Everest Base Camp Trek

Your trip starts in the lively and bustling city of Kathmandu with an explosion to the senses - take a deep breath! You will be met at Kathmandu Airport by a friendly face from Active Adventures Himalayas, who will accompany you to our hotel. If you arrive early, you can head out to explore the city’s labyrinth of back streets, courtyards, colorful market stalls and ancient temples for your first taste of Nepal’s culture and friendly people. This afternoon, your guide will meet you at our hotel and run through what to expect from the days ahead. Tonight, they’ll take you out for dinner at a local restaurant, for your first experience of Nepalese dining - a culinary crossroad between the influences of China, India and Europe which makes for some really interesting flavor combinations.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4600 feet)

Today we’ll head a short distance out of town to an ancient stone pilgrim stairway that leads to the Swayambhunath Temple. Keep an eye out for macaque monkeys as they often join us on the walk up the stairway – they’ve even been known to steal hats on occasion, so stay alert! According to local legend, Swayambhunath (meaning ‘self-arisen’), was said to have risen up from a lake that once covered the land where Kathmandu now stands. Up on the hilltop temple, the smell of incense and butter lamps will follow you as you gaze out over the sprawling city of Kathmandu below. Local devotees come here daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the centerpiece stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine) and spin the prayer wheels set into its base. Later, we’ll make our way back down into town and make preparations for our journey to Lukla and the Everest region tomorrow.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4600 feet)

This morning we’ll start our journey with a drive to Ramechhap, a small-town east of Kathmandu, and from there we’ll take a short flight to the mountain settlement of Lukla. This small town high in the Himalayas is the gateway to the Everest region and an important base for mountaineering expeditions. After a last gear check with our guides, we’ll lace up our boots and start with a local hike around Lukla. The aim of today is to give you a gentle introduction to altitude change, everyone’s body can react differently, and so easing ourselves into this new environment is really important. This gentle start will lay the foundations to make the coming days more easily manageable for us on our journey towards Base Camp.
Elevation: Lukla - 2860 meters (9383 feet)

Today we hit the trail, first hiking down to the village of Phakding on the banks of the Dudh Kosi River. It’s an undulating trail ending up around 250 meters (820 feet) lower than our start point in Lukla. For the most part, we’ll be amongst the trees, and we’ll get regular glimpses across the fertile valleys of the region. These valleys are refreshed and replenished annually during the monsoon season, and so are rich with plant life, especially the colorful rhododendron, Nepal’s national flower. We’ll pass by local porters, and other trekkers, and pack animals along our trek to Jorsalle today, this trail form part of an important trade route, used to move supplies around the region, and so is a well-established track. As we approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, we’ll be greeted with sensational views of massive snow-capped Himalayan peaks with names you’ll soon become familiar with such as Thamserku and Kangtega. Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a wide range of plants and animals. Himalayan tahr (a type of wild goat), musk deer and Himalayan monals (an extremely colorful member of the pheasant family) are known to frequent this area, so keep your eyes peeled and a camera handy if you’re a keen photographer.

Elevation: Jorsalle - 2750 meters (9022 feet)Hiking:13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles), 6-7 hours, elevation + 140 metres (459 feet), elevation - 250 meters (820 feet)

This morning, we’ll set off through a narrow valley divided by the Dudh Kosi River, passing terraced crop fields, small villages and ever-present prayer wheels (always pass on the left and spin them clockwise). Today is a relatively short day on the trail, and we'll cross the Hillary Bridge before our ascent to the village of Namche Bazaar, home to the world’s highest marketplace and incredible 360° views. We'll arrive in time for lunch, and will have the afternoon to relax, explore the village and marvel over the views up to Everest.

Elevation: Namche Bazaar - 3373 meters (11,066 feet)Hiking:4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles), 3-4 hours, elevation + 623 meters (2043 feet)

With its remote alpine setting and outlook across to Kongde Ri at 6187 meters (20,298 feet) and surrounding peaks, Namche Bazaar is one of the most beautiful villages in the Himalayas – a great place for a relaxed, acclimatization day. Namche Bazaar is a fairly small town, so you can wander its narrow, cobbled streets to explore the monasteries and tea houses without worrying too much about getting lost. The town was historically an important stopping point for trading expeditions across the Nangpa La to Tibet and is still an important supply point for mountaineers and trekkers today, so the local market is definitely worth a look. This afternoon we’ll hike above Namche Bazaar for a great panorama. It’s a steep trail, but the views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam are mind-blowing and make the effort thoroughly worth it! Look out for Himalayan tahr and the Danphe pheasant (Nepal’s national bird).

