- Overview
- 19-Day
- 14-Day
- 11-Day
- Includes/Excludes
- Gallery
- FAQ
- Gear List
Everest Basecamp Trek Highlights
- Explore the city of Kathmandu checking out:
- Swayambhunath, the monkey temple which is a 2ooo-year-old Buddhist Stupa
- Bodhnath Stupa is a Buddhist center around 130ft. dome with shops and restaurants
- Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu site on the Bagmati river that is a spiritual site and cremation site.
- Scenic flight from Kathmandu to the mountain village of Lukla.
- Hiking through the lower jungle area of the Khumbu crossing many long suspension bridges over the Dudh Khosi river.
- First views of Ama Dablam and Everest from the village of Namche Bazaar the epicenter of the Khumbu.
- Visiting the Tengboche Monastery that is perched on a high mountain ridge with amazing views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Everest
- Hiking up to Kala Patthar with all its prayer flags and amazing views of Everest.
- Hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp alongside the Khumbu glacier with views of the famous Khumbu Ice Fall where climbers walk on ladders to weave a path through the ice jumble.
Everest Base Camp Trek 18-Day Overview
This is the most recommended itinerary. It allows for the best acclimatization schedule. On this schedule, you will hike in and out from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and back on your own two feet. It also allows for weather days that can delay our flight in or out of Lukla. If we get delayed a few days, we will still be able to complete our journey.
- Total Trip Length from the US to the US: 19 days
- Total Distance round-trip: around 90-100mi
- Total Elevation gain Hiked: around -14000’
Everest Base Camp Trek 18-Day Trip Overview
- Day 0: Begin the journey to Kathmandu, Nepal
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (4,430ft.) and transfer to Hotel
- Day 3: Fly to Lukla at 9000’, then Trek to Phakding – 8562ft
- Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar – 11,200’
- Day 5: Acclimatize hike in Namche Bazaar (11,200’)
- Day 6: Trek to Thame (12,500’) and return to Namche
- Day 7: Trek to Deboche 12,762’
- Day 8: Trek to Dingboche – 14,665’
- Day 9: Acclimatize in Dingboche 14,465’
- Day 10: Trek to Lobuche – 16,207’
- Day 11: Trek to Gorakshep – 16,995’ to EBC 17,600’ back to Gorak Shep
- Day 12: Trek to Kala Pattar 18225’ back to Gorak Shep, and down to Pheriche 13780’
- Day 13: Trek to Kyangjuma 11545’
- Day 14: Trek to Monjo 9300’
- Day 15: Trek to Lukla 9317’
- Day 16: Fly back to Kathmandu
- Day 17: Relax and Explore Kathmandu
- Day 18: Depart KTM for home
Everest Base Camp Trek 18-Day Trip Details
Day 0: Begin the journey to Kathmandu, Nepal
It takes two days to get to Nepal from the USA. From the east coast, you will likely fly eastward through Dubai, UAE, or India. If you are central to the western US, you will likely fly through California where you may stopover somewhere like in Singapore, Thailand, or China.
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (4,430ft.) and transfer to Hotel
A friendly guide will pick you up and take you to your hotel. After refreshing in the hotel, we will have dinner in a typical Nepalese restaurant in the heart of Kathmandu where we will be entertained with Nepalese traditional dance and folk songs.
Day 2: City sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu is a popular destination for tourism. The city has a wonderful mix of Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Western influence. There are Hindu temples, Buddhist Stupas, and unique shops with cultural gifts that can not be found anywhere else. The Boudhanath Stupa is a large white dome with prayer wheels, prayer flags, Buddha eyes, and a golden temple on top. It is one of the largest spherical spas in Nepal and the world and is the most important Tibetan Buddhist monument outside of Tibet.
Pashupatinath, near the airport, is known as one of the holiest shrines of all the Hindu temples. Westerners can not enter, but there is a lot to see walking around in this area. You will find the Sadhus here, which means “holy man or good man” in Sanskrit. They have renounced worldly life and are dedicated to achieving liberation via meditation and contemplation. They often wear saffron-colored clothing and prayer blessings on their face. They live in caves, forests, and Hindu temples in India and Nepal.
Swayambhunath is a Buddhist stupa 3 km west of Kathmandu is one of the most glorious Stupas and is around 2000 years old. It is known as the “Monkey temple” as there are a lot of monkeys that hang out there.
All of these cultural treasures offer gifts from the locals that one can purchase. Each location has different things based on the local trades of the area. It is a unique place to pick up gifts to bring back to family and friends.
