Everest Base Camp Trek: Local Guides, Flights & Meals

Summary

Trek to Everest Base Camp with Sherpa guides & all flights

You’ll follow local Sherpa guides from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, flying into Lukla before trekking through villages and monasteries. Expect tea house stays with hot meals, stories from your guide, and moments of real quiet beneath Mount Everest. Includes roundtrip flights and all gear — just bring your sense of humor (and maybe extra socks).

What’s the experience like?

“You see that ridge? That’s where my father used to herd yaks,” Mingma said, pointing his stick at a line of prayer flags flapping in the wind above Namche Bazaar. I remember how the air tasted thin but sharp, almost metallic, and how my boots felt clumsy on the stone steps. The flight into Lukla was a blur — honestly, I gripped the seat so hard my hands hurt after. But once we started walking, it was just us and this endless sweep of mountains, with the Dudh Koshi river roaring somewhere below.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on a trek this tough. Our guide Mingma kept telling stories about growing up in Khumbu — he even taught us how to say “thank you” in Sherpa (I forgot immediately). The tea houses along the way smelled like wood smoke and ginger tea. At Tyangboche monastery, monks were chanting as we arrived; their voices echoed off the cold stone walls while incense drifted around us. I still think about that silence outside, broken only by someone’s cough and then a bell.

The day we reached Everest Base Camp was weirdly quiet — no big crowds, just our group crunching over ice and rock. The Khumbu glacier looked almost blue under the afternoon light. Lunch tasted like cardboard but maybe that’s just altitude for you. It’s hard to explain what it feels like standing there with Mount Everest right above you — not triumphant exactly, more like small and lucky to be there at all.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Flight and trek to Everest Base Camp

• Fly to Lukla
• See Dhudhkosi river valley
• Trek to Everest Base Camp
• Visit Tyangboche monastery
• View Khumbu icefall and peaks

Top questions

How long is the Everest Base Camp trek from Kathmandu?

The trek takes 10 days including flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.

Is lunch included during the Everest Base Camp trek?

Yes, lunch is included along with breakfast and dinner during the trek.

Are flights from Kathmandu to Lukla part of this tour?

Yes, both way flight tickets between Kathmandu and Lukla are included.

What kind of accommodation is provided on the trek?

You’ll stay in tea house accommodations along the trekking route.

Is equipment like sleeping bags provided?

Yes, necessary equipment such as sleeping bag, down jacket, and duffel bag are provided for use during the trek.

Is this trek suitable for beginners?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required; not recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your trip includes roundtrip flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during your trek, tea house accommodation each night, use of a sleeping bag and down jacket plus a duffel bag for your gear (all returned after), a route map to keep you oriented on the trail, and guidance from local Sherpa guides throughout your journey.