Trip Highlights

• Take on the challenge of conquering the mighty Himalayas, and step into life set to the backdrop of the highest mountains on earth.
• Journey through breathtaking rugged mountain scenery, passing through peaceful wooded valleys and climbing toward breathtaking alpine panoramas.
• Experience the intriguing Sherpa lifestyle and ancient Buddhist culture as you journey alongside your Sherpa team and visit local monasteries.
• Enjoy unique insights into the natural and human history of the region, as you travel with your local English speaking trip leader from the Untraversed team.
• Take on the epic flight to Lukla, complete with stunning Himalayan scenery and mountain views.

Is this trip for me?

• The Everest Base Camp Trek requires a solid level of physical fitness.  We will trek for 8 hours a day, with significant elevation gains, reaching over 5000 meters at base camp.
• Accommodation during the trek will be in simple and basic lodges called “tea houses.”  Wifi will often not be available, and charging for mobile devices will be at additional cost.
• Weather in the Everest region is highly variable, often resulting in delayed flights.  Our team has contingency plans that will still allow us to reach base camp on an alternate itinerary if we face weather related flight delays.

Itinerary

Day 1 Kathmandu

• Begin your journey to Everest Base Camp in Kathmandu, with a team meeting and orientation at 3 in the afternoon.  Meet your trip leader, go over the itinerary for the trek, and enjoy one last evening in a hotel before heading to the mountains.  If you arrive early, Swayambhunath, also known as the “Monkey Temple,” offers a fascinating glimpse into local Buddhist history, along with a breathtaking view of the city.

Day 2 Phakding

• The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is an amazing experience in itself, complete with himalayan scenery and an epic landing on the side of the mountain at Tenzing-Hillary airport.  Trek from Lukla to Phakding, and spend your first night in a tea house at an elevation of 2652 meters.

Please note:  Weather in the Everest region changes rapidly, and the flights to Lukla are often delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions.  If our team is not able to fly to Lukla on day 2, we will run the trek on an alternate itinerary to Everest Base Camp that still allows adequate acclimation time.

Day 3 Namche Bazar

• Trek to Namche Bazar, a village perched along the route to Everest Base Camp at 3440 meters.  Cross over picturesque suspension bridges and follow the trail up a steep ascent, as you catch your first views of Everest itself.  Stay in a tea house in Namche Bazar.

Day 4 Namche Bazar

• Take an acclimatization day in Namche Bazar, with optional day hikes to the nearby villages of Thame and Khumjung.  Learn about Sherpa life and take in the view of the surrounding peaks from the park headquarters above Namche Bazar.  The village’s name, “Bazar,” means market.  Living up to its name there are plenty of opportunities to shop and haggle during your time in the village.

Day 5 Tengboche

• After a day of rest and acclimatization, set out for Dingboche, taking in the views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam.  Descend through rhododendrons past the Deboche Nunnery, and in the afternoon make your way to Dingboche, at an elevation of 4410 meters.  Tengboche is home to the Tengboche Monastery, built by Lama Gulu.

Day 6 Dingboche

• Set out for Dingboche, crossing a suspension bridge on the way to Pangboche.  Stop in Pangboche for tea, and visit one of the first monasteries in the region.  After setting out from Pangboche, ascend to Dingboche village, nestled in a pristine valley and dotted with picturesque fields bordered by stone walls.

Day 7 Dingboche

• In order to assist with acclimatization, you will take a day hike to Nagarzhang to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks.  After lunch return to the Sherpa village and spend an additional night at the tea house in Dingboche at 4,350 meters.  Be sure to take time to rest and recover for the trail ahead.

Day 8 Lobuche

• Start your morning by passing through alpine meadows, used as yak pastures, on your way to the Everest Memorial.  Pass the moraines of the Khumbu Glacier which flows from Everst, and then start your steep climb towards Lobuche.  Lobuche is a small collection of tea houses stationed along the trail at 4,940 meters, and will be the last overnight stop on our way to Everest Base Camp.  Be sure to take plenty of rest to prepare for the accent to base camp tomorrow.  

Day 9 Everest Base Camp

• Today we push on to base camp, following a rugged section of trail and reaching Gorka Shep after three hours of trekking.  Traverse glacial moraine with plenty of ups and downs on the trail.  Be sure to pace yourself and take your time while gaining elevation at these high altitudes.  From base camp you will not be able to see Everest itself, but you will be able to view the looming Everest ice falls and surrounding lakes.  If coming during peak climbing season, taking in the colorful scene of tents and climbers at base camp, as teams prepare for their attempts to reach the summit.  After experiencing life at the base of the highest mountain on earth, descend back to Gorakshep. Head to bed early this evening in preparation for a spectacular sunrise view in the morning, weather permitting.

Day 10 Pheriche

• Wake up early to hike up to Kala Pattar if the weather is clear to catch a once in a lifetime sunrise, along with one of the most stunning views of Everest.  Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, Taweche, Kantega are all visible on a clear day, along with the view looking down on Everest Base Camp.  After taking in the view, relish in the fact that your climb is over, and it’s all downhill from here!  Begin your descent toward Pheriche, and spend the night there at an elevation of 4,200 meters.

Day 11 Kyangjuma

• Descend through the Imja Khola valley, cross the suspension bridge, and then continue on to Kyangjunma.  Spent the night here at 3840 meters.  Enjoy breathing a little easier as we start to lose elevation!

Day 12 Monjo

• Continue your descent from Kyangjuma toward Monjo, nestled in the Dudh Kosi river valley.  Spend one last night in a tea house in Monjo, at 2835m meters.  

Day 13 Lukla

• Retrace your steps past Phakding toward Lulka, reaching the end of the trek in Lukla by late afternoon.  Celebrate the successful completion of your trek with your team, and say goodbye to the Sherpas.   Enjoy one last night in the mountains at Lukla before catching your flight back to Kathmandu in the morning.

Day 14 Kathmandu

• If the weather is accommodating, we will fly you back to Kathmandu in the morning, and you will be free to spend the afternoon exploring Kathmandu.  Practice your haggling as you shop in the markets of Thamel, and enjoy a farewell dinner with your team.

Day 15 Kathmandu

• There are no activities scheduled for this day, but we can arrange additional nights for you in the Kathmandu hotel if you would like to spend additional time in Nepal.  It is important that you do not book your flight any earlier than the evening of this 15th day.  This allows for a buffer in case there are any weather related delays to the flight out of Lukla.