Everest Base Camp

Kathmandu to Ramechhap is a long drive of about 6-7 hours. An early morning drive will gradually transition from a busy city into an exciting drive across the cliffside parallel to the rivers.

From Ramechhap, a flight to Lukla is around 15 minutes, a short but definitely noteworthy. Flight to Lukla is one of a kind with the shortest take off and landing (STOL) airstrip in Nepal providing an aerial showcase of magnificent mountain ranges including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam from above the clouds.

You will have a brief moment in Lukla for lunch and sightseeing the natural beauty of a quiet mountain village. Meanwhile, our Sherpas will arrange Ghopkyo and porters to carry the baggage and other loads as required. Here starts the first trek to Phakding. This trail is a gentle downhill walk through the pine and rhododendron forest following Dudhkoshi river. Crossing a suspension bridge over Thado khola river and a short climb from Ghat brings you to Phakding(2,610 m). Phakding is a riverside village with a distant view of Kongde Ri (6,187 m) and Kusum Kanguru (6,367 m). This trek serves as a perfect and subtle introduction to Everest trail.

The day begins beautifully as you follow Dudh Koshi river walking through the alpine pine forests. The trail gets more rousing as you cross several anchoring suspension bridges. The trail moves along the river through lush green forest before reaching Benkar village. Benkar (2,725 m) village is a quite village with beautiful waterfalls and stunning, up-close view of Mt. Thamserku (6,608m). The trail is bustling with trekkers and ghopkyos walking to and forth. The upward climb from here leads you to Monjo (2,835 m), a checkpoint for Everest National Park. After your permits are registered, the trail climbs a short stretch of stone steps to Jorsalle (3,096 m). Jorsalle is the last village before you reach Namche Bazaar. Following the river from the Jorsalle, you cross the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge (2,883 m, also known as Larja bridge). Then, a zigzag climb up a steep pine forest breaks you into Namche Bazaar (3,440 m).

Namche Bazaar is a vibrant mountain town built into a steep, horseshoe-shaped amphitheater. It is a center of Sherpa culture fused with modern trekking amenities and a much need acclimatization hub for Everest trekkers. You can find an alluring view of Kwangde(6,187 m), Kusum Kangru (6,367 m), Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse (8,516 m) and a close view of Taweche (6,501 m) framing the horizon of Namche Bazaar.

A rest day at Namche Bazaar is designed for a vital acclimatization. You can choose to rest on your bed or undertake an active, short hike through the picturesque green valleys of Khumjung (3,790m) and Khunde (3,840 m). From Khumjung and Khunde, you can get the first glimpse of snow-capped Mt. Everest (8,848 m) along with Lhotse and Ama Dablam (6,812 m). Another pacifying experience that Namche has to offer you is a short walk to Everest national Park. Everest National Park encircles the upper river basin of Dudh Koshi river. A home to distinct ecological zones and high-altitude wildlife, Everest National Park exhibits a heat-warming views of three of the world’s highest peaks, Mount Everest (8,848.86m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Cho Oyu (8,153m). Nearby is a Sherpa Cultural Museum that makes it as much a cultural destination as a scenic one.

Additionally, for nature lovers and conservationists, we are more than happy to organize a tree plantation program at Namche Bazaar. Planting Rhododendron saplings will add your contribution to an ambitious mission of saving endangered musk deer in this area.

Trek to Deboche takes you to the deep sub-alpine heart of Everest National Park and through various terrains until you reach Deboche.

The trail begins with a steady climb out of Namche amphitheater to join a scenic view of Himalayan panorama. The sublimity of giant peaks of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thermasharkhu and Kwangde-ri accompanies your descent through colorful rhododendron and pine forest until you reach Phungitenga (3250 m). Phungitenga is a small riverbed village. Though small, it is equally vibrant with the water-driven prayer wheels. From there, the trek becomes even more lively as you cross a suspension bridge and climb uphill through the shaded, mossy forests of rhododendron and silver birch. As you reach the edge of tree line, the forest opens to the village of Tengboche.

Tengboche is a home to the largest monastery in Khumbu region, Tengboche Monastery. Perched on a ridge with a full-frontal view of Ama Dablam framed directly behind its roofline, this monastery gives a solace to your soul. A short walk down there along the captivating 360° views of Thamserku (6,608 m), Kangtega (6,782 m), Lhotse, and the Khumbu valley stretching east drops you at Deboche (3740 m).

The trek crosses the threshold of 4,000 m on this day. Leaving Deboche behind, the trek begins with a pleasant walk through the damp, mossy rhododendron and birch woods of Deboche amidst the steady towering mountains views of Ama Dablam, Mt Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse. This trail reflects a precise picture of cultural and religious richness as you pass through rocks carved and painted with religious symbols and motifs. The colorful prayer flags, prayer wheels, Buddhists stupas all speak volumes about religious profundity and spirituality embedded in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Crossing a high suspension bridge over the Ima-Tse River, the trail guides you to an upward climb through gradual stone path up to Pangboche (3,900 m). The trail narrows and climbs steadily into the alpine zone. The tall trees vanish and, low thorny alpine shrubs and dry grasses start appearing. A right turn from there takes you deeper into the Imjatse valley. A valley surrounded by dramatic ice walls and characterized by the astonishing rows of the loftiest peaks including Island Peak (6,189 m). An uphill mount to a barren plateau brings you to the final destination, Dingboche (4,358 m). Dingboche village sits in a bowl surrounded by Nangkartshang Peak to the north and the Khumbu moraine ridge to the south. A fortified village of stone-and-earth walls, Dingboche, has a unique cultural attribute that’s rare and surreal.