Elevation: Namche Bazaar - 3373 meters (11,066 feet)Hiking:Optional hike to Everest View Hotel: 5 kilometers (3 miles), 2-4 hours

This morning, we’ll set off early with fantastic views of Everest and head back down to the Dudh Kosi River. We’ll stop at a local Sherpa tea house for a lunch, take a few moments to soak in the surroundings and then carry on along the trail. As we draw closer to Tengboche, we’ll be greeted with even closer perspectives of Ama Dablam 6856 meters (22,493 feet) and Nuptse 7861 meters (25,791 feet) until finally, upon our arrival at Tengboche, Mt Everest and Lhotse begin to loom ahead in the distance. Looking south, we’ll have a view of numerous other peaks such as Kangtega, Thamserku and the jagged ridgeline of Kongde Ri. We’ll then carry on to Deboche and stay at Rivendell Lodge.

Elevation: Deboche - 3820 meters (12,532 feet)Hiking:12 kilometers (7.5 miles), 5-7 hours, elevation + 447 meters (1466 feet)

We’ll begin our day’s hike by passing through a dense forest of dwarf conifers where musk deer and monal pheasants are often seen. Our trail then drops steeply through the forest until we cross over the surging waters of the Dudh Kosi River, before beginning our ascent to Dingboche. Today, we’ll leave the forest for the last time until we return from Everest Base Camp. From here, it’s a much more austere landscape of boulders and alpine meadows. The final stretch of the day’s trek takes us alongside the fast-flowing Imja Khola River, which drains directly from the snows of Lhotse, before we spend the night in Dingboche.

Elevation: Dingboche - 4303 meters (14,117 feet)Hiking:11 kilometers (6.8 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation + 483 meters (1584 feet)

The golden rule of acclimatizing slowly is ‘climb high, sleep low’, and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing today. Just outside Dingboche is a small peak called Nangkartshang. It’s a steep climb up the ridge, but we’ll be taking it slow and steady. We’ll be looking straight at Makalu, Lhotse and Cho Oyo – three of the six highest mountains in the world – it’s an incredible vista (and there’s more to come over the next few days). It’s your holiday and nothing is compulsory, so if you’d prefer not to do this side hike, you can hang out, rest up, read and chat with fellow trekkers in Dingboche instead.

Elevation: Dingboche - 4303 meters (14,117 feet)Hiking:Optional hike to Nangkartshang Gonpa: 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation +/- 700 meters (2300 feet)

We’ll set off in the morning up the Khumbu valley, passing yak herders’ shacks along the way. From here, the views of the twin peaks of Taboche and Cholatse, as they rise steeply above the open alpine valley, are outstanding. Arakam Tse appears steadily closer as we continue ascending to the village of Dughla. We’ll take a breather at this little streamside town before the final stretch up over the Thokla Pass to Lobuche, our home for the night and the last stop before our trek to Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

Elevation: Labuche - 4910 meters (16,110 feet)Hiking:7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation + 607 meters (1991 feet)

Today is the day! We’ll make our way up the trail in between the Khumbu glacial moraine and the mountain walls. We’ll pass massive boulders before reaching the town of Gorak Shep, where we’ll stop for a well-earned lunch. Recharged, we’ll make our way past the moraine wall of the Khumbu Glacier; slow and steady is the name of the game as we weave our way up the path which leads us to Everest Base Camp at 5364 meters (17,598 feet). Situated at the base of the Khumbu Icefall, the camp is the stuff of legends, having been the launching point for numerous expeditions by the world’s greatest mountaineers for many years. Mountaineers have the best chance of reaching the summit of Mt Everest using what’s known as ‘siege’ techniques, where they’ll spend weeks establishing a series of high camps stocked with food and oxygen cylinders ready for a push to the summit when the conditions are right. During the climbing season, Everest Base Camp becomes a village of brightly colored tents and there’s an incredible atmosphere in the air. After taking in this awesome experience, we’ll leave Everest Base Camp and return to Gorak Shep for the night. Congratulations!

