Everest Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Nepal. Our team member will be waiting at Tribhuvan International Airport arrival hall with the Majestic Trails Nepal sign.

After visa processing (we assist if needed) and currency exchange, our private vehicle transfers you to your 3-star hotel in Thamel — Kathmandu's tourist district and historic gateway for Himalayan trekkers.

Afternoon pre-trek briefing includes:

• Day-by-day itinerary review with your assigned guide
• Gear and equipment check (we provide missing items or arrange rental from Thamel shops)
• Sagarmatha National Park permit + Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Fee processing
• Insurance certificate verification
• Altitude sickness awareness and safety protocols
• Emergency helicopter evacuation procedure explanation
• Lukla flight logistics — including Ramechhap route if departure is October-November

The afternoon is yours to explore UNESCO sites (Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu Durbar Square), gather last-minute gear from Thamel shops, or rest after international flight.

Today marks the real beginning of your EBC trek. You rise early to catch the domestic flight to Lukla — a 35-minute journey (or a 4-6 hour drive to Ramechhap followed by a 20-minute flight if trekking October-November).

The Lukla flight itself is legendary. You depart from Kathmandu at sunrise, climb over the ridge into the Solukhumbu valley, and descend onto the 527m runway at Tenzing-Hillary Airport. Named after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay (first Everest summiteers, 1953), Lukla Airport is officially classified among the world's most technically demanding airfields.

For complete flight logistics, see our Lukla Flights 2026 Complete Guide.

Once in Lukla, you meet your porters, have breakfast, and begin the first trekking day. The trail winds through charming Sherpa villages, past fluttering prayer flags and spinning mani wheels. You cross your first suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River and pass ancient chortens and small monasteries during a gentle descent to Phakding.

Tonight, you stay at a teahouse in Phakding, where you get your first taste of the warm hospitality that defines Sherpa culture in the Everest region.

Today is one of the most iconic days of the EBC Trek. Leaving Phakding, you follow the roaring Dudh Koshi River, crossing multiple steel suspension bridges draped with prayer flags. The route passes through Benkar and Monjo, where you officially enter Sagarmatha National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After checking in at the park entrance and presenting your permits, the trail descends to Jorsalle, your last stop before the infamous Namche Hill.

The Namche Hill climb — a relentless 600m ascent through pine forests over 2-3 hours. Partway up, if the sky is clear, you'll catch your very first view of Mount Everest peeking between the ridges. This moment often brings genuine emotion.

Eventually, you arrive at the amphitheater-like setting of Namche Bazaar — the Sherpa capital, historic trading hub, and commercial heart of the Everest region. Built into the mountainside and buzzing with life, Namche is where tradition meets trekking culture. Bakeries, cafés, trekking shops, the yak market, and the world's highest Irish pub await.

The golden rule of high-altitude trekking is "climb high, sleep low." That's exactly what today accomplishes.

After a relaxed breakfast, we hike above Namche toward Hotel Everest View (3,880m) — one of the world's highest luxury hotels, offering unparalleled panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Thamserku, and Kongde Ri.

Along the way, you pass Syangboche airstrip and often spot Himalayan monals (Nepal's national bird). Upon reaching Hotel Everest View, warm tea on the patio while gazing at the peaks you'll be trekking toward.

Return afternoon activities:

• Sherpa Culture Museum visit
• Namche Monastery exploration
• Traditional Namche market (Saturday mornings especially)
• Bakery visits (Namche has genuinely excellent bakeries)
• Rest and hydration

This day is not just about acclimatization — it's about deep cultural immersion in the Sherpa world you're passing through.

Majestic Trails Nepal's Note: Two nights at Namche is our standard, not the one night that cheaper operators use. This extra night dramatically reduces AMS risk for the days ahead. Non-negotiable in our itinerary.

Leaving Namche, the trail contours around the hillside with mesmerizing views of Everest and Ama Dablam straight ahead. This stretch is especially photogenic — bring your camera ready.

You pass small villages like Kyangjuma before descending to the river at Phunki Tenga, where you stop for lunch beside a quiet stream.

From here, a steady uphill climb of 500m through rhododendron and pine forest brings you to the serene spiritual center of Tengboche. The famed Tengboche Monastery — the largest in Khumbu — hosts morning and evening chanting sessions open to trekkers. Time your arrival to attend if possible.

With panoramic mountain backdrops of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam, Tengboche is a favorite for photographers and reflective trekkers.

The morning in Tengboche is magical. Wake to the sound of monastery bells and the first sun touching Ama Dablam's snowy summit.

After breakfast, the trek descends through rhododendron forest to Debuche. Keep watch for musk deer and Himalayan monals along the way. Crossing the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge, you pass the ancient Sherpa village of Pangboche — home to Pangboche Monastery and its famous ancient relics.

From here, the trail steadily ascends through alpine meadows and juniper scrub. The treeline begins to fade. The terrain becomes more barren but increasingly dramatic. Ama Dablam looms larger with every step.

By early afternoon, you arrive in Dingboche (4,410m) — a windswept valley ringed by peaks and carved by glacial rivers. At this altitude, your steps naturally slow down. You genuinely begin to feel the physical effects of high-altitude trekking.

