145m), Lingtren (6 697m) and Khumbutse (6 623m) amidst countless other peaks that crowd your horizon. Cho Oyo (8 201m) can be seen further to the west:
After breakfast: retrace your steps to Lobuche (4 940m) and the landmark memorials on the glacier’s snout. Descend the moraine and follow the western trail to Pheriche: and then on to Pangboche for a lower and warmer night. This village has the oldest monastery in Khumbu (17th C). Overnight in Pangboche.
Another long day. Descend to Phunki Temba (3 250m) then climb steadily to Sanasa (3 600m) and on to Namche (3 440m) for lunch. Then drop into the greener valley and Jorsale (2 830m). Exit the National Park and walk down through Phakding to Ghat. Overnight in Ghat.
After an early breakfast, trek up to Lukla for a midmorning flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free.
If you are single, we can manage this trekking for you with additional USD 150 cost.
We decided to do the EBC trek with my fiancee. So I went shopping around as there are loads of trekking companies in Nepal and we were on a tight budget. I have compared around 15-20 trekking companies for the best deals. Shortlisted around 3 and eventually chose Landmark Discovery to go with. Bought our holiday well before we departed around 3 months earlier. The decision that made me chose Landmark Discovery is that the owner, Prem was always in touch with all the information I needed, very polite, flexible and helpful. The package he offered was of good price/quality. Our guide was his brother Badri who was there holding up our name on a card when we arrived at Kathmandu airport and was there to say Goodbye when we departed. He looked after us very well and made us feel special during our trek. Due to personal issues we did not have much time to prepare for our trek, and were worried if we can succeed with it. Badri has given us all the information and was supporting us all the way especially when we were very tired and struggling(yeah we had that too:). We really liked our porter Mahesh also, his spoken English was very good, later we found out he is a guide trainee, he will become a great guide we are certain, actually it was like having two guides really.
Our trek was an all inclusive, which included flights to Lukla, meals, accommodation, wages for guide and porter. When choosing our meals from the menu we could choose anything we want and Badri would provide this without a fuss. (I am mentioning this because prices vary on the menu, and meal money is given to the guides to pay with. Have read online that many trekkers have noticed other guides trying to convince their trekkers to choose the cheaper meals from the menu as is ''much safer'' and later when paying would notice guides and porter's splitting overleft money which should have gone for the trekkers meals.)
I have also read many reviews online about companies that make trekkers sick and send them down with the Helicopter with AMS(this is how they bank a lot of money) and this was another worry. Given the fact that we have never been in Nepal trekking, I hope you can understand our worries.
Things to consider very important, keep your feet safe and invest in a comfortable and durable pair of walking boots, don't look at the price as later your feet will thank you at least mine did. Also make sure you have a good camera and spare batteries with it.
Overall, just to say we feel blessed we have come across Landmark Discovery and met kind people who made our Holiday one of the best we had.
If we are going back in the future? YES WE ARE, and definitely with Landmark Discovery Treks!
Thank you for a wonderful service, Namaste from Hungary.
Arpad R
25th Apr, 2022
I cannot recommend Prem and Landmark Discovery Tours enough. Prem was the guide for myself and my wife on our honeymoon trek to Everest Base Camp. He picked us up at the airport with a huge smile, organized a tour of Kathmandu, and then took us up to the mountains. His knowledge of the region is amazing. I honestly can't think of a question that I asked that he couldn't answer. My wife had some AMS symptoms and Prem took excellent care of her and made her feel at ease (despite her raging head ache).
Our trek was one of the most amazing trips of our life. We will obviously never forget the amazing views, yaks, food and culture that we got to see on a day to day basis. If EBC wasn't on your bucket list, add it now.
One of the main reasons for our trip was amazingw was because of Prem and Landmark Discovery. Prem was recommended from a good friend, and now I am making that recommendation to you. We met other groups who had horrible experiences with guides and porters, so I know how important it is to have a great guide. I would send anyone from my friends and family with Prem without a second thought. He really is an amazing guide and person who truly loves his job. It's kinda hard to blame him!
Ashley H
25th Apr, 2022
