All You Need to Know Before Planning Everest Base Camp Trek

On this blog, you will learn about how to plan Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Get ideas about overview, general Facts, weather conditions, route itinerary, route map, difficulty, alternative routes, budget, and frequently asked questions about the most popular trekking destination – Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. 

 

Everest Base Camp Trek Facts, Itinerary, Budget, and Route Map

View from Everest Range including Mt. Everest 

Everest Base Camp Trek Overview 

Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the simply best and most classic treks in Nepal and the Everest region. This trail is on the high priority list of every mountain trekker, the Everest Base Camp is of the most explored regions in the Himalayas. There are several routes to start for the Everest Base Camp trek which eventually meets at Phakding and moves ahead to Namche Bazaar. The popular one is 14 days Everest Base Camp trek that starts from the Lukla airstrip. Everest Base Camp trek has other alternate trekking routes as well instead of flying from Kathmandu to Lukla. The alternate trekking routes to Everest Base Camp are Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek, Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek and etc. If you are scared of flight, you may use these alternative routes for Everest Base Camp Trek. The Everest Base Camp route has an abundance of tea houses; however, in a peak season, it is difficult to find shelters because hundreds of trekkers trek this route every day. If you want to extend your trek in the Everest region, the Everest Base camp trek via Gokyo Lakes or Three High Pass Trek in the Everest region can be chosen.

 

Everest Base Camp Trek General FACTS

Title	Facts
Everest Base Camp Trip Duration	12 Days
Maximum Elevation	5545m/18,188ft above the sea level
Location	Solukhumbu District
Distance from Lukla (KM)	Approx. 62 Kilometers (Back and forth)
Range	Everest Range
Trail Name	Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty	Moderate/Strenuous
Accommodation	Tea houses
Everest Base Camp Trek Best Season	March, April, May & Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

 

Weather, Best times, and Flight for Everest Base Camp Trek

If you are planning a trek to Everest Base Camp, it is always better off have a couple of extra days in Kathmandu. And, it is wise to start your trip right the next day of your arrival. The weather at Lukla airport is unforeseen. Because of moving clouds, the weather keeps changing and a flight might get delayed or canceled. Therefore, keeping extra activities in Kathmandu after the trek is the best idea. It is recommended to keep at least two-week of time for this trek.

The best times for Everest Base Camp treks are in Spring ‘pre-monsoon’ (March, April, and May) and Autumn ‘Post-Monsoon’ (September, October, November, and December). The summer months (June, July, and August) are very wet and trails are dangerous and Winter (January and February) is extremely cold.

 

Everest Base camp Trek route Itinerary

DAY 1:	Arrive in Kathmandu – Trek Preparation
DAY 2:	Kathmandu – Lukla (By Flight) – Phakding (2610m/8561ft). Trek for 3-4 hrs; 7.2 KM
DAY 3:	Fakding (Phakding) – Namche Bazaar (3440m/11283ft) – Trek for 5-6 hrs; 9 KM
DAY 4:	Rest day at Namche Bazaar – Hike around (2-3 hrs; 4 KM)
DAY 5:	Namche Bazzar – Tengboche (3860m/12661ft)- Trek for 5-6 hrs.
DAY 6:	Tengboche – Dingboche (4360m/14301ft) – Trek for 5-6 hrs.
DAY 7:	Another Rest Day at Dingboche – Hike Around or Proper Rest
DAY 8:	Dingboche – Lobuche (4840m/16203ft) – Trek for 5-6 hrs.
DAY 9:	Lobuche – Gorek Shep (5181m)– EBC (5364m/17594ft)  –  Gorek Shep – Trek 7-8 hrs
DAY 10:	Gorakshep – Kala Patthar (5545m/18188ft); 2-3 hrs – Pheriche (4280m) – Trek 3-4
DAY 11:	Pheriche – Namche – Trek for 5-6 hrs; 9.6 KM
DAY 12:	Namche –Lukla (2800m)- Trek for 5-6 hrs.
DAY 13:	Lukla – Kathmandu by Flight.
DAY 14:	Transfer to the airport for your onward to the next destination.

Learn more about Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary and prices.

 

Before reaching Gorakshep – Trek to Everest Base Camp

The total number of recommended days for the Everest base camp trek is 12-day. After landing at Lukla airport from Kathmandu (or Ramechhap, sometimes), the 2 days gentle walk up the Dudh Koshi valley leads to the Sherpa Town Namche Bazaar. The first night can be spent either at Phakding or Monjo. The Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park at the Jorsalle checkpoint where permits are checked. After 3 hours of a hike from the Jorsalle checkpoint, you will reach Namche Bazaar where you will be staying for two nights. It is always good to stay at least one more night to acclimatize by hiking and walking around the city. You may pick the Syangboche/Everest view hotel for the short hike and back to the hotel in Namche.

After leaving Namche Bazaar, the route follows the valley of Imja Khola with stunning views of Thamserku, Kangtega, and Ama Dablam peaks. The most popular place to have a halt after Namche is Tengboche. The Tengboche monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in this region and you can have a brilliant backdrop view of Ama Dablam.

Following the Imja Kola from Tengboche, the route ascends through Pangboche and reaches Pheriche or Dingboche. You will have another stay at any of these places and it is recommended to have another rest day here. You can do some walking in the surroundings, the recommended side trip can be to Chhukung which is about 3 hour’s walk from Dingboche.

About a 6-hour walk from Dingboche or Pheriche leads to Lobuche and another 3 hours hike from Lobuche to the last settlement on the trail known as Gorakshep. There are few tea houses at Gorakshep.

As Gorakhshep is the last settlement of the Everest Base Camp trek, you will have two excursions.  The early morning trip is to hike up to Kalapatthar for the sunrise view of the world’s highest mountain including Mount Everest. And another excursion is to trek to Everest Base camp along the Khumbu glacier which takes up to 5 hours. This is how you complete your trek to Everest Base camp and Kalapatthar and another 4 more days to return to  Lukla to catch the flight for Kathmandu.

 

Everest Base Camp Trek Map

 

Everest Base Camp Trek Budget

An average trek to Everest Base camp trek takes 12 to 15 days and the cost comes around USD 1400 to USD 1800 per person including the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and return. The budget depends on the number of people in a group and what service is provided.

 

Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty

This trek is a kind of moderate level of trekking. The trek has rolling flats and steep ascends but it is generally manageable for the trekker of any age with little trekking experience. The trekker has to be physically fit, though. However, it is advised to have some training before planning this trip. In order to adjust to high altitude sickness. There is no exact age limit for this trekking as seniors and minimum age people can still do it but it is suggested to be aware of the route map, itinerary, difficulty, altitude, action challenges, fitness, medications, requirements, and any other advice from the blogs or news. Learn more FAQs about Everest Base Camp trek before making the decision to trek the most popular destination of the Himalayas.

For more information about Everest Base Camp trek and trekking departure dates, feel free to contact us.

---

Everest Base Camp Trek . Adventure Trekking . Travel blog .

---

Facts and Figure . Everest Base Camp Trek .

---

---