Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary
16 Day Trekking Tour to Everest Base Camp
For prices and more details about this trip please visit the Everest Base Camp trip page.
Day 1 – Arrive in Kathmandu
Welcome to Kathmandu! A city of riotous charm; it’s the perfect mix of chaos and calm. Lose yourself in its vibrant markets, bustling streets and hidden alleys and discover its plethora of colourful temples and grand pagodas. Kathmandu is a city that will captivate your senses!
You will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore this enthralling city. The group will meet for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
We begin our journey with a breath-taking Himalayan flight to Lukla, deep in the Sherpa heartland. No doubt raring to go, we’ll set off through blooming rhododendrons, magnolia trees and pine forest to Phakding. Upon reaching Phakding, you can visit the local monastery and make sure you’re well rested and ready for the challenges ahead!
Day 3 – Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
The first full day of trekking begins with a walk ascending through beautiful pine forests along the banks of the Dudhi Koshi River. We will cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge, named after the iconic Sir Edmund Hillary, high above the river and adorned liberally with colourful prayer flags. We’ll cross into Sagarmatha National Park, passing through Joresale and catching your first glimpse of the stunning Mount Everest.
We rest for the night in Namche Bazaar, the main trading centre for the region, and a town steeped in history of expeditions gone by. Its bakeries are famous for good reason, and this is a great opportunity to indulge in small luxuries.
A steep trail out of Namche will take us up towards the villages of Kunde and then Khumjung. We’ll gain the 400m ascent slowly to aid with acclimatisation and take in the mountain panoramas around us. Much quieter than Namche, these villages have more of an authentic feel; allowing an insight into high-altitude life in the Himalaya.
When we reach Khumjung, you can go and visit the only known skull of a yeti in the brightly coloured gompa.
We begin on a level trail and walk up via stone steps to reach the Mongla Pass at an altitude of 3,975m. From here we can look out at views of the iconic Mount Ama Dablam, Mount Thamserku and Mount Khumbila, regarded by the Sherpa as the sacred mountain of the patron god of the Khumbu region.
The monastery at Tengboche is the traditional temple to receive a blessing before attempting the summit of Everest, and so it seems fitting that we too should visit it on our journey. Emanating a sense of magic from its colourful interior out into the Himalayan mountains, it is easy to see why this location was chosen.
Day 6 – Khumbu Valley and then the Imja Valley to Dingboche (4,410m)
We continue today through lush alpine forest. We will come across several small villages on the path, a great opportunity to see how the local Nepalese live. Passing through the Khumbila Khola Valley and ascending towards the ridgeline, soaring mountain views of Taboche, Mount Nuptse, Mount Cholatse and many others can be seen.
Today we’ll summit Nangkartshang to allow ourselves to acclimatise. The trail is steep and rocky at points, but at every turn, the vista becomes more spectacular, especially when we can see the pyramid of Makalu pointing high into the heavens. Reaching the summit is a great achievement, and we’ll take time to soak in the sights from one of the most magnificent viewpoints on our journey.
The mountains towering above us from here include Taboche (6,542m), Peak 38 (7,590m), Cholatse (6,440m) and Ama Dablam (6,812m)
From the summit, we’ll retrace our steps back to Dingboche. Comparable to the ascent, this is an easy task as we descend to more oxygen rich air. A trip to the local bakery would be a wonderful reward for your efforts today!
The trail takes us up through the steep terminal moraine left by the Khumbu Glacier and past huge boulders displaced by the glacier. At the top of the ridge is the Lobuche Memorial, a poignant dedication to those who have perished attempting to make the summit of Everest.
With its prayer flags fluttering in the wind and the awe-inspiring Mount Khumbutse, Mount Lingtren and Khumbu Glacier in view, this really is a special place for reflection.From here, we descend a little to the often bustling Lobuche, where we will spend the night.
