Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu: 12 Days & Kala Patthar

Twelve Days to 5,545 Meters: What the Kala Patthar Viewpoint Reveals

You fly to Lukla, trek through Sherpa villages and rhododendron forests to Namche Bazaar (with two acclimatization stops), continue upward through Tengboche and Dingboche to Everest Base Camp, then climb Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters for the panoramic sunrise. All flights, lodges, permits, guides, and porters are included; you return to Kathmandu with the same flight route you came.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu

• Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport
• Meet Luxury Holidays Nepal representative
• Transfer to hotel and rest
• Pre-trip meeting with guide and representatives
• Complete booking and documentation

Day 2 — Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

• Drive to Kathmandu domestic airport early morning
• Fly to Lukla (30 minutes)
• Meet guide and porters in Lukla
• Breakfast in Lukla
• Trek through Chaurikharka village
• Arrive and overnight in Phakding

Day 3 — Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

• Breakfast in Phakding
• Trek along Dudh Koshi river
• Cross suspension bridges
• Reach Monjo and get Sagarmatha NP permit
• Lunch in Jhorsalle
• Hike to Hilary Bridge
• Uphill trek to Namche Bazaar
• Overnight in Namche Bazaar

Day 4 — Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

• Hike to Everest View Point
• Visit Everest View Hotel
• Enjoy mountain views and refreshments
• Visit Sherpa Museum
• Visit National Park Museum
• Overnight in Namche Bazaar

Day 5 — Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

• Trek through scenic mountain trails
• Descend to Imja Khola for lunch
• Uphill hike to Tengboche village
• Visit Tengboche Monastery
• Overnight in Tengboche

Day 6 — Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche

• Breakfast in Tengboche
• Descend to Debuche village
• Trek along Khumbu glacier moraine
• Cross suspension bridge over Imja Khola
• Reach Pangboche village
• Overnight in Dingboche

Day 7 — Acclimatization day in Dingboche

• Rest and acclimatize at Dingboche
• Reflect on Everest summit history
• Overnight in Dingboche

Day 8 — Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche

• Trek through pastureland of Yaks
• Enjoy views of Tawache, Cholatse, Lobuche peak
• Lunch near Khumbu glacier
• Visit Sherpa memorial at Thukla Pass
• Reach Lobuche village
• Overnight in Lobuche

Day 9 — Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

• Trek to Gorak Shep village
• Rest and have lunch
• Hike to Everest Base Camp
• Return to Gorak Shep for overnight

Day 10 — Climb Kala Patthar and trek to Pheriche

• Wake early for Kala Patthar climb
• Climb to Kala Patthar summit
• Enjoy panoramic mountain views
• Descend to Pheriche village
• Overnight in Pheriche

Day 11 — Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

• Descend to Pangboche village
• Pass Tengboche Monastery
• Hike down to Namche Bazaar
• Explore Namche and interact with locals
• Overnight in Namche Bazaar

Day 12 — Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

• Enjoy mountain views from Namche
• Cross longest suspension bridge
• Pass mountain villages and Dudh Koshi river
• Arrive in Lukla
• Shower and rest in Lukla

Day 13 — Fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla

• Early breakfast in Lukla
• Transfer to Lukla airport
• Fly to Kathmandu (35 minutes)
• Transfer to hotel in Kathmandu
• Free time to explore Kathmandu

Day 14 — Departure from Kathmandu

• Transfer to Tribhuwan International Airport
• Depart for onward journey

The Experience

What happens when you step off a plane at 2,800 meters and your lungs suddenly remember they need to work harder? That's the Lukla landing—a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu that feels less like transport and more like the moment your body realizes it's committed. The Everest Base Camp trek from Kathmandu doesn't ease you in. It throws you straight into the Himalayas, and the first suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi river is just the beginning. You'll trek for five to six hours that first day after landing, descending through rhododendron forests and past small villages, your guide pointing out the prayer flags and stone stupas that mark the spiritual landscape you're entering. By evening you're in Phakding, a rustic settlement on the riverbank, and you've already crossed into a different world.

