Everest Base Camp

The day before our trekking expedition begins, we’ll gather for a memorable welcome dinner. It’s a perfect occasion for us to connect and become acquainted with one another before we set off on our exciting adventure. This dinner also provides a valuable opportunity for you to approach your guide with any final questions or concerns you may have.

Flight: 40min

Trek: 3h 30min, 200m descent, 50m ascent, 6.2km distance

After the scenic flight, we will land at the Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla, extreme and highest in world. It’s an easy and gentle first day from Lukla to Phakding. The trail starts at the north end of Lukla, passing a kani (ceremonial gatehouse) and a police checkpost. We’ll probably spot our first yaks, we have to step to the side of the trail to let them pass. Leaving Lukla the trail drops steeply then runs level above the village of Kyangma, which has a large Gompa and a school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary. Nearby is the Sherpa village of Chaurikharka. Later we’ll enter the village of Cheplung (2,700m). As we continue north we’ll catch our first views of the Dudh Kosi River roaring along the bottom of the valley. From now and throughout the whole trek we’ll cross some swaying metal suspension bridges, if any yak or pony trains are already on the bridge, let them pass. It’s a short climb around the ridge to Ghat (2,590m). Leaving Ghat, the trail enters a sacred Buddhist site. The trail winds through the forest beside the Dudh Kosi.  We are going to follow the path up into the village of Phakding, a collection of lodges, straddling the Dudh Kosi (2,610m).

5h 30min, 1000m ascent, 100m descent, 9.4km distance

From Phakding the trail follows the Dudh Kosi Valley north, we’ll pass a bluff overlooking the river. Continuing up the valley there is a pretty, multilevel waterfall where locals wash their laundry. We’ll soon get our first glimpse of Thamserku (6,608m), the peak that rises to the east of Namche Bazaar. What a walk it is! Before long, we’ll reach Chumoa (2,820m). Along this stage of the trek, villages are interspersed with magnificent forests of Nepal’s much-loved national flower rhododendron, and also magnolia and fir. From Chumoa, it’s another steep climb to the outskirts of Monjo (2,840m). The teahouses along the trek are set around kitchen gardens that provides plenty of fresh organic vegetables for the cookpot. Just above Monjo is the entrance checkpoint for the Sagarmatha National Park, where our permits will be checked. Then we’ll climb up through the dense forests from where we will catch the first sight of Mt. Everest. Along the whole trail there are water-pipes where we can fill our drinking bottle. The climb to Namche Bazaar will take us to an elevation where we may feel the first symptoms of altitude, we should climb slowly. Namche Bazaar is the gateway to Everest.

Trekkers must respect ‘acclimatization day’ in Namche to avoid symptoms of AMS further up the trail. This doesn’t mean we have to stop walking, Namche Bazaar hosts numerous wifi-linked cafes and restaurants, souvenirs, and gear shops, and there are short walks through the hills around. If you are passionate about Everest, you should not miss hiking up to Everest View Hotel, from where you can catch the breathtaking views of Mt. Everest. 

5h, 350m descent, 750m ascent, 9.2km distance

We will trek from Namche to Tengboche,on a trail that runs gently downhill towards the river.  As we descend, the thumb-like peak of Ama Dablam soars into view above the trail. The Tengboche trail drops on steep stone steps to Phunki Thenga (3,250m). From here it’s a draining climb to Tengboche. The trail climbs past some water-powered prayer wheels and begins a sustained climb through a forest of tall, mature rhododendrons. On the way, there are several chautaara (porter rest stops) where we can set down our pack and enjoy the views towards Kantega. The name means ‘horse saddle’, and from here it’s clear how the mountain got its name. Eventually we’ll reach a kani and a pair of chortens marking the start of Tengboche. The village is scattered across a wide, grassy saddle below a crescent-shaped ridge covered by scrub pines and dwarf rhododendrons. This day also provides us the chance to see the biggest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu Region, the Tengboche Monastery. From the viewpoint at the top of the hill there are awe-inspiring views over the Himalaya. Looking north over the saddle, we’ll see the distinctive peak of Ama Dablam (6,856m) standing proud of the massif containing Everest (8,848.86m), Nuptse (7,861m) and Lhotse (8,501m). Down the Pangboche trail we can find Debuche.

4h 30min, 70m descent, 580m ascent, 12km distance

Dingboche will be part of the acclimatization. The trek to Dingboche also forms part of the approach route for the ascent of Island Peak (6,189m). Coming from Tengboche, we’ll follow the Pheriche trail as far as Orsho, and we’ll take the lower path along the west bank the Imja Khola. The trail will drop to a small bridge over the Khumbu Khola (4,130m) and then we’ll climb beside the river. On the way, we will be passing many Chortens, mani walls, and several small villages, including Pangboche, from where you can enjoy the stunning views of Mt. Ama Dablam. Dingboche is a pleasant place to stay, the sun stays here long each evening and the wind blows gently over the potato fields. This is the highest Sherpa settlement in the Khumbu Region.

It is very important to spend an additional night at Dingboche to aid the acclimatization process. This is the second of the mandatory acclimatization days on this trek. Trekkers are happy to spend the day exploring Dingboche, there are several interesting day hikes in this area. One enjoyable short walk is the climb to Nangkartshang Gompa, the base of Nangkartshang Peak on the ridge north of Dingboche. From this vantage point there are good views way off to the east to Makalu (8,463m), the fifth-highest mountain in the world. We can also get spectacular views of mountains Ama Dablam, Island Peak, and Cho Oyu.

