12 Day Everest Base Camp Trek

Our trip starts in Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling capital city. Your trip leader will meet you at our hotel with a cup of hot sweet tea, and run through a full briefing of the trip ahead. After lunch, we’ll head out to explore the city’s back street courtyards, markets, and temples to get our first taste of this country’s rich culture and friendly people. The sights and sounds of this place are intoxicating!

Later we’ll head out and dine at a local Restaurant.

Hotel Thamel Eco Resort, Kathmandu
Dinner

Today we’ll walk a short distance out of town, on an ancient stone pilgrim stairway to the Swayambhunath Temple. Swayambhunath is a fascinating combination of Buddhist and Hindu iconography with ancient carvings taking up the entire space of its walls. Set high above Kathmandu city on a hilltop, we’ll encounter an array of sights, sounds, and aromas, as well as monkeys who have made their home here – they’re everywhere! According to local legend, Kathmandu was once a lake, and the hilltop which is home to this temple is said to have risen suddenly from the lake, and given the name Swayambhunath, which means “self-arisen”. Many locals come here every day to circumnavigate the centerpiece Stupa ( a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine) and spin prayer wheels, adding to this place's incredible ambiance.

As we are heading into the Everest region tomorrow, we’ll head back to town and make our preparations.

Hotel Thamel Eco Resort, Kathmandu
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we’ll take one of the most incredible scenic flights on earth to Lukla – the gateway to the Everest region. Set high in the mountains, Lukla has always been an important starting point for mountain climbing expeditions to Mt Everest and many of the other big peaks on the lists of the world’s most ambitious mountain climbers. Following a final check with our guides we’ll hit the trail, hiking down into Phakding village on the banks of the Dudh Kosi River.

It’s hard to imagine that the scenery on our trek would become so dramatic right from the very start, but the view down the green fertile valley as we hike into Phakding village is just that!

There’s time to relax on the deck of our accommodation this afternoon – a local teahouse lodge with amazing views down to the river and out to the mountains.

Phakding Teahouse, Phakding
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 7km/4.3 miles – 4 hours Eleveation Loss: 250 metres/820 feet

This morning we’ll hike up the dramatic Dudh Kosi valley passing small villages and fertile food crops. The roar of the Dudh Kosi River becomes quieter the higher we hike. After passing numerous giant prayer wheels and local villagers, we’ll arrive at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park where the views of many of the world’s highest peaks come into spectacular view.

After lunch, we’ll begin the ascent to the village of Namche Bazaar – home of the world's highest marketplace. Located in an incredible natural amphitheater of mountains, Namche Bazaar is set in one of the most dramatic settings in the world, and a great place to rest for an extra day.

Tonight we’ll rest at a comfortable guesthouse, and enjoy a traditional local meal.

Namche Bazaar Guesthouse, Namche Bazaar

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12 kilometres/7.5 miles – 6 hours
Elevation Gain: 760 metres/2500 feet
Elevation: 3445 metres /11,302 feet

Namche Bazaar is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu region and is a historic trading hub, famous for its homemade yak cheese and butter.

Situated on the slope of an arch-shaped mountain, with amazing views of giant Himalayan peaks from anywhere in the valley, Namche Bazaar is the ideal place for an acclimatization day and a place to relax. Stroll its narrow cobbled streets between traditional stone houses, stop for a drink in a local teahouse and listen to monks chanting mantras, or explore an alleyway market. If you’re keen to take an extra acclimatization hike, there’s an option to hike to a Mt Everest viewpoint above the town where the views of Everest, Lhotse, and many more of the world's highest peaks come into grand view.

Namche Bazaar Guesthouse, Namche Bazaar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Elevation: 3445 metres /11,302 feet

This morning we’ll set off early, making our way back down to the Dudh Khosi river before making an ascent towards Thanygboche. Be prepared to be blown away walking around every corner as massive peaks get closer and closer – the scenery here is simply off the charts. We’ll stop at local Sherpa tea houses along the way, take in the views as we drink tea, and continue onwards on this magnificent mountain trail.

The highlights don’t stop here though. As we draw closer to Tengboche, we’ll be rewarded with even closer views of Ama Dablam (6856m) and Nuptse (7861m) until finally, as we arrive in Tyangboche – Mt Everest and Lhotse in all their glory. Looking south, we’ll have a view of numerous other peaks such as Kantega, Thamserku, and the jagged ridge line of Kongde Ri. We’ll visit a local monastery before settling into our lodge at the end of the day.

Himalaya Guesthouse, Tyangboche
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 10 kilometres/6.2 miles – 7 hours
Elevation Gain: 450 metres/1476 feet
Elevation: 3860 metres /12,664 feet

Today we’ll experience the dramatic change in landscape as we drop into the forest for the last time, passing conifer and rhododendron trees before we arrive at the Imja Khola River – the source of the Dudh Kosi River.

