Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar Trek

Quick Facts

2024 - 26 Apr-11 May | 16 Days

INR 1,82,800 + 5% GST

Single Supplement : INR 33000 + GST 5% per person

Highest Altitude: 5170 M

Difficulty: DemandingHiking and trekking to elevations exceeding 4000-5000 meters, away from vehicular access, over multiple days. Encompasses demanding whitewater with Class IV rapids.

Group Size: 8-16 persons

Ever since the days of early climbing expeditions, the highest point on Earth has had a lure of its own, drawing climbers and trekkers to it like a magnet. Naturally, the trail to the base camp of Everest has become one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal, yet a few people return from the trek unmoved by the experience of being among the highest peaks in the world.

During the trek, we follow the Main Everest Base Camp Trail, the route pioneered and still used by climbing expeditions that attempt the peak from the Nepal side. We visit the Base Camp at 17,600ft, and soak in the energy of teams working their way to the summit.

It’s not a cake walk for sure, and the altitude only makes things tougher. But with fore-knowledge, careful preparation and a basic level of fitness, this is certainly doable for the relatively inexperienced. On reading this, if you feel the tightness in the pit of your stomach, get in touch and we will send you the details.

Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp

DAYS 1-5

  • Day 1: Kathmandu Airport – Hotel (1550 M)

Arrive Kathmandu by noon. Transfer 4 hours to Ramechap. Check in, relax. and hydrate.

  • Day 2: Drive to Mulkot

Flights no longer operate from Kathmandu to Lukla airport during peak trekking season – a mandate laid down by The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in October 2022. Which means, we need to drive from Kathmandu to the nearest airport that will then fly us to Lukla. This morning, we follow the B.P. Koirala Highway that will lead as to Mulkot in around three hours. We rest here for the night.

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  • Day 3: Fly to Lukla & trek to Monjo (2835 M)

We leave Phakding early by 7.30 am after an early breakfast as it is a long climb to Namche Bazar. The trail goes through gentle ups and downs until Jorsale (about 3 hours from Phakding). After an early lunch at Jorsale we commence the climb to Namche Bazar which should be around 3 hours.

  • Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazar (3450M)

Often referred to as the capital of the Sherpas, the little village of Namche Bazaar is the gateway to the high Himalaya. It’s a brilliant walk through valleys, over rivers and suspension bridges, past Buddhist monasteries. If we’re lucky, and if the clouds decide not to play party pooper, we’ll get our first glimpse of the Everest peak right here! This part of the Everest Base Camp trek is a gradual ascent and takes around four or five hours. Got to warn you though, the last 500 meters is a grueling uphill climb, climbing steps cut out of rocks and boulders. By the end of today, we’re at an altitude of 11,286 feet (3,440 meters). Namche Bazar is an amazing little hamlet! Get your last last-minute gear here – if your kit bag’s missing anything. There’s really nothing available beyond this point. Also, it’s the perfect place to purchase your data cards if you insist on Instagram and Facebook posts while on the trail! Browse the markets and mingle with the local folk, we’ll enjoy the experience. Or…like I always do, climb up to Namche Hotel’s famous coffee shop and get our last fix of cappuccino, donuts, pastries and cinnamon rolls!. Overnight stay at Namche.

  • Day 5: Rest day at Namche Bazaar (3450 M)

Today is set aside for altitude acclimatization. It means we will allow our bodies to get used to the lower oxygen levels as we continue to climb. However, “rest day” is a bit of a white lie! Today we will trek up north, on to a hill overlooking Namche Bazaar and then continue to Thame and Khunde. The trek is well worth it – we get the most splendid views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Kantenga, Thamserku and Ama Dablam from here. There is an option to visit the Edmund Hillary School in Kunde and the hospital he helped build in the 1960s – both of which are thriving even today. Enjoy lunch with the mountain views before we head back to Namche Bazaar.

