Everest Base Camp Trek Cost from the Czech Republic: Prices in CZK, Flights and Visa

Last updated 4 October 2026. Trek prices are read from our own booking system. Koruna figures use a rate of 1 US dollar = 21.795 Czech koruna (CZK) and 1 euro = 24.465 CZK, the daily fixing the Czech National Bank published for 2 October 2026 (the bank does not fix rates at weekends), which I read on 4 October 2026. The koruna moves from day to day, so every koruna figure below is an approximation and the US dollar is the price you actually pay. Flight prices are snapshots from one day, and I say so wherever they appear.

If you are planning from Prague, the first question is what the EBC trek cost from the Czech Republic really adds up to, door to door, in koruna. The honest answer has three parts. The trek price I can give you to the dollar: US$1,399 on Budget, US$2,499 on Standard and US$4,999 on Luxury, about CZK 30,490, CZK 54,470 and CZK 108,950. The flight I can only show you a snapshot of. In my search there was no nonstop in either direction, and the cheapest return fare was EUR 1,036 (about 25,350 CZK, or US$1,163) with one change of plane in Sharjah on Air Arabia. That is less than the Budget trek. We bill in US dollars, so every koruna figure is a conversion.

This page is about one trek only, Everest Base Camp, with the arithmetic done in full: the fares I found from Prague, the visa question, the permits, what a Czech health card does not cover, the time difference, and the holidays on both sides that touch the trekking season. I wrote it because Everest Base Camp deserves its own numbers. If you want the same sums for another European country, we have written them for the Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the UK too.

If you want me directly, my WhatsApp is +977 9810351300. I answer it myself. Nepal is on UTC+5:45 all year. Prague is on UTC+2 in summer time and UTC+1 in winter, so Nepal is 3 hours 45 minutes ahead until the clocks go back in Europe on Sunday 25 October 2026, and 4 hours 45 minutes ahead after that. A message you send at 9 am in Prague before the change arrives at 12:45 pm in Kathmandu, and I will usually reply within your working day.

Is there a direct flight from Prague to Kathmandu?

Not in my search. On 4 October 2026 I ran live searches on Kiwi.com from Prague (PRG) to Kathmandu, one adult in economy, on a single ticket (no self-transfer). I tried a return leaving on 19 October and coming back on 5 November, limited to nonstop flights, and it returned nothing. Because the nonstop search returned nothing, the question for a Czech trekker is not whether to change planes, but where, and how long you wait.

I then ran the same return with a cabin bag and one checked bag, allowing one change of plane in each direction. It returned 15 itineraries, with fares from EUR 1,036 to EUR 4,050. The cheapest used Air Arabia both ways through Sharjah. The others mixed Air Arabia, flydubai and Turkish Airlines through Sharjah, Dubai and Istanbul, and the dearest used Etihad home through Abu Dhabi. I did not search the airlines' own pages, and Kiwi.com does not show every airline, so check them before you decide. I could not confirm anything beyond these 15 results for these dates.

What did the flights actually cost on one day?

This is where travel pages invent numbers, so here is exactly what I saw on Kiwi.com on 4 October 2026, return, one adult, a cabin bag and one checked bag included, no self-transfer, leaving Prague on 19 October and returning from Kathmandu on 5 November. Prices are in euros as Kiwi.com showed them, with US dollars and koruna worked out at the Czech National Bank rates above. The hours are the total of both directions, waiting time between flights included. Kiwi.com did not state baggage weights, so confirm them on the airline's own page before you pay.

Route and airlines	Return fare	Notes
Air Arabia both ways via Sharjah (the cheapest)	EUR 1,036 (about US$1,163, 25,350 CZK)	Out on G9777, Prague 21:30 on 19 October, Sharjah 05:40 on 20 October; G9530 at 16:40, Kathmandu 22:40 the same day. Home on G9531, Kathmandu 22:20 on 5 November, Sharjah 01:35; G9776 at 17:05, Prague 20:55 on 6 November. About 48 hours 45 minutes in total, with about 11 hours of waiting in Sharjah on the way out and about 15 hours 30 minutes on the way home
Air Arabia both ways, earlier connection to Kathmandu	EUR 1,040 (about US$1,167, 25,440 CZK)	Same flights as the first row, except the second leg out is G9532, Sharjah 08:30, Kathmandu 14:30 on 20 October. Home as in the first row. About 40 hours 35 minutes in total. For EUR 4 more you arrive in daylight with a wait of under three hours in Sharjah
Air Arabia out, flydubai home via Dubai	EUR 1,274 to EUR 1,277 (about US$1,430 to 1,433, 31,170 to 31,240 CZK)	Home on FZ1134, Kathmandu 09:20 on 5 November, Dubai 12:45; FZ1781 at 16:55, Prague 21:15 the same day. EUR 1,274 with the 22:40 arrival in Kathmandu (about 38 hours 5 minutes in total); EUR 1,277 with the 14:30 arrival (about 29 hours 55 minutes)
Air Arabia out, Turkish Airlines home via Istanbul, afternoon flight	EUR 1,280 to EUR 1,284 (about US$1,437 to 1,441, 31,320 to 31,410 CZK)	Home on TK727, Kathmandu 12:45 on 5 November, Istanbul 18:25; TK1771 at 13:10 on 6 November, Prague 13:50. That is a wait of about 18 hours 45 minutes in Istanbul. EUR 1,280 with the 22:40 arrival (about 51 hours 15 minutes in total); EUR 1,284 with the 14:30 arrival (about 43 hours 5 minutes)
Air Arabia out, Turkish Airlines home, early flight from Istanbul	EUR 1,484 to EUR 1,488 (about US$1,666 to 1,670, 36,310 to 36,400 CZK)	Home on TK727 as above, then TK1767, Istanbul 07:55 on 6 November, Prague 08:35. EUR 1,484 with the 22:40 arrival (about 46 hours in total); EUR 1,488 with the 14:30 arrival (about 37 hours 50 minutes)
Turkish Airlines out via Istanbul, Air Arabia home	EUR 1,810 (about US$2,032, 44,280 CZK)	Out on TK1772, Prague 15:20 on 19 October, Istanbul 19:00; TK726 at 20:55, Kathmandu 06:35 on 20 October. Home as in the first row. About 38 hours 50 minutes in total. A version leaving Prague at 19:20 (TK1770) with a night in Istanbul and Kathmandu at 06:35 on 21 October was also EUR 1,810, about 58 hours 50 minutes
Turkish Airlines out via Istanbul, flydubai home	EUR 2,044 (about US$2,294, 50,010 CZK)	Out as in the row above. Home on FZ1134 and FZ1781 via Dubai, Prague 21:15 on 5 November. About 28 hours 10 minutes in total, the shortest of the 15 results. The version with the 19:20 departure from Prague and the night in Istanbul was the same fare, about 48 hours 10 minutes
Etihad home via Abu Dhabi, personal item not listed	EUR 3,280 to EUR 4,050 (about US$3,682 to 4,546, 80,250 to 99,080 CZK)	Home on EY1385, Kathmandu 09:55 on 5 November, Abu Dhabi 13:25; EY155 at 02:40 on 6 November, Prague 06:15. EUR 3,280 with the Air Arabia outbound arriving 22:40 (about 46 hours 30 minutes); EUR 3,284 with the one arriving 14:30 (about 38 hours 20 minutes); EUR 4,050 with the Turkish outbound arriving 06:35 on 20 October (about 36 hours 35 minutes)

