Everest Base Camp Trek Accommodation
The Everest Base Camp trek is one of the major attractions for trekkers worldwide in Nepal. The trek lasts 12 to 14 days, so you must understand the Everest Base Camp trek accommodation. Choosing the right accommodation is important, as you will be physically and mentally exhausted after a long day and need a place to rest and sleep.
You can find different comfortable accommodations along the trail, from tea houses to luxurious lodges. However, you will get minimal facilities, so do not have high expectations for the facilities. This guide will provide different accommodation options for the Everest Base camp trek that help trekkers plan a comfortable journey in the Everest region.
Types of Everest Base Camp Trek Accommodation
Tea House accommodation
Tea Houses are the basic lodges where you stay during the Everest Base Camp Trek. They are built and managed by local villagers. Tea houses are common accommodations that provide rest facilities during the trek. They allow you to encounter the traditions and culture of the local people. You can get a twin shared bedroom with no attached bathroom, where you will be provided with a mattress, pillow, sheets, and blankets.
You can also find basic furniture like tables, chairs, or tools. Now, talking about toilets and bathrooms, tea houses have Western-style toilets in the lower region, and as you get higher, there will be a squat toilet. Tea houses are budget-friendly, and you can experience and immerse yourself in the local culture and traditions. The normal cost of Tea houses for a room is around 700 to 1000 rupees. For those looking for budget-friendly accommodation, tea houses are suitable for them.
Luxury Lodges accommodation
There is limited availability of Luxury Lodges for the Everest Base Camp trek. These accommodations offer luxury rooms with premium services. They provide high-class facilities like attached bathrooms, hot showers, WiFi, and comfortable beds. Luxury accommodations are expensive for people on a low budget, so only a few visitors are interested. During the peak season, you must pre-book a room because of the high crowds and limited availability of these services. The price for luxury lodge accommodation starts from $50. Your stay during the Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek will be at luxury lodges.
Home Stay accommodation
Home Stay accommodation is the type of accommodation where you stay in the home of local people. Homestay allows the trekkers to meet the Sherpa families and live with their local culture and traditions. They get to explore the mountainous life of the sherpa communities. There’s no availability of the menu section in the food. The food is prepared with locally available ingredients. They served food like Dal(pulses), Bhat(rice), vegetables, local bread, and potato dishes.
Camping Accommodation
You can also get Camping accommodation along the Everest Base Camp trek. EBC is a popular and highly crowded trek throughout the year, so there is easy access to tea houses and hotels where you can get comfortable beds with basic facilities. The camp trek is considered challenging and not so popular among the trekkers. But if you are a nature and adventure enthusiast, you can choose the Camping trek.
But you need a permit and a trekking agency. The agency will provide you with a guide, porter, and cooking staff for your convenience. You will have a great experience with a camping trek to Everest Base Camp. Camping is suitable for remote area treks like Dhaulagiri, Dolpo, and Kanchanjunga. However, camping accommodation is generally more expensive than teahouse accommodation.
Accommodation by trekking routes
Lukla
Lukla is the starting point of the EBC trek in the Khumbu region. You can find basic tea houses, normal lodges, and luxurious hotels in Lukla. As it is the starting point of the trek, many people do not stay here at night. But it is also the ending point of the trek; people stay here on the last night of the trek. You can get some premium facilities like private rooms, hot showers, WiFi, private rooms, attached bathrooms, balcony rooms, dining, etc.
Phakding
Phakding is the first overnight stay of the EBC trek. It offers accommodation facilities similar to Lukla. Room pre-booking is also available in Phakding. Both budget-friendly and expensive accommodations are available here. Basic teahouses and luxury lodges can be found here, but they are limited in availability. The hotels provide a great view of nature.
Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is the biggest commercial town in the Everest region, at 3440m above sea level. Trekkers will likely spend the three nights here, including the acclimatization days. There are more than 50 hotels, including basic tea houses to five-star hotels. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can get twin beds or deluxe rooms. You can get various food options, including local and international cuisines.
Tengboche
After getting to Tengboche, you will have a real trekking experience with the limited teahouses and basic facilities. A few teahouses offer twin bedrooms with shared bathrooms. You need to pay extra for hot showers. The food price gets higher, and it also has a few cafes.
But you can get some scenic views from the teahouses. The famous Tengboche Monastery(3867m), which is the largest monastery in the Everest region, is located here, and many trekkers join the morning prayer in the monastery.
Dingboche
Dingboche is the second acclimatization stop, where trekkers spend two nights. It offers basic accommodation on the Everest base camp trek. There are a few available teahouses in Dingboche with basic facilities. In the peak seasons of Spring and Autumn, the teahouses are fully occupied, and you have to share the bed. So, it is recommended that you pre-book your accommodation in Dingboche.
Lobuche
Due to the high altitude and rugged mountain environment, there are limited accommodation options in Lobuche. There are a limited number of houses and hotels that provide basic facilities. Southwest of Lobuche, a camping area is also for people willing to experience a camp stay. You can still find WiFi facilities, but they are relatively slow. A hot shower costs an extra penny. It is difficult to find accommodation at Everest base camp in the peak season of the trek.
Gorak Shep
Gorak Shep is the last stop before the EBC. There is no further human settlement along the Everest Base Camp trek route. There are very few tea houses and lodges available in Gorak Shep. In the peak season, there are many trekkers, so finding rooms could be challenging. The price for the accommodation is generally high. The temperature is freezing cold, which makes the trek more difficult.
Tips for Choosing Accommodation
- Book your accommodation early. Tea houses and hotels have limited options, and finding rooms during the peak trekking season is challenging.
- Check reviews of the accommodation facilities of the tea houses and hotels. Check for the services they provide.
- Be flexible with the basic services. Do not expect much; services could be basic as you ascend to a higher altitude.
- Bring essentials such as sleeping bags, warm clothing, power banks, and toilet paper rolls. These may not be available at the highest point of the trek.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Everest Base Camp trek provides you with warm and comfortable accommodations. You should choose the right accommodation to make your trek memorable. You can find tea houses and hotels according to your budget in the lower region. However, as you hike higher altitudes, you should consider pre-booking a room because it will be challenging to find a room at a higher altitude due to limited availability.
So, before embarking on the Everest Base Camp trek, plan well, search for the best accommodation facilities, and embrace the adventure.