Relaxed version
Add an extra acclimatisation night (at Namche or Dingboche) and a spare day in Kathmandu for Lukla flight delays. On request
Khumbu (Everest region)
Everest Base Camp Trek
Walk to the foot of the world's highest mountain
- Days12
- High point5,545 m / 18,192 ft
- GradeHard, 4 of 5
- Best monthsMar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Overview
Twelve days from Lukla through Sherpa villages, monasteries and glacier moraine to the foot of the world's highest mountain, with a sunrise climb of Kala Patthar.
Highlights
- Fly into Lukla, one of the most dramatic mountain airstrips in the world
- Two acclimatisation days, at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche
- Tengboche Monastery, the largest gompa in the Khumbu
- Stand at Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) beside the Khumbu Icefall
- Sunrise over Everest from Kala Patthar (5,545 m)
Guide & safety
- A licensed trekking guide with you every day.
Is this trek for me?
Fitness & difficulty
Hard, 4 of 5 Challenging (high altitude, no technical climbing)
- No climbing skills needed, but this is a long, high trek with several nights above 4,000 m.
- The climb from the Dudh Koshi river up to Namche Bazaar is the first big test; take it slowly.
- Train with hill walks or stair sessions two or three times a week for eight to ten weeks before you go.
- Two rest days at altitude are built in. Even so, anyone can get altitude sickness, so read our safety approach before you go.
12 days · scroll to climb
Day by day
The marker follows you down the itinerary. Red figures are height gained since where you slept the night before.
Loading map…
Day 1: Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding
Day 2: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 3: Acclimatisation day in Namche
Short hike up and back down to help your body adapt.
Day 4: Trek to Tengboche
Day 5: Trek to Dingboche
Day 6: Acclimatisation day in Dingboche
Day 7: Trek to Lobuche
Day 8: Trek to Gorak Shep, visit Everest Base Camp
Sleep at Gorak Shep.
Day 9: Sunrise on Kala Patthar, descend to Pheriche
Sleep at Pheriche.
Day 10: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 11: Trek to Lukla
Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu
Dates & price
Plan your dates
Pick the day you want to start walking. We'll lay out your whole trip and check the season.
- Arrive in Kathmandu by–
- Trek–
- Fly home from–
- Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding2,610 m
- Trek to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
- Acclimatisation day in Namche3,440 m
- Trek to Tengboche3,860 m
- Trek to Dingboche4,410 m
- Acclimatisation day in Dingboche4,410 m
- Trek to Lobuche4,940 m
- Trek to Gorak Shep, visit Everest Base Camp5,164 m
- Sunrise on Kala Patthar, descend to Pheriche4,240 m
- Trek to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
- Trek to Lukla2,860 m
- Fly back to Kathmandu
Private trek
Your own guide and your own pace, starting on a date you choose in season.
Small group departures
Ask us for current details.
What's included
In the price
Included
- Licensed trekking guide
- Teahouse accommodation on the trek
- National park and municipality permits
Not included
- International flights and Nepal visa
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- Tips for guides and porters
You pay on the trail
- Hot shower
- On request
- Wi-Fi
- On request
- Phone or battery charging
- On request
- Boiled or filtered water (1 litre)
- On request
- Dal bhat (set meal)
- On request
Prices rise the higher you go. Bring cash in Nepali rupees.
No hidden costs, no surprise group merging, a named guide, and a descend-first safety plan. Read our promises → Ask us
Make it yours
Ask about these →Extend or change it
Other ways to walk it
Helicopter return
Walk up to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, then fly back to Lukla or Kathmandu by helicopter instead of walking down. On request
Add-ons
A spare day for Lukla flights
Mountain flights are often delayed by weather. A spare day at the end means you don't miss your flight home.
Gokyo Lakes
Add the turquoise Gokyo Lakes and the view from Gokyo Ri, crossing back via the Cho La pass or returning the same way. Adds several days.
Kathmandu heritage day
Visit Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Patan's Durbar Square with a local guide before or after the trek.
Practicalities
Good to know
Where you'll stay
Teahouses are family-run lodges: simple twin rooms with foam mattresses and blankets, and a shared dining room warmed by a stove in the evening. Toilets are often shared, and hot showers and charging cost extra the higher you go.
Teahouse lodges, twin-share rooms
What you'll eat
Most teahouses serve a similar menu: dal bhat (rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, usually with free refills), noodles, momos, eggs, porridge, pancakes and plenty of tea. Higher up the menu shrinks and prices rise, because everything is carried in.
Permits
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- On request
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee
- On request
- Licensed guide requirement
- Not applied in the Khumbu as of February 2025 (see guide rules explainer)
Everest Base Camp guides
Questions
FAQ
How hard is the Everest Base Camp trek?
It needs no climbing skills, but you walk most of each day Ask us and sleep above 4,000 m for several nights. Altitude, not distance, is the real challenge, which is why the itinerary includes two rest days for acclimatisation.
Do I need a guide?
Nepal's 2023 rule requires a licensed guide in national parks, but the Khumbu municipality, which covers the Everest region, refused to apply it, and the region was still exempt as of February 2025. Rules change, so we confirm the current position when you book. See our [guide rules explainer](/journal/do-i-need-a-guide-nepal/).
When is the best time to go?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) bring the most stable weather and clearest views. See the month-by-month weather page for modelled day and night temperatures.
What if my Lukla flight is delayed or cancelled?
Weather often delays flights to and from Lukla, sometimes for a day or more. Build a spare day into your plans before your international flight home. See our Lukla delay policy for what we do and who pays for what.
Do flights go from Kathmandu or Ramechhap?
In peak seasons, Lukla flights now leave from Ramechhap, about 4–5 hours' drive from Kathmandu, under a civil aviation rule in effect since 25 September 2025. We arrange the transfer and plan the timing with you.
Will I get altitude sickness?
You might. Altitude sickness can start above about 2,500 m, and you spend several nights above 4,000 m on this trek. The two rest days help, and the most important rule is simple: if you feel unwell, don't go higher. Tell your guide straight away.
What permits do I need?
A Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee. Your guide arranges both. See the permits guide for current fees.
Is there Wi-Fi and phone charging?
Most teahouses offer Wi-Fi or local data cards and charging for a fee. Both get slower, pricier and less reliable the higher you go, so bring a power bank.
Can a beginner do it?
A fit beginner with good training can, but it's a big first trek. If you've never walked at altitude, consider Annapurna Base Camp first, or allow extra days.
What travel insurance do I need?
Insurance that covers trekking up to at least 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. Check the altitude limit in the policy wording, not just the summary.
Ready?
Plan your Everest Base Camp
Tell us your dates. We'll send a day-by-day plan and full quote within 24 hours.
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