Highlights
Moderate To Fairly Hard, 5550 m
Local Guest Hosue
Domestic Flight
March/ April, October/ November
Budget Flexibility: paying directly for your meals and accommodation giving you complete control.
Expert Guide: The guide who handles all room bookings and ensures high food hygiene standard.
Experience the iconic highlights: vibrant Namche Bazaar, Tengboche Monastery, Everest Base Camp, and a sunrise hike up Kala Patthar.
Full Porter Support: the local porters safely carry your heavy trekking baggage.
Scenic Mountain Flights: round-trip domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.
Economy Everest Trek Overview
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is a lifelong dream for adventure lovers. Our 12-Day Economy Everest Trek is a budget-friendly package designed to make this legendary journey affordable without compromising on safety or experience.
The journey begins with a scenic 45-minute flight from Kathmandu to the mountain airstrip at Lukla and end after taking flight back from Lukla. From there, you will follow the classic trail through the heart of the Khumbu region. Along the way, you will pass colorful prayer flags, Mani walls, and Buddhist chortens, while sharing the trail with traditional yak caravans. You will stay in local guesthouses where you can meet real Everest summiters and hear firsthand about their incredible lifetime achievements.
To keep this package highly affordable, you will pay for your own accommodation and meals directly at the guesthouses. However, you won’t have to worry about any of the logistics, your trekking guide will handle all the room bookings and closely supervise the kitchen to ensure you are served clean, hygienic food in a safe environment. A professional, licensed trekking guide will lead your trek from start to finish, ensuring you stay safe, comfortable, and right on track.
Guide & logistic in Economy Everest Trek
Accommodation: Our trekking guides will book clean, comfortable, locally-run guesthouses (teahouses) for you. Rooms are on a twin-sharing basis. In the higher villages, bathrooms are shared, whereas guesthouses in the lower villages often offer rooms with private attached bathrooms as well.
Meals: All meals will be served directly by the guesthouses where you stay. To give you maximum flexibility, you can choose and buy your own meals from the standard guesthouse menus. These menus feature fresh, hygienic, and tasty local and international dishes.
Trekking Crew: You will be accompanied by a licensed, experienced, English-speaking trekking guide. We also provide local porters to carry your heavy baggage (1 porter for every 2 clients, with a strict weight limit to protect their welfare). Our staff are fully insured and well-equipped with warm clothing for the mountains.
Best Season to Economy Everest Trek
March and April (Spring): Offers beautiful, clear mountain views and blooming rhododendron flowers along the jungle trails.
October and November (Autumn): This is the peak season, offering the clearest skies, excellent weather, and the sharpest mountain views of the year.
Note on Kathmandu Accommodation: We can easily help you book your hotel stay in Kathmandu upon request. We recommend staying at our beautiful sister property, Green Eco Resort, located in Kirtipur, which offers a peaceful family environment, affordable prices, and panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Fly to Lukla (2,840 m) & Trek to Phakding (2,640 m)
Day 02: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)
Day 03: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (Hike to Everest View Hotel)
Day 04: Trek to Tengboche (3,800 m)
Day 05: Trek to Pheriche (4,280 m)
Day 06: Trek to Lobuche (4,940 m)
Day 07: Trek to Gorak Shep (5,193 m) & Hike to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)
Day 08: Hike to Kala Patthar (5,550 m) & Trek back to Lobuche
Day 09: Trek down to Tengboche
Day 10: Trek down to Monjo
Day 11: Trek back to Lukla
Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day to Day Itinerary
Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding (2,640 m)
Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)
We set out after breakfast, following the trail along the beautiful Dudh Koshi River up to Jorsalle, where we register your trekking permits. After crossing a high suspension bridge, the trail climbs steeply up to Namche Bazaar, the vibrant Sherpa capital. Namche offers breathtaking views of Kongde Ri and Kusum Kanguru.
Acclimatization In Namche Bazar
This is a dedicated rest and acclimatization day to help your body adapt to the high altitude. After an easy breakfast, we will take a morning hike up to the famous Everest View Hotel. Here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, and other stunning peaks over tea or coffee. We return to the guesthouse for a relaxing afternoon.
Trek to Tengboche (3,800 m)
Today's trail winds along the mountainside before descending into the Dudh Koshi valley. From the river, we make a steady climb through rhododendron forests up to Tengboche. This village is home to the famous, historic Tengboche Monastery. You can visit the monastery in the afternoon and perhaps receive a blessing from the head Lama.
Trek to Pheriche (4,280 m)
As we cross the 4,000-meter mark, the air becomes thinner, and you may find breathing a bit more difficult. This is completely normal, but it means we must trek very slowly and mindfully. Pheriche features a small Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) medical post, where you can attend an altitude awareness lecture or consult experts if needed.
Trek to Lobuche (4,940 m)
Although the physical distance to Lobuche is not very long, the high altitude means we will walk at a slow, steady pace. Every breath requires more effort, but you will be completely rewarded by the spectacular, towering mountain peaks surrounding you. We check into our guesthouse early for maximum rest.
