You'll have 4G at Lukla, Phakding and Namche Bazaar, patchy signal at Tengboche, weak signal at Dingboche and Pheriche, and essentially none at Lobuche and Gorak Shep. That's the village-by-village picture in Mosaic Adventure's connectivity guide, updated in March 2026, and it matches the pattern other Kathmandu trekking agencies describe. Above Namche, Wi-Fi does more of the work than mobile data: Everest Link cards and lodge Wi-Fi reach most villages, at prices that climb with the trail.
This guide pulls those sources together with what Nepal eSIMs cost and which network they use. We haven't trekked to Base Camp for this site; the coverage notes are from the dated sources linked throughout.
Signal by village
| Village | Approx. elevation | Ncell | NTC | Mobile data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lukla | 2,860 m | Good, 4G | Good, 4G | Usable |
| Phakding | 2,610 m | Good | Good | Usable |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | Good, 4G | Good, 4G | The best spot on the trail |
| Tengboche | 3,860 m | Patchy | Patchy | Unreliable |
| Dingboche / Pheriche | 4,410 m | Weak to none | Weak | NTC only, unreliable |
| Lobuche | 4,940 m | None | Occasional voice | None |
| Gorak Shep | 5,164 m | None | Sometimes voice | None |
Coverage: Mosaic Adventure, last modified 11 Mar 2026. Elevations are commonly cited approximations.
The detail that matters for your eSIM choice is the NTC column. Mosaic says NTC "still pushes data through there" at Pheriche when Ncell has nothing. Most travel eSIMs that name a network for Nepal use Ncell: Nomad and Airalo both list Ncell only, while Holafly lists "Nepal Telecom / Ncell". Saily, Maya Mobile and Lotso Travel don't name one.
What an eSIM costs for Nepal
Nepal is the most expensive country in our price index for fixed-data plans by a wide margin, and unlimited passes are the better buy. Two weeks at 0.5 GB a day:
Our own product, Lotso Travel, is the most expensive option here: its public price was $25.99 for 1 GB and $70.99 for 3 GB. We'd buy Nomad's 15-day unlimited on Ncell ($39, full speed for 2 GB a day) or Maya Mobile's flat 14-day pass ($27.99) instead.
Wi-Fi above Namche: Everest Link and lodges
Above Namche you'll lean on Wi-Fi. Mosaic's early-2026 prices:
| Option | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Everest Link card, small | 10 GB, 30 days | about $20 |
| Everest Link card, large | 20 GB, 30 days | about $30 |
| Lodge daily voucher | Unlimited, shared bandwidth | NPR 500–1,500 a day |
Lodge Wi-Fi alone, per day, ran from free or NPR 300–500 in Lukla to NPR 1,500 at Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Mosaic adds that rates "shift seasonally". Charging is free in Lukla, Phakding and Namche and costs more as you climb, up to about NPR 1,000 per device at Gorak Shep (the guide also quotes NPR 1,500 per charge there, so budget for the higher figure).
A plan that works
- Kathmandu to Namche: your eSIM. Install it before you fly into Nepal, and use the Namche rest days for uploads, maps and calls home while you have 4G.
- Namche to Base Camp: buy an Everest Link card in Namche if you want to stay in touch daily; otherwise pay per day for lodge Wi-Fi where you need it.
- If you want mobile data higher up: NTC appears to reach further than Ncell. None of the eSIMs we priced confirm NTC, except Holafly, which lists both networks; a local NTC SIM is the other option.
Satellite backup
Nepal isn't on Apple's list of countries for Emergency SOS via satellite (checked against Apple's 5 October 2026 page), and we don't see it in Google's Pixel Satellite SOS table either. If you want a way to call for help between Tengboche and Gorak Shep that doesn't depend on a lodge's Wi-Fi, the options are a Garmin inReach or ZOLEO, both on the Iridium network. Our satellite vs eSIM guide compares plan prices; Garmin's $7.99 a month SOS-only plan is the cheapest way to have it for a three-week trip.
- An eSIM installed at home: Nomad or Maya Mobile unlimited, on our numbers
- Offline maps of the Khumbu downloaded before Lukla (Maps.me, Organic Maps or your trail app)
- A satellite messenger (inReach or ZOLEO) if you want SOS above Namche
- A power bank of 10,000 mAh or more, kept warm in your sleeping bag; charging costs climb with altitude
- Nepali rupees for Wi-Fi vouchers and charging, which are priced in NPR
Questions people ask
Is there phone signal at Everest Base Camp?
Not reliably. Mosaic Adventure's village table (updated March 2026) reports no Ncell signal at Lobuche or Gorak Shep and only occasional NTC voice. Trekkers above Dingboche generally rely on Everest Link Wi-Fi cards or lodge Wi-Fi.
Which is better on the Everest trek, Ncell or NTC?
Both are good up to Namche Bazaar. Higher up, trip reports say NTC (Nepal Telecom) holds on longer; Mosaic notes NTC "still pushes data through" at Pheriche when Ncell has nothing. Most travel eSIMs, including Nomad and Airalo, use Ncell.
How much is an Everest Link card?
About $20 for 10 GB and $30 for 20 GB, each valid 30 days, according to Mosaic Adventure's early-2026 prices. Lodge Wi-Fi vouchers run NPR 500 to 1,500 a day, rising with altitude.
Does iPhone satellite SOS work in Nepal?
No. Nepal isn't on Apple's list of Emergency SOS via satellite countries (5 Oct 2026). Carry a Garmin inReach or ZOLEO if you want satellite backup.