Everest Base Camp Trek with Kids: Best Family Adventure

Is it possible to trek the Everest Base Camp with Kids?

Everest Base Camp Trek is a bucket list item for many travel enthusiasts around the globe. Every year, many trekkers come to Nepal for this lifetime adventure.

While many do the EBC trek solo, couple or in a group, there are a few people who want to complete this trek with their kids and family.

Everest Base Camp Trek with kids is one of the amazing journeys that you could ever do in your lifetime. Each year families from different nations complete this trip with their children of all age groups.
Trekking to the Base Camp of Everest is already an incredible journey on its own, and being able to trek with your kids on this trail, rejoicing in the beautiful Himalayan landscapes, enhances the experience to a next level.

Not only that, but you get to create a stronger bond and connect with your children even better. In a digital generation of smartphones and ipad, trekking on the Himalayas could be a refreshing as well as a detoxicating experience for the children. 

During this trip, your children not only have the opportunity to witness the astonishing views of the peaks, but also learn about lifestyles and different cultures outside their community, specifically the Sherpa people, one of Nepal's local ethnic groups. This experience may help your kids adapt to various environments in the future.

Why Take Kids on Everest Base Camp?

Here are the major reasons to take yours kids for the EBC Trek

• Physical Fitness
• Spectacular Views
• Education and life lessons
• Strong family bonding
• Sense of Achievement

The EBC trek offers the spectacular view of the peaks in the Mahalangur Mountain Range, especially the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest, rising to 8,848.86 m (29,031.69 ft), and others, such as follows:

• Lhotse (8,516 m/27,940 ft)
• Makalu (8,485 m/27,838 ft)
• Cho Oyu (8,188 m/26,864 ft)
• Nuptse (7,861 m/25,791 ft)
• Pumori (7,161 m/23,494 ft)
• Ama Dablam (6,812 m/22,349 ft)
• Thamserku (6,608 m/21,680 ft)

You get an opportunity to visit the largest monastery of the Khumbu Region, Tengboche Monastery. It’s the most sacred place for the locals. If your trekking plan is in October or November, your children can experience Mani Rimdu, an annual festival that lasts 19 days, which is celebrated at this monastery.

Moreover, your family will have the chance to encounter animals, mostly yaks and other wildlife such as snow leopard, Himalayan Tahr, and blue sheep, as well as Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendron, along the way. This trek is one of the best gifts you can ever give to your boy and girl.

You may know that extra care is required when travelling with kids, especially for adventure trips. However, with proper preparation and guidance from experts, you can trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) with your family, just as many other families have already done.

We’ll educate you about the trek’s difficulty, duration, altitudes, trail conditions, best season, and other details in this blog, so that it’ll be easy for you to plan. For now, just do us a favour, keep reading patiently till the end.

Highlights Of The Everest Base Camp Trek With Kids

• A better bonding with you children and kids.
• Witness the closer look of Everest and other peaks in the Mahalangur Mountain Range.
• Experience the magnificence of the Khumbu Glacier.
• Meet Nepal’s friendliest ethnic group, the Sherpa, and learn about their lifestyle.
• Hike through the forest of Nepal’s national flower, rhododendron, and other wild flowers.
• Encounter a domestic animal, a Yak, and other wild species, such as the snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, and blue sheep.
• Visit Nepal’s one of the highest towns, Namche Bazaar, also known as the Gateway of Everest.
• Visit Tengoboche Monastery, the largest and most important holy place in the Khumbu Region.

Is It Possible To Do The Everest Base Camp Trek With Kids

Tourist often visit Nepal for trekking purposes with their kids. There aren’t many of them compared to the group of adults, but family treks are also common here. Therefore, what I would like to say is yes, it is possible to do the trek to the EBC with children.

Several families have records of their children successfully reaching Everest Base Camp. Here are their names, ages, and the dates they reached the destination to inspire you to consider taking your children on this journey as well:

• Carter Dallas: A two-year-old boy from Glasgow, Scotland, on October 25, 2023.
• Advit Golecha: A four-year-old boy from Hyderabad, India, on November 6, 2021.
• Zara Sifra: A four-year and five-month-old girl from the Czech Republic, on December 11, 2023.
• Harshit Saumitra: A five-year-old boy from New Delhi, India, on October 17, 2014.