Day 3: Fly to Lukla at 9000’, then Trek to Phakding – 8562ft
- Distance: 6 miles
- Time: 4.5 hr
- Elevation Change: - 500’
- Difficulty: Easy
No doubt, this is a panoramic 30-minute thrilling flight into Lukla on a twin otter. The pilots are very experienced and do many flights a day. Flying over the remote areas of Nepal one can see small villages perched on steep hillsides and deep valleys carved by raging rivers. You will wonder how people survive with so little. Rice tiers are carved into the steep hillsides, and small trails link together these small remote villages.
In moments you rise from the jungle toward the snow capped peaks that make up the world’s tallest mountains. You may get a glimpse of Everest on the way.
Once in Lukla, we will get our porters and begin trekking downhill toward the Dudh Kosi river. This trail is the main trade route through the area and there are plenty of clean, well-built lodges along the way. We will stay on the banks of the river. If one is feeling spry there is a monastery straight up from the village of Phakding that is fun to visit.
Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar – 11,200’
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Time: 6 hr
- Elevation Change: +2700’
- Difficulty: Hard
We will continue along the banks of the Dudh Kosi river crossing the river on well-built suspension bridges. I remember counting around 13 along the way. Then we have a steep climb that winds up another 2000’ to the village of Namche Bazaar. We will ascend nearly 3000’ on this day so we will take it slow and easy as we practice deep breathing. Positive thoughts, good nutrition, proper breathing, pacing, and hydration are very important on this day and can carry you through feeling well.
Day 5: Acclimatize hike in Namche Bazaar (11,200’)
- Distance: 2-3 miles
- Time: 3 hr
- Elevation Change: +1200-1500’
- Difficulty: Hard
Namche is the epicenter of the Khumbu, the largest village, and the heart of the region. We will spend an extra day here exploring and acclimatizing. There are government offices, ATMs, internet cafes, bakeries, shops, hotels, and restaurants. Every Friday and Saturday evening there is a colorful outdoor market where fruits, veggies, spices, and clothing are sold.
We will take an interesting side trip up the Khumjung valley where we can visit the Hillary school, potentially see views of Everest, check out the snowy peaks of Kongde, Thamserku, and the sacred peak Khumbiyullha that hosts a well-known monastery and a yeti scalp.
There is also a National park museum, a Monastery, and a Sherpa museum that we can visit in Namche as well
Day 6: Trek to Thame (12,500’) and return to Namche
- Distance: 6 miles each way
- Time: 6-8 hr round trip
- Elevation Change: +1200’ and back
- Difficulty: Easy
This is a fun exploration and a great way to acclimatize. Thame is the home to some of my closest Sherpa friends who are famous Everest guides including Lhakpa Rita Sherpa and Kami Rita Sherpa who has the most summits of Everest. Thame is also the birthplace of Tenzing Norgay who was the first person to set foot on Mt. Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953.
We may meet Tibetians who have crossed over the Nangpa-La pass near Cho Oyu to trade goods in Namche Bazaar. The oldest monastery in the Khumbu sits just above the village, and if we have time we can visit.
The walk is mostly flat with gentle uphill climbs and has superb views of mountain peaks. It is home to many Impeyan pheasants which are the National Bird of Nepal.
Day 7: Trek to Deboche 12,762’
- Distance: 8.5 miles
- Time: 6-8 hr
- Elevation Change: +1400’, -1000
- Difficulty: Moderate
From Namche, we will ascend up toward Khumjung and then contour around the hillside high above the Dudh Kosi river. We will get our first amazing views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. We will pass several villages and tea houses along the way. We will stop at midday for a lunch break and then after lunch ascend a winding trail up to the top of a ridge where Tengboche sits. This is a spectacular place with unbelievable views, a gorgeous monastery, and a tremendously scenic bakery. After spending some time relaxing and exploring here, we will descend down a lovely pathway into a Rhododendron forest where we will stay in a relaxing lodge in Deboche. There is a nunnery in this small town that is so dedicated to creating world peace.
Day 8: Trek to Dingboche – 14,665’
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Time: 5 hr
- Elevation Change: +1600’
- Difficulty: Moderate
Just beyond Deboche we will cross an airy suspension bridge and make our way toward Pangboche (1 hr). In this section of the journey, we will have great views of Ama Dablam, the mother jewel box. It is one of the most impressive peaks in the region and one of my favorite climbs. In 2016 we took our son Bodhi up to Ama Dablam base camp where we spent a week playing while Todd guided the mountain. Bodhi did great.
