Everest Base Camp Trek

In the early morning you will make the spectacular flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2827m) with breathtaking views of the Himalayas. The flight time is about 40 minutes and you will land at an airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa’s in the mid-1960s. After landing you will have time to explore the town while the staff crew loads your trekking equipment. You will begin the trek by walking through Lukla and from the other side join the main trail to the Everest valley. The walking is easy today with great views of Kusum Kanguru (6367m). We trek through small villages of Thadokoshi and Ghat. After passing Ghat (2550m) it is only a short walk to Phakding.

Trekking time: 4 hrs

From Phakding you head towards the valley of Namche Bazaar following the Dudh Koshi river. You get spectacular views of Mt. Thamserku (6623m) from Benkar. From here it is a short walk to Monjo (2835m), the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park. After lunch it’s a fairly easy walk till we get to the last suspension bridge. The views of Lhotse (8516m), Nuptse (7861m) and Tawache (6542m) come into views for the first time. You make a steep ascent to get to Tope Danda where you have photo opportunities of the grandiose mountains. After a gradual climb you reach Namche Bazaar.

Trekking time: 7 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

We have an extra day today for you to acclimatize. You can either go for a hike to Syangboche or do other optional walks around Namche. The stunning vista includes a superb panorama of the Khumbu peaks and great views of Everest. The afternoon is free to wander through Namche. You can enjoy the bakeries, surf on the internet, buy souvenirs etc.

Meals included: B, L, D

On today’s walk you have opportunities to spot local wildlife including the beautiful danfe pheasant, himalayan thar (mountain goat) and musk deer. From Namche Bazaar you climb towards the parks headquarters and follow a contouring trail high above the Dudh Kosi river. Above Namche the route to Thyangboche becomes visible and is a fairly easy hike to Phungi Tanga where we have lunch. After lunch you ascend, initially steeply, through pine, fir, black juniper and rhododendron forests to get to Thyangboche. The views of Everest (8848m), Amadablam (6848m), Lhotse, Khantega and Thamserku are breathtaking. In the late afternoon we visit the monastery to join the daily prayers with the monks. This is one of the best spots for watching the sunset!

Trekking time: 6 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

After breakfast you descend through the alpine forest to get to Debuche. You might be lucky enough to come across mountain goats and musk deers as they are often seen here. After crossing the Imja Khola the trail gradually climbs up presenting views of Amadablam, reaching the village of Pangboche. We stop here for the night.

In the afternoon you visit the monastery known to be the oldest in Khumbu valley and head towards a ridge below Tawache for the sake of your acclimatization.

Trekking time: 3 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

Today you have a pleasant walk ascending gradually high above the Imja Khola river and passing tea houses at Shomare and Orsho before crossing the river to get to the lodge at Dingboche. The scenery is spectacular and although Everest disappears behind the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge you get stunning views of Amadablam and Island Peak. Today you will be completely above the tree line and the temperatures drop quickly. The nights could be freezing from here onwards and you might start to feel the altitude from here. Our staffs have medical training and know what to do if you start to feel sick. They also carry different kind of medicines, like Diamox and medicines against diarrhea. It is important to take notice of your trek leaders advice and recommendations regarding rest and fluid intake.

Trekking time: 4 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

Dingboche is a beautiful patchwork of small fields enclosed by stone walls. The walls protect crops of barley and potatoes from the cold winds. During the monsoon months large numbers of yaks are brought here to graze in the valley pastures. There are plenty of options for your acclimatization. You can climb Nakarsang (5030m) or take a walk through the Chukung valley.The views are fantastic with Makalu, worlds 5th highest mountain, coming into sight and other mountains surrounding you. The afternoon is free for you to explore Dingboche.

Meals included: B, L, D

In the morning you will ascend the small ridge behind the village above Pheriche Valley. From the chorten at the top Taweche and Cholatse (6440m) make a striking scene. To the north, Lobuche Peak (6119m) and the snowfields of Cho La dominate the skyline. The walking is now generally flat on wide-open fields. Late in the morning you will cross the Khumbu Khola at Dughla (4620m) and take a light lunch at the foot of the huge terminal moraines of Khumbu Glacier. In the afternoon, there will be a solid and quite steep climb on a rocky trail to the top of the moraines. On the crest of the ridge you pass a line of memorial cairns built in memory of Sherpas and other climbers who have died on the various Everest expeditions. From here the view is spectacular – Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m), Khumbutse (6623m) and, across the border in Tibet, Changtse (7550m) can be seen at the head of the valley whilst Everest remains hidden behind the towering walls of Nuptse and Lhotse. You will then follow the valley stream to the lodge at Lobuje, arriving early afternoon. Today will be tiring but the fantastic scenery makes it all very worthwhile.

