Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek — 14-Day Itinerary (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)

Route: Lukla — Phakding — Namche — Tengboche — Dingboche — Lobuche — Gorakshep — EBC — Kala Patthar — Pheriche — Namche — Lukla

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu (1,400m) — Trek Briefing

• Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and private transfer to hotel in Kathmandu.
• Afternoon reserved for equipment checks, permit verification, and any last gear purchases in Thamel — the last fully-stocked shopping opportunity before the mountains.
• Evening trek briefing: 14-day route overview, acclimatisation strategy, Lukla flight logistics, Kala Patthar plan, safety protocols, and what to expect at altitude.
• Overnight: Hotel Amaryllis or similar, Kathmandu
• Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860m) — Trek to Phakding (2,610m)

Flight: ~35 minutes • Trek: ~8 km | 3–4 hours

• Early morning transfer to Tribhuvan Airport's domestic terminal for the flight to Lukla. The 35-minute flight over the foothills and into the Khumbu is one of the world's most dramatic — the aircraft descends steeply toward a short uphill runway carved into a hillside at 2,860m, with a rock face at the far end. Flights depart early to avoid afternoon turbulence; weather cancellations are possible and should be factored into onward travel plans.
• Begin trekking immediately on arrival. The first day descends gently through rhododendron and pine forest, crossing several of the iconic suspension bridges spanning the Dudh Koshi River — the beginning of a trail feature that will be a constant companion for the next ten days.
• Arrive at Phakding (2,610m) — a small village of tea-houses set beside the river. An easy introduction day by design.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Phakding
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Trek Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

Trek: ~11 km | 6–7 hours

• The most demanding day of the lower approach. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi through increasingly spectacular gorge terrain, crossing and re-crossing the river on high suspension bridges before entering Sagarmatha National Park at the checkpoint in Monjo — your permits are checked here.
• The final ascent to Namche Bazaar is steep and sustained — approximately 700m of gain in the final two hours. The effort is rewarded at the ridge: the first glimpse of Everest appears above the Nuptse wall on the approach, and Ama Dablam (6,812m) rises with startling clarity to the east.
• Namche Bazaar (3,440m) is the commercial and social capital of the Khumbu — a horseshoe-shaped town built into a steep hillside with bakeries, gear shops, Wi-Fi cafes, and the bustle of a proper mountain town. It is also the critical acclimatisation hub before the route pushes higher.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Namche Bazaar
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Acclimatisation Day — Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

• A mandatory full acclimatisation day at Namche before proceeding higher. Do not skip this day — the physiological adaptation it enables is essential for a safe ascent to Dingboche and beyond.
• Morning acclimatisation hike to Syangboche (3,780m) and the Everest View Hotel — the highest-placed hotel in the world, at a viewpoint offering the most accessible panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku on the entire circuit. The hike takes approximately 3 hours return and serves as an altitude-gain test before the serious ascent begins.
• Afternoon visit to the Sherpa Culture Museum in Namche — an excellent introduction to Sherpa history, Buddhist traditions, and the mountaineering culture that has shaped the Khumbu. Browse the Saturday market if your rest day falls on the weekend.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Namche Bazaar
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Trek Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860m)

Trek: ~10 km | 5–6 hours

• A day of outstanding mountain scenery. The trail contours above the Dudh Koshi valley on a high-level path with continuous views of the Everest massif — Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam are all visible simultaneously for much of the morning, growing larger and sharper with every hour of walking.
• The path passes through Khumjung and Phunki Thangka before the final climb through juniper and rhododendron to Tengboche (3,860m) — perched on a ridge with the most celebrated mountain panorama on the entire EBC route.
• Tengboche Monastery — the largest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu, rebuilt after fire and earthquake, active year-round and particularly impressive at the evening prayer ceremony. Attendance is welcomed and worth arranging with your guide.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Tengboche
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Trek Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410m)

Trek: ~11 km | 5–6 hours

• Descend from Tengboche through rhododendron and birch forest to the confluence of the Imja Khola, then climb to the lateral moraine country above Pheriche. The landscape becomes noticeably more open and barren as altitude increases.
• Arrive at Dingboche (4,410m) — a wide, stone-walled settlement in a high valley below Island Peak (6,189m) and the great south face of Lhotse. The valley's drystone field walls and stone chortens give it a distinctly Tibetan character.
• Altitude management begins in earnest here. Drink water consistently throughout the afternoon and report any symptoms to your guide immediately.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Dingboche
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Acclimatisation Day — Dingboche — Hike to Nagarjun Hill (5,100m)

• The second mandatory acclimatisation day — essential before the ascent to Lobuche and Gorakshep. Blood-oxygen readings are taken in the morning; the guide assesses each trekker's condition before the day's activity is confirmed.
• Morning hike to Nagarjun Hill (5,100m) — approximately 3–4 hours return from Dingboche, gaining 690m on a ridge above the valley. The summit delivers a panorama encompassing Makalu (8,485m), Lhotse, Island Peak, Ama Dablam, and — on very clear days — a partial view of Everest above the Lhotse ridge. This is the highest altitude reached on the trek before the main push.
• Return to Dingboche for lunch and a full afternoon of rest. Early dinner and sleep preparation for the demanding days ahead.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Dingboche
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Trek Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940m)