This rest day is strategically placed to prepare you for the higher altitude. To make this day eventful, you can opt for a hike to Chhukhung (4,730 m). Sitting directly beneath the south face of Lhotse and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge, Chhukhung is an immaculate place to observe polished view of colossal chain of Himalayas. The views of Ama Dablam (6,812 m) framed directly ahead along with the full Lhotse south wall and Island Peak rising like “an island in a sea of ice” while the thin, cold air hits your skin is a heartening experience.

This is an overwhelming and highly demanding day. A day that brings you close to the realization that these virtuous and elegant-looking mountains can have an equally perilous side to reveal. The morning begins with a steady, cold climb out of the Dingboche valley to gain a high, wide alpine plateau. With a slow pace as the air thins, you will arrive Thungla Pass (4,830 m). Crossing a large stream of cold water that flows directly from Khumbu glacier, the trail goes upwards into a steep climb. Unlike other climbs you’ve already had in this trail, this experience is one that will remain with you for a while. The route takes you past the dozens of moving monuments of fallen climbers who lost their lives to Mt. Everest. Moving past this deeply emotional path places you right alongside the terminal moraine of the world’s highest glacier, Khumbu glacier (4,900 m to 7,600 m). A final sustained ascend from here brings you to a small, glacial settlement clustered tightly beneath the peaks of Lobuche East and Nuptse, Lobuche (4,928 m).

This is a the most awaited moment to step into the Everest Base Camp. An early morning trek from Lobuche (4,910 m) climbs steadily through a wide, flat valley floor. Cut by the Khumbu Glacier on the left, this valley has amazing view of the Lobuche glacier on the right and the distant blue wall of Nuptse (7,861 m).

A walk over the rocky moraine lands you to Gorakshep. At the head of the valley, Gorakshep (5,180 m) is a small cluster of basic lodges.

Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) is 1.5 km away from here. The final walk to Everest Base Camp is through the rocky and sandy path leading up until the last descend along the edge of the Khumbu Icefall. The landscapes here are dramatic exhibition of the nature boasting the gigantic peaks of Nuptse, Lhotse and Khumbu icefall.

Obscured by Lhotse, Nuptse and Lola peaks, the summit of Everest lures you to overcome yet another day until the grand reveal of the enchanting grandeur of the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest. With a thirst to get closer to Mt. Everest, you head back to Gorakshep beneath the rocky black hill of Kalapathar and towering Mt. Pumori.

Early morning climb to Kalapathar marks the ultimate pinnacle of the entire trek. A short, steep climb from Gorakshep over lose scree and boulders takes you to Kalapatthar (5,643 m). Kalapathar is the most popular and iconic Everest viewpoint. As the sun shows up from the horizon and its rays fall directly onto Everest’s summit, the luminescence protruding across the Mt. Everest, Lhotse Face, Nuptse, and the Khumbu Icefall below is the most legendary moment of the entire trek. The summit is fully visible unobstructed. The magnificence of this view evokes mixed emotions of pride and gratitude in you for this absolute fortune.

As the day light matures, a long, steady descent past Gorakshep, Lobuche guides you to Thugla. A downhill divergence from Thugla opens the floor of the Pheriche valley. Pheriche (4,370 m) is a vivacious Sherpa settlement with a stupa and prayer flags. With a feeling of victory, the day concludes here.

The trail from here is a highs and lows before heading downhill to Somare (3,900 m). The fall from Somare takes you to Pangboche (3,900 m), a route to Ama Dablam base camp. The trail becomes more and more familiar as you pass through Deboche, Tengboche, Shanasha and Phunke Tenga as you finally climb through juniper and rhododendron forest into the valley of Namche Bazaar.

On the final trekking day, each step feels like its taking you further and further from the sight of mighty Himalayas. But, the experience will linger deeply into your heart for a lifetime. A descent down the Namche hill through cool pines crossing the Hillary Suspension bridge for the last time, you have only Choplung as the final milestone to conquer before reaching Lukla. The night at Lukla brings the trek to an end with profoundly enriching adventure to treasure for life.

The flight to Ramechhap feels like your final farewell to the sky-piercing peaks and hopefully, a promise to see them again. The long drive from Ramechhap to Kathmandu feels more restorative this time. Enjoying the scenic beauty of hills, you reach Kathmandu. Our staffs will take you back to the hotels where you rest and contemplate the whole journey.

A flight from Lukla remains unpredictable even in the best seasons leading to cancellation of flights at short notice. If the flight doesn’t get cancelled, this day is yours. If you still have an energy to explore more, our staffs will be overjoyed to take you to the guided tour around the city. Kathmandu valley is a completely different tale of vivid and dynamic energy.