Everest Base Camp Trek ( Budget Friendly)

1. Trekking shoes: A good pair of trekking shoes is essential for a comfortable and safe trek. Look for shoes that are sturdy, provide good ankle support, and have a good grip on different types of terrain.
2. Backpack with rain cover (50-60 ltr): A backpack is necessary to carry all your gear. Make sure it's the right size for your trek, and comes with a rain cover to keep your belongings dry in case of rain.
3. Thermals (upper and lower): Thermals are lightweight and comfortable base layers that help regulate your body temperature in cold weather. Bring both upper and lower thermals to keep warm.
4. 3 T-shirts (advisable quick dry): Choose quick-drying T-shirts made from breathable and moisture-wicking materials. This will help keep you cool and dry during your trek.
5. 2 trek pants: Choose lightweight and comfortable trek pants that are easy to move in and can dry quickly if wet.
6. Jacket (-10 degrees): A warm jacket is essential for cold weather. Choose a jacket that is waterproof and windproof, and provides good insulation.
7. Fleece or hood (2): Fleece jackets or hoodies are great mid-layer options to keep warm. Bring at least two, as they can also be used as an extra layer at night.
8. Sunglasses (UV protected): Protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays with sunglasses that are designed for outdoor activities.
9. Sun cap: A sun cap or hat with a brim will protect your face and neck from the sun.
10. Hand gloves: Bring a pair of lightweight gloves to keep your hands warm and protected from wind and sunburn.
11. Woolen cap: A woolen cap will keep your head and ears warm at night or in cold weather.
12. Socks (3 pairs min): Bring at least three pairs of good quality socks that are moisture-wicking and provide good cushioning and support for your feet.
13. Headlamp: A headlamp will come in handy if you're hiking in low-light conditions or need to find your way in the dark.
14. Trekking pole (if needed): Trekking poles can help reduce strain on your legs and provide additional support on steep terrain.
15. Rain cover\poncho: A rain cover or poncho will keep you and your gear dry during unexpected rain showers.
16. Day pack (if you plan to offload your bag): If you plan to offload your backpack during the trek, bring a smaller day pack to carry essentials like water, snacks, and a first aid kit.
17. A toiletry kit: Bring a small kit with personal hygiene items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.
18. Lunchbox, cup, spoon: If you plan to bring your own food, bring a lunchbox, cup, and spoon to carry and eat your meals.
19. 2 one-litter bottles: Staying hydrated is crucial, so bring at least two one-liter bottles to carry water.
20. 2-3 plastic covers to keep your wet or used clothes: Plastic bags are useful for keeping wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest of your belongings. They can also be used to pack out any trash or waste you generate during the trek.

Planning your onward flight/train booking

If you are travelling from India or any other country, book your flight tickets for Day Minus One, which is two days before Day 1 on the itinerary. If your trek start day is 15 September, book your air tickets for 13 September to either Kathmandu on 14 September to Lukla.

Option 1: Fly to Kathmandu and then fly to Lukla

This is the quickest way to reach Lukla. Take a flight to Kathmandu and then another flight to Lukla.

Lukla is a small town with an airstrip that drops off to the valley. There are daily flights in the morning from Kathmandu to Lukla. Flights into Lukla are highly weather-dependent. A cloud covering a mountain ridge can shut down the entire airport! This is why you must book the first flight out of Kathmandu and factor in buffer days in the itinerary.

Tip: If you are reaching Kathmandu early on Day Minus One, you can think of taking a flight on the same day as well. We have seen the notorious airport of Lukla where trekkers have missed flights for two straight days because of weather conditions. This will give you two buffer days in case there is any delay.

Reaching Lukla early will give time for your body to acclimatise better as well.

Option 2: Fly to Kathmandu and then fly to Lukla via Ramechhap

In case a flight from Kathmandu to Luka isn’t working out, your other option to Lukla will be to take a flight from Manthali airport, which is close to Ramechhap.

Take a regular shared cab or bus from Kathmandu to Ramechhap. The duration of the drive is between 5-7 hours. And these modes of transport are almost always available in trekking season.

Tip: The best way is to take a shared Cab from New Bus Park Kathmandu, which cost NPR 500, is much more comfortable than a bus and moves after every one hour.

Option 3: Trek to Lukla on your own

Take this option if you are reaching out more than a week in advance to Kathmandu.

The trek starts from a small village called Jiri which is 7-8 hrs of bus journey from Kathmandu. It is an astounding distance of 56 km and can take anywhere between 4 days to 7 days to reach Lukla.

Again, do this only if you have a lot of time in hand and the required experience and fitness to be able to trek for 16 days after this.

Planning your return flight/train booking

The trek ends at Lukla on Day 17 including a buffer day.

For your return journey, you can again fly back from Lukla to Kathmandu. Or you could fly via Ramechhap.

Taking into account the buffer day: Booking your return tickets requires some thought. First, always book your return ticket keeping in mind the buffer day. The buffer day must be included in your itinerary. If your trek ends on Day 16 do not book your flight/bus tickets for Day 16. Instead, book for Day 17. Day 17 is your buffer day.

Planning your hotel/stay

While booking hotels on your return, always assume book your rooms assuming the buffer day is not being used. Assume the trek is going to run without any hiccups. So what happens if you use your buffer day on the trek? Unfortunately, then you’ll probably lose your hotel booking.

So book hotels where you may not have to transfer money in advance. Even if you do, consider it better than missing out on the trek. In Kathmandu, it is not difficult to find last minute hotel bookings if in case the buffer day is used.