Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Kathmandu, Nepal

You will be met at the airport and transported to your centrally-located hotel.

Day 2: Bhaktapur and Thamel

After breakfast, you will  make the short drive across the Kathmandu Valley to Bhaktapur, Nepal's most well preserved ancient city and UNESCO site. Bhaktapur's cobble-stone streets combined with its stunning traditional architecture, temples and statues make for a fascinating time. In the afternoon, you will meet with trek manager Ashok Shahi and your expert trekking guide who will go over the trek with you and assist you with getting any last minute supplies you need for your upcoming trek.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla. Trek from Lukla to Phakding

• Distance: 8 kilometers / 5 miles
• Time: 3 to 3½ hours
• Elevation: 2610 meters / 9383 feet
• Difficulty: Easy

In the morning, you will be transferred to the Kathmandu Airport where you will take the short, but highly scenic flight to Lukla, the starting point of the trek. In Lukla, elevation 2800 meters / 9186 feet, you will meet up with your porters and hit the trail! This section of the trek is quite easy as you will gently descend nearly 200 meters over the first 2 hours of the trek before reaching relatively flat ground the final hour or so until you reach Phakding (elevation 2610m / 9383 ft). Along the way, you will get good views of Kusum Kangru, elevation 6367 meters, one of the more challenging of Nepal's trekking peaks.

Day 4: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

• Distance: 11.5 kilometers / 7.2 miles
• Time: 5 to 6 hours
• Elevation: 3440 meters / 11,286 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

This day you will set out for the main Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar, elevation 3440 meters. You will pass through several picturesque Sherpa villages as well as alpine forests that give way to the glacier-fed Dudh Kosi River. You will also get a good view of Thamserku, a 6608 meter peak that lies just east of Namche Bazaar. The first section of the trek is easy to moderate with about 300 meters of gradual elevation gain the first 2 or 3 hours. The final section of this days trek can be quite demanding as you gain nearly 630 meters of elevation in a relatively short distance. It is well worth it though, as Namche has spectacular mountain views, good guesthouses and excellent food (we recommend the coffee and pastries!!).

Day 5: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Trek to Khumjung and back to Namche

• Distance: 7 kilometers / 4.4 miles
• Time: 3½ to 4 hours
• Elevation: 3970m / 13,024 ft in Khumjung (though we will be returning to Namche to sleep)
• Difficulty: Moderate

You will spend a second day in Namche as your body continues to acclimatize to higher elevation. Namche is the largest Sherpa community in the Khumbu Himalaya and is a great place to explore. There are numerous cafe's serving excellent coffee, donuts and pastries as well as trekking supplies in case you need something. For those who want to do a short trek, your Sherpa guide will take you up to the village of Khumjung, where you can get awesome views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse and many other giant peaks. The trek is relatively steep going up, but all downhill on the return to Namche Bazaar.

Day 6: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

• Distance: 9.4 kilometers / 5.9 miles
• Time: 4 to 4½ hours
• Elevation: 3860 meters / 12,664 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

The trail today will take you to Tengboche, going through the highly scenic Dudh Kosi River Valley. The first stage of the trek this day is gently descending through rhododendron forests until you reach the village of Phunki Thenga. From this point, the trail then begins to start ascending quite steeply for the next 2 to 2½ hours up to Tengboche. At Tengboche you can visit the monastery there, which is the largest in the Khumbu region.

Day 7: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche

• Distance: 9.1 kilometers / 5.7 miles
• Time: 5 to 6 hours
• Elevation: 4410 meters / 14,469 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

As you trek closer and closer to Everest, you are rewarded with better panoramic views of the Himalaya. Today's views along the trek are spectacular as you will Everest, Ama Dablam, Island Peak and Lhotse along the way. Dingboche is a pleasant village and is actually the highest village along the trek that is inhabited year round. Ama Dablam, elevation 6812 meters, rises above the village making for fantastic photography opportunities.

Day 8: Rest and acclimatization day in Dingboche

At the halfway point of your trek, you will take a much needed rest and acclimatization day in Dingboche, elevation 4410m / 14,469 feet. The village of Dingboche is very pleasant and offers awesome mountain views. Dingboche has a few internet bars as well as good bakeries and cafes. It's a pretty nice lace to spend the day! For those who want, you can take a short hike up to the ridge above Dingboche for even better views of the nearby mountains.

Day 9: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche

• Distance: 8 kilometers / 5 miles
• Time: 4½ to 5 hours
• Elevation: 4940 meters / 16,207 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

The trek today will follow along the moraine of the famous Khumbu Glacier to the small village of Lobuche, elevation 4940m / 16,207 feet. Outstanding views of Ama Dablam will be with you much of the day. Past the village of Duglha, you will come to the main memorial in the Everest Region for climbers who have perished. Closer to Lobuche, a clear view of Pumo Ri, elevation 7161m, comes into view. Most of the route this day is gradually ascending and not overly difficult.

Day 10: Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep

• Distance: 11.5 kilometers / 7.2 miles
• Time: 5 to 6 hours
• Elevation: Everest BC 5364 meters / 17,600 feet. Gorak Shep: 5164 meters / 16,942 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

Today, you set off for Everest Base Camp! From Lobuche, you will set off for Gorak Shep, the last and highest settlement in the Everest Region. The views, as expected, are phenomenal! You will follow the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier up to Gorak Shep, elevation 5164 meters / 16,942 feet. The trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep will take 2½ to 3 hours. When you arrive to Gorak Shep, you can take a short rest and get some hot tea at your guesthouse. After your rest, you will continue up to Everest Base Camp, which is another 2 hours up the moraine. At base camp, you can't actually see Everest as it is hidden behind Nuptse and other massive peaks, but don't worry! The views are still amazing and you will get an amazing view of Everest tomorrow from Kala Patthar. After spending some time at Everest Base Camp gazing out to the famous Khumbu Icefall, you will return to Gorak Shep for the night.