Look at what the numbers say. The cheapest fare, EUR 1,036, is also the slowest of the cheap ones, with about 48 hours 45 minutes in total, because of the long waits in Sharjah. For EUR 4 more you cut that to about 40 hours 35 minutes and land in daylight. For EUR 1,277 you get about 29 hours 55 minutes through Sharjah and Dubai. The shortest result of all, about 28 hours 10 minutes, costs EUR 2,044, almost twice the cheapest fare. So on the one day I looked, time is what you pay for, and the cheapest ticket is not the one I would choose. The cheapest fare lands in Kathmandu at 22:40, so someone has to meet you and your hotel must be booked for that night. Our team can arrange the pick-up. The cheapest flight home leaves Kathmandu at 22:20 on 5 November, which gives you most of that day in Kathmandu.

Each route has its own small costs. I have not read the transit rules for a Czech passport in Sharjah, Dubai, Istanbul or Abu Dhabi, so I cannot tell you whether you may stay in the transit area or need a visa for any of them, and I could not confirm it. Ask the airline before you choose. Air Arabia flies into Sharjah, which is not Dubai's main airport, so allow for that when you read the route. 19 and 20 October are also inside the Dashain holiday in Nepal, which is covered below.

I also ran a spring return, 22 March to 8 April 2027, with the same settings and at most one change each way. Kiwi.com showed four results: EUR 953 on Air Arabia both ways via Sharjah (about 44 hours 5 minutes in total, Kathmandu at 21:40 on 23 March), EUR 957 with the earlier connection (about 36 hours 15 minutes, Kathmandu 13:50), and EUR 1,281 and EUR 1,285 with Turkish Airlines home via Istanbul (about 33 hours 30 minutes and about 25 hours 40 minutes). That is a spring snapshot from one day in October, so treat it as a rough guide only.

How much does a trek package to Everest Base Camp cost?

A 12-day Everest Base Camp trek package with us costs US$1,399 on Budget, US$2,499 on Standard and US$4,999 on Luxury, per person, which is about CZK 30,490, CZK 54,470 and CZK 108,950 at 21.795 CZK to the dollar. It includes a licensed guide, all permits, transport to and from Lukla and the teahouse nights. It does not include your flight to Nepal, the visa, insurance, tips or your Kathmandu hotel. These prices come straight out of our booking system. They are the same for 2026 and 2027 departures, and the same whether you go privately or in a group.

Everest Base Camp, 12 days	USD per person	Koruna, approximate
Budget	US$1,399	about 30,490
Standard	US$2,499	about 54,470
Luxury	US$4,999	about 108,950

The difference between the tiers is not marketing, and I want you to be able to check it. On Budget you carry your own bag, rooms are shared and meals are not included. On Standard you get a porter shared between two trekkers, all meals and a private room. On Luxury you get your own dedicated porter, a private deluxe ensuite room, all meals with fruit, nuts and unlimited soft drinks, and the Lukla legs by helicopter both ways instead of a fixed-wing flight.

What is inside every tier: a licensed guide, the permits, airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu, the flights to and from Lukla on the fixed-wing tiers, the teahouse nights, a first aid kit and pulse oximeter, and a farewell dinner. What is outside every tier: your flight to Nepal, the visa, travel insurance, tips, your Kathmandu hotel and anything you buy on the trail. Kathmandu hotels are quoted separately, though you can stay in our own family homestay at US$15 per person per night (about 327 CZK), which helps fund the learning centre my family runs.

Our cost guide's rule of thumb is that a trek far below US$1,200 (about CZK 26,150) is paying its guide badly, skipping a permit or leaving out the flight, so ask any company what is in its price. The Lukla flights are a large part of a Budget price. A Kathmandu to Lukla ticket is about US$253 one way and about US$506 return, according to our own domestic flights guide, so a good part of US$1,399 is simply getting you to the trail and back. The full day-by-day route is on the Everest Base Camp Trek 12 Days page, our day-by-day itinerary guide gives the altitudes and walking times, and our Everest Base Camp cost guide has every line of the price.

