Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary

November 14, 2019

Everest Base Camp Itinerary and Route

12 Days Everest Base Camp Trek is a wonderful opportunity to view everything about Nepal that you have only read and heard from others. This trek will take you to the lap of some of the high mountains and let you observe the life of some rare wildlife animals.

Everest Base Camp Trek is also a gateway for those who want to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Being one of the moderate trekking regions, you don’t need to be a trekking expert to do the trek. 12 Days Everest Base Camp Trek is a short trek in this region whereas you can also expand the trek if you want to make it 15 Days Everest Base Camp Trek.

On this trek, you can expect to view many high spectacular mountains, Lukla airport, wildlife, sherpa community lifestyle, monasteries, Kalapathar and of course the Mt. Everest. So, Let’s learn about 12 Days Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary in more detail.

Day 01: Kathmandu to Lukla and Trek to Phakding

Elevation reached: (2650m/ 9360ft)

Distance: 30 mins flight to Lukla and 3.5 hrs walk

Highlights: Lukla Airport, Dudhkoshi Ghat, Rimishung Monastery

Our journey to Everest Base Camp Trek will start with a short flight of 30 mins to Lukla Airport. Lukla airport, being one of the dangerous airports, your adventure starts right from here. Through the route of Dudhkoshi Ghat ( 2530m/ 8300ft), we will be reaching to Phakding. This will be a short trek and we will also be acclimatizing to the increasing weather. At Phakding, we will be visiting Rimishung Monastery and take a rest preparing for the long trek the next day.

Day 02: Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Elevation reached: (3440m/ 11290ft)

Distance: 6 hrs walk

Highlights: Namche Bazaar, Sagarmatha National Park, Highest Suspension Bridge

Early morning, after having breakfast in Phakding, we will start our trek to Namche Bazaar. On our way, we will encounter various suspension bridges including the Hillary Suspension Bridge. Following the trail, we will come across the dense forest, small rivers, waterfall, and alpine woods. Then, we will take a short lunch break at Manjo or Jorsalle.

After reaching Sagarmatha National Park, we will get our permit registered in the checking post there. Following the trial, we will trek through the dense forest which is a bit challenging and also get the first view of Mount Everest. Finally, we will reach Namche Bazaar (the unofficial capital of the Khumbu region) also known as the gateway to Everest. It is our final destination for the second day.

Day 03: Namche Bazaar ( Rest Day)

Highlights: Exploring Namche Bazaar, Yak farms, Syangboche Airport

Namche Bazaar is the best place for acclimatization. Trekkers are meant to explore the town which is itself at the height of 34440m. And, become habituated with the higher altitude for the further trek.

On this day, we will hike to Kusum, Kanguru, Tamoche, Khonde peak and finally to Everest View hotel. From this hotel, we can get a spectacular view of Mt. Everest. On the way of a hike, we will also get the view of Yak farms, Syangboche Airport. There is also a Sherpa village near the town where you can enjoy the tradition and culture of Sherpa people.

As the place is the center of the Everest region, we will get to enjoy many facilities of town like high-speed internet access, hot showers, cafe and many more. Relaxing at Namche Bazaar for a night, we will prepare for the next trek day.

Day 04: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

Elevation reached: 3850m/ 12800ft

Distance: 5 hours walk

Highlights: Tengboche Monastery, Wildlife, Dudhkoshi valley

With a light breakfast at Namche Bazaar, our trek to Tengboche will begin. The trail may be quite challenging because of ups and downs but the view will make it all worth. Following the trail, we will pause for lunch at kenjoma or Phunki Tenga and then descend slightly to Dudhkoshi. On the way, we can observe rhododendron forest and also much wildlife resides there such as musk deer, multi colored-pheasant, and Himalayan Thar.

We will also get the opportunity to spot a splendid view of mountains like Mt. Everest, Mt Luptse, Mt. Thamserku and Mt. Ama Dablam. Continuing the trek, we will reach our final destination of the day, Tengboche. We will spend our night here after visiting the famous Tengboche Monastery. It is a famous monastery in the Khumbu region, where monks perform rituals and puja during the evening.

Day 05: Trek to Dingboche

Elevation reached: 4360m/ 14300ft

Distance: 5-6 hours walk

Highlights: Dingboche village, Pangboche Monastery, the Island peak, the Ama Dablam

Early morning, we will start our trek to Dingboche. Following the trail, we will go through the lush forest and several mini rivers reaching Pangboche. We will take a short break in Pangboche and have lunch and start our further trek. Also, there lies a famous Pangboche Monastery which we will visit on our way.

