Everest Base Camp Trek

Following breakfast, your city tour starts at 9:30 am from your Hotel. Durbar Square swarms with life. Though a few of the square’s 50-plus monuments date from the 12th century, most are from the time of the Malla Kings. Probably the most famous building here is the Kumari Bahal, a building richly decorated with beautiful woodcarvings, which is home to the Royal Kumari, the Living Goddess, and a manifestation of the great goddess Durga. Nearby, the former Royal Palace is a Malla Dynasty dwelling, once considerably more extensive than today. Within the courtyard is Nassal Chowk, which originally hosted dramatic dance performances. It is now the coronation site of the Shah kings and contains some of the finest wood carvings you will see anywhere in the kingdom. The 14th-century Jagannath Mandir is the oldest temple in the area, its steps carved with inscriptions in many languages. Nearby, Telaju Mandir is one of the largest and finest temples in the Valley. It is dedicated to the patron deity of the royal family, Taleju Bhawani, a wrathful form of Durga who once demanded human sacrifices.

Continue to Boudhanath. This is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world located east of the valley. It was built by the Lichchhavi King Mana Dev in the 5th century A.D. The Rinpoches who reside here established Boudhnath as one of the most flourishing centers of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The colossal ancient stupa is 36 metres high.

There are many monasteries and monks surrounding the stupa. You can feel the Buddhist cultural vibe while visiting this monument.

You will continue to Pashupatinath. This is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the subcontinent’s great Shiva sites. The supreme holiness of the site stems from the Shiva linga enshrined in the main temple and its location. It expresses the very essence of Hinduism as pilgrims, priests, devotees, temples, ashrams, images, inscriptions and cremation ghats intermingle with the rituals of daily life, all sprawled along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple’s origins are obscure, an inscription dates from 477, but a shrine may have stood here for 1000 years before that. The evening Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Bagmati River, is truly fascinating, with mantras, kimanylls, incense, and lights, all surrounded by the many devotees. It is a magical experience to witness. 
 

Today you take an early flight to Lukla (2,860 m / 9,383 ft). Flights usually run between 6:00 and 11:00 am, depending on the weather. Only a few flights operate directly to Lukla from Kathmandu. This means the earlier you book, the more chances you have to get a direct flight to/from Lukla. There are several flights that leave from Ramechhap to Lukla instead, which means setting off from Kathmandu around 1:00 am for a 5-hour drive to Manthali Airport. This transfer is covered in the package at no extra cost. If you’d rather skip the drive, you can upgrade to a shared helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla for roughly USD 450 per person (shared, 5 seats). That is the extra cost after deducting the regular flight fare, and it depends on season and availability.

In Lukla, you meet your porters and start walking down to Phakding along the Dudh Koshi River. The path passes Sherpa homes, prayer flags, pine forest, and suspension bridges, with a chance of seeing Kusum Kanguru on clear days. Once you arrive, relax at the lodge or take an optional 30-minute walk to Rimishung Monastery.
 

The trail continues beside the Dudh Koshi River through forest and the villages of Toktok, Benkar and Monjo. Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku come into view along the way as the valley deepens and the walking gets tougher.

At Monjo you enter Sagarmatha National Park and have your permits checked, then continue to Jorsale for lunch. Jorsale is the last settlement before Namche, so fill your water bottles here. Several suspension bridges follow, including the famous Hillary Bridge high above the river. It is often crowded with trekkers, yaks and mules, and your guide will help you cross safely. After the last bridge comes a long, steady 800 m climb. Go slowly and rest often, and by late afternoon you will arrive in Namche Bazaar, the busy Sherpa hub of the Khumbu Everest region.
 

Today is for letting your body adjust to the altitude. After a relaxed breakfast, walk up through the forest to the Sagarmatha National Park Museum. On the ridge stands a bronze statue of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa with his ice axe, with views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku on clear mornings. Inside, the museum covers Sherpa history, early expeditions, traditional tools and vintage climbing gear.

A gentle 35-minute climb leads to Sagarmatha Next, a conservation center that turns mountain waste into art and recycled goods. You can watch a short film and try a VR experience about its work. You can also join the “Carry Me Back” initiative by bringing a 1 kg bag of waste from Pangboche or Namche to the Lukla checkpoint on your way out.

Continue along the ridge to the Sherpa Panorama Hotel for a rest, then on to Hotel Everest View, a Japanese-built lodge and one of the world’s highest luxury hotels. Enjoy tea or coffee on the terrace with views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kangtega and Thamserku. If time and energy allow, you can extend the walk to Khumjung, home to Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery. Then return to Namche by the same trail.
 

Soon after leaving Namche, the trail opens up to views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. About 30 minutes along, you pass Kyangjuma and follow a pleasant hillside path, then drop through rhododendron forest to Phunki Tenga beside the river, a popular lunch spot.

After lunch, you cross the bridge and begin the main climb of the day, which takes around two hours. As you gain height, the trees thin out and the views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kangtega and the valley widen. We aim to reach Tengboche Monastery (Dawa Choling Gompa) by about 3:00 pm to catch the evening prayers. There is also an early morning chanting session, and your guide will confirm the times. If you are trekking in late October or early November, you may see Mani Rimdu, the monastery’s major festival with masked monk dances.
 

After breakfast, descend through calm rhododendron woods to Debuche, an easy start to the day. Cross the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge, then climb steadily toward Pangboche with Ama Dablam towering overhead.

Pangboche Monastery, about 20 minutes off the main trail, is the oldest in the Khumbu and well worth a visit if you have the energy. Lunch is at Somare, a small settlement below Ama Dablam. Beyond it, the trail gets steeper and rockier, the trees disappear, and you enter open alpine country. Dingboche appears as a wide, sunny village of stone-walled fields, and it is your base for tomorrow’s acclimatization day.

