Everest Base Camp Trek

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, we'll be greeted by the invigorating scent of the Himalayan air. Our recruits will be waiting at the airport to welcome you with traditional hospitality. Once transferred to the hotel, you'll have the opportunity to unwind or venture out to explore the vibrant streets of Kathmandu.

After checking into the hotel and refreshing yourself, your circuit guide will brief you on the necessary formalities and the upcoming program. Depending on your arrival time, you can choose to visit nearby shrines or simply rest. The juxtaposition of ancient architecture and lively markets here offers a captivating glimpse into Nepalese culture. It's the perfect way to start your adventure in this enchanting country.

After an early morning start, our guide will pick us up from the hotel and accompany us to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport. The scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla lasts approximately 35 minutes, providing ample time to marvel at the breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Upon landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, we will be greeted by our porter, who will assist with our luggage.

Embarking on our trek, we'll begin with a relatively gentle hike, passing by a Kani (ceremonial gatehouse) before descending and ascending above Kyangma village, home to a prominent monastery and school. Continuing onwards, we'll traverse through Cheplung village, where the trail winds through a community forest, offering glimpses of the Dudh Koshi River. Crossing a suspension bridge, we'll ascend across the ridge to Ghat, passing by a school and a series of religious structures including Mani walls, Chortens, and prayer wheels. A short stroll from Ghat leads us to the quaint village of Phakding.

Today, you begin your 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek, so wake up early, freshen up, and wait for your leader in the lobby. They will soon pick you up and drive you to the airport, where you'll catch a flight to Lukla. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is a picturesque one, filled with mesmerizing views of the Himalayas and green hills. The ride is nerve-racking but fun, as you land at one of the most thrilling airports in the world.

After landing, you'll gather your luggage, meet with the rest of the crew, and have breakfast. Once a farming village, Lukla has become a trekkers' town with many cafes, accommodations, and shops. After a hearty meal, you'll move north, passing several businesses and giant yaks. The trail takes you through a vast and well-traveled path with some suspension bridges and cobbled steps.

Phakding is situated at a lower elevation than Lukla, so the trails are mainly downhill today. You'll walk down the streets of Lukla and reach a ticket office to get your local permit before exiting the town. Moving downhill through stone stairs and terraced hillsides, you'll reach the Dudh Koshi River and cross it using a suspension bridge. You'll continue the trek through a beautiful forest and pass several prayer flags.

After several ups and downs, the trail makes a slight descent and arrives at Phakding. This beautiful village offers several side trips, such as visiting the nearby monastery or walking along the riverside.

With a 45-minute flight and a 3-hour trek ahead, we'll start early in the morning, at 07:30 hours, and drive to Tribhuvan International Airport to board a helicopter flight to Lukla. It is an exhilarating mountain flight of 45 minutes, during which you can enjoy exceptional views of the Himalayas and the villages and valleys below. Upon arrival in Lukla, you'll meet the guide, porters, and Sherpa staff. We'll stop in Lukla for about an hour for refreshments and to reorganize our kit bags for the porters. After a short tour of Lukla village, we'll set out on a trek of about 3 hours to Phakding, where we'll lodge for the night.

Today, you will travel from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. After a hearty breakfast, we begin by crossing a suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. The trail takes us along the riverbanks and through a beautiful lush forest of rhododendrons and pines. Our trek goes through the villages of Toktok and Jorsalle After an hour or two, we reach Monjo, passing through picturesque farmlands and typical Sherpa villages, with several suspension bridges along the way. We even cross

As we move forward, we are welcomed by stunning views of Thamserku, Khumbila, and Kongde peaks. With some steep climbs, we arrive at the checkpoint for Sagarmatha National Park, where we show our permits. After about 20 minutes, we reach Jorsalle and stop for lunch.

Post-lunch, we continue the trek, crossing more bridges until we arrive at the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. Crossing the bridge, we then make a steep ascent and are greeted by our first glimpse of Mount Everest.

Admiring this beautiful sight, we head north and arrive at Namche Bazaar. This vibrant Sherpa town is the hub of the Khumbu region and a key stop for trekkers. After a long day of trekking, you can either rest early or explore the town if you have the energy.

The trek today takes us through the villages of Toktok and Jorsalle, and on to Namche Bazaar. The entire route is scenic, full of natural beauty, with dense forests covering the surrounding hills and snow-capped mountain tops beyond them. After a lunch stop in Jorsalle, we continue towards Namche Bazaar, climbing to a vantage point called Topdanda. From here, weather permitting, you can see Mt. Everest and the Tengboche Valley with its famed monastery.