We will take a lot of steepest climbs from where we can spot small villages, mani walls and get a very close view of the Ama Dablam and Island Peak. Through the way of Imja Valley, we will finally reach Dingboche where we are going to spend a night.

To protect the crops of the village from the freezy wind coming from Imja Valley, the longwall has been built. So, it is also known as the summer valley of the Everest region.

Day 06: Dingboche to Lobuche

Elevation reached: 4950m/ 16160ft

Distance: 5 hours walk

Highlights: Chola Lake, Khumbu Glacier, the memorial status of climbers who passed away.

The trek to Lobuche is a very interesting one as the altitude starts becoming much higher and nearly the whole trail is surrounded by the Himalayas. Through the way of Khumbu Khola valley, we will get the majestic views of mountains like Labuche peak, Taboche peak, Mt Nuptse and many more.

We will be crossing Thukla pass ( 4830m) and also can spot the Chola Lake on our way. Ascending the trail towards Dughla, we will trek along Khumbu glacier (the biggest glacier in Nepal) where we can see the memorial status of climbers who passed away. Then, we will walk upwards to the Labuche. Upon arrival, we get to see what an amazing place is Labuche. We will be spending our night here.

Day 07:  Lobuche to Gorakshep

Elevation reached: 5364m/ 17,5981ft

Distance: 7 hours walk

Highlights: Everest Base Camp

Early morning, we will start our trek to Everest Base Camp, our main destination of the trek.  Through the way of Khumbu Glacier, we will reach Gorakshep after walking for a few hours. The lodge settlement ends here so we will have lunch in Gorakshep and start our trek towards Everest Base Camp. The trail will be of Steep Climb to the top through the Changri glacier, where you can get a glimpse of Kalapatthar.

After walking along rocky and glacier trails, we will finally reach Everest Base Camp. Spending a few hours on the camp, we will return back to Gorakshep for night stay letting our eyes and cameras capture all the views.

Day 08: Hike to Kalapathar and back to Lobuche

Elevation reached: 5644m/ 18,519ft

Distance: 7-8 hours walk

Highlights:  Views from Kalapathar

Kalapathar is another major highlight of the trek from where you can get panoramic views of mountains like Mt. Everest, Pumori, Nuptse and Lhotse. We will start an early morning hike to Kalapathar from Gorakshep. As this is the highest elevation point of our trek, the view we will get is mesmerizing.

The mountains go golden when the sun just starts rising and later changes into normal color. So, many people prefer an early morning hike. We spend some time here appreciating the beauty offered by this place and return back to Gorakshep. After having lunch, we trek back to Laboche and spend a night there.

Day 09: Laboche to Tengboche

Elevation reached: 3860m

Distance: 6 hours walk

Highlights: Perochi, Debochi Village

We will be walking around 6 hours to reach Tengboche. As this is going to be our return trek, we won’t be having many places to visit on the way. Trekking along the Perochi and Debochi village on the way we get to view forest and meadows. We will have lunch at Pangboche and continue our trek to Tengboche.

You can also spend some time enjoying and capturing the view along the way. Spending night at Tengboche, our ninth day trek ends here.

Day 10: Tengboche to Manjo

Elevation reached: 2833m

Distance: 6 hours walk

Highlights: Rest at Namche Bazaar, National park at Manjo

We will take a new route to Manjo while returning on this day. After 2 hours walk through the rhododendron forest, we will stop at Namche Bazaar for having lunch. You can rest here and enjoy some basic facilities which you will get after a few days.

Through the way of Jorsale village, we will go to Manjo. After fulfilling some formalities of check post we will visit the national park at Manjo and spend a night there in lodge.

Day 11: Manjo to Lukla

Elevation reached: 2650m

Distance: 5-6 hours walk

Highlights: Last day of Trekking

As this is the last day of the trek, we will walk taking our own time. Crossing the suspension bridge over Dudhkoshi and Bhotekoshi, we will trek along the side of a river. We will get to have a completely different view on the way with pine forest and Sherpa village, after a long walk through mountains. Reaching Lukla, you can spend time with your crews visiting the village or taking rest. Overnight stay at lodge in Lukla.

Day 12: Lukla to Kathmandu

Elevation reached: 1315m

Distance: 30 mins flight

Highlights: Return Back to the capital city

We will be having an early morning flight to Kathmandu after taking breakfast. You can enjoy your breakfast as luggage will be handled by porters. On your arrival to Kathmandu, a private car will be waiting for you to transfer to the hotel.  Reaching Kathmandu, you can take a rest and be fresh in the hotel.

In the evening, we will help you explore Thamel and bid a farewell with an amazing dinner. You will be spending the night at the hotel.