Getting there
- Flights to Lukla (LUA) right by the start
- Flights to Kathmandu (KTM) 135 km from the start
Treks / Nepal
Everest Base Camp
Nepal · Nearest city: Kathmandu (also Lukla)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days12–14
Distance≈ 130 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point5,364 m
A round trip from Lukla through Sherpa villages to the foot of Everest. Daily distances are moderate, but you sleep above 4,000 m for most of a week.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonMarch to May, late September to November
High pointBase Camp (Kala Patthar viewpoint is higher)
High altitude
Watch out: Acclimatisation days are not optional. Flights to and from Lukla are often delayed by weather.
Why people choose it
It takes you to the foot of the world's highest mountain through Sherpa villages and Buddhist monasteries.
What makes it different
- Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam up close
- Sherpa culture and monasteries
- Teahouse lodges every night
Day by day
The classic round trip from Lukla, sleeping in teahouses (simple lodges) every night. Two acclimatisation days are built in and shouldn't be skipped.
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Day1
Lukla → Phakding
After the famous flight into Lukla, an easy walk along the Dudh Kosi river.
Sleep: Teahouse in Phakding
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Day2
Phakding → Namche Bazaar
Suspension bridges and a steep climb, with your first glimpse of Everest on the way up.
Sleep: Teahouse in Namche
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Day3
Namche BazaarAcclimatisation / rest
Acclimatisation day with a short climb to the Everest View Hotel.
Sleep: Teahouse in Namche
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Day4
Namche Bazaar → TengbocheBest views
The monastery at Tengboche with Ama Dablam towering behind it.
Sleep: Teahouse in Tengboche
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Day5
Tengboche → Dingboche
Above the trees now, into stone-walled fields under Ama Dablam.
Sleep: Teahouse in Dingboche
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Day6
DingbocheAcclimatisation / rest
Acclimatisation day: a climb up the ridge above the village and back down.
Sleep: Teahouse in Dingboche
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Day7
Dingboche → Lobuche
Past the climbers' memorials at Thukla Pass.
Sleep: Teahouse in Lobuche
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Day8
Lobuche → Gorak Shep
Along the Khumbu glacier to Base Camp and the Khumbu Icefall, then back to Gorak Shep.
Sleep: Teahouse in Gorak Shep (5,164 m)
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Day9
Gorak Shep → PhericheBest views
Pre-dawn climb up Kala Patthar for sunrise on Everest, then a long descent.
Sleep: Teahouse in Pheriche (4,240 m)
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Day10
Pheriche → Namche Bazaar
A long day down, with thicker air making it feel easy.
Sleep: Teahouse in Namche
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Day11
Namche Bazaar → Lukla
Last day on the trail, and a party with your guides and porters.
Sleep: Teahouse in Lukla
Where the best view is
Sunrise from Kala Patthar on day 9, at about 5,545 m, is the classic close-up view of Everest's summit. Base Camp itself sits below the mountain and doesn't show the top.
Where to take a rest day
Namche Bazaar (day 3) and Dingboche (day 6). Use them for short climbs higher before sleeping low again.
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Roaming in Nepal is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
This trek reaches 5,364 m. Above 4,500 m most standard policies stop, so check the altitude limit before you buy: SafetyWing needs its Adventure Sports add-on (up to 6,000 m), World Nomads covers trekking to 6,000 m with Level 3 activities, and Heymondo's add-on stops at 5,000 m. Above 4,600 m, Global Rescue's High-Altitude package adds field rescue.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Almost everyone stays in teahouses. Camping trips exist but need a licensed operator.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Trail from OpenStreetMap (53.7 km) One colour per day Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Lukla → Namche Bazaar → Tengboche Monastery → Gorak Shep → Everest base camps
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book your first and last nights, and check whether accommodation along the way needs reserving.
- Best time to go: March to May, late September to November.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Kathmandu.
- Mountain flights are often delayed by weather. Leave spare days at the end of your trip.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
- See the day-by-day plan below for distances, high points and where to sleep.
- Climb slowly and take the acclimatisation days seriously.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: March to May, late September to November
The dry seasons (see best season above)
Main season
Clearest skies and most stable weather, but cold nights at altitude and busy trails.
Bring
- Down jacket and warm sleeping bag
- Sun protection for strong UV
- Water purification
Edges of the dry season
Shoulder season
Fewer people and cheaper trips, with a higher chance of cloud, rain or snow.
Bring
- Full waterproofs
- Spare warm layers
- Extra days in your plan
Rainy months
Wet season
Mud, cloud and closed views. Some routes close entirely, like the Inca Trail in February.
Bring
- Check whether the route is open
- Rain gear and dry bags
- Flexible dates
Be ready for
High altitude
Above about 3,000 m the air holds less oxygen. Walk slowly, drink plenty, don't rush acclimatisation days, and go down if you get a bad headache, nausea or confusion.
Cold summit
Summit temperatures can drop well below freezing, especially before dawn. Pack a down jacket, warm gloves and a hat.
What you'll see
10 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Everest Base Camp
Photo credits: Khumbutse by Peellden, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Namche Bazaar Nepal by stevehicks, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Lukla and Lukla Airport, Nepal by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Namche Bazaar by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Namche Bazaar by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Gorak Shep by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Phakding by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Phakding by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Tengboche by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View near Tengboche by Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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