Everest Base Camp Trek


Trip Facts

  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Destination: Nepal
  • Max-Altitude: 5550m
  • Duration: 17 Days
  • Activity: Trekking
  • Accomodation: N/A

Trip Highlights

What is Included

  1. All arrival and departure transfer 3 nights in Kathmandu with bed & breakfast

  2. Standard guest house/lodges in mountain

  3. All accommodation and meals during the trek

  4. A half day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley including tour guide and monumental fees

  5. Domestic flights and airport departure taxes

  6. An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide) assistant guide also known as Sherpa, porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter)

  7. Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag, Himalayan Hikers Trekking duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag, cottonliner are to be returned after trip completion)

  8. A comprehensive medical kit, with medical oxygen on high altitude trips and PAC BAG (Portable Altitude Chamber)

  9. All necessary paper work and permits (National park permit, TIMS and insurance of the staff)

What is Excluded

  1. Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)

  2. International airfare to and from Kathmandu

  3. Excess baggage charges

  4. Extra night accommodation/s in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure or early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary

  5. Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case you return early from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)

  6. Travel and rescue insurance

  7. Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower etc)

  8. Tips for guides and porters


Short Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Kathmandu(1360m):


Day 2 :City Tour (1360m):


Day 3 : Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding(2652m):


Day 4 : Trek to Namche Bazaar(3446m):


Day 5 : Rest & acclimatization day at Namche (3446m):


Day 6 : Trek to Tyangboche(3875m):


Day 7 : Trek to Pangboche(3930m:


Day 8 : Trek to Dingboche(4360m):


Day 9 : Rest & acclimatization day at Dingboche(4360m):


Day 10 :Trek to Lobuche(4930m):


Day 11 :Trek to Gorakshep & Everest Base Camp(5160m):


Day 12 : Trek to Kalapathar & Pheriche(4200m):


Day 13 :Trek to Namche(3446m):


Day 14 : Trek to Phakding(2652m):


Day 15 : Trek to Lukla(2827m):


Day 16 : Fly back to Kathmandu(1360m):


Day 17 : International Departure:


Detail Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Kathmandu(1360m):

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met by our Himalayan Hikers representative and transferred you to the hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 20 minutes.After your check in the group leader will set a time for your trek briefing to discuss in regards to the trek. The evening is free but your trek leader will organise a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant.


Day 2 :City Tour (1360m):

Today, you will visit Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world and Pashupatinath ,the main temple for the Hindus. Here you will see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing, and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the “ghats”. The rest of your afternoon is free. In the late afternoon you will be handed over with your trek pack. Departure information for the next morning will also be given. Meals included: B


Day 3 : Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding(2652m):

In the early morning you will take the spectacular flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2827m) with breath taking views of the Himalayas. The flight time is about 40 minutes and you will land at an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. After landing you will have time to explore the village while the Sherpa crew sort and load your trekking equipment.You will begin the trek by walking through the Lukla village and join the main trail to the Everest Valley. The walking is easy today with great views of Kusum Khanguru. We trek through small villages of Thadokoshi and Ghat. After passing through Ghat (2550m), it is only a short walk to Phakding. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 4 : Trek to Namche Bazaar(3446m):

From Phakding you will head towards the valley for Namche Bazaar following the Dudh Koshi river. You get spectacular views of Mt.Thamserku from Benkar.From here it is only a short walk to Monjo (2835m), the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park.After lunch, its fairly an easy walk till we get to the last suspension bridge.The views of Lhotse,Nuptse and Tawache come into views for the first time,You now make a steep ascent to get to Tope Danda where you have photo opportunities of Everest Nuptse and Lhotse. We now make a gradual climb to get to Namche Bazaar. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 5 : Rest & acclimatization day at Namche (3446m):

(Acclimatisation Day) We have an extra day today for you to Acclamatise.You can either go for a hike to Syangboche or do other optional walks around Namche.The stunning vista includes a superb panorama of the Khumbu peaks and great views of Everest.The afternoon is free to wander through Namche. You can enjoy the bakeries, surf the internet or buy souveneirs,etc. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 6 : Trek to Tyangboche(3875m):

On today’s walk there will be opportunities to spot local wildlife including the beautiful Danfe pheasant, himalayan thar (mountain goat) and musk deerFrom Namche Bazaar, you will climb towards the park headquarters and follow a contouring trail high above the Dudh Kosi river. Above Namche the route to Thyangboche becomes visible and is a fairly easy hike to Phungi Tanga.This is where we have lunch .After lunch you will ascend, initially steeply, through pine, fir, black juniper and rhododendron forests to get to Thyangboche.The views of Everest,Amadablam,Lhotse Khantega and Thamserku are breathtaking.In the late afternoon we go and visit the Monastery to join the daily prayers with the Monks. This is one of the best spots for sunset. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 7 : Trek to Pangboche(3930m:

After breakfast we descend through the alpine forest to get to Debuche. You might be lucky enough to come across Mountain Goats and the Musk deer as it is mostly seen here.After crossing the Imja Khola the trail gradually climbs up with views of Amadablam to the village of Pangboche. We stop for a night here.In the afternoon you will visit the monastery ,known to be the oldest in the khumbu valley and start heading towards a ridge below Tawache for your acclimatization. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 8 : Trek to Dingboche(4360m):

Today you will have a pleasant walk, ascending gradually high above the Imja Khola River and passing the tea houses at Shomare and Orsho before crossing the river to get to the lodge at Dingboche. The scenery is spectacular and although Everest disappears behind the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge here, but you get stunning views of Amadablam and Island Peak.Today you will be completely above the tree line and the temperatures could drop quickly.The nights could be freezing from here on and you might start to feel the altitude from here.it is important to take notice of your trek leader’s advice and recommendations regarding rest and fluid intake. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 9 : Rest & acclimatization day at Dingboche(4360m):

