Everest Base Camp Trek

Important Information About This Tour:

This is a hosted group departure by Ariane Henry for Wanderlust Journey clients in partnership with G Adventures.

Gratuities for guides and porters are not included. No meals are included in this tour. Allow $400-500 USD for meals not included.

Travel Style: Active

Service Level: Basic

Simple and clean hotels and teahouses.

Physical Rating: 5 - Challenging

Serious high-altitude hiking or other instances of heavy exercise.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Maximum of 15 guests

Tour Accommodation

A tea house is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. Private rooms are available in most tea houses, except for high altitudes ones where it will be just dormitories. The lodges are fairly basic. The rooms are sparse with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Blankets are generally provided. Most bathrooms are shared and toilets can be either squat type or western style. Most tea houses have running water. The majority of tea houses only have cold showers, a few may have hot water available at an additional cost. However, we discourage our groups from using water heated by wood, as lack of firewood in villages is a big environmental concern in Nepal.

There is a large dining room-cum-lounge, warmed by the bukhara stove (an iron cylinder, fitted with a chimney duct, in which a log fire is lighted). There is normally no electric lighting in the rooms unless the village has hydroelectric power. The dining room usually has solar lighting. Some tea houses now also have electricity for charging small appliances - mobile phones and cameras - and there may be a small charge for this.

During a tea house trek you will usually have breakfast and dinner at the tea house, lunch will be eaten at one of the trail side restaurants. Every tea house serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), as well as a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. Some have Nepali versions of western food such as pizza, pasta and french fries. Soft drinks, snacks and beer are available in most of the tea houses and trail side restaurants. And, of course, Nepali milk tea is served everywhere.

All tea houses have boiled water for trekkers. We discourage the purchase of bottled water while on the trail. The plastic bottles are difficult to dispose off and have become an environmental problem.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available at many teahouses and lodges along the Everest Base Camp Trek, especially in larger villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche. While connectivity is increasingly common, the quality and speed can vary greatly and tend to decrease the higher you go. Most accommodations charge for access, typically between $3 to $10 USD per hour or per device. Some trekkers choose to buy an Everest Link Wi-Fi card, which offers prepaid access at various points along the trail, or purchase a local SIM card with data from providers like Ncell or Nepal Telecom. That said, internet access is best suited for basic communication, as streaming and large file downloads are often impractical. It's wise to manage expectations and enjoy the digital detox that trekking in the Himalayas naturally offers.

Charging Devices

Charging electronic devices on the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek is possible at most teahouses and lodges, but it often comes with an additional cost and again, limited availability. In lower villages like Lukla and Namche Bazaar, you’ll typically find outlets in rooms or communal areas, sometimes included in the room rate. However, as you ascend higher, especially beyond Dingboche, charging stations become scarce and more expensive—ranging from $3 to $10 USD per hour or per device. Power is usually generated by solar panels or small hydroelectric systems, which can be inconsistent, especially in bad weather. To stay powered up, many trekkers bring portable power banks or solar chargers as backups. It’s also a good idea to keep devices off or in airplane mode to conserve battery when not in use.

Tipping

It is customary in Asia to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $1-$2 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for porters during the trekking portion of your trip, the recommended amount is 300-500Rs ($4-7USD) per day; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-30 USD per person, per week can be used.