EBC trek and helicopter

Absolutely! You should never do a high-altitude trek without traveller's insurance. At the very minimum, you should take out medical insurance, which includes helicopter evacuation. Also, the Government of Nepal won't grant you a trek permit without proof of traveller's insurance.

We discuss the type of traveller's insurance you should take out in more detail in Everest Base Camp trek cost.

The easiest and most direct way to reach the start of the Everest Base Camp trail, which is in the town of Lukla, is to take a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport.

Yes and no. The trek isn't dangerous if done under the guidance of a local guide who knows the route well and also keeps a close eye on the weather. The trail is reasonably safe, while still being a mountainous path. But this isn't a technical route, so there's no rock climbing or anything like that. The biggest dangers are the extreme weather and the high altitude. You need to bring the proper clothing and equipment to keep warm and dry, and you need to include at least one acclimatisation day during your ascent to avoid altitude sickness.

Yes, most definitely. But it's also totally doable. There are no technical elements, so it's just about having good fitness and determination. We do recommend bringing trekking poles to help you manage the rocky and uneven sections of the trail.

Nepal's currency is the Nepali rupee, abbreviated to Rs or NPR. Note that the NPR is a closed currency: you cannot get your hands on it outside of Nepal. Fortunately you can exchange major currencies for NPR at Kathmandu Airport, or you can draw some of the local currency from an ATM.

Those trekking the Everest Base Camp route must bring: hardy, worn-in hiking boots; a winter jacket made with a quality insulating material like down; thermal under-garments; a four-season sleeping bag; and a daypack with a hydration bladder. You should also bring a duffel bag for the bulk of your belongings – you give this to a porter to carry.

For a full list of what to pack, please read Everest Base Camp packing list.

Altitude sickness is the body reacting badly to being made to go too high too quickly. The higher we climb, the fewer oxygen molecules we breathe in per breath. Our bodies find it hard to function properly with less oxygen, and need adequate time to adapt. Symptoms of altitude sickness include nausea, vertigo, headaches and sleeplessness. Severe altitude sickness can be fatal.

Anything above 3,000 m can lead to altitude sickness, and we climb well above 5,000 m on the Everest Base Camp trek! So this is something to be taken seriously.

Please read more about the sickness and how to try prevent it in How hard is Everest Base Camp?

None. That said, you might like to visit your doctor before international travel for personalised advice. We can also recommend Fit for Travel as a good resource for health and safety advice.

Peak seasons along the Everest Base Camp trail are late September to November, and March to May. These months see little rain, aren't as cold as others, and usually offer good visibility. But given its increased popularity in recent years, the EBC trek can be quite crowded during peak seasons; as many as 500 individuals can set out on the trek route each day!

Learn more about the different months and their conditions in Best time to trek Everest Base Camp.