14 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

On arrival at the airport, a staff member from Sherpa Expedition Teams will be there to meet you and take you to your hotel. You will later get to meet your guide who will give you a briefing on what to expect on the trek. You will also meet your fellow trekkers. This evening there will be dinner at a typical Nepali restaurant. 

Today we take a short 30-minute scenic flight from Kathmandu and then afterward follow the trail to Phakding (2610m), a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal in the Dudh Kosi river valley.

Today the trekking is easy as we follow the trail and then cross several bridges over the Dudh Kosi River via the attractive villages of Toc-Toc, Benkar and Monjo before arriving at the official entrance of Sagarmatha National Park where you will be asked to show your trekking permit. We will then head out along the river flats for several hours and cross one final bridge before ascending a steep hill before arriving at Namche Bazaar, a bustling modern town with many facilities for trekkers, such as restaurants, hotels, internet cafes and banks. 

Today we have to stay active in order to properly acclimatize before heading to the higher altitudes later on in the trek. To stay active we have several options open to us, such as a trek to Thame or visit Khunde. We can also choose to explore Namche Bazaar and head to the weekly market that takes place on Friday evening and on Saturday morning. Your guide will also lead you to the Tourist Visitor Center close to the headquarters of the Sagarmatha National Park that has an appealing display of equipment and relics used by some of the first Everest climbers. Here you can also learn about the flora and fauna of the region that will also make your trek even more appealing. 

Today we follow the trail along the wild Dudh Kosi River with its icy waters tumbling down from the mountains. The trail also offers some stunning mountain views as we slowly climb higher to 3860 meters at Tengboche Village, famous for its attractive wall hangings and 6 meter high Buddha, Tibetan musical instruments and brightly coloured Lama robes. A special feature of visiting here is witnessing and partaking in the evening prayer at the monastery – that has a relaxing and calming effect on you. 

Today we descend through a forest and cross the Imja Khola (river) before climbing up to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite Mt. Ama Dablam (6,856m) and also provides exceptional views of the mountains with a Gompa (monastery), Mani walls and pine trees in the forefront. After a few more hours we come to Dingboche where we will stay overnight at a guest house.

Again it is important to spend time acclimatizing before continuing to higher altitudes. To stay active, strongly recommended by health specialists, we will climb 400 meters to Nangkartshang Gompa that sits on a ridge just to the north of Dingboche Village from where we can view Mt. Makalu (8,463m), the world’s fifth highest mountain, as well as Mt. Ama Dablam. If you have still have some energy we can climb to the summit at Nangkartshang (5090m) and then return to Dingboche for the night.

Today’s first destination is Dughla Village. We then we cross the steep moraine at the base of the Khumbu Glacier after crossing the boulder-strewn slopes. We then head up to Chupki Lhara that has a collection of piled-up stones with Tibetan prayer flags placed as a monument to climbers Scott Fischer (American) and ten-time Everest summiteer Babu Chiri Sherpa (Nepalese guide) who died while trying to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. As we get nearer to the Khumbu Glacier moraine several enormous peaks stare right at us: Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. This scene is a real shock. We will stay in a lodge here tonight.

Today we steadily head to higher altitudes passing Gorakshep Lake and then further on we come to a memorial that honors Indian mountaineers who have perished while attempting to climb Mt. Everest. Walking now is more physically tiring due to the thinner air at this high altitude. The trail has rocks, moraine and streams to navigate before arriving at EBC. The first thing that greets us on arrival at EBC is the various selection of colorful tents of mountaineers patiently waiting for the right climbing conditions before attempting a climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. From EBC we can clearly see Nuptse, Khumbutse and Pumori and the snow shining off their peaks. After a rest and look around EBC we return to Gorak Shep for a good night’s rest.

We are on the trail before the sun comes up with temperatures around -10 to -14C as we trek to Kala Patthar. There is also the possibility of strong winds that will increase the chill factor. Be sure to rug up! In the east are the peaks of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. Everest will also start to show itself. At the summit of Kala Patthar, we will be jubilant as we absorb the 360-degree views and of course views of Mt. Everest that are directly in front of you. Now is the time to have your camera batteries fully charged and to be ready to take some remarkable shots of Mt. Everest that will be a reminder of this time in years to come. We will then head down to Pangboche for the night.

This morning we descend to Debouche following a trail through rhododendron forest before reaching Tengboche, which is famous for its Gompa (Buddhist monastery) as well as offering some fantastic views of the nearby snow-capped peaks. We then continue downhill to the village of Phunki Thenga (3,250m/10,663ft) on the banks of the Imja Khola (river). The next stop is the village of Sanasa and finally Namche Bazaar where we will stay overnight.

Today we head out to Phakding on our final day of the trek. We should arrive at Lukla with time to spare, allowing you to explore the village and the immediate countryside. You will be happy to sit back relax and take a deep breath while looking back on this magnificent journey. You will have time to sort your photos and catch up on emails to your family and friends. There is a real sense of achievement as you come to the end of this physically challenging trek. In the evening you may decide to kick up your heels with your fellow trekkers with a few celebratory drinks.

This morning we take a short flight from Lukla to Kathmandu that is scheduled in the early morning so as to avoid the strong winds that are common later in the day. At Kathmandu, we will be taken back to our hotels with free time to stroll around Thamel on your last night in Nepal. You may have a few gifts to buy or decide on sitting in one of the many cafes.

Today is where you leave Nepal, but take many happy memories with you as you head home. Sherpa Expedition Teams will take you to the airport at least three hours before your scheduled departure. We hope that on your flight home you will look back on this great journey to EBC and will be thinking of your next exciting journey in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal.