Everest Base Camp Trek

When you arrive at Kathmandu airport, our representative will happily pick you up and drive you to your hotel in the city center. On your first day, you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafés and stores. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.

After having your breakfast, we will give you a quick orientation before we take you on a tour through the historical sights of Kathmandu. These include the Monkey Temple, Durbar Square, and many other places. During the second half of the day, we recommend you to rest as we are taking off early to our trip to Everest tomorrow.

Highlight: watching the monkeys fool around at the Monkey Temple as well as the 360° view over Kathmandu

We grab an early morning plane to Lukla, at 2804 meters, and touch down in Tenzing and Hillary Airport (named after Everest’s first summiteers) 30 minutes later, around 7 a.m. After landing, you can enjoy drinking tea in the village, buy last-minute trekking utensils and take photos, while our crew prepares our trekking equipment. At last, our trek begins! Descending toward the Dudh Kosi River, we follow the main trail and head toward our overnight stay at Phakding. (Overnight at guesthouse.)
Highlight: breathtaking view of the Himalayas

We start our hike early to leave several meters of altitude behind us while crossing numerous wire suspension bridges. After entering the Sagarmatha National Park (the locals’ name for Everest), the trail climbs steeply, offering spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. After lunch, we hike two more hours before arriving at the Sherpa capital and gateway to Everest Namche Bazaar. Namche has many good restaurants, lodges, shops, pharmacies, banks, and bakeries.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: spectacular views within Sagarmatha National Park

Today we are acclimatizing to the high altitude by ascending and descending in steps to adjust to the now-thinning air. The saying “climb high, sleep low” is the surest way for the body to adapt. The best suited for low-oxygen environments are the Sherpa people. We will visit a museum about this fascinating people and learn about their traditions and customs. We will also see Mount Everest for the first time here, behind the statue of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on the world’s first Everest ascension. Tenzing is regarded as one of the bravest and most heroic Himalayan climbers of all time.
(Overnight at guesthouse in Namche.)

Highlight: first views of Everest

While passing the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Kosi, we’ll have stunning views of the nearby snow-pecked mountains, including Everest. Arriving at Tengboche we’ll visit the local monastery where you can watch a prayer ceremony either in the evening or the next morning, depending how tired you are from trekking. Inside you’ll find ornate wall hangings, a six-meter tall sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas.

(Overnight at guesthouse.)
Highlight: Tengboche Monastery

Leaving Tengboche behind, we’ll cross another exciting wire suspension bridge over the Imja Khola, and then ascend to Pangboche. Thousands of mani stones embellish the way — large boulders carved and painted with Buddhist mantras. The uphill trek continues to the quaint Sherpa village of Dingboche, offering spectacular views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and the steep ice summit of Ama Dablam. We’ll trek slowly today, easing safely into the thinning air.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: views of Ama Dablam

Today is another acclimatization day. We head for Chhukung Valley via the Imja Khola valley, with marvelous views of the surrounding peaks, the most dramatic of which is Lhotse’s massive south wall. In the evening, we return down to Dingboche. As we’re getting closer to Everest, we have a harder time seeing it from this point on, until we reach Kalapattar.

(Overnight at Dingboche guesthouse.)

Highlight: views of Lhotse face

The trail continues along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, passing by stone memorials for Sherpas and other climbers who have perished on nearby summits. After paying our respects, we’ll continue up to Lobuche at 4910m. The trek offers snowy mountain ranges flanking the trail on every side. It’s the most photogenic Everest trek.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: trail leading into Lobuche

At 5000 meters, altitude sickness becomes a serious threat. To counter it, we walk slowly and ascend gradually today. Along the way we can gaze at the peaks of Nuptse, Lobuche, above others. We can also see Khumbu Glacier, a gnarly river of solid ice that stretches far ahead and twists upward into the base of Everest. After lunch in Gorak Shep, we rest up in our guesthouse for our big day tomorrow.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: views of the Khumbu Glacier

Today’s the big day: Everest Base Camp! We’ll pick up where we left off yesterday, walking along the Khumbu Glacier, which will lead us right to the foot of Everest. Everest Base Camp is the closest you can get to Mount Everest without special permits and mountaineering equipment. Depending on the time of year, there might be one or more expeditions camped there, preparing for their ascent. After taking pictures, we’ll return back to Gorak Shep for the night.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: Everest Base Camp!

In the morning we are ascending Kalapattar, a 5550-meter peak from where you have the best view of Mount Everest. The ascent is demanding, but the views are rewarding: at the top where we will be in time for sunrise, you can gaze at a panoramic scenerey of Everest, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse, and many other peaks. After taking photos and enjoying the view, we descend back to Gorak Shep for tea, and then continue down to Pheriche for the night. (Bundle up! It’s the coldest night of the trek.)
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: sunrise over Mount Everest

From Pheriche, we take the trail down to Orsho, and continue to Pangboche village where we visit the oldest monastery in the region. The legend says it holds the scalp and bones of a Yeti. Leaving the mountains behind us, we descend back to Tengboche.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: Pangboche Monastery

In Tengboche, we have another chance to explore the monastery. After breakfast and exploration, we’ll continue down to Namche Bazaar, and then on to Manju.
(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: Tengboche Monastery

Finally we return to Lukla, where the trek began all those days ago. Take this time to reflect on your experiences and celebrate with your fellow trekkers: making it all the way to base camp and back is a great accomplishment!

(Overnight at guesthouse.)

Highlight: cafés and bakeries in Lukla

Enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains before we fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, we will pick you up and drive you back to your hotel.

(Overnight at hotel)

After 2 weeks of intense hiking in extreme altitudes and temperatures, your last day is yours. Feel free to rest, enjoy the Garden of Dreams or stroll through the vibrant area of Thamel, where you can buy souvenirs for your loved ones or go for a coffee at the numerous cafés. In the evening, we would gladly invite you to our traditional Nepalese dinner. We would love to hear about your experience and say Goodbye to you.

After breakfast, it is time to say Goodbye to Nepal. We will pick you up and drop you off at the airport where you will catch your flight back home. We hope you had a wonderful long-lasting experience with us and maybe you now know the answer to why you were looking for that special challenge. Have a safe trip!