Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu
Trip Highlights of Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu
- Visit the highest peak in the world.
- Hike through the Sagarmatha National Park
- Visit the famous village of Namche Bazar
- Experience the culture of Sherpas
- View the most spectacular scene of Mt. Everest from Kala Patthar.
Overview of Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu
When you think of the Himalayas, you naturally think of Mt. Everest. The Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is one of those rare trekking experiences that profoundly impacts you. Once you trek the trail, you are never the same; a fire ignites within you that makes you want to hike more Himalayas.
This short Everest base camp trek in the Khumbu region of Nepal takes you from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, following different stunning geographical features. You can see Conglomerate Layering on the way to Phakding, Ama Dablam Debris Flow, Yellow Band on Everest Massif, Khumbu Icefall, and many more, which we will discuss later.
What was once an ocean bed 60 million years ago is, at present, at the top of the world. Mt. Everest, along with multiple other top 10 highest peaks in the world, is a product of India crashing into Nepal about 50 million years ago. From the Everest Base Camp, you will be able to view a few of those top 10 highest peaks.
Our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu takes you from Lukla (2860 m) to Everest Base Camp (5364 m). Following the Dudh Koshi River, we will ascend from Lukla to the EBC, all the while hiking on a moving glacier.
Passing through beautiful villages, this short Everest Base Camp trek experience offers a multi-day hike with scenic routes and cultural involvement. Beautiful Sherpa villages such as Namche Bazar, Dobuche, Tengbuche, and more will be our resting spots for the night, where we can learn a thing or two about the Sherpa people.
The Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is one of the most popular treks in the world, and many people have successfully completed it. This makes it seem as if the trek is an easy one, but that is not the truth, unfortunately. The EBC trek is moderately difficult, which we will help you navigate. You can also find preparation and training tips below.
Our stops along the way include villages like Namche, Khumjung, Dingboche, Pheriche, and more. These villages are a treat on their own; they offer a lot of exploration, and you will find every bit of it interesting. Of course, we will not be exploring each and every village, but during your time at those stops, you can indulge in exploration or chat with the locals.
Overall, the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is really an interesting and exciting experience, to say the least. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our Everest Base Camp trek package.
Itinerary of Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu
Day 1: Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m / 9,383 ft), trek to Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 ft)
On the very first day of your Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu, you wll be escorted to the domestic airport of Kathmandu. Boarding our flight to Lukla, it will take us about 45 minutes to reach our destination.
Lukla is known as the one and only gateway to trekking routes in the Khumbu region. No matter which Khumbu trek you are going to take, you must land in Lukla at least once. Keep in mind that flights to Lukla are often canceled due to bad weather in the Lukla region. Even though it’s bright and sunny in Kathmandu, it can be dark and gloomy in Lukla since it receives more rainfall.
Our package will cover all the transportation cost that comes with today’s travel. This includes flight fare and land transportation to the airport. Lukla in itself is a great place to spend some time in, but since we are on a tight schedule we will not be wasting any time.
Lukla is a popular gateway village with a more developed infrastructure than all of the villages we will visit during this trek. This hub houses well facilitated lodges and hotels for travelers to spend the night in. During the spring season, the best season to travel this trek, the temperature in Lulka ranges from 17℃ to 27℃ while the average temperature goes to -3.9℃ in the winter period.
From Lukla, we will trek for about 6 hours to reach Phakding. We might reach there an hour early as well, depending on the pace of our hike.
Phakding is a small village in the Khumbu region that offers a glimpse of what this trek offers. You can enjoy a pretty awesome view of this village, plus a peek into the Sherpa culture. Heavily influenced by the Tibetan Buddhist culture, you can find a bunch of prayer flags flapping in the wind, as well as a monastery and some stupas.
Although it is a small village, there are enough tea shops, inns, and lodges to house a bunch of travelers comfortably. Most tea houses and guest houses in the Khumbu region have shared kitchens where all the travelers come to eat. This is a great way to introduce and communicate with other travelers on the same route.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft)
On the 2nd day of our Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu journey, we will travel to Namche Bazaar. To get to Namche Bazar from Phakding, we will pass through a number of small villages like Benkar and Jorsale. These villages offer a couple of tea houses where travelers can refuel their bodies and get some rest if they descend from Namche Bazar. We will also be crossing a suspension bridge, which serves as one of the exciting points of the trek.