Trek to Gorak Shep (5,193 m) and Hike to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)
This is the big day! We trek to Gorak Shep, check into the guesthouse, and enjoy a quick lunch. After a brief rest, we hike to our main destination: Everest Base Camp. Stand on the glacier, take in the incredible Khumbu Icefall, and celebrate your achievement before heading back to Gorak Shep for dinner and a well-deserved sleep.
Hike to Kala Patthar (5,550 m) and Trek Back to Lobuche
A lifetime memory awaits you today. We wake up before dawn and hike up to Kala Patthar, the highest point of the trek. From here, you will witness a spectacular sunrise over Mt. Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse. After capturing beautiful photos, we hike down to Gorak Shep for breakfast, then begin our return journey by trekking down to Lobuche.
Trek down to Tengboche
Trek down to Monjo
Leaving Tengboche, we descend sharply to the river, climb briefly back through Namche Bazaar, and continue walking down to the quiet village of Monjo, located just outside the national park boundary.
Trek back to Lukla
Today is your final day of walking. We trek back to Lukla to celebrate the completion of your journey. Lukla features several lively Western-style cafes, bars, and pubs. It is a wonderful tradition to invite your guide and porters for a final dinner and drinks to thank them, and distribute their tips.
Fly Back to Kathmandu
Enjoy your final breakfast in the mountains before walking to the Lukla airport. We catch an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, we transfer you to your hotel, and our services come to an end.
Whats Included?
Other
- English speaking trekking guide
- Porter to carry your baggage (1 porter will be provided to carry their personal effects to every 2 paying clients)
- Sagarmatha national park entry fee
- TIMS (trekkers information management system) fee
- Duffle bag and sleeping bag while trekking on request.
Whats not Included?
Not Included
- All the expenses in Kathmandu
- Personal items of clothing
- Guesthouse Lunch and dinner in trekking.
- Insurance including emmergency rescue, lost, damage or etc.
- Tipping to the guide and porter.
Travel Infos
Altitude Sickness & Health
A healthy person with a good fitness level can successfully complete this trek. However, if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, please consult your doctor before booking. Altitude sickness can occur above 4,000 meters. To prevent it, we walk very slowly, stay well-hydrated, and rest. It is mandatory to purchase travel insurance from your home country that explicitly covers emergency helicopter rescue up to 6,000 meters.
Weather and Temperature
Mountain weather changes quickly. Temperatures above 4,000 meters routinely drop below freezing (0∘C) at night throughout the year. In winter, night temperatures can drop as low as −35∘C. In summer/monsoon, daytime temperatures hover around 20∘C but can be cloudy. Please ask us for a current weather update before your departure.
Flight to Lukla and Return
Lukla Airport is located at 2,800 meters and is surrounded by high mountains. Flights are highly dependent on clear weather. Please note that flights can occasionally be delayed or postponed due to bad weather or cloud cover. We highly recommend adding a few buffer days to your international travel plans in case of flight delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
In standard trekking packages, companies include all meal costs in the upfront price, often adding a high markup. Our Economy package covers your flights, permits, guide, and porter services upfront, but lets you pay the guesthouses directly for your meals and rooms. This gives you complete control over your daily budget and saves you money if you prefer simpler meals.
We recommend budgeting around $25 to $35 USD (approximately 3,500 to 4,500 Nepali Rupees) per day to cover your daily accommodation, lunch, dinner, and bottled water on the trail. Keep in mind that prices for food and drinks increase the higher we climb into the mountains.
You don't need to worry about the logistics! Your professional trekking guide will always handle the room bookings ahead of time to secure the best available spots. When you arrive at the guesthouse, you can order your meals directly from their menu, and your guide will ensure the food is prepared fresh, safely, and hygienically. You will settle your bills directly with the guesthouse before checking out.
There are ATMs available in Namche Bazaar (Day 2 and 3), but they can sometimes be out of service due to power or internet issues. There are no reliable ATMs higher up on the trail. Please withdraw enough cash in Nepali Rupees while you are in Kathmandu to cover your entire trek.
Lukla flights are highly dependent on mountain weather and visibility. If flights are delayed or cancelled due to bad weather, we will be in touch to rearrange your schedule. We highly recommend booking your international flights back home with 2 to 3 buffer days after your trek ends to avoid missing your flight if mountain delays occur.
Yes, most guesthouses offer Wi-Fi and electricity charging plugs. However, because electricity is limited in the mountains, the guesthouses charge a small extra fee (approx $2 to $5 USD) for charging phones/cameras or using their internet. We highly suggest bringing a reliable power bank for your phone and camera batteries.
Yes, valid travel insurance is mandatory for this trek. Your policy must explicitly cover high-altitude trekking (up to 5,000 meters) and emergency helicopter evacuation. In case of severe altitude sickness or injury, a helicopter rescue is the only quick way to get you to a hospital in Kathmandu. Please send us a copy of your insurance details before the trek begins.
