Everest Base Camp cost: why USD 999 and 1,800 end up closer than they look

The list prices: 19 products, eight with tiers

From the availability data of the Viator Partner API of 25 September 2026, price in US dollars per person. Eight operators tier by number of travellers, the others have one price. The column “what is missing” names only the big items – the full list is in the comparison on the main page.

List prices USD per person, as of 25 September 2026. “From 4–10”: lowest tier. Blocked products (Mosaic, Great Adventure, Pariwar) not listed.

What the cheap packages leave out – and what it costs

Lukla flight: around USD 180 to 230 each way for foreigners at market rates, so around 400 round trip – excluded with Accessible Adventure, unclear with Green Valley. Porter: Outfitter names USD 20 a day, which is also the usual rate – USD 220 for eleven days, shared by two guests 110. Plus the tip. Meals: in the lodges a dal bhat costs USD 5 to 10, more higher up; three meals a day around 30 to 40, eleven days 350 to 450 – that is the item Nepal Nirvana and Luxury Holidays leave out, Sunrise two thirds of it, Himalayan Recreation one third. Accommodation: lodge rooms cost USD 5 to 15, more in Gorak Shep; often cheap if you eat there. Permits: Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu municipality fee together around USD 40 to 45 – not documented in the product data, guide figure. Kathmandu hotel: 3-star in Thamel USD 30 to 60 per night.

Add it up and Himalayan Recreation's USD 999 package with lunch, half a porter and permits costs around 1,250 – and Nepal Nirvana with lodges and food around 1,500. The gap to Ace shrinks from 800 to 300–550 dollars. What remains is the difference in water filter, fruit, duffel, reviews – and in the risk that “not mentioned” means “not included” on the ground.

Total for one person

Fourteen days from and to Kathmandu, without the long-haul flight. Question marks mean: not in the product data, guide figure from operator texts and usual rates. Tips: USD 15 to 20 per day for the guide, 8 to 10 for the porter, shared by the group – for two guests around USD 150 to 200 per person. Insurance with helicopter rescue to 6,000 m: USD 100 to 150 for two weeks. Visa: 30 days on arrival, Nepal Hiking Team names USD 40, currently it is 50. On the mountain: water USD 1 to 4 per litre, hot shower 4 to 8, charging 2 to 5 per device, Wi-Fi 5 to 10 – together around USD 150 to 250 for eleven days.

Rounded values, guide figures with question marks. Long-haul flight to Kathmandu not included. Base price plus known mandatory costs. Items marked “?” are not quantified but still real.

The extras on the mountain: why cash has to come along

After Namche there is no ATM, and everything not in the package is paid in cash in rupees: water, tea, Coke, Snickers, hot shower, socket, Wi-Fi card, a second pillow. Prices rise with altitude because everything comes up on backs or yaks – a litre of water costs one dollar in Lukla and four in Gorak Shep. If you filter or purify water you save USD 50 to 80 over eleven days; Ace supplies filtered water, Scenic expressly excludes “purification supplies”. Expect USD 15 to 25 a day for extras, more if you shower every evening. And take USD 200 to 300 in reserve in rupees in case the return flight is cancelled and the lodge in Lukla lasts a night longer.

Questions about cost and inclusions

Sources and check status