Everest Base Camp Trek

No trip to Nepal would be complete without an introduction to the religious and cultural attractions of Kathmandu. The city is distinguished by a unique synthesis of Hinduism and Buddhism, and many religious sites in the Kathmandu Valley are considered sacred to both religions. You’ll visit four major UNESCO World Heritage sites: the remarkable Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas, the Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath, and the world-renowned Kathmandu Durbar Square. You’ll also have plenty of time to shop for handcrafted souvenirs and stock up on any last-minute supplies. After your tour, you’ll overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu. Today’s breakfast is included.

Today represents the true beginning of your Everest Base Camp Trek. You’ll wake up early and enjoy a quick breakfast at your hotel before heading off to the airport, where you’ll board a scenic flight to Lukla. This brief flight offers stunning panoramas of the Himalayan range, giving you a tantalizing taste of the mountains you’ll encounter during your trek. From Lukla, you’ll start hiking in the direction of Phakding. Keep your eyes peeled: you might just catch a glimpse of the distinctive triple-peaked summit of Kusum Kanguru along the way. The small, bucolic settlement of Phakding is situated on the banks of the Dudh Koshi, a high-altitude river which runs all the way from Everest and is known for its milky, opaque water. You’ll enjoy comfortable overnight accommodation at one of Phakding’s guesthouses. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Leaving Phakding behind, you’ll trek north on a path leading to Monjo. This small town serves as the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park, a formally protected area which takes its name from Mt. Everest (called Sagarmatha in Nepali). The park is home to a staggering variety of Himalayan flora and fauna, and you’re sure to enjoy trekking through sweetly scented evergreen forests comprised of blue pine, deodar, and rhododendron. As it doubles back and forth across the Dudh Koshi River, your trail winds its way past tiny settlements called Tok Tok and Jorsale. After crossing a final suspension bridge at the junction of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers, you’ll hike uphill for about two hours before reaching what’s regarded as the unofficial capital of the Khumbu region: Namche Bazaar. You’ll overnight in one of the town’s many popular guesthouses. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today is reserved for acclimatization: as you ascend to higher elevations, it’s important to let your body adapt to the smaller amount of available oxygen in the atmosphere. Fortunately, there’s a lot to see and do in the colorful commercial hub of Namche Bazaar. For one, you’ll get to enjoy your first unobstructed view of Everest itself. Many neighboring peaks are also visible from town, including the mighty Thamserku, the sprawling massif of Kongde RI, and the distinctive summit of Ama Dablam. Consider paying a visit to the Sherpa Culture Museum to learn more about their vibrant traditions; this will help you to understand some of the cultural sights you’ll encounter along the trail in the days to come. Visiting the nearby Everest Photo Gallery may also provide some inspiration for your own photographs.

After perusing these displays, take a short hike to the Syangboche Airport just above town. From here, you can capture stunning photographs of Namche Bazaar from above—not to mention the wall of Himalayan peaks surrounding the town. Finally, make sure to visit the Hotel Everest View. It’s regarded as the highest hotel in the world and offers great vistas of its namesake mountain from each window. Overnight at a guesthouse in Namche Bazaar. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today’s hike begins at a leisurely pace. Leaving Namche Bazaar, your path winds uphill through fragrant rhododendron woodlands and passes alongside quiet Himalayan villages. Many trekkers regard this route as the most scenic section of the entire Everest Base Camp Trek. You’re really in the mountains now: Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse are just a few of the stunning peaks that tower over the trail. You’ll continue hiking past the Imja Khola; this river drains the slopes of Everest and is actually a tributary of the Dudh Koshi. Your destination for today lies where the two rivers converge at the spiritual center of the Khumbu: Tengboche. This village is best known as the site of the important Tengboche Monastery. This is the largest gompa you’ll visit during your hike, and it’s a sublime sight to behold: flanked by pines and azaleas and set against the backdrop of Ama Dablam, it’s hard to imagine a more striking setting. Make sure to step inside to check out the monastery’s exquisite murals and statuary. You’ll spend the night at a guesthouse in Tengboche. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

After savoring a tasty breakfast in Tengboche, you’ll begin your morning hike by descending through forest-clad hillsides towards the tiny hamlet of Deboche. You’ll cross a handful of suspension bridges over the Imja Khola before approaching the next notable settlement on today’s route: Pangboche. This is a good place to rest and enjoy a snack while taking in tremendous views of Ama Dablam. When you’re ready to continue, you’ll start climbing along a trail lined with prayer flags and bordered by mani walls. Mani walls are comprised of many stone tablets, each of which is inscribed with a Buddhist mantra, and should always be passed on the left. Continuing past the village of Orsho, you’ll finally arrive at the small Sherpa village called Dingboche. Known as the “summer valley” of the region, Dingboche experiences summer rains from the monsoon, contributing to its farming livelihood. Check in at an internet café or enjoy a bite to eat from one of the local bakeries before turning in at your guesthouse, where you’ll spend the night. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Now that you’ve reached altitudes greater than 4,000 meters, you’ll need more time to adjust to the rarified air. Today is therefore reserved for acclimatization—but that doesn’t mean you have to sit still. Just south of Dingboche is a steep hike to the top of Nagarjun Hill, from which you can obtain gobsmacking views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Lobuche, and Taboche. Trekking to this rewarding vantage point also offers a panoramic vista of the entire Imja Khola valley. When you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, return to Dingboche to explore its many guesthouses, restaurants, bakeries, and shops. Dingboche is also noted for hosting one of the world’s highest billiards parlors. For our money, there’s nothing more relaxing than kicking back with a mug of butter tea while enjoying the solitary splendor of Imja Tse, the 6,189-meter mountain better known as Island Peak, which rises above town. You’ll spend the night at your guesthouse in Dingboche; today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

