EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK
THE ITINERARY
Your 18-day journey to the foot of the world’s greatest mountain is filled with the challenge and adventure that you face while trekking in the magnificent Himalayan mountains.
Your trek starts in Kathmandu, the legendary capital of Nepal, known for its famous temples and ancient religious sites. After a flight to the mountain village of Lukla, your first steps in the Himalayas take you through ancient Sherpa villages, following the Khumbu valley to the foot of towering Mount Everest.
TRIP STATS
- Trekking Distance: 81 miles or 130 km
- Duration of Trek: 18 Days
- Daily trekking time: 3 to 9 hours
- Trek Season: Spring & Autumn (Fall)
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"Our guides Mingma, Shabane and Kombe were AMAZING! Mingma with his vast knowledge and know how, and Shabane and Kombe who we had complete trust in with our health and well-being. Also, great personalities! This is our 2nd Tusker trip and we look forward to doing more Tusker trips. Higher end, safe and great attention to details!" - 5-Star Review by "Time & Sherrie"
DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1 ~ KATHMANDU
4,390-ft/1,388-m
You’ll be picked up at the airport and transferred to the well-known Shangri-La Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in Kathmandu, a city renowned for its cultural wonders and fascinating markets. Here you meet your guides.You settle into your room and relax in the oasis-like gardens nestled among the tall buildings and bustling streets of the ancient capital dating back to the 12th century.
Meals Included: Dinner
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 2 ~ KATHMANDU
4,390-ft/1,388-m
After breakfast you meet with your guides for a trek orientation in the hotel gardens as well as a final gear check. This is a great opportunity to get to know your team leaders, pick their brains for advice, and gather any extra gear or supplies you may need for your climb.On a guided tour you explorethe bustling city a tour of old Kathmandu City, Durbar Square and Swayambunath Stupa, known as the "monkey temple". This is one of Kathmandu's oldest and most important Buddhist shrines, which scholars believe dates to the 1st century. You can also wander the narrow lively streets of Thamel, filled with restaurants and shops. This is the perfect place for picking up some unique handicrafts.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 3 ~ FLY LUKLA - HIKE PHAKDING
8,702-ft/2,652-m • 6-miles/9.5 km • 5 hours
An early getup and a trip to the airport is the first order of the day. Then a short flight takes the group through the spectacular Himalayan mountains to Lukla, where you meet your team of cooks and porters, and start the hike to Phakding, on the banks of the DudhKosi River. Just before arriving at the lodge, you cross one of the famous hanging bridges dangling high over the river. This first day downhillhas fooled many a trekker into thinking that the trek to Everest Base Camp is a walk in the park. The best is yet to come.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Sunrise Lodge
DAY 4 ~ NAMCHE BAZAAR
11,306-ft / 3,446-m • 10-miles/16-km • 7.5 hours
Nestled in the Himalayas, Namche is a centuries-old trading center between Tibet and Nepal. Quaint with cobblestone streets and little shops, it is the last town on the trek before reaching base camp. After a long day, we reach our lodge, and settle in for the night, surrounded by the tallest mountains on earth. We are here for two nights. These two-night stops are designed to allow you to adjust to the thinning air and have proven very successful in helping Tusker bodies acclimate.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Culture Home Lodge
DAY 5 ~ NAMCHE BAZAAR
11,306-ft/3,446-m
Namche teems with life; yaks roam the streets, the magical sounds of their bells filling the air. The reason we spend two nights here is for acclimatization to the altitude. Views of Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Lhotse are spectacular from the top of the hillside town.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Culture Home Lodge
DAY 6 ~ KHUM JUNG
12,300-ft/3,750-m • 3-miles/5-km • 3 hours
The short trek to Khum Jung is one of the most interesting hikes of the trek. During the spring is when the majority of mountain climbers attempt to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. During your hike you will meet many intrepid climbers on their way down from the summit. You never know who you might cross paths with on the trail.The views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Kangtega, Thamserku and Ama Dablam are better than ever.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Sherpa Land Lodge
DAY 7 ~ TENGBOCHE
12,687-ft/3,867-m • 5-miles/8-km • 4 hours
Tengboche Monastery sits on a tall hill at the confluence of the DudhKosi and the ImjaKhola rivers, with a clear view of Everest. It's a tough hike up to the hilltop to one of the most important spiritual centers for the Sherpa people.We visit the temple and attempt to have an audience with the Lama (high priest) after he performs a riveting ceremony with the monks chanting their hypnotic hymns.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Himalaya Lodge
DAY 8 ~ DINGBOCHE
14,114-ft/4,302-m • 7-miles/11-km • 5 hours
Dingboche lies at a critical altitude for you to adjust and is just a few days from Everest Base Camp. It is situated at an elevation where mountain sickness can begin to affect you. That's why we spend two days here - acclimatizing. We stay at a lodge owned by the family of Mingma, your Sherpa guide. It’s a warm cozy environment to relax.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Chomolungma Lodge
