Everest Base Camp (South) sits at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) above sea level on the Khumbu Glacier in Nepal. The North Base Camp on the Tibet side is lower at 5,150 meters (16,900 feet). If you are trekking from Lukla, you will gain roughly 2,500 meters of elevation over 8 to 9 walking days before reaching the South Base Camp inside Sagarmatha National Park.

That single number, 5,364m, shapes everything about this trek: how many acclimatization days you need, what gear to carry, how your body will respond, and whether you will enjoy the experience or suffer through it. We walk clients to EBC year-round, and the elevation is the factor that separates a good trek from a miserable one.

How High Is Everest Base Camp Compared to Other Landmarks?

Putting 5,364 meters in context helps. Kathmandu sits at 1,400 meters. Lukla, where most trekkers fly in, is at 2,846 meters. Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa trading town where we schedule the first full acclimatization day, is at 3,440 meters.

Here is how EBC compares to other well-known high altitude locations around the world.

Location	Elevation
Kathmandu, Nepal	1,400m (4,593 ft)
Cusco, Peru	3,399m (11,152 ft)
La Paz, Bolivia	3,640m (11,942 ft)
Namche Bazaar, Nepal	3,440m (11,286 ft)
Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal	4,130m (13,549 ft)
Everest Base Camp (South), Nepal	5,364m (17,598 ft)
Everest Base Camp (North), Tibet	5,150m (16,900 ft)
Kala Patthar viewpoint	5,545m (18,192 ft)
Summit of Mont Blanc	4,809m (15,774 ft)
Summit of Kilimanjaro	5,895m (19,341 ft)

EBC is higher than the summit of Mont Blanc and only about 500 meters lower than the top of Kilimanjaro. Most trekkers do not realize this until they feel it.

What Is the Elevation Gain Day by Day on the EBC Trek?

The standard 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek from Lukla follows a carefully staged altitude profile. We use this itinerary because it allows two full acclimatization days, which makes a significant difference in how clients feel above 4,000 meters.

Day	Route	Elevation	Gain/Loss
1	Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Phakding	2,610m (8,563 ft)	-236m from Lukla
2	Phakding to Namche Bazaar	3,440m (11,286 ft)	+830m
3	Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar	3,440m (sleep), hike to 3,880m	Day hike to Hotel Everest View at Syangboche
4	Namche Bazaar to Tengboche	3,867m (12,687 ft)	+427m
5	Tengboche to Dingboche	4,410m (14,468 ft)	+543m
6	Acclimatization day at Dingboche	4,410m (sleep), hike to Nagarjun Hill ~5,100m	Day hike for altitude practice
7	Dingboche to Lobuche	4,940m (16,207 ft)	+530m
8	Lobuche to Gorak Shep, hike to EBC	5,164m sleep at Gorak Shep, EBC at 5,364m	+424m to Gorak Shep, then +200m to EBC
9	Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar, descend to Pheriche	5,545m (Kala Patthar), 4,371m (sleep)	+381m up, then -1,174m down

The biggest single-day altitude gain is the climb from Phakding to Namche Bazaar on Day 2, which involves 830 meters of ascent and a steep final hour up the hillside above the Dudh Koshi river confluence. We tell clients that if they can handle Day 2 comfortably, the rest of the trek is manageable.

Why Does the Elevation of EBC Matter for Your Body?

At 5,364 meters, the air contains roughly 50% of the oxygen available at sea level. Your body cannot adapt to this overnight. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the most common altitude-related problem we deal with on the trail, and it can start as low as 3,000 meters in some people.

We see AMS symptoms most often between Dingboche (4,410m) and Lobuche (4,940m). The typical pattern: a client feels fine all day, arrives at the teahouse, sits down for dinner, and then a headache starts. By morning, it has either cleared or worsened. If it worsens, we do not push higher. We hold the client at the same elevation or descend.

There are two severe forms of altitude illness. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) causes confusion, loss of coordination, and swelling in the brain. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) fills the lungs with fluid and makes breathing extremely difficult even at rest. Both are medical emergencies that require immediate descent. In more than 200 EBC treks over the past seven years, our team has managed four HAPE evacuations by helicopter from above Lobuche. Every one of those clients had ignored early symptoms or tried to push through headaches the day before.