This is it! We will climb to Everest Base Camp today, the starting point for past and future iconic expeditions to the top of the world. Walking alongside the Khumbu Glacier across the moraine strewn paths, you will pass the Italian Triangle and hopefully see teams of climbers preparing for their summit attempts.
Throughout your journey, you will be surrounded by various snow-capped peaks and the famous 3-peak crown of Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse. When we reach our destination, there is no doubt that you will be awe-struck by the magnitude of the Himalayan giants towering over us. The experience will be intensified by the sense of achievement of making it up here. Well done!
Descending down the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, we will make our way down to Gorak Shep, sat in the shadow of Kala Patthar, where you can spend the evening comparing photos with your fellow trekkers.
The summit of Kalapatthar, the highest point of our trek, is famous for being one of the best viewpoints in the entire region. An early start will allow us the view of the sun rising over the Solo Khumbu.
As the orange and pink hues of dawn spread across the landscape, you will see Mount Everest in all its glory surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of other iconic Himalayan mountains. Our descent will take us down the trail to Pheriche, a quaint Nepalese village.
Day 11 – Retrace our steps to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
By now familiar with our surroundings, we will retrace our steps to Namche. Ama Dablam will dominate the horizon in front of us today from the far side of the valley as we pass over the glaciated terrain.
As we continue to descend in altitude you will begin to find the walking easier, allowing you to soak in the picturesque surroundings. We will pass through the beautiful Sherpa villages of Orsho and Shomare en route. This is a steep descent taken over rocky terrain so we will take this route slowly until we cross the suspension bridge that crosses the Dudh Koshi and onwards to Phakding.
Day 13 – Continue to Lukla (2,860m)
As we descend to lower altitudes you will notice the marked escalation in the amount of vegetation, and hopefully we will spot some wildlife! We will spend the last night of our trek in the busy market-town of Lukla, celebrating our successful journey.
From Lukla, we will return to Kathmandu by twin-otter plane. The scenery on the way back will be just as dramatic as on the way there. From our vantage point high in the sky, you can savour your final views of these magnificent snow-capped peaks.
Spend the rest of the day in Kathmandu celebrating your success as you wish, whether you want to reward yourself with some of the beautifully crafted souvenirs from the colourfully decorated shops and markets, or simply with an ice-cold beer on a roof terrace!
Day 15 – Free day in Kathmandu
Today you have the whole day to explore the vibrant Kathmandu. Why not spend the day exploring the UNESCO-listed Kathmandu Valley on a tour of the three holiest temples or the ancient city of Patan?
Continue reading about this and other Kathmandu excursions.
Unfortunately it’s the end of this adventure. Lost Earth Adventures group services end after breakfast. Transfers to the airport are complimentary. See you next time!
Trekking Times and Altitudes
These tables show the approximate times it takes to walk to each place we stay at night. These times do not include rest and food breaks. The footpath on this trek is pleasantly smooth on well-trodden trails, allowing for nice walking 95% of the time.
| Everest Base Camp | |
|---|---|
| Lukla (2,860m) to Phakding (2,610m) | 3-4 hours |
| Phakding (2,610m) to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) | 5-6 hours |
| Namche Bazaar (3,440m) to Everest View Point (3,880) and back | 4-5 hours |
| Namche Bazaar (3,440m) to Tengboche (3,860m) | 5-6 hours |
| Tengboche (3,860m) to Dingboche (4,410m) | 6 hours |
| Nangkartshang Peak (5,080m); return to Dingboche (4,410m) | 5 hours |
| Dingboche (4,410m) to Lobuche (4,940m) | 6 hours |
| Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,164m), via Everest Base Camp (5,380m) | 8-10 hours |
| Gorak Shep (5,164m) to Pheriche (4,371m), via Kala Patthar (5,545m) | 8-9 hours |
| Pheriche (4,371m) to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) | 7-8 Hours |
| Namche Bazaar (3,440m) to Phakding (2,610m) | 5 hours |
| Phakding (2,610m) to Lukla (2,860m) | 3-4 hours |