12-day Everest Base Camp trek from Kathmandu: Reach 5,320m

Walk to the base camp where Everest expeditions begin, then climb to Kala Pathar for the mountain's closest views.

This 12-day trek from Kathmandu reaches Everest Base Camp at 5,320m and Kala Pathar at 5,550m, with a government-licensed English-speaking guide, all meals, lodging, trekking permits, gear (down jacket, sleeping bag, duffle bag, walking poles) and airport transfers included. The route flies you into Lukla, passes through Namche Bazaar and Tengboche Monastery, and builds in acclimatization days at Namche and Dingboche before the push to base camp. Peak-season flights depart from Ramechhap Airport (a 5–6 hour drive from Kathmandu), and you can either travel the day before or leave Kathmandu at 1 AM on your flight day. No prior trekking experience is needed, though basic fitness is required.

The experience

You fly from Kathmandu (or Ramechhap, depending on the season) to Lukla in 40 minutes, then walk downhill to Phakding to settle in. The next day is the longest push: six to seven hours to Namche Bazaar, the main town in the Khumbu and your first real stop. Namche sits at 3,440m, and the altitude starts to matter here, so day three is an acclimatization hike to Hotel Everest View and back, giving your body time to adjust before you climb higher.

From Namche, the trek climbs steadily through Tengboche (where you visit the monastery, an important religious site in the region), then to Dingboche at 4,410m. Day six is another acclimatization day: a hike to Nagarjun Hill at 5,100m and back. The route then pushes to Lobuche, and on day eight you walk seven to eight hours from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp itself, where the Khumbu Glacier spreads below and expeditions stage their climbs. The next morning, you climb to Kala Pathar (5,550m) for a 360-degree view of the Khumbu peaks and your closest look at Mt. Everest, then descend the same day to Pheriche. The walk back down takes two days (Namche on day ten, then Lukla on day eleven), and you fly home on day twelve.

Your guide is a government-licensed trekker who speaks English and walks with you every day. Lodging is in guest houses and lodges (twin-share rooms), and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided throughout. The trek includes your duffle bag, down jacket, sleeping bag and walking poles, plus all government permits and fees. Airport transfers from Kathmandu (or Ramechhap) are on a shared basis. During peak seasons (March to May and September to November), flights operate from Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu's airport. You choose whether to travel there the day before and stay overnight, or depart Kathmandu at 1 AM on your flight day.

What’s included

• Government-licensed English-speaking guide for all 12 days.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the trek.
• twin-share lodging at guest houses and lodges.
• down jacket, sleeping bag, duffle bag and walking poles.
• all trekking permits and government fees.
• flights from Kathmandu or Ramechhap to Lukla and back.
• airport transfers on a shared basis.
• trekking map and trip achievement certificate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:15, 06:15, 07:15 and 07:45

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Under 9: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Breakfree Adventures Pvt. Ltd.

Is this one for you?The trek walks 3–8 hours most days and climbs to 5,550m, so it demands steady fitness and a tolerance for altitude. Choose this one if you are ready for sustained daily walking and the physical work of climbing above 5,000m. The acclimatization days and the guide's experience with the route mean the pace is built around adjustment, not speed, which is what makes the altitude manageable for trekkers with basic fitness rather than mountaineering background.

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Top questions

How fit do I need to be for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Basic fitness is required: no prior trekking experience is needed. The trek climbs to 5,320m at base camp and 5,550m at Kala Pathar, so you will feel the altitude, and daily walking runs 3–8 hours depending on the day. Acclimatization days at Namche and Dingboche are built in to help your body adjust.

What's included in the 12-day trek price?

The trek includes your guide, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), lodging at guest houses and lodges, a down jacket, sleeping bag, duffle bag and walking poles, all trekking permits and government fees, airport transfers from Kathmandu or Ramechhap on a shared basis, and your flights to and from Lukla. A trekking map and trip achievement certificate are also provided.

Why do some treks fly from Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu?

During peak seasons (March to May and September to November), all flights to Lukla operate from Ramechhap Airport because air traffic at Kathmandu's airport is too high. Ramechhap is a 5–6 hour drive from Kathmandu, and you can either travel there the day before and stay overnight, or depart Kathmandu at 1 AM on your flight day. The choice is yours.

What is Tengboche Monastery and when do we visit it?

Tengboche Monastery is an important religious site in the Khumbu region, sitting at 3,860m. You pass through on day four of the trek, on the route from Namche Bazaar to higher elevations.

How long are the walking days, and which days are rest days?

Walking days range from 3–4 hours (the hike from Namche to Hotel Everest View) to 7–8 hours (the push to Everest Base Camp on day eight). Day three at Namche and day six at Dingboche are acclimatization days with shorter hikes built in, giving you time to rest and let your body adjust to altitude.

Do I need to arrange a porter, or is one included?

A porter is not included in the base trek price, but you can hire one at checkout if you need help carrying your pack. Your guide is included and walks with you every day.