If you want to skip the Lukla flight, or worry about it, there is one honest alternative. A shared helicopter seat from Kathmandu to Lukla is about US$640 per person (about CZK 13,950), and about US$710 from Lukla back to Kathmandu (about CZK 15,470), including government tax, bank charges and the fuel supplement. Luxury includes the helicopter both ways. Helicopter seats are shared and depend on availability and weather on the day, and the prices are a guide. The flights guide above has the full detail, and our guide to the helicopter return explains when it makes sense.

Kathmandu to Lukla and back	Price
Fixed-wing flight, one way (included on Budget and Standard)	about US$253, 5,510 CZK
Fixed-wing flight, return (included on Budget and Standard)	about US$506, 11,030 CZK
Shared helicopter seat, Kathmandu to Lukla	about US$640, 13,950 CZK
Shared helicopter seat, Lukla to Kathmandu	about US$710, 15,470 CZK
Both helicopter legs bought separately (my sum)	about US$1,350, 29,420 CZK
Helicopter both ways (included on Luxury)	included

Do you need a guide, and what does a porter cost?

Every trek we run includes a licensed guide, and I would not walk this route without one. A licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS card are required on most trekking routes under the Nepal Tourism Board rule from 31 March 2023; the Everest (Khumbu) region does not enforce it locally, but we always trek with a licensed guide. A guide is also your safety: ours carry a first aid kit and a pulse oximeter. Our own guide to trekking without one explains the situation, and the Nepal Tourism Board is the place to confirm the current position before you plan anything alone.

The porter question is where the three tiers differ most. On Budget there is no porter and you carry your own bag. On Standard there is one porter for every two trekkers, carrying about 20 kg between you, so pack to about 10 kg in the duffel and keep a daypack. On Luxury you have a dedicated porter of your own. If you travel solo on Standard there is no porter, because porters are shared one to two, and your guide carries up to 10 kg of your gear instead. On Luxury a solo trekker still has a dedicated porter. If you want an extra porter on any tier, it is US$25 a day (about 545 CZK), with 13 per cent VAT and a 3.5 per cent bank charge on top, so ask us for the exact figure for your dates. If you are travelling alone, our guide to the solo cost and the single supplement works through that case.

How much luggage can you take to Lukla?

Less than you think. On the mountain flights the allowance is about 10 kg checked plus 5 kg hand carry, and every airline sets its own limit, so your ticket is the final word. Excess is paid by the kilo at the airport, and our flights guide says no airline publishes a Lukla excess rate. If the aircraft is at its weight limit, the extra bag flies later, so pack as if your duffel might arrive a day behind you. Camera and drone batteries count towards your hand carry. Lukla sits at 2,860 metres, on a short mountain runway, and the plane is small. What you do not need on the trail stays at a Kathmandu hotel in Thamel, which we arrange. This matters because the large bag you check from Prague is not the bag you take on the Lukla plane.

What permits do you need, and are they included?

The Khumbu is not a restricted area, so there is no special trekking permit. You need three things, and we arrange and pay for all of them in every tier:

• Sagarmatha National Park entry: NPR 3,000 for foreigners.
• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee: NPR 3,000.
• TIMS card: NPR 2,000.

That is NPR 8,000 in total, about US$52 at 154 rupees to the dollar (Exchange Rate API, 4 October 2026), roughly 1,131 CZK. None of it is added to your bill. I read the park and TIMS figures on the Nepal Tourism Board's own pages. The municipality fee was raised from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 in September 2024, and I have no primary web page for it; it is collected on the trail, and our guides pay it for you.

You will see lower totals elsewhere. Some pages quote the permits at US$45 to US$60 and some say the TIMS card is no longer needed. We arrange TIMS for every trekker. It is run jointly by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, and its purpose is to record who is on the trail in case of an accident or a natural disaster. Our permits guide covers the rest, and our Everest permits and fees page is the one to read for this route.

Do Czech passport holders need a visa for Nepal?

Yes, a tourist visa, and the official page is clear on the general rule, though it does not name the Czech Republic. I read the Nepal Department of Immigration's own pages on 4 October 2026. They say that holders of every passport other than twelve listed countries may get a visa on arrival at Tribhuvan airport, and you can also apply online beforehand. The Czech Republic is not one of the twelve (Afghanistan, Cameroon, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Syria and Zimbabwe). The fees the Department publishes are US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days. That is about 654, 1,090 and 2,720 CZK.

Here is the part I could not confirm. The Czech Republic is not named anywhere on the Department's pages that I read: not in the visa fees page, not in the visa on arrival page and not in its visa exemption page. That last page lists the 15 countries whose passports are exempt from a visa altogether (Thailand, Russia, China, Brazil, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, Jordan, Israel, Georgia, Qatar, Oman, Indonesia and Ukraine), and the Czech Republic is not one of them. So my reading is that the general rule for every other passport applies to an ordinary Czech passport, which is what the Department's page says, but I cannot show you a line that names your passport, and I could not find a Czech government page on the subject. If you want certainty, ask the Department of Immigration to confirm in writing and keep the reply with your papers.

My advice, from those pages: apply online before you fly, using the Department's portal, rather than hoping to sort it out at the desk. An online application asks for a recent photo on a white background, a scan of your passport and payment by card in US dollars. Print the approval. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. The Department says you must use the visa within six months of the date it is issued, that a visa cannot be withdrawn once issued, and that the fee is not refundable. The maximum tourist stay is 150 days per visa year (January to December), and almost every Everest trekker needs 30 days, so budget US$50. Carry some US dollars in cash in case you pay at the airport. Our e-visa guide and our visa on arrival guide walk through both routes.

