Just got back to USA yesterday from my trip to EBC (Nepal side). I used a trekking company called
Third Pole Treks. Company was adequate but really liked the guide, who was recommended to me by a friend. There are numerous other trekking companies but I haven't heard good or bad about any of them. The cost for what was included in the trek with Third Pole was about $1,275 a head (single supp might apply) and that includes trek accommodations, food and hot drinks on trek (water is additional, figure $75-100 for water and iodine tabs which you get in Kathmandu), 1 guide and porter (tips extra), return flight to Lukla from KTM for you, guide and porter, staff gear costs and permits. The cost does not include your own gear and other personal items.
A number of people also do it on their own, maybe hiring a porter if need be. The trek up to EBC from Lukla takes as little as 7 days (reach EBC on day 7) with one acclimitization day in Namche. I would also recommend a second acclimitization day in Pheriche (this seems to be common and would have been helpful to my friend who had light AMS symptoms in that area, we ended up descending and sort of had that acclimatization day, anyway).
Either way, make sure you have Diamox, plenty of meds for gastrointestinal issues (hygiene is deplorable to put it mildly) and a ton of warm clothes. While we were there the mornings were generally warm (18-22 C) but nights got well below freezing in the teahouses that do little beyond keeping the rain out (and some don't even do that particularly well).
On the Tibetan side, my understanding is that roads lead to base camp, which is why that side is an easier summit (resupplying helps a lot). You might be able to get there easier but there are also many more permit issues on the Tibet side.
Lastly, and not to discourage you, this is not a trip for the faint of heart. The trekking itself is not that difficult but the potential for illness is high. Everyday we saw the rescue helicopter out on missions and we saw up close three rescues. And a guide (someone who is presumably very experienced) even perished from AMS. Plus, like I said above, the hygiene is terrible. The use of disinfectant by the food preparers is non-existant, much of the food that is served has the potential to be bad (avoid meat throughout and eggs/cheese above Pheriche) and water is most assuredly an issue (go with boiled or purified and add iodine; the bottled is a ripoff, we saw them filling bottled waters on their own then charging a hefty premium to unsuspecting tourists).
Hope this helps. Feel free to message me with any further questions. And check out my blogs on this trip when I get them posted (hopefully in the next few days) for any further details. For better or worse, I spent much more time writing about the conditions than describing the trip, letting the pics do the latter.
Blog link
If you are interested in the Nepal side and using my guide, let me know and I'll get you his email. He might be able to get you a discount on the trip price by emailing him directly.
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