Everest Base Camp Trek (8-11 Day)

Grab a window seat—and your camera! Our Everest Base Camp Trek begins with a captivating scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu. The sight of the icebound Himalayas spreading across the country beneath the wings of your plane is nothing short of jaw-dropping, and you can look forward to enjoying even more spectacular views over the course of the next few days. When we touch down in Lukla, we’ll meet up with the Sherpa people and get ready to hit the trail. Lukla is situated at an altitude of only 2,860 meters, and our first day of hiking on the Everest Base Camp Trek will serve as a gentle introduction to the more challenging days ahead.

From Lukla, we’ll ascend gradually to pass by a series of small mountain villages and hamlets before reaching the winding watercourse known as the Dudh Koshi River. We’ll cross a picturesque suspension bridge here and climb the opposite bank to reach the little town of Ghat, where the trail is lined with boulders and rocks carefully inscribed with Buddhist mantras. These are known as mani walls, and you should endeavor to keep them on your right as you pass by. Leaving the village behind, we’ll finally descend along quiet forested paths to reach today’s stopping point: the bustling settlement of Phakding. Each lodge on the Everest Base Camp Trek will provide for all of your meals and sleeping arrangements, and tonight is no exception. There are a handful of excellent trekking lodges here in Phakding, and we’ll select one of the best for our overnight accommodations. 

We will leave Phakding after breakfast this morning and follow the Dudh Koshi River through beautiful pine forests and waterfalls. As we emerge from the woods, we will get the first glimpse of Thamserku Peak. Its craggy, snow-capped summit rises to 6,608 meters, and its appearance on the skyline will remind us that we are trekking in the highest mountains in the world. After passing a ticketing checkpoint, we will hike past several small villages before reaching the town of Monjo. Here, we can stop at one of the local lodges for a bite to eat or a cup of tea before continuing on to the second part of today's trek.

From Monjo, we will enter the wilderness of Sagarmatha National Park. The park is named after Mount Everest, which dominates the landscape. However, there is much more to see here, including over 200 species of birds and a few large mammals such as the Himalayan tahr and musk deer. Keep an eye out for the beautiful flowers of the rhododendron as we trek beneath pine, juniper, and birch trees. If you're trekking during spring, you may be lucky enough to see them in bloom. As we approach Namche Bazaar, the commercial center and trading hub of the Khumbu region, we will cross a series of suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. We will spend tonight at one of the best available trekking lodges in Namche Bazaar.

Today is an important day to let our bodies adjust to the increased elevation. Namche Bazaar is located at an altitude of about 3,440 meters, so we will spend the day leisurely exploring the town and its immediate surroundings. You can visit the Sherpa Culture Museum to learn about the history and traditions of these fascinating people or browse the many stalls and shops scattered throughout the town. Namche Bazaar is famous for its bakeries, and you shouldn't miss the chance to try some fresh pastries while enjoying the mountain views. If you're feeling restless, you can take a short acclimatization excursion to Syangboche Airport, one of the highest airports in the world, not used by any commercial airlines. Alternatively, you can hike to the world-renowned Hotel Everest View, which boasts the best panoramic view in all of Namche Bazaar. After a day of rest and exploration, we'll return to the hotel for our second night

As we continue our ascent into the Himalayas on the third day of our Everest Base Camp Trek, we will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the mountains. The first half of today's hike will take us through peaceful rhododendron forests for approximately four hours, before we arrive at the village of Tengboche. This village is renowned for being the home of Tengboche Monastery, which is the oldest and most significant religious institution in the region. The monastery's entrance is adorned with traditional Tibetan Buddhist iconography, and it is situated against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks, including Khumbila and Ama Dablam. Inside the monastery, you may have the chance to witness the daily prayers of the local monks.

After exploring the monastery and taking a short break, we will resume our trek and conclude the remaining part of the day at the tea house in Tengboche. Here, we can relish the spectacular views while having our dinner in the evening!

We’ll start the fourth day of our Everest Base Camp Trek with a hearty breakfast at our cozy teahouse before setting out. Today’s route rises above the treeline into a dry, arid landscape of rock-studded fields and meadows. We’ll pass through the river valley of the Khumbu Khola, hiking along a trail peppered with mani walls, prayer wheels, and the occasional rock mural. Eventually, we’ll come across the little Sherpa towns of Somare and Dengbuche; we’ll stop in the latter to enjoy a magnificent view of the windswept valley capped with soaring Himalayan peaks.  We’ll catch a stunning glimpse of Cholatse, Taboche, and the ever-present Ama Dablam. We’ll enjoy a similar panoramic view from Dingvuhe, where we’ll select a comfortable teahouse for tonight’s lodgings. Make sure to get plenty of rest!

We will wake up this morning feeling acclimatized and ready to continue our adventure. Today's hike will start with a gradual climb through small villages and temporary settlements of herders. As we proceed, we'll be able to spot familiar mountains like Ama Dablam and Nuptse but don't miss out on the chance to identify lesser-known peaks like Kongma Tse and Taboche, which are equally stunning. Each of these peaks marks a significant landmark on the way to Mount Everest. After passing through a little town called Dughla, we will pause to pay our respects at a series of memorial stupas dedicated to fallen climbers. Then, we will move forward to Lobuche, where we will spend the night. A hot meal and a good night's rest at our teahouse will be a welcome reward after the hard work on today's trail.