DAYS 6-11

  • Day 6: Trek to Deboche (3820 M)

This part of the Everest Base Camp trek is just gorgeous! An hour after you leave Namche Bazar the trail literally lights up with red and pink Rhodendrons! It’s a beautiful and easy up-down trail until the descent to the village of Phungitenga after which it’s a three hour climb up to Tengboche – a Buddhist monastery built on a small plateau of grass. At an altitude of 12,687 feet (3,867 meters), it’s a magical place and for several of us who have done the Everest Base Camp Trek before, it is one with the most terrific views of Ama Dablam and Mount Everest.

Ama Dablam (“Mother’s necklace”) dominates the eastern sky – the long ridges on each side like the arms of a mother protecting her child, and the hanging glacier thought of as the dablam, the traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the Gods, worn by Sherpa women. The monastery itself is perched on the saddle of a ridge and commands an outstanding panoramic view with peaks in every direction. From here, it’s a 15-minute walk to Deboche.

  • Day 7: Trek to Dingboche (4300 M)

In today’s trek we will gain about 1,640 feet (500m). It’s a gradual climb though, so not that daunting. Almost the minute we set off from our lodge, we will descend to the white river and cross over a suspension bridge. If we look below, we will see the remains of the old bridge with rotten wood and frayed ropes – the same bridge that Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary would have used all those years ago! All through this part of the trek, the regal Ama Dablam towers over us on our right. In about 30 – 45 minutes, we will reach the village of Deboche at 12,251 feet (3,734 meters), home to Nepal’s oldest convent restored after massive restoration projects were undertaken by international foundations to repair the 85-year old nunnery that lay is complete disrepair. Two – three hours into the trek, we will reach Pangboche at 13,074 feet (3,985 meters). Pangboche village is famous for its monastery that is supposed to have a yeti head and a hand (the latter though was stolen!). Some Sherpa soup, dumplings and Tibetan bread later we move on. Most of this part of the Everest Base Camp trek is spent close to the river flowing past with a gentle slope that’s not hell for the knees. The last part has a bit of a steep climb and then we’re in Dingboche. At an altitude of 14,46feet (4,410m) we are bound to feel slightly out of breath!

  • Day 8: Rest Day at Dingboche, Acclimatization walk to Chukhung (4743 M)

Okay I admit, “rest day” on the Everest Base Camp Trek is a bit of a misnomer! Based on how everyone’s feeling and adapting to the altitude, we’ll walk to Chukhung Village – a little hamlet on the way to the Imja Glacier. Traditionally used as a pasture for Yaks, Chukhung today has a few lodges and tea houses – catering mainly to Everest Base Camp trekkers who pass by. It’s a gradual ascent to Chukhung on an easy trail and is great preparation for the thin air we will experience in just 3 days when we reach the high point of the trek at Everest Base Camp. Some R&R at one of the small teahouses here is definitely called for, before heading back down to Dingboche to relax in the afternoon.

As we trek higher, it’s best to stick to what the locals eat – a healthy plate of rice, dal, stir-fried vegetables, pickle and papad! Good clean carbs and protein to power you on!

  • Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (4940 M)

The track is a wide plane today with softer walking, but it does start with a steep trail, as we literally clamber out of Dingboche, past a chorten (a Tibetan stupa) and ascend into the valley to Dughla. At 15,075 feet (4,595m), this glacial lake and hamlet is possibly one of the highest settlements in the world, though not permanently inhabited all year around. There are several little tea houses here and we can relax and have a cup of tea before heading out to Chukpo Lari – a beautiful and poignant reminder of the pitfalls of Everest.

We witness here a line of memorials built in tribute to climbers who have lost their lives in the pursuit of this mountain. “Go Sleep Forever in Everest”, “His Soul Will Always Remain Alive” are just some of the prayers written on the tombstones. It makes us realize the enormity of what Tenzing and Hillary achieved back in 1953. From here we also get a beautiful panoramic view of the peaks on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases to Lobuche, a tiny nondescript little village that lies at the foot of the Kumbhu Glacier. A few little tea houses for trekkers headed to EBC are scattered around and the air is rare at 16,210 feet (4,940m).

