Everest Base Camp
Everest, Khumbu
Twelve days through Sherpa country to the foot of the Khumbu Icefall at 5,364 m, with two acclimatisation days built in because they are the part that matters.
- Duration
- 12days
- Max altitude
- 5,364m
- Difficulty
Challenging
- Best seasons
Spring — March to May
Autumn — September to December
From · 3–5 people
€1,000
When to go
Coldest to warmest across the route, and rainfall. Open-Meteo
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Kathmandu → Lukla → Phakding
A mountain flight into Lukla, one of the more memorable airstrips anywhere, then a gentle descent along the Dudh Koshi past chortens and prayer wheels, through pine forest and small Sherpa settlements to Phakding.
- Altitude
- 2,610m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 8 km
Flight, then a gentle descent
Day 02
Phakding → Namche Bazaar
Upstream on the Dudh Koshi across a series of suspension bridges including the Hillary Bridge, into Sagarmatha National Park and up through pine forest. The last stretch is a hard climb, but you get your first sight of Everest before Namche.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 11 km
Day 03
Acclimatisation in Namche Bazaar
A hike to the Everest View Hotel or Khumjung village, with Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Everest in the distance. Then Namche itself — cafés, bakeries and the Sherpa museum.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs
Day 04
Namche Bazaar → Tengboche
Along ridgelines and down through rhododendron and juniper, across the Dudh Koshi again and up a steep climb to Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual centre of the Khumbu. Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam from the doorstep, and evening prayers.
- Altitude
- 3,860m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 10 km
Day 05
Tengboche → Dingboche
Down through pine to Debuche and across the Imja Khola, then a gradual climb past mani walls and stupas into the windswept alpine valley. Dingboche sits among stone-walled fields with Ama Dablam and Island Peak above.
- Altitude
- 4,410m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 11 km
Day 06
Acclimatisation in Dingboche
Up Nangkartshang Peak, a rocky viewpoint looking out at Makalu, Lhotse and the Imja Valley, then back down for a slow afternoon of hydrating and resting before the altitude gets serious.
- Altitude
- 4,410m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs
Day 07
Dingboche → Lobuche
A gradual climb through alpine meadow and up the Thukla Pass, past the memorial to climbers who did not come back. Then along glacial moraine beneath the peaks to Lobuche, a small cluster of teahouses under Nuptse.
- Altitude
- 4,940m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 9 km
Day 08
Lobuche → Gorakshep → Everest Base Camp
An early start over rocky glacial ground to Gorakshep, then on to Base Camp itself, weaving between boulders and ice ridges. You stand at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall with the peaks all around, then return to Gorakshep for the night.
- Altitude
- 5,164m
- On foot
- 7–8 hrs· 13 km
Day 09
Pheriche → Namche Bazaar
Back past Pangboche and Tengboche, the walking easier now that it is downhill. Across the suspension bridges and into thicker air and forest, to the comforts of Namche.
- Altitude
- 3,440m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 15 km
Day 10
Namche Bazaar → Lukla
A long descent through forest and small settlements, over several suspension bridges, following the Dudh Koshi back to Lukla. The end of the trek, celebrated with your team in a lively mountain town.
- Altitude
- 2,840m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 18 km
Day 11
Lukla → Kathmandu
An early flight back, weather permitting, with aerial views of the Himalaya one last time. Then a hotel, a hot shower and a real bed.
- Altitude
- 1,400m
- Driving
- ~30 mins
Flight
Day 12
Kathmandu → departure
To the international terminal for your flight home, or to your hotel — whichever you prefer.
- Altitude
- 1,400m
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What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route — and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
[PRICE TBC]
Permits
Sagarmatha National Park — arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures — before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
Everest Base Camp is the walk-in most people picture when they picture Nepal. Twelve days from the airstrip at Lukla, up the Dudh Koshi through Sherpa villages and over suspension bridges, to the foot of the Khumbu Icefall at 5,364 m.
Two full acclimatisation days are built into the schedule, at Namche and again at Dingboche. They are not padding. They are the reason people get to Base Camp feeling well rather than wrecked, and they are where the daily monitoring earns its place.
Questions
Before you go
Why is Everest Base Camp so famous?
It is the starting point for climbers attempting Everest, the highest mountain on earth at 8,849 m. Even without climbing, it is a destination in its own right for the scenery and the walk in.
What wildlife can I spot along the trek?
The Sagarmatha region has red pandas, Himalayan tahr, musk deer and over 100 bird species including the Himalayan monal. Snow leopards live at higher altitude but are very rarely seen.
What cultural experiences can I expect?
The route goes through Sherpa villages — Buddhist monasteries, prayer flags and mani stones throughout, Sherpa hospitality, local food, and traditions rooted in Tibetan Buddhism.
How does the trek support local communities?
Staying in teahouses and hiring guides and porters puts money directly into the Sherpa economy, and helps communities keep their culture and their environment intact.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better — that happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.