Many other kids have made it up to the base camp so far. However, I’ve only included the names, ages, and dates of reaching the EBC of these four children because they were just under five at that time.

So, if they could reach the base camp at such a young age, then I reckon yours can also do the same. All they need is proper care and guidance during the journey.

Is The Everest Base Camp Trek Tough for Kids

The difficulty of the EBC Trek is considered moderate to challenging. It’s suitable for both experienced and first-timers depending upon the physical condition. People of almost every age group can do it.

Since it’s also challenging, beginners, senior citizens, and kids might find it hard at some point, and that’s for sure. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that they can’t make it up to the base camp or that it’s impossible for them. It is merely a bit hard, but not extreme.

Several factors make this adventure both easy and hard at the same time. So, let me break down these aspects to make them simple and easy for you to understand.

Factors Making The EBC Trek Easy

Trail Conditions

In terms of the route, it is well-maintained and not that technical or scary. Your family doesn’t need to ascend straight up to the hill.

Yes, you would face some steep sections along the trail, and it’s common to face such parts when you’re hiking in the mountains. But you and your kids won’t face the situation where you need to climb for a long time.

Accommodation Facilities

It’s a highly famous trek in the world. Therefore, hotels and tea houses are available to provide you with warm service along the trail.

They’re so concerned about hygiene. Hence, the rooms are always in a neat and clean condition. They clean up the room forthwith once a guest leaves the hotel.

They provide you with enough warm blankets for the family. However, you can still bring your sleeping bag, just in case. Even in such a high-altitude location, you’ll be amazed to find modern amenities in every hotel, such as electricity, internet connection, and a hot shower.

They also provide a variety of food options. Local or Western cuisine, you can order whichever you prefer from the menu.

Nevertheless, my suggestion to you is to try some local food when you’re in Nepal, like dal bhat, thukpa, chowmein, mo:mo, etc. I’m saying this because these are things you don’t experience in your country, I reckon.

Factors Making The EBC Trek Hard

Duration

Regarding the duration of the Everest Trek, it’s generally 14 days. Thus, your son and daughter may feel exhausted, as walking straight for a couple of weeks is a bit challenging for beginners and kids.

Elevation

Everest Base Camp sits at an altitude of 5,364 m (17,598 ft) above sea level. It’s just the main point of the trek, but not the highest point.

In fact, Kalapatthar is the highest point at 5,555 m (18,225.07 ft). From there, the view of Mount Everest and other neighbouring peaks mentioned above can be experienced very closely and clearly. Even the trailhead, Lukla, is at 2,860 m (9,383 ft), which is very high if you’re from sea level.

EBC Trek Itinerary For Families

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,324 m/4,344 ft)

Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2,860 m/9,383 ft) and Hike to Phakding (2,610 m/8562.992 ft)

Day 3: Hike Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,438 m/11,280 ft)

Day 4: Acclimatisation Day

Day 5: Hike from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,870 m/12,697 ft)

Day 6: Hike from Tengboche to Dengboche (4,410 m/14,468.5 ft)

Day 7: Acclimatisation Day

Day 8: Hike from Dengboche to Lobuche (4,910 m/16,105 ft)

Day 9: Hike from Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,140 m/16863.52 ft) and Hike Gorak Shep to EBC (5,364 m/17,598 ft) and Back.

Day 10: Hike from Gorak Shep to Kalapatthar (5,555 m/18,225.07 ft) and back, and descend to Pheriche (4,371 m/14,340.55 ft)

Day 11: Descend from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

Day 12: Descend from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu

Day 14: Departure

What Is The Best Time For EBC Trekking with Children

It is significant to understand the best time for the Everest Trek when planning it, if you want your children to enjoy their adventure to the fullest. So, regarding the best time, there are two seasons: spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November).

