Everest Base Camp Elevation

  • Jun 9, 2023
  • Rajesh Thapaliya

Everest Base Camp (5,364m)

Everest base camp is at the bottom of the world’s highest mountain (Everest). Everest is 8,848m, and its Base Camp's Altitude is 5,364m from sea level. This is the place where the Everest expedition begins. The Everest Base Camp trekking is a highlighted and popular trekking route in Nepal.

This complete trek starts from Kathmandu with a scenic mountain flight to Lukla airport at 2,840m elevation. Day by day, the trek leads to Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar (5,550m) afterward. EBC trekking trail includes high altitude and very high altitudes with its variation of some ascend and descend.

The main route leads with jagged landscapes and ascent altitude. So collecting helpful information about altitude is essential before planning a trek. Basic information about altitude variation and preventing sickness may help in a successful Everest Base Camp Trek. Visiting Everest Base Camp is not very difficult at all.

Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp (5,364m)

Table of Contents

Ascending Elevation in the Everest Base Camp Trek

The Everest Base Camp Exact Elevation is 5,364 meters above sea level. VisitingEverest Base Camp does not mean flying to Lukla and trekking directly to the base camp within a day. Visiting the Base Camp in a few hours is possible by helicopter flying. But flying to Lukla for a few days' treks to Base Camp is a common and popular way. Trekkers take two or at least one acclimatization day for Altitude practice.

As going higher in Elevation, the atmospheric pressure will be increased, and the oxygen level will be less in the air. When people go higher, they feel altitude effects and may suffer from altitude sickness. So it is better to practice altitude before proceeding to a higher level. Here is day by day Altitude variation chart below as trekkers move further.

DayPlaceElevationWalking Hours
1Lukla and Phakding2,840m and Trek to Phakding (2,610m)

3 hrs.

2Namche Bazaar3.440m6-7 hrs.
3

Visit Everest view hotel for acclimatization

3,780m.4 hrs.
4Tengboche3,860m.5-6 hrs.
5Dingboche4,410m.5-6 hrs.
7Acclimatization hike to Nagartsang Hill5,100m.4 hrs.
7Lobuche4,910m.4-5 hrs.
8

Everest base camp via Gorakshep

5,364m (EBC) and 5,180m (Gorakshep)

7-8 hrs in total

The trek descends to Lukla 3 days after visiting these places and flies back to Kathmandu.

Popular Packages

  1. Everest Base Camp Trek
  2. Everest View Trek
  3. Gokyo Lake Trek

Coming from Sea Level and Visiting Such a Higher Elevation

Everest Base Camp Trek
Lukla Airport

Not all countries are at a higher elevation than the average sea level. Some countries are extending up to 200 meters of altitude from sea level. There are even such places also in Nepal.

For the people coming from these places, the altitude of Kathmandu Valley may already be high enough. But there is no chance of altitude sickness. Altitude takes up to 2,840m when people fly toLukla for the Everest base camp trek.

Anyone who is a beginner trekker and has visited for the first time here may feel the altitude somehow. So resting in Kathmandu for at least one day is good before flying to this altitude. Then proceed the trek to Everest.

While trekking on this route, walking slowly and carefully is better. It may not be accessible during the walk, with rocky paths with some ascending trails. Taking short breaks and catching your breath along the way is suitable for altitude.

Doing a short and Easy trek anywhere else before deciding to do the Everest Base Camp is a good idea. It makes walking more accessible, such as a rough trail, weather, climate, and altitude. This practice makes it easier for the Everest trekking route. It also makes usual with changing altitude.

Altitude Sickness Because of Elevation Gain

Mountain Rescue
Mountain Rescue

Coming from sea level to 1,350m in Kathmandu, flying to 2,840m to Lukla, and trekking to the base camp (5,364m) may be a problem with Altitude sickness for first-time visitors in these Elevations. But it will not be a problem for everyone. There are two types of altitude sickness High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). Some people may have one of these or both. It may not be effective for most trekkers by both of them.

HACE affects the brain, which swells with fluids. It causes a physiological effect when people travel to a high altitude. HAPE affects the lungs, which collect fluids in the numerous air sacs and makes breathing difficult.

Altitude Sickness feels normal at the begging, but it may kill people. Specific symptoms are easily found when the problem starts. It's better to consult with the team leader or guide and take action as soon as possible. Be careful if severe headache, vomiting, hard breathing, tiredness while resting, or other unknown changes on the body.

Stay Protected from Altitude Sickness at the High Elevation

  • · Don't frequently think about altitude problem
  • · Drink enough clean water and fluids to prevent dehydration
  • · Do some altitude practice by visiting higher altitudes from where you spend the night
  • · Do not ascend and have rest if the problem starts
  • · Do not walk alone even if you descend downhill walk with someone
  • · If you can't sleep well, do not take any medication to make you sleepy
  • · Have some altitude prevention medication but do not ascend with having medicine with a problem
  • · Take advice from the tour leader or guide

Hiring a Guide and a Porter for the High Altitude

Trekking during the high season in Nepal, especially on the Everest Base Camp trail, is not that difficult to find the path. There are hundreds of trekkers along the way. But if you would like to enjoy your holiday, hiring a guide and a porter is better. If anything happens, the problems are faced by the guide who carries all stuff by the porter, making walking comfortable.

Hiring a Guide and Porter is not difficult and not expensive in Nepal. You can hire online with Frolic Adventure. The guides are helpful, experienced, and friendly. And the porters are robust and honest with their clients. So a guide and porter help to make a successful Everest Base Camp journey for the travelers.

Everest Adventure Tours

  1. Everest High Passes Trek
  2. Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lake Trek
  3. Gokyo Renjo La Pass Trek

Travel Insurance for High Elevation

Travel insurance is the most important fortrekking in High Altitudes in Nepal. Never know what things will happen during traveling. So before proceeding to a trek to the higher elevation, get insured.

The insurance covers up to 2000 meters in general. But planning a trek to EBC must buy a policy that covers up to 6000 meters. Also need to be sure if it covers expenses for sickness, any injury, or an accident. And the most important thing is a quick helicopter evacuation rescue cover check before buying travel insurance with any reliable insurance company.

Conclusion

There are several ways to visit the Everest Base Camp. The elevation affects which way travelers choose and how much time is going to take. The altitude in the Everest region is high. Strolling the catching your breath is the best way to go. Acclimatization and altitude practice is the primary key to avoiding problems.

Doing research before the trek to the EBC is always a brilliant idea. The investigation leads to what to do and what not to do. And know what to expect and prepare well.

Alternatively, there is another short, easy, and not facing the problem of altitude sickness. Take a helicopter flight to the base camp and enjoy the Everest massif. This suits the people who have a short holiday, are physically not prepared to walk in high elevations, and would like to see Everest and base camp.

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Rajesh Thapaliya

Rajesh Thapaliya

Namaste! I am Rajesh, a Nepal travel blogger who provides Nepal travel tips to travellers who are planning to visit Nepal and know about Nepal.

I am a tourism service provider in Nepal So far, I have been to the Nepalese Himalayan base camps as a tour leader and collected lots of information about the Nepalese Himalayas. You can find my experiences in my travel blogs, so it may make it a lot easier for you to travel to Nepal.

You may find beautiful photos on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter. I have worked very hard to be in this stage after high school and dedicated my experiences to the people who would like to know about Nepal and Nepal travel.