Half an hour later, we arrive at Namche Bazaar, the "capital of the Khumbu Valley." Surrounded by mountains, Namche Bazaar is the commercial center of the Khumbu region. If you arrive on a Friday, you can experience the weekly bazaar the next day, where local people converge from surrounding areas. In the Khumbu Valley, killing animals is forbidden, so people from lower valleys come on Saturdays to sell meat and everyday supplies while the locals and lodge operators buy them.

We cross  several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River, including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. We pass through Tok-Tok, Bhenkar, and Monjo, arriving at Sagarmatha National Park. Here, we register our permits and climb through a dense forest, catching our first views of Mt. Everest. Following the riverbed for a few hours and crossing the last Hillary Suspension Bridge, we undertake a steep uphill trek to Namche Bazaar. Namche offers a good selection of restaurants, a cyber café, pubs, a post office, ATMs, and banks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Your first acclimatization day is held here at Namche Bazaar, an ideal place to rest before climbing to a higher altitude. This bustling town offers many areas for side trips, making it perfect for staying active rather than sitting idle. After breakfast, you get ready to go on a hike. This acclimatization day is dedicated to adjusting to the altitude. Namche Bazaar, buzzing with cafes, bakeries, restaurants, hotels equipped with wifi, souvenir and gear shops, ATMs, and government offices, is perfect for this purpose. If you're lucky, you can immerse yourself in the vibrant Haat Bazar, a weekly market every Friday evening and Saturday.

Despite being called a rest day, acclimatization means walking around and getting familiar with the current elevation. Today, you'll circle Namche Bazaar by hiking to Khunde, Khumjung, and the Everest View Hotel, the world's highest hotel, located only 400 meters above Namche, about an hour's hike.

You start by heading out of the town, taking steep stairs that quickly rise above Namche, offering marvelous mountain views. As you walk further, you reach a viewpoint where you can see the majestic Mount Everest and Lhotse. Continuing on a steep trail for half an hour, you reach a ledge where the terrain flattens out.

Following the path, you'll cross small villages, bridges, and prayer flags to reach Khunde and Khumjung. These two beautiful villages, close to each other, are surrounded by stunning landscapes. Here, you can visit the Khunde Hospital, Khumjung Hillary School, and Khumjung Monastery.

After exploring these areas, you head back, retracing your steps to Syangboche, and undertake a steep climb to Everest View Hotel for lunch. This superb hotel, nestled between treelines, offers a close view of Mount Everest. You enjoy your meal and hot drinks while soaking in the majestic peaks and valleys. After spending some time here, you head back down to Namche Bazaar for the night.

Throughout the day, you’ll see many peaks like Kangtega, Kwangde, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and more. Once back in Namche, you can roam around the town, which is the last stop with wifi and cafes. Enjoy your time here and go to bed early, as you have a hectic day ahead.

Guides will lead us to the Tourist Visitor Center near Sagarmatha National Park headquarters, where relics from Everest's first climbers, Sherpa culture, and local flora and fauna await discovery. Other options include visits to traditional Sherpa settlements, the Hillary School, yak farms, and Buddhist monasteries.

We start with a gentle two-hour ascent to Everest View Point, offering breathtaking vistas of Everest, Nuptse, and other peaks. Then, we explore the Sagarmatha National Park Museum and the Sherpa House Museum, delving into the region's cultural and natural heritage before returning to Namche Bazaar.

After lunch, our trek takes us to Khumjung, with stunning views of the Dudhkoshi Valley and the Himalayas. Passing by the Everest View Hotel, we savor a moment of luxury amidst the world's highest peaks. Descending to Khumjung village, we visit the monastery and embrace the serenity of this Sherpa community.

After a fantastic time at Namche, you now resume your journey towards Tengboche. You get ready, have breakfast, and start your trek by ascending the stone steps out of the town.

After climbing for about an hour, you reach a flat trail that offers marvelous views of the landscapes. Continuing along the unending ridgeline, you slowly descend to the Dudh Koshi River. Crossing the river, you pass a beautiful chorten adorned with prayer flags and stop for lunch at Punggi-Tanga. This place provides a glorious view of Thamserku along with other peaks.

Moving forward, you reach Sansa, the junction of the Gokyo and EBC treks. From here, you follow a short trail to Pungi Thanga, crossing several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. Along the way, you pass several water-driven prayer wheels and cross a dense forest to the checkpoint. The trail continues with a gradual climb, offering opportunities to spot wild animals like longhaired mountain goats, musk deer, and the colorful national bird, the danphe.

Climbing uphill through dusty trails, you arrive at the gate of Tengboche. This small village is home to a beautiful monastery with an incredible view of the Himalayas in the backdrop. From the meadow at Tengboche, there are stunning views of Nuptse, Lhotse, the tip of Everest, and the giant Mt. Amadablam. Tengboche is one of the religious centers of the Khumbu Valley. The monastery, which burned down in 1989, was rebuilt to its original shape thanks to generous contributions from the local community, trekkers, and the Himalayan Trust. Every year in October/November, according to the Buddhist lunar calendar, the monastery hosts one of the most spectacular and important religious festivals, the Mani Rimdu.

