A short mountain flight lands you on one of the most dramatic airstrips anywhere, and the trail starts right outside the terminal.
The Sherpa capital of the Khumbu: a bowl-shaped market town with bakeries, gear shops and a first look at Everest-region peaks.
The region's best-known Buddhist monastery, set among rhododendron forest with Ama Dablam rising behind it.
Stand beside the Khumbu Glacier at the camp used by Everest expeditions and take in the icefall above.
A dawn climb to about 5,550 m for the closest classic view of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse, and the highest point of the trek.
Prayer walls, chortens, yak caravans and suspension bridges inside a UNESCO World Heritage park.
Rest days at Namche and Dingboche are built in, so the climb is gradual and safer.
Warm lodges, hot meals and an experienced guide and porters looking after you every day.
The Everest Base Camp trek follows the classic route up the Dudh Koshi and Imja valleys. You fly to Lukla, then climb a little each day through pine and rhododendron forest, across high suspension bridges and past Sherpa villages, until the landscape turns to rock and glacier near Gorak Shep.
Fitness matters more than climbing skill. If you can walk several hours a day for a few weeks in a row you can do this trek, and the schedule gives your body time to adapt, with acclimatisation days and a steady gain in sleeping altitude. Temperatures drop sharply at night above 4,000 m, so a proper down jacket and sleeping bag are essential.
Spring offers clear mornings and flowering rhododendrons; autumn is the most stable season, with crisp air and the best mountain views. Monsoon and deep winter are possible but not recommended.
| Duration | 14 days (about 11 days on the trail) |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Kathmandu |
| Highest point | Kala Patthar, about 5,550 m |
| Base Camp altitude | 5,364 m |
| Distance | Roughly 130 km round trip |
| Walking per day | 4 to 8 hours; the longest day is Base Camp day |
| Difficulty | Moderate to challenging, mostly because of altitude rather than technical ground |
| Best seasons | March to May and September to November |
| Accommodation | Hotel in Kathmandu, simple teahouse lodges on the trail |
| Group size | Private trips or small groups, from one traveller |
| Permits | Sagarmatha National Park and local municipality permits are arranged by us |
Airport pick-up and transfer to your hotel. In the evening we meet for a trip briefing, check your gear and answer any questions.
Meals: dinnerAn early flight into the mountains, then an easy 3 to 4 hour walk along the Dudh Koshi river, past prayer wheels and mani walls. A gentle first day to warm up.
Walking: 3 to 4 hoursCross several suspension bridges, enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo and make the steady climb up to Namche, with the first glimpse of Everest on a clear day.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursA rest day that is still active: hike up to the Everest View area at about 3,880 m, visit Khumjung village and its monastery, or just explore the market and cafes.
Walking: 2 to 4 hours, optionalA contouring trail with big views of Ama Dablam and Thamserku, down to the river, then a long climb to Tengboche. Visit the monastery if prayers are being held.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursThrough Pangboche, the valley opens into wide alpine meadows with stone-walled fields and a close view of Lhotse and Ama Dablam.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursClimb a ridge behind the village (up to Nangkartshang, about 5,080 m, if you feel strong) then return to rest. Sleeping low and climbing high is the key to adapting.
Walking: 3 to 5 hours, optionalPass the memorial chortens at Thukla pass for climbers lost on the mountains, and follow the glacier moraine to Lobuche. It gets cold and the air is thin.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursOver rocky moraine to Gorak Shep, drop your bags and continue to Base Camp beside the Khumbu Glacier. Return to Gorak Shep for the night. The longest and most rewarding day.
Walking: 7 to 9 hoursStart before dawn for the steep climb to Kala Patthar and the sunrise over Everest. After breakfast descend the valley to Pheriche, where the air is noticeably easier.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursA long, mostly downhill day back through Pangboche and Tengboche to the comfort of Namche, where a hot shower and a bakery treat feel earned.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursFollow the river down, crossing the same bridges, to Lukla. A celebration dinner with your guide and porters in the evening.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursMorning flight back, transfer to the hotel and a free afternoon for souvenirs. We finish with a farewell dinner.
