How to trek to EBC on a Budget?

Trekking to EBC

The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most famous trekking adventures in Nepal. It offers magnificent views of the highest peaks in the world- Mt. Everest, unique Sherpa culture, and truly beautiful landscapes of Sagarmatha National Park. The EBC trek generally has two major routes: via Lukla and via Salleri & Surke. 

If you choose to take Lukla flight from Kathmandu or Manthali, you can walk via Lukla town and then to Phakding and some trekkers also go with jeep or bus ride froma Kathmandu to Salleri and then to Surke escaping unpredictable Lukla flights and costly helicopter rides for EBC.

Highlights  of EBC Trek

• Panoramic view of Everest-8,848m, Lhotse-8,516m, Nuptse-7,861m, Ama Dablam-6,812m, Thamserku-6,623m, and more.
• Tengboche Monastery: biggest monastery in the Khumbu region (3,867m).
• Everest View Hotel(3880m) and Namche Bazaar(3400m)
• Kala Patthar: best viewpoint of Everest, 5,545m.
• Sagarmatha National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Expediences of Sherpa culture and traditions in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche.

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18. Salleri to Surke Bus

EBC Trek Route and Duration

Via Lukla:

Distance: 130 km (round trip)

Duration: 12–14 days

Working Hours: 5–7 hours/day

Key Places: Lukla (2,860m) – Namche Bazaar (3,440m) – Tengboche (3,867m) – Dingboche (4,410m) – Lobuche (4,910m) – Gorak Shep (5,164m) – Everest Base Camp (5,364m).

Via Salleri & Surke (Avoiding Lukla Flight):

Distance: 160 km (round trip)

Duration: 15–17 days

Transport: Jeep/bus from Kathmandu to Salleri (10–12 hrs), then again jeep or bus via Surke and link to the main EBC Trek route from Chheplung and then takes the trekkers to Thadokoshi and Ghat and finally to Phakding before heading towards Namche.

Progressive altitude gain; better acclimatization.

Food and Accommodation

Basic meal services like Dal Bhat, noodles, soup, pancakes, and Tibetan bread are available at tea houses. Accommodation: Basic lodges offering twin-sharing rooms with shared washrooms. 

At Namche(3400m) and Dignboche (4400m), one can get suite accommodation and a wide variety of meals on EBC Trek these days.

Trek Difficulty & Preparation Difficulty Level: Strenuous Good physical fitness and previous hiking experience required. 

Best time: March–May & September–November and also pre winter and post winter months like early Dec. and late Feb.

Required Permits & Costs Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit: NPR 3,000-foreigners, NPR 1,500-SAARC nationals Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit: NPR 2,000 

Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (if via Jiri and Salleri): NPR 3,000

But if you are heading directly towards Salleri from Kathmandu without going Jiri via Charikot and then to Surke, you don’t need to pay Gaurisankar Conservation Area Entry Permit.

The EBC trek represents one of the most unforgettable and unique experiences related to mountain sceneries, cultural expressions, and challenging and rewarding trails by stepping at the foot of Everest and exploring grand Sagarmatha National Park. Choosing between Lukla or Salleri depends on cost and adventure preference.

How to trek to EBC on a budget? 

Although budget treks to EBC are quite possible, all you need is careful planning and ways through which you will cut down on costs. Instead of flying to Lukla on an expensive flight, you may seek to travel overland on a jeep or bus to Salleri and then hike or drive up to Surke by jeep or bus in Spring and Winter months, which connects with the EBC main trail from Chheplunk without spending time to ascend to Lukla. This route adds 2-3 days onto the trek but cuts costs substantially as well as allowing you to see the lovely lower Solu region.

To really cut costs, it's possible to independently trek without a guide and porter. One can do EBC trek independently if you are familiar with EBC route and can arrange all accommodation and transportation from the EBC trekking. The trail is well-signposted, and there are many other trekkers around who can give you directions if you get lost. Accommodation in teahouses can be cheap by staying in rooms with other trekkers. 

Most teahouses will provide free or very cheap lodging if you eat your meals there. Food prices go up the higher you go, so carrying some snacks can also help cut down food costs: nuts, energy bars, and instant meals are all easy to carry. Filling up a water bottle and using water purification tablets instead of buying bottled water will also cut costs.

This is your affordable Everest Base Camp Trek, considering a smart usage of the available money, selection of an overland route, and trekking independently. It is still worth taking in great Himalayan sights of EVEREST and other towering summits in Khumbu region of Nepal.

10 Major Tips for Everest Base Camp Trek on a Budget 

EBC is the dream of many, but costs can quickly add up: permits, accommodation, transportation and food all combine to make the expenses on the trail considerable. 

However, there are several ways of making the EBC trek a little more affordable without cutting corners on the experience. Here are ten major tips that help you save money while trekking to EBC. 

1. Avoid flights to Lukla-use jeep or bus to Salleri or Surke

One of the costliest parts of the EBC trek includes flights from Kathmandu to Lukla Flights or flights run one way for about $200 to $270. The flights cost from Ramechhap to Lukla costs USD 185-180 depending on the season and the airlines. 

Take a jeep or a bus to Salleri or Surke from Kathmandu, which will cost about $30-$40. From Surke, one can easily reach Chheplung next to Lukla within two to three days with ease and save much money. Also, this is better acclimatization before entering into high altitudes like Namche and Tengboche. You can avoid ascending Lukla town from Surke if you take jeep or bus ride from Kathmandu and can directly walk to Cheplung and then to Phakding via Ghat and Thadokoshi.