Trek: ~8 km | 5–6 hours

• The atmosphere changes markedly today as the trail enters the high glacial country above 4,500m. The landscape is rocky, windswept, and largely devoid of vegetation — a different world from the forested lower valleys.
• Pass through Thukla (4,620m) and climb the steep lateral moraine above it to the Thukla Pass memorial site — a field of cairns and stone memorials to climbers who have died on Everest and in the Khumbu, including many of the most celebrated names in Himalayan mountaineering history. A sobering and moving place to pause.
• Continue above the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Lobuche (4,940m). The tea-houses here are basic and the nights cold. Hydration and rest are the priorities.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Lobuche
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Trek Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) via Gorakshep (5,180m)

Trek: ~12 km round trip from Gorakshep | 7–8 hours total

• The culmination of the approach. Leave Lobuche early and follow the Khumbu Glacier lateral moraine to Gorakshep (5,180m) — a cluster of tea-houses on a frozen sandy plain at the edge of the glacier, the last inhabited point before base camp. Stop here for lunch before continuing.
• The trail to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) crosses the moraine edge and picks its way across the rocky Khumbu Glacier surface — an otherworldly terrain of ice ridges, meltwater pools, and boulder fields. In spring, the coloured tents of Everest expedition teams mark the camp from a distance. In autumn, the site is quieter but the glacier terrain and the glacier itself are just as dramatic.
• Stand at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall — the gateway to Everest's upper mountain — and look up toward the summit, 3,500 vertical metres above. Allow time here before beginning the return.
• Return to Gorakshep for overnight. Early dinner and early sleep before the Kala Patthar pre-dawn departure.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Gorakshep
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Hike Kala Patthar (5,545m) — Trek to Pheriche (4,280m)

Hike to Kala Patthar: ~2–3 hours return • Trek to Pheriche: ~10 km | 4–5 hours

• Pre-dawn departure at 4:30–5:00 AM for the final ascent to Kala Patthar (5,545m) — the trek's highest point and the finest accessible viewpoint of Everest's south-west face on earth. The rocky summit cone rises above the Gorakshep plateau in approximately 1.5–2 hours of steady climbing.
• The sunrise view from Kala Patthar is the defining visual moment of the entire trek: Everest's summit pyramid lit by the first light of day, Lhotse and Nuptse forming the wings of the massif, the Khumbu Icefall visible far below, and the entire Khumbu horizon stretching in both directions. On the clearest mornings, Makalu and Cho Oyu are both visible.
• Descend to Gorakshep for breakfast, then continue down through Lobuche and the Khumbu Valley to Pheriche (4,280m). The descent in a single day after the Kala Patthar morning is long but the altitude loss is a physiological reward — breathing noticeably easier by the time Pheriche is reached.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Pheriche
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Trek Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

Trek: ~20 km | 6–7 hours

• The longest day of the return — a continuous descent through the full length of the Dudh Koshi valley, retracing the outward route in reverse. What took two days on the ascent is covered in one long day on the way down, aided by the gradient and improved fitness.
• The views of Ama Dablam on the descent are among the finest on the entire circuit — the mountain's distinctive profile is seen at its most dramatic from the high trail above the valley. Tengboche Monastery appears below on its ridge once more as the trail descends from the alpine zone back into juniper and rhododendron.
• Arrive at Namche Bazaar — a bakery, a coffee, and the relative luxury of the Khumbu's best tea-houses feel genuinely earned after the high-altitude section.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Namche Bazaar
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Trek Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,860m)

Trek: ~19 km | 6–7 hours

• The final trek day — a long, sustained descent through the Dudh Koshi gorge from Namche back to the valley floor, retracing the Day 2 and Day 3 route in reverse. The suspension bridges, pine forests, and Sherpa villages that felt so new two weeks ago now feel familiar.
• Arrive at Lukla in the afternoon. Farewell dinner with the guide and porter team — the appropriate celebration for a completed Everest Base Camp trek. Tips for the support team are customary and appreciated.
• Overnight: Tea-house in Lukla
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Fly Lukla to Kathmandu — Sightseeing

Flight: ~35 minutes

• Early morning transfer to Lukla Airport for the return flight to Kathmandu. Flights depart early — be at the airport by 6:00 AM. Weather cancellations are possible; do not book non-refundable onward international connections within 48 hours of this flight.
• Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Free afternoon for Kathmandu sightseeing: Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, or the craft and souvenir shops of Thamel — all within easy reach of the hotel area.
• Overnight: Hotel Amaryllis or similar, Kathmandu
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu

• Private transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) for onward flights to Delhi, Doha, Dubai, or your home country.
• Meals: Breakfast