17 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

Region: Everest
Trek Type: Lodge
Trek Grade: Challenging
Trek Days: 13
Max Altitude: 5545m
Best Season: Oct–Dec & Mar–May

Trekking to base camp of the world’s tallest peak, the Mt. Everest (8848m) is a thrilling experience in itself. Starting from Kathmandu with a short flight to Lukla, the aerial views of some of the highest mountains Langtang, Jugal Himal, Gaurishankar, Melungtse are spectacular before the flight enters the Khumbu region. The trekking course follows through the Khumbu region from the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar and it passes through forest of rhododendron, pine juniper and Gompas (monasteries), Chorten (stupas) and mani walls (prayer walls of stone) that are abundant in this area. The views from almost anywhere on Kalapather of Everest, Lotse and Nuptse are spectacular.You have the option of continuing to Everest Base Camp after the sunrise viewing at Kalapather or proceed to descend.

Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel. Check in & trek briefing. Late afternoon leisure walk in Thamel, a popular tourist district in Kathmandu Valley and a bustling bazaar which offers a glimpse of Nepal’s vibrant ethnic culture.

After early breakfast, transfer to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for an early morning flight to Lukla a gateway destination from where our trek begins. After an adventurous 40 minute flight above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. Upon arrival at Lukla, we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding.

After breakfast start trek. The trail will be gradual flat till Monjo(2.5 hrs). After lunch, continue trek to Jorsale (40 min) and after crossing bridge the trail will be uphill all the way to Namche Bazaar. This will be the bit difficult part as it is up hill (3 hrs).

This is the scheduled ‘acclimatization’ day for this trek. It is advisable to stay active during the day instead idling. You have the option of relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself with its internet cafes, shops, restaurants & bakeries or take a short hike up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche.

After breakfast start trek. Trail will be gradual flat till Sanasa. This is the easiest trekking part for 3 hours. Along the way you will have many chances to see Mt Everest, Thamserku, Ama Dablama and Lotse. After Sanasa trail will be downhill till Phunki Thanga. Lunch at Phunki Thanga. After lunch continue trek to Tengboche for 3 hours.

Tengboche is the highlight of this trek. Tengboche offer that best view of Mt Everest and many more mountains. Tengboche has a famous Tengboche Monastery.

Walking northeast through groves of juniper, rhododendron and fir, under a spectacular view of majestic Ama Dablam you arrive in Pangboche (3860m) for lunch and continue trek to Pheriche. Pheriche is home to numerous yak pastures and potato fields, is located in a wide, windswept part of the valley.

Full day rest for acclimatization.Himalayan Rescue Association
The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) runs a clinic/health post in Pheriche for trekkers and porters during peak trekking months. Talks on how to avoid altitude sickness are given daily. The HRA clinic can provide emergency communications (not as a public service) through their daily radio contact with Kathmandu and a satellite phone.

Leaving Pheriche the trail heads up the drainage of the Khumbu across a fairly level wind swept outwash plain. After about an hour it starts to climb steeply up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail now continues on fairly level on the west side of the lateral moraine before reaching Lobuche.

We start early from Lobuche and trek along the western side of the broad Khumbu Valley, through meadows and over scree slopes, as we continue beside the moraine of the huge creaking glacier. The trail is rough in parts and it is important to progress slowly as we are now above 5000m for the first time. Shortly the pyramid peak of Pumori (7145m) comes into view and underneath this, dwarfed by its more exotic neighbour, we see the small black peak of Kala Pattar (5545m). This is the best vantage point for views of Everest and is our objective for tomorrow. The trail then descends off the moraine and down to the small settlement of Gorak Shep (5160m) where we rest.

Option: If everyone is feeling fine, after lunch we continue along the side of the Khumbu Galcier to the site of the Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep (4 hrs).

The ascent takes approx. 2 hours of steady walking, stopping occasionally to take in the view of the increasing bulk of Everest. From the summit it is possible to see many of the key features of this great mountain – the South Col from which Hillary and Tenzing made their first ascent in 1953 is clearly visible. After spending time taking photographs and experiencing the greatest mountain view in the world we descend back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. After breakfast continue trek down to Lobuche.

Note: If we did not visit the Everest Base Camp the day before, we can visit today, return back to Gorak Shep and then down to Lobuche. It will be additional 2 hours trek.

We can now look forward to a reduction in altitude and easier going, as we descend back down the trail that we trekked up only a few days ago. There is sometimes a sense of anti-climax about the return trek, however it is a chance to relax now that the hard part is over, and concentrate on those aspects of mountain life that may have been overlooked on the way up. The walking now seems easier due to the fact that our bodies are acclimatised.

On the walk back to Namche we can take our time and relax and enjoy the views across to Kwangde ahead of us and to Thamserku (6808m) and Kantega (6685m) to our left. From Pangboche we make our way back to the monastery at Tengpoche. From Tengpoche the trail drops steeply to the river at Phunki Thanga, and then rises again to traverse high above the river on the winding trail that leads to Sanasa.

From here we have an easy walk back to Namche and then Jorsale where we can tell the newly arrived trekkers how easy it was over a cool beer!

The final day of our trek, we retrace our steps along the trail above the Dudh Kosi before turning off the main Jiri route and rising up to Lukla.

After breakfast take a short flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival meet and transfer to hotel and rest and relax.

After breakfast city tour visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if you are lucky, you will get a glimpse of the famous Kumari, the world’s only living Goddess. After lunch, visit Bouddhanath Stupa,one of the world’s largest Stupa built in the fifth century AD. Late afternoon explore Asan Tol, the colourful local market area and shopping.

An Important Note:
All our itineraries for the Everest region include one buffer day at the end of the trip. This is because often the Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight gets delayed by a few hours or may even be cancelled for one, two, or more days due to unfavourable weather conditions even in the best seasons. We will try our best to arrange the next flight for you. We also organize Helicopter rescue in such conditions, if it is available and upon request by clients. In event of flight delay, the program for this day will be as adjusted accordingly from the time you arrive Kathmandu.In case the flight delay/cancellation happens at the start of trip and it goes so long that it disturbs your onward travel schedule, we will provide you an alternative trek in other region.

After breakfast check out of hotel transfer to airport for departure.