Nepal - Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary
Day 1: Arrive into Kathmandu. Meet your leader and fellow trekkers.
We recommend arriving to the group hotel as early as possible and stretching your legs around Kathmandu. Meet your trip leader and fellow trekkers.
(no meals)
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2840m). Meet with Sherpa trekking crew and trek to Phakding (2610m).
After an early breakfast, we take the short flight to Lukla, enjoying stunning views of the Himalayas along the way. On arrival, we will meet our Sherpa support crew and begin the trek to Phakding. We start with walking through pine and cedar woods, following the Dudh Kosi. This river flows down the Himalayas and we have to cross several rope bridges along the way to Phakding where our trek carefully allows for gentle acclimatisation to the increase in altitude.
4 hours, distance: 8km
(no meals)
Day 3: Trek from Phakding (2610m) to Namche Bazaar (3400m).
Today we have a lovely walk that continues along the river. We enter the Khumbu National Park and continue until we reach a confluence with another river. We cross a spectacular hanging bridge before the path steepens on a switch-backing trail that leads us up to Namche Bazaar. This is a popular trekking hub and a fabulous place to rest and acclimatise for a couple of days. The rest of the day is ours to wander the cobbled streets, lined with Nepalese and Tibetan traders, and take in the panoramic, mesmeric mountain views.
6 hours, distance: 10km
(no meals)
Day 4: Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar (3400m) with optional walks to Thame and Khumjung villages.
Today has been set aside as part of our acclimatisation programme. We spend the day in and around Namche Bazaar with the option of taking a short trek to the surrounding villages of Thame and Khumjung. These are short day-walks are designed to give us time to get used to high-altitude trekking. This is the first opportunity to catch an exciting first glimpse of Everest.
4 hours, distance: 9km
(no meals)
Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar (3400m) to Thyāngboche (3860m).
The trail from Namche to Tengboche is incredibly beautiful. The Dudh Kosi river is far below and Thamserku, Kantega, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest dominate the skyline in front of us. We will pass through some small villages where local artisans offer their wares to passing trekkers. We pass by pine woods, rhododendron forests, mani walls, holy stupas and suspension bridges on the way to Thyāngboche, home to an important Tibetan Buddhist monastery. In a region with stupendous views at every turn, Thyāngboche is particularly blessed.
6-7 hours, distance: 10km
(no meals)
Day 6: Trek from Thyāngboche (3860m) to Dingboche (4410m).
Stone steps lead down through rhododendron, birch and conifer woodland. At the bottom lies the small village of Deboche and its nunnery. Rising gradually above the tree line, the trail enters alpine meadows of scrub juniper and, in summer, a profusion of wild flowers. We arrive into Dingboche, a popular trail-head Sherpa village on the Everest Base Camp trail.
6 hours, distance: 12km
(no meals)
Day 7: Acclimatisation day in Dingboche (4410m) with an option to walk to Chhukung or Nagarzhang Peak.
We have included another acclimatisation day as we continue to adjust to high altitude trekking. Today we can trek up the Imja Khola to Chhukung or Nagarzhang Peak from where we can enjoy stunning views of Island Peak, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and the fluted ice walls flanking the Amphu Lapcha pass.
5 hours, distance: 10km
(no meals)
Day 8: Trek from Dingboche (4410m) to Lobuche (4910m).
The ascent towards Everest Base Camp continues through alpine meadows and summer yak pastures towards the end of the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We follow the lateral moraine, where we will find memorials to sherpas and climbers who have perished on the slopes of Everest. From here, the trail climbs to the village of Lobuche, where the views of Nuptse dominate and the sunset is truly magnificent.
5 hours, distance: 7km
(no meals)
Day 9: Trek from Lobuche (4910m) to Everest Base Camp (5364m) and back to Gorak Shep (5140m).
The higher altitude really starts to make its presence felt and makes this day's trekking quite challenging. The Changri Glacier looms ahead as the trek heads for Gorak Shep, arriving at lunchtime. This upland pasture was once a summer grazing meadow for yak but is now home to some of the highest teahouses in the region. We relax and refuel over lunch setting off on the final push to Everest Base Camp. We can enjoy the atmosphere at Everest Base Camp, aware of the incredible history and human endeavour that has set off from this very spot, beneath the stunning Khumbu Icefall. When ready, our pilgrimage over, we retrace our steps back down to Gorak Shep.
7 hours, distance: 6km
(no meals)
Day 10: Trek from Gorak Shep (5140m) to Pheriche (4240m) via Kala Pattar (5550m) for stunning sunrise views of Everest.
This morning, we awake just before sunrise to a short trek to Kala Pattar for a not-to-be-missed stunning sunrise view over Everest. From here, we start our long descent and drop down to our teahouse accommodation at Pheriche, also the base of the Himalayan Rescue Association and the Western-run high-altitude medicine clinic.
10 hours, distance: 17km
(no meals)