• Raj Kumar Basnet
  • Last Updated on Mar 9, 2024

There is a solid reason why Trekking to Everest Base Camp is on many tourists' bucket lists. Adventuresome hikers can reach the base of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, by taking the there-and-back route (also known as the Sagarmatha or Chomolungma in Tibetan).

Everest is a famous feat that requires enormous sacrifices to reach its peak. While Base Camp, at 5,400 meters, is no joke, it does provide a far more doable objective for people from many walks of life who nonetheless wish to see the highest mountain in the world.

Indian passport holders are increasingly taking up the trek to Everest Base Camp. As close neighbors, Nepal and India enjoy special access privileges, shared cultural affinities, and discounts on a range of activities, including the overall trek experience.

For Indians, the Everest Base Camp is significantly less expensive than it is for most other nations. To begin with, Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal, and there are numerous methods to reach Kathmandu. One can use ground transportation or even bring their automobile if taking a flight is pricey.

In this article, we discuss how you can get cheaper or budget alternatives for your ultimate adventure to Everest Base Camp!

Table of Contents

Cheaper can also be Better

Indian passport holders have an advantage during their Everest Base Camp trip since their permit and travel costs are reduced by a third. The cost is much lower even if the cost of meals and lodging is the same.

Eight official immigration checkpoints are operating along Nepal and India's open border, which is 800 km long from east to west and is used by locals on both sides of the border. Even so, the majority of Indians can take trains to Gorakhpur Junction, New Jalpaiguri, Jogbani, and Raxaul Junction before taking buses, jeeps, or cars to the closest border. The public transportation, including the deluxe and microbuses, frequently leave from close to the border and towards Kathmandu. Depending on the travel journey, leisure days, and acclimatization days you select, the trek can be customized to last anywhere between 9 and 20 days!

Follow the Standard Everest Base Camp Route

If you take the most direct path, the EBC trek is 65 kilometres each way. This route follows a classic trail to the base camp. Sagarmatha National Park is the setting for most of the trek. The trail begins in a scenic, lush, forested area before ascending into a harsh, rain-shadow region.

An exciting flight from Kathmandu to Lukla marks the beginning of our mountainous expedition. Starting in Lukla, the trek route takes you to the many small settlements in the Everest zone. As soon as you arrive in Lukla, we will begin our journey to Phakding. We hike from Phakding to Namche Bazaar, a bustling marketplace. Namche is a fantastic tourist destination with lots of places to acclimate. Before starting the trek to Everest Base Camp again, you will spend a day acclimatizing in Namche.

Then, after a day of acclimatization in Dingboche, we will walk to the Tengboche hamlet villages. The following day, you'll hike from Dingboche to Lobuche. Then, across the frozen Gorakshep sand bed, we reach the magnificent Everest Base Camp.

One of the lengthiest stretches of our hike is from Pheriche to Namche. As we return from Namche to Lukla, our trek will come to a conclusion. After an exciting journey from Lukla to Kathmandu, we will return to celebrate the accomplishment of our trek that evening.

EBC Trek Itinerary for Indian 2024

Day 1: Kathmandu - Lukla - Phakding

Day 2: Phakding - Namche Bazaar

Day 3: Rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization

Day 4: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tyangboche

Day 5: Trek from Tyangboche to Dingboche

Day 6: Rest day at Dingboche for acclimatization

Day 7: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche

Day 8: Trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp via Gorakshep and return to Gorekshep

Day 9: Trek from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar and trek to Pheriche

Day 10: Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Day 12: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel

Everest Base Camp Trip Price for Indian Passport Holders:

  • A Single Person Trip Cost: 85,000.00 Indian Rupees (only for Indian)
  • 2 to 6 Persons Trip Cost: 76,000.00 Indian Rupees Per Person (only for Indian)
  • 7 to 10 people Trip Cost: 69,500.00 Indian Rupees per person (only for Indian)

Trip Cost Includes:

  • Domestic airport transfers.
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) on trek.
  • Accommodation in lodges on trek.
  • Well Engligh and Hindi Speaking guide .
  • Paperwork such as National park entry and TIMS permits.
  • Flight fare Kathmandu - Lukla - Kathmandu (inclusive of airport tax)
  • Sleeping bag, down jackets and duffle bag – if NECESSARY (return after the trek)
  • Seasonal fruits after dinner as a dessert.
  • Well-equipped first aid kit, oximeter
  • All the government Tax, Vat, and service charges.
  • Farewell dinner on the last night in Kathmandu.
  • Trip Achievement Awards for your lifetime memories.
  • In case of emergency: A helicopter service will be arranged and paid through your travel insurance

Trip Cost Includes

  • Nepal entry visa fee (you may easily issue the visa upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport - Kathmandu).
  • Your Travel insurance (compulsory).
  • Your personal expenses, drink water, hot and cold drinks & bar bills.
  • Laundry, telephone, hot shower & internet charge.
  • Porter to carry your luggage during the trek (if you require a porter to carry your stuff, it will cost you 13,500.00 INR each porter and 1 porter for 2 trekkers; the porter has a 20-22kg weight limit)
  • Tips for the guide and porters.
  • Anything not mentioned in included section.