Day 9: Acclimatize in Dingboche 14,465’
- Distance: 2 miles
- Time: 3 hr
- Elevation Change: +1200’
- Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
This is a very important acclimatization day, prior to ascending up toward EBC. We can hike up above town about 1200’ to the Namgkartshang Gompa (Monastery) where we can catch a view of Mt. Makalu(8463M/27,766’) which is one of the world’s highest peaks. We will be looking up the Imja valley toward Island Peak, a commonly climbed 20K’ peak in the region. In addition, we can sit in on the acclimatization seminar at the Pheriche hospital which is super helpful and informative.
Day 10: Trek to Lobuche – 16,207’
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Time: 5-6 hr
- Elevation Change: +1900’
- Difficulty: Hard
We will pass through Pheriche and traverse across the hillside through small primitive homes farmers use for grazing their animals. After around 3 hours, we cross the Khumbu river to the town of Dugla where we will have lunch. Just after lunch, we pass through a Sherpa memorial site where you will find notable chortens for climbers and Sherpa who have lost their lives on Everest or other climbs in the area. From here there are amazing views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, and Taweche. The trail climbs steeply alongside the glacier moraine and then levels out for a few hours before reaching the small village of Lobuche
Day 11: Trek to Gorakshep – 16,995’ to EBC 17,600’ back to Gorak Shep
- Distance: 6.6 miles
- Time: 7-8 hr
- Elevation Change: +750’ to GS, +650 to EBC = +1400
- Difficulty: Hard
The trek to Gorak Shep leads between the glacial moraine and the mountain walls. We will pass the turn off for the Italian Pyramid research center, and then detour to the edge of the moraine to see the Khumbu glacier. The terrain becomes pretty barren at this altitude of vegetation, but the views continue to impress as Pumori, Nuptse, and Lhotse come into sight. We will have lunch in Gorak Shep and then continue up to Everest base camp where we will have a good view of the challenging Khumbu icefall. We will then return to Gorak Shep.
Day 12: Trek to Kala Pattar 18225’ back to Gorak Shep, and down to Pheriche 13780’
- Distance: 8 miles
- Time: 7-8 hr
- Elevation Change: +1230’, -4150’
- Difficulty: Hard
Climbing up to Kala Pattar is the most challenging and rewarding part of this journey. We will get the most magnificent views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumper, Chaste, and countless Himalayan giants. We will spend the morning climbing Kala Patar, taking photos, and deeply breathing in the grandeur of the world’s highest mountains. Then we will descend down the valley passing Lobuche back down to our lunch spot in Dugla where we will take a rest. Undoubtedly, you will notice views going in this direction that somehow seem new and spectacular. We will have more views of Ama Dablam and the north face of Taweche as we continue on to Pheriche, the home of the Himalayan Rescue Association Medical Post, and sister town to Dingboche.
Day 13: Trek to Kyangjuma 11545’
- Distance: 12 miles
- Time: 6-7 hr
- Elevation Change: -2200’
- Difficulty: Moderate
We will head back down the beautifully scenic valley through Pangboche, the launching area for Ama Dablam, and then across the river and up to the Tengboche village and monastery. Exploring the monastery is not to be missed as it is such a cool experience. From there we descend down a steep hill through bird-filled Rhododendron bushes and fir trees to the Dudh Kosi River. We will stay in the town of Kyangjuma in what will seem like thick air after having been up high.
Day 14: Trek to Monjo 9300’
- Distance: 8 miles
- Time: 5-6 hr
- Elevation Change: -2250’
- Difficulty: Easy
We will cross another high suspension bridge and hit the contouring trail that leads back to Namche Bazaar. Continuing past Namche makes the next day shorter, so we will descend the steep trail down to the town of Monjo. That also means the Porter’s have an easier day getting our bags back to Lukla. These days, trekking out is long, but the air keeps getting thicker. I always feel strong on these days and enjoy the physical push and the ability to try to go fast. On the way up we intentionally keep things very slow so that we can acclimatize.
Day 15: Trek to Lukla 9317’
- Distance: 7 miles
- Time: 4-5 hr
- Elevation Change: +500
- Difficulty: Easy
The trail flattens out as we jump back and forth across the Dudh Kosi River on suspension bridges. In about an hour, we will pass Pangboche and head uphill to our starting point in the town of Lukla, another 2.5hr. We will shower/rest/play in the bustling town of Lukla. This evening we have a fun celebration with our Nepali crew as we thank and honor them for their hard work carrying our bags, and helping us.
Day 16: Fly back to Kathmandu
We will say goodbye to our new friends, the porters, and fly back to Kathmandu. The best flying is in the morning before the winds pick up. Flights can be delayed due to the weather. Once in Kathmandu we will head to the hotel for a clean-up and rest. Once can do some shopping or exploring in town or hang out and relax. We will have a fantastic dinner celebration at one of the finest restaurants in Thamel.