Acetazolamide (Diamox) helps many trekkers. We recommend discussing it with a doctor before the trek. The standard prophylactic dose is 125mg twice daily, started the day before ascending above 3,000 meters. It is not a guarantee against AMS, but it does help your body adjust faster.

How We Handle Acclimatization at These Elevations

We schedule two mandatory acclimatization days on every standard EBC trek: one at Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and one at Dingboche (4,410m). Some operators skip the Dingboche rest day to save time. We have tried shorter itineraries in the past and saw AMS rates roughly double, so we stopped offering them.

On the Namche rest day, we take clients on a hike up to the Everest View Hotel at Syangboche (3,880m). This gives the body a taste of higher altitude while sleeping low. On the Dingboche rest day, we hike toward Nagarjun Hill above the village, reaching approximately 5,100 meters before turning back.

The rule we follow: climb high, sleep low. Every acclimatization hike goes at least 400 to 500 meters above the sleeping elevation, then returns.

Three practical tips from our guide team:

Drink 3 to 4 liters of water daily above 3,500 meters. Not tea, not coffee, not beer. Water. We carry chlorine drops (Aquatabs) for clients who do not want to buy bottled water at NPR 250 to 500 per liter above Namche.

Walk slowly above 4,000 meters. If you are breathing hard enough that you cannot hold a conversation, you are going too fast. Our guides set the pace, and it feels painfully slow on Day 1. By Day 7, clients understand why.

If you develop a headache that does not go away with paracetamol and water within 4 hours, tell your guide. Do not wait until the next morning. We have turned clients around at Lobuche and walked them down to Pheriche (4,371m) where the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) medical post operates during trekking season. That descent of 570 meters usually resolves symptoms within hours.

South Base Camp vs. North Base Camp: Two Different Elevations

There are two Everest Base Camps, and they sit on opposite sides of the mountain at different altitudes.

The South Base Camp in Nepal is at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). It sits on the Khumbu Glacier and is the starting point for expeditions climbing the Southeast Ridge route, the same route first summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. This is the base camp that trekkers visit. It is inside Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1976.

The North Base Camp in Tibet (China) is at 5,150 meters (16,900 feet). It is accessible by road from the Friendship Highway. A paved road runs from near Shelkar to Rongbuk Monastery and then to the base camp area. Visitors on the Tibet side do not trek to base camp; they drive. A permit from the Chinese government is required, and all visits must go through an organized tour.

When people say "Everest Base Camp trek," they mean the Nepal side. That is the trek we operate.

What Does EBC Actually Look Like at 5,364 Meters?

Trekkers sometimes expect a permanent structure or a clear marker. EBC is not that. During expedition season (April to May, and September to October), the base camp is a sprawling tent city on the Khumbu Glacier. Expedition teams from around the world set up their camps here, and the area covers a large section of rocky, ice-covered glacier moraine.

Outside expedition season, EBC is mostly empty. Just rocks, ice, and prayer flags.

The ground at EBC shifts. The Khumbu Glacier is moving and melting, and tents are pitched on glacial rubble that sits on top of ice. In June 2022, Nepali authorities announced plans to relocate the base camp 200 to 400 meters lower because the glacier beneath the current site is thinning and becoming less stable. As of May 2026, the relocation has not been completed, but our team has noticed increasing crevasse formation near the lower edges of the traditional camp area over the past three spring seasons.

The highest point most trekkers reach is not actually EBC. It is Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters (18,192 feet), a rocky viewpoint above Gorak Shep. We hike Kala Patthar early in the morning for sunrise views of Mount Everest (8,849m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Pumori (7,161m). The view from Kala Patthar is far better than from base camp itself, where Everest's summit is hidden behind the Khumbu Icefall.

Permits and Costs Related to Trekking at This Elevation

Two permits are mandatory for the EBC trek, and both are checked at trail checkpoints. Here are the current fees for foreign nationals.
 

Permit	Cost (as of May 2026)	Where to Obtain
Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit	NPR 3,000 (~US$23) + 13% VAT	Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu, or Monjo checkpoint
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit	NPR 3,000 (~US$23)	Lukla or Monjo checkpoint
Total permit cost	NPR 6,000 (~US$46)

The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit increased from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 in 2026. TIMS cards are no longer required for the Everest region.

