Everest Base Camp Permits 2026: Costs & How to Get Them

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The good news about Everest Base Camp paperwork is that it is simpler than most trekking blogs make it sound. In 2026 a foreign trekker on the classic Lukla–EBC route needs just two permits, costing NPR 6,000 in total. There is no TIMS card for the Khumbu, and unlike most of Nepal, the Everest region is exempt from the new mandatory-guide rule. This guide explains each permit, where to buy it, what it costs, what documents you need, and which other fees (flights, visa, insurance) belong in a realistic budget.

Want the numbers for your exact group? Use our Nepal trek permit cost calculator, which adds up official fees for Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Tsum and Upper Mustang in one click.

Quick answer: EBC permit costs in 2026

Those are the only permits. Flights, the Nepal visa and insurance are separate costs, covered below.

Permit 1: Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000)

Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Kala Patthar and almost every famous viewpoint in the region sit inside Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every foreign visitor must pay the park entry fee. The rate for foreign nationals is NPR 3,000 per person per entry; SAARC nationals pay a lower rate (check the Nepal Tourism Board for the current SAARC figure before you travel).

Where to buy it

• At the park entrance in Monjo, roughly a day’s walk above Lukla. This is the most common option for independent trekkers: you queue at the checkpost, show your passport and pay in rupees.
• In Kathmandu, at the Nepal Tourism Board office. Useful if you want everything sorted before you fly, but it means a trip across town on an already busy arrival day.

Keep the permit somewhere dry and easy to reach. It is checked at Monjo and can be checked again at other posts on the trail.

Permit 2: Khumbu Pasang Lhamu trek card (NPR 3,000)

The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the local government for the Everest region, issues its own trek card. It replaced the TIMS card for this area, so if someone in Kathmandu tells you that you need TIMS for EBC, that information is out of date. According to the municipality’s trek card page, the fee is NPR 3,000 per person.

Where to buy it

The card is not sold in Kathmandu. You buy it on arrival in Lukla (there is a counter on the main trail just out of the airport area) or at Monjo if you came in on foot from Jiri, Salleri or Phaplu. Bring your passport and cash.

Do you need a guide for Everest Base Camp in 2026?

No, not legally. In 2023 Nepal introduced a rule requiring foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to hire a licensed guide. The Khumbu local government did not adopt it, and independent trekking in the Everest region has remained allowed. Reporting at the time, for example in The Himalayan Times and on Explorersweb (“Solo trekking banned in Nepal, except around Everest”), described the exemption.

That said, “not required” is not the same as “not recommended.” A guide or porter-guide helps with altitude pacing, teahouse bookings in peak season and decisions on bad-weather days. If you are trekking for the first time at altitude, or in winter or monsoon, hiring one is a sensible safety call. Rules in Nepal do change, so confirm the current position with the Nepal Tourism Board shortly before you go.

Important: if you add a side trip or a different route that leaves the Khumbu (for example linking towards the Makalu region or using some longer routes), guide rules and extra permits can apply. Check the specific area using our permit calculator.

Documents to carry

• Passport with your Nepal visa. Both permit counters want to see it.
• Photocopies of your passport and visa page, in case a checkpost asks for one.
• Cash in Nepali rupees. Fees are priced in NPR. Cards are not reliably accepted on the trail, and ATMs in Lukla and Namche can run out or go offline. Withdraw in Kathmandu.
• Travel insurance details that cover trekking at altitude and helicopter evacuation (more below).

Step by step: getting your EBC permits

1. Get your Nepal visa. Most visitors get it on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. See our Nepal visa on arrival guide for the fees and the process.
2. Withdraw rupees in Kathmandu. Budget at least NPR 6,000 per person for the two permits, plus cash for teahouses.
3. (Optional) Buy the national park permit in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office if you want it done in advance.
4. Fly to Lukla (from Kathmandu or, in busy seasons, from Ramechhap/Manthali).
5. Buy the Khumbu trek card in Lukla.
6. Buy (or show) the Sagarmatha National Park permit at Monjo.
7. Keep both permits with you until you are back in Lukla.

The other costs that are not permits

Permits are the smallest line in an EBC budget. Here is what else you should plan for, with official figures where they exist.