For most people, it will be their first time walking through something that seems so dangerous, but it is actually as safe as any other crossing. We will be ascending following the Dudh Koshi River and passing through a lush green forest.
In total, we will trek for about 6 hours before reaching our destination of the day. Namche Bazar is probably the most famous village in the Khumbu region since it is a hub for all travelers to hang out.
Resting at the lap of the Himalayas at an elevation of 3,440 meters or 11,286 ft, Namche Bazar is a very scenic village, a photographer’s dream village. It’s the most picturesque any village can get.
Day 3: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar and explore Khumjung village
Our 3rd day of the Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu will be spent exploring Namche Bazaar and Khumjung. The best way to avoid any altitude sickness is to ascend in a recommended fashion, all the while keeping yourself well-hydrated. As recommended by experts, we will be spending the day at Namche Bazaar to get our bodies used to the high elevation.
There is so much to do in Namche Bazaar that you will not notice how your day ended so fast. First off, you can visit the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Centre, which is not just a tourist center. It holds valuable information about the local flora and fauna, in addition to having helpful details on the trail, trekking equipment, and weather conditions.
Secondly, you can visit the Sherpa Culture Museum. The museum was established to let travelers see what a typical Sherpa house feels like and what their practices are. This building is quite unique and has even more distinct content within. Everything you see inside the building is a visual representation of an actual Sherpa home.
These are our top two picks out of a plethora of activities you can engage in. You can get yourself a few souvenirs, visit cafes, and chat with fellow travelers or local people. You can also visit the Namche Bazaar monastery, which has beautiful interiors which you are sure to like.
Khumjung is another small village in the Khumbu region that is just 2.5 hours away from Namche Bazaar. Khumjung is an aesthetic village following a set color theme and is guided by the same culture. Known for its views, the town sits at an elevation of 3,790 meters.
While in this town, you can visit the Khumjung Monastery which is one of the highest monasteries in the region. It serves as a historical landmark as well as a religious building for the followers of Buddhism.
Besides that, you can visit the Khumjung Edmund Hillary School, a school established by the joint effort of the local people and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person ever to climb Mt. Everest alongside Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The school was built in 1961, 8 years after Hillary successfully scaled the Everest peak.
Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860 m / 12,664 ft)
The village of Tengboche is named after the Tengboche monastery, which is known as the oldest Buddhist monastery in all of the Khumbu region. Tengboche is a less facilitated village compared to Namche Bazaar but you can still find steamed momo and noodle dishes in the area.
The staple food in the village is Dal Bhat (lentils and rice), while the other dishes are based on the local availability of different ingredients. Barley, yak meat, and potatoes are the three main ingredients of the region. It will take us 5 to 6 hours of trekking to reach Tengboche.
The village is rich in culture and natural scenery since it is surrounded by high Himalayas. You can see a scenic view of the Thamserku, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, and others from this village.
Despite being in such a cold temperature, the village houses over 100 species of birds most of which migrate to this region in the summer and spring seasons. Besides bird watching, you can also indulge in meditation as the morning prayers echo around the village. You are free to join the yoga retreats in the area and get your peace of mind.
The 4th night of our Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu ends in Tengboche.
Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410 m / 14,469 ft)
Located at an elevation of 4410 meters, the village of Dingboche offers tea houses and lodges for travelers to stay. These establishments hardly provide the basic amenities since getting anything in this terrain is very difficult and costs more than four times the price one would usually pay.
We will have to trek for around 5 hours to reach the village of Dingboche. Despite the extreme weather conditions in the region, Dingboche produces buckwheat, barley, and potatoes, which are the basis of most local dishes. Since the village is situated in a valley, it makes it possible to hide from the extreme cold air of the high Himalayas and form a warmer temperature to support the growth of crops.
Not every traveler stopping by this village is there for the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu; some are there for the Chhukung
Day 6: Acclimatization Day in Dingboche
To avoid any altitude-related sickness, we will be staying at Dingboche for the day. There are a number of things you can do to pass your time in Dingboche. One of the best things you can indulge yourself in is exploring the Mani wall.
The Mani Wall is a long stone wall encrypted with the sacred Buddhist mantra “Om Mane Padme Hum.” The mantra translates to “Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus.” It is believed that those who visit this site are bound for a stroke of good luck. These walls are a part of the Sherpa culture and show a deep relation between Buddhism and the Sherpa people.
