Everest Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu. Once your international flight lands at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the official representative of Nepal Social Trek will greet you outside the arrival gate. He will transfer you to your respective hotel in Kathmandu and help you through the check-in formalities. You can rest and get rid of the jet lag at the hotel for the rest of the day.

In the evening, you’ll have a short meeting with your trekking guide at the hotel. The guide will provide you all the necessary information regarding the Everest Base Camp Trek. If you would like to buy or rent any gear for the trek, the guide will take you to some of the best gear shops at Thamel.

Highlights:

• Greet at the airport and transfer to hotel
• Short briefing regarding the day-to-day activities on the trek

Special Note:

Make sure to attend the meeting as the guide will be providing every detail, such as day to day itinerary, packing list, flight schedules, food, culture, etc. If you’re leaving any of your stuff behind at the hotel, make sure you pack it in a separate bag from your trekking bag. We also recommend you to re-check all the gears that you’re taking to the mountain before going to sleep to make sure you are not missing the essentials.

Early in the morning, you’ll catch a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla. The tiny airstrip of Lukla is considered one of the most extreme airports in the world. The 40-minute flight will truly be a lifetime experience. You can peek out of the window to marvel at the marvelous scenery of high hills and snow-capped mountains.

Once you reach Lukla, you will get to meet the local staff and porters. You’ll begin the trek on a relatively easy trail towards Cheplung village. From the village, you’ll see the first sight of the mountain with the distant view of Mt. Khumbila. You’ll continue the gradual walk on the bank of Dudh Koshi River until you reach the village of Phakding.

Highlights:

• A 40-minutes fight to the world’s most extreme airport at Lukla
• Outstanding view of the mountains and surrounding landscapes
• Walk along the shore of Dudh Koshi River.

Special Note:

The weather in Lukla is highly unpredictable. The small airstrip, located on top of a hill with mountains surrounding on three sides, is widely known for terrible weather, which impacts the regular flight schedules. The flights, in such circumstances,  may likely be delayed or even canceled in worst cases.

On this day, you will walk through the pine forest, rustic villages, and occasional yak pastures. Once you leave Phakding, you will continue walking through the narrow trail alongside the Dudh Koshi River. Along the route, you’ll walk past several Sherpa villages, including Benkar and Chumoa, and cross a couple of suspension bridges to reach the entrance gate of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. 

After entering the national park, the trail heads uphill towards the village of Jorsalle. You’ll continue walking as the first glimpse of Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Everest, and Nuptse unfolds on the backdrop.

The trail further leads to a steep climb from Jorsalle to reach the colorful village of Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is surrounded by colorful markets, trekking shops, fancy restaurants, cafes, and local shops. It is regarded as the Sherpa Capital, and you’ll get to enjoy the close-up view of Kongde-Ri and Thamserku.

Highlights:

• Cross over the thrilling suspension bridges
• Enter Sagarmatha National Park
• Majestic glimpses of Kusum Kanguru, Thamserku, Everest, and Nuptse
• Walk along the bustling streets of Namche Bazaar.

Special Note:

Namche Bazaar is the most significant commercial hub of the Khumbu region. It is surrounded by markets, gear shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. If you’ve missed out on anything, from trekking gear to chocolate bars, you can get them all at Namche Bazaar.

You’ll have a much-needed acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. It is significant to have a leisure day to acclimatize with the increasing elevation and minimize the possibilities of altitude sickness.

On this day, you’ll hike to the beautiful village of Khumjung to keep your feet moving. You’ll get to visit the ancient monastery of the village and a local school built by Sir Edmund Hillary. On the way back, you’ll be visiting the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest luxurious hotels in the world. From here, you can relish the panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtega, Taboche, and Kwangde. 

Highlights:

• Leisure day to acclimatize to high altitude.
• A short hike to Khumjung village
• Visit Khumjung school and monastery
• Visit Everest View Hotel, the world’s highest luxurious hotel
• Marvel at the sensational glimpses of the Himalayas

After the acclimatization day, you’ll continue the trek on a relatively pleasant trail through the dense forest. With the marvelous view of mountains on the backdrop, you’ll traverse through the hillside above the Dudh Koshi River towards Phungithanga. 

Once you walk past Phungithanga, the pleasant trail suddenly transforms into a more challenging uphill. The trail passes through an occasional water-powered prayer wheel and continues along the dense rhododendron forest to Tengboche.

Tengboche is a small village scattered in a grassy saddle under the shades of a crescent-shaped ridge. It is home to Khumbu’s largest Buddhist monastery. From the outside of the monastery, you get to enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding mountains, including Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and others.