Trekking time: 6 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

Today we start early for Gorakshep following the broad valley that runs parallel to Khumbu Glacier. A gradual ascent enables you to build the slow, steady rhythm required when walking at high altitude. Once reaching the moraines of Changri Nup Glacier you make a serial of small ascents and descents over a rocky trail lined with cairns that eventually leads to the surprising glacial sands of Gorak Shep (5160m) reached after about three hours of walking. After a quick lunch you gear up appropriately and head off towards the Everest Base Camp. The trek to the base camp will take you around three hours and if you trek in the climbing period (March to May), you will almost certainly encounter yaks and porters supplying food and equipment to expeditions here.

From Everest Base Camp you won’t get views of Mount Everest, but you will be able to see the notorious Everest Ice Fall that flows from the Western Cwm (means a glaciated valley surrounded on three sides in Welsh language and is pronounced “coom”), regarded as technically the hardest and most dangerous section of the mountain. The return journey from the Base Camp to Gorakshep takes the same amount of time.

You’ll have an early dinner to get up early the next day for the awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan giants from Kala Patar. (Trekking: approximately 3 hours to Gorak Shep, 5 hours round trip to Everest Base Camp)

Trekking time: 8 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

Today you make an early start for Kalapathar (5550m) to experience the sensational sunrise views from this amazing vantage point. From your lodge the ascent is quite steep so you should start very slow and try to ascend at a steady, rhythmic pace. Listen to your guides advice on walking speed. Kalapatar is the rocky hilltop below Pumori and it is a tough walk because of the altitude, but the 360 degree view from the top will surpass your wildest imagination! It will probably take about two hours to reach the summit from Gorak Shep. Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, Taweche, Kantega and Everest, the highest mountain in the world, will surround you. About three kilometres away and some 200 metres below, the area of the Everest Base Camp can be seen in a bowl at the bottom of the Khumbu Ice Fall. The descent back down to Gorak Shep is easy and once you have returned to the lodge you will have breakfast and retrace your steps back to Lobuche and to Thugla for lunch. After lunch we cross the Khumbu Khola and head down the valley to Pheriche for the night.

Trekking time: 9 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

From Pheriche you will cross the Khumbu Khola river and ascend a short steep trail to the top of a small ridge for great views of Imja Valley, Ama Dablam and Kantega. You then descend to the small settlements at Orsho and Shomare before passing through Lower Pangboche to reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River and ascend back to Thyangboche for lunch. In the afternoon you will descend steeply through beautiful forest of juniper, rhododendron and fir to Phunkitenga. After a break and perhaps a cup of tea you will cross the Dudh Kosi river and ascend to Trashinga. From here the trail contours high above the valley through Shanasa and on to Namche Bazaar where you will spend the night.

Trekking time: 8 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

You will enjoy a leisurely departure from Namche Bazaar with a final opportunity to visit the shops in the town before descending steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi river. You follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Monjo where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon it is only a short walk via Benkar through blue pine and rhododendron forest, with great views of Kusum Kangaru, back to the lodge in Phakding.

Trekking time: 6 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

This is your last day of trekking and it is only a short walk in the valley before making a final climb up to the airstrip in Lukla. After lunch at the lodge the afternoon is free to wander around and relax. In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner followed by a few celebratory drinks and dancing with your sherpa companions.

Trekking time: 4 hrs

Meals included: B, L, D

You will get up early in the morning today for your flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met up and transferred back to the starting hotel. The rest of the day is free to do some shopping, further sightseeing or maybe visit a spa!

Today you have a day to spend in Kathmandu, if everything goes according to plan. In Nepal that is not always the case. For example many flights are cancelled due to bad weather (thankfully, better safe than sorry!) and there can also happen other things on your trek delaying you. To be sure that you don’t miss your flight it is important that you have time to catch up. You can add an additional sightseeing in for example the Tibetan area Boudha and see Nepals biggest Buddhist monument or at Pashupatinath, Kathmandus biggest Hindu temple complex with colorful holy men and cremation pyres.

On your final night in Kathmandu Beyond Borders Ethical Adventures would like to invite you for a dinner to learn about your experiences during the trek!

Meals included: B, D

Your trip comes to an end today. You will be transferred to the airport and we wish you a wonderful flight and a big welcome back to Nepal!

Meals included: B