Meals: breakfast, farewell dinnerTransfer to the airport for your onward flight, or we can help you extend your stay with a Kathmandu tour, Chitwan or Pokhara.
Meals: breakfastLukla flights depend on weather, and in the busiest months can depart from Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu (adds a few hours of road travel). We recommend one spare day at the end of your trip. The plan above is a guide: your guide may adjust the days for weather, health and trail conditions.
You do not need mountaineering experience, but you should be comfortable walking 5 to 7 hours a day for several days on hilly ground. Start regular hiking, stair climbing or cardio training at least two months before you travel.
It can affect anyone above about 2,500 m, regardless of fitness. The itinerary includes two acclimatisation days and a gradual gain in sleeping altitude. Drink plenty of water, walk slowly, tell your guide about any headache, nausea or breathlessness, and never ignore symptoms. Your guide carries a first aid kit and will make the call to rest or descend.
Weather often delays flights in the mountains. Keep a spare day or two at the end of your trip. In peak season the flights may leave from Ramechhap, and a helicopter is a possible (extra cost) alternative if you must keep your schedule.
Yes. Your policy should cover trekking up to at least 6,000 m, medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Please send us your policy details before you arrive.
Simple twin rooms with blankets and a shared toilet. Hot showers and charging are usually available for a fee, and prices rise with altitude. Wi-Fi is possible in some lodges but slow and paid. Meals are basic: rice, noodles, soups, eggs, pasta and local dal bhat.
Daytime can be pleasant, but nights above 4,000 m often fall well below freezing, especially in November and March. Bring a warm down jacket, thermal layers, gloves, a hat and a sleeping bag rated to about minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Broken-in hiking boots, layers, waterproof jacket, trekking poles, sun protection, a headlamp and water purification tablets are essential. You can buy or rent most gear in Kathmandu. We will send a full packing list when you book.
Permits are required for Sagarmatha National Park and the local municipality, and we arrange them for you. A licensed guide is strongly recommended for safety, navigation and cultural insight.
Meals during the trek, hot showers, battery charging, drinks and tips are usually extra. There are very few ATMs after Namche, so bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu.
Yes. We run private trips and small-group departures. A private trek lets you set your own pace and dates.
Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp. We confirm dates and details, and a deposit secures your booking.
Lower villages often have a signal, and many lodges sell Wi-Fi or a local SIM data pack for a fee. Higher up and in remote valleys the connection is slow or absent, so tell family to expect quiet days. Wi-Fi is not included in the price. A local SIM bought in Kathmandu is a cheap backup.
Lodges serve dal bhat, noodles, soup, eggs, pasta, momo and pancakes, and dal bhat comes with refills. Vegetarian and vegan meals are easy to arrange. If you need gluten-free food or have allergies, tell us when you book so your guide can brief the kitchen, though choices narrow as you climb. Meals on trail days are included. City meals are not, apart from breakfast and the two special dinners.
Tap and stream water is not safe to drink untreated. Lodges sell boiled or bottled water for a fee, which is not in the price. Many trekkers bring purification tablets or a filter bottle to save money and plastic. Your guide can show you where it is safe to refill.
Yes. Pick-up and drop-off at Kathmandu airport, hotel nights in Kathmandu with breakfast, a guided city tour, and a welcome and farewell dinner are included. See the Included tab on this page for the full list. Extra hotel nights outside the itinerary are not included, so ask us if you need them.
A 20% deposit secures your booking. Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the dates and how to pay. The balance is paid in Kathmandu before the trek. For cancellation and refund terms, see wildpasstreks.com/booking-policy/
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Fill in your details, and we will confirm availability. A 20% deposit secures your booking. Prices are per person and the final price is confirmed by us.
