15-day Budget Everest Base Camp trek

Report at Kathmandu. If you're taking a flight to the city's Tribhuvan International Airport, you'll be greeted with a representative at the airport who will drive you to a pre-arranged hotel in the city. If you land in the morning or afternoon, you'll have a brief meeting at the tour operator's office to discuss the weather, itinerary and equipment for the trek to Everest Base Camp. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.

Overnight at Kathmandu in hotel rooms.

Land at the Tribhuvan International Airport and spend the day at Kathmandu. You'll be accommodated in deluxe hotels in Kathmandu on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included in today's package, but you may visit restaurants in Kathmandu to choose and pay for your own meals.

Wake up at the crack of dawn, board a private vehicle and travel back to the airport. Here, you'll board a 45-minute, domestic flight to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. After arriving at Lukla, you'll take a short break and begin trekking to Phakding. The route, following the upstream flow of the glacier-fed Dudhkoshi River, consists primarily of flat grasslands and forests, with the occasional Sherpa settlement along the way. Overnight in a tea-house at Phakding.

Overnight at Phakding in a tea-house.

You'll be served breakfast today, and then will head to the airport in private vehicles to board a domestic flight to Lukla. From here, you'll trek to the village of Phakding. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Phakding on twin-sharing basis. In all tea-house accommodations, if twin-sharing rooms are unavailable, you may be allocated dormitory-style rooms on multi-sharing basis. Today's package includes breakfast.

Today's destination is Namche Bazar, the gateway to Mt. Everest. The route will begin inching uphill, with the final stretch involving a strenuous climb past dreamy landscapes of Himalayan mountains. You'll officially enter the Sagarmatha National Park to reach the largest town in the Solukhumbu region. Overnight in a tea-house at Namche Bazar.

Overnight at Namche Bazar in a tea-house.

Enter the Sagarmatha National Park and trek to the largest town in the Solukhumbu region. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Namche Bazar on twin-sharing basis. In most tea-house accommodations, washroom facilities will be common to all guests at the tea-house. No meals are included today.

Take a break from trekking and spend the day at leisure in Namche Bazar. The day is kept aside for you to rest, rejuvenate and acclimatize to the higher altitude of the town. You can also embark on a day trek to the nearby village of Khumjung, or explore Namche Bazar itself. Overnight in a tea-house at Namche Bazar.

Overnight at Namche Bazar in a tea-house.

Take the day to acclimatize to the high altitude. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Namche Bazar on twin-sharing basis. All tea-house rooms usually come with bed, blankets and bed sheets. No meals are included today.

Resume trekking after a rest day at Namche. You'll continue trekking to higher ground to today's destination of Tengboche. The trail to the village takes you across multiple vantage points that showcase spectacular views of Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Thamserku, along with other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. Tengboche itself is also a great view point for mountains in the Khumbu region. Overnight in a tea-house at Tengboche.

Overnight at Tengboche in a tea-house.

Resume trekking and make your way to the village of Tengboche. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Tengboche on twin-sharing basis. Some travellers prefer bringing their own sleeping bags. While not included, your tour operator can help you buy or rent a sleeping bag at Kathmandu. No meals are included today.

After a few days of ascending to higher and higher altitudes, you may begin feeling the effects of lower oxygen levels today. The day's trek to Dingboche may feel difficult due to these effects, but most travellers quickly feel relief as the body continues to acclimatize over time. Crossing the Imja Khola River over a suspension bridge, you'll trek across a boulder-strewn mountain side to arrive at Dingboche. Overnight in a tea-house at Dingboche.

Overnight at Dingboche in a tea-house.

Trek to another, major rest stops of the trek to Everest Base Camp, Dingboche. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Dingboche on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included today. While non-vegetarian options are available most days, travellers are advised to stay away from meat to maintain proper health.

Take another break from trekking and spend the day at leisure in Dingboche. The day is kept aside for you to rest, rejuvenate and acclimatize to the higher altitude of the town. You will also embark on a short, day trek to the nearby valley of Chhukung. Overnight in a tea-house at Dingboche.

Overnight at Dingboche in a tea-house.

Take the day to acclimatize to the high altitude. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Dingboche on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included today.

