Mt. Everest Base Camp

Namaste. Welcome to Nepal! Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The Kathmandu Valley, consisting of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, may have been inhabited as early as 900 BC. The city houses various Hindu and Buddhist temples as well as the King's Palace. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, visit the highlights of Kathmandu: Kumari Bahal, the Temple of the Living Goddess; Kasthamandap, the wooden house that gave Kathmandu its name; Durbar Square, the central area housing an array of temples; the Royal Palace, overlooked by the ancient Hanuman Dhoka; and Swayambhunath, the 2000-year-old Buddhist stupa.

In the afternoon visit Pasupatinath, the famous Lord Shiva Temple and Hindu cremation ground, and Boudhnath, the 2500-year-old Buddhist stupa. During the visit to Boudhnath Stupa, visit Thangka Art Gallery. Learn about the ancient Tibetan art of Thangka and meet with the painters, both monks and learners. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Rise and shine for your morning flight to Lukla. The short flight will provide you glimpses of the Himalayas – your home for the next several days. Be met by your Sherpa team and take short stroll around Lukla. 

After completing formalities and porters have been assigned the luggage, follow the trail towards the northeast. Cross a suspension bridge to leave Lukla behind and pass small picturesque villages of Chaunrikharka and Ghat before the descent to reach Phakding by the river. Trek: 3 hours

Follow the trail with the gushing Dudh Kosi on your right, a pleasant walk as you pass through agricultural fields, small villages and a beautiful monastery. Cross Dudh Kosi at Benkar and be greeted with tantalizing glimpses of snow-capped peaks Kusum Kanguru (6369 m) and Thamserku (6623 m). Steep climb for 20 mins to reach Monjo, your lunch stop. 

Continue to the check post to clear your permits and enter Sagarmatha National Park. It is a busy trail with several interests, including small villages and pine forests. After crossing the river again, a steady climb to reach Namche Bazaar. Halfway through the climb you will catch your first glimpse of the mighty three – Everest (8848 m), Mt. Nuptse (7879 m), and Lhotse (8383 m). 

Reach Namche Bazaar, a bustling and prosperous town in the Khumbu region surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 5.5 hours

Today you will allow your bodies to acclimatize. In the morning, hike up to the Shyanboche Airport (closed) with its stone paved runway and then head up to Everest View Hotel to enjoy views of the surrounding Himalayas. In the afternoon, you are free to explore the bustling town of Namche.  Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 3.5 – 4.5 hours

Your day starts with a steep climb for 20 minutes to reach a big prayer stone where the trail becomes steady. Enjoy magnificent views of the Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kang Taiga as you follow the meandering trail. Reach Phunki Tanga for lunch, an interesting village with large water driven prayer wheels. 

A steep trail leads you to Thyangboche where you can get spectacular views of the Himalayas, including Everest. Thyangboche features a monastery, the most revered in the Khumbu Region where all Everest Expeditions receive their blessings before heading toward the challenge. Descend down as you cross through a forest of birch, conifer, and rhododendron to the meadows of Devouche. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 5 hours

After breakfast, cross the Dudh Koshi and climb up a pass and meet a gentle walk all the way to Pangboche. Watch the landscape change after the village of Pangboche as an interesting vista opens up. Reach Shomare and a gradual climb up to a ridge before descending to Khumbu Khola. Cross a wooden bridge and arrive at Dingboche. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 5 hours

Studies on AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) suggest that when trekking in high altitude areas, a trekker must acclimatize to the changing altitudes, especially after 4000 meters. Today will be a rest day to allow your bodies to adapt before proceeding to higher altitudes. You can explore the village and the surrounding areas. Overnight at the hotel.

Cross the ill-defined track across an open landscape. After a short, steep ascent to arrive at a hill top, your tracks converge with the trekking trail arriving from Cho La Pass to lead to the EBC. Mt. Cholatse shimmers en route. Reach Thugla for an early lunch. (Note: Early lunch owing to unavailability of water until Lobuche).

A steep ascent leads you to a Sherpa Memorial. Chortens (Buddhist shrines) dot the skyline as a tribute to the brave mountaineers who died during their expeditions. Behind the shrines are the majestic mountains – a perfect resting place. Ahead, you are led to the terminal moraine of Khumbu Glacier with beautiful views of Pumori (Widow’s Peak). Arrive at the windswept valley of Lobuche; be enchanted with the mesmerizing views of the Tawatse (6501 m) and Nuptse (7855 m). Overnight at the lodge. Trek: 4.5 hours

Travel along the Khumbu Glacier through jumbled moraines and scattered rocks. On a clear day Everest can be seen looming behind Nuptse. Approach the ridge above Gorakshep and tread down to reach it. 

Gorakshep was used as EBC during the 1950s expeditions and has several monuments dedicated to Everest expeditioners who lost their lives during their attempts to scale Everest. After a short rest, continue to the EBC – just below the infamous Khumbu Icefall. 

The EBC is not a specific location but instead an area where each expedition team sets camp before heading toward the summit. You will likely be in awe of the towering mountain ranges and the treacherous Khumbu Icefall. Return to Gorakshep and overnight at the lodge. Trek: 8 hours

After an early breakfast and an arduous trek uphill for about two hours, reach Kala Patthar to catch stunning, panoramic, awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas – Everest included. The trip to Kala Pathhar, although difficult, is deeply rewarding. You will be surrounded by the tallest peaks of the world – Everest (8848 m), Nuptse (7855 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Pumori (7145 m), and more. 

Take some time to fully soak in the visual treat ahead of you before heading back down. From Gorakshep, collect your belongings and head down the jumbled moraines to reach Lobuche. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 8 hours

After spending days above 4200 meters, most trekkers welcome the thought of returning to warmer weather, and the body yearns for softer climbs. Keeping that in mind, the walk today is a delight. Start your journey along the walled paths of Dingboche with a slight gradual ascent before you descend towards the gushing Dudh Koshi. Cross Pangboche and walk to the meadows of Devouche – a lovely fir and rhododendron forest. A short climb during your last leg brings you to Thyangboche. 

After a short rest, retrace further through the forests of juniper, rhododendrons, and fir to Phunk Tanga. Cross Dudh Kosi and ascend to Trashinga. Stop for a short break at Shanasa, a small town where Tibetan traders have traditional artifacts and souvenirs for sale. An easy walk brings us to Namche Bazaar. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 6.5 hours

You will exit Sagarmatha National Park at the same point you entered a few days ago. Follow the same footsteps, take in the views of the mountains – our abode for the past few days and make way to Lukla – where you officially finish your trek. 

In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and celebratory drinks and dance with your Sherpa companions. Overnight at the hotel. Trek: 6.5 hours

Enjoy your last breakfast in the Himalayas before your flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure and overnight.

We nestle an extra day in the itinerary to accommodate for flight delays and cancellations from Lukla.

If the previous day’s flight operated as scheduled, enjoy a tour of Patan city, built in 3rd century AD by Emperor Ashoka. Patan boasts of fine arts enclosed within 4 stupas. Meet with a local Himalayan Singing Bowl Master to learn about the ancient healing traditions. Return to Kathmandu and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Bon Voyage!

Note: We recommend reserving an evening flight to accommodate for any flight delays from Lukla.