Everest Base Camp Trek

Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla & trek to Phakding Approx: 35 minutes flight to Lukla 2,800m 9-10km (2 1/2 -3hr walk) to Phakding at 2,652m.

 Early morning you will be transferred from the Hotel to domestic Airport a short drive of 20-30 minutes, after the necessary security formalities board in the smaller twin otter or similar plane for the sweeping panoramic flight to Lukla, on arrival you will be received by our trekking guides. In Lukla you will have time to wander around, while the Sherpa crew sort and divide the load, lunch depending upon the time of arrival at Lukla either in Lukla or few walks further down on route to Phakding. The walk is gradual most of the way, with few ups with view of Kusum-Kangru 6,369m crossing a short suspension bridge, a short climb brings to the Ghat village, and another 11/2hr of gradual walk brings you to Phakding village for the overnight stop near the bank of the Dudh-Kosi River.

Day 02: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440m 5-6 hrs.

From Phakding after crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh-Kosi the walk is pleasant with few short uphill and downhill and re-crossing the same river again, with magnificent view of Thermasarkhu 6,608m, then reaching a small village of Monjo after the last 20 minutes climb from the stream, after Monjo, comes to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, from here a short descend with a gradual walk to the Jorsalle village is reached, the last village and the only place to shop till Namche Bazaar is reached, a second bridge is reached over the same river, the walk is pleasant on the river bed till the last bridge over the Imjatse river is reached, from here the walk is along the winding uphill path all the way to Namche Bazaar, with magnificent view of Kwangde peak, Kusum kangru Mt.Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse and the closer view of Taweche peak can be seen all the way up, from here another 1-2 hour walk up brings to the famed Namche Bazaar, the colourful houses are situated in an amphitheatre U shaped bowl.

Day 03: Rest Day at Namche Bazaar.

 Suggested activities a short walk uphill to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarter, a magnificent spot perched on top of Namche Bazaar with breathtaking view of the surrounding snow capped giants and the valleys way down, with an interesting museum with all kinds of information regarding the history of the Himalayas, geographic, culture, mountaineering history and existing information on flora and fauna of this region, afternoon at leisure.

Day 04: Trek to Tengboche 3,867m. 5 hours. 

Walk is fairly easy for the first half, after a 20 minutes climb to the top ridge of Namche Bazaar. Once at the top walk follows on the gradual trail with few short up and downs overlooking magnificent view of the great giant snow peaks from Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thermasharkhu and Kwangde-ri peak after a pleasant walk of two to three hours coming at Phungitenga 3,250m, a small settlement with couple of teahouses and a small Nepalese Army barrack serving as park wardens in the midst of the alpine woods of mostly silver fir blue pines, rhododendron and some few magnolia and birch trees. Walk from here is strenuous for an hour or two on the winding trail through the shade of woods till Tengboche Monastery or Ghompa, is reached for the overnight stop. This beautiful spot offers views of the majestic beautiful peak Ama Dablam with Everest looming above the Nuptse wall in the north with Mt. Lhotse and Lhotse Shar towards north east.

Day 05: Trek to Dingboche 4,358m.Approx. 5-6 hour

After a wonderful time at Thyangboche, the trail descend through a forest of birch, fir, juniper and rhododendron and coming to lovely spot at Deoboche 3,650 m with magnificent view of Mt Ama Dablam, Mt.Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse, from Deoboche walking past the long prayer mani wall, the path is gradual till you reach a bridge over the narrow gorge of Imja-Tse river. From here the walk is gradual uphill most of the way, as you come to Pangboche at 3,900m from here a short climb to Shomare for lunch a small settlement with fantastic close-up view of Ama-Dablam. After a pleasant break journey continues gradually towards east, after an hour walk, before a small wooden bridge the road splits into two ways, the north going to Pheriche and our trail leading towards east beneath towering north face of Ama Dablam, from here onwards Ama Dablam looks completely different, from the bridge the trails climbs slowly winding above the Imja tse river to a big mani Stupa, from here onwards the walk is fairly moderate as you enter the Imja tse Valley beneath the mighty peaks of Ama Dablam, Nuptse and Lhotse with view of the eastern snow capped mountains including the Island peak or Imja tse 6,189m, which is a popular peak amongst all the trekking peaks in Nepal. Dingboche is a beautiful patchwork of field enclosed by stone walls, protecting the crops of barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. Dingboche has about more than ten teahouses and it is also the gateway to Chhukhung and further beyond for the most challenging traverses towards Makalu area and Hinko Valley via Sherpani col 6,100m and Amphu Labtsa 5,780m.

Day 06: Rest Day at Dingboche.

A leisure day for short hike around, at Dingboche there are places where one go for a short walk. Trek to Chhukhung 4,730m.is worth while which takes approx. 3-4 hours from Dingboche, towards east within the Imja tse Valley, although the trek is gradual, however you can feel the thin air as the altitude gains slowly coming towards Chhukhung. At Chhukhung, there are about five teahouses overlooking superb view of the snow capped peaks and glaciers of Lhotse, Ama-Dablam and Imja glacier, Chhukhung the last settlement in eastern Khumbu.