Next stop on the way to Everest Base Camp is the small village of Lobuche. By now, the terrain will have entirely transformed from green forests and grasslands into barren mountain slopes and glaciers. Closer views of Mt. Pumori and Mt. Ama Dablam, among several other smaller peaks, are highlights of the day. Try to not exert yourself too much today, since you'll want to be fresh and rested for tomorrow's trek to Everest Base Camp. Overnight in a tea-house at Lobuche.

Overnight at Lobuche in a tea-house.

Resume trekking and make your way to the small settlement of Lobuche. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Lobuche on twin-sharing basis. In all tea-house accommodations, if twin-sharing rooms are unavailable, you may be allocated dormitory-style rooms on multi-sharing basis. No meals are included today.

Today, you'll finally make your way to the promised land of Everest Base Camp. Beginning by late morning, you'll trek to Gorak Shep, a small settlement at the base of the Kala Patthar village. You'll spend the afternoon at Gorak Shep, and wait for the sunset. In the evening, as the sun begins lowering itself down the mountains, you'll take a walk to the Everest Base Camp. Spend some time at the camp, take photographs and admire exquisite views of Mt. Everest. Return to Gorak Shep by nightfall. Overnight in a tea-house at Gorak Shep.

Overnight at Gorak Shep in a tea-house.

Trek to the Everest Base Camp and spend the night at Gorak Shep. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Gorak Shep on twin-sharing basis. In most tea-house accommodations, washroom facilities will be common to all guests at the tea-house. No meals are included today.

Wake up before the crack of dawn and begin climbing the slopes of Kala Patthar. You'll hike up to a vantage point on the mountain, just in time for a shimmering sunrise over the white mountains. Take in one of the best views of some of the tallest mountains in the world. You'll make your way down to Gorak Shep and resume descending to the village of Pheriche. Overnight in a tea-house at Pheriche.

Overnight at Pheriche in a tea-house.

Climb up the Kala Patthar and begin descending to the village of Pheriche. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Pheriche on twin-sharing basis. All tea-house rooms usually come with bed, blankets and bed sheets. No meals are included today.

Continue descending from Pheriche and make your way back to Tengboche. The grading and intensity of the trail will begin easing as you walk downhill instead of climbing uphill. You'll arrive at the small town of Tengboche, home to one of the biggest monasteries in the Khumbu valley. Overnight in a tea-house at Tengboche.

Overnight at Tengboche in a tea-house.

Return to the village of Tengboche for an overnight stop on your way down. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Tengboche on twin-sharing basis. Some travellers prefer bringing their own sleeping bags. While not included, your tour operator can help you buy or rent a sleeping bag at Kathmandu. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Retrace your steps back to Namche Bazar. As you lose altitude, the oxygen levels in the air begin returning to normal. The terrain will gradually turn back into vast, sprawling grasslands, with the occasional yak meandering through the fields. Overnight in a tea-house at Namche Bazar.

Overnight at Namche Bazar in a tea-house.

Continue losing altitude and descend to the town of Namche Bazar. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Namche Bazar on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included today. While non-vegetarian options are available most days, travellers are advised to stay away from meat to maintain proper health.

You'll have a long day of trekking today to get to Lukla. It'll take you about 8 hours of walking downhill, crossing multiple suspension bridges over the Dudhkoshi River. At Lukla, you can celebrate with your fellow trekkers. Congraulations! You've just completed the iconic trek to Everest Base Camp! Overnight in a tea-house at Lukla.

Overnight at Lukla in a tea-house.

Conclude the trek to Everest Base Camp upon returning to Lukla. You'll be accommodated in a basic tea-house at Lukla on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included today.

Board a 45-min, domestic flight to the capital city of Kathmandu. Upon landing, you'll be transferred to a pre-arranged hotel in the city. Take the evening to visit the local marketplace to shop for souvenirs or gifts. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.

Overnight at Kathmandu in hotel rooms.

Board a domestic flight to Kathmandu. You'll be accommodated in deluxe hotels in Kathmandu on twin-sharing basis. No meals are included today. You will need to visit restaurants in Kathmandu to have meals at your own expense.

Check-out of the hotel and take a transfer back to the Tribhuvan International Airport. Your trip ends here.

Your trip ends by nightfall.

Check-out and proceed to your next destination. Today's meal package includes breakfast only. The airport transfer service will drop you at the airport a few hours before your flight time. You may use this service even if you're planning to stay in Nepal a little longer and depart on a later date.