Overview And Highlights
Everest Base Camp trek is an adventure of a lifetime that takes you to the base camp of the world's highest peak, Mt Everest (8848m). Witness breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and a multitude of other peaks along with the serene Khumbu region. Have an authentic experience of the Sherpa culture and mountain lifestyle with the off chance of encountering some exotic Himalayan wildlife.
The exhilarating Everest Base Camp trek starts with a scenic flight to Lukla. Follow the trails through Sherpa villages and trek past towering peaks towards Everest. Once above the tree line, you will be closer to the ice-giants than on any other trail.
This 16 day Everest Base Camp Trek is designed to minimize the risk of AMS by limiting daily altitude increases. Two rest days are included as the altitude rises. The first is at Namche Bazaar: explore the town and nearby Khumjung to experience the culture, lifestyle and beliefs of the Sherpa People.
Trek to the hilltop village of Tengboche which has a vibrant Buddhist Monastery. Continue through Pangboche to Dingboche for the second acclimatisation day: walk to Nangkartshang Gompa for unparalleled views of the Nuptse glacier, Ama Dablam’s north face glacier and to the east, Makalu.
As the altitude rises, temperatures fall: forests and farmland give way to alpine scrub; then rock and ice. After a night at Lobuche, trek to the highest village at Gorak Shep for lunch. Follow the trail to the ring of peaks surrounding the upper Khumbu Glacier – and the ice fall towards the summit. Base camp is laid out annually on the ice opposite the ice fall. Return to Gorak Shep for the night
A pre-sunrise climb from your teahouse up Kala Patthar offers superb views of Everest, the South Col, Nuptse and the lower glacier.
The easier four day downward trek uses an alternative lower route and overnights in different villages.
Days
16
Distance
130 km
Difficulty
High
Highest Point
5554 mt
Best Season For The Trek
The best times of the year to perform the Everest Base Camp Trek are during spring (March to May) and autumn (last week in September to mid-December) seasons. During these periods, the weather remains stable and the mountain views are good leading to the best experience. In monsoon, the weather can be unpredictable and the rain can make the trails slippery and perilous. While it is possible to trek in winter, heavy snowfall and harsh temperatures can sometimes make the trek quite difficult.
Trek Difficulty
Everest Base Camp Trek is a strenuous trek that takes you up to altitudes of 5554m (Kalapattar). The 130 km journey generally takes a little over two weeks to complete. You will be trekking over rocky hills and semi mountainous terrain for most of the trek. While previous trekking experience is not a necessity, it will certainly make the trek easier. Good physical fitness and stamina is recommended along with ample time and rest days for acclimatization.
Day To Day Itinerary
Day 1
1330 mtArrival Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport
Overnight: hotel
Tranfert: car
Food: welcome dinner
After completing passport, immigration and visa requirements, we will meet you outside the terminal building (look for your name board) and transfer you to your hotel: afternoon free. Evening: a welcome dinner, introduction to your guide and a briefing on the trek with a check on necessities.
Day 2
1330 mtKathmandu Valley Sightseeing OR A Day at Leisure
Overnight: hotel
Tranfert: bus
Food: breackfast, dinner
Take a day tour to five of the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the famed “monkey temple”; the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa.
A car and driver will take you to each site-entrance and wait for you (entry tickets and lunch are not included).
Day 3
2800 mtKathmandu – Lukla (9 190ft) – Phakding (2 610m/8 560ft)
Overnight: lodge
Tranfert: flight (35 min)
Trek: 3-4 hours
Food: breackfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, drive to the TIA and head to the domestic terminal for a flight to the Tenzing Hillary airport in Lukla. Land at the tiny hillside airstrip as you arrive in the Khumbu region – south of Everest. Meet your local porters and begin the discovery by trekking into the Dudh Koshi Valley: to Cheplung (2 700m) and Ghat (2 530m). Another hour’s walk takes you to Phakding. Overnight in Phakding
Day 4
3440mtPhakding – Namche Bazaar (11 290ft)
Overnight: lodge
Trek: 5-6 hours
Food: breackfast, lunch, dinner
Walk through pine forests along the Dudh Koshi, crossing tributaries, to the Sherpa villages of Benkar (2 710m), Chumoa (2 820m), Monjo (2 840m) and Jorsale (2 830m). This is the gateway and permit checkpoint to the Sagarmatha National Park. Thamserku (6 618m) glistens east of the village. Follow the river to its confluence with the Bhote Koshi: the major rivers draining the Khumbu District. Climb steadily, crossing the high Tenzing-Hilary Bridge, to the first glimpses of Everest and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. A further 3 hr forested climb leads to the region’s administrative and trade centre at Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 5
3440 mtNamche Bazaar: Acclimatization and exploration day
This is the first scheduled acclimatization day. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) experts recommend at least a 24 hr rest period. Keep active: climb high and sleep low is the acclimatisation advice. Only Namche offers ATMs, cyber cafés, restaurants and bakeries, plus a colourful market each Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Visitor’s Centre has informative displays on Sherpa culture, local flora and fauna. The village of Khumjung (3 780m) will present a more traditional view of Sherpa life than Namche. Spend a morning walking up to the village. A circular trail is possible. At very least, visit the closer Everest View Hotel (3 880m). A more adventurous five hour trek west to Thame (3 820m): below the impressive Kongde Ri Ridge (6 187m), offers panoramic Himalayan landscapes not visible from the Gokyo or Everest trails.