Day 07: Trek to Lobuche 4,928m.

 5 hours From Dingboche the trail leads north, the path is gradual up for about 40 -50 minutes as you come to a mani-prayer Stupa, from here the trail is gentle on the hard meadow looking down below Pheriche village, today’s walk offers beautiful view of the Mt.Tawache, Ama Dablam and to the north Pokalde 5,741m, Kongma-tse 5,820m and the great wall of Nuptse. After a pleasant walk of 1 1/2 to 2 hours the trail from Pheriche joins near Thugla, before a small wooden bridge over the torrent river of Khumbu glacier. From Thugla, an hour steep up brings you to the top, where you can view Mt.Pumori and other peaks west of Everest, the spot here is good place for a few minutes break after the strenuous climb, close to this spot you can also see a number of memorial of the unfortunate climbers, who died in expeditions around the mountain of this region, From here another 1 1/2 to 2 hours of gradual ascend brings you to Lobuche, Lobuche comes as a surprise, as its situated in the corner well hidden and sheltered from the wind. Lobuche has about 5-6 Teahouses.

Day 08: Trek to Gorakshep 5,160m & continue to Everest base Camp 5,357m 

Today towards the final destination of this adventurous journey at the foot of number one, the first hour walk is gradual up the valley at the end of the grassy field, a short 20 minutes climb, the walk from here follows the rocky moraine path, as you walk you can see the icy-glacial pond and icebergs down below of Khumbu glacier. After the last rocky moraine dunes a short downhill walk bring you to Gorakshep on the flat field below Kalapatthar 5,545m and Mt.Pumori 7,145m. Gorakshep has three teahouses. After a break here at Gorakshep continue towards Everest Base Camp and to the Khumbu Ice-fall, the path from here can be misleading, follow the lead Sherpa, every year the trail changes due to the movements of the glacier, the walk is quite strenuous due to the high altitude and thin air, the walk passes through over rocky dunes and moraine and streams, till you reach the base camp. Everest Base Camp is lively during the high expedition season. On reaching at the foot of number one, a great view of the Khumbu icefall awaits you. After a grand time here retrace the journey back to Gorakshep for the overnight.

Day 09: Morning hike to Kalapathar 5,545m continue walk to Pheriche 4,243m 5-6 hrs.

 Early morning a steep walk towards Kalapatthar, on reaching the top ridge of Kalapatthar which is a small rocky peak on the southwest ridge of Mt.Pumori, the view from here is beyond imagination as the Everest looks within a stone throw distance, between the summit of Nuptse and Lho-la and Lhotse and with all the higher snow capped giants that dominates all around, with a view of Everest Base camp down below on the moraine of Khumbu glacier, after a wonderful time here descend back to Gorakshep and continue walk to Pheriche, the walk is downhill most of the way, after Thugla where the Dingboche trails branches off from here our route descends further to the flat Pheriche Valley, afternoon can be very windy here, after an hour of good walk reaches you at Pheriche for the overnight stop. Day 12: Trek to Thyangboche approx. 5 hrs. From Pheriche a short walk brings you to the bridge, after the bridge it is nearly downhill all the way with few ups in between to Pangboche and Thyangboche, on reaching the bridge back to the woodlands and vegetation with an hour up hill to Thyangboche for the overnight stop.

Day 10: Tengboche 3,867m. Approx. 5 hrs.

 From Pheriche a short walk brings you to the bridge, after the bridge it is nearly downhill all the way with few ups in between to Pangboche and Tengboche, on reaching the bridge back to the woodlands and vegetation with an hour up hill to Thyangboche for the overnight stop.

Day 11: Trek to Monjo. 2,835m. Approx: 5-6 hrs.

 Retrace the journey back to Shanasha, from Shanasha where the trail from Khumjung, Gokyo and to Namche meets. From here the route follows on the main busy path, the walk winds all the way to Namche Bazaar on the downhill and gradual path. On reaching Namche Bazaar retrace the journey all the way to Monjo for the overnight camp at Monjo, located just near the Sagarmatha National Park entrance and exit.

Day 12: Trek to Lukla. 5 hrs walk.

 Last day of this great trek will be one of the good walk to Lukla, you can walk at on your own normal pace, leisurely and enjoying the lush green scenery around. Apart from few short uphill the only long climb will be just before Lukla which will take about 45 minutes from a place called Choplung or from the old big oak tree. On reaching Lukla, prepare for the last day great dinner and a party with the fellow Sherpa crew, porters and trekking members.

Day 13: Fly Lukla-Kathmandu.

The flight time to Kathmandu, are schedule for morning normally, because of the wind in the afternoon, sometime the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason. Depending upon the flight time this scenic flight from Lukla takes about 35 minutes to Kathmandu, a panoramic view of the snow capped peaks can be seen during the flight. At Kathmandu domestic terminal, BUNA staff will receive and transfer you back to the Hotel.