One more note, on money. I have not read the Czech rules for taking cash out of the country, or Nepal's declaration limit for cash you bring in, so I will not quote a figure for either. A Luxury balance in cash after the 10 per cent deposit is about US$4,499 on its own, so for large sums pay the balance by card, or ask us how to split it. If you pay by card, ask your bank what its limit is for international card payments, because only your bank can see it.

Does your European health card cover you in Nepal?

No, and the European Union's own Your Europe page, which I read on 4 October 2026, explains why. It describes the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as proof that you are insured in an EU country, and says it can be used only with providers in the public system, not for private healthcare. It also says plainly that the EHIC will not help you with rescue and repatriation, and that you need separate insurance cover for transport home after a serious illness or accident. Nepal is not an EU country. I could not find a date on that page. I have not read what your Czech health insurer, an employer plan or a credit card benefit pays for treatment outside the EU, and I am not going to guess. Ask your insurer, and get the answer in writing.

So you need a policy that is written for trekking, and you need to read it. A standard holiday policy is usually written for ordinary holidays, not for a 12-day trek to 5,000 metres, so do not assume it applies. I have not read any Czech insurer's policy terms or prices, so I cannot tell you which policy is good. Ask the question and ask it in writing.

What I would ask for in writing before you buy: cover for trekking to at least 6,000 metres, which gives a margin above the highest point on this trek, and helicopter evacuation for illness as well as accident. Altitude sickness is an illness, and a policy that pays only for accidents will not lift you off the mountain. Get the answer in an email from the insurer, and buy the policy at home before you fly. For scale, our cost guide puts a helicopter evacuation from Base Camp to Kathmandu at US$3,000 to US$5,000, about CZK 65,390 to 108,980. Our insurance guide goes through what to look for.

Our cost guide gives three bands for two to three weeks: basic trekking cover up to 6,000 metres at US$50 to US$100, full travel plus trekking cover at US$100 to US$180, and premium cover with trip cancellation at US$150 to US$250. That is roughly CZK 1,090 to 2,180, CZK 2,180 to 3,920 and CZK 3,270 to 5,450. We check your policy before departure, and without one you cannot trek. Buy it at home, not in Nepal, and confirm in writing that it covers trekking above 5,000 metres and helicopter evacuation, because some ordinary travel policies exclude both. The question of what a policy pays for a helicopter is covered at more length in our guide to insurance with helicopter cover.

What will you spend on the trail?

On Budget, where meals are not included, our cost guide says to add roughly US$25 to US$40 a day for meals, so US$300 to US$480 across twelve days, or roughly CZK 6,540 to 10,460. That is before showers, charging and wifi. On Standard and Luxury every meal is already paid for, so the money you carry goes much further. Prices rise with altitude because everything is carried up on a porter's back or by yak. These are the ranges from our own price list for the Everest trail, in Nepali rupees with dollars in brackets. Multiply the dollar figure by about 21.8 for koruna:

Item	Lukla to Namche	Namche to Dingboche	Above Dingboche
Dal bhat (rice and lentils, refills)	NPR 500 to 600 (US$4 to 5)	NPR 600 to 800 (US$5 to 6)	NPR 800 to 1,000 (US$6 to 8)
Pizza or pasta	NPR 600 to 700 (US$5 to 6)	NPR 700 to 900 (US$6 to 7)	NPR 900 to 1,200 (US$7 to 10)
Fried rice or noodles	NPR 400 to 500 (US$3 to 4)	NPR 500 to 700 (US$4 to 6)	NPR 700 to 900 (US$6 to 7)
Tea or coffee	NPR 80 to 100 (US$0.60 to 0.80)	NPR 100 to 150 (US$0.80 to 1.20)	NPR 150 to 250 (US$1.20 to 2)
Bottled water, 1 litre	NPR 150 to 200 (US$1.20 to 1.50)	NPR 200 to 300 (US$1.50 to 2.50)	NPR 300 to 500 (US$2.50 to 4)
Chocolate bar	NPR 150 to 200 (US$1.20 to 1.50)	NPR 200 to 300 (US$1.50 to 2.50)	NPR 300 to 400 (US$2.50 to 3)

Then the extras that surprise people: wifi, charging, hot showers and laundry. These are charged per use, and they jump above Namche:

Item	Lukla to Namche	Above Namche
Wifi, per device	NPR 200 to 300 (US$1.50 to 2.50)	NPR 300 to 500 (US$2.50 to 4)
Phone charging	free to NPR 200	NPR 200 to 500 (US$1.50 to 4)
Hot shower	NPR 200 to 300 (US$1.50 to 2.50)	NPR 300 to 500 or more (US$2.50 to 4 or more)
Laundry, per kilo	NPR 300 to 500 (US$2.50 to 4)	not available

A tip from our cost guide: buy an Everest Link wifi card in Namche for NPR 500 to 1,000. It works at most teahouses from Namche to Gorak Shep and is faster than teahouse wifi. A 20,000 mAh power bank saves roughly US$20 to US$30 in charging fees over the trek. A day at the top of the route with a shower, one charge, a litre of water and one wifi session comes to NPR 1,100 to 2,000, about US$7 to US$13, or about 153 to 283 CZK a day if you spread it over the whole day at the top. That is my own sum of the ranges above. Dal bhat is the best value on any teahouse menu, and our dal bhat guide explains why every guide in Nepal eats it twice a day.

