Everest Base Camp Trek

Your Arrival Time (?): Our office representative will meet and greet you in typical Nepali style at Kathmandu airport and transfer you to the hotel as mentioned in your quotation.

At. 06:00 PM: In the evening we will meet for a coffee and will brief you on the details of your trek program. You will get every necessary information you need for trekking in the Everest region. All your paperwork and permits will be made available to you, to be kept with our guide. 

*Optionally you can add one additional night stay in Kathmandu to cover cultural sightseeing in Kathmandu as well for your trek preparation shopping.

Kathmandu Half-Day Sightseeing: Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath temple for half-day sightseeing in Kathmandu.

At. 06:00 AM: Today is the starting day of your trek which starts with a scenic flight to Lukla from the Tribhuvan International airport (TIA), Kathmandu. It may take you about 45 minutes to get to Lukla airport from Kathmandu. During the flight, you will glance at the wonders and glory of the mountain paradise, Khumbu region. Though the landing may give you good goosebumps, you will enjoy your flight because of the serene outlook.

After getting to Lukla, you will explore the Lukla market for some time and then start your trek to Phakding. This trek is a downhill trek which is quite easy. After a trek of about 4 to 5 hours through dusty muddy trails on the bank of Dudh Koshi river passing some suspension bridges, along with the company of Himalayan beasts, yaks and donkeys, you will reach Phakding. The only problem you may face during this trek is the dusty trail. Since the Himalayan transporter marches on the same path, it becomes more muddy and dusty. And if you happen to follow just after them then, you will definitely have your face powdered by the dust. So, be sure to wear a mask during this trek. Eventually, you will reach Phakding. Here you will have some nice, warm Himalayan food, and rest for today.

At. 08:00 AM: On this day, you will trek steep uphill with a net elevation gain of 830m leading to the Namche Bazaar (3440m). Before going for breakfast in the teahouse, please pack your duffles and give them to the porters as they depart earlier than you. After handing it in, you will head for breakfast, rest for some time and then start your second-day trek. The initial trails on this day are easy, which is up to the Monjo. In Monjo, there is a visitor centre, where you will get your national park permit checked. If you haven't got your national park permit yet, you can get it from here also. Then you will have lunch in some teahouse and resume the trek.

From Monjo the uphill starts, which is quite hard to tackle. Now, you will be trekking on the river shore of Dudhkoshi through the dense pine forests. Between Monjo's trail to Namche Bazaar, more specifically Larche Dovan and Namche, you will get the first glimpse of Everest from top Danda. Here you will admire the beauty for some time and trek upwards. Now You will cross several waterfalls and suspension bridges, one of the remarkable ones is the Edmund Hillary suspension bridge which is at the confluence point of the Dudhkoshi and Imja rivers.

This is also the last Suspension bridge before reaching Namche. Just before you reach Namche there is a checkpoint called Jorsalle Checkpoint where you will have your permits checked. After the checking procedure, you will officially reach the territory of Everest as you will be welcomed by a huge gate saying “Welcome to the Sagarmatha national park”. Passing through this gate marks your arrival at Namche. If you reach Namche in broad daylight, you may spot Everest and other peaks too. Since you will be exhausted by the long hard trek, you will have dinner at some lodge in Namche and rest there.

On this day you will not trek above as you have reached the elevation of 3870m. As it is quite common to get altitude sickness above this height, today you will join some nearby hikes for acclimatisation. The best practice would be the hike up to the Everest view hotel (3870m), from where you could get the marvellous view of Everest, Amadablam, Pumori and many peaks. After spending some time in this hotel, you will head for the Sherpa kingdom, Thame, Khumjung and Khunde villages. These villages are the villages protected from the evil outcast of modern changes, so you could find authentic Sherpa lifestyles and culture here. After passing through the Khumjung village, you will halt in Khunde village and have lunch there.

After more exploration in these villages, you will hike down. On the way back you will pass through the Sagarmatha national park visitor centre where you can get the details on the interesting facts about Everest, climbing information, permit details, flora, and fauna in this national park. Some hikes after the visitor centre will take you to the Sherpa museum, which is a traditional Sherpa house demonstrating ancient design as there is the living room on the first floor, and beside is the prayer room, and beneath this, there is a cow stable and hay store. Not just this, you could also spot several Sherpa artefacts, and ornaments here. After this, comes the Buddhist symbolism, the Namche monastery. There is a large meadow in the front yard of this monastery, and sitting here for some time, dwelling on the mountainous lifestyle and geography is something everyone cherishes during the trek. You will also appreciate this  little moment during this day hike. After this all, if you like you can go to the chorten of Tenzing Hillary which is on the edge of the Namche bazaar. From here you can get a 360-degree view of the mountain arrays including Everest. At last, you will stroll around the Namche bazaar for some time, enjoying the Sherpa delicacy and put an end to this day.

