Everest Base Camp Trek

1st Day- Everest Base Camp Trek

Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel Welcome to Nepal! A Himalayan Dream Team representative will welcome you with a Nepali flower at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and facilitate your private transfer to the hotel. You can relax and recover from your journey at the hotel and, when you feel ready, enjoy a gentle stroll around the neighborhood to get your first taste of the city. As an introduction to your journey, we would like to treat you to dinner at one of best restaurant, which is guaranteed to give you the best impression of authentic local cuisine and hospitality.

2nd Day- Everest Base Camp Trek

Following your breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you on a full day exploration of the profound cultural and spiritual heritage of Kathmandu, taking you to multiple UNESCO world heritage sites.

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple): You will start the day at this lofty Buddhist stupa resting on a hill with its eye catching views of the entire Kathmandu Valley. This site is one of the oldest by gaining importance as a relious center in Nepal where it is worshiped by Buddhists and Hindus.

Pashupatinath Temple: You will then proceed to Nepal’s most revered Hindu temple complex located on the banks of Bagmati River. Here, you will observe traditional cremation services and you will see sadhus (Hindu religious hermits) practicing their spirituality.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: You can take a walk at the serene old royal palace region of historic Kathmandu after lunch. This square is a living exposition of older temples and courtyards along with houses sculptured and wooden buildings in newari style architecture.

Local Markets Visit: To end the day, you can roam around kathmandu spice and vegetable markets which will allow you to experience the daily life of Kathmandan locals and provide opportunities for street photography.

3rd Day- Everest Base Camp Trek

Your adventure officially begins! Depending on the season, we either fly directly from Kathmandu or drive to Ramechhap for a short Lukla flight. The journey offers mesmerizing views of verdant hills, terraced fields, and the snow-capped Himalayan skyline. Upon landing in Lukla, we meet the trekking team, enjoy a brief rest, and set off on our trek to Phakding. The trail meanders through Cheplung village, offering a glimpse of the revered Mt. Khumbila, untouched by climbers.

Duration Overview:

Kathmandu to Lukla Flight: 35 minutes (off-peak months: Jan, Feb, Jun–Sep, Dec).
Manthali to Lukla Flight (Peak Season): 5–6 hrs drive to Manthali, 20 mins flight, 3–4 hrs trek.

Seasonal Flight Details:

Peak Season (Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov): Early morning drive to Manthali (1:30–2:30 AM) for a 20-min Lukla flight.
Non-Peak Season (Jan, Feb, Jun–Sep, Dec): Direct 35-min flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.

Helicopter Option:

For a smoother start, book a direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla at $550/person (5-person sharing basis) to skip the long drive to Manthali during peak season.

Trekking Time: Approx. 3–4 hours from Lukla to Phakding.

4th Day- Everest Base Camp Trek

We start early, trekking along the Dudh Koshi River through a scenic pine forest towards the small village of Benkar. Enjoy breathtaking views of Thamserku peak towering above the valley. Cross a long suspension bridge shared with donkeys and mules carrying trade goods.

Continuing to Monjo, take in views of Khumbila peak. Monjo is the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park, where you'll need to show your permits and purchase an entrance ticket at the checkpoint. Descend to the river and cross a suspension bridge to Jorsale village, where you catch your first distant glimpse of Mt. Everest.

After lunch in Jorsale, the trek continues through a steep forested area until reaching the confluence of the Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers. Before arriving at Namche Bazaar, the trail ascends to Tope Danda, a vantage point offering expansive views of Namche town. Upon reaching Namche Bazaar, head to a tea house, relax, and enjoy some local butter tea.

Namche Bazaar, the bustling hub of the Khumbu region, is a key meeting point for trekkers and mountaineers. This vibrant town is filled with locals and traders, especially on Saturdays when a lively market takes place. With numerous ATMs, cyber cafes, shops, bakeries, and restaurants, you can enjoy a taste of home with pizza and espresso.

On your acclimatization day, enjoy a hearty breakfast before opting for a hike to nearby attractions. Visit the renowned Khunde Hospital, established by Sir Edmund Hillary, and explore Namche Monastery to delve into Buddhist heritage. Hike to the Everest View Hotel for stunning, close-up views of Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest. This day offers a perfect blend of rest and exploration, preparing you for the trek ahead.