Cash matters. Our cost guide says the only cash machines on the route are in Namche and they are often empty, so bring your trail money from Kathmandu. For Standard or Luxury, where meals are included, it suggests about NPR 20,000 to 30,000 (US$130 to US$195 at today's rate, or about CZK 2,830 to 4,250) for showers, charging, wifi, snacks and tips over the twelve days. On Budget, add the daily food money to that. Remember that Nepali rupees are for you to spend on the trail; we bill foreign clients in US dollars or euros only.

Tipping is customary and is not included in any price. Our cost guide's suggested figures are US$15 to US$20 a day for the lead guide, US$180 to US$240 over twelve days (about CZK 3,920 to 5,230), and US$10 to US$15 a day for a porter, US$120 to US$180 over twelve days (about CZK 2,620 to 3,920). Together that is US$300 to US$420, about CZK 6,540 to 9,150. Tips are usually given at the end of the trek in Kathmandu, in a sealed envelope, and a group pools them. Cash in rupees is preferred, but dollars are accepted. On Budget there is no porter, so a solo trekker is looking at the guide's share only.

What does gear cost, rent or buy?

Gear is smaller money than people fear. On every tier we provide a down jacket and a sleeping bag rated to minus 15 at no cost, and a duffel bag on Standard and Luxury, so the most expensive cold-weather items on a kit list are covered. For everything else, here are the ranges from our cost guide. The "at home" prices are that guide's general figures, not Czech shop prices, which I have not checked. Multiply the dollar figures by about 21.8 for koruna.

Item	Rent in Kathmandu, per day	Buy in Kathmandu	Buy at home
Down jacket (we provide one free)	US$1 to 2	US$30 to 80	US$150 to 400
Sleeping bag, minus 15 (we provide one free)	US$1 to 2	US$40 to 100	US$200 to 500
Trekking poles, pair	US$1	US$10 to 25	US$50 to 150
Duffel bag, 65 litres	US$0.50 to 1	US$5 to 15	US$30 to 80
Fleece jacket	US$0.50 to 1	US$10 to 25	US$40 to 100
Waterproof jacket	US$1 to 2	US$25 to 60	US$100 to 300

Most of this table is a rental, so you do not need to buy a mountain wardrobe in Prague. The one item I would buy at home and break in before you fly is your boots. Our cost guide has the full kit list.

What is the full cost from the Czech Republic?

One person, Budget tier, twelve days, on the cheapest return fare I found: EUR 1,036 from Prague (out 19 October, back 5 November, arriving home 6 November), a checked bag included. This table leaves out tips, insurance and trail extras:

Item	USD	Koruna, approximate
Trek, Budget tier (permits included)	US$1,399	30,490
Return flight, snapshot, checked bag included (Sharjah, Air Arabia), EUR 1,036	US$1,163	25,350
Nepal visa, 30 days	US$50	1,090
Food on the trail, US$25 to US$40 a day for twelve days	US$300 to US$480	6,540 to 10,460
Total	about US$2,912 to US$3,092	about 63,470 to 67,390

If you take Standard or Luxury, the same flight, visa and trek arithmetic comes to this, before tips, insurance, Kathmandu hotels and your own spending money:

Tier	Trek + flight + visa, USD	Koruna, approximate
Budget (plus US$300 to US$480 for meals on the trail)	about US$2,612	56,930
Standard (meals included)	about US$3,712	80,900
Luxury (meals and helicopter included)	about US$6,212	135,390

Three things sit outside those totals on purpose. Kathmandu hotels are quoted separately. Insurance is yours to buy, for the reasons above. And your spending money for the days either side of the trek is yours too. If you take the Air Arabia fare with the daylight arrival, EUR 1,040, instead of the cheapest, every total above goes up by about US$4, a few dozen koruna, which is small money for 8 hours less in transit.

How expensive is it to hike to Everest Base Camp?

From Prague, a solo trekker on our Budget tier should plan on about US$3,142 to US$3,512 (roughly 68,480 to 76,540 CZK) for the whole trip, before a Kathmandu hotel. Of that, the trek is US$1,399, the flight US$1,163 on the autumn snapshot, and the rest is the visa, food on the trail, a tip for the guide and insurance. Standard comes to about US$3,942 to US$4,132 and Luxury about US$6,562 to US$6,812, and showers, charging and wifi can add up to about US$150 to any of them. The flight is the part that moves most. On this route it is a smaller line than the trek, which is unusual for a long-haul trip, and that is what makes the Czech numbers friendlier than most. The table below shows every line.

What is the budget for a 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp?

The trek is twelve days, but you will be away from the Czech Republic for 19 calendar days on the cheapest fare. Here is the whole budget for one person travelling alone from Prague, with every line from a source above. Tips are the suggested figures from our cost guide, and insurance is the basic-to-full range from the same guide. Kathmandu hotels are not in it, because they are quoted separately.

Line	Budget	Standard	Luxury
Trek, 12 days, permits included	US$1,399	US$2,499	US$4,999
Return flight Prague to Kathmandu, EUR 1,036 autumn snapshot	US$1,163	US$1,163	US$1,163
Nepal visa, 30 days	US$50	US$50	US$50
Meals on the trail	US$300 to US$480	included	included
Tips, suggested figures	US$180 to US$240 (guide only)	US$180 to US$240 (guide only, solo)	US$300 to US$420 (guide and dedicated porter)
Travel insurance	US$50 to US$180	US$50 to US$180	US$50 to US$180
Total, USD	about 3,142 to 3,512	about 3,942 to 4,132	about 6,562 to 6,812
Total, koruna at 21.795	about 68,480 to 76,540	about 85,920 to 90,060	about 143,020 to 148,470
Showers, charging, wifi (not in the totals)	up to about US$150 more (3,270 CZK)	up to about US$150 more	up to about US$150 more