Elevation: Everest Base Camp - 5380 meters (17,600 feet)
Elevation: Gorak Shep - 5140 meters (16,860 feet)Hiking:Hike to Everest Base Camp: 8 kilometers (4.9 miles), 6-7 hours, elevation + 454 meters (1489 feet)Hiking:Hike to Gorak Shep: 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation - 224 meters (734 feet)

We’ll don our headlamps and set off before sunrise this morning to the ridgetop of Kala Patthar. At 5550 meters (18,208 feet), this is the highest point we’ll reach during the trip and the location of one of the most dramatic views anywhere in the Himalayas – an amazing accomplishment! From the summit of this rocky knoll, you’ll have a panoramic view of Mt Everest and the surrounding peaks – the view from this place is simply off the charts! After lunch at Lobuche, we’ll descend to Pheriche and spend a cozy night at the Edelweiss Lodge - hot showers, chicken curry and cold beers await!

Elevation: Pheriche - 4240 meters (13,910 feet)
Elevation: Kala Patthar - 5643 meters (18,531 feet)Hiking:15 kilometers (9.3 miles), 9-10 hours, elevation - 900 meters (2952 feet)

With Mt Everest behind us, and Ama Dablam ahead, we’ll descend with the Dudh Kosi. As you descend into more oxygen-rich air, you’ll feel like you could run a marathon (in fact, today’s walk is part of the world’s highest marathon). With this in mind, we’ll be able to make good progress all the way to Deboche, once again getting low enough to see rhododendron and pine forests across the valley.

Elevation: Deboche - 3820 meters (12,532 feet)Hiking:12 kilometers (7.4 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation - 420 meters (1377 feet)

This morning we’ll make our way down through beautiful forest, where we’re sure to hear the now familiar bells of yaks grazing nearby. As we head through the forest keep an eye out for musk deer that are often seen here. As we descend, the air becomes richer, the air temperature warmer and the sounds of raging rivers louder. We’ll stop for tea beside the Dudh Kosi River, before winding our way up towards the picturesque village of Khumjung and past a tree nursery established by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust. As proud Kiwis, we’ll be sure to tell you all about Sir Ed! After arriving in Khumjung, we may get the chance to visit a local monastery and then it’s time to rest our legs in a comfortable lodge before enjoying dinner. Khumjung is famous for its potatoes and green roofs. It’s also a bit quieter than Namche Bazaar, and a favorite overnight stop amongst our hikers.

Elevation: Khumjung - 3780 meters (12,400 feet)Hiking:8 kilometers (4.9 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation - 40 meters (131 feet)

After a leisurely start, we’ll pass the largest school in the area, also established by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961. After crossing a small hill with great views back to Mt Everest, we’ll pass Syangboche Airport, one of the world’s highest, used to fly in supplies and equipment for the expedition climbers tackling the surrounding peaks. We’ll then take on the switchbacks that descend down the valley back to the Dudh Kosi River and from here, the trail follows the river to Jorsalle. This attractive village sits near the boundary of the Sagarmatha National Park and is one of the lesser-known stopping points on the trekking trail so we’ll often have this place virtually to ourselves.

Elevation: Jorsalle - 2750 meters (9,022 feet)Hiking:5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation - 1030 meters (3379 feet)

This is our final full day on the mountain trails of the Khumbu region so it’s time to put our boots on one last time. We’ll stop for tea in Phakding village before making the climb back up to Lukla. We’ll share a final meal with our local team of porters and cooks to celebrate our incredible achievements and experiences on the trek, and to thank the team that helped make it all happen.

Elevation: Lukla - 2840 meters (9,320 feet)Hiking:12 kilometers (7.4 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation + 90 meters (295 feet)

This morning we’ll take our last look at the Himalayas from Lukla before we begin the journey back to Kathmandu. For those who are keen this afternoon, we’ll walk to Durbar Square, the place where Nepal’s kings were crowned in past times. The square is in the center of old town Kathmandu and is the city’s greatest example of traditional architecture, so much so that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Dinner this evening will be yours to explore and experiment at one of the many great restaurants in town.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4,600 feet)

Today you’re free to explore the winding streets, atmospheric temples and markets of Kathmandu. Every now and then, flights out of Lukla can be delayed due to the weather, so there’s a chance we may be flying back into Kathmandu today instead. Either way, you can take the time to soak up the sights and sounds of this energetic, colorful culture. Tonight, we’ll meet at a local restaurant for our final dinner together to celebrate our achievements and adventures in the Himalayas.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4,600 feet)

Today is the final day of your Himalayas trekking trip with us amongst the highest mountains in the world. If you have extra time after your trip, we’re happy to make suggestions on how to make the most of it. On the other hand, if you’re on your way home today, we’ll send you back refreshed and invigorated from the great hiking adventures you’ve had with us in Nepal!