Everest Base Camp Trek

Duration: 35 min (flight to Lukla) + 3 hours (trek to Phakding)
Distance: 7 km trek

Today is the first day of the trek but not before we take a short flight up to the trailhead. After breakfast, we proceed to Tribhuvan Domestic Airport, Kathmandu, for our flight out to Lukla. The flight over mountains in the Khumbu Region is all of 35 minutes but presents you with some of the most exquisite views of Nepal and can easily be one of the highlights of this trek. If you get a seat on the left side of these tiny planes, the view out the window is one you’ll never forget. Lukla is a small village with no road, only reachable by flight or foot. We walk straight out of the airport, across the cobbled stone footpath of the village, and off into the forest trail, officially starting our first day of trekking. Just before exiting the village, we are required to present the first of our two permits at the check post – so remember to keep these handy. Today is easy – it is a simple trek for 3 hours which starts with descending 300M and then slowly climbs up 100M to meet the rest point for the night – Phakding. Along the way, we pass countless mani walls painted on the rocks lining the trail and boulders carved with Tibetan Buddhist prayer inscriptions. We also find numerous prayer wheels all along the trail. We spend our first night in a tea house at Phakding.

Duration: 6-7 hours
Distance: 11 km

Its serious business from today onwards – today marking day 1 of our brush with difficult terrain on this trek. We start by walking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice on the high suspension bridges Nepal treks are famous for. The trail is a series of small, repeated ascents and descents, following along the river and again crossing the engraved Buddhist stones characteristic of the area. We stop for lunch at the village of Monjo, which is also the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park. Here is where we present the second of our two permits. After entering the park, we descend along an enormous wall painted sky-high with prayers written in Tibetan to the Bhote Kosi River arriving at Jorsalle village. This is where all the fun begins. After one final stroll along the beach-like riverbank, the trail gets steeper passing through dense forests. After a while we cross the last suspension bridge for today – the bridge dangling spectacularly high above a sharply-descending gorge. From here, we ascend 600M through a thickly forested patch all the way to Namche Bazaar, the administrative and trade capital of the Khumbu region. If the weather is clear we might get our first view of Everest at the rest point along the way. Overnight stay in tea house in Namche Bazaar.

Duration: 6-7 hours
Distance: 10-11 km

Tengboche is a small valley at an altitude of 3,860M. This beautiful route between the two villages starts with us passing through Namche on a stone-paved path by the stream. Thamserku, a beautiful peak of 6,608M, dominates the view, with Ama Dablam – one of the most peculiarly shaped mountains – farther up the valley. Everest is visible above the joining ridge of the south face of Lhotse and Nuptse that close the valley far ahead. Close to an hour into the trek, we come across a huge chorten dedicated to Tenzin Norgay – the man who needs no introduction. The trail is small sections of ascents with patches of descents that are enough to recover your breath for the next section of ascent. We should reach our stop-hold for today by lunchtime.

Duration: 5-6 hours

We descend through rhododendron forests before crossing the Imja Khola River. The trail then gradually ascends towards Pangboche, offering stunning views of Ama Dablam. After passing through several small villages, we reach Dingboche, a beautiful valley surrounded by high peaks. Overnight stay in Dingboche.

This is a crucial rest day to help our bodies adjust to the high altitude. We take a short hike to Nagarjun Hill (5,100M) for breathtaking panoramic views of Makalu, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu. We return to Dingboche for the night.

Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 5 km

A short and relatively easy trek takes us to Dughla, where we can see the Khumbu Glacier. This is a good day to rest and prepare for the higher altitudes ahead. Overnight stay in a tea house in Dughla.

Duration: 3.5 hours

We begin with a steep climb to Dughla Pass, a site filled with memorials of climbers who lost their lives on Everest. The trail then levels out as we approach Lobuche. The high altitude makes trekking more challenging, but the views are rewarding. Overnight stay in Lobuche.

Duration: 7-8 hours

We trek along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier towards Gorakshep. After a quick meal, we continue to Everest Base Camp, walking on rugged terrain with spectacular views of the Khumbu Icefall. After soaking in the views at base camp, we return to Gorakshep for the night.

Duration: 7-8 hours

We wake up early for a challenging climb to Kala Patthar, the best viewpoint of Everest. The sunrise over Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After taking in the views, we descend to Pheriche. Overnight stay in Pheriche.

We retrace our steps through Pangboche and Tengboche before reaching Namche Bazaar. The trek is mostly downhill, making it easier than previous days. Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar.

Our final day of trekking! We descend through familiar trails, crossing suspension bridges and forests before reaching Lukla. We celebrate our successful trek with our team. Overnight stay in Lukla.

We take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. After checking into our hotel, we have the rest of the day free to explore the city, shop for souvenirs, or relax at a café. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

It is time to bid farewell to Nepal. Transfer to the airport for your onward journey. Safe travels!