Day 6
3870 mtNamche Bazaar – Tengboche (12 700ft), 5-6 hrs adventures adventuress
From the top of Namche, the trail contours around a hill to Sanasa (3 600m); and a trail fork: NW to Gokyo, NE to Everest. Look for Himalayan tahrs on high ground, shy spotted deer, and birds – including the colourful (male) national bird: the Danphe pheasant. Descend to water driven prayer wheels at Phunki Thenga (3 250m, lowest point north of Namche). Cross the Dudh Koshi near its confluence with the Imja Khola and climb steeply for 2 hrs up the Imja Khola Valley through rhododendron and dwarf conifers to the hilltop village of Tengboche. Good views from the village include the Everest group. There is an important monastery that is well worth visiting. At October’s full moon the colourful, Mani Rimdu festival is held; with Tibetan Opera and masked dancing. Overnight in Tengboche.
Day 7
4360 mtTengboche – Dingboche (14 300ft), 5-6 hrs
Descend to the scattered stone village of Debuche (3 820m): with a nunnery. Cross the Imja Khola to the north and gradually ascend to Pangboche (3 860m) with rear views of towering Ama Dablam (6 856m). The trail follows the river to its confluence with the Lobuche Khola and continues to Dingboche: the last year-round settlement in the region. Walled terraced fields protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from icy winds and marauding animals during the short growing season at this altitude. Overnight in Dingboche.
Day 8
4360 mtDingboche: Acclimatization and exploration day
To acclimatise: head north to the Nangkartshang Gompa ridge (4 800m) for views of the Nuptse Glacier, Chhukhung Ri (4 230m, which masks Lhotse’s glaciers) and Imja Tse (6 189m). Further east, along the Mahalangur Himal Ridge, is imposing Makalu (8 463m). Towards the south is, Amphu Lapcha’s fluted ridge (5 845m) and the unusual view of Ama Dablam’s north face and glaciers. Return to the teahouse in Dingboche.
Day 9
4940 mtDingboche – Lobuche (16 210ft), 4-5 hrs
Ascend slowly to a ridge and the hamlet of Duse (4 500m) with western views of Taboche and Cholatse. Continue through kharkas to Duglha (4 620m). Then ascend the Khumbu Glacier’s huge stony terminal moraine (1 hr). Landmark balanced-stone memorials to lost climbers have been placed along its rim. To the north, border peaks along the Mahalangur Himal include Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori. Everest is hidden by the imposing Nuptse-Lhotse wall. Continue to and overnight in Lobuche.
Day 10
5160 mtLobuche – Gorak Shep (16 930ft) – Everest Base Camp (5 360m/17 590ft) – Gorak Shep, 7-8 hrs
A desolate trail along the moraine heads for the last, seasonal, village of Gorak Shep below Pumori. After an early lunch, trek to cold EBC: positioned on the Khumbu Glacier opposite the dreaded icefall – the most nerve wracking section of an Everest ascent. During the April-May ascent season, porters scurry in and out with supplies like an army of ants and the site is a riot of colourful tents perched on the dirty ice. Out of season it is bleak and silent, bar birds wind and avalanches. Everest and the Cwm are hidden behind the West Ridge. Walk back to Gorak Shep for the night.
Day 11
5160 mtGorak Shep – Kala Patthar (18 210ft) – Pheriche (4 280m/14 040ft), 7-8 hrs
From the village, a pre-dawn climb (2-3 hrs) up Kala Patthar, offers sunrise over: Everest (8 848m/29 028ft), Lhotse (8 516m), Nuptse (7 861m) and Changtse (7 550m, north of the Rongbuk Glacier). Then Pumori (7 145m), Lingtren (6 697m) and Khumbutse (6 623m) amidst countless other peaks that crowd your horizon. Cho Oyu (8 201m) can be seen further to the west. After breakfast: retrace your steps to Lobuche (4 940m) and the landmark memorials on the glacier’s snout. Descend the moraine and follow the western trail to lower and warmer Pheriche. Overnight in Pheriche.
Day 12
3810 mtPheriche – Phortse (3 810m/12 500ft), 4-5 hrs
Climb gently up an alternative trail to Pangboche (4 280m): and the Khumbu’s oldest monastery (17th C). A quieter trail north of the river passes through ‘game country’ (including musk deer) to Phortse, on the Gokyo Lakes trail. Overnight in Phortse.
Day 13
2840 mtPhortse – Monjo 9 320ft), 5-6 hrs
Trek south through Mong La (3 975m) to Sanasa (3 600m). Join the broad main trail and walk back to Namche (3 440m). Then drop into the greener valley and Jorsale (2 830m). Exit the National Park and walk down to Monjo; at a comfortable altitude. Overnight in Monjo.
Day 14
2840 mtMonjo – Lukla (9 190ft), 5-6 hrs.
Follow the Dudh Koshi, through farming villages to Phakding (2 610m). Cross the suspension bridge at Thado Koshi and walk to Cheplung (2 700m). Descend and then climb steeply back to Lukla: where your porters will take their leave. Overnight in Lukla.
Day 15
1330 mtLukla – Kathmandu (1 330m/4 260ft)
After an early breakfast, take the return flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free.
Day 16
1330 mtFinal Departure
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination.
Fotogallery
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