How the totals are built: Budget low is 1,399 + 1,163 + 50 + 300 + 180 + 50 = 3,142, and high is 1,399 + 1,163 + 50 + 480 + 240 + 180 = 3,512. Standard low is 2,499 + 1,163 + 50 + 180 + 50 = 3,942 and high 2,499 + 1,163 + 50 + 240 + 180 = 4,132. Luxury low is 4,999 + 1,163 + 50 + 300 + 50 = 6,562 and high 4,999 + 1,163 + 50 + 420 + 180 = 6,812. The flight is EUR 1,036 converted at the Czech National Bank rates (1,036 x 24.465 / 21.795, rounded). The extras line is my own sum: a shower, charging, a litre of water and wifi on a day at the top of the route cost NPR 1,100 to 2,000, about US$7 to US$13, so US$150 is a safe ceiling for twelve days, and most days cost less. Solo Standard has no porter, so its tip is the guide's alone. Groups pay less per head than the table shows, because of the group prices below.

What can move the number. The flight can go either way by thousands of koruna: the fares I saw on one day ranged from EUR 1,036 to EUR 4,050, and the cheapest is the slowest. A cancelled Lukla flight adds Kathmandu nights or a helicopter seat. A card payment of the balance carries 3.5 per cent. None of those is in the totals, and the next section lists them.

What else costs money that no package price shows?

• Delays. A grounded Lukla flight means extra nights in Kathmandu, from US$15 a night (about 327 CZK) at our family homestay, or a shared helicopter seat from Lukla to Kathmandu at about US$710 if you must be home on a date.
• Card charge and bank margin. Paying the balance by card carries 3.5 per cent. Your own bank or card issuer may add a currency margin on top when it converts koruna to US dollars, so ask it.
• Laundry. About NPR 300 to 500 a kilo, and not available above Namche.
• Charging and wifi. Free to NPR 500 per charge depending on altitude, and a wifi card in Namche for NPR 500 to 1,000. A 20,000 mAh power bank saves about US$20 to US$30 of charging fees, according to our cost guide.
• An extra porter. Explained in the porter section above, with the taxes on top.
• Excess baggage on the Lukla flight. Our flights guide says no airline publishes a Lukla excess rate, so ask us for the current figure before you fly. It is paid by the kilo at the airport.
• A hotel on a long change of plane. The cheapest fare waits about 11 hours in Sharjah on the way out and about 15 hours 30 minutes on the way home, and the Istanbul home flights wait up to about 18 hours 45 minutes. If you will not sleep at the airport, add a night, and check whether you may leave the transit area at all.
• The late flight home. The cheapest fare leaves Kathmandu at 22:20 on 5 November, so ask your hotel for a late checkout and plan how you fill the day.
• Closures. Government offices and many shops close during Dashain and Tihar, so sort cash and paperwork before the holiday starts.

Does it get cheaper as a group?

Yes, and only by group size. Here is the whole table from the live trek page, in US dollars. For koruna, multiply by about 21.8.

Group size	Budget	Standard	Luxury
1 to 4 people	US$1,399	US$2,499	US$4,999
5 to 8 people	US$1,299	US$2,449	US$4,949
9 to 12 people	US$1,199	US$2,399	US$4,899
13 to 20 people	US$999	US$2,349	US$4,849

The price is the same whether you book privately or as a group, and we never add strangers to a private booking. Six friends from the same office or hiking club pay less each than six separate travellers would, simply because you are six. A group of five on Budget pays US$1,299 each (about CZK 28,310), which is US$100 each (about CZK 2,180) less than going alone. Solo trekkers are welcome, and there is no single supplement on Everest Base Camp because your guide joins you from Lukla.

How many days off do you need?

Take the cheapest fare. You fly out in the evening of Monday 19 October (G9777 at 21:30) and land in Kathmandu at 22:40 on Tuesday 20 October. The flying itself is about 48 hours 45 minutes in total, most of it waiting in Sharjah. If you land that late, start the trek on 22 October, not the morning after you land. Twelve days then takes you to 2 November, and that leaves 3 and 4 November spare, plus most of 5 November, because your flight home leaves at 22:20 that night. You land in Prague at 20:55 on Friday 6 November, which makes 19 calendar days away from home, 19 October to 6 November. Those spare days are not a luxury. The Lukla flight is weather dependent and delays are routine, and the best protection against a grounded flight is a buffer before your flight home. In the busy windows, roughly 15 March to 15 May and 25 September to 30 November by our working dates, fixed-wing flights to Lukla leave from Manthali rather than Kathmandu, which means a drive of four to five hours with a hotel pick-up between midnight and 2 am. Our Manthali guide has the detail. We tell every client this before they book. We confirm the road is open 48 hours before departure, and if it is not, we find an alternative. Helicopters are not affected.

What does that mean for your leave? I read the Czech Labour Code (Act No. 262/2006) on the Zakony pro lidi website on 4 October 2026. Section 212 says annual leave is at least 4 weeks per calendar year. The translation is mine. If you work Monday to Friday, the 19 days away from 19 October to 6 November cover 15 weekdays, and one of them, Wednesday 28 October, is a Czech state holiday, so the trip uses about 14 working days. That is my own count, not a legal ruling, and I do not know your contract or your employer's rules, so agree the dates in writing, well ahead.

The Czech holidays that matter are in Act No. 245/2000, which I read on the same site the same day. It lists 28 September (Czech Statehood Day), 28 October (Independence Day) and 17 November (Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day) as state holidays, and other public holidays including Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 January, 1 May and 24 to 26 December. For this autumn, 28 October falls on a Wednesday in the middle of the trek, and 17 November falls on a Tuesday, after you are home. For spring 2027, Good Friday and Easter Monday move every year and the Act gives no dates. By my own calculation of the Western Easter date, Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, so Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March, both inside the 22 March to 8 April window I searched. Check the dates against the official calendar your employer uses before you book flights.

