Mount Everest Base Camp Trek

After clearing customs at Tribhuvan International Airport, you’ll find a friendly representative from Alpine Ramble Treks waiting to welcome you to the vibrant city of Kathmandu. We’ll get you checked into your hotel, where you can spend the remainder of the day enjoying some hard-earned rest. You’ll also have the chance to meet your trekking guide and learn more about the adventure ahead. Later this evening, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner before exploring the charming ambiance of Thamel, the city’s most popular shopping district.

We’ll get an early start today to enjoy the best sights and attractions Kathmandu offers. This morning, you’ll join an exciting sightseeing tour of the city’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites. You’ll visit the enormous Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, where Buddhists and Hindus alike come to show their devotion. You’ll also see the splendid temple of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. And you won’t want to miss the many pagoda-style temples that comprise the world-famous Kathmandu Durbar Square. In the afternoon, you’ll meet with your guide to check your gear and make final arrangements for your upcoming trek. After dinner, you’ll spend one more night in your hotel.

Get ready for the most memorable flight you’ve ever taken! The short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla offers panoramic views of awe-inspiring mountain landscapes. Soon, you’ll touch down in Lukla, best known as the start of the Everest Base Camp Trek. We’ll stop here for a couple of hours to enjoy some hot tea and a bite to eat while we adjust to the higher elevation. Then, we’ll set out for adventure, following the bubbling Dudh Koshi river downhill as it passes mani walls strewn with prayer flags. These walls are made from many small rocks carved with Buddhist mantras and are a frequent site along today’s trail. You can also expect alluring views of forested ridges draped in mist, with mountains rising above the clouds. We’ll even cross a suspension bridge to reach the charming Sherpa village of Ghat before arriving at Phakding, where we’ll spend our first night on the trail in a local teahouse or trekking lodge.

Greet the dawn with a hearty breakfast and a mug of steaming tea as we watch the sunrise over the lush pine forest along the banks of the Dudh Koshi. As we trek beneath the shade of the forest canopy, keep your eyes peeled for hidden waterfalls sparkling in the morning light. And as the forest starts to thin out, we’ll catch our first glimpse of Mount Everest—along with the neighboring ice-laden summits of Thamserku and Kangtega. After lunch, we’ll head into the scenic forests of Sagarmatha National Park. Lucky trekkers will spot musk deer and Himalayan tahr roaming between stands of pine and juniper—not to mention more than 200 different species of bird. But soon, mountains will fill your vision as we begin a gradual ascent to Namche Bazaar. This thriving trading hub is known as the capital of the Khumbu, and its iconic semicircular sprawl has graced many a traveler’s postcard. We’ll spend the next two nights in the best trekking lodge available.

Today represents a significant opportunity to let our bodies adjust to the increase in elevation. Namche Bazaar lies at an altitude of about 3,440 meters, so we’ll spend the day exploring the town and its immediate surroundings at our leisure. Visit the Sherpa Culture Museum to learn more about the history and traditions of these fascinating people, or browse the many stalls and shops peppered throughout town. Namche Bazaar is also famous for its bakeries, and you won’t want to miss the chance to dig into some fresh pastries while taking in the mountain views. If you’re restless, you can also enjoy a short acclimatization excursion to Syangboche Airport. This is one of the highest airports in the world, and it isn’t used by any commercial airlines. You can also hike to the world-renowned Hotel Everest View, which boasts the best panoramic view of Namche Bazaar. After spending the day resting and exploring, you’ll return to your hotel for a second night.

Our journey along the Everest Base Camp Trek continues today as we depart Namche Bazaar first thing in the morning. As we set out, don’t miss the memorial stupa dedicated to Tenzing Norgay, who made the first known ascent of Everest along with Edmund Hillary. The trail then brings us down to the rushing waters of the Dudh Koshi before rising again through the verdant rhododendron forest on the way to Tengboche. The town’s biggest claim to fame is undoubtedly the Tengboche Monastery. Framed against the stark summits of Ama Dablam, this alluring gompa is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhist Sherpas—particularly during the seasonal Mani Rimdu festival. We’ll overnight in one of Tengboche’s many fine teahouses, where you can look forward to a hot meal and a restful night’s sleep.

Our journey on the Everest Base Camp Trek continues after breakfast this morning as we venture deeper into the heart of the Khumbu. Today, we’ll traverse suspension bridges spanning the Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola rivers. While many trekkers will make for the village of Pheriche, we prefer the gentler route and better views to enjoy at Dingboche. From Dingboche, you’ll be rewarded with a compelling picture of Everest, Lhotse, and Imja Tse, popular as Island Peak. We’ll spend the next two nights in the best available teahouse or lodge; tomorrow, you can look forward to relaxing and exploring the sights of this scenic mountain hamlet.

