Everest Base Camp Trek

The tour starts at the Royal Singi Hotel, which has hosted countless numbers of trekkers over the years. There is a full trek briefing this evening, in which you’ll gather as a group for the first time and go over any questions you may have. Rest up, you begin the trek to Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)

Heading out of Phakding, follow the Dudh Kosi North. Today’s walk takes you through magnificent forests with glimpses of the mountains ahead. You will cross the river several times by bridge as you pass through the villages of Benkar, Monzo and Jorsale. A final bridge brings you to the foot of the steep climb to Namche. Halfway up the ascent, you may get your first glimpse (cloud permitting) of the Everest summit behind the great ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse. A last 985ft (300m) climb brings you to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital and the main town in the area, which you can explore properly on your return from Base Camp. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre. It has a weekly market on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, but the town always bustles with trekkers, coffee shops, bakeries and stores selling all kinds of trekking and climbing gear and Tibetan souvenirs.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 11,285ft/3,440m)

Climb steeply out of Namche past the airstrip at Shyangboche to the Everest View Hotel, the highpoint of your day at 12,730ft (3,880m). Built by the Japanese, this spectacularly situated hotel with wonderful views of Everest and Ama Dablam is an ideal place for a tea break.

En route to the Everest View Hotel, you have the option to stop at the Sagarmatha Next experience centre. Here you can learn about the work this local organisation is doing to tackle waste pollution on the mountain trails, while also seeing amazing art pieces created from waste.

Descending through forest, arrive at Khumjung for lunch close to the Sir Edmund Hillary School. After,  walk up to Kunde and visit the Edmund Hillary Hospital. The twin villages of Kunde and Khumjung are below Khumbila, the rocky peak sacred to all Sherpas. For much of the walk, enjoy great views of Ama Dablam and other Himalaya giants. Walk back down through Khumjumg to the monastery. Sadly, it was damaged in the earthquake but is now being repaired. Inside is a small box and, after paying the small entry fee (which goes towards repairs), see the only ‘yeti’ skull in the world. Descending to the main trail, spend the night at Kyanjuma.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 11,810ft/3,600m)

Descend to the river this morning, crossing at the little settlement of Phunki Thangkha (10,665ft/3,250m), then climb steeply through the forest to Thyangboche (12,867ft/3,867m). Arrive by lunchtime and visit the famous monastery in the afternoon. The sunset and sunrise over the mountains are not to be missed – Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam provide a wonderful backdrop to the teahouse. Look out for Himalayan tahr, a native wild goat, in the forest surrounding the monastery.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 12,700ft/3,870m)

Descend through the forest to Devoche and, a little further on, cross the rushing Imja Khola, whose valley you will now follow. Climbing steadily, the trail enters Pangboche (12,795ft/3,900m), the highest permanent settlement in this valley. Ascending, you will have lunch at Shomore, after which you’ll leave the trees and cross a wooden bridge at the confluence of the Khumbu and Imja rivers. A short, steep climb brings us to Dingboche (14,270ft/4,350m), a summer settlement where great peaks surround us.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 14,270ft/4,350m)

Spend the day at Dingboche to continue acclimatising. Those adapting well to the altitude can climb Nangkartshang Peak (16,730ft/5,100m) for great views of Makalu, Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawoche and Ama Dablam. There is the option to climb halfway up or, if you’re feeling energetic, it takes about 3hr 30min to the top. It’s a tough, steep climb but well worth the effort for the amazing views. Return to Dingboche for a late lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and acclimatise.

Accommodation: Teahouse

The trail climbs steeply out of Dingboche, past a chorten (Buddhist shrine), and ascends the valley gradually to Dugla at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Stop for a tea break and snack before the steep climb to Chukpo Lari, a beautiful, poignant place with a line of memorials to climbers who have died on Everest and a beautiful panorama of the peaks on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases off as you follow the valley to Lobuje, a tiny hamlet with a few teahouses. In the late afternoon, there is the option to walk up onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Sunset on Nuptse is not to be missed.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 16,175ft/4,930m)

Today is a very long, hard day as you leave very early, following the Khumbu Glacier Northwards to Gorak Shep (17,008ft/5,184m). The trail rises and falls along the moraine with some short, steep sections. It is also rocky as you are now on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. It takes about three hours to reach Gorak Shep, where you’ll rest and eat. There are no lodges from here to Everest Base Camp and back, so fill water bottles and take snacks.

Start by walking across the sandy flat at Gorak Shep and climb onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail ascends the side of the glacier for a couple of hours before finally descending onto the rocky glacial moraine itself. The trail winds up and down through fascinating ice seracs to Everest Base Camp, the world’s most celebrated campground and the culmination of your trekking efforts. It’s a real achievement to reach EBC, so share some hugs or high fives and make sure to spend a moment or two quietly reflecting on your journey and taking in the famed surroundings. Enjoy close-up views of the Khumbu Icefall and see just how difficult it is for climbers to negotiate through the huge ice blocks. Also capture your essential photo at the Base Camp rock – it can hang on your wall back home forever! Then, having reached your goal, return to Gorak Shep for a well-earned relax.

Please note, accommodation options are extremely limited at Gorak Shep and the teahouse is very basic, though the communal dining area is warm, and the food served promptly to satisfy trekkers’ appetites. Because of the high altitude, the plumbing facilities can be affected and water freezes much of the time.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 17,008ft/5,184m)

It is another hard day as you climb steeply above Gorak Shep to the small peak of Kala Pattar (Black Rock) at 18,192ft (5,545m) from where you can look over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a magnificent view of the Khumbu Glacier and, above all, a close-up view of the highest mountain in the world. Return to Gorak Shep and retrace our steps to Lobuje for lunch and then continue down the valley to the lower altitude of Pheriche for the night.

Please note, the walk to Everest Base Camp and the climb of Kala Pattar are both very tough. Sometimes there can be a change in the order in which the walks  are tackled, depending on the group’s ability and weather conditions.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 13,921ft/4,243m)

Descending through Pheriche, cross a small bridge and have a short climb before descending to join the main Imja Khola valley. Follow the valley down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape. Drop down to the rushing river then walk through peaceful rhododendron forests to the village of Devoche, where we climb back up to Thyangboche on the ridge for lunch. Descend off the ridge to Phunki Tenga and walk back up to Kyanjuma, where we spend the night.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 11,810ft/3,600m)

The walk to Namche Bazaar takes you along a beautiful rolling trail high above the Dudh Kosi. You will have time in Namche and, after lunch, descend through Namche Bazaar and pick up our outward trail again to Monzo, where you’ll stay tonight.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 9,350ft/2,850m)

You’ll retrace your steps to Chaunrikhara, where you’ll start the last climb to the airstrip at Lukla.

Accommodation: Teahouse (altitude: 9,185ft/2,800m)

Fly back to Manthali airport on one of the first flights of the day (approximately 7am to 7.30am) to allow for the five to six-hour bus transfer back to Kathmandu arriving in the city for mid to late afternoon.

Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel

Today is free for sightseeing in Kathmandu (it is also a spare day to allow for any delays in the flights to/from Lukla). You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. 

Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel

The tour comes to an end after breakfast, so it’s time to start your return journey home.