Additionally, if you are interested in the Gokyo lakes too, you can join the Gokyo lake helicopter tour from Namche. It will take you to the Gokyo Ri which is the vantage point offering jaw-dropping views of the peaks and the amber, turquoise blue glacier lakes.

At 08:00 AM This day trekking is a combination of steep ascends and pretty descents. Beginning your day with the delicious cinnamon rolls, and apple pies which is a famous Namche breakfast, you will start your day's trek to Debuche. At first, you will walk through some plains of Namche enjoying the mountain ridges and then the staircases start. After some staircases, you will reach a small mountain school, where you could observe children being naughty and the teachers running after them. Seeing this all refreshes your childhood memories. After a 2 hours hike from Namche through the Juniper forest which is considered Sacred in this region, you will reach the small village of Kyanjuma. Up to here, the trekking trails are the same for the Gokyo lake trek and Everest base camp trek. So, now two trails depart one leading to the Everest base camp trek and another to the Gokyo valley and lakes.

Following the trails to Everest base camp, you will hike above through Birch forest where you will see the parasitic lichens hanging around. Crossing the forest, you will hike in the plain dusty trail for some time where you will see mani stones crafted by the monks, monasteries, mani walls, prayer wheels and swinging prayer flags. At some distance, you will see the beautiful valley of Imja. This valley grants you an awe-inspiring view of the Imja Khola, mountain ridges, deciduous forests, and small mountain villages. From here the struggle for this day starts as You have to trek steep downhill to Phunki Tenga. In Phunki Thanga, there is a checkpoint where you will have to present your permits. After the checking is done, you will have lunch in some teahouses and then resume the trek. Until here you followed the steep downhill but now, you will follow a steep uphill.

After some woodland walk, you will start to climb up to the Tengboche. This trek will pull your leg really hard taking you to the oldest and most famous monastery in this Khumbu region, Tengboche Monastery. After you reach Tengboche, you will spend some time in this monastery appreciating little gestures of the locals. Some even wait here for the sunset view as the sunset seems phenomenal from the back of the monastery. After visiting the monastery, again the down hike starts, about 15 to 20 mins eventually leading to Debuche. Exhausted by today's trek, you will just go to your booked teahouse, have some energising meals and take a rest.

At. 08:00 AM: Starting your day with a warm breakfast, today you will set off to Dingboche. Today's trek is easy, if we talk about the trails, ascend and descend. The only difficulty may be the altitude sickness as today you are aiming for an altitude gain of 665m in the elevation range of 4410m. So, this could be a possible hindrance. You will start your trek by crossing a suspension bridge. After this bridge, you will trek uphill through the woodlands decorated by coniferous and colourful rhododendrons. The early morning forest walk with the chirping of birds and the tranquil environment makes the trek really incredible, and also the trails painted by the dry leaves bestow a warm welcome to the trekkers. After a hike of about 1 hour through these mystical woodlands, you will reach the beautiful village of Pangboche.

It is a beautiful mountainous village engaged in farming, especially Potato and barley. So, this trek also grants you an amazing opportunity to discover and explore mountainous farming too, which is rare in other treks. Also, there is a monastery here, where you can see the locals and the monks offering prayer. Moreover, This village is considered the epitome of beauty, as this is also a vantage point offering an astounding view of the marvellous Amadablam followed by Lhotse, Nuptse and more ridges. A feeling of pure bliss washes you thoroughly after the encounter with such beauty. Delighted by the beauty in front of you, you will hike even more from here, almost for 40 to 50 minutes straight leading to Dingboche. From Dingboche two trails depart, one leading to Everest three passes and the other to base camp. Today you will stop here in Dingboche, have nutritious meals and go to bed.

This is the second day of acclimatisation in this Everest base camp trek. It is mandatory to practise acclimatising here, as the air gets thinner and thinner up above. For acclimatising, you will join the nearby hike to the Nangkartshang viewpoint. This is the vantage point offering the catch of many exotic peaks. Lobuche, Amadablam, and Lhotse look fabulous from here. Also, from the trails leading to this viewpoint, you can witness several Sherpa settlements which indeed include the sublime Pheriche village. After observing the Panorama, and resting here for some time, you will hike down to Dingboche. This hike is not just for the mountain’s view, as it plays a huge role in getting you accustomed to the new thin air of the mountain region. So, try to join this too. Rest of the day, you can simply play poker with your friends, enjoy and rest in the teahouse trying the available dishes here.

