What the trek costs in 2026
The cost of the Everest Base Camp trek has four parts: fees to enter the park and the Khumbu, the flights to and from Lukla, the people who walk with you, and daily lodging and food on the trail. Most of the figures below come from trekking operators and flight sellers, not from a tariff list, so they are estimates. Official fees are labelled as such. Everything is dated 2026 and can change.
This is an independent guide, not a price list of any agency. Use the numbers to compare offers, not to replace a written quote.
Cost items compared
Official fees and operator estimates side by side. Operator figures are not fixed tariffs.
| Item | Amount (2026) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park, other foreign nationals | NPR 3,000 | Tourism Board table |
| Khumbu local fee, other foreign nationals | NPR 3,000 | Municipal page, originally 2023 |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 | Tourism Board table; local use disputed |
| Guide, per day | $25–35 | Operator estimate |
| Porter, per day | $18–25, or $25–35 at higher altitude | Operator estimate |
| Teahouse room, per night | $5–80 | Operator estimate, depends on standard |
| Lodging and food together, per day | $35–90 | Operator estimate |
| Kathmandu to Lukla, one way | about $251 | Flight seller, 2026 table |
| Ramechhap to Lukla, one way | about $209 | Flight seller, 2026 table |
| Guided 14-day package | $1,250–2,500 | Operator range |
| Private trek | $1,800–3,000 | Operator range |
Another operator quotes a budget of $215–255 one way for Lukla flights in general. The figures differ because of the departure airport, the airline and the date, so take your price from the ticket.
Everest Base Camp tours and packages
Guided treks and flight packages for the Khumbu region, with live prices and what each one includes.
Fees: park, Khumbu and TIMS
The Nepal Tourism Board lists the park fee at NPR 3,000 per person and entry for other foreign nationals, NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals and NPR 100 for Nepalese. Children under 10 enter free. One secondary source adds 13 % VAT and quotes NPR 3,390. The board's table says nothing about tax, so it is safest to have the higher figure in your budget and ask at the counter.
The Khumbu municipality sells a separate trek card. Its page lists NPR 3,000 for other nationalities and NPR 2,000 for SAARC and Chinese nationals. That page dates from April 2023, and some guides still quote NPR 2,000 for everyone, which the municipal page does not support. The TIMS card, as listed by the board, costs NPR 2,000, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and whether it is checked in the Khumbu is disputed. How it all works is explained on the permits page.
A simple sum: park and municipality together are NPR 6,000, or NPR 6,390 with the VAT figure, and TIMS may come on top. We do not give a total in dollars because exchange rates move.
A rough sum for a 12-day teahouse trek with a guide
Taking the operator estimates above, a guide for 12 days is $300–420, lodging and food for 12 days is $420–1,080 and a return flight is about $418 from Ramechhap or $502 from Kathmandu. That adds up to roughly $1,140–2,000, before a porter, permits, hotel nights in Kathmandu, insurance and tips. This is arithmetic on estimates, not a quote.
Guide, porter and what the rates mean
The daily rates for guides and porters are what an operator budgets for the customer. They do not show what the staff are paid, and no official or association wage scale is available for 2026. If you want to treat your team fairly, ask your agency how wages, insurance and equipment are handled, and budget for a tip. Do not assume an amount.
Packages differ in what they include. One adventure company lists many trekking days without meals, so a guided package is not the same as full board. Compare flights, the transfer to Ramechhap, meals, room standard, guide, porter, permits, insurance, tips and spare days one by one.
Costs that are easy to forget
Items that often sit outside the package price.
Spare days
Lukla flights are delayed or cancelled by weather. Operators advise at least 1 to 2 extra days at the end. An extra Kathmandu hotel night or a rebooked flight is a cost of its own. See Lukla and its airport.
Insurance with rescue cover
The German Federal Foreign Office recommends cover for mountain risk and helicopter evacuation. A rescue can depend on weather, and who pays has to be clear in advance.
Helicopter extras
Helicopter tours and evacuations are separate from trek budgets. A sample shared tour is listed at $1,000–1,300 per person. Read the helicopter tour page before you count on one.
Gear and clothing
Warm layers, sun protection and good boots are your own cost unless you rent. The packing list shows what is worth buying.
More on planning
Pages that help you turn the numbers into a plan.
Everest Base Camp trek cost: frequently asked questions
How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost?
One operator gives $1,250–2,500 for a guided 14-day package and $1,800–3,000 for a private trek in 2026. Your own total depends on flights, lodging and the team you bring. A simple sum on operator estimates gives roughly $1,140–2,000 for 12 days with a guide, before permits, porter and extras.
What are the park fees in 2026?
The Tourism Board lists NPR 3,000 for the Sagarmatha National Park fee for most foreign visitors. The Khumbu municipality lists NPR 3,000 for the local fee for the same group. A secondary source adds 13 % VAT to the park fee. Ask at the counter for the amount that applies to you.
Is it cheaper to fly from Ramechhap?
One flight seller lists about $209 one way from Ramechhap and about $251 from Kathmandu in its 2026 table. The Ramechhap flight needs a road transfer of about 130 km, which takes roughly 5 hours according to one adventure company. Count the transfer in your costs.
How much does a guide or porter cost per day?
An operator estimates $25–35 for a guide and $18–25 for a porter, rising to $25–35 at higher altitude. These are budget figures for customers, not a wage scale.
How much should I budget per day on the trail?
An operator estimates $35–90 per day for lodging and food together. A teahouse room alone is listed at $5–80 per night depending on standard.