Everest Base Camp Trek adventure image
Everest Base Camp trek hero image.
Trekking

Everest Base Camp Trek

Nepal · Khumbu

17-day trekking itinerary, reaching about 5,545 metres

Route mini map

Route overview

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes 35 minutes. The trek is nine days uphill, which includes two full days rest and acclimatisation to the last settlement of Gorak Shep. After visiting Everest Base Camp and climbing to the high point of Kala Pathar (for dawn views of the sun rising behind the summit of Everest), the descent is three days. We always allow a bad weather day for flying into or out of Lukla. The start dates refer to the latest arrival date in Kathmandu and the end date refers to the earliest you can book your return flight home for. Private trips are welcome, we can adapt the itinerary to whatever date you wish. We often take couples or small groups of two or three, but for a solo traveller there would be an extra charge. Rest day and acclimatisation to jetlag, sightseeing plus trek briefing. Possible drive to Ramechhap** – see ‘Lukla Flight’ details below.​ You can trek to Everest Base Camp from March to early June, and September to early December. Kathmandu is at an approximate altitude of 1400m and the flight to Lukla will take you up to a height of 2866m. With Everest Base Camp standing at 5360m and Kala Patthar at 5545m, the base camp trek gains a total of 2679 metres from Lukla and 4145 metres from Kathmandu.

Why travellers choose this trip

Everest Base Camp Trek is a trekking itinerary running over 17 days with a high point around 5,545 metres and a moderate grading. Typical routing includes Kathmandu, Lukla, Namche Bazaar.

- 17-day sourced itinerary - High point around 5545 metres - Approximate route distance of 90 km - Peak focus: Mount Everest - Key locations: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Lukla, Namche Bazaar

Photos from Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp trek hero image.
Everest Base Camp trek hero image.

Everest Base Camp image via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo source

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Arrival

Arrival. Expect moderate difficulty, a high point near 1,400 metres.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
-
Moving time
Flexible
Day 2

Acclimatisation & Sightseeing

Rest and acclimatisation to jetlag; sightseeing plus trek briefing. Possible drive to Ramechhap** in the afternoon – see Lukla flight details below.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
0M
Moving time
Flexible
Day 3

Flight to Lukla

Flight* to Lukla, walk downhill to Phakding or Monjo along the edge of the Dudh Kosi River. Easy, busy path, surrounded by forest.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
1,060M
Moving time
2.8h
Day 4

Namche Bazaar

This stage covers Namche Bazaar. Expect moderate difficulty, about 980 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 3,440 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
980M
Moving time
6h
Day 5

Acclimatisation & Sightseeing

Acclimatisation & Sightseeing is used as a rest and acclimatisation day. Base altitude or local high point is around 3,440 metres. Short local walks may be used if conditions and energy levels allow.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
0M
Moving time
Flexible
Day 6

Deboche & Pangboche

This stage covers Deboche & Pangboche. Expect moderate difficulty, about 410 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 3,850 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
410M
Moving time
6h
Day 7

Dingboche & Ama Dablam

This stage covers Dingboche & Ama Dablam. Expect moderate difficulty, about 402 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,252 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
402M
Moving time
5h
Day 8

Acclimatisation & Sightseeing

Acclimatisation & Sightseeing is used as a rest and acclimatisation day. Base altitude or local high point is around 4,252 metres. Short local walks may be used if conditions and energy levels allow.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
0M
Moving time
Flexible
Day 9

Lobuche & Thukla Hills

This stage covers Lobuche & Thukla Hills. Expect moderate difficulty, about 668 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,920 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
668M
Moving time
5h
Day 10

Gorak Shep & Base Camp

This stage covers Gorak Shep & Base Camp. Expect moderate difficulty, about 440 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 5,360 metres. Typical moving time is around 7 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
440M
Moving time
7h
Day 11

Kala Patthar Summit

This stage covers Kala Patthar Summit. Expect moderate difficulty, about 180 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 5,540 metres. Typical moving time is around 3 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
180M
Moving time
3h
Day 14

Additional weather day

This stage covers Additional weather day. Expect moderate difficulty.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
-
Moving time
Flexible
Day 15

Lukla Flight

Lukla Flight. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 4,140 metres of descent, a high point near 1,400 metres. Typical moving time is around 0.8 hours.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
0M
Moving time
0.8h
Day 16

Departure

This stage covers Stage based from Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty.

Distance
Flexible
Climb
-
Moving time
Flexible

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6000m+ Peaks

Peaks at or above 6000 metres.