Everest Base Camp Trek | 17 Days 16 Nights

After breakfast, we will have a full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu valley. You will visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Then you can do some preparation for trekking of the next day.

This morning we will be transferred from your hotel to Kathmandu airport for our domestic flight to Lukla. The flight itself is awe-inspiring as we fly parallel to the Himalayan giants bordering Nepal and Tibetan China. Flying time to Lukla is approximately 40 minutes. Upon arrival in Lukla, we will be met by our local guides and porters. There will be time to explore the village whilst the Sherpa crew sort and load equipment.

Lukla lies at an altitude of 2850m (“luk la” = place of sheep). From Lukla we descend on a wide trail northwest to the village of Choblung in the Dudh Kosi Valley. The valley radiates energy through beautiful pine and rhododendron forest. The walking is easy and we follow the river’s course, passing through the village of Ghat. Our destination is the small village of Phakding where accommodation is provided in the form of Tea House Lodges.

From Phakding we head up valley on a busy trail: porters from the lower Solu district in the south ferrying supplies to Namche, Sherpas with their Zopkio (half yak, half cow) taking trekking or climbing expedition equipment to the higher valleys. Continue along beside the Dudh Kosi amongst beautiful alpine scenery, through the fragrant blue pine and fir forest, glimpsing spectacular views of Kusum Kangru (6369m) and Thanserku (6608m) along the way.

We again cross the Dudh Kosi, to the western bank at Jorsale prior to trekking through the entrance to the Sagamartha National Park. Continuing upstream along the banks to the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and Dudh Kosi, it is here we begin our first sustained ascent to Namche Bazar after crossing the large suspension bridge.
Walking at a slow pace, we have a fantastic photographic opportunities as the peaks of Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8511m), Nuptse (7879m), Arna Dablam (6856m) and Taweche (6542m) come into view for the first time. Climbing again, the path takes us through pine trees to reach the distinctive horse-shoe shaped bowl containing the village of Namche Bazar. Stay in the heart of the village.

Today we have whole day for acclimatization and rest. We climb up to Everest view hotel to see the Everest Panoramic ranges including view of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. It takes about 2 hours to go up and we will have a tea break for an hour with the panoramic view of everest at Everest View Hotel and we back down to Namche Bazar.

Today we go to Tengboche Monastery (12,700ft). This Monastery is the spiritual center of the Khumbu and a training center for new monks. With luck we will be able to watch the monks worship and receive a blessing from the high lama.

We hike to Dingboche (14,000ft). During this spectacular day we will cross the famous suspension bridge from which there is the classic view of the mountain, Ama Dablam.

We will trek to the small village of Lobuche (16,170ft). En route to Lobuche we will pass by a number of stone memorials to honor climbers lost on nearby peaks, mostly Mt Everest.

Today we will take a rest and prepare equipment for the ascent of Lobuche Peak. This is a chance to recover and let the body prepare the days to come.

This is a big day – have your cameras ready. The views are unbelievable. We will trek to Gorak Shep where we will have lunch. Then we will walk to the summit of Kala Pattar (18,190ft), where you will get the best view of MT. Everest without climbing it.

Today, we will trek to Everest Base Camp. The trek to the base camp can be achieved in around three hours and en route we will almost certainly encounter yaks and porters supplying food and equipment to expeditions here. From Everest Base Camp we do not get views of Mount Everest but we are able to see the notorious Khumbu Ice Fall, which is regarded as technically the hardest and most dangerous section of the mountain.
The return journey from the Base Camp to Gorak Shep takes the same amount of time. We have an early dinner so that we are able to get up early the next day for the awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan giants from Kala Patar.

We wake up early the next day for the trek to Kala Pattar (5,643m) to experience a sensational sunrise vista from this amazing vantage point. From the lodge the ascent is quite steep so we start very slowly at a steady rhythmic pace. Kala Pattar is the rocky hilltop below Pumori. It is a tough walk because of the altitude but the view from the top surpasses your wildest imagination. It will probably take a good hour and a half to reach the summit from Gorak Shep. From here Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, Taweche, Kantega and Everest, the highest mountain in the world, surround us.

About three kilometres away and some 200 metres below, the area of the Everest Base Camp can be seen in a bowl at the bottom of the Khumbu Ice Fall. For many trekkers, reaching Kala Patar is a very emotional experience and it is worthwhile spending as long as you wish in order to savour this special moment.

The descent back down to Gorak Shep is easy and once back at the lodge we have a quick drink and head off to the rooms to pack our kit bags whilst breakfast is being prepared. After breakfast we set off to Lobuche and Thugla where we stop for lunch. After lunch we cross the Khumbu Khola and head down the valley below Cholatse to Pheriche, where we stop for the night.

After the rigours of the last few days, today is a relatively short day where we can now look forward to a reduction in altitude and easier going as we retrace our ascent route. You have 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.

From Pheriche we cross the Khumbu Khola River and ascend a short steep trail to the top of a small ridge for great views of Imja Valley, Ama Dablam and Kantega. We then descend to the small settlements at Orsho and Shomare before passing through Lower Pangboche to reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River to ascend to our lodge at Tengboche.

After breakfast, we will continue on an ascent through conifer and rhododendron forest to Namchee Bazaar, and then get on the trail and descend to the Dudh Koshi River. Finally, arrive in Namchee Bazaar.

Leave Namche at 10 am and trek the final leg for Lukla. We will stay in a guest house in Lukla and up early for our flight back to Kathmandu.

Early in the morning, you will fly back to Kathmandu, which takes you 30 minutes. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, it’s free time for individual activities.

After breakfast, you are free till the time of checkout. Later on, you will be transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to catch your return flight.