After leaving Dingboche, today’s hike takes you through windswept pastures and past the lonely huts of yak herders. As you trek towards the tiny settlement of Lobuche, you’ll notice changes in the local terrain. The woodlands of the past few days have now thinned out, replaced with scattered shrubs and rocky, snow-dusted grasslands. Your route will afford you with a good look at the now-familiar peaks of Lhotse and Ama Dablam, but there are even more mountains to be identified from here. Ask your guide to point out Lingtren, Pumori, and Khumbutse. Today’s trek ends at Lobuche, a small village nestled in the shadow of the mountain which shares its name. Lobuche is comprised almost entirely of guesthouses, so it’s the ideal spot to spend the night. Make sure to get plenty of rest so you’re ready for the hike to Everest Base Camp in the morning. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for: after many kilometers of trekking, you’ll finally get to see Everest Base Camp with your own two eyes. From Lobuche, you’ll strike out on a trail leading to Gorakshep. This is a sparsely populated little village where trekkers’ lodges and guesthouses are situated on the edge of a frozen lakebed. Gorakshep was once the site of the original Everest Base Camp, and it’s your last stop before pressing on to the base camp’s current location. Take a moment to enjoy the semi-tame birdlife here, including snowcocks and choughs, before resuming your hike.

Leaving Gorakshep, you’ll begin hiking alongside the Khumbu glacier moraine and its associated Khumbu Icefall, which is regarded as a particularly hazardous part of the climb for those attempting to summit Everest. You’ve now reached the best part of the day: your arrival at Everest Base Camp. Spend some time enjoying the incredible atmosphere; depending on the time of year, you might run into climbing expeditions getting ready for their epic ascent. You’ll return to Gorakshep to spend the night in your guesthouse, basking in the exhilaration of having achieved the ultimate trekker’s dream. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner today are included.

You’ve already been to base camp, but the Everest Base Camp Trek isn’t over yet. You’ll actually get your best view of the mountain itself on today’s hike to the vantage point of Kala Patthar. You’ll depart Gorakshep in the early morning to ascend to this famous viewpoint in time for sunrise, climbing a series of challenging switchbacks. Kala Patthar represents the highest elevation of the entire journey, so it should come as no surprise that the view from here is unparalleled. You’ll relish the enchanting interplay of light and shadow as the sunrise reveals a panoramic vista of the Everest massif and the surrounding peaks of Nuptse and Changtse. When you’re ready to move on, you’ll descend from Kala Patthar and begin trekking towards Pheriche. This is a small farming community that serves as a popular stop for trekkers. You’ll overnight at a guesthouse here. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today you’ll be trekking from Pheriche all the way back to Namche Bazaar. While this route comes out to be about 15 kilometers, the going is significantly easier now that you’re descending. You should be able to make good time as you follow the trail along the watercourse of the Imja Khola, crossing suspension bridges and passing by the familiar sights of Pangboche and Tengboche. Consider stopping for a relaxing lunch in the little town of Phungi Thanga or Kyangjuma before continuing to descend through pleasant woodlands. After another two or three hours on the trail, you’ll find yourself back in Namche Bazaar. Enjoy an evening mingling with other trekkers who are still on their way to Everest Base Camp. You’ll overnight at a guesthouse in Namche Bazaar. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today’s trek will take you back to Lukla, where your adventure began. About an hour from Namche Bazaar, you’ll reach the first of many suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. These flags snap in the wind while the Dudh Koshi river roars beneath, creating an unforgettable ambience. This return journey will be familiar, but you’ll get a new perspective on the many chortens, mani walls, and gompas along the way now that you’re traveling in the opposite direction. You’ll pass through the village of Cheplung and wind your way gradually along the path leading to Lukla. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon and spend the night here in Lukla. Today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Your successful trek comes to a conclusion today. Wake up early to bid a very fond farewell to the spectacular scenery of the Khumbu before boarding your morning flight back to Kathmandu. Watching the Himalayas pass beneath your window, you’ll now be able to recognize many of the major peaks. After the solitude of the mountains, the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu may come as something of a surprise. You’ll be transferred to your hotel to spend the rest of the day at your leisure; feel free to relax or explore the local markets. There are plenty of great restaurants in Thamel where you can enjoy dinner before returning to your hotel to spend the night. Today’s breakfast is included.

This day is reserved in case there are any weather-related delays with your return flight from Lukla. If your schedule is on track, today represents a great opportunity to get more familiar with Kathmandu by exploring any of the attractions you weren’t able to visit upon arriving in Nepal. Some lesser-known sites include the colorful Buddhist Kopan Monastery and the Hindu Changu Narayan Temple, which lies just east of the city and is recognized as a World Heritage site. There are also lots of places to grab a bite to eat. Especially popular amongst trekkers is The Rum Doodle, located on Bhupi Road in Kathmandu’s Naxal neighborhood. Guests here are encouraged to sign a paper cutout of a yeti footprint to decorate the restaurant’s walls; look carefully and you might just see the autographs of famous mountaineers. When you’re finished shopping and eating, return to your hotel to spend the night. Today’s breakfast is included.

This morning, you’ll wake up to enjoy your last breakfast in Kathmandu while reflecting on all of the memories you’ve made on the Everest Base Camp Trek over the past two weeks. Approximately three hours before your scheduled flight, you will be transported to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure. We hope you’ll return to Nepal in the near future to see everything else that our unique country has to offer! Today’s breakfast is included.