4h 30min, 700m ascent, 8.5km distance

On the trail, there are outstanding views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse above a desolate, rounded landscape sculpted by vanished glaciers. Ama Dablam appears as a perfect pyramid. The Dingboche trail drop down to a glacial stream, rising up the other side to Dughla (4,620m), set in a small depression. Half of the village was washed away in the 2007 floods. From Dughla, the trail goes directly up the gravelly terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The surrounding terrain is parched and desolate, with fingers of ice and snow dropping down sheer mountain walls on all sides. The path bears left at the top of the ridge, which is covered with memorials to lost climbers and sherpas. As we cross the ridge, the perfect peak of Pumori (7,165m) soars into view. The air is heavy with the scent of ground-hugging rhododendron bushes. To the west, across a shallow gravel gully, you can trace the route of the trail to the Cho La pass. After meeting the junction with this trail, make a labored ascent to the north over loose moraine to Lobuche, originally a summer village for herders. The bitter cold keeps most people inside around the dung-fuelled heater. We can see the Khumbu Glacier, with Everest mostly obscured by Lhotse and Nuptse (7,861m). 

7h, 450m ascent, 200m descent, 15km distance

The altitude will really become apparent. The trail goes past the turn-off to the Italian Pyramid. The Khumbu Glacier, highest in the world, gurgles and moans under a blanket of ground-up rocks and gravel. This enormous tongue of ice marches down the slopes of Everest at a rate of up to a meter per day, breaking off into brittle towers of ice at the Khumbu Icefall. As a result of global warming, the glacier is shrinking away from the moraine wall at an alarming rate. The route of the path changes regularly as the edge of the moraine tumbles onto the glacier. We’ll get our first views of Kala Pattar (5,545m). The walk to Base Camp is a draining scramble over and ever-changing path across the Khumbu Glacier. We’ll look out for mouse-hares scurrying between the boulders on the path. The atmosphere at Base Camp is fascinating. Gorak Shep is a flat sandy bowl at the foot of Kala Pattar. This was the base camp for the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition. The sandy patch bellow is actually the bed of a vanished lake. There are grand views over the Khumbu Glacier from the top of the moraine. Dotted around the ridge above Gorak Shep are a number of memorials to expedition members lost during various ascents of Everest. Since 1921 climbers sherpas and porters have perished here, either on the peak or in helicopter crashes at Base Camp.

5h, 200m ascent, 1,090m descent, 9.6km distance

The summit of this dark mound of mountain rubble provides perhaps the best view of Mt. Everest in the Himalaya. Mornings are usually sparkling clear, and this is the best time to climb to Kala Pattar for one of the world’s definitive mountain views. This can be the highlight of our trek. We will start this trek as soon as it gets light. The path to Kala Pattar climbs up the grassy ridge above Gorak Shep. As we climb, the peak of Pumori looms dramatically ahead. Having gained the summit we’ll sit back and be amazed. We have placed ourselves in front of one of the most astonishing views on earth, a 360-degree panorama of Himalayan giants from Pumori and Lobuche West (6,145m) to Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. Even Gorak Shep seems impossibly distant, a tiny speck next to the frozen river of the Khumbu Glacier. From this elevation, the true height of Everest becomes clear. The entire south face is clearly visible, as well as Lho La, the pass between Nepal and Tibet, and most of the West Ridge route. On our way back down to Gorak Shep, after a morning climb as we skip down the mountainside, we’ll be losing all the altitude we have gained. We’ll retrace our steps along the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. For Pheriche, the path drops along the wide valley of the Khumbu Khola.

4h, 550m descent, 70m ascent, 8.5km distance

To go to Tengboche, we’ll drop down the valley to Orsho, then we’ll follow the west bank of the Imja Khola to Shomare and on to Pangboche. From there, we’ll retrace our footsteps down and up through the juniper forest to Tengboche.

4h 30 min, 750m descent, 350m ascent, 9.2km distance

From Tengboche, we’ll retrace our steps down to Phunki Thing, then we’ll climb the ridge towards Namche Bazaar. The trail takes us through forests full of high-altitude wildlife like pheasants, musk deer and mountain goats. Along our path, we’ll also see numerous prayer flags, chortens, the backside of Lhotse, and Mt. Everest. We’ll celebrate the return to Namche with a good meal.

4h, 1000m descent, 100m ascent, 7.4km distance

The descent from Namche to the Dudh Kosi can be one of the hardest stage of the entire trek. Although the path is all downhill, the unrelenting slope places massive impact on the knees. Using trekking poles will help, as will wearing a knee support bandage. Once we cross the high suspension bridge, the paths runs mostly level to Jorsale and the climbs to Monjo, where we will stop in the checkpost. It’s an easy run through Benkar to Phakding.

3h 30min, 50m descent, 200m ascent, 6.2km distance

It’s an easy journey with a final ascent until we reach in Lukla. Once in Lukla we will reconfirm our flight reservation. There is usually a bit of a party atmosphere among trekkers who are finishing their trek here and several bars in Lukla offer happy-hour deals, pool tables and late-night drinking.

Flight: 40min

This is the last of our trek. This morning, after having breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to Mt Everest and the Khumbu Region as we board our flight back to Kathmandu Airport. Depending on weather conditions we will be back in Kathmandu for brunch or in the early afternoon.