Everest Base Camp Trek: 14 Days Kathmandu & Mount Everest

Two weeks walking toward the world's highest mountain, starting from Kathmandu's temples

You walk from Kathmandu's temples to Everest Base Camp over 14 days, staying in tea houses and acclimatizing at set points along the route. The guide handles permits and navigation, the flights are included, and meals come with lodging. You carry a light pack (under 10 kg) and walk 5 to 9 hours most days. The return flight gets you back to Kathmandu by afternoon on day 14.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and explore Kathmandu

• Arrive in Kathmandu
• Visit Thamel area

Day 2: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

• Fly to Lukla
• Visit Swayambhunath Temple
• Visit Boudhanath Stupa
• Visit Garden of Dreams
• Trek to Phakding

Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Trek to Namche Bazaar
• Cross Dodh Koshi river

Day 4: Acclimate in Namche Bazaar

• Rest in Namche Bazaar
• Visit Everest View point

Day 5: Trek to Tengboche

• Trek to Tengboche
• Visit Tengboche Gompa
• View Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Taboche

Day 6: Trek to Dingbuche

• Trek to Dingboche

Day 7: Acclimate in Dingbuche

• Rest in Dingboche
• Visit Chukhung

Day 8: Trek to Lobuche

• Trek to Lobuche
• View Khumbu Glacier

Day 9: Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

• Trek to Gorak Shep
• Visit Everest Base Camp

Day 10: Hike Kala Patthar and descend to Pangboche

• Hike to Kala Patthar
• Descend to Pangboche

Day 11: Trek back to Namche Bazaar

• Trek to Namche Bazaar

Day 12: Trek back to Lukla

• Trek to Lukla

Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu

• Fly to Kathmandu

Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu

• Depart from Kathmandu

The experience

The flight to Lukla was delayed four hours. Not a disaster (it happens often enough that the guides expect it), but it meant we didn't reach Phakding until late afternoon instead of midday, and the whole rhythm of the first day shifted. That's the thing about the Everest Base Camp Trek: you can plan the 14 days down to the hour, but the mountains and the weather have other ideas. Still, once we started walking the next morning, the delay stopped mattering. The trek covers 5,364 meters of elevation gain over two weeks, moving from Kathmandu's UNESCO temples through the Khumbu region toward Mount Everest itself, and the pace is built around acclimatization, not speed.

We spent the first two days in Kathmandu before flying to Lukla. Day one was Thamel and the 3-star hotel near the old city center. Day two was the temples (Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, the Garden of Dreams) before heading to the airport. The licensed guide met us at the hotel and stayed with us the whole time, handling logistics and pointing out details we'd have missed otherwise. The flight itself is only 35 minutes, but it's steep and narrow, and the runway in Lukla tilts uphill so the plane can stop. From there, the trek proper begins: Phakding, then Namche Bazaar (the main trading town in the Khumbu), then higher into thinner air. Tengboche with its gompa, Dingbuche, Lobuche, and finally Gorak Shep and the base camp itself at 5,170 meters. The last push to Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters gives the clearest view of Mount Everest, though the mountain itself stays distant, a white triangle on the horizon.

Accommodation is in tea houses: small family-run lodges where trekkers sleep and eat. They're basic but warm, and the food is consistent: dal bhat (lentils and rice), noodles, potatoes, the occasional egg. The guide carries a first aid kit and knows the route and the altitude risks. Most days are 5 to 7 hours of walking, with one acclimatization day built in at Namche and another at Dingbuche so your body can adjust before you go higher. The descent takes almost as long as the ascent: six to eight hours from Pangboche back to Namche, then another seven to eight hours down to Lukla. The return flight to Kathmandu is 35 minutes, and you're back in the city by afternoon.

What's included: pickup and dropoff from your Kathmandu hotel, the domestic flights both ways, 11 nights in tea houses, 2 nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast, all meals during the trek, the licensed guide, government permits and taxes, and a Himalayan Recreation t-shirt and first aid kit. You'll need travel insurance that covers altitude-related emergencies and medical evacuation. That's required, not optional. Groups stay under 8 people. The trek is demanding: you're walking at altitude where the air is thin, weather can turn fast, and altitude sickness is common even if you're fit. The company recommends discussing it with a doctor before you book.

What’s included

Your 14 days include hotel pickup and dropoff by private car, domestic flights Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu with airport tax, 2 nights in a 3-star Kathmandu hotel with breakfast on days 1 and 13, 11 nights in tea houses during the trek with all meals, a government-licensed trekking guide with full facilities, a first aid kit, Himalayan Recreation t-shirt, all government taxes and VAT, and dinner each evening. You'll need to arrange your own travel insurance covering altitude-related medical emergencies and evacuation, and submit a passport photocopy, 2 passport photos, occupation details and home address before departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day20 departure times: the first at 06:45, the last at 00:45

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 75 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 500

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Himalayan Recreation Treks & Expedition Pvt.Ltd

Is this one for you?This trek suits people who want to reach Everest Base Camp without arranging flights, permits, accommodation and a guide separately: the 14-day structure and included logistics remove the planning burden, though the high altitude and long daily walks demand serious physical preparation and a conversation with your doctor beforehand.

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Top questions

How long is the Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu?

14 days total: 2 days in Kathmandu, 1 day flying to Lukla, 10 days trekking, 1 day flying back. The trek itself covers about 65 kilometers over varied terrain and altitude.

What is the highest altitude on this trek?

Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters (18,192 feet), which offers the clearest view of Mount Everest. Everest Base Camp itself is at 5,364 meters.

Are flights to Lukla included?

Yes. Domestic flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and back are included, plus airport taxes. The flight is 35 minutes each way.

What kind of accommodation do you get during the trek?

Tea houses: family-run lodges with basic rooms, heating, and meals included. In Kathmandu you stay in a 3-star hotel with breakfast.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, it's required. Insurance must cover medical expenses and emergency evacuation at altitude. You'll need to show proof to the guide on day one.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and dropoff, flights, 11 nights in tea houses, 2 nights in a Kathmandu hotel, all meals, a licensed guide, permits, taxes, and a first aid kit. Extras like a non-English-speaking guide cost $200 per group.

How many people trek together?

Maximum 8 people per booking. Groups are small to keep the pace manageable and the experience personal.

What should I pack?

Keep your pack under 10 kg (22 lbs). Extra luggage can be left at the Himalayan Recreation office or hotel and picked up when you return. Trekking gear can be rented or bought in Kathmandu.

What if the Lukla flight is delayed or cancelled?

Delays are common. The company recommends having 1 to 2 extra days in your schedule. Check the Himalayan Recreation website for current flight conditions.

What is the minimum age for this trek?

Minimum age is 8 years. Children can ride in a pram or stroller on lower sections, though the trek is physically demanding and high altitude affects everyone regardless of age.