Tonight, you rest in a comfortable teahouse where the dining room is warmed by a traditional yak dung stove.

This is your second scheduled acclimatization day — crucial for adapting to sustained altitudes above 4,000m.

Morning option: Nangkartshang Peak / Nagarjun Hill (5,083m)
A 3-4 hour round trip to this prominent ridge. Steep climb but non-technical. From the summit, prayer flags flap in the high mountain wind, and you get panoramic views of Makalu (8,463m), Island Peak (6,189m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), Cholatse (6,440m), and Taboche (6,542m).

Reaching just above 5,000m on this day-hike is critical acclimatization for the coming days at Lobuche and Gorak Shep.

Majestic Trails Nepal's note: After the Namche 2-night acclimatization, this second acclimatization day at Dingboche is what makes our 95.7% completion rate possible. Skipping this day is where most operators sabotage their trekkers' success.

Afternoon: rest, hydrate, journal, prepare mentally for the push to Everest Base Camp.

Today's trek begins with a gradual ascent out of Dingboche, offering views down the Imja Valley and up toward the looming walls of Taboche and Cholatse.

The trail becomes increasingly remote as you climb toward Dughla — a small tea stop at 4,600m. After a brief tea break, the steep uphill section leads you to the Thukla Pass (4,830m), where stone memorials have been built for mountaineers who lost their lives on Everest, Lhotse, and surrounding peaks. This sacred place leaves many trekkers humbled — a sobering reminder of the mountain's power.

Continuing through glacial moraine, you arrive at Lobuche (4,940m), a small settlement of stone teahouses at the base of the Khumbu Glacier. It's noticeably colder here. Altitude makes even the shortest movements feel strenuous.

The anticipation is electric — tomorrow, you finally reach Everest Base Camp.

Today is the day your dream turns into reality.

Leave Lobuche early and trek along the edge of the Khumbu Glacier, navigating rocky terrain and glacial debris. After 3-4 hours, you reach Gorak Shep (5,164m) — the final human settlement on the EBC trek.

After a brief break and lunch, you drop your backpacks and begin the out-and-back journey to Everest Base Camp.

The route is rough and icy, but the surrounding landscape is genuinely otherworldly — massive seracs (ice pillars), deep crevasses, glacier debris, and prayer flags flapping near the base of Mount Everest itself.

Finally, you arrive at the legendary Everest Base Camp — marked by cairns and countless prayer flags. You're standing at 5,364m, right where every Everest expedition begins.

During spring climbing season (April-May), the area is dotted with colorful expedition tents, and you may meet climbers preparing for summit attempts.

You've earned every step of this journey. Take photos, touch the ice, sit quietly and let the moment sink in. After celebration, return to Gorak Shep to rest.

Rise before dawn (4-5 AM) for the climb to Kala Patthar (5,545m).

The steep 400m climb from Gorak Shep takes 2-3 hours in the pre-dawn cold. Temperatures may drop to -15°C or colder. But you're rewarded with the single most iconic sunrise view of Mount Everest available anywhere on Earth.

From the summit, Everest glows gold and pink with the first light. Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and the entire Khumbu range stretch out beneath you. This is the most photographed sunrise in Himalayan trekking — and no photograph captures what it's actually like to stand there.

After descending to Gorak Shep for breakfast, begin the long descent toward Pheriche (4,240m) — a wind-swept highland village with an HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) medical clinic. The air gets richer with every step down. Your body feels lighter.

This day marks the beginning of your return journey — but the memories stay etched forever.

From the highlands of Pheriche, rejoin the original route via Pangboche, crossing old stone walls, yak pastures, and centuries-old monasteries. The trail continues through Tengboche, where you may stop again at the monastery for reflection.

After lunch at Phunki Tenga, continue the long descent back to Namche Bazaar. The lower altitude feels genuinely wonderful — hot showers, coffee shops, real beds await.

This is your final trekking day of the EBC Trek — a time for quiet reflection and celebration. The trail retraces its way across suspension bridges and through forests filled with rhododendrons and pine. You pass cheerful villages like Monjo and Ghat, each offering glimpses of rural life in the Khumbu.

By afternoon, you reach Lukla — the gateway where it all began. Share a celebratory drink with your guide and porters, tip your team, and enjoy your last night in the Himalayas with a heart full of achievement.

Say goodbye to the Himalayas as you board the scenic Lukla flight back to Kathmandu (or Ramechhap if operating from that airport). From your window seat, look one last time at the snowy giants you walked beneath.

Weather buffer: If your Lukla flight is delayed by weather, this is where the built-in buffer day protects you. If needed, we adjust helicopter alternatives — see our Lukla Flights Guide for the full protocol.

Once in Kathmandu, check back into your hotel and enjoy a well-earned day of rest. Explore Thamel, shop for souvenirs, or simply indulge in a spa massage and delicious food.

Our team meets with you in the evening for a post-trek debrief where you can share honest feedback about your experience.

Our team transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.

As you fly away, know that you've completed something truly extraordinary — an adventure to the base of the world's highest mountain, achieved by less than 40,000 trekkers annually worldwide.

The Everest Base Camp Trek will live in your memory as one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of your life.