How much does it cost on an Everest Base Camp tour

To see the highest peak on earth is the dream of many people, no matter they are young or old, normal workers or officials. But some people have to give up their dream because of the high cost. It is true that Everest Base Camp tour cost is much higher than that on a tour to other places.

At first, travelers have to go to Lhasa or another city or town with a relatively lower altitude for acclimatization. Most travelers choose Lhasa as their first destination in Tibet since Lhasa is the economic and traffic center of Tibet. If you go to Lhasa by flight from mainland China, it costs RMB 2500 to RMB 4000 on the air ticket. If you travel to Tibet by train from mainland China, it costs around RMB 2000 on the train ticket, including the ticket fare and the service fee of booking the ticket. When you arrive at the Lhasa airport or train station, you need to take a taxi or rent a car to your hotel in Lhasa downtown. It may cost about RMB 100-200.

After arriving at Lhasa, you need to spend at least two full days there for fully acclimatizing yourself to the high altitude. But during the two days, I think it is impossible for you to just stay at your hotel or wander on the streets in Lhasa city. There are many famous tourist sites in and around the city that deserve your visit, such as the renowned Potala Palace, the holy Jokhang temple, interesting Sera Monastery, etc. During these days, it may cost you around RMB1600-2000 including food, tour guide service, transportation, admission fee and 2-star or 3-star hotel.

And then you need to apply for an Alien’s travel permit, hire a tour guide and rent a car or take a tourist bus to EBC. In peak season, the service of a tour guide is around RMB 300 per day. The transportation fees of different types of vehicles vary from types of different vehicles and in different seasons ranging from 3RMB to 10RMB per kilometer, including the gas and the driver. It is around 1500 kilometers from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp, so it is about 3000km to go there and back. For accommodation, it costs around RMB 100 to RMB 400 per night. For food, it costs around RMB 80 to RMB100 per day.  

Generally, travelers who make Mount Everest Base Camp tours are charged an entrance fee of 180RMB per person. And the tour guides are also requested to pay the entrance fee of EBC unlike in any other tourist sites. In addition, the vehicles taking you into the EBC are also charged entrance fees according to the type of the vehicles. The entrance fee of a 4WD is 405RMB and of a tourist bus is 605RMB. You cannot drive your own car to the EBC. You will be required to take an environmentally-friendly tourist bus to the Everest Base Camp from Rongbuk Monastery. But you can also do a Tibet Everest Base Camp trek instead of taking the bus.