Dingboche sits at an altitude of 4,360 meters above sea level, and we’ll use today as another acclimatization opportunity. But that doesn’t mean you have to rest on your laurels—after savoring the glorious sunrise over the mountains, we can enjoy a challenging day hike to Nagarjun Hill. Don’t let its name fool you—even the hills look like mountains in the Khumbu, and you’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world when you feast your eyes upon gobsmacking views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Thamserku. If you’d prefer a shorter hike, there’s also an excellent viewpoint on the ridgeline above Dingboche that rises to just over 5,000 meters and should take about two hours to reach. However you decide to spend the day, you can count on a mouthwatering supper and a comfortable evening chatting with locals and your fellow trekkers.

With Dingboche at our backs and the trail to Everest Base Camp beckoning us ever forward, we’ll begin today’s hike by ascending gradually through a series of small mountainside villages. Look out for the charming stone-built settlements used seasonally by herders before we reach the more substantial town of Tukla or Dughla. After passing through this village, we’ll climb a ridge to get a small group of memorials dedicated to deceased climbers. Take the incredible view of the Himalayan giants, Pumori and Khumbutse, before continuing to Lobuche. Plenty of lodges cater to trekkers here, and we’ll select one of the most comfortable to enjoy a warm night’s sleep as the cold night air settles over the mountains.

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! Your steps have led you here, and we’ll get an early start on the final push to Everest Base Camp. Take your time and drink plenty of fluids to avoid symptoms of altitude sickness as we approach the first landmark on today’s hike: the community of Gorak Shep. This is the last permanent settlement on the Everest Base Camp Trek; we’ll return here later in the day. For now, we’ll continue to base camp by following the path along a glacial moraine. When we reach base camp, at least, you’ll be surrounded by colorful prayer flags, celebrating hikers, and—most importantly—a 360-degree view of the enormous mountains in the entire Himalayas. After enjoying the experience to your heart’s content, we’ll shoulder our bags and descend back to Gorak Shep to spend the night in one of that town’s best teahouses.

You may have already been to Everest Base Camp and back, but that doesn’t mean your adventures are over. No trip to the Khumbu would be complete without hiking to the spectacular viewpoint of Kala Patthar. From here, you’ll gain an even better view of the world’s tallest mountain than you can see from the base camp. We’ll head out from Gorak Shep in the very early dawn to arrive at Kala Patthar in the full glory of the morning sun. This is, without a doubt, the very best 360-degree view in the entire Himalayas, where the mountains Pumori and Lhotse seem almost close enough to touch. When you’ve finally had your fill of this astonishing scene, we’ll turn our footsteps back down the ridgeline, leaving Gorak Shep behind us on the way to Pheriche. We’ll stop here for the night, enjoying a hot meal and a warm bed at the best trekking lodge.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll trek back down to the Imja Khola River and follow it through the verdant greenery of the forest. Passing several small villages along the way, we’ll eventually reach Tengboche after about two or three hours on the trail. Take one last look at the town’s unforgettable monastery while we break for lunch. After sating our appetites, we’ll return to Namche Bazaar. We should arrive in Khumbu’s most vibrant trading town after approximately four or five more hours of hiking along ridgelines scattered with low-lying shrubs. We’ll stop here in Namche for the night, so don’t miss this chance to return to your favorite bakery and watch the sunset over the mountains.

Lace up your hiking boots one last time—today is our final full day on the Everest Base Camp Trek. We’ve got about six hours on the trail today, and our path to the Dudh Koshi River follows a markedly steep grade. After crossing a suspension bridge and passing the villages of Phakding and Monjo, we’ll return like heroes to Lukla, where our adventure began. We’ll spend the night here; make sure to sample the cafes and restaurants of this offbeat travelers’ town. Congratulations on completing the Everest Base Camp Trek!

As your flight lifts from the dramatic runway at Lukla’s airport, it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the Khumbu. Take one last look at the mountains spreading out beneath the wings of your plane; before you know it, we’ll be touching down in Kathmandu. When our flight ends, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the city. Now that your Everest Base Camp Trek is complete, Alpine Ramble Treks can arrange any additional cultural, adventure, or sightseeing tours you’d like. If your travels are over, we can enjoy one final celebratory dinner in Kathmandu before your departure flight on the following day. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Nepal!

Remark: We will offer a free airport transfer for you on your arrival and departure days; for this, you are asked to provide your flight details to us through email!

Our exciting journey in Nepal comes to an end now! One of our friendly Alpine Ramble Treks representatives will pick us up at the hotel and drop us off at the airport approximately 2-3 hours before our scheduled departure flight for home. However, If you wish to expand your stay in Nepal for other exploration activities, Alpine Ramble will gladly assist you with all the formalities based on your desires and the time that suits you!