One more small thing: time. Nepal is on UTC+5:45 all year. According to a time-zone database (timeapi.io, 4 October 2026), Prague is on UTC+2 until 01:00 UTC on Sunday 25 October 2026, when the clocks go back, and on UTC+1 after that. So a 07:00 call from the trail is 03:15 in Prague before the change and 02:15 after it. That matters when you ring home.

Does Nepal close for Dashain and Tihar?

For government offices, yes, and trekkers rarely hear about it until they land. Nepal's government publishes its public holidays each year in the Nepal Gazette (Nepal Rajpatra). The Ministry of Home Affairs notice for the year 2083, dated 18 Falgun 2082, says:

• Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain, is on Asoj 25, a Sunday, which is 11 October 2026.
• The Dashain holiday runs from Asoj 31 (Saturday) to Kartik 6 (Friday), which is 17 to 23 October 2026.
• The Tihar holiday runs from Kartik 22 (Sunday) to Kartik 26 (Thursday), which is 8 to 12 November 2026.
• Chhath is on Kartik 29, a Sunday, which is 15 November 2026.

The notice gives the dates in the Nepali calendar. I converted them to the Western calendar myself, using the Saturdays the same notice lists (Asoj 31 is a Saturday, and 17 October 2026 is a Saturday), so the match is consistent. The example flight lands in Kathmandu on 20 October, inside the Dashain holiday, and the flight home on 5 November leaves three days before Tihar begins. Government offices and many shops are closed. This is not a reason to avoid October, which is the best month for views, but it is a reason to tell us your dates early so permits and paperwork are sorted before the closures. The 2027 dates will be in the notice for the year 2084, which has not been published yet.

When should you go, autumn or spring?

October is the most reliable month and the busiest. Mid-November into early December is cold at night, very clear and much quieter. March and April are warmer, with the rhododendrons in flower, and are the second busiest season. For a Czech calendar, the holidays above matter: in autumn, 28 October falls inside the trek, and in spring 2027 Easter falls on 28 March, so check which dates your work and family plans allow. The spring snapshot above was about EUR 953 to EUR 1,285, a little under the autumn fares, but that is one day's search. June to mid-September is the monsoon and I will talk you out of it. Late October can bring the tail of a Bay of Bengal cyclone, so build a spare day into your flights home. Our month-by-month guide goes deeper.

Is Everest Base Camp hard, and how do you prepare?

We grade Everest Base Camp Strenuous. If you can walk five to seven hours a day on consecutive days, you have the fitness for it. What no amount of walking at home gives you is the air. Everest itself is 8,848.86 metres, according to Wikipedia, which gives the figure from the 2020 survey by Nepali and Chinese authorities, and Base Camp is above 5,300 metres. So you will spend days sleeping at altitudes where most people have never been, and I will not pretend a flat-ground fitness routine prepares you for that. That is a reason to walk slowly and take the acclimatisation days seriously, not a reason to stay home. Our guide to an acclimatisation day shows what those days look like, and our altitude profile shows where trekkers struggle.

Fitness does not protect you from altitude, and I say that to every strong hiker who writes to me. A very fit trekker can get altitude sickness while a slower walker does not. Our guides carry an oximeter, not bottled oxygen. If you want a canister available we can arrange it at cost, and I will tell you honestly that most trekkers who walk slowly and listen to their guide never need it. Our fitness guide shows what the days really demand.

Can a beginner do the Everest Base Camp trek?

Yes, if you are healthy and can walk five to seven hours a day on consecutive days. The route needs no ropes, crampons or climbing skill. What stops people is altitude, not technique. That is why the itinerary has acclimatisation days and why I tell beginners to walk slowly, drink water and tell the guide about every headache. Our guides carry an oximeter, so they can check you instead of guessing.

For a first big trek, my suggestion is to spend the two months before you fly on long walks with a loaded pack, on back-to-back days, and on stairs or hill paths. If you live in a city flat, stairs and a weighted daypack do the job. See your doctor first if you have a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition. Insurance matters more for a beginner, not less, for the reasons in the insurance section above. And expect to feel the cold: the nights are cold, and that is why we provide the down jacket and sleeping bag.

From our guides: what a price list will not tell you

A price list is the easy part. Here is what this page adds for a trekker from the Czech Republic, and what we know first-hand.

• Every nonstop search came back empty. On 4 October the nonstop-only search between Prague and Kathmandu returned nothing. The lowest return fare was EUR 1,036 through Sharjah, and the highest of the 15 results was EUR 4,050.
• The cheapest fare was also the slowest of the cheap ones. About 48 hours 45 minutes in total on Air Arabia, against about 40 hours 35 minutes for EUR 4 more, and about 29 hours 55 minutes for EUR 1,277. That is one day's snapshot, so look again on the day you book.
• I could not confirm other routings. I did not check the airlines' own sites, so there may be fares Kiwi.com does not show. I will not make one up.
• Two bag limits, not one. You can check a full bag from Prague, but the mountain flights allow about 10 kg checked plus 5 kg hand carry, and the extra goes on a later flight if the aircraft is full. Pack for the small plane, not the big one, and leave the rest at a Thamel hotel, which we arrange.
• The arrival day. The cheapest fare lands in Kathmandu at 22:40 on 20 October, and the daylight version at 14:30. Tell your hotel or us in advance so someone is waiting.
• The road to Manthali. In the busy windows, fixed-wing Lukla flights leave from Manthali, a four to five hour drive with a hotel pick-up between midnight and 2 am. We tell every client before they book and confirm the road is open 48 hours before departure.
• Trail costs by altitude, summed. A day at the top of the route with a shower, charging, a litre of water and wifi costs NPR 1,100 to 2,000 (US$7 to US$13) from the ranges in our price list, and the total is in the budget table. Few pages add it up.
• Dates, from the Gazette and two Czech laws. Your flight lands inside the Dashain holiday, which runs 17 to 23 October 2026, and 28 October is a Czech state holiday in the middle of the trek.
• Permits from the official figures. NPR 8,000 in total, and TIMS is still part of it.
• The visa answer, from one source. The Nepal Department of Immigration says every passport outside twelve listed countries may get a visa on arrival, and the Czech Republic is not one of the twelve. It does not name the ordinary Czech passport, so apply online and print the approval.
• The health card, from the EU's own page. The EHIC does not cover rescue or repatriation, and Nepal is outside the EU. Ask for trekking cover to 6,000 metres and helicopter evacuation for illness, in writing. A helicopter from Base Camp to Kathmandu costs US$3,000 to US$5,000.
• Our refund terms in plain words. They are in the payment section below, so you can read them before you pay.

