The Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary is designed to fulfil the dream of those looking to be face to face with the highest mountain in the world. Travellers who have good health, strong physical fitness and have some experiences with trekking can sign up for this 16 day Everest Base Camp Trek. Our specially designed itinerary ensures you a proper acclimatization en route and takes you to the highest point allowed for trekkers. Any further and you’ll be signing up for a physical summit climb where special permits are required.
This memorable journey starts by taking a Trans Himalayan flight to the mountain air strip and village of Lukla. Travelling through famous Sherpa villages such as Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, you slowly gain altitude and eventually reach Everst Base Camp made famous by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. It was in 1953 when they set off on their epic journey to reach the summit of Everest and in the process making world history. When you arrive to the camp, you can’t help feeling a certain nostalgia of how it must have felt being at the base of the highest mountain and setting foot into remote no mans land.
Sample day on "Everest Base Camp trek"
Our trek is managed by a team of professionally trained Leader(s) / guide(s) who have responsibility for all aspects of the journey. Your health, your safety, your enjoyment is taken with absolute professionalism to ensure a successful and memorable ascent to base camp.
Your day starts with a cup of hot tea usually served in your room along with a bowl of hot water to wash up a little. After your luggage is packed and the porters prepare themselves for this journey, you sit down to breakfast.
After breakfast we set off on the trail, enjoying the pleasant cool morning air. Your day's trek involves navigating through numerous picturesque forests, hills, mountains and local villages before stopping around midday for lunch. Your midday lunch break usually lasts around an hour and is a time to relax, pop the boots off and air those feet! Plenty of time is allowed for photograph along the way. After lunch you'll walk another three hours or so, before you stop for the night. You have enough time to change, freshen up, before exploring the area.
Each evening is spent as per your interest whether that’s reading or chatting with other fellow trekkers. We have found that having a deck of cards can be an advantage as the crew love teaching various Nepali card games while at the same time learning new Western ones. Our porters and Sherpa's also like to have singing and dancing competitions in which they love you to join in! Don’t be shy, you’re in the mountains now and you’re likely to be more the odd person out if you don’t. Finally, it's off to bed for a well-deserved night's rest before you start it all again.
Note: Because of bad weather we could face problems with flights to or from Lukla. Delays of a few hours or complete cancellations are rare but it could happen at the best of times regardless of season. Thus, we always recommend you to add supplementary night/s in Kathmandu after your trek (for assurance purposes). If everything runs smoothly, you can enjoy other activities like sightseeing, White water rafting, Wildlife activities, and shopping, just to name a few. Otherwise, on your request, there is also a helicopter rescue service that could also be used should there be any flight cancellations to or from Lukla.
This itinerary is a general guide and can be modified depending on the group's pace and acclimatization. It's also important to note that this is a strenuous trek and it's crucial to consult a doctor before embarking on it and to have a good level of physical fitness.
Welcome to the Himalayan country of Nepal. Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan international airport, our representative welcomes and assists you with transfer to your Kathmandu Hotel. After time in getting refreshed, that evening you'll be invited to a welcome dinner in a typical Nepalese restaurant in the heart of Kathmandu. You’ll also receive a trip briefing before retiring for the night at the Hotel.
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at World Himalaya’s office, SaatGhumti Marg, Thamel.
With an early morning start, we take a scenic 40 minute flight across hillsides and mountains from Kathmandu to the tiny airstrip of Lukla. While the guide divides the baggage load to be carried by porters, you have time to stroll around town and pick up any last minute supplies needed. Depending upon your arrival at Lukla will depend upon where the guide decides to rest up for lunch that day. Afternoon becomes an easy walk as you slowly descend 200m in altitude as you get to Phakding village for your overnight stop. There is sufficient time to explore around the village for local knowledge.
After breakfast we continue our trek up the banks of the Dudh Kosi. Crossing a few times using safe suspension bridges, we reach the village of Monjo, the gateway to the Sagarmatha National Park. On entry to the National Park, we follow the river for about an hour before making another river crossing using once again another suspension bridge and climbing a further 600 meters to Namche Bazaar where we stay overnight. Namche is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region.
We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of (3,440m/11,286ft). You have the option to use this full day as leisure otherwise two other possibilities are to visit the Everest View Point hotel for wonderful panoramic view of surrounding mountains and or simply stroll around the town markets. The markets become popular for locals on Saturday’s as many people from the mountains come down to trade and to also shop to fulfil their daily needs. This is the only shopping market in the surrounding area so it’s best to stock up here if you need any particulars. Another option is to visit the Sherpa Museum where you can learn a little about the history and culture of the Sherpa people as well as some history of mountaineering.