Day 17: Relax and Explore Kathmandu
This is also a contingency day in case there are any delays during our trip. We can see any areas we missed in Kathmandu on day one or go to the districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Durbar square is also a great place for exploration and shopping.
Day 18: Depart KTM for home
We will say farewell to our friends and to one powerful experience as we carry home with us memories for a lifetime.
Everest Base Camp Trek 14-Day Overview
Hike In/Heli Out - with Weather Days
This is a faster schedule using a helicopter to take off a few days of the trip.
- Day 0: Depart from the US
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
- Day 2: Guided Sightseeing tour Kathmandu
- Day 3: Fly to Lukla, hike to Phakding
- Day 4: Hike to Namche
- Day 5: Acclimatization day in Namche
- Day 6: Trek to Tengboche Monastery
- Day 7: Trek to Dingboche
- Day 8: Acclimatization day in Dingboche
- Day 9: Trek to Lobuche
- Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep and onto EBC then back to Gorak Shep
- Day 11: Climb Kala Pattar, trek down to Pheriche
- Day 12: Fly to Lukla in Heli, then take twin otter to Kathmandu
- Day 13: Contingency day/relax in Kathmandu
- Day 14: Fly home
Everest Base Camp Trek 11-Day Overview
Hike In/Heli Out - without Weather Days
This is the fastest schedule, which is doable but not recommended due to the tightness of the schedule.
- Day 0: Depart from the US
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
- Day 2: Guided Sightseeing tour Kathmandu
- Day 3: Fly to Lukla, hike to Phakding
- Day 4: Hike to Namche
- Day 5: Acclimatization day in Namche
- Day 6: Trek to Tengboche Monastery
- Day 7: Trek to Dingboche
- Day 8: Acclimatization day in Dingboche
- Day 9: Trek to Lobuche
- Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep and onto EBC then back to Gorak Shep
- Day 11: Climb Kala Pattar, take Heli to Dingboche, Heli to Lukla, twin otter to KTM
- Day 12:: Fly home
What's Included In Everest Trek?
- Accommodations in Kathmandu (Hyatt or Hotel Shankar). Room on twin sharing basis, breakfast is included
- All pickup and drop transportation from the airport to the airport international airport and other transportation in the valley.
- Round trip – (KTM-LUKLA) Domestic flight in Twin Otter, all guests, and a local guide.
- One day guided city sightseeing tour around Kathmandu according to our itinerary. (Largest Buddhist stupa in the world at
- Boudhanath and the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath, as well as the Monkey temple at
- Swayambhunath are all options but not easily doable in one day with the traffic and other goals like a gear check.
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed on our itinerary.
- Helicopter Shuttle flight from Dingboche-Lukla-Kathmandu
- The necessary number of porters on the trek, 1 porter per two guest
- Local assistant Sherpa Guide who knows the area.
- Accommodation on the trek rooms on a twin-sharing basis.
- Insurance of all local crews
- Food on the trek - breakfast, lunch, and dinner
What's Not Included In Everest Trek?
- Your International & home country domestic airfares, transfers en route & excess baggage
- Your personal insurance. Medical, mountain rescue & repatriation cover is obligatory. Purchasing insurance is recommended.
- Your personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, alcoholic beverages, bottled/mineral water, charges for Showers, electronic device charging facility is available in each tea house in the area for an additional fee on an hourly basis & Wi-Fi.
- Main meals (Lunch & Dinner) in Kathmandu (Allow up to $15-20 per meal)
- Your Nepal entry visa fee (USD $40 available on entry) Valid for 30 days & it is your responsibility to obtain your visa before departing home for the trip. It is possible to obtain it at the airport on arrival.
- Your personal hiking/trekking gear.
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Tipping to the guide & local staff, and western guide (allow up to $500 per guest)
- All guests are kindly requested to bring their own First Aid Kit with sufficient medical supplies and medications for the expedition period.
- Wifi charges in the lodges ($10/day)
- Charging services ($5-10/day)
- Showers ($10-15), Plan on 2-4 showers
- Extra food and beverages on the trail like snacks, cappuccino, bakery treats, or bottled water (not recommended to buy, it leaves too much plastic on the mountain and there is no recycling.)
Trekking in Nepal is awe-inspiring and invigorating. It is truly a trip of a lifetime and will produce memories that you will never forget.
The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world where the earth meets the sky. Majestic snowy peaks are breathtaking. From the lush forest down low to the high alpine terrain, one feels awe-struck at the sheer beauty of the Himalayas.
