Wifi Internet, Cellphone and Charging Tips For Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest base camp trek connects you to highest Himalayas on planet, popular Sherpa culture and simply breathtaking natural highlights. Most of us embark for Everest trek to get this connection and during this journey even if we get disconnected from outer-world, it should not be major matter of concern. However with technological advancement and rapid development in tech field, there are various ways you can connect your device to wifi, data internet and phone network coverage. At the same time, due to tough topographical surroundings, high altitude and remote settings, these technologies lack firm reliability. Phone and wifi network can be unreachable for couple of days and electricity might be fluctuating. But there are few tech terms that you must know for saving money while trekking all the way to Everest base camp.

Did you knew that saving few bucks while buying wifi internet prepaid cards during your Everest base camp trek can get you one extra bottle of drinking water, one whole roll of toilet paper, one big pot of ginger lemon tea, a bowl of garlic soup and even you can save enough money to take hot shower at Dingboche or Lobuche. These things seem normal as often we ignore on our normal days. But as we are taking about Everest base camp trek over here, walking above 5000 meters elevation on direct sunlight on rough terrains, every drop of clean drinking water counts; importance of toilet paper is known when you enter a toilet with limited/no water supply; that garlic soup and ginger tea becomes life saving and even cures your mild headache caused due to altitude.

So, if you are planning for Everest base camp trek, you need to know these tech tips on using internet, cell phone and charging your device. First let’s take a short overview on what are connecting options available and how much it costs to get connected at Everest trekking trail.

Before flying to Lukla, i.e. at Kathmandu, you need to have Ncell Gsm sim card for your cellular device (mobile phone) along with quite a few 500rs recharge cards, activate viable data pack by getting information from its website ncell.axiata.com and also carrying along 20000mah(will be just enough) power bank to charge your kindle, tablet or phone. Some people also carry a solar charger but these portable solar chargers take a whole lot of time to charge, not applicable for batteries of your dslr cameras and add extra weight to your backpack.

After flying to Lukla, i.e. when you turn on your cell phone at Lukla airstrip, take photos of the airplane, airport, nearby Himalayas and surroundings here are day to day tips for getting connected to the outside world via the internet and cell phone.

At Lukla:

Ncell and Ntc 3G gsm network coverage: Good and recommended to use for phone call and internet data

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available but not recommended here as it is comparatively expensive. Everest link is wireless ISP Company at Everest region started since 2014 that issues prepaid cards like recharge cards. Wifi router from your lodge releases the network, you need to login this wifi on your device by scratching the prepaid card. Once logged in, Rs 600 card gives you 200mb of data and should be utilized within 15 hours.

Mobile and camera battery charging: Available free of cost at your lodge room

At Phakding:

Ncell and Ntc gsm network coverage: Moderate and recommended to use for call and internet data upon available

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available and use only if mobile cell phone network coverage is out of reach

Mobile and Camera battery Charging: Available free of cost at your lodge room (Electricity generated from local dudhkoshi river, so high fluctuation of electricity especially during peak hours after 7 pm)

At Namche :

Ncell and Ntc 3G gsm network coverage: Good and recommended to use for phone call and internet data (Network becomes excellent as you hike upto Syanboche area)

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available but not recommended to use as phone data works quite well

Mobile and samera battery charging: Available free of cost at your lodge room

At Tengboche:

Ncell 3g gsm network coverage: Good and recommended to use for phone call and internet data ( Ncell tower is just infront your tea house :D )

Ntc gsm network coverage: Not available

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available but use only incase Ncell data is not working

Mobile and camera battery charging: Available at extra cost, 200-500 per hour per device at dining reception of your tea house. Your power bank comes into use here.

At Dingboche:

Ncell and Ntc gsm network coverage: Bad/ no coverage ( Ncell network available while going for acclimatization hike to Chukkung)

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available and recommended to use

Mobile and camera battery charging: Solar charging available at extra cost at your lodge. Use power bank for phone charging and camera batteries at dining reception of lodge.

At Lobuche:

Ncell gsm network coverage: Bad/ no coverage

Ntc gsm network coverage: Not available

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available, shortage and recommended to use (If no wifi prepaid cards available at your lodge, get it from another nearby lodge)

Mobile and camera battery charging: Solar charging available at extra cost, use your power bank for charging cellular devices

At Gorakshep, Kalapathher:

Ncell and Ntc gsm network coverage: Good 2g network for phone call, moderate data connection

Everest link wifi prepaid cards: Available and recommended to use

Mobile and camera battery charging: Solar charging available at extra cost at your lodge

At Everest base camp:

Ncell and Ntc gsm network coverage: Moderate connection for phone call

Everest link wifi: Available,

Mobile and camera battery charging: Not available. Recommended to use your power bank.

Therefore overall, with the exception to Dingboche and Lobuche, there are quite good network coverage from gsm service providers specially Ncell. So, even though you might feel like being disconnected from outer world, there are different ways to upload your awesome trek images to upload on facebook,instagram, check/reply email and all in all let your loved ones get updates on your once in a lifetime of Everest base camp trek journey.