Everest Base Camp Trek

The walk to the foot of the highest mountain on earth.

Everest Base Camp is the great Himalayan trek, a two-week walk up the Khumbu valley through Sherpa towns, high monasteries, and thinning air to the foot of the icefall at 5,364 m. Dawn on Kala Patthar, with Everest turning gold, is the reward.

We arrange the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and back and a licensed Sherpa guide. It is long and high, with proper acclimatisation days built in, but no technical climbing.

Highlights

Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m
Sunrise on Kala Patthar, 5,545 m
The Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar
Tengboche monastery beneath Ama Dablam

A typical 12-day shape

A typical 12-day shape with two acclimatisation days built in for safety. We can add a night at Gokyo or the lakes, or build in a spare weather day for the Lukla flights. We never cut the acclimatisation to save days.

Day 1Flightseeing + On foot
Fly Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Phakding
The dramatic short flight to Lukla, then an easy first afternoon down the valley to Phakding by the river.
Time
3–4 hours walking
Distance
8 km
Elevation
2,610 m
Stay
Teahouse, Phakding
Day 2On foot
Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Up through pine forest and suspension bridges to the Sherpa capital, with a first glimpse of Everest on the climb.
Time
6 hours
Distance
11 km
Elevation
3,440 m / +830 m
Stay
Teahouse, Namche
Day 3On foot
Namche acclimatisation day
A rest day that is not entirely restful: a walk up to the Everest View Hotel and back to help the body adjust.
Time
3–4 hours
Stay
Teahouse, Namche
Day 4On foot
Namche to Tengboche
A high traverse with the range ahead, down to the river and up to the famous monastery under Ama Dablam.
Time
5–6 hours
Distance
10 km
Elevation
3,860 m
Stay
Teahouse, Tengboche
Day 5On foot
Tengboche to Dingboche
Above the treeline now, into the wide high valley, to the stone-walled fields of Dingboche.
Time
5–6 hours
Distance
12 km
Elevation
4,410 m
Stay
Teahouse, Dingboche
Day 6On foot
Dingboche acclimatisation day
A second rest day with a climb up a ridge for the view, then back down to sleep low.
Time
3–4 hours
Stay
Teahouse, Dingboche
Day 7On foot
Dingboche to Lobuche
Past the memorials at Thukla to the small settlement of Lobuche under the glacier.
Time
5 hours
Distance
8 km
Elevation
4,940 m
Stay
Teahouse, Lobuche
Day 8On foot
Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Base Camp
Along the glacier to Gorak Shep, then out across the moraine to Everest Base Camp itself, and back to sleep.
Time
7–8 hours
Distance
13 km
Elevation
5,364 m at EBC
Stay
Teahouse, Gorak Shep
Day 9On foot
Kala Patthar sunrise, descend to Pheriche
A pre-dawn climb up Kala Patthar for the finest view of Everest, then a long descent to thicker air.
Time
7–8 hours
Distance
15 km
Elevation
5,545 m then down to 4,240 m
Stay
Teahouse, Pheriche
Day 10On foot
Pheriche to Namche
Back down through Tengboche and the forest to Namche for a proper night's rest.
Time
6–7 hours
Distance
15 km
Stay
Teahouse, Namche
Day 11On foot
Namche to Lukla
The last long walk down the valley to Lukla, retracing the first days.
Time
6–7 hours
Distance
18 km
Stay
Teahouse, Lukla
Day 12Flightseeing
Fly Lukla to Kathmandu
The morning flight back to Kathmandu, weather permitting, with the trek behind you.
Time
30 minutes

Ways to do it

The classic 12-day trek12 days
Fly in and out of Lukla, up the Khumbu to Base Camp and Kala Patthar, with two acclimatisation days. The safe, standard way.
With Gokyo Lakes15 to 16 days
Add the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the Cho La pass for a quieter, fuller loop. For strong walkers with time.
Fly one way by helicopter9 to 10 days
Trek up and take a scenic helicopter out from Gorak Shep or Pheriche, saving the return walk. Priced on request.

Getting there

We fly you from Kathmandu to the mountain airstrip at Lukla and back. From Lukla it is all on foot, up the Khumbu to Base Camp and Kala Patthar, with a licensed guide and optional porter.

What is included

✓ Licensed English-speaking Sherpa guide
✓ Kathmandu to Lukla return flight
✓ Tea-house accommodation on the trail
✓ Sagarmatha National Park permit and Khumbu municipality fee
✓ Government taxes and service charges

Not included

– Meals on the trail
– Travel insurance
– Personal trekking gear
– Porter (available on request)
– Tips for guide and porter

Gallery

Thorong La pass on the Annapurna Circuit

Good to know

How fit do I need to be?+

Fit enough for full days of walking at altitude for two weeks. No climbing skill is needed, but the height is the real challenge, which is why we build in acclimatisation days.

What about the Lukla flight?+

Lukla flights depend on mountain weather and can be delayed. We advise a spare day or two either side, and can arrange a helicopter alternative if needed.