You can also visit the Nangkartshang Peak, which is a viewpoint for the Kangtega, Lhotse, AmaDablam, Taboche, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu peaks. Moreover, you can visit the Tengboche Monastery, which is the most famous monastery in the region and also the oldest gompa in the Khumbu region.
If none of those options excite you, you can opt for a massage session at a local massage parlor. Despite being in a remote village up in the mountains, you can get a deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, or a Swedish massage. After a relaxing massage session, you will probably feel rejuvenated and ready for the upcoming trek.
Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche (4,910m/16,109ft) 4-5 hrs
After a leisurely day at Dingboche, we start our trek to Lobuche after a filling breakfast. We will ascend for a total of 5 hours (approx.) to reach Lobuche.
Lobuche is a tiny village located near the base of the Khumbu glacier. Unlike Dingboche, Lobuche does not support agriculture, so the locals of the village depend on tourism for everything.
Most of the stuff that you get in this village is brought from lower villages and carried by porters or yaks. Despite being so far away from developed cities, you can order a pizza here along with modern foods like spring rolls, momo, spaghetti, eggs, and bread.
Lobuche offers guest houses, a couple of hotels, and tea shops for accommodations. You will not be finding any luxury experience in any of these establishments, but at such a remote place, that is what you will have to work with.
We will be responsible for all your meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the trek; you can choose anything you like from the menu they provide. These meals will be covered by your short Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
Day 8: Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,170 m / 16,961 ft), visit Everest Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft)
After a refreshing night at Lobuche, it’s time for us to move towards Gorakshep. This is the last settlement of the short Everest Base Camp trek from Kathmandu. Located at an elevation of 5,170 meters, Gorakshep was the Everest Base Camp before it was forfeited of the title and given to the new Everest Base Camp.
At this height, some individuals might suffer from altitude sickness, which is really an inconvenience. Our guide will descend you down to a safer elevation where you will acclimatize for a while and continue your journey. If, by chance, you are unable to continue the trek, you will be evacuated via air support.
Our short Everest base camp trekking package will not cover any emergency services expenses; these are your personal expenses.
Moving on, we will make our way to our main destination, the Everest Base Camp. Most individuals are unaware of this, but there are actually two routes to the base camp.
One of them is the one we just traveled, while the other extends from Tibet. The north ridge from Tibet offers a simple EBC traveling experience, as you can drive all the way to the base camp.
No matter which road you choose to travel, the Everest Base Camp offers the same view. You will see a view that will make all your efforts worth it. During the best traveling season of March and April, the average temperature ranges from -2°C to -8°C (28.4 to 17.6°F) and -2°C to -10°C (28.4 to 14°F).
After spending some time in the Everest Base Camp, we will make our way back to Gorakshep, where we will spend the night. This will be the end of our 8th day of the Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu.
Day 9: Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5,545 m / 18,192 ft), then to Pheriche(4,371 m / 14,340 ft) 6-7 hrs
Kala Patthar is the most popular Everest viewpoint and probably the best as well. We should reach the village after a 6 to 7-hour trek from Gorakshep. Kala Patthar is around 10 km away from Everest, but a view from there looks too close to be real.
We will begin our journey to Kala Patthar early in the morning to see view the stunning rising sun, which is one of the highlights of this trek. You will forget all your bodily pains for a short time while you are captivated by the gorgeous orange sunrise illuminating the snow-covered Mt. Everest.
After spending some time in Kala Patthar, we will move towards the village of Pheriche, another traditional village in the Khumbu region. The village of Pheriche offers a number of lodges and tea shops for travelers, and it also has a clinic that is operated by the Himalayan Rescue Association. Clinics in these higher regions are unheard of since medicines need to be replaced as soon as they expire, which is not a viable option.
Pheriche is a hotspot for different trekkers; the village accommodates travelers of the Gokyo Lake trek, Renjo La Pass trek, Three Passes trek, Island peak climbing, and the Everest Base Camp trek.
Day 10: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
After a night in Pheriche, our next destination will be the beautiful town of Namche Bazaar. We will reach Namche after about 6 to 7 hours of trekking. We recommend you wake up early to catch the sunrise view; it’s truly one of a kind.
We will arrange a delicious breakfast to start you off to Namche. Our lunch will be done on the way to a tea house. Our Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu is nearing its end.