Today after breakfast we start our trek with a pleasant walk through a Blue Pine forest while at the same time admiring the magnificent views of mountains ahead and those on your immediate right hand side. Mighty peaks such as Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kwangde can be seen. The path and river then splits into two with the left taking you to Gokyo while the right taking us to our night’s stay in Tengboche. We gradually climb the 600 meters and once on top, we are overwhelmingly rewarded with one of the most beautiful places in the Himalaya. The big Monastery will be the first thing you notice followed by a large field of campsites, teahouses, lodges and all beneath the towering majestical beauty of Ama Dablam Peak.
The trail descends slightly winding through the rhododendron forest to Deboche and crossing a bridge over the raging Imja Khol River. Hugging the valley wall, you traverse along the river until reaching the plains of Dingboche, the start of the Imja Tse Valley. Dingboche is also the gateway to Chhukhung and farther beyond for even more challenging traverses including Island Peak, Makalu, Sherpani col and Amphu Laptsa pass.
On this day you will rest before the last leg of the journey. There are some places where you can go for day hikes, like trekking East along Imiatse Valley to Chhukung (4,730m) taking approx. 3-4 hours. Although the trek is gradual, you will feel the thin air as you breath so ensure to turn back to Dingboche if your experiencing any symptoms. At Chhukung, there are a few teahouses overlooking the superb view of snow capped peaks and glaciers. Stroll back to Dingboche for dinner and overnight rest.
Tackle the steep incline to get to Thokla Pass where you will find a number of tombstones of those foreigners and locals alike who have lost their lives while climbing Everest. Show your respects before proceeding across the rugged moraine of the Khumbu glacier and arriving at Lobuche.
We continue todays trek across a rocky and often windy path to Gorak Shep. Once again today you will be amazed at the mountain scenery as now you’ll really start to feel and appreciate that you’re surrounded by the highest mountains in the world. After checking in at our lodge & having had lunch, our adventure continues over more rocky dunes, moraines and streams before finally arriving at Everest Base Camp and to the Khumbu Ice-fall. Should you arrive during the high expedition season, you will be among some of the world’s serious mountaineers getting ready for a summit climb. We explore base camp and its surrounding glacier before we return back to Gorak Shep for our overnight rest.
Your Guide will arrange time for an early start to hike up to Kala Patthar for the most wonderful sunrise views of Mount Everest. The ascent to the hill top takes about 2 hours. This small peak also offers the best views for neighbouring mountains that include Nuptse, Pumo Ri and Ama Dablam along with the entire mountain views of Khumbu Himalayan range. Being here for some hours, we hike down to Gorak Shep, breakfast and retrace back towards Pheriche for overnight stay.
Heading down now, the going is easier and the pace faster. Take back great memories while walking towards Phunki Tenga via Tengboche. After crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi river, you will shortly arrive at Kyangjuma. Dense Blue Pine forests located here open up the possibilities of seeing wildlife including species of Pheasants, Himalayan Griffons, Musk deer and wild goat. And depending on time of year, you’re surely not to miss the beautiful flowering rhododendron trees that are over shadowed only by the looming Himalayan mountains of Ama Dablam, Lhotse Shar and Taboche behind them.
Today after breakfast we make a short climb to the hidden valley called Khumjung. Perhaps the biggest village in the area, we visit the Hillary school established by Sir Edmund Hillary himself. We then visit Khunde village where a number of famous climbers reside and where a big hospital is run by charity. Passing the Syangboche airstrip, we enjoy lunch back in Namche Bazaar before walking further downhill for overnight stay in Monju.
At your own leisurely pace, we trek back to Lukla enjoying the lush green scenery along the way and working our way through numerous Sherpa villages. Arriving in Lukla, you'll have time to stroll around the area meanwhile the guide will re-confirm your flight ticket. Back at the hotel you’ll have the opportunity to thank the guide and / or porter by celebrating with them with dinner.
After an early morning flight to Kathmandu our guide will transfer you back to your hotel where you can continue to relax and enjoy the comforts that your hotel has to offer.
Today is usually a day spent for last minute souvenir and gift shopping. A representative is also interested in meeting one last time to understand how your trek went, if there were any problems along the way and or whether we are in any way able to provide you further service or assistance. That may be with onward transport arrangements, travelling information and or maybe further interest in joining one of our other treks or tours available to you.