We process both permits for every client before the trek begins. The NTB office on Pradarshani Marg in Kathmandu issues the Sagarmatha permit. Bring your passport and two passport-sized photos. During peak season (October and April), the Monjo checkpoint can have long queues, so getting the Sagarmatha permit in Kathmandu saves time on the trail.

Since 2023, Nepal requires all trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to hire a licensed guide. You cannot trek to EBC independently without one.

Common Mistakes We See Related to Elevation

Skipping the Dingboche acclimatization day. Some trekkers push from Tengboche directly toward Lobuche to save a day. This compresses two days of altitude gain into a window where the body has not adjusted. We have seen clients abandon their trek at Lobuche because of this.

Underestimating the descent from Kala Patthar. After reaching 5,545 meters on Kala Patthar in the early morning, trekkers are exhausted, cold, and often mildly dehydrated. The descent back to Gorak Shep and then down to Pheriche or Pangboche on the same day is long. We carry hot lemon water in thermoses for clients on the Kala Patthar morning. It makes a difference.

Bringing gear that fails in the cold. At 5,364 meters, nighttime temperatures at EBC drop to -15 to -20 degrees Celsius in October and November. We have seen phone batteries die within minutes, camera shutters freeze, and hydration bladder hoses turn to ice by midnight. Carry your electronics inside your sleeping bag at night. Use a Nalgene bottle instead of a hydration bladder above 4,500 meters.

Racing other trekkers. The trail between Namche Bazaar and EBC is busy during peak season. Some clients see faster groups ahead and try to match their pace. Altitude does not care about your fitness level. We have guided marathon runners who got AMS at Dingboche and 60-year-olds who reached EBC without a headache. The difference was pace, not fitness.

FAQ

Is 5,364 meters the exact elevation of Everest Base Camp? 

The South Base Camp in Nepal is recorded at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) by survey authorities. Because the camp sits on the Khumbu Glacier, which is moving and changing, GPS readings at different points within the camp area can vary by a few meters. The commonly cited figure of 5,364 meters refers to the general camp area.

How high is the highest point on the EBC trek? 

Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters (18,192 feet) is the highest point most trekkers reach. It is a 45 to 60 minute hike above Gorak Shep (5,164m) and provides the best direct view of Mount Everest's summit.

Can I get altitude sickness at Everest Base Camp's elevation? 

Yes. AMS can affect anyone above 2,500 meters regardless of age, fitness, or previous altitude experience. At 5,364 meters, the risk is significant. Proper acclimatization, adequate hydration, and a gradual ascent schedule reduce the risk substantially but do not eliminate it.

Is the North Base Camp in Tibet easier because it is lower? 

The North Base Camp is 214 meters lower at 5,150 meters, but the approach is entirely different. Visitors typically drive to the North Base Camp from Lhasa over several days, crossing passes above 5,000 meters along the way. The Tibet side requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a Chinese tour operator.

How long does it take to trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp? 

The standard trek takes 8 to 9 walking days from Lukla to EBC, including two acclimatization days. The return to Lukla takes 3 days. Our 14-day EBC trek includes travel days to and from Kathmandu.

What is the temperature at Everest Base Camp? 

Daytime temperatures during trekking season (March to May, September to November) range from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures drop to -10 to -20 degrees Celsius. Wind chill can make it feel significantly colder. In winter (December to February), nighttime temperatures at EBC can reach -30 degrees Celsius.

Will Everest Base Camp be relocated to a lower elevation? 

Nepali authorities announced in June 2022 that the base camp may move 200 to 400 meters lower due to glacier thinning. As of May 2026, no permanent relocation has been completed. We continue to trek to the existing base camp location at 5,364 meters.

Plan Your Trek

We operate the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek from US$1,360 per person, with the acclimatization schedule built into every departure. Our guides have walked this trail hundreds of times and know exactly where altitude hits hardest and how to manage it. See the full itinerary and cost breakdown on our EBC trip page.

For custom questions about altitude preparation, group sizes, or departure dates, message Sujan directly on WhatsApp at wa.me/+9779851212358