  • Day 10: Trek to Gorakshep & on to Everest Camp & back (5164 – 5357 M)

It’s the toughest day of all – I have to admit. Not just because of the altitude, but also because of the hour of the day we leave. I usually recommend a 4 AM departure. It’s dark, and it is icy cold. It’s a slow windy walk on the glacial moraine. The winds are icy and strong, and we just can’t wait for the sun to rise. When one sees the first ray of light emerge from behind the mountains, one truly understands the meaning of the metaphor “a ray of hope”! Walk slowly, acclimatization is the key here. The Lobuche Pass is a slow and steady climb at this altitude and Gorakshep isn’t far after that. Today is the day. Everest Base Camp is nigh. We will reach Gorakshep by around 9 AM and stop over at the lodge for some hot Wai-Wai soup and then head out for the final haul. It’s a three-hour ascent to EBC. There are boulders to clamber over and scree to navigate until we reach the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. It’s a long ridge walk to the Base Camp from here and if we stand still and be really quiet, we can actually hear the glacier creak and move! We’re now surrounded by five of the world’s highest mountains – the world, it would seem, ends right here! A winding trail through columns of glacial ice will eventually lead us to Everest Base Camp. After 10 long days of trudging, plodding, walking, we are finally here! We will spend about half an hour there and then head back to Gorakshep where we will rest for the night. Gorakshep is a must halt for everyone attempting not just EBC but beyond – to the highest peak. People from all over the world gather here, fascinating conversations ensue, a game of cards, some green tea…and we land up making friends for life! Honestly, the lodge/s at Gorakshep are nothing to speak of, but the people we will meet here more than make up for the cold, damp place.

  • Day 11: Climb to Kala Patthar & trek down to Pheriche (5554 M)

Most of us realize this only when we reach Everest Base Camp – you can’t actually see the Everest summit from there! To make sure you don’t miss out on the splendid Mount Everest views, this morning we will set off on a trail that climbs to a moraine from where you get a view of Gorakshep, with its sandy, flat area and frozen lake, and Kala Patthar – a peak popular with Everest Base Camp trekkers because it gives you an uninterrupted view of Everest from base to peak. At 18,208 feet (5,550 meters) it’s a tough climb and many of you may choose not to do it. The ideal departure time from the lodge is 3:30 AM – so you’re at the top in three hours – just in time for sunrise. The view from the top is spectacular though – not just Mount Everest, but a 360-degree panorama of peaks including Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Kantega, Thamserku, Tawatse, Pumori and Changtse! Everest seems just a stone’s throw away between Nuptse and Lhotse while the other snow-capped giants dominate the surrounding view. The Everest Base Camp is also visible from here on the Khumbu Glacier! It’s time to trek BACK to Gorakshep for breakfast, and then head to Pheriche. This is a lovely trail along little rivulets, yellow daisies and purple anemones gather around wet patches, and mama Yaks with their little babies dot our path – much as you’d want to pet a baby Yak and hold a conversation with it – mama Yak isn’t too fond of that. So best to keep a safe distance. Reach the lodge and after two very hard and exciting days – rest!

DAYS 12-16

  • Day 12: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3540 M)

This is an easy day for the Everest Base Camp trekkers- at least compared to what you’ve experienced the last week! Most of the trek is a gradual downhill – a relief after the uphill tasks the last week (literally!). Then it’s downhill to the river and up the steady slope through the beautiful forests of Rhododendron, where you may be lucky enough to see some Himalayan wildlife such as Red Panda or Blue Sheep, to the pretty village of Kyangjuma. We’ll stop over for some coffee or green tea and the orange and ginger cookies here at the bakery – believe me – they’re awesome! And then we descend from Kyangjuma at 11,712 feet (3,592 meters) down to Namche Bazaar – home for a hot shower and some chocolate croissants! Overnight at Namche.