How do you pay from the Czech Republic?

A 10 per cent deposit confirms your booking, and the balance is due when you reach Kathmandu. We bill in US dollars, and the balance can be paid in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. Card payments carry a 3.5 per cent bank charge, and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign clients, and we do not take Czech koruna. Your own bank may add a currency margin when it converts koruna to US dollars or euros, and may have a limit on international card payments, so ask it before you pay.

Please be clear on the terms before you pay. The deposit is non-refundable, and if you cancel there is no refund. What we do offer is free rescheduling, with at least 72 hours' notice, to any date within one year. For restricted areas and Tibet the notice is seven days. If we are the ones who cannot run your trip, we refund what you paid, less taxes, bank and card charges and any money already spent on permits and flights.

Check us before you pay

You are sending money to a company in another country, so verify us rather than trusting a nicely written page. We are The Everest Holiday Pvt. Ltd., registered in Nepal on 8 April 2016, TAAN member number 1586. You can check any Nepali operator through the Office of the Company Registrar, TAAN, the Department of Tourism licence register and the Nepal Rastra Bank forex certification. Ask any operator for those numbers and check them yourself. You can also read our over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. Our Europe representative is reachable on the Finnish number above.

I will also say what most operators leave out. Even fully licensed companies have been involved in scams. A licence is a floor, not a guarantee. Talk to us, ask hard questions, and see whether the answers are specific.

Quick answers for the Czech Republic

Is there a direct flight from Prague? Not in my search on 4 October 2026: the nonstop-only search returned nothing. The cheapest return fare was EUR 1,036 with Air Arabia through Sharjah, and the others ran up to EUR 4,050. They are one-day snapshots.

Do I need a visa with a Czech passport? Yes, a tourist visa. The Nepal Department of Immigration says every passport outside twelve listed countries may get one on arrival, and the Czech Republic is not one of the twelve. It does not name the ordinary Czech passport, so apply online and print the approval.

Does my European health card work in Nepal? No. The EU's Your Europe page says the EHIC covers public providers only and does not help with rescue or repatriation, and Nepal is not an EU country. You need a policy that covers trekking to altitude and helicopter rescue, in writing, bought at home.

How many days will the trip take? The 19 October to 6 November example on the cheapest fare is 19 calendar days away from home, about 14 working days by my count if you work Monday to Friday. The Czech Labour Code sets annual leave at no less than 4 weeks, but check your own balance and agree the dates with your employer in writing.

Do I need a guide? Every trek we run includes a licensed guide. A licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS card are required on most trekking routes under the Nepal Tourism Board rule from 31 March 2023; the Everest (Khumbu) region does not enforce it locally, but we always trek with a licensed guide.

Can I bring a full suitcase to Lukla? No. Mountain flights allow about 10 kg checked plus 5 kg hand carry, and our flights guide says no airline publishes a Lukla excess rate. Leave the rest at your Kathmandu hotel.

How much cash do I need on the trail? The only cash machines are in Namche and are often empty, so bring your trail money from Kathmandu. On Budget, plan US$25 to US$40 a day for food; on Standard and Luxury meals are included.

Are permits included? Yes, in every tier. Sagarmatha National Park, the Khumbu municipality fee and the TIMS card, NPR 8,000 in total.

What if the Lukla flight is cancelled? That is what your spare days in Kathmandu are for. We rebook you, and on Luxury you are on a helicopter anyway.

Is autumn or spring better? Autumn for clear weather and atmosphere, spring for warmer days and flowers. Both are good.

What is the time difference? Nepal is 3 hours 45 minutes ahead of Prague until 25 October 2026, and 4 hours 45 minutes ahead after the clocks go back.

Can I talk to someone in Europe? Yes. Shradha Simkhada is our Europe representative, based in Finland. Phone and WhatsApp: +358 45 353 8606.

If you want the numbers run for your dates and your group size, message me or Shradha on WhatsApp, or email [email protected]. I will give you the real figure, including the parts that are not in our favour. You may also want our guides for other European markets, from Germany, from Poland, from Austria, from Switzerland, from Finland and from the UK.

About The Everest Holiday

We are a family company in Kathmandu, three generations of family guides, registered in 2016 and a member of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, number 1586. When you book with us you deal with the family, not a call centre, and the guide who meets you at the airport works for the same people who answered your first message.

Every booking helps fund our Nagarjun Learning Center. We fully run the centre at Saldum, where 70 children learn with a teacher I pay for personally, and we have helped build and still support other community learning centres. It is where a real part of what you pay ends up.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586.