Leaving Namche Bazaar, we take the northern trail towards Tengboche village. Walking along the sandy Dudh Koshi river trail, we ascend past a flight of stone steps. Throughout the route, enjoy mesmerizing views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Nuptse, some of the highest peaks in the world.

Continue trekking through a lush forest towards a suspension bridge over the Phunki Tenga river. Passing a rocky trail, we encounter a zig-zag path where you may see Himalayan Griffons nesting in the high cliffs above. A steep route through a rhododendron-clad forest leads us to an Army checkpoint. This area is known for sightings of rare musk deer and blood pheasants. A final steep climb brings us to the village of Tengboche.

Upon arrival, settle down at a tea house and then visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region. The monastery offers breathtaking views of Ama Dablam towering behind it. Known locally as Dawa Choling Gompa, the monastery complex includes paintings, statues, shrines, stupas, mani walls, and prayer wheels. A visit to Tengboche Monastery provides a deep insight into the ancient architecture and heritage of the Buddhist religion and the Sherpa community.

From Phorse Village we trek down the narrow trail through a Monastery. We continue our trek through lush alpine forests until we reach large village of Upper Pangboche, where we will get astonished by the dramatic views. We then continue through the villages of Shomare, Orsho, and Tsuro Wog. The trek goes further up through the Khumbu Khola Valley to the ridge top from where we witness spectacular views of the soaring mountains of Taboche, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lotse, Cholatse, etc. We even can observe the beautiful Imja Khola valley to the east. Thereafter, we see sprawling fields and the settlement of Dingboche overlooked with Chortens and prayer flags as we gently ascend down to the Dingboche village.

Spending a day in Dingboche to acclimate to the high altitude is on today's schedule, helping us adjust to the thinning air and reduced pressure. Though not mandatory, a recommended acclimatization strategy includes a side trip to Chhukung at 4730m. This involves a short hike eastward up the Imja Khola valley, offering stunning views of Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Island Peak. Alternatively, we can climb the ridge above Dingboche as another option.  

After breakfast and beyond Duglha we trek up the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We find our way through the boulder-strewn slope as we ascend Chupki Lhara, an eerie ridge top with dramatic mountains views. At the top of the ridge we will find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10 times Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (mountain guide from Nepal) who perished on a mission to climb Everest. As the trail drops to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, we find ourselves right “in front of” several great peaks – Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. We are now in the vicinity of Everest but the great mountain still remains hidden. Nuptse towers to the right as the trail crosses the Khumbu Glacier. As we trek along a murmuring stream we don`t see the Khumbu glacier because of its lateral moraine wall and we now begin to feel a little out of breath due to high altitude.

Today’s adventurous trail to Gorak Shep goes ahead through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We pass though the pyramid sign post. Ahead on the trail we see crest of north ridge of Everest along with Mt. Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, Nuptse. A small ascent will take us to Thangma Riju from where we perceive 360 degree vista of snowy mountains. Climbing steeply up to the top through the torrent of Changri glacier, we catch our first glimpse of Kala Patthar, a grey-green knoll beneath the Mt. Pumori. As we reach Gorak Shep, we will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains looming all around us including the top of the world – Mount Everest.After a brief lunch and rest, we take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come through the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. As we reach Everest Base Camp we cannot stop ourselves from appreciating the Everest climbers those take the hazardous route through the Khumbu icefall. Mountaineer’s tents stand out in bright colors against all the dull gray surroundings (especially in the Spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from base camp.

Maybe you slept restless because of the high altitude, which is very common. But wake up early because today is the climax of our trip. We start early in the morning to catch the dramatic views from Kala Patthar witnessing the first light of day shining on Mount Everest. However, we need to get prepared for an early morning, dark and cold temperature (-10 to --14 C) are common. And there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself emerging between the west shoulder crest and Nuptse. During the ascent to Kala Patthar we can pause to catch our breath at several outstanding view points to snap pictures. After several hours of an ascent, we reach Kala Patthar. From here we scramble to climb the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by cairns and prayer flags. As we reach the top, we sit on the Kala Patthar rocks our eyes taking in the unbelievable Himalayan Panorama, wandering from one mighty massif to another. We take as many pictures as we can with our camera and take the in view with our mind’s eye to last lifetime. On returning back to Gorak Shep, we have breakfast and wait other participants to return back. Those participants who plan to visit Everest base camp today will have early breakfast to start early as Everest base camp hike takes longer time (4/5 hrs) than the Kala Patthar hike. Upon return back to Gorak Shep, the group will have lunch together; and afternoon time is taken to descend down to Pheriche for a good night’s rest.