  • Day 13: Trek to Phakding (2610 M))

The steepest downhill section comes after Namche until we hit Dudh Kosi’s riverbed. From here the route follows the busy main path winding down all the way to Monjo and on to Phakding. You can walk at your own leisurely pace enjoying the lush green scenery and the amazing view of the surrounding mountains. Once again Ama Dablam presents herself in all her glory, and you also get to see Mount Everest one more time as you turn around to soak up the Himalayan splendour. Don’t expect isolation here, it’s a busy route with crowds of other trekkers and an endless stream of porters going back and forth. Take your time to enjoy the views and the downhill walk after what seems like an almost endless week of ups all the way to Everest Base Camp!

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  • Day 14:Trek via Dudh Kosi to Lukla (2860 M)

The last day of the Everest Base Camp Trek! Your final trek follows the Dudh Kosi back down to Lukla. Dudh Kosi means Milky River, so called because the water of the river is extremely white – like milk. Although Lukla means “place with many goats and sheep”, few are found in the area nowadays. You could cross a Yak or two, though, on your way to the lodge. We’re ascending around 250m today but it’s a gentle climb and the path is well laid out. The Lukla archway at the top of the climb is a welcome sight – we’ve reached! This is your last evening together and an ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can sample some chang (local beer – and yes I’ll allow it now!), put some twinkle on those tired toes with Sherpa dancing, and look back on a memorable Everest Base Camp trekking experience.

  • Day 15: Fly from Lulka to Ramechhap, drive to Kathmandu

The drive back isn’t spectacular – honestly what can compete with those amazing high mountains! After 14 days of high-altitude trekking, perhaps the flight back from Lukla won’t be as hair raising as the last time. Once you reach your hotel you can simply relax or spend the afternoon doing some last minute souvenir shopping in Thamel. Can I suggest you buy the Everest Base Camp T-shirt? You certainly earned it! In the evening, we will head out for celebratory drinks and dinner at a local restaurant. It’s our party, we’ve earned it, time to party!.

  • Day 16: Departure Day

Fly back from Kathmandu and onwards to your destination!

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu – by morning flight – if the flight is on time we should be back in Kathmandu for breakfast! Transfer to hotel, enjoy Thamel and the city.

Inclusions:
  • All travel from Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu Airport by road/air as applicable in a non ac vehicle as per the itinerary
  • Kathmandu – Lukla fight included in the above mentioned cost
  • All arrangements for staying and camping while on trip
  • Accommodation on twin sharing basis in tea houses / hotel
  • All meals as mentioned in itinerary & safe drinking water
  • Hot and cold drinks at the teahouse where the stay is
  • Breakfast in Kathmandu
  • Professional guide fee
  • One shower/day/person where possible
  • All trekking arrangements with india’s most experienced guiding team, camp staff and cooks
  • Porterage upto 12kg/person
  • Peak fee/sanctuary fee/royalty/permits where applicable
Exclusions:
  • Reaching Kathmandu flight not included in the above-mentioned cost
  • Sleeping bag & lunch and dinner at Kathmandu
  • Any transfers or meals outside of itinerary
  • Bottled water/ hot drinking water/wifi (rates increase the further you get from Kathmandu)
  • Showers more than once a day
  • Items of personal clothing
  • Porterage above 12kg chargeable at INR 1500/day
  • Expenses of any personal nature (laundry / phone calls / alcohol / cigarettes / insurance / camera fee / etc.)
  • Any expense incurred due to force of nature such as landslides, bad weather or reasons beyond our control
  • Tips & gratuities (we recommend 5-10% of your trip cost- to be distributed among the team) – Personal choice
  • Travel & cancellation insurance

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