Sketch itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
- Altitude: 4,600 feet
- Check-in time: 10:00 hours
- Spend the day exploring Kathmandu
- Overnight stay: Hotel in Kathmandu
Day 2: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding
- Altitude: 9,350 feet (Lukla), 8,500 feet (Phakding)
- Flight to Lukla: 30 mins
- Trekking distance: 9 km
- Trekking duration: 5 hours
- Trail: Easy and gradual descent
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Phakding
Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
- Altitude: 11,300 feet (Namche Bazaar)
- Trekking distance: 10 km
- Trekking time: 7 hours
- Trail: Moderate climb with a steep section before reaching Namche Bazaar
- Enter into the Sagarmatha National Park
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Namche Bazaar
Day 4: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
- Altitude: 11,300 feet
- Spend the day acclimatizing at Namche Bazaar
- Explore Namche Bazaar
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Namche Bazaar
Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
- Altitude: 12,650 feet (Tengboche)
- Trekking distance: 8 km
- Trekking time: 6 hours
- Trial: Mixed ascent to Phunki Tenga followed by a steep ascent to Tengboche
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Tengboche
Day 6: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche
- Altitude: 14,250 feet (Dingboche)
- Trekking distance: 9 km
- Trekking duration: 7 hours
- Trail: Gradual descent with a bit of an ascent after Lobuche River
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Dingboche
Day 7: Acclimatization at Dingboche
- Altitude: 14,250 feet (Dingboche)
- Spend the day exploring Dingboche
- Take a short hike to see the peaks of Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Dingboche
Day 8: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche
- Altitude: 16,200 feet (Lobuche)
- Trekking distance: 7 km
- Trekking duration: 6 hours
- Trail: Moderately challenging climb on moraine and rocky terrain
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Lobuche
Day 9: Lobuche to Gorak Shep to EBC and back to Gorakshep
- Altitude: 16,900 feet (Gorakshep), 17,550 feet (Everest base camp)
- Trekking distance: 13 km
- Trekking duration: 7 hours
- Trail: Steep climb to Gorak Shep followed by a steeper climb to Everest base camp and back down to Gorak Shep
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Gorak Shep
Day 10: Trek from Gorakshep to Pheriche via Kala Patthar
- Altitude: 14,100 feet (Pheriche), 18,200 feet (Kala Patthar)
- Trekking distance: 19 km
- Trekking duration: 7 hours
- Trail: Steep ascent to Kala Patthar followed by a gradual descend to Pheriche
- Enjoy the views of Mt. Everest, South Col, Lhotse, Makalu, Khumbu Glacier and Pumori
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Pheriche
Day 11: Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
- Altitude: 11,300 feet (Namche Bazaar)
- Trekking distance: 15 km
- Trekking duration: 8 hours
- Trail: Moderate descent followed by a short ascent before reaching Namche Bazaar
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Namche Bazaar
Day 12: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
- Altitude: 8,500 feet (Phakding), 9,350 feet (Lukla)
- Trekking distance: 19 km
- Trekking duration: 8 hours
- Trail: Moderate descent to Phakding followed by a gradual ascent to Lukla
- Overnight stay: Teahouse at Lukla
Day 13: Fly to Kathmandu
- Morning flight to Kathmandu
- Spend the day resting in your hotel room
- Overnight stay: Hotel at Kathmandu
Day 14: Depart from Kathmandu
- Check-out time: 10:00 hours
- Fly back to your home city
- The trip ends here
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu and check-in at the hotel. Today you will meet your team and trek leader. You will receive the briefing on your trek here. You can spend the rest of the day making last-minute preparations for the trek. You can also walk around and explore the local culture a bit.
A bit of activity, walking and sight-seeing will get your body to start acclimatizing if you have flown in from sea level. Ensure you don’t end up sleeping the whole time as this may not be a good idea for you. You'll spend the night in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding
Head to the airport in the morning and catch a flight to Lukla. It takes about 35 min to fly to Lukla and provides breathtaking views of valleys and mountain ranges. From Lukla, begin your trek to Phakding. It takes about 3 to 4 hours and you will cross small villages and plenty of greenery on your way. At Phakding, check-in at the teahouse for the night.
Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Begin your trek towards Namche Bazaar alongside Dudh Koshi River. You'll also cross various suspension bridges and forested paths before you reach Namche Bazaar. During this stretch you will be able to get your first glimpses of Everest and Lhotse. Overnight in a teahouse at Namche Bazaar.
Day 4: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar lies at an altitude of 11,290 ft. which is above the threshold of altitude sickness. Therefore, it is a popular spot for trekkers to spend a couple of days to get themselves acclimatized before they head further. You can visit the Namche Monastery, the museum or the local coffee shops around. Overnight in a teahouse at Namche Bazaar.
Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Today, you'll continue along the trail to Tengboche and get your first views of Mt. Everest. You'll trek through gorgeous rhododendron forests and soak in views of Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Thamserku and other peaks in the Khumbu region. Overnight in a teahouse at Tengboche.