Highlights:

• Visit the ancient Tengboche Monastery — the largest in Khumbu. 
• Breathtaking view of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and others

After breakfast, you will head northwards from Tengboche and cross the small suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. You’ll continue the walk on a narrow path towards Orsho and take the lower route towards the western bank of Imja Khola. The trail is mostly surrounded by rhododendron, birch and conifer trees. Furthermore, you’ll walk past several small villages, mani walls, and well-decorated chortens before reaching the overnight destination at Dingboche.

At an elevation of 4,410 meters, Dingboche is the highest Sherpa settlement in the entire Khumbu region. The village is enclosed by stone walls to protect the crop fields. From Dingboche, the view of Ama Dablam is just a stone throw away.

Highlights:

• Cross the thrilling suspension bridge over Dudh Koshi River
• Walk past well-decorated mani walls and chortens
• Close-up view of Ama Dablam — the most beautiful mountain in the world

To cope with the high elevation and thin air, you’ll have another important acclimatization day at Dingboche. To keep up with the momentum, you’ll be going for a short hike to a nearby hill from the village.

You’ll be going for a 400-meter climb to Nangkartshang Peak located towards the northern ridge of the village. It takes around two hours of steep ascent from the heart of Dingboche to reach the summit of the Nangkartshang Peak. At 5,083 meters, the summit of this peak offers magnificent views of Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse, Kantega, and Cho Oyu.

Highlights:

• Acclimatization day to cope with increasing elevation.
• A short hike to Nangkartshang Peak
• Enjoy the superb view of Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse, Kantega, and Cho Oyu

Special Note:

Never skip the acclimatization day! It is crucial to take a day off not only to ease the sore muscles but also to cope with the thin air before heading to even higher altitudes. Also, if you do not physically fit, we recommend you inform your trekking guide as soon as possible and take a proper rest instead of hiking.

You’ll begin the day with a gradual climb towards the valley of Pheriche. As you continue walking along with the alpine scrub and yak pastures, you’ll reach the Trekkers Aid Post at the valley. Up above, you’ll witness the soaring sight of Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Cholatse. 

As you walk further ahead from Pheriche, the trail becomes more strenuous with steep climbs over the moraine of Khumbu Glacier. Upon climbing the ridge, you’ll arrive at Thukla Pass decorated with prayer flags and stone shrines in the name of climbers who lost their lives in the mountain. After crossing the pass, you’ll continue walking through the grassy valleys and rocky terrains to reach your overnight destination at Lobuche. 

This tiny settlement is located in a narrow meadow between the towing Lobuche Peak and Khumbu Glacier. You’ll relish a marvelous sight of Nuptse and Taboche soaring above the settlement. In the evening, you will walk up to the narrow gap of mountain walls and moraine to take a glance at the Khumbu Glacier.

Highlights:

• Walk past the village of Pheriche and visit Trekkers Aid Post.
• Traverse along the memorial park at Thukla Pass.
• Breathtaking view of Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Cholatse
• Close-up view of Nuptse and Taboche
• Look over the marvelous Khumbu Glacier.

Remarkable day on the Everest Base Camp Trek! After breakfast, you’ll be departing from Lobuche and heading off on fairly rough and rocky terrain. The route passes through occasional ups and downs on the glacial path towards Gorak Shep. Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy the wonderful sight of Pumori, Nuptse, and other surrounding mountains.

Upon arriving at Gorak Shep, you’ll drop your backpacks at the teahouse and meander through the rocky trail towards the Everest Base Camp. You’ll come across the glacial moraine and several small streams along the way. Once you reach the Everest Base Camp, you’ll have the opportunity to stand at the foothills of the world’s highest mountain. 

From the base camp, you’ll get a glimpse of marvelous spectacles of  Nuptse, Pumori, Khumbu Icefall, and Khumbutse. After spending some time at the base camp, you’ll make your way back to the sandy lakebed of Gorak Shep.

Highlights:

• Traverse through the glacial path
• Excursion to the Everest Base Camp
• Opportunity to stand at the shore of the world’s highest mountain
• Enjoy the close-up view of Nuptse, Pumori, Khumbu Icefall, and Khumbutse.

Today marks another highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek. You’ll start the day early at dawn and hike uphill towards Kala Patthar, situated at an elevation of 5,643 meters. Kala Patthar is one of the most prominent viewpoints of the Everest region. Although it does not cover a considerable distance, the route to the summit of this landmark is fairly steep and rocky. 

Upon reaching the top of the viewpoint, you will get to witness one of the most beautiful sunrises over the Himalayas. Here, you’ll be surrounded by a 360-degree panorama of huge massifs, including Mt. Everest, Mt. Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbetse, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and so forth.