Day 11: Trek from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar to Lobuche

• Distance: 8.4 kilometers / 5.3 miles
• Time: 4½ to 6 hours
• Elevation: Kala Patthar 5545 meters / 18,192 feet. Lobuche: 4940 meters / 16,207 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

In the early morning, you will set off for Kala Patthar, the big hill located next to Gorak Shep. The hike to the top of Kala Patthar, elecation 5545 meters / 18,192 feet is tough, but well worth it! From the top, you will be rewarded with one of the most epic views on the planet! You will see not only Everest, but Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, Pumo Ri, Lingtren and more. It simply does not get any better than this! After soaking up the views from Kala Patthar, you will begin descending back to Lobuche.

Day 12: Trek from Lobuche to Pangboche

• Distance: 16 kilometers / 10 miles
• Time: 5½ to 6½ hours
• Elevation: 3985 meters / 13,074 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

From Lobuche, you will descend down to Pangboche while passing through more stunning panoramic mountain views. In Pangboche, you can visit the Pangboche Monastery, the oldest monastery in the Khumbu Region at over 300 years old. The trail today is nearly all descending.

Day 13: Trek from Pangboche to Namche Bazaar

• Distance: 12.5 kilometers / 7.8 miles
• Time: 4 to 5 hours
• Elevation: 3440 meters / 11,286 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

You will continue descending this day to Namche Bazaar. After spending the previous 8 days in the Upper Khumbu Region, Namche will seem like a big city! You can spend the afternoon relaxing and resting in Namche, while enjoying a well-earned cup of coffee and German pastry, reflecting on your trek in Nepal.

Day 14: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

• Distance: 19.5 kilometers / 12.2 miles
• Time: 6 to 7 hours
• Elevation: 2800 meters / 9186 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

The final day of your trek will take you back to Lukla. You will spend the night in this pleasant village and take the flight back to Kathmandu the following morning.

Day 15: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu

In the morning, weather permitting, you will fly back to Kathmandu. You will have a free day to explore the city on your own.

Day 16: End of journey. Transfer to the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport

After breakfast this day, your journey will officially end. If you are departing Nepal this day, you will be transferred to the airport.

Dates and Costs

Send us an email at info@himalayajourney.com  to apply for this trek or for any questions you may have.

Dates: Early March through May and September through early December

For costs on this trek, contact us and let us know if you will be trekking by yourself or with a group of friends or family.

Included in the price:

• Airport pick up and drop off in Kathmandu, Nepal
• 3 nights accommodation with breakfast at the highly rated Aryatara Hotel in Kathmandu
• Ground transportation and entrance fees to Bhaktapur
• All accommodations during the Everest Base Camp Trek based on double occupancy
• All meals during the trek from lunch on Day 3 to breakfast on Day 15
• Expert English speaking Sherpa trekking guides
• Roundtrip flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Porters (1 porter for 2 trekkers)
• All trekking permits
• 1 free shower during the trek

Not included in the price:

• Passport and Nepal visa fees
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu, Nepal
• Travel vaccinations
• Excess baggage fees on flight to/from Lukla
• Lunch or dinner in Kathmandu (other meals are included)
• Travel and rescue insurance (required)
• Travel expenses including internet, phone calls, laundry, snacks, bar beverages, showers, bottled or boiled water, battery charging, additional porters, personal clothing and trekking gear, sleeping bag and other similar items,
• Gratuities to the guide and porters
• Extra days to the trek caused from delays due to bad weather/Force Majeure

Each participant will be sent a list of required and recommended gear for the trek in Nepal that they will be responsible for.

Accommodations: In Kathmandu you will stay in the highly rated and centrally located Aryatara Hotel. Along the lower section of the Everest Base Camp Trek, you will still in comfortable, clean guesthouses. In the upper section of the trek, accommodation is very limited to basic guesthouses with shared bathrooms. Internet access is available at most guesthouses in the lower section for a fee. Internet access can be limited in the upper section. All accommodations are based on double occupancy.

Meals: Breakfast will be provided for each day you are in Nepal. Lunch and dinner are not provided while you are in Kathmandu, but are provided for each day you are trekking. Meals will be a combination of Western and Nepali dishes.

Eligibility: Clients should be in very good health and able to do this long-distance, high altitude trek. As with all of our journeys, we take proper time to acclimatize in order to reduce the risk of serious altitude sickness. Ascent will be slow and gradual with 2 rest days included in the itinerary. This tour is not recommended for those who have severe asthma or who have had problems with high elevation in the past.

Travel and Rescue Insurance: All participants are required to have an insurance policy that covers helicopter rescue, flight cancellation, lost luggage, etc. We can recommend some insurance agents to contact. 

Weather Delays: Sometimes the flights to and from Lukla, Nepal are delayed or cancelled due to poor weather. Himalaya Journey will not be held responsible for additional costs of meals and accommodations due to weather or other Force Majeure. The client would be responsible to cover the costs of any extra days of accommodation or meals in case of delay due to Force Majeure. We strongly recommend booking your international flight departing Nepal at least 2 or 3 days after your trek is scheduled to end to account for possible delays.

Responsible Tourism: Himalaya Journey is foreign-owned, but locally staffed. All of our guides, porters and drivers are local people who have been working in tourism for many years. The preservation of the culture of the Himalaya, as well as the protection of the environment, are extremely important to us. In fact, when we are not out leading journeys and treks across the Himalaya, we are working with local people in numerous eco-tourism and conservation projects.

Send us an email at info@himalayajourney.com  to apply for this trek or for any questions you may have.