Description - What to expect

Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary

◾ Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport to be warmly welcomed by your host. Drive and check in to your hotel for some rest before you explore this historic and vibrant city on your own.

◾ Day 2: Acclimatize in Kathmandu
After breakfast, depart for a full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. You visit Durbar (Palace) Square, the epicenter of religious and cultural life, an area filled with old temples of historical significance with old glorious Newari architecture. Some of the sights include Kal Bhairav, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap and Kumari Ghar, home to the Living Goddess.

Visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, said to be one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world, which is majestically set high on a hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley. Then, see Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This massive temple complex sits alongside the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the courtyard of the temple, whereas tourists can see the temple from the eastern side of the Bagmati River.

Later on, visit Boudhanath, a Buddhist Stupa said to be one of the largest in the world. This massive structure stands tall with four pairs of eyes each facing the four cardinal directions, watching for the righteous behavior of mankind and for human prosperity. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening.

◾ Day 3: Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft), trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563 ft) 2-3 hours trek, 200m descent, 50m ascent
Take an early morning flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Lukla Airport and trek to Phakding. Descending above farmlands walk through the Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat, and Sano and Thulo Gumela and the shrines and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa, with breathtaking views of sacred mountain Kumbila and its sister summits, Kusum Kanguru peaks. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 4: Trek to NAMCHE (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent
Heading for the Namche Bazar, cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with you for most of your trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river, and further, make your way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared a world heritage site.

Completing halfway to Namche Bazar, head for the second half of the march that would likely take more time due to the steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads you to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge. Take the final steps uphill slowly to reach the heights of Namche from where you can have a first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge, and finally after about 1.5km/0.9mile) reach Namche Bazar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 5: Acclimatize at NAMCHE
Here you will have an acclimatization day to help your body better adapt to the high altitude. Take short walks or climb a few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields, and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru, and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 6: Trek to PANGBOCHE (3860m/12665ft)
The trail between Phortse and Pangboche is not the main trail and so is quite narrow in spots with literally a 300-400m sheer drop to the Imja Khola below. Pangboche is a large village having a population of 600 and is the last major settlement inhabited all year round. Pangboche is actually two villages together –upper and lower Pangboche. Lodges are mostly in lower Pangboche with its riverside stone-walled agricultural fields. The oldest monastery of the Khumbu region, the Riwa Gompa is located at upper Pangboche. Most trekkers pass through lower Pangboche on the way up and visit upper Pangboche while returning from Kala Patthar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 7: Trek to DINGBOCHE (4360m/14305ft)
Following the Imja Khola, the trial climbs towards the village of Shomare, and crossing the treeline beyond this village we are walking up rolling arid stretch, an alpine terrain with patches of scrub and isolated pastures and fields filled with grazing yak. Crossing through the yak pasture and herdsmen’s stone huts at Orsho and Tsuro Wog, turn right where the trail descends to a point near the junction of Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola. Finally, after climbing a low ridge, reach the sprawling settlement of Dingboche which is a cold and windy place with sub-zero night temperatures even in summer. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 8: Acclimatize in DINGBOCHE
You will be having another acclimatization day here in Dingboche. This day you will hike to the Chukhung valley, making your way up the Imja Khola valley to a land riven by glacial moraines amidst towering formidable mountains. Climb Chukhung Ri, a rocky hill behind the village and then return to Dingboche. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 9: Trek to LOBUCHE (4930m/16175ft)
On the way to Lobuche, you find yourselves truly in the lap of the Himalayas with imposing mountains on all sides. Passing by Dusa to see some herdsmen’s uninhabited stone huts, reach Dughla, and then to Chupki Lhara where you will see large heaps of stones with prayer flags remembering the mountaineers who perished on a mission to climb Mt.Everest.

At the top of the valley is Chola Lake where you can get a glimpse of blue waters from high trails. From Chupki Lhara, the trail drops to the Khumbu glacier moraine after which you can see three great peaks-Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori straight in front. Now walking the final steps along a murmuring stream reach Lobuche. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 10: Trek to GORAK SHEP (5160m/16930ft) and EBC (5340m/17521ft) and back to GORAK SHEP
This day will be a long hard day for you. Walking by a somewhat grassy terrain and a few scattered boulders, all along you see the snowy wall of lofty mountains ahead. The 60m/200ft ascent takes you to the top of the lateral moraine wall of the Changri glacier, to a level spot called Thangma Riju from where there is a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the mountains all around-Taboche and the Lobuche peaks, Pumori, and the rest of Mahalangur Himal peaks, with Changtse in Tibet now more visible and Nuptse filling the eastern horizon.

The trail now crosses the moraine of the Changri glacier which joins the Khumbu glacier from the west and climbing steeply up a stony slope you reach Gorak Shep from where you can catch your first glimpse of Kala Patthar. From Gorak Shep move towards EBC, to be amidst spectacular mountains. Walking by the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep lake, the Changtse peak in Tibet and the Lho La depression can be seen straight ahead. Crossing through several of the glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of meltwater, exposed icy walls, and large boulders you finally reach EBC from where trekking ends and mountaineering begins. After a well-deserved rest descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 11: Trek to KALA PATTHAR (5545m/18193ft), return trek to PHERICHE (4240m/13911ft)
Finally, this is your date with Everest, the climax of the trek. Starting after an early breakfast, cross through the wide sandy bed of the dried-up lake and steep zigzags to ascend about 100m to have the great view of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. As the climb begins get a grand view of the Khumbu glacier and Nuptse massif as you climb to the rocky viewpoint of Kala Patthar. It’s a slow tough climb but every meter ascended is rewarded by a bit more of Everest until finally, you find yourselves sitting on the Kala Patthar rocks in the middle of an unbelievable Himalayan Panorama.

Retracing the way you walked up to pass through Gorak Shep, Lobuche, and from Dughla, instead of moving towards Dingboche, descend to Pheriche making our way along Khumbu Khola, for the night stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 12: Trek back to TENGBOCHE (3870m/12697ft)
From Pheriche, the trail descends to Tsuro Wog after crossing the bridge across Khumbu Khola and with great mountain views. From Tsuro Wog again start the descending path retracing the way you came up proceeding through Orsho, Shomare, and upper Pangboche and finally to a most beautiful place of Tengboche. The Tengboche monastery is Khumbu’s largest gompa. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 13: Trek back to NAMCHE BAZAR
From Tengboche, move towards Phunki Tenga and now descend to Sanasa and Kyangjuma and then finally to Namche Bazar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 14: Trek back LUKLA
Your final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla retracing the way you walked up. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

◾ Day 15: Fly back to KATHMANDU
Flyback from Lukla to Kathmandu and drop off at the hotel. This is a leisure day which can be utilized by buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening you will be invited to join a farewell dinner, review great photos, and share experiences of the trip. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

◾ Day 16: Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS
If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult your host for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours, etc.