We’ll cross a high suspension bridge which marks the beginning of our ascent to Dingboche and into a higher alpine landscape with arid boulder fields and wide expansive views of Ama Dablam and the surrounding peaks. We’ll follow the Imja Khola River up the valley until we reach our home for the night – Dingboche.

Good Luck Guesthouse, Dingboche
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 11 kilometres/6.8 miles – 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 490 metres/1607 feet
Elevation: 4410 metres /14,468 feet

Today we’ll take time in Dingboche to acclimatise more to the higher elevations by resting and taking advantage of a hike to the peak of Nangkartshang. It’s a steep hike up to the ridge high above Dingboche but we’ll be taking it slowly and the views are simply off the charts. Staring us in the face are the peaks of Makalu, Lhotse and Cho Oyo – 3 of the 6 highest mountains the world.

We’ll descend to Dingboche later for a well deserved meal and rest. If you prefer to sit this one out (it’s your vacation after all), you can rest up, get to know your fellow Conquerors, read and take in the mountain views all the way up the Khumbu Khola valley.

Good Luck Guesthouse, Dingboche
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 5 kilometres/3.1 miles – 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 700 metres/2300 feet
Elevation: 4410 metres /14,468 feet

We’ll set off in the morning light through the middle of the valley which soon opens out wide to a huge valley, passing yak herders shacks along the way. The views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Colatse are outstanding, as they rise steeply above the open alpine valley. The perfect pyramid peak of Ama Dablam appears closer yet again as we hike further, before we descend to the village of Dughla located alongside a glacial stream.

We have a final ascent over the Thokla Pass before we arrive at Lobuje where we’ll rest up here for the afternoon in preparation for our trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

Oxygen Lodge, Lobuche
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 9 kilometres/5.6 miles – 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 530 metres/1738 feet
Elevation: 4940 metres /16,207 feet

Everest Base Camp awaits us today. We’ll begin our last hike to this world-famous camp, passing through the mighty Khumbu Valley’s glacial moraine walls and boulder fields. Our first stop is Gorak Shep, where we’ll stop for lunch and a rest before setting off again for the final push. We’ll take things super easy on our approach as the altitude of the camp is just over 5300 metres! After arriving at Everest Base Camp, we’ll have time to soak it all in.

Arguably the most famous camp in the world, Everest Base Camp sits at the bottom of the Khumbu Icefall and is the base for most of the summit attempts by mountaineering expeditions to the top of Everest. It is the site of some of the greatest climbing feats in history, as well as great tragedy – there’s no other place like it in the world. After spending some time here, we’ll return to Gorak Shep for the night and celebrate our achievement.

Yeti Resort, Gorak Shep
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 11 kilometres/6.8 miles – 9 hours
Elevation Gain: 450 metres/1476 feet
Elevation: 5380 metres /17,650 feet (EBC) & 5164 metres/16942 (Gorak Shep)

We’ll make an early start this morning, put on headlamps and make our way up to the highest point on our trek – the top of Kala Patthar ridge. The panoramic views of Mt Everest and the accompanying peaks are simply out of this world and well worth the hike to this highest point of 5644 metres!

After soaking in the views we’ll make our way back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. We’ll then take one of the most spectacular helicopter flights in the world for the journey back to Kathmandu. We’ll have the afternoon in Kathmandu to recharge our batteries before dinner in the evening.

Thamel Eco Resort, Kathmandu
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the final day of your 12 day trekking trip to the foot of the highest mountain in the world – a journey you will remember and talk about for the rest of your life. Our aim is to create incredible moments that count, with like minded people, and build lifelong friendships through physical activity and shared experiences in some of the worlds most beautiful places. We’ll drop you at the airport in time for your flight home.

Breakfast

• All meals as per itinerary
• All transport and shuttles
• Guiding and hosting
• All park entrance fees, including Sagarmatha entrance fee
• All accommodation
• Luggage transfers
• Luggage portage on the trail

• International and domestic flights
• Travel Insurance
• Personal hiking gear
• Luggage
• Personal snacks
• Alcoholic beverages

We understand the importance of a good night's rest – especially on a trek like this. We have carefully chosen locally owned lodgings in Kathmandu and guesthouses on the Everest trek that understand the importance of a place to unwind. While you won’t be glamming it up at the Ritz (that’s not our style), you’ll enjoy comfortable accommodation with amazing local hosts.

Arriving in Kathmandu is relatively simple. Airlines offering flights to Kathmandu include Qatar Airways, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, and Air India. All of these carriers have code share with Star Alliance and One World. Many flights from the US will have a stopover in either Hong Kong or Singapore, depending on the airline.