In addition, the people in Nepal will leave a lasting impression on you. They are constantly sending prayers into the world with their colorful prayer flags, hand-carved prayer stones, and prayer beads. There is a calmness and presence one gets from the Sherpa people who can hold you with their deep spiritual eyes and big smiles. In the high mountain areas, they live in harmony with the land and animals to survive. They have a deeply spiritual culture and you will find monasteries situated high on rocky cliffs and peaks. It is a simple but hard way of life.
You will quickly forget about the stresses of everyday life as you roam in the Himalayas. The culture is amazing, the mountains are mind-blowing, and you will be in good company.
Most relevantly, you will be standing right in front of our world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest. The Everest Base Camp trek is a popular one for a good reason.
Winslow has done 12 trips trekking in Nepal to Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna area. Returning to the Khumbu is like having a reunion with her Sherpa family. She will share this experience with you and teach you some conversational Nepali if you want to learn.
There are many options in Nepal for trekking adventures so please call to discuss your desires and plan a trip for your group.
Mt. Everest is located in Sagarmatha National Park. It is the home to the world’s largest peak that sits at 8848m/29,035ft. The Tibetan name for this peak is Chomolungma which means “goddess mother of mountains' '. The Nepali name is Sagamartha which means, “the head in the great blue sky”. In 1852 Radhanath Sikhdar who was a mathematician working for the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India found what he thought was the world’s highest peak. This was confirmed a few years later. Even though the peak was already named, the British decided to name the peak Mount Everest after British surveyor Colonel George Everest who was head of the survey when it was discovered, though he was always embarrassed by this honor.
The Everest Base Camp trek is located in the Khumbu valley. On day 2 of the trip, we entered the Sagarmatha National Park which is a natural heritage site. Alongside Everest you can see many high peaks such as Lhotse, Lhotse-Shar, Cho-yo, Ama Dablam (the mother jewel box), Pumper, Kangtega, Gyachung Gang, Thamserku, Kwangde, and many more. Sagamartha is rugged with deep gorges, glaciers, and unclimbable rock and ice faces. It is the home of the famous Sherpa people who came over the Himalayas from Tibet. Large rivers, like the Dude Khosi, Bhote Khosi, and Imja Khola have carved deep gorges through the mountains.
Sherpa is a Nepalese ethnic group. They were nomadic people who migrated from Kham in Tibet to the Solukhumbu. The Sherpas are known for their ability to climb and survive at high altitudes. They tend to run circles around westerners in the land of little oxygen. This is why Sherpas can support others so well on Everest, set the fixed lines, and carry heavy loads.
The Sherpa make a living by farming barley and potatoes and graze their yaks in high-altitude pastures. In addition, many Sherpa work in the mountaineering and trekking industries. Tourism is a big boost to them, as they run their lodges and restaurants throughout the Khumbu. The Sherpa people are mostly Buddhist and traditionally, each family would send one son to the monastery where they meditate, learn ancient scripts, and pray for peace.
The best time to travel to EBC is in the spring or fall. It is very cold in the winter and the lodges up high are closed. In the summer it is the monsoon season and thus very wet with few views. April and early May are the best spring months and one can see the rhododendrons blooming. The red flowers are lovely to see decorating the forest. However, dust from the plains of India in the spring can hinder clear mountain views. In the fall, mid-September through November, after the monsoon, the sky’s are generally clear and offer great views, but the days are shorter and cooler. Everest is most commonly climbed in the spring as the weather and avalanche conditions are better at that time of year. It is occasionally climbed in the fall as well.
The most common wildlife to be seen are Himalayan Tahr (goat-like), Ghoral (smaller goat/antelope-like), musk deer, Pikka (mouse hare), and jackal. More rarely seen are the Wold, Lynx, Snow leopard, and Himalayan bear. Many birds can be seen like the Impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, snow cock, snow pigeon, red-billed and yellow-billed chough, Himalayan griffon vulture, and lammergeiers.
Trek out:
The trek out can be beautiful as you see things differently on the way down. You will feel stronger and stronger as you descend. I find it fun to push myself on the uphills; there are a few good ones, as I am acclimatized and no longer have to keep a slow pace. Haha. We also stay in different little villages on the way out - nothing fancy, just authentic.
The advantages of going out on the heli:
1. Save your knees from a lot of downhill hiking if that concerns you.
2. Saves you four days away from loved ones or work.
It will cost around $850 extra per person to take the helicopter if we have four people plus me.
The trip requies 2 days of travel or 1 day at the beginning and end of each trip. That means, the 19-day trip is really 21 days and the 14-day trip is really 16 days. Plus, we may add an additional 1 day for any flight delays.