After spending a brief spell on the top, you’ll retrace the path back to Gorak Shep and descend towards Lobuche. You’ll continue the walk along rough and rugged trails over moraine until Thukla Pass. From here, you’ll cross a bridge over a gushing glacial stream and head towards Pheriche. It takes around four hours to reach Pheriche from Kala Patthar. 

Amid hotels and teahouses, this small settlement also accommodates the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic (HRA). It is a voluntary non-profit organization established to reduce the casualties while trekking or mountaineering in the Himalayas. 

Highlights:

• Excursion to the famous vantage point of Kala Patthar
• Witness the majestic sunrise over the towering massifs
• Relish the 360-degree panorama of some of the highest mountains in the world
• Visit Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic (HRA)

Special Note:

Since you’ll be reaching Kala Patthar for the sunrise, you’ll need to begin the hike early at dawn. Therefore, we recommend you to carry a headlamp or torch to keep track of the route. In addition to that, you should also consider wearing warm jackets, gloves, and a beanie to keep yourself warm in the cold morning.

On this day, you will leave the Himalayas behind and backtrack your route to Tengboche. You’ll begin the trek after breakfast on a relatively easy route compared to the last few days. Although the walk is pleasant most of the day, note that you’ll need to tackle a few strenuous uphill on the way.

Along the way, you’ll walk through the densely forested area, blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. Make sure to keep your eyes around the trail as you might get to witness some rare wildlife and birds, including musk deer, wild goats, Himalayan griffons, and pheasants if you’re lucky. 

After about five hours of gentle walk, you’ll arrive at Tengboche. From the village, you’ll get a marvelous sight of the surrounding peaks, including Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse.

Highlights:

• Walk under the shades of rhododendron and juniper trees.
• Opportunity to witness rare wildlife and birds, including musk deer, wild goats, Himalayan griffons, and pheasants
• Enjoy the mountain view of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse.

Early in the morning, you’ll depart from Tengboche and make your way towards the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. You’ll begin the day with a steep descend towards the village of Phunki Tenga. Upon reaching this small settlement, the trail transforms into a gradual uphill. After climbing for almost an hour, the trail descends sharply towards the Dudh Koshi River.

Upon crossing a suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, you’ll reach the village of Kyangjuma. This tiny village is a junction to three different trails of the Everest region — Gokyo Valley, Khumjung village, and Namche Bazaar. You’ll follow the route that leads to Namche Bazaar and head to the Sherpa Capital for overnight stay.

Highlights:

• Relatively comfortable walk
• Cross over the high suspension bridge
• Overnight at the liveliest Sherpa village at Namche Bazaar

You start the day with a steep descent from Namche Bazaar on fairly rocky terrain. The route from the village to the bank of Dudh Koshi River is quite a challenge, especially if you’re not used to steep downhills. On the way, you cross the high suspension bridge over the river, which leads to a considerably pleasant path. 

Most of this day, you’ll be walking under the shades of rhododendron and pine forest alongside the Dudh Koshi River. You’ll also get to enjoy the distant view of the towering pinnacles before arriving at Phakding, a small Sherpa settlement. 

At Phakding, you’ll cross another suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River and head uphill towards Lukla. On the way to Lukla, you’ll walk past numerous Buddhist monasteries, chortens, and mani walls. In the evening, you’ll celebrate the success of the Everest Base Camp Trek with the entire team before heading back to Kathmandu.

Highlights:

• Cross several suspension bridges over raging Dudh Koshi River
• Walk past the pleasant forest trail surrounded by rhododendron and pine trees.
• Celebrate the success with your trekking guide and all the dedicated staffs in the evening

This day is the final day of your adventure to the Everest Base Camp. After breakfast, you’ll bid farewell to the mountains and catch a flight back to Kathmandu. You also part ways with the local staff and porters in Lukla. The 40-minute flight to the capital city offers a sensational view of the Himalayas and surrounding landscape.

Upon arrival, the representative of Nepal Social Trek will receive you at the domestic terminal and escort you to the hotel. You can choose to take some rest back at the hotel or take a walk around the vibrant street of Thamel and buy some souvenirs if you want. Late in the evening, the representative of Nepal Social Trek will receive you at the hotel and take you for the farewell dinner.

Highlights:

• Incredible flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Enjoy the breathtaking sight of the mountains and surrounding landscapes.
• Farewell dinner in the evening

Your final day in Nepal! On this day, the representative of Nepal Social Trek will escort you from your hotel to the Tribhuvan International Airport for the final departure. He will drop you at the airport as per the schedule of your flight and help you figure out your check-in terminal.