Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu: 14-day guided expedition

Walk to the base of the world's highest mountain.

A 14-day guided trek from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp includes all airport transfers, domestic flights to Lukla, park permits, a certified local guide, porter support, mountain guesthouse lodging, and trekking gear. The route builds in two acclimatization days—one in Namche Bazaar and one in Dingboche—so your body adapts to altitude before the final push to base camp. Children from age 12 are welcome; a moderate fitness level is the baseline.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Kathmandu

• Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport
• Meet Cordial Trek representative
• Check into hotel in Thamel
• Briefing about trek and guide introduction
• Enjoy cultural program with Nepali dinner

Day 2 — Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

• Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Meet support staff (porter)
• Trek down to Phakding (3-4 hours)
• Explore monasteries and Phakding town
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 3 — Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Hike from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (6 hours)
• Explore Manjo village and Sagarmatha National Park entrance
• Cross Dudh Koshi river via Hillary Bridge
• View Mount Everest
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 4 — Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar

• Explore Namche Bazaar
• Visit Everest View Hotel (3800 m)
• Enjoy views of Mt. Amadablam, Thamserku, Tabuche, Lhotse, Everest
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 5 — Trek to Deboche

• Trek from Namche Bazaar to Deboche (6 hours)
• Visit Tengboche Monastery
• Explore Sherpa ethnic village and meet Buddhist monks
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 6 — Trek to Dingboche

• Trek from Deboche to Dingboche (5 hours)
• Pass rivers Lobuche and Imja
• Ascend to Dingboche
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 7 — Acclimatization at Dingboche

• Explore Dingboche
• Hike to Nakarsang hill for mountain views
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 8 — Trek to Lobuche

• Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4-5 hours)
• Reach Lobuche settlement near Khumbu Glacier
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 9 — Trek to Everest Base Camp

• Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep
• Continue to Everest Base Camp (EBC)
• Return to Gorakshep for overnight

Day 10 — Kala Patthar and trek to Pheriche

• Early morning trek to Kala Patthar (3-hour round trip)
• Enjoy views of Mt. Everest and surrounding peaks
• Breakfast at Gorakshep
• Trek to Pheriche (4-5 hours)
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 11 — Trek back to Namche Bazaar

• Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar via Tengboche (6-7 hours)
• Enjoy local pubs and cafes
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 12 — Trek back to Lukla

• Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla via Phakding (7-8 hours)
• Explore local bazaar at Lukla
• Celebrate trek completion with guide and staff
• Overnight at mountain guest house

Day 13 — Fly back to Kathmandu

• Farewell to crew in Lukla
• Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Check into hotel in Thamel
• Free time in evening

Day 14 — Final Departure

• Receive trip certificate
• Farewell and transfer to airport

The Experience

You land in Kathmandu and a trek representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport. That first day is yours to settle in—hotel check-in in Thamel, a briefing with your guide, a cultural program and Nepali dinner in the evening. The next morning you fly 30 minutes to Lukla's Tenzing Hillary airstrip, one of the world's most challenging airports, then trek down to Phakding along the Dudhkoshi River. From there the trail climbs steadily: a 6-hour hike brings you to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa trading hub at 3,438 meters, where you cross the Hillary Bridge and catch your first glimpse of Everest itself.

Day four is an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Your guide takes you to Everest View Hotel at 3,800 meters—the world's highest-altitude hotel, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records—where you can see Mount Everest, Amadablam, Lhotse and a sweep of other peaks across 360 degrees. You're not rushing; this rest day lets your body adjust before you climb higher. The trek continues over the next three days through Tengboche Monastery and the Sherpa villages of Sagarmatha National Park, gaining elevation to Dingboche at 4,360 meters. Day seven is another acclimatization day here, with a guided walk up Nakarsang Hill for close views of Lhotse and Makalu. This pacing—two built-in rest days instead of a straight push—is what separates this trek from rushed versions.

Days eight and nine take you from Dingboche through Lobuche to Gorakshep, then up to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters. The base camp itself is a collection of rudimentary campsites where climbers stage their expeditions; you'll spend the afternoon here, then return to Gorakshep for the night. On day ten, you wake before dawn for a 3-hour round trip to Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters—a ridge on Mount Pumori that gives you the most accessible close-up view of Everest's summit. After breakfast you trek back down toward Pheriche, then spend day eleven descending through Tengboche back to Namche Bazaar. Days twelve and thirteen are the return: a 7–8 hour trek to Lukla, a celebration dinner with your guide and porter, then the flight back to Kathmandu. On your final day you receive a trip certificate and a transfer to the airport three hours before departure.

Your certified Sherpa guide speaks English and knows every turn of the Khumbu region; a porter carries the bulk of the load following humane workload standards. Trekking poles, a duffel bag, sleeping bag and down jacket are provided. Mountain guesthouses have basic rooms and communal dining; you'll stay in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu on arrival and departure nights. All permits for Sagarmatha National Park, domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, and airport transfers are arranged before you arrive. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu are optional add-ons at checkout.

What’s included

• All Sagarmatha National Park permits and trekking permits.
• round-trip domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.
• airport transfers in Kathmandu.
• a certified English-speaking Sherpa guide and porter.
• trekking poles, duffel bag, sleeping bag and down jacket.
• mountain guesthouse accommodation throughout the trek.
• 3-star hotel stays in Kathmandu on arrival and departure nights.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner at mountain lodges.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Cordial Trek Pvt. Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you're arriving in Kathmandu and want every logistics detail—permits, flights, guide, gear, lodging—arranged before you step off the plane. The two built-in acclimatization days mean you're not gambling with altitude sickness; the certified Sherpa guide removes the navigation and cultural translation work. You show up fit and ready to walk; everything else is handled.

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Top questions

What's the fitness level needed for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Moderate physical fitness is the baseline—you'll be hiking 5–7 hours most days at high altitude, gaining elevation gradually over two weeks. The acclimatization days in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche are built in specifically so your body adapts; this pacing is what makes the trek manageable for people who are fit but not mountaineers. Children from age 12 can join if they have that moderate fitness level.

How does altitude sickness get managed on this trek?

The route includes two dedicated acclimatization days—one in Namche Bazaar at 3,438 meters and one in Dingboche at 4,360 meters—where you explore the area and let your body adjust before climbing higher. This expert pacing is designed to help you adapt smoothly to thin air instead of pushing straight up the mountain.

What happens if my flight from Kathmandu to Lukla gets cancelled?

Flights to Lukla are weather-dependent and cancellations happen; if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you and your guide wait in Kathmandu at no extra cost until the next available flight. The trek schedule adjusts accordingly, and you still reach Everest Base Camp—the total trek days remain the same.

Are meals included in the 14 days?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner at mountain guesthouses along the trek are included. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu on your arrival and departure days are optional add-ons you can choose at checkout. Drinks—hot, cold and alcoholic—are not included and are purchased separately at teahouses and lodges along the route.

What gear do I need to bring, and what's provided?

Trekking poles, a duffel bag, sleeping bag and down jacket are provided. Bring your own hiking boots, warm layers, a rain jacket, a headlamp, toiletries and any personal medications. The porter carries your duffel bag; you carry a day pack with water, snacks and a camera during each day's hike.

Who is the guide, and what language do they speak?

Your guide is a certified local Sherpa who speaks English and has deep knowledge of the Khumbu region and Sherpa culture. A porter accompanies you to carry luggage and assist with camp setup at guesthouses. Both are paid fairly and work within humane labor standards.