Day 6: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche
Today, you'll trek to Dingboche. You'll trek through forests till the terrain changes to the more rocky landscape. You'll also experience your first snow on today's trek as you continue to climb to higher altitudes. You may find today to be a bit challenging as your body tries to acclimatize to lower oxygen levels. You will be crossing via suspension bridges over Imja Khola River. Overnight in a teahouse at Dingboche.
Day 7: Acclimatization at Dingboche (14,470 ft.)
Once you reach Dingboche at nearly 14,500 ft. you will need a day to let your body acclimatize further. You will need to train your breathing to take in as much oxygen as possible. You can take short hikes around Dingboche to help you acclimatize and see some of the tallest mountain peaks such as Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu and Mount Cho Yu. Overnight in a teahouse at Dingboche.
Day 8: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche
Today is a challenging trek to Lobuche as you trek to a higher altitude over glacial moraines. En route, you'll cross the Dughla pass which is filled with memorials of mountaineer’s who have lost their lives attempting different expeditions. Overnight in a teahouse at Lobuche.
Day 9: Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep to Everest base camp
Today, you'll finally trek to the Everest base camp. You'll first head to Gorak Shep and spend some time here and wait for sunset. As the sun starts setting you will set off to Everest base camp. You will be able to see the Khumbu Icefall clearly from EBC. After a while, you will descend back to Gorakshep. Overnight in a teahouse at Everest base camp.
Day 10: Trek from Gorakshep to Pheriche via Kala Patthar
Today, you'll wake up early and trek to Kala Patthar to catch the sunrise. Finally, you will be able to clear and spectacular views of the tallest peak in the world. Congratulate yourself for reaching the highest point of the trek at 18,500 ft.
You will be able to see the peaks of some of the tallest summits of the Himalayan Range including a close view of Mt. Ama Dablam with an altitude of 22,300 ft. From here you will head back down towards Pheriche via Gorakshep. Overnight in a teahouse at Pheriche.
Day 11: Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
Today, you'll retrace your steps back to Namche Bazaar. En route, you'll cross the now familiar villages of Dingboche and Tengboche. This will be a relatively easier and faster trek while descending and with lowering altitudes you will start feeling better with oxygen-rich air to breathe. Overnight in a teahouse at Namche Bazaar.
Day 12: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Today, you'll return to Lukla and en route, cross Phakding. After what may seem like a never ending trek downhill, you will arrive at Lukla in the evening. Overnight in a teahouse at Lukla.
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu
Today, you'll fly back to Kathmandu Airport in a small prop-plane and enjoy the last views of the Himalayan Range. You'll arrive in Kathmandu exhausted from the long trek and head to the hotel for a good night’s rest. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.
Day 14: Depart from Kathmandu
Today, you'll check-out of the hotel and fly back to your home city. Your Everest base camp trek ends here.
Inclusions
The trip costs include your flight tickets from Kathmandu Airport to Lukla Airport and return to Kathmandu Airport. Airport transfers to and from the hotel will be arranged in private, non AC shared vehicles. Accommodation arrangements will be in hotels for two nights spent in Kathmandu on a triple-sharing basis.
For the rest of the time during the trek, you will be staying in tea-houses with common washrooms on twin sharing basis included in the trip. Accommodation type may also include a couple of nights in basic tea-houses with common washrooms on triple/quad sharing or even sometimes dormitory set up higher up in the mountains.
All required government permits and entry fees along with Sagarmatha National Park permit fees are included. The services of an experienced trek leader and assistant guide as well as porter services to carry up to 10 kg per person of personal luggage (two travellers will have one porter) are inclusive. Any technical or safety gear that may be required for the trek will be provided.
You will be covered under adventure travel insurance with emergency assistance and evacuation. You can request for more details on this. Please so see the Fine Print section for the detailed terms of the insurance. First aid kits and oxygen cylinders will be available during the trek. International payment transfer fees will also be included. All applicable taxes are included in the packages.
Exclusions
Flights or travel arrangement between your home city and Kathmandu to and fro are not included. Airport transfers on day 1 and day 14 between Kathmandu Airport and Hotels is not included. All meals during the stay in Kathmandu will be on personal expense. All meals while trekking (veg/non-veg meal package from lunch on day 2 to breakfast on day 13 can be arranged at an additional cost of approximately INR 23,500 per person and can vary from operator to operator and the season) Nepal visa arrangements and costs are not included. Please note that no visa is required for Indian citizens.
Personal expenses like tips to staff, additional meals or beverages etc. are to be borne by individuals and not included. Any costs arising due to unforeseen circumstances like bad weather, road blocks etc. will be additional and communicated as necessary. Any additional cost due to fluctuations based on international currency exchange rates at the time of booking will be charged accordingly. Anything not mentioned in inclusions and outside of the itinerary will be additional.