Customizing Everest Base Camp Itinerary and Trek Costs for Indian Passport Holders

When it comes to organizing the most affordable and dependable trip, our team is constantly looking ahead. We tailor the package to your needs and at the most affordable price. We will prepare any plan to work best for you, from all-inclusive packages to need-based customized trips.

There are certain ways in which you can reduce the trek budget for Everest Base Camp, without making the journey uncomfortable. Here are some ways:

Trekking with a Group

Trekking with a group is for someone who has limited time to plan their trek and wants to go on a well-planned trip. This way you can make new friends, or get assistance during emergencies.

The high cost and limited adaptability are its drawbacks, though. You can't pick your services, and the departure dates and routes are set. Likewise, as altitude affects people differently, it is frequently necessary to keep up with the group's speed to avoid developing AMS.

The plus point is that, when you are trekking in a group, the costs of the services is divided, making your trip comparatively cheaper. You can also entertain yourself with the services of guides and porters. Having extra hands on deck means you do not have to carry heavy loads, thus, making your journey less challenging.

Trekking without porter

When you are trekking with a private tour company like ours, we keep your safety the utmost priority. Thus, the trek that we organize are guided treks. However, if you have a limited budget, we advise you not to hire a porter for your journey. This way, you can save some money on the daily fare of the porters along with tips! Considering you’re up in the mountains for at least 12 days, that is a huge saving!

Accommodation

Another great way you can save yourself some money is by customizing your accommodation during your stay in Kathmandu. On our standard package, we accommodate our guests at 3-star deluxe hotels. The per night cost of staying in luxurious hotels is quite expensive. If you wish to make a budget cost for your accommodation, we can recommend modest hotels which provide comfortable service. Or, you can also arrange accommodation by yourself, independently, on your terms. This way, your EBC trek cost will be reduced by a large sum.

Transportation and Flight Fare

First and foremost, the transportation cost for Indian passport holders is way cheaper compared to foreigners from other countries. Your flight to Lukla will cost around the same as it would cost a Nepali citizen. That way, your flight to and from Lukla is already cheaper. The other way to make some budget cuts without making your journey challenging is by taking your transport to and from the international airport in Kathmandu. If you can customize transportation by yourself, it might be much cheaper for you. You can also take a local public bus to and from the airport, which is more affordable than hiring a private service.

Permit and Entrance Fees

The permit and entrance fee for trekking in the Everest region for an Indian passport holder are comparatively cheaper compared to foreigners of other nationalities. You must know this information. If you are to arrange your permits by yourself, then it might be cheaper for you in contrast to doing it from a tour operator. Usually, tour operators arrange the permits, and you need not move a muscle for it. The cost can be included on the package trek. However, if you want to arrange the permits by yourself, these are the cost:

KHUMBU PASANG LHAMU RURAL MUNICIPALITY ENTRANCE PERMIT

For your trek to Everest Base Camp, a Khumbu entrance permit is one of the first things you'll need. When you enter the Everest region, you will be requested to display it.

Entrance Permit Fee for Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality: US$20 per person or, on average, NPR 2000 per person.

No matter the person's nationality, the fee for this permit is the same for everyone.

SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK PERMIT

Permit Cost for SAARC Countries: Approximately US$ 15 or NPR 1,500

GAURISHANKAR CONSERVATION AREA PERMIT

You have two options for how to start your EBC journey: by air or by land. To begin this journey if you choose the latter, you must get to Jiri or Salleri.

The Salleri and Jiri to Everest Base Camp both need a few extra days of trekking, and parts of this well-liked substitute are located within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area. So, if you intend to hike along this route, you also need permission to enter this conservation area.

Permit Cost for SAARC Countries: Approximately US$ 10 or NPR 1,000

TIMS (TREKKERS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)

You require the TIMS card if you intend to venture off the main trail during your EBC Trek. There are two types of TIMS cards: one is for organized trekkers and the other is for independent trekkers.

Independent Trekker: The card is a shade of green.

Cost: Around US$ 20 (approximately NPR 2000) per person.

Organized Trekker

The color of the card is blue.

Cost: Around US$ 10 or NPR 1000 per person.

We hope that we were able to provide you with detailed information regarding how you can cut back your trek cost via this blog article. Happy trekking!

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Raj Kumar Basnet

Raj Kumar Basnet

Hello, Hi & Namaste Everyone !

Raj Kumar Basnet holds more than two decades of travelling experience in different regions of Nepal. He has trekked in both popular and off-the-beaten-path Nepali trekking trails which have allowed him to gain expertise in tourism. With years of field experience under his belt, he is now concentrating on sharing as much of his tourism knowledge as possible. Now, the co-owner of Outfitter Nepal, he hopes that the knowledge he’s gained over the years would deem helpful for the travellers visiting Nepal!

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