After checking into your lodge, you visit the famed Tengboche Monastery, enjoying the serene ambiance and magnificent mountain views. You can also see the Gokyo trekking trail from this vantage point. Enjoying the sunset view, you return to your hotel, completing another memorable day on your trek.

You wake up early, get ready, have your breakfast, and again visit the monastery to pray for a successful trip. After an easy climb, we cross a bridge over a stream that flows from the Khumbu glacier below Pheriche, finally arriving at Dingboche. Dingboche is a beautiful yet significant settlement where we will acclimatize. The next day, you can go sightseeing and explore this charming village surrounded by majestic peaks.

After leaving Tengboche, our trek continues through a seemingly virgin forest and beautiful mountain panoramas to the nunnery at Dingboche. After a rest and visit, we descend through the dusty forest trail to Pangboche. Here, the trail begins to ascend, passing through yak herds and pasturelands.

Continuing our journey, we cross a bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. As we progress, the trees thin out, giving way to shrubbery, and we arrive at Pangboche village. From this point, we ascend further, crossing another river and then tackling a steep climb to a vantage point that offers an exotic view of Mt. Ama Dablam. We pause here for lunch, soaking in the magnificent scenery.

After lunch, we gently ascend the trails for about half an hour to reach Dingboche. Dingboche is the last largest village in the Chhukung valley, a small but beautiful settlement with stunning views of Amadablam and Chhukung. Unlike Tengboche, Dingboche has several lodges and attraction points. If the weather permits, it's worth climbing up the village for a better view of the town.

It is a rest/acclimatization day, but we recommend taking a trip to Chhukung(4400 m)  and back. The trail is beautiful with Buddhist stupas and prayer flags and incredible views. If time permits, we also recommend climbing to the Chukung-Ri (5540m), at Chhukung. It is a hill above Chhukung village and just below the incredibly sheer wall of Mount Nuptse and Lhotse. The wall of Lhotse and Nuptse, the red granite of Makalu, and the south wall of Barun, fluted with ice next to 7000 metres of Ama Dablam. Many feel that Chhukung-Ri has the most beautiful views in the World. We take a lunch at Chhukung and return back to Dingboche(4380m)

After waking up, you have your breakfast while viewing the Himalayas and later begin the trek. As you leave the settlement, two gigantic peaks (Tabuchi and Arakam) tower to the left.

Viewing them, you slowly make your way up the trails while being surrounded by hills and valleys. Walking at a slow pace under the warm sun, you arrive at Thukla when a few tea houses come into sight.

You have your lunch here and start the trek again by climbing a steep trail to Dughla Pass (4830 m). Reaching the top, you sight a memorial park and walk past it while ascending further in the paths.

We are close to the Khumbu Glacie. You'll see the famous Khumbu Glacier for the first time.This upward trail to Lobuche is filled with an even closer view of the beautiful mountains and of course feel the thin air. The glacier will remain in your view for the most part of your trek. At Dhughla Pass, you will see the Chhortens, stone memorials of mountaineers who lost their lives while climbing Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and other high mountains. Communicate and listen to your body and find a slow, steady pace. We hear the cracking of ice and noises of ice breaks and falling into glacial river.

This is the day of moment of truth.

Finally, the exciting day has arrived when you reach the foothills of Mount Everest. With excitement, most of the trekkers wake up fast and begin the trek early.

After breakfast, the trek begins through flat trails, and gradually climbing it, you see the fantastic landscapes in the backdrop of Lobuche. Leaving the village behind, you climb through the Khumbu glacier and walk over the rugged sediments.

As you keep hiking up the routes, you arrive at Gorakshep and leave your bags in the lodge. After lunch, you hike uphill and reach Everest Base Camp later on.

Arriving at the base camp, you get the incredible sight of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and more. After Enjoying your time there, you now hike back to Gorak Shep.

You might be hungry after the achievement, so you have your dinner and go to bed early.

views of Nuptse, Pumori, Changse, Cho Lhatse and many more peaks. Gorakshep is a pleasant place towered by beautiful Mt. Pumori

From Lobuche, you'll be trekking along the Khumbu glacier, crossing the Changri glacier, till you reach Gorakshep at 5160 m. Upon reaching there, you'll check into the lodge, have lunch and walk to the Base Camp. It's an ideal place to take lots and lots of pictures. From the base camp, you'll return back to Gorakshep to stay for the night.

Your day will begin with an early morning hike to the highest point of the trek, Kalapatthar. It takes around three hours to reach there. This is where you'll be witnessing the magnificent Everest accompanied by the breathtaking view of the beautiful sunrise. You'll also see several other mountains in the Himalayan range. From there, you'll be hiking down to Gorakhshep. After breakfast, you'll start trekking downhill to Pheriche.