Nepal tourist visa

Official fees from the Department of Immigration: USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days (multiple entry). A classic EBC trek takes around two weeks on the trail, so with buffer days for Lukla weather most trekkers need the 30-day visa.

Lukla flights

The published foreigner fare schedule effective 3 August 2026 lists Kathmandu–Lukla at USD 254 one way and Ramechhap–Lukla at USD 197.09 one way. We read this from a copy of the domestic fare schedule hosted by a third party, not the airlines’ own site, so confirm the fare with your airline when you book. Fares are per person and per direction, so a return roughly doubles them. Lukla flights are frequently delayed by weather, so build in at least one or two spare days at the end of your trip.

Teahouses, food and guides

Rooms, meals, hot showers, charging and Wi‑Fi are paid on the trail and rise steadily with altitude. Prices vary by season and village, and we don’t publish figures we can’t verify, so ask your teahouse or agency for current rates. Guide and porter wages are likewise agreed directly. Get the daily rate, what it includes (their food, lodging, insurance) and the tip expectations in writing.

Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation

Standard travel policies often exclude trekking above a certain altitude. EBC sits at about 5,364 m and Kala Patthar at about 5,545 m, so read the altitude clause and make sure helicopter rescue is covered. You can compare policies that list high-altitude trekking cover through Insubuy.

Mobile data

Coverage on the trail is patchy above Namche, but having data in Kathmandu and the lower valley makes flight-delay rebooking much easier. A travel eSIM such as Airalo’s Nepal plans can be installed before you leave home.

Airport transfer in Kathmandu

If you arrive late or have heavy trekking bags, a pre-booked transfer from Tribhuvan International Airport to Thamel saves haggling at the taxi rank. You can book a fixed-price airport transfer with Kiwitaxi.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying for a TIMS card for EBC. It isn’t needed in the Khumbu.
• Trying to buy the Khumbu trek card in Kathmandu. It’s only sold in Lukla or Monjo.
• Arriving with only dollars or cards. Permit fees are in rupees.
• Booking your international flight home the day after your Lukla flight. Weather delays are common, so leave buffer days.
• Getting the 15-day visa. It usually isn’t enough for EBC with acclimatisation days.
• Assuming the guide exemption covers every route. It applies to the Khumbu. Other regions have different rules.

How EBC compares with other Nepal treks

EBC is one of the cheapest major treks on permits alone. Restricted areas such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Tsum Valley carry special permit fees, often charged per week or per day, and need a licensed guide and a minimum group size. Annapurna and Langtang use conservation area or national park entry fees. Use the VTourBook permit cost calculator to compare totals side by side for your group size and season.

Still deciding whether EBC is right for you? Read our honest take: Is the Everest Base Camp trek worth it?

FAQ: Everest Base Camp permits

How much are Everest Base Camp permits in 2026?

For foreign nationals, NPR 6,000 in total: NPR 3,000 for the Sagarmatha National Park permit and NPR 3,000 for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality trek card.

Do I need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?

No. The Khumbu region uses the local municipality trek card instead of TIMS.

Can I trek to Everest Base Camp without a guide?

Yes. The Khumbu is exempt from Nepal’s mandatory-guide rule for foreign trekkers. Confirm before travel, as rules can change.

Can I get EBC permits online?

Not officially as a single online permit. You buy the trek card in Lukla or Monjo and the park permit in Monjo or at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. Agencies can arrange them for you as part of a package.

Do the same permits cover Gokyo and Kala Patthar?

Gokyo Lakes, Kala Patthar and the standard side trips are inside Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu municipality, so the same two permits apply. Climbing a trekking peak (such as Island Peak) needs a separate climbing permit.

Sources

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, trek card: khumbupasanglhamumun.gov.np
• Nepal Tourism Board: ntb.gov.np
• Department of Immigration, visa fees: immigration.gov.np
• Domestic air fare schedule (foreigners) effective 3 August 2026. This is a secondary copy, so confirm with your airline.
• Reporting on the guide exemption: The Himalayan Times; Explorersweb.

Fees checked on 22 October 2026. Nepal revises fees from time to time, so always confirm at the counter.