Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary

[Rajesh Thapaliya]

Everest base camp trek is a very popular trekking destination among other Himalayan trekking in Nepal. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world so, there are lots of people coming to Nepal to trek to the base camp of this tallest mountain. Everest base camp trek itinerary can be with different days frame as starting from Lukla, Jiri and Salleri.

A classic Everest base camp trek itinerary is starting from Jiri after driving n a bus from Kathmandu. It is a long Everest base camp trek. When there was no airport in Lukla, there was only the trekking route to the Everest base camp from Jiri. Now, very less number of trekkers trek from Jiri because many people start the trek from Lukla and even drive to Salleri and begin the trek to the Everest base camp.

Here, you can see a regular trekking itinerary which is following by thousands of Everest trekkers every high trekking season. Regular trekking itinerary starts from Lukla after a short flight to Lukla. It is a 12-days trekking plan from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. It takes 8-days to reach the base camp including 2-rest days for altitude practice on the way up. Then, you will trek back to Lukla with the 3-long trek and fly out to Kathmandu.

Everest base camp trekking trails are inside Sagarmatha national park starting from Monjo. There are lots of natural attractions such as beautiful rivers, river valleys, waterfalls, green hills, vegetation, wildlife, and massive mountains. Religious and cultural monuments are also good to see on the trek. Check the main Everest base camp trek itinerary below:

Day 1: Fly to Lukla (2,840m) and Trek to Phakding (2,652m) 3 hrs.

Today, you will fly early morning from Kathmandu to Lukla. It is about a half an hour scenic flight which offers a scenic view of great Himalaya. You will land at Lukla and start to trek towards Phakding. Today is a short day trek to Phakding. You will trek around 3hrs mostly descending.

Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 6-7 hrs.

Trekking to Namche Bazaar is a pretty long day with one climbing around 2-3 hours at last. You will start your trek in the morning after breakfast at the guest house. You will trek to Monjo in 3 hrs walk and issue national park entry permit here. Then, you will have a lunch stop in Jorsalle and trek further to Namche Bazaar.

Day 3: Acclimatization rest day in Namche Bazaar.

The first-day rest for altitude practice is in Namche Bazaar today. You will hike up to Everest view hotel for acclimatization from this place. Hike up to Everest view hotel takes around 3-4 hours to visit and return. Everest view hotel is a vantage viewpoint from where you can see stunning mountain views.

Day 4: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860m) 5-6 hrs.

You trek on a nice and wide trekking path from Namche Bazaar to Kyanjuma. It is maintaining by an old man collecting some donations from the trekkers and hiring workers. You will start descending after crossing Kyanjuma all the way to Phunki-Tenga. Here, you will stop for a lunch then climb another around 2 hours to Tengboche hill through pine, rhododendron, oak, and other trees forest. Tengboche is a hill station and another beautiful viewpoint on this trek. You can visit an ancient historical Buddhist monastery and join offering in this evening with the monks.

Day 5: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410m) 5-6 hrs.

After viewing a great view in the morning from this hill, you will trek towards Dingboche. You will descend to Deboche through pine and rhododendron forest and walk around another a half an hour on a flat part. Here, you will cross a suspension bridge and start climbing to Pangboche. You are above treeline from here and see lots of mountains around most of the trekking moments. After stopping for the lunch in Somare, you will trek to Dingboche.

Day 6: Second rest day in Dingboche.

It is your second altitude practice rest day. You will hike up to Nangkar-Tsang hill after breakfast. You see great mountain views from the Everest region and the 4th highest mountain in Nepal and 5th in the world (Makalu) from this hill.

Day 7: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4,910m) 5 hrs.

You might feel the altitude effect walking around here. There is less oxygen in the air and may have more chances of getting altitude sickness. you trek on the open hill enjoying amazing mountain and valley views. Before reaching Thukla, you will cross a glacial river coming from Khumbu glacier. Here, you will have a hill to climb. It does not look a ling hill but takes a long time because of the altitude. You will see lots of memorials on the top of Thuk La hill and hike on a flat part another hour to Lobuche.

Day 8: Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep (5,180m) and hike to Everest base camp (5,364m) 7-8 hrs.

This is your important day because you are reaching the base camp. Reaching the base camp of the world's highest mountain is the main goal for all trekkers. You will trek about 3 hrs to Gorakshep from Lobuche. Here, you have a quick lunch and hike to the base camp leaving your stuff in the guest house. It takes around 2-2 hours and a half one way to get to the base camp from Gorakshep and the same time to return.

Day 9: Hike up to Kala Patthar (5,550m) 2hrs. and Trek to Pheriche (4,210m) 5hrs.

A big challenge is climbing Kala Patthar in this early morning. It should not be very easy to climb this hill but, this is the best part of Everest base camp trek. You will see great mountain views and a very close view of Everest from this hill. It takes around 2 hours to get to the top and 45 minutes to an hour to return. You will trek to Pheriche walking on the same trail until Thukla and take right to Pheriche valley.

Day 10: Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar 7 hrs.

You will trek to Namche Bazaar from Pheriche in one day. This you had taken two days on the way up. 

Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla 7 hrs.

You are in the lower area compared to you have already visited here. Though this is not the low region to the people who are on the way up. You will trek to Phakding in 4 hrs. and stop for the lunch. Then you trek another 3 hrs to Lukla. You can celebrate your last night mountain stay this evening.

Day 12: Fly out to Kathmandu.

You will fly early morning to Kathmandu with a lifetime Everest trek experience.

Hopefully, you liked this itinerary. You can see detail information here about this trek and other trip-related information.