DAY 9 ~ DINGBOCHE
14,114-ft/4,302-m
Mingma will lead us on a beautiful hike to a higher elevation today, to allow your body to adjust to the higher altitude. In Dingboche you’ll notice the many miles of stone walls strung out over the entire Valley of Imja. The locals remove the stones to clear the land for planting their crops.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Chomolungma Lodge
DAY 10 ~ LOBUCHE
16,126-ft / 5,164-m • 5.5-miles/9-km • 6 hours
After a good rest and then breakfast, we head up the broad valley from Dingboche. At Dhukla you notice the big hills of rough rock piles, which is really the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier.Further along the track we spend a quiet moment at the site of the stone memorials for fallen Everest climbers, called "chortens" in Tibetan.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Mother Earth Lodge
DAY 11 ~ BASE CAMP – GORAK SHEP
Base Camp: 17,585-ft/5,360-m • 5.5-miles/9-km • 7 hours
Gorak Shep: 16,942-ft / 4,915-m • 2.5-miles/4-km • 2 hours
On this exciting day - up to Everest Base Camp, we stop at Gorak Shep to freshen up and have lunch.We hike along the Khumbu Glacier moraine to our goal at the foot of Everest. We celebrate, admire the majesty, and trek back down to Gorak Shep for the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Himalayan Lodge
DAY 12 ~ KALA PATAR – PHERICHE
Kala Patar: 18,513-ft / 5,643-m • 3-miles/5-km • 4 hours
Pheriche: 14,200-ft / 4,328-m • 7-miles/11-km • 5 hours
Early in the morning we take a 4-hour climb up Mt. Kala Patar, to 18,513-ft/5,643-m.The summit is the highest point we will have reached on the trek, and it gives us extraordinary views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. Once back at Gorak Shep, we start our descent through the Khumbu Valley.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Himalayan Lodge
DAY 13 ~ TENGBOCHE
12,687-ft / 3,867-m • 8-miles/13-km • 6 hours
The days get easier as we descend, with the air becoming more oxygen rich.To break up the long downhill trek to Namche, we spend the night once again at Tengboche, just across from the Monastery.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Himalaya Lodge
DAY 14 ~ NAMCHE BAZAAR
11,306-ft/3,446-m • 7.5-miles/12-km • 5 hours
It's a full day hike down to Namche. The town is buzzing with excitement as trekkers pass through on their way to and from Base Camp.You can browse the maze of streets, picking your way through the local shops for Nepali handicrafts.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Culture Home Lodge
DAY 15 ~ MONJO
9,301-ft/2,835-m • 4.5-mi/7-km • 4 hours
We spend our last night in the Khumbu Valley in the settlement of Monjo.Remember the downhill on our first day? Well, it's time to do that in reverse. It's a hump up a vast hill tomorrow, as we make our way up to Lukla.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Summit Lodge
DAY 16 ~ LUKLA
9,384-ft/2,860-m • 9-mi/14.5-km • 4 hours
In the morning of your last day trekking, we head uphill, arriving at Lukla for the night. This is a welcome break, as your muscles thank you. Tomorrow we fly back to Kathmandu.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Everest Plaza Lodge
DAY 17 ~ KATHMANDU
4,390-ft / 1,388-m
After arrival in Kathmandu, we drive to our “oasis” the Shangri-La hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around town. In the early evening, after a relaxing drink, feeling accomplished the group heads out for a special celebration dinner at our favorite restaurant in town.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Shangri-La Hotel
DAY 18 ~ FLY HOME
"See you again!"
It’s the final day of the trip, as we say goodbye to each other, and promise to meet again soon on another Tusker Trail life-changing adventure. "My favorite parts of the trip were the spectacular views, the unparalleled knowledge and humor from our guides Mingma, Shabane & Kombe, and making it to Everest base camp. They absolutely made the trip. We felt safe the whole time, thanks to their attention to detail and knowledge. We learned from them, and enjoyed their personalities immensely. Thanks for an amazing trip!" - 5-Star Review by "Elizabeth"
HIGH ALTITUDE GUIDES
You're in very good hands on Tusker's Everest Base Camp trek. Your dream team of guides includes our Sherpa guide, Mingma plus two of Tusker's Kilimanjaro high altitude (HAFR) safety guides, with decades of climbing experience. Having led thousands of climbers to extreme altitude, they are fully experienced, trained and adept at keeping you safe at altitude.
THE CREW ON YOUR TREK
Your guides and the Nepali crew are the heart and soul of your exciting journey to Everest Base Camp. Tusker has a dedicated team of porters and yaks (Yaks are dedicated) who take care of transporting your food and equipment for this extraordinary journey.
Rounding out the crew is our treasured Nepali chef, Sheri. He and his cooking team ensure that every meal is jammed full of delicious and nutritious eats to keep you fueled and energized for the challenging journey.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Professional guides & dedicated crew
- Lodging as per daily itinerary
- Superb meals prepared by a private cooking team
- Purified drinking water
- Head Sherpa guide
- Two HAFR safety guides
- Airport transfers
- Decades of trekking experience
- Waterproof duffel bags