At. 08:00 AM: Departing with a nice breakfast from Dingboche, today you will trek to Lobuche with an altitude gain of 520m. Remember to keep a water bottle with you every time as drinking plenty of water may help mitigate the risk of altitude sickness in some ranges. This trek of today will be new to you as you will be walking witnessing all the majestic peaks. So, today's trek is all about getting familiar with mountain beauty. You will march through the rocky sandy trail today. Also, you will come across  several crystal clear streams, but don't make the mistake of drinking this stream water directly just because it seems clear. Consumption of this stream water may lead to serious  conditions sometimes, so you should bring the water from the teahouse you stayed in last night. After following a slow ascend of 2 hours, you will reach a village called Thukla. Here you can rest for some time, fill the water bottles and enjoy the scenery. Mainly Cho Oyu, Cholatse, Lhotse and Thamserku spark implausibly from here. Resuming the trek after the interval you will walk for about an hour which will take you to the pass called Dughla pass.

In Dughla you will have your lunch and trek above. From the top of Dughla, you will see a memorial site nearby, this is the Lobuche memorial pass. This is a sombre place where the deceased during the mountaineering are honoured. A strong sentiment of grief and sorrow engulfs you here as you watch the chortens all over the walls. On the other hand, a feeling of greatness and respect towards the long gone embarks, as they try what everyone fears. Subsidising the emotions, you will walk forward through the moraines and lateral moraines of the Khumbu glacier. In the distance, you will see a U-shaped valley formed by the Khumbu glacier which is quite fascinating. Passing through this nature's outburst you will reach the Lobuche. Many start to experience altitude sickness here. So, ask for garlic noodle soup and ginger lemon water during your teahouse stay. This puts the end to your 8th day's trek.

At. 08:00 AM: With a warm breakfast in Lobuche, you will head for the Everest base camp today. This is the magnificent day of this trek as you will lay your foot on the base camp of Everest. Today you need to be extra careful as the elevation you will be in is an extreme region highly prone to altitude sickness. So, take good care of yourself. The trails to Gorak Shep are quite hard in comparison to other trails of the base camp. You will walk past the glacier, above and in between them. Also the sedimentary rocks, a  result of the glacial havoc make the trek even more strenuous. Walking above them in such thin air really needs all the energy you have mustered. During this trek, you may panic as you will be thrown into harsh conditions today with the disorientation of mind and body, but think about how far you have got, and your destination that close, and trek above. The struggle is worth it as Amadablam, Lhotse, Pumori, Cholatse, Thamserku, and many other peaks stand botherlessly right in front of you maintaining a majestical impact of their presence, granting a vibe of pure ecstasy.

Also during this trek, within about 500m distance from the main trail, you will see a pyramid-shaped research centre. It is a research centre at the highest altitude mainly focused on the meteorological and geological transformation of the Everest region. If you are interested to learn more about this you could simply pay a visit there too. After about 2-3 hours of ascending and descending through such topography, you will reach Gorakshep, a small mountain village, more like a hamlet with very basic amenities.  Here the charges exceed the maximum. One fascinating fact about Gorakshep is, it used to be the original base camp, but later it was shifted to the present one. Before entering this beautifully nestled mountain paradise, you will once again have your permits checked. After the checking is done, you will have lunch in the teahouse and rest for some time. Getting refreshed within some period, and keeping your bags in the same teahouse, you will head for the final destination, a relief to your relentless soul, the base camp of Everest.

After about a 2 hours trek from Gorak Shep through the Khumbu glacier, you will reach the region surrounded by prayer flags, chortens, and several international flags lining the boundary known as the Everest base camp. Not only you will be the only one crying your heart out here, but you could also see a large crowd cherishing their little moment as they got themselves in the lap of Everest despite various struggles. Also, you could see the climbers preparing for the Everest climb from the northern fringe of Everest in the distance. Seeing them, your heart will get filled with the utmost respect for the climbers as they are heading for the journey ahead unsure of the lead,  life or death. After spending some time in this vibrant environment, you will return to Gorakshep, have a local dinner and rest for the night. This marks the end of your long journey up to the base camp of Everest.

At. 04:00 AM: With just a hot ginger lemon water in the early morning, you will hike for Kala Patthar (5545m) today. The name Kala Patthar is placed by some random Indians, as you can see multiple Sedimentary rocks here. This is the vantage point from which you will get an accessible close-up view of Everest including other peaks such as Nuptse, and Changtse. The initial track of the trail will take you through a small dip of a lake then the uphill starts. After a hike of about 2 hours, you will reach the zone safeguard with the prayer flags, this is the summit of the Kala Patthar. Here you will wait for the sunrise, as the sunrise just behind Everest looks spectacular. At this time, everything glows brightly making it extremely beautiful, more like a celestial one, taking you to the imagination of being on another planet. Gawking at the beauty in front of you, you will be hit with the realisation that such a phenomenal beauty is actually in this Khumbu region, and call this place an unveiled paradise of the planet Earth. After spending some time here, you will hike down to Gorak Shep. It may take 40 to 45 minutes to get to Gorak Shep from Kalapathar.