The trail back is enchanting, least to say. We will trek down through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. If it’s spring, pink and red rhododendron flowers ablaze our surroundings. After crossing the prayer flag festooned bridge over the Dudkoshi River, we reach Phunki Thenga. The trail then follows the Dud Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests. The path eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction in the region. We stop at Kyangjuma (3570 m) for a relaxed lunch. We unknowingly appreciate the gorgeous Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Nuptese with every bite. Following lunch, the trail to Namche Bazaar clings to the steep wooded slope beyond Kyangjuma, winding through several bends. We keep a lookout for wild life such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while we pass through the forest by the trail. After passing a Chorten, we reach the army camp at of Namche Bazaar. We want to take a long last look (and picture!) back to Lhotse, the tip of Everest and Tengboche from here. On reaching our lodge, we take a nice hot shower and have very relaxed sleep in our room in Namche Bazaar.

You will notice that walking is easier because our bodies have adjusted to the high altitudes. The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our (shaky) legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast following Dud Koshi and its tributaries the trail becomes more level and natural. By today we start to get warmed up by the light breeze. Any remaining sore throats and colds will be gone by today as we pass through this charming mountain air. Although we are travelling the same route down, we feel completely different views. We snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests, and in the distance snow covered peaks. On arrival in Lukla, we have plenty of time to relax, stretch those sore legs, and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. We experience the culmination of a fantastic trek on a happy note with everyone back safe and sound with smile on their faces!

After our mountain journey, we take an early flight to Kathmandu. When we get there, we can relax or shop for souvenirs. If we feel like it, we can also explore other parts of Kathmandu today with the help of our guides, who can assist with both shopping and sightseeing.

In case there is no flight from Lukla to Kathmandu due to bad weather, we plan to stay one extra day in kathmandu .

After breakfast, you have a full free day to relax OR explore more of the Kathmandu Valley’s rich cultural heritage. For those interested, we recommend an optional sightseeing tour to two of Nepal’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Boudhanath Stupa and Bhaktapur.

Morning - Boudhnath Stupa, A Center of Peace and Spirituality To start the day, you’ll go to the Budhhanath Stupa, one of the biggest and most sacred stupas in the world. As you approach the large white dome structure, notice the golden buddha eyes on the dome looking down on you, and notice the peace it brings. Take time to meditate and join the devotees for a few minutes to walk around the stupa and participate in prayer and spiritual activities.

After the stupa, you can head to one of the vibrant and lively monasteries and participate in ritals, You can watch the monks and pilgrims and the relaxing and serene environment that they bring to the place, as they perform their rituals.

Afternoon – Bhaktapur: The Living Heritage of Nepal After completing your visit to Boudhanath, drive to Bhaktapur, where you will first enjoy lunch at a traditional Newari restaurant before beginning your exploration of this beautifully preserved medieval city. Bhaktapur’s brick-paved streets, ornate temples, and open courtyards transport you back in time to the days of the Malla kings.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Wander through this historic palace complex surrounded by pagoda-style temples and intricate stone sculptures.

55-Window Palace: Admire the fine woodcarvings and elegant craftsmanship of this architectural masterpiece.

Golden Gate and Lion Gate: Two iconic entrances that showcase remarkable examples of traditional metal and stone art.

Pottery Square: Watch local artisans skillfully shaping clay on traditional wheels, keeping alive the centuries-old pottery tradition that defines Bhaktapur’s charm.
Sightseeing will end in the late afternoon and you will go back to Kathmandu. Depending on time, you can take a walk in Thamel for a beautiful evening and do last minute souvenir shopping. It is a busy area with many shops, cafes and lovely streets. 

16th Day – Everest Base Camp Trek

After breakfast or lunch, depending on your flight time, we will transfer you to the international airport or if you leave by evening you can put your luggage at the Hotel and enjoy the city one final day.
if you're interested in extending your stay in Nepal, you might want to consider pre-booking a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. For further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office.