Everest Base Camp Trek

Free day in Kathmandu in preparation for the trek, or one can join in our tour around Kathmandu at places of interest, as Kathmandu city and the valley are steeped with World Heritage Sites.

A 30-minute flight and a 3-hour trek.

Breakfast and take a short drive to Kathmandu Airport to board the domestic flight to Lukla. A morning flight of 40 minutes takes us to Lukla, with grand views of Himalayan peaks. We will be greeted with an excellent mountain in the panorama from the first step to the Lukla airport, with cool air letting you feel the atmosphere. We spend about an hour with tea/coffee and handover our luggage to the porters. Then, we take a short introductory walk while the porters prepare their load. After spending an hour, we start the trek with great excitement.

Star trek through the village of Lukla, gets checked with Khumbu Pasang Lhamu and TIMS permits at the end of the town and exits from the village with immediate walking down through a forest facing northwest with welcoming views of Mount Kongde (Dudh Kunda Mountains) in front. After about twenty minutes walk, the trail traverses to Chhoplung, seeing the village and School of Chauri Kharka (currently misspelt with Chaula Kharka). (Chauri is female Yak, and Kharka means Shed in Nepali), the largest and ancestral village of Lukla village until Lukla Airport was pastureland. After a short traverse, we join the trail from Jiri to Everest Basecamp at Chhoplung, a hamlet of Sherpas. From Chhoplung, there is a level trail with short descending and climbing and traverses several villages, including Ghat. The views in front are Phakdingma, the Dudh Kosi River Valley and Kongde Mountain. Most houses on the trail and villages are lodges and restaurants for travellers. Finally, we cross several beautiful villages, such as Ghat and arrive at Kharikhola village on the bank of the Dudh Kosi River.

A 5-hour Trek.

The trek follows the Dudh Kosi River valley through a narrow valley gorged by the Dudh Kosi River and guarded by Kusumkangru Mountain and Kongde Mountain bases. The river valley becomes narrower but a pleasant walk with occasional mountain views and teahouse until we approach Monjo, the entrance point of Sagarmatha National Park and our lunch place, a lovely place on the bank of Dudh Kosi River. The high mountain slopes are beautifully dense, home to elusive Himalayan fauna and flora.

The afternoon walk takes uphill to Namche Bazaar through a lovely forest, crossing the Dudh Koshi twice