Here you will have lunch, and the turnaround trek starts. A downward hike of about 4 to 5 hours through the woodlands and the crystal clear streams will take you to Pheriche, a  small mountain settlement. You will pause the trek here for some time and rest as you have walked a lot today. As you reach here, you will be more than happy as you can get sufficient oxygen here. Resuming the trek, you will walk for an additional 3 hours which will take you to the village of Pangboche. This is where you will stay overnight. In comparison to Gorakshep, here the amenities are more advanced at a reasonable cost. Also, electricity is available till here. After having a nice meal in Pangboche you will go to bed. With a large proud smile snickered on your face by the trek’s accomplishment you will sleep peacefully today.

At. 08:00 AM: With the warm morning breakfast in Pangboche, you will trek downwards to Namche. It may take around 6 to 8 hours to reach Namche from Pangboche. Today you will walk observing the incredible mountain vistas and Sherpa settlements through the villages of Debuche, and Tengboche eventually to Namche. In this day's trek, the environment opens up to a new domain as you enter into the grassland through the woodland. The Himalayan heroes, Sherpa people, porters, and other trekkers will accompany you today. Also, you can see Himalayan beasts marching up and down with heavy duffles during today’s descent.

The story of other trekker's base camp journeys is another fascinating part of today's trek, making you forget about the long forming distance ahead. It passes quickly as the interaction with them is quite incredible. Chatting and Enjoying, peeking at Everest’s grace and glory, you will finally get to the Sherpa Kingdom, Namche Bazaar. Until here, you will feel the mountain vibes, but from here you will get the hustle bustle of the city, as there are multiple pubs, cafes and many more amenities. Most of the trekkers take their arrival in Namche as a completion of their journey and enjoy a drink with their friends. Also, there are famous bakeries here, which lure the trekkers with their aroma and flavour, you can savour that divine taste too. After this all, you will bid bye to the day and rest.

At. 08:00 AM: Starting with a warm breakfast in Namche, you will trek downwards to Lukla. Today's trek is gonna cost you a lot of patience as it may nearly take 10 hours to get to Lukla. The vegetation starts to grow rapidly on the way back as you will find the dense forest within your sight. Today you will trek past the woodlands, rivers, waterfalls and suspension bridges. All the scenarios are as it is as your base camp climb. So, cherish the mountains surround as this is your last day trek in the Khumbu region. After a monotonous walk through the uphill, downhill, staircases, Jorsalle, and Monjo you will get to Lukla. Here you could explore internet cafes, pubs, bars, and bakeries. Also, you could take some souvenirs from here, which will always be a pleasant memory of this beautiful trek.

At. 07:00 AM: Today you will go to Lukla airport after having breakfast in Lukla. Since the weather here is very fluctuating all the flights to and from Lukla airport are scheduled for the early morning. If you are lucky enough and the weather favours you, you will fly back to Kathmandu on the same day your flight has been planned. In the worst-case scenario, you may have to wait 1 or 2 days for the weather to get cleared. So, always consider a 2 to 3 days gap before booking the return flight. It takes 45 minutes to get back to Kathmandu from Lukla airport. On this flight, you can peek at Everest one last time, and then bid goodbye to the sensational Khumbu region. Your arrival at TIA, Kathmandu marks the end of your 12 days Everest base camp trek. You will then check in to your hotel, rest your backpack, and head for sightseeing.

During sightseeing, you can explore the rustic art of the Thamel, bustling Basantapur and the religious Pashupatinath. Also, the nightlife in Kathmandu is something you must not miss whenever you get to Nepal. So, add it to your visit list too. Additionally, the most exceptional, mouthwatering, famous Nepali street food, Momos, is found in each and every alley of Kathmandu. You should try that too, trust me you will be delighted by its taste. Lastly, as a thank you gesture, we will be greeting you with a farewell Nepali dinner in the evening.

This will officially be the end of the Everest base camp trek. Looking after your departing time, we’ll escort you to the airport for your flight transfer. You will depart to your destination with a lot of fun and adventure-filled memories and photographs that speak. You will get to the airport 3 hours before your actual flight time for airport formality. Have a safe flight back home!!

For further queries regarding the itinerary, you can take a reference from Everest base camp trek detailed itinerary.