Here are some factors that contribute to these two seasons being the best time to visit the EBC with kids, in a breakdown:

Spring

• Daytime temperatures are mild, making hiking comfortable, and at nighttime, it’s cold but manageable.
• Longer daylight time allows you to hike in relaxation.
• Blooming rhododendron and other wild flowers make the trail look colourful and attractive.
• Some local festivals, such as Holi (Festival of Colours), Nepali New Year, and Buddha Purnima (Birthday of Lord Buddha), occur in this season.

Autumn

• A dust-free environment, thanks to monsoon rain, offering stunning views of the mountains and villages.
• Stable weather and dry trails make hiking more enjoyable.
• Days are warm; however, nights get colder in November.
• Nepal’s major festivals, Dashain and Tihar, add a cultural vibe to the trail.

Permits Cost For Everest Base Camp Trek with Children

There are two types of permits you’re required to obtain for trekking to the EBC with families. They are the Sagarmatha National Park Entry and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permits. 

Refer to the table below to find out the permit cost for the Everest Trek with kids:

Permit	Nepalese	SAARC Nationals	Other Nationals	Children (Age Limit)
Sagarmatha National Park Entry	NPR 100 Per Person	USD 11 per person	USD 21.22 per person	No fee is applied for under 10
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality	Free	USD 21.22 per person for up to 4 weeks	USD 21.22 per person for up to 4 weeks	No fee is applied for under 5

 

Safety Tips For The Everest Trek With Children

It’s crucial to learn about safety tips before you go on an adventure. However, since you’re planning the Everest Trek with children, you need to be even more focused on this.

Here are some basic safety tips for you: 

Before The Trek

• Age Consideration: Children under five are not recommended if you’re not an experienced hiker.
• Hire A Guide/Porter: It’d be much better if you hire a guide when you’re trekking with your kids. Additionally, under Nepal’s government rule, hiring a guide is a must to trek anywhere within the country for safety. However, if you think you don’t need a guide for this journey, then at least hire a porter to carry your kids' belongings.
• Travel Insurance: Although it’s not mandatory, it would be beneficial for you if you buy it from a local insurance company in your country. Nevertheless, make sure that the policy includes altitude validity (at least up to 6,000 m/19,685.04 ft), helicopter rescue, medical evacuation, and trip cancellation or delay.
• Meet A Doctor: You should check up on your entire family's health condition. Ask a doctor about the medication for altitude sickness called acetazolamide, which is available in pharmacies under the brand name Diamox.
• Carry First-Aid Kit: Pack all the necessary medical supplies, such as Diamox, water purification tablets, bandages, and more in your first-aid kit.
• Pack Enough Clothes: Ensure you’ve packed all the necessary warm clothing for this 14-day trip. It’s obvious that the temperatures are sub-zero at night and in the early morning, and small kids are more vulnerable than we are.

During The Trek

• Hike Gradually: Don’t rush your kids while hiking. If they try to go faster in the heat of excitement, tell them to walk as slowly as they can. Your body and theirs should get time to adjust to the lower air pressure environment in order to prevent the risk of altitude sickness.
• Drink Enough Water: Don’t let your and your children's bodies go dehydrated. Drink at least 3 to 4 litres of water every day. Additionally, eating cucumbers and apples daily is beneficial, as these foods are high in water content.
• Acclimatise The Body: Once you people reach a height of 3,000 m (9,842.52 ft), spend an extra day at the same point for body acclimatisation. There are two places typically considered ideal to acclimatise the body on this trek. They are Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,286 ft) and Dingboche (4,410 m/14,470 ft).
• Eat Enough Calories: To cover a long distance with a heavy backpack on the shoulder, it’s vital to intake more calories. Carbohydrates contain more calories than other food components. Hence, eat foods such as pasta, bread, potatoes, pulses, and rice. Furthermore, avoid over-fried, oily, and non-vegetarian foods, as they may cause food poisoning to your family.

Eat Garlic: Make your children eat a piece of garlic daily before starting the hike. Moreover, include garlic soup with timur (Sichuan Pepper) in a meal. These two also help you and them fight altitude sickness.