The trek builds in stages, and that's deliberate. Namche Bazaar sits at 3,440 meters and serves as your first real stop—a Sherpa trading hub where you'll spend two nights, one of them an acclimatization day. That day matters. You'll hike to Everest View Point and sit with tea or coffee at the Everest View Hotel, the highest star hotel on earth at 3,880 meters, watching Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam rise in front of you. The Sherpa Museum and National Park Museum are there if you want to understand the culture and the mountains' history, but mostly you're letting your body adjust while your eyes adjust to the scale of what's ahead. From Namche, the trek continues upward through Tengboche—home to one of the Khumbu region's oldest and largest monasteries—and then to Dingboche at 4,410 meters, where you'll spend another acclimatization day. This is where Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary stood before their Everest summit attempt. The altitude starts to feel real here.

The final push to Everest Base Camp itself takes you through Lobuche and up to Gorak Shep at 5,170 meters. From there, the base camp is a three-hour hike across rocky terrain and the Khumbu glacier—not technical, but relentless. What most trekkers remember, though, isn't the base camp itself. It's Kala Patthar, the black-rock mountain at 5,545 meters, which you'll climb the next morning starting at three or four am. The sunrise from there is why people come. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam—they all rise around you in a panorama that photographs don't quite capture. You'll descend the same day back to Pherice, then retrace your steps through Namche and down to Lukla over the next two days, your legs tired but your mind already replaying the moments at altitude.

The trek includes everything logistically: your flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and back, all accommodations in tea houses and lodges during the trek, three nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu before and after, all permits and park fees, an English-speaking government-licensed guide, porter service, and a farewell dinner with a cultural program. You'll get a trekking bag, sleeping bag, and t-shirt. The guide handles the route, the pace, and the decisions about when to push and when to rest. What you bring is moderate fitness—the itinerary assumes you can walk five to seven hours a day for eleven days, with two built-in rest days for acclimatization. The altitude does the work; your job is to keep moving and let your body adapt.

What’s included

Your twelve days include airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu in a private vehicle, three nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu on a bed-and-breakfast basis, domestic flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and back, nine nights in standard tea houses and lodges during the trek, all meals at lodges, an experienced English-speaking government-licensed trek guide, porter service to carry your gear, all trekking permits and Sagarmatha National Park entry fees, a trekking bag, sleeping bag, and t-shirt, a farewell dinner with a cultural program, and all government taxes and official expenses. Ground transportation between Kathmandu and the airport is private vehicle transport.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd.

Is this one for you?This trek suits anyone with moderate fitness who wants to reach Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar without arranging flights, permits, guides, or logistics themselves—the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all the planning, leaving you to focus on the walking and the altitude.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

20 verified traveler reviews

5 ★18

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long is the Everest Base Camp trek?

Twelve days total: one day arrival and briefing in Kathmandu, nine days trekking, one day return flight to Kathmandu, one day departure. The trek itself spans eleven days with two acclimatization rest days built in.

What's the highest altitude on this trek?

Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters. Everest Base Camp itself is 5,364 meters, but Kala Patthar is the viewpoint most trekkers climb for sunrise.

Do I need climbing experience?

No. This is a trekking route, not a climbing expedition. You need moderate fitness and the ability to walk five to seven hours daily at altitude, but no technical climbing skills.

What's included in the price?

Flights Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu, all lodge accommodations during the trek, three nights in a 3-star Kathmandu hotel, meals at lodges, all permits and park fees, English-speaking guide, porter service, trekking bag, sleeping bag, and a farewell dinner with cultural program.

When is the best time to trek?

The itinerary notes that flights operate reliably June–September and December–February. These windows offer the clearest mountain views and most stable weather.

What happens if I get altitude sickness?

The trek includes two acclimatization days (Namche and Dingboche) to help your body adjust. Your guide monitors your condition and can adjust the pace or route if needed. The itinerary is designed to minimize risk, but altitude sickness is a possibility at these elevations.

Do I need to book porters separately?

No. Porter service is included in the trek package. Porters carry the bulk of your gear so you trek with a lighter load.

What kind of accommodation is in the tea houses?

Standard guest houses and tea houses—basic but clean, with beds, blankets, and heating. Bathrooms are shared. Hot water and meals are provided.

Is this trek suitable for solo travelers?

Yes. You'll be trekking with a guide and porters, and you'll meet other trekkers at lodges along the route. The trek is organized for individuals and small groups.

What documents do I need?

A valid passport (copy required for permits), three passport-size photos, and proof of traveler insurance. The organizer handles permit paperwork once you provide these documents.