2. Travel in the Off-Season

Spring and autumn are peak trekking seasons, and accommodation, food, and flight prices are also much higher. The best time for saving money: go on Everest trek during the shoulder season, from late November until early December, or from late February until early March. While the weather will be a little colder, it offers cheaper in-lodge rates and fewer crowds on the trails.

You are benefitted in two ways: cheaper foods and accommodation in off-seasons and you can enjoy your time and space without any crowds on the trail and at local lodges.

3. Stay in Teahouses That Offer Free Accommodation for Meals

Most tea houses on EBC Trekking Route offer free or very cheap accommodation if you take all your meals from them. In places like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche, you can even bargain with the owner of a teahouse and promise them that you will have dinner in their facility in lieu of a cheap room. 

This is normal practice and you are likely to save US$5-10 each night. Do not hesitate to bargain and ask for discounts for meals and accommodation on the EBC Trail. 

4. Bring Your Sleeping Bag and Do Not Rent Blankets

Teahouses charge extra for blankets, particularly at higher elevations. Bringing your own sleeping bag (rated at least -10°C to -15°C) eliminates this expense and ensures warmth. Renting a sleeping bag in Kathmandu costs about $1–$2 per day, but buying one for around $50–$80 can be a cost-effective long-term investment.

Don’t buy any gears in Lukla and Namche; it costs double than in Kathmandu. 

5. Refill Water Instead of Buying Bottled Water

Bottled water is increasingly expensive in altitude, getting as high as $3-4 per liter in higher villages like Gorak Shep. Bring a bottle and use your water purification tablets or filter for tap water provided by teahouses. This alone may save up to $50 during the length of the whole Everest trek and may reduce plastic litter significantly.

Be careful while filling up the water from local tap and local lodges/teahouse because it may be contaminated. Purify it properly before drinking it.

6. Purchase Snacks and Essentials in Kathmandu

Food and snacks become really expensive the higher you go up the trail due to transportation costs. Stock up in Kathmandu, where it is a lot cheaper, with energy bars, nuts, and other essentials. A chocolate bar that goes for $1 in Kathmandu will cost $3-$5 in Gorak Shep.

If you buy snacks and other gears in Namche and Lukla, you will be in huge loss and they will charge you double cost there.

7. Join a Group to Share Costs

Although it may be costly to hire a guide or porter, the costs mentioned above can be shared within a group. Many trekkers are in contact through online forums or Facebook groups before going on the trek. Normally, one porter costs $15–$20 per day and one guide costs $25–$30 per day. Thus, sharing the cost of porter and guide will considerably reduce the individual cost.

You can carry your own baggage and trek independently if you want. It is allowed in Khumbu region. You just need permits. 

8. Use Local SIM Cards for Internet Instead of Expensive Lodge Wi-Fi

Internet access via Wi-Fi in teahouses is expensive, costing from $3 to $10 per hour higher up. Instead, you will find it much cheaper to get a local Ncell NT or Everest Link SIM card for around $5 once you arrive in Kathmandu and then purchase a data pack. This way, you can access the internet at much lower costs than through Wi-Fi in teahouses.

9. Go Independent Rather Than Book an Overpriced Package

Most the trekking agencies quote US$ 1,200-2,500 for the EBC trek package. However, independently trekking to EBC will cost you over half the amount quoted by these agencies. Permits cost around US$ 50 (TIMS and Sagarmatha National Park Entry), while food, accommodation, and other daily expenses are around US$ 20-30 per day. If you plan independently, you have more control over your budget. You can carry necessary snacks and lights foods on your own from Kathmandu to make your EBC Trek Budget Friendly.

10. Rent or Buy Second-Hand Trekking Gear

Although completely new trekking gear can be very expensive, there are a lot of shops in Kathmandu, Thamel like Kalapattar Gear Collection offering either second-hand or rentals at a fraction of the cost. Thamel is the best place to find such a deal with most outlets allowing for the renting of items like jackets, trekking poles, and crampons instead of buying them new, saving one hundreds of dollars.

 Final Words

Trekking to Everest Base Camp does not have to be an expensive proposition if you plan it cautiously. One can cut costs at multiple points if planned well and still enjoy this surreal adventure.

First, Everest trek should be undertaken independently rather than through expensive package tours which is allowed now. It is considerably less expensive to hire a guide and porter in Kathmandu or Lukla, rather than through a trekking agency. 

Secondly, it makes much greater financial sense to utilise the extremely low cost teahouses instead of a very luxury lodge. Cheap accommodation options abound and the price can be subject to negotiation on the EBC Trekking Trail.

Thirdly, take a bottle with in-built purification system or boiled water, instead of wasting money and endangering environment by buying bottled water on the EBC Trek Route.

Fourth, eat local food such as dal bhat instead of expensive Western dishes; it provides unlimited refills and the energy needed for trekking. Fifth, avoid flying to Lukla by taking a bus or jeep to Salleri or Phaplu and trekking from there; this reduces flight costs. Sixth, bring all necessary gear for trekking from home or rent/buy second-hand in Kathmandu instead of high prices in Lukla or Namche.

Lastly, do the trek during the off-season when accommodation is cheaper, one should share the rooms with other trekkers, and limit other extra expenses like hot showers or charging fees. By keeping these budget tips in mind, you can have the EBC trek at almost a fraction of the usual price.

Enjoy your Everest Base Camp Trek on a budget and save money for other purporses.