In the mid-monsoon period (roughly late July to early August), some local families move from Dingboche to Pheriche for traditional reasons. Out of respect, we may route the trek through Pheriche during that time.
 

This second rest day is spent climbing high and sleeping low. You hike up toward Nangkartshang Hill to help your body adapt, then return to Dingboche for the night at a safer altitude before heading for Base Camp.

The trail starts above the village near a small stupa and follows a steep ridge. The altitude, dust, loose soil, and cold wind make it tiring, so we go slowly with regular breaks. On a clear day you can see the Imja Valley, Makalu, Cholatse and Island Peak, with Cho Oyu visible early in the climb. You don’t need to reach the top: gaining roughly 300 to 670 m is enough, and your guide will decide how far to go depending on weather, trail conditions and how everyone feels. The way down can be slippery on loose dirt, so trekking poles help, and light crampons may be needed in colder months if the upper trail is icy. If the route runs via Pheriche, add 15–20 minutes to reach the same ridge.
 

Leaving Dingboche, the landscape turns open and barren, with dry ground, loose rock and little vegetation. The walk starts gently along the valley toward Thukla, passing small stone shelters used by yak herders in the high pastures.

We have lunch at Thukla, then tackle the steep, slow climb to Thukla Pass (Memorial Hill) in thin, cold air. At the top, memorials honour climbers and Sherpa mountaineers who died in the Everest region, a quiet and moving place to pause. Beyond it the trail eases and follows the glacial valley to Lobuche, a small high-altitude settlement, which you reach in the late afternoon. Rest and drink plenty of water, as tomorrow is a big day.
 

This is one of the highlights of the whole trek. Start early from Lobuche, usually after a 5:30 am breakfast, and walk to Gorak Shep, the last settlement before Base Camp. The trail begins gently and gets rockier as it climbs. After about 20 minutes, you pass the Pyramid Research Centre, an Italian science station at 4,980 m. The 5 km walk to Gorak Shep takes around 3 hours.

After a tea or lunch break at Gorak Shep, continue over rocky moraine beside the Khumbu Glacier. Careful footing is important, and light crampons may be needed if it is icy. Most trekkers reach Everest Base Camp around midday. Prayer flags and the Base Camp Rock mark the spot, and the Khumbu Icefall is close by. Everest itself is mostly hidden behind Nuptse, but standing at its foot is a major milestone. (The temporary welcome board put up in March 2024 was removed on May 28, 2024, so the rock is the main photo landmark.) After some time for photos, return to Gorak Shep, the highest overnight stop of the trek, so rest, drink water, and keep warm.
 

Sleeping at 5,164 m is often poor, even for experienced trekkers, and your guide will check how you feel before the early start. The Kala Patthar hike begins around 4:00 am to catch the sunrise. It looks easy from Gorak Shep but gets steeper after the first ridge, and the thin air makes it hard going.

From Kala Patthar you get the classic Everest panorama with Lhotse, Nuptse and Pumori. You don’t need to reach the very top, since the view opens up after 40–60 minutes of climbing and changes little higher up. Your guide will advise how far to go. It is bitterly cold before sunrise, so wear warm layers, and poles and crampons help on icy ground. After sunrise, return to Gorak Shep for breakfast, then descend via Lobuche and the Thukla Pass memorials to Pheriche. The village has a Himalayan Rescue Association clinic staffed with help from volunteer doctors.

Some trekkers prefer Kala Patthar at sunset, when the peaks glow golden-red. At sunrise, the sun rises behind the range, leaving parts of Everest in shadow.
 

Descend from Pheriche to Pangboche, where the valley feels warmer and greener after the harsh terrain above. From there, the trail returns through familiar villages and forest to Tengboche, and then back along the main route to Namche Bazaar. You arrive in the afternoon, and after several nights up high, the comforts of a bigger town feel very welcome. If you are there on a Friday or Saturday, you may catch the Namche weekly market, where traders sell crafts, clothing, trekking gear, and everyday goods.

The last day of walking takes you down the Khumbu Valley through Monjo and Phakding, past pine forests, suspension bridges, and Sherpa villages. The descent is long but steady, and the thicker air makes it easier going. Familiar spots look different now that you have been to Base Camp and Kala Patthar. In Lukla, relax at the lodge and enjoy a quiet evening with your guide and porters. It’s also a good time to thank the crew who supported you.

After breakfast, take the morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, or to Ramechhap in busy seasons, in which case the team arranges the drive on to Kathmandu. For the best mountain views, sit on the right side when flying to Kathmandu (left side when flying to Lukla). Once at the hotel, you can rest, shower, and readjust to city life. Today you also receive your official Everest Base Camp Trek completion certificate, and your guide will confirm the time of the short certificate ceremony at the hotel.

This spare day protects your international flight in case bad weather delays the Lukla flight. If everything runs on time, it becomes a free day to rest, wander the nearby streets, shop for souvenirs, or visit sights you missed earlier. A guided city tour or additional activities of your interest can be arranged at an extra cost. In the evening, we will gather for a farewell dinner, celebrating the incredible journey, the memories made, and the experiences shared throughout the trek.

After breakfast, the team will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport to match your flight time. You’ll be there at least three hours before departure, leaving plenty of time for check-in and security. You leave Nepal with the memory of standing beneath the world’s highest mountain and completing one of the great Himalayan treks. 

Note: If you have additional time before you fly back from Nepal. Please let us know, we can organize other activities such as Chitwan National Park, a tour around Pokhara, rafting, or any other activities based on your interests and time frame.