After an excellent breakfast, you start the trek by walking steeply down the rugged and dusty routes. The hike from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar is quite long, but you are heading to a lower altitude, so the walks are more leisurely.

The air gets warmer as you descend steadily to Debuche, followed by another ascent to Tengboche. Then making a steep descent to Pungi Thenga, the mountains look stunning.

You stop here for lunch and continue the trek by crossing a suspension bridge over the river. From here, you do several ascend, descend, and cross many suspensions.

After hours of walking on the rugged routes, you arrive at Namche Bazaar. Spend some time visiting cafes or restaurants now that you are back in this beautiful town.

This day we wake up at Pheriche and then head to Namche Bazaar. The trail will be leading us through forests where we might spot wildlife like pheasants, musk deer, mountain goats, etc.

On the way, you will see numerous prayer flags and chortens, and this day provides you with the last chance to see Mt. Everest. As we trek further, we will reach Namche Bazaar, where we will be spending our night. 

Time flies so fast, as it is your last day in the Everest region. Today marks the end of your 14 Days Everest Base Camp Trek journey. After breakfast, we will hike down a steep trail, cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge, and pass through several local villages. Most of our trek will take place in Dudh Koshi River Valley and its surroundings. This is a long day, so you start the tour right after breakfast.

The trail will look familiar as you descend downhill the streets of Namche Bazaar. Walking in the paths, you reach Hilary suspension bridge and cross over it to reach Jhorsale.

Moving ahead in your journey, you pass several yak herds and pasture lands through the dusty trails. The route today takes you through several forest paths blooming with colorful rhododendrons.

While walking the routes, you stop at one of the points for lunch. Then after stuffing your tummy, you move ahead, passing several main walls, waterfalls, prayer flags, etc.

You walk across the dusty trails and alongside the Dudh Koshi river before doing a steep climb to Lukla. Please make the most out of this day as your journey is now coming to its end.

Upon reaching Lukla, we will freshen up at our hotel and relax. It will most probably be your last night in the Khumbu region. You have succeeded against several odds. It is a moment worth celebrating.

1. If everything goes according to the schedule, you will fly back to Kathmandu in the early morning. The flight route from Lukla depends on the trekking season. If your trek is in March, April, May, September, October, or November, you will most probably fly to Manthali, and we will drive you to Kathmandu from Manthali. In other months (December, January, February, June, July, and August), you will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu directly.
2. Overnight at Kathmandu
   Laughing, talking, spending time with each other, now it is time to end the trip by flying back to Kathmandu. These 12-13 Days in the mountains were hectic, offering an adventurous time to you.
   
   You wake up early this morning and catch a ride back to Kathmandu. Viewing the same scenarios and bidding farewell to the mountains, you arrive at the airport. The guide will take you to your hotel and leave for the day.
   The rest of the day is free, so enjoy your time here in Kathmandu. Visit shops, restaurants, and clubs to make your day fun to its fullest.
3. If you want to avoid the Lukla-Manthali-Kathmandu route you can book a helicopter. It will cost about 550 USD (extra) per person, provided five people split the cost.
4. We hope your journey back to Kathmandu will indeed be a relaxing one. The chances are you will find yourself reflecting on your journey to Everest Base Camp and feel a bit excited as you will soon be able to meet your loved ones back home. Discovery World Trekking will arrange a farewell dinner for you in Kathmandu later in the day. 

Please note that flights from Lukla are sometimes delayed or canceled due to bad weather conditions such as fog-bound Kathmandu or stormy winds in Lukla. Be reassured that our staff in Lukla and Kathmandu will be doing everything possible to minimize the inconvenience and your patience is anticipated. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. We take you for a cultural dinner in the evening.

You will be transferred to the airport at your schedule by our staff. To avoid the risk of missing your flight back home, we always recommend that you have 2 to 3 days extra at the end of the trip because the flight from Lukla airport can get delayed or canceled owing to bad weather conditions. If everything goes as planned, you can extend your holiday and visit the Chitwan National park, go rafting in the Trishuli River, visit Pokhara, or simply join Yoga classes and get a well-deserved relaxing massage. Please note that if the flight to Lukla gets canceled for more than 3 days, we’ll make changes to the itinerary for an equally better alternative trek. We also recommend you have travel Insurance that covers Helicopter rides/recuses or flight delay/cancellation issues.

Note: If youwish to extend your stay for next day, we can visit  the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Tour. You'll be visiting the Swayambhunath or the Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath, a holy Hindu shrine and crematorium, Boudhanath- the biggest Buddhist temple in the world, Patan Durbar Square, a Medieval Royal Palace city known for fine arts and metal and stone carvings that date back as far as the 14th Century.