Day 11: Namche Bazaar to Lukla 5-6 hrs
After spending the last night in Namche Bazaar, we will be leaving for Lukla after lunch. We will travel for just 5 to 6 hours this day, and the trail is fairly easy.
For the entire duration of the trek, our porters will carry your luggage, which should make this trek even easier for you as you do not have to take any heavy bags on your back. Our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package will cover the expenses for the porters as well as the guides.
Day 12: Lukla to Kathmandu
On the 12th day of our trek, we will be flying out of Lukla straight to the capital city of Kathmandu. This will be the official end of our short Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu to Kathmandu.
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Essential Information - Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu
How does our trip start?
Your trip starts as you arrive at the International Airport in Kathmandu. We will be at the terminal to welcome you and escort you to the hotel where you will be staying. Keep in mind that the hotel you will be staying in is not covered by our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
Likewise, you will have to process your tourist visa before leaving the airport. Depending on the duration of your stay you will have to pay a certain amount of dollars. This expense is also your personal expense, which we will not be covering.
After your arrival, we will have a short introductory meeting where you will meet all the crew members, including the porters and the guide. We recommend every two members share a porter while a group of 6 members share a guide and an assistant guide. If your group has more than eight members, you will have to share an extra assistant guide.
Following the meeting, we will leave you to rest since the following day will include traveling and trekking. We will travel by air to Lukla from the domestic airport of Kathmandu. Your airfare will be covered by our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
Difficulty
The EBC trekking route is not a difficult one by any means but the fact that you have to trek for more than ten days makes it a physically demanding trek for some people. As our modern lives have grown upon us, we do not have to walk long lengths at all; we have evolved to become sitting ducks.
If you are physically active in your daily life, you should have little to no problem reaching the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu. Another thing that makes it a challenging trek is the lower oxygen level. Less oxygen results in trekkers gasping for air even after normal walking for a while.
Best seasons
The best season to do the Everest Base Camp trek is the Spring season. The months of March, April, and May are the best time to travel this route. During these months, the sky is usually clear, which means you will be able to enjoy the view more, and you do not have to worry about rain most of the time.
Another reason to travel during this season is the blooming of the Rhododendron forest. These flowers are the national flower of Nepal. Bright red in color, these flowers add some color to the monochrome Himalayan landscape.
You can also travel this season during the months of September and November, during which the skies are free of clouds with incredible visibility of the vistas.
Can a beginner join this trip?
Yes, our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is a beginner-friendly trek, but you should have enough endurance to trek for 11 days in total. You do not need to have prior trekking experience to go on this journey.
We suggest endurance training before you hit this trail, as you will tire out walking for hours on end.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude Sickness is a common dysfunction at the 5000-meter elevation regions as oxygen thins out and your body fails to adapt to it. However, we will be trekking with a safe approach, making sure that your body is acclimatized to the changing atmosphere. We will be stopping at certain villages to ensure a steady ascend.
Also, you need to keep yourself well-hydrated throughout this journey, as enough water in your body helps you prevent altitude sickness. We will have a first aid kit with us, which will be covered by your Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
If you suffer from altitude sickness at any point during this trip, our guides will help you descend to a safer elevation where you are to rest and recover. You can continue the journey if you feel better. We also have emergency services on standby just in case you need to be evacuated from the scene.
Accommodation, Food, and Drink
Throughout this journey, we will be staying at hotels, lodges, and tea houses, depending on the availability and basic amenities they provide. We will make sure that you do not have to go through any inconvenience. Your accommodations will be covered by our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
During the trek, we will be providing you with three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) based on the menus that each establishment offers. You are free to choose any dish you wish. Eateries in these regions do not offer a plethora of options so prepare yourself to eat whatever the shops have to offer. You might find some fast foods here and there, but in general, you will be provided dal bhat (lentils and rice).
During the entire duration of the trek, we will not be responsible for providing you with any kind of drinks, including water. Any kind of drink that you choose to consume will be at your own expense.
Transportation
From your arrival to your departure, we will provide you with the necessary land transportation along with a two-way ticket from Kathmandu to Lukla and back. Any transportation outside will not be covered by this Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package.
Permit
To travel to the conserved region of Khumbu and Sagarmatha, you will be legally required to have two different permits. Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit and Sagarmath National Park Entry Permit are two of the permits that you will need to have in order to trek the EBC route.
