Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu: 14 days to the mountain

The memorials at Lobuche mark the climbers who didn't come back down.

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a 14-day guided trek from Kathmandu that follows the route Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay took to the world's highest peak. You fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, trek through Sherpa villages and rhododendron forests, cross the Khumbu Glacier, and reach Base Camp at 17,598 feet. The trek includes a government-licensed English-speaking guide, all meals and lodge accommodations, the flight to and from Lukla, park permits, and emergency rescue coverage. Children from age 5 are welcome; you'll need moderate fitness for the high altitude and steep sections.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival day in Kathmandu

• Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport
• Meet ART staff and transfer to hotel
• Overnight at hotel with breakfast

Day 2 — Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

• Early morning flight to Lukla
• Meet trekking crew
• Trek from Lukla to Phakding via Sherpa villages
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 3 — Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Breakfast and hot drinks
• Trek through pine forest crossing Dudkosi River
• Climb to Namche Bazaar
• Explore Namche Bazaar market
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 4 — Rest and acclimatization at Namche

• Ascend to Syangboche and Everest View Hotel
• Relax and explore Namche Bazaar
• Visit Sherpa Museum and photo gallery
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 5 — Trek to Tengboche

• Trek along Everest highway
• Descend to Dudh-Koshi River and ascend through rhododendron forest
• Visit Tengboche Monastery
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 6 — Trek to Dingboche

• View monastery and mountains at Tengboche
• Trek through forest to Pangboche
• Pass Chortens and Mani-stone walls
• Trek past Ama Dablam to Dingboche
• Overnight with meals

Day 7 — Acclimatization day at Dingboche

• Rest day at Dingboche
• Day hikes to Nagarjung Hill or Chukkhung Valley
• Enjoy mountain views
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 8 — Trek to Lobuche

• Climb to Duglha
• Steep climb to Chukpo Lari ridge
• Visit memorials for climbers
• Arrive at Lobuche
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 9 — Trek to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep

• Trek flat meadow and Khumbu Glacier lateral moraine
• Arrive at Gorak Shep and check in
• Walk to Everest Base Camp
• Take photographs and return to Gorak Shep
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 10 — Hike to Kalapathar and back to Pheriche

• Early morning climb to Kalapathar
• View sunrise and Himalayan peaks
• Breakfast at Kalapathar
• Trek through moraine and past Lobuche
• Descend to Pheriche
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 11 — Trek back to Namche Bazaar

• Descend through Sherpa villages
• Cross Dudkosi River and trek via Dingboche and Tengboche
• Walk to Namche Bazaar
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 12 — Trek to Lukla

• Descend steep trail via Jorsalle, Manjo, Benkar, Phakding
• Cross suspension bridges over Dudh Koshi River
• Celebrate trek completion
• Overnight at local tea house with meals

Day 13 — Fly back to Kathmandu

• Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Leisure day in Kathmandu
• Overnight at best hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast

The Experience

The trek starts with an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla—35 minutes over the Himalayas to Tenzing Hillary Airport. From there, the trail descends through Sherpa villages along the Dudh Kosi River to Phakding, where you meet the crew who will carry your luggage for the entire trek. The first days build acclimatization: you reach Namche Bazaar, the trading hub of the Khumbu region, on day three, then spend a rest day there exploring the market, visiting the Sherpa Museum, and climbing to the Everest View Hotel for your first close views of the mountain.

The middle section climbs steadily higher through rhododendron forests and past Buddhist monasteries. You trek to Tengboche, where the monastery sits framed by Everest and Ama Dablam, then to Dingboche—a village built on barley and potato fields enclosed by stone walls. Another acclimatization day there lets you hike to Nagarjung Hill or Chukkhung Valley for views of Makalu, Lhotse, and the surrounding peaks. From Dingboche, the trail steepens: you pass the ridge at Chukpo Lari, where memorials honor climbers who died on Everest expeditions, then reach Lobuche and finally Gorak Shep, the last settlement before Base Camp.

Day nine is the summit of the trek—you walk from Gorak Shep across the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp itself, take photographs, and return to Gorak Shep. The next morning, you climb Kalapathar in darkness to watch the sunrise hit Everest, Nuptse, and the surrounding 360-degree wall of peaks, then descend back down the valley to Pheritse. The final days retrace the route: down through Sherpa villages and forests to Namche, then to Lukla, where you fly back to Kathmandu. Full board—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—is provided every day at local tea houses and trekking lodges; the guide carries a first aid kit and Diamox for altitude sickness.

What’s included

• Round-trip flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.
• a professional, government-licensed guide who speaks English.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and lodge accommodations throughout the trek.
• Everest National Park permit and TIMS card.
• first aid kit and Diamox for altitude sickness.
• emergency rescue operation coverage.
• all government and local taxes.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Alpine Ramble Treks

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you're trekking as part of a small guided group and want the structure of fixed daily routes, included meals, and a guide who knows the terrain and the Sherpa villages—the 14 days and the built-in rest days make it possible to reach Base Camp without rushing or arranging logistics yourself. Skip it if you prefer to trek solo or at your own pace, or if you have cardiovascular concerns or spinal injuries, which the altitude and steep sections don't accommodate.

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Top questions

What is Everest Base Camp and how high is it?

Everest Base Camp sits at 17,598 feet on the south side of Mount Everest, where climbing expeditions establish their staging area before attempting the summit. You reach it on day nine by walking across the Khumbu Glacier's moraine; the trek does not involve climbing the mountain itself, only reaching the camp where climbers prepare for their ascent.

How much climbing and steep terrain is there each day?

The trek includes gradual climbs and steep sections throughout. Days two through four involve moderate climbing to Namche Bazaar; days five through eight climb steadily higher with some steep ascents, especially the ridge at Chukpo Lari. Days nine and ten—Base Camp and Kalapathar—are the most demanding, with early starts and high altitude. The descent days are steep but downhill, which is easier on the lungs but harder on the knees.

What altitude will I reach and how does acclimatization work?

You climb from 9,383 feet at Lukla to 17,598 feet at Everest Base Camp. The trek includes two built-in rest days—one at Namche Bazaar on day four and one at Dingboche on day six—to let your body adjust to the altitude. The guide carries Diamox and a first aid kit; the itinerary is designed to climb gradually so your body acclimates as you go.

What meals are provided and where do you sleep?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included every day at local tea houses and trekking lodges along the route. Meals are standard trekking fare—rice, noodles, vegetables, and tea. Lodges are basic but have beds, blankets, and heating; some offer hot showers for an extra fee. You sleep at the same lodges where you eat, so there's no moving between accommodations during the day.

Do I need to arrange my own porter, or is luggage handled?

The trek includes a crew who carry your luggage from day one, so you trek with only a daypack. If you want an additional personal porter to carry extra gear or to assist with the climb, that can be arranged at checkout as an optional add-on.

What happens if I get sick or injured at high altitude?

The trek includes emergency rescue coverage funded by travel insurance, a government-licensed guide trained in first aid, and a basic first aid kit with Diamox for altitude sickness. The guide monitors your condition throughout and can adjust the pace or route if needed. If serious illness or injury occurs, helicopter evacuation can be arranged through the rescue insurance.