If you thought yesterday's views were unbeatable, wait until you reach the high-altitude lookout of Kala Patthar. We will wake up early this morning to make a two-hour trip from Gorak Shep to get there. The climb is short but rewarding, as we will experience what is probably the best viewpoint in the entire Himalayas, and certainly the best view of Everest itself. We will watch the sunrise over the peaks of Everest, Pumori, Thamserku, Nuptse, and Makalu, and see their snowcapped summits transform into molten gold with the first flush of morning light. This is an incredible sight for those who love alpine scenery. After taking in the radiant spectacle in all its glory, we will hike back down to Gorak Shep to have breakfast at our lodge.

As we begin our return journey on the Everest Base Camp Trek, we will trek down the valley and come back to lower altitudes with surprising rapidity. We will walk across the frozen moraine of the Khumbu once more, quickly reach the bustling hub of Lobuche, pass the familiar climbers' memorials, and continue beyond Tukla to reach the village of Pheriche. We will spend the night here in a local teahouse. If we have any daylight left, we can visit the community of Dingboche, which is only 30 minutes from town and is worth a short visit. Later tonight, we will enjoy dinner and memorable mountain views in Pheriche before getting a well-deserved good night's sleep.

If you thought yesterday’s views were unbeatable, wait until you reach the high-altitude lookout of Kala Patthar. We’ll rise early this morning to make this two-hour trip from Gorak Shep. The short climb will reward us with what’s probably the best viewpoint in the entire Himalayas—and certainly the best view of Everest itself. We’ll stand back and watch the sunrise over the peaks of Everest, Pumori, Thamserku, Nuptse, and Makalu, transforming their snowcapped summits into molten gold with the first flush of morning light. For lovers of alpine scenery, it really doesn’t get any better than this. After savoring the radiant spectacle in all its glory, we’ll hike back down to Gorak Shep to have breakfast at our lodge.

When it’s time to begin our return journey on the Everest Base Camp Trek, we’ll trek down the valley and come back to lower altitudes with surprising rapidity. As we walk across the frozen moraine of the Khumbu once more, we’ll quickly reach the bustling hub of Lobuche, pass the familiar climbers’ memorials, and continue beyond Tukla to reach the village of Pheriche. We’ll spend the night here in a local teahouse. If we have any daylight to spare, the community of Dingboche is only 30 minutes from town and is worth a short visit. Later tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner and memorable mountain views here in Pheriche before getting a well-deserved good night’s sleep.

The seventh day on our Everest Base Camp Trek will bring us back along the course of the Imja Khola and into the rhododendron forest before revisiting the community of Tengboche. This is about the halfway point on today’s trek, so it’s a good opportunity to take a break, grab a bite to eat, and see if any prayer ceremonies are currently underway at Tengboche Monastery. When we’re ready to move on, we’ll trek for approximately three more hours. First, we’ll descend to the Dudh Koshi River, and then we’ll make the final climb to Namche Bazaar. After catching our breath and resting our feet, we’ll settle in and have the afternoon at our leisure.

With more time to spend in Namche Bazaar today, you’ll get a better sense of this town’s importance to the Khumbu region. Namche Bazaar served historically as a trading hub and center of commerce, although now it’s better known as the heart of the Everest trekking industry. Take some time to explore the wide variety of markets, shops, bakeries, and internet cafes here in town, and make sure to check out the Sherpa Museum to learn more about these hardy mountain folk and their fascinating culture. As always, we’ll book accommodations at the best available trekking lodge, where we’ll enjoy a hot meal and a warm cup of tea as dusk settles over the Himalayas.

After one last morning's breakfast in Namche Bazaar, it’s time to pack our things and begin the last leg of our journey. We’ll be descending to the Dudh Koshi this morning on the way back to Lukla, and it’s a surprisingly challenging section of the Everest Base Camp Trek. The steep grade of our descent to the river can be tough on our knees, so we’ll make sure to take our time. At the river, we’ll cross a suspension bridge before visiting and revisiting peaceful villages like Jorsalle, Monjo, and Phakding. We’ll arrive in Lukla after about six hours in total on the trail, and when that familiar town comes into view, you’ll know that you’ve successfully completed the Everest Base Camp Trek!

Alpine Ramble Treks has arranged an additional night here in Lukla for you. Most travelers don’t get to spend much time in this quirky little community, and it’s worth your time to explore everything that it has to offer. We’ll get checked in at a local lodge, sample authentic Americano coffee at a nearby café, sit down to a celebratory dinner, and bid a very fond farewell to the porters and members of our crew who have made this trek possible. If you’re in the mood to prolong your celebration, there are some lively bars and pubs in town, as well—just remember that you might have to get up early for tomorrow’s flight back to Kathmandu!

Keep your eyes peeled for one last glimpse of the mighty Mount Everest from the window of your plane this morning. This is our final day on the Everest Base Camp Trek, and an aerial view of the Himalayas is a fine reward for all our efforts on the trail. When we return to Kathmandu, you’ll either remain at Tribhuvan International Airport for departure or be transferred to your hotel in the city, according to your travel arrangements.

If you’re interested in a cultural sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, Alpine Ramble Treks would be happy to set you up with a guide to explore some of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites here in the capital, including the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and the famous “monkey temple” of Swayambhunath. We can extend your trip to include a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, a whitewater rafting excursion, or other exciting adventure activities. When it’s time for you to depart, we’ll provide complimentary transportation to the airport.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Nepal once again!