Dingboche is a beautiful patchwork of small fields enclosed by stone walls. The walls protect crops of barley and potatoes from the cold winds. It is occupied mainly through the monsoon months, when large numbers of yaks are brought here to graze in the valley pastures. There are plenty of options for your acclamatisation,you can climb nakarsang or take a walk through the chukung valley.The views are fantastic with Makalu,the 5th highest mountain coming into sight and other mountains surrounding you.The afternoon is free for you to explore Dingboche. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 10 :Trek to Lobuche(4930m):

In the morning you will ascend the small ridge behind the village above Pheriche Valley. From the chorten at the top, Taweche and Cholatse (6440m) make a striking scene. To the north, Lobuje Peak (6119m) and the snowfields of Cho La dominate the skyline. The walking is now generally flat on wide-open fields. Late in the morning you will cross the Khumbu Khola at Dughla (4620m) and take a light lunch at the foot of the huge terminal moraines of Khumbu Glacier. In the afternoon, there will be a solid and quite steep climb on a rocky trail to the top of the moraines. On the crest of the ridge, you will pass a line of memorial cairns, built in memory of Sherpas and other climbers who have died on the various Everest expeditions. From here the view is spectacular – Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m), Khumbutse (6623m) and, across the border in Tibet, Changtse (7550m) can be seen at the head of the valley whilst Everest remains hidden behind the towering walls of Nuptse and Lhotse. You will then follow the valley stream to the lodge at Lobuje, arriving early afternoon. Today will be tiring but the fantastic scenery makes it all very worthwhile. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 11 :Trek to Gorakshep & Everest Base Camp(5160m):

Today we start early for Gorekshep following the broad valley that runs parallel to Khumbu Glacier.A gradual ascent enables you to build the slow, steady rhythm required when walking at high altitude. When you reach the moraines of Changri Nup Glacier, you will make a series of small ascents and descents over a rocky trail lined with cairns that eventually leads to the surprising glacial sands of Gorak Shep (5160m) – reached after about three hours of walking.After a quick bite you will gear up appropriately and head off towards the Everest Base Camp. The trek to the base camp will take you around three hours and if trekking in the popular climbing period of March to May, you will almost certainly encounter yaks and porters supplying food and equipment to expeditions here.
From Everest Base Camp you won’t get views of Mount Everest, but you will be able to see the notorious Everest Ice Fall that flows from the Western Cwm, which is regarded as technically the hardest and most dangerous section of the mountain.The return journey from the Base Camp to Gorak Shep takes the same amount of time. You’ll have an early dinner so you can get up early the next day for the awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan giants from Kala Patar. (Trekking: approximately 3 hours to Gorak Shep, 5 hours round trip to Everest Base Camp) Meals included: B, L, D


Day 12 : Trek to Kalapathar & Pheriche(4200m):

Today you make an early start for Kala pathar (5550m) to experience the sensational sunrise views from this amazing vantage point. From the lodge the ascent is quite steep, so you should start very slowly and try to ascend at a steady, rhythmic pace. Kala Patar is the rocky hilltop below Pumori. It is a tough walk because of the altitude, but the 360 degree view from the top will surpass your wildest imagination. It will probably take about two hours to reach the summit from Gorak Shep.Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, Taweche, Kantega and Everest, the highest mountain in the world, will surround you. About three kilometres away and some 200 metres below, the area of the Everest Base Camp can be seen in a bowl at the bottom of the Khumbu Ice Fall. The descent back down to Gorak Shep is easy and once you have returned to the lodge you will have breakfast and retrace your steps back to Lobuje and to Thugla for lunch.After lunch we cross the khumbu khola and head down the valley to Pheriche for the night. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 13 :Trek to Namche(3446m):

From Pheriche you will cross the Khumbu Khola River and ascend a short steep trail to the top of a small ridge for great views of Imja Valley, Ama Dablam and Kantega. You will then descend to the small settlements at Orsho and Shomare before passing through Lower Pangboche to reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River to ascend back to Thyangboche for lunch.In the afternoon you will descend steeply through beautiful forest of juniper, rhododendron and fir to Phunkitenga. After a welcome break and perhaps a cup of tea, you will cross the Dudh Kosi River and ascend to Trashinga.From here the trail contours high above the valley through Shanasa and on to Namche Bazaar, where you will spend the night. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 14 : Trek to Phakding(2652m):

You will enjoy a leisurely departure from Namche Bazaar with a final opportunity to visit the shops in the bazaar before descending steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi RiverYou will follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Monjo, where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon it is only a short walk via Benkar through blue pine and rhododendron forest, with great views of Kusum Kangaru, back to the lodge in Phakding. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 15 : Trek to Lukla(2827m):

This is your last day of trekking, where it is only a short walk in the valley before making the final climb up to the airstrip at Lukla. You will then have lunch at the lodge and the afternoon is free to wander around, relax. In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner, followed by a few celebratory drinks and dancing with your Sherpa companions. Meals included: B, L, D


Day 16 : Fly back to Kathmandu(1360m):

You will rise early in the morning today for your flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met and transferred back to the starting hotel. The rest of the day is free to do some souvenir shopping or further sightseeing.Your final night in Kathmandu offers you the chance to go out on the town and enjoy a final dinner (optional) with your travelling companions and newfound friends. Meals included: B


Day 17 : International Departure:

Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements. A departure transfer to the airport is included.