Everest Base Camp Trek - Overview
The trek to EBC is scenic and offers ever-changing Himalayan scenery through forests, hills and quaint villages. A great sense of anticipation builds as you trek up the Khumbu Valley, passing through intriguing Sherpa villages and Tibetan monasteries, all towered over by some of the highest and most stunningly beautiful mountains in the world. In the evenings, you will be rewarded with delicious Nepalese cuisine around the dining room fire while sipping Sherpa tea and conversing with other like-minded travelers.
Besides the superlative Mount Everest, some other prominent peaks visible during the Everest Base Camp trek include Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8463m), Cho Oyu (8153m), and Ama Dablam (6856m).
| Everest Base Camp Trek - Trek Facts | |
|---|---|
|
Trek difficulty: |
Moderate to difficult |
| Trek duration: | 12 days is the most common duration but can be anywhere from 8 days to 25 days. |
| Popularity: | Very popular trek but in some quite remote areas. |
| Max altitude: | 5,644m, Kala Patthar |
| Accommodation: | Accommodation ranges from basic tea houses & lodges to moderately priced lodges to high-end lodges/hotels in a few select locations on the EBC trekking trail. High-end accommodations are available in Lukla, Monjo, Namche and Pangboche and are offered by either Summit Lodges and/or Yeti Mountain Homes |
| Best season: | March–May and September–November |
| Transport to/from trek | Flight to the village of Lukla (2,860m) from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap during the high season (March to May and September to November) due to high air traffic. In other months, the flights are regularly operated from Kathmandu Airport. Also accessible by taking a bus to Shivalaya and then a few days of trekking up to Lukla |
| Required permits: |
|
Everest Base Camp Trek - Itinerary
You can complete an Everest Base Camp trek in 2 weeks. But if you don’t have much time, you can go for a short Everest Base Camp trek of under 10 days. The standard trekking itinerary for the Everest Base Camp Trek is 12 days long. However, it may vary slightly depending on the trekking agency you choose to go with:
| Day 1 | Flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2,650m) |
| Day 2 | Phakding - Namche Bazaar (3,440m) |
| Day 3 | Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar |
| Day 4 | Namche - Tengboche (3,860m) |
| Day 5 | Tengboche - Dingboche (4,360m) |
| Day 6 | Acclimatization day at Dingboche |
| Day 7 | Dingboche - Lobuche (4,940m) |
| Day 8 | Lobuche - Gorakshep (5,150m), then to Everest Base Camp (5,364m), and back to Gorakshep |
| Day 9 | Gorakshep - Kala Patthar (5,643m) - Pheriche (4,280m) |
| Day 10 | Pheriche - Namche (3,440m) |
| Day 11 | Namche - Phakding - Lukla (2,860m) |
| Day 12 | Flight from Lukla - Kathmandu |
Alternate Routes:
- Option 1: Although the EBC trek is the most well-known of all the treks in Nepal, there are other alternative treks that you can take. A popular choice is the shorter Everest Panorama Trek, which can be completed in 8 days. You will get to see Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks, but the Base Camp itself is not part of this trekking route. The maximum altitude on this trek is normally around 3,860 meters, as the itinerary's highest point is normally Tengboche.
- Option 2: Another option is the Gokyo Trek, which takes 12 days to complete and offers views of Everest and nearby peaks, Gokyo Lake, and the longest glacier in Nepal - Ngozumpa Glacier. You also have the option to combine the Everest Base Camp Trek with the Gokyo Trek for a 15-day trip.
- Option 3: A third alternative is the combined Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek, which takes 15 days. This trek is highly recommended, as you will see the amazing and pristine Gokyo region as well as Everest Base Camp.
- Option 4: Finally, if you have 16 days available or more, you can do the amazing Everest Base Camp 3 Passes Trek, crossing the 3 passes, Kong Ma La Pass, Cho La Pass, and Renjo La Pass, each of them above 5,000 meters.
Everest Base Camp - Safety considerations
Please note the following safety considerations for the Everest Base Camp trek:
- This is a high-altitude trek, and therefore, careful acclimatization is needed. Acclimatization days are required during the trek to avoid altitude sickness.
- Temperatures regularly drop below freezing around EBC during early spring, late autumn, and winter. Please ensure you have the proper gear and clothing for the time of the year.
Check out our guide to find out the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp.