These permits cost NRs. 2000 and NRs. 3000, respectively, which will be covered by your trekking package. You do not personally have to get these permits; we will do it for you as a part of the service. We understand that it can be a bit of a hassle to get permits in a foreign land as there could be communication gaps and possible scams.
The proceedings from this permit are used to develop the region and improve the overall experience of the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu.
Trip preparation and fitness
We recommend you familiarize yourself with basic trekking equipment as you might have to use them if you feel uncomfortable trekking only on your feet. Moreover, the Everest region is very cold; you must wear layers of clothing to avoid any cold-related sickness. Even something as trivial as a cold and cough can prove to be very discomforting in higher elevations.
As for fitness, we recommend you exercise for at least three weeks before the actual trek in order to build your stamina. Having enough stamina to trek this trail definitely enables you to enjoy this trek more.
Alternative routes
There are multiple alternative routes to the Everest base camp trek from Kathmandu, based on the surrounding landmarks of the Everest region. One of the most popular alternatives is the Gokyo Lakes trek, where you will be traveling the same way as the EBC trail until you reach Namche Bazaar. After that, you will trek to Phortse Drengka, which will ultimately lead you to the Gokyo lakes.
Another alternative route is the Three Passes trek. On this route, you will cross three passes: Renjo La Pass, Kongma La Pass, and Cho La Pass. During this trek, you will trek through the lesser-known regions of Everest but this will also be a challenging trek. After crossing all three passes, you will visit the Gokyo lakes and eventually descend to Namche Bazaar.
Cost & Budget
Our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package comes at a fair price of Nrs. ________. We came upon this number after having considered every little aspect of this trek and accounting for all the services we provide you during this trek.
We will be taking care of all your transportation needs, including land transportation to and from airports and flights to and from Lukla. This package also includes three meals each day throughout the trekking days. We also cover all your permits, local taxes, and guide wages to make sure that you do not have to worry about any logistics.
In addition to all these, we cover many more aspects of this trek, which you can examine in the detailed billing that we will provide you at the end of the trek.
Gadgets charging & Internet
The Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is a well-facilitated trail. You will be able to charge your devices at every stop we make each night. Even the tea shops we will stop at for lunch or rest will have electricity for you to charge your gadgets. These establishments might charge you a couple of dollars as a service fee, which we will not be covering.
Internet is quite good in the Everest region since it is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world. You will find good network coverage, which you can use to access the internet connection or you can ask for wifi passwords in the lodges and tea shops we will stay in.
Your Extra Expenses
Our Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu package does not cover everything. You will have to cover a few of the expenses on your own. These extra expenses include tips for the porters, guides, and drivers, your tourist visa fees upon arrival at the international airport, travel insurance, all kinds of drinks, and other personal expenses.
If you have to be rescued by a helicopter you will have to pay for the expense out of your own pocket. Our package will not cover that expense, your travel insurance probably will. So make sure that you are insured.
What to Expect
Overall, the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is an exciting trek full of adventure and incredible vistas. This will be a journey that you will remember the most for years to come. One of the best things about this trek is the fact that it is not technically challenging, and you will reach the base camp without any significant complications if you are prepared well.
You can expect that we will take care of most of your needs, and you will have a hassle-free trekking experience. You will be visiting multiple Sherpa villages full of cultural sites that are not just interesting to look at but also serve as an important site for the local people. On this trek, you will also travel through beautiful forests, suspension bridges, and settlements that you would love to live in.
Most Asked Questions by Travellers
If you are physically active in your daily life, you should be able to hike this trail without any issues. To give you a number, a person who can walk 10 to 12 kilometers per day with ease is more than capable of trekking this 11-day journey to the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu.
From Lukla, it will take us eight days to reach Everest Base Camp. During these eight days, you will be trekking for 6 hours per day on average.
The Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu is a safe trekking destination; you do not have to worry about any safety issues. However, you must take care of yourself and avoid altitude sickness by hydrating yourself well.
No, there are no age limits when it comes to trekking Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu but you should back away from taking kids on this trek.
Yes, you can trek to EBC on your own, but it is generally advised not to as you might need help at some point in the trek. Also, if you are not able to communicate well with the staff of the different establishments you will stay in, you are going to have a hard time.
In case of an emergency, you will be rescued from a safe spot via air support.
Nepalese rupees are the go-to currency in this region; however, some establishments might accept dollars in case you run out of Nepalese rupees.
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