Trip Overview
The Everest Base Camp Trek is the classic Himalayan journey — twelve days through Sherpa villages, rhododendron forest and high alpine terrain to stand at the foot of the world's highest mountain. Two built-in acclimatisation days at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche keep the pace sensible, and the trek finishes with a sunrise climb to Kala Patthar (5,545m), the best viewpoint anywhere on the route for Everest itself.
No technical climbing skill is required, but this is a serious high-altitude trek — most days involve five to seven hours of walking, and the air gets genuinely thin above 4,500m. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and check the whole group daily above Namche.
Requirements
What you need before you fly to Lukla.
Physical Fitness
Able to walk 5-7 hours a day on uneven trail with a daypack. Prior trekking experience helps but isn't mandatory — cardiovascular training in the 8-12 weeks before departure makes the biggest difference.
Permits
Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. Both are arranged by us and included in the trip cost — we just need your passport scan in advance.
Travel Insurance
Mandatory: insurance covering trekking up to 6,000m with helicopter evacuation. We can recommend providers if you don't already have a policy that qualifies.
Documents
Passport valid for 6+ months beyond your travel dates, 4 passport-sized photos, and a printed copy of your travel insurance policy.
Itinerary
Day-by-day breakdown — tap a day to expand it.
Airport pickup, transfer to hotel, welcome briefing and equipment check with your guide.
Scenic 30-minute mountain flight, then an easy 3-4 hour walk following the Dudh Koshi river.
5-6 hours through Sagarmatha National Park, with the first views of Everest at Chumoa.
Short hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) to aid acclimatisation; free afternoon to explore the Sherpa market town.
5 hours through rhododendron forest to Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu.
5-6 hours through Pangboche village with views of Ama Dablam.
Optional hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) for panoramic views before a rest afternoon.
5 hours past the Thukla Pass memorials for climbers lost on Everest.
7-8 hours: reach Gorak Shep, drop bags, then continue to EBC before returning to Gorak Shep for the night.
Early start for sunrise views of Everest, then a long descent to lower altitude.
Retracing the route downhill with easier breathing at every stage.
Final short walk to Lukla, afternoon flight back to Kathmandu, departure or extra day at leisure.
Route Map & Elevation Profile
Altitude by day, from Kathmandu to Kala Patthar and back.
Cost Includes
- Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- 3 nights hotel in Kathmandu
- All teahouse accommodation on trek
- All meals during the trek
- Licensed English-speaking guide & porters
- Sagarmatha National Park & rural municipality permits
- Domestic flights: Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu
- First aid kit & government taxes
Cost Excludes
- International airfare & Nepal visa fee
- Travel & rescue insurance
- Personal trekking gear & equipment
- Extra hotel nights (early return / delay)
- Personal expenses (wifi, shower, laundry, snacks)
- Tips for guide & porters
Gallery
From past Ascent Himalayas departures on this route.
Essential Information
Best Time to Trek
March-May (spring, rhododendrons in bloom) and September-December (autumn, clearest mountain views) are the two prime windows.
Accommodation
Teahouses throughout — private rooms with shared bathrooms at lower altitude, simpler shared facilities above Dingboche.
Meals
Full board on trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner from teahouse menus (dal bhat, soups, pasta, porridge). Breakfast only in Kathmandu.
Communication
Wifi (paid) and mobile data available in most villages up to Gorak Shep; a local SIM or NCell tourist package works well.
Altitude & Safety
Guides monitor oxygen saturation daily above Namche and carry a Gamow bag; helicopter evacuation is arranged instantly if needed (covered by your insurance).
Money
Carry Nepali rupees in cash — ATMs exist in Namche only, and card payments aren't available on the trail.
Date & Price
Fixed departures below, or ask about a private date for your own group.
Download Sources
Save the full trip pack for offline reading.
Reviews
Our guide read the mountain the way most people read a room. The acclimatisation days felt slow at the time and made all the difference by Gorak Shep.
Small group, genuinely knowledgeable guide, and the Kathmandu desk actually answered the phone when weather delayed our Lukla flight. Would book again.
Incredible trip overall. Teahouse food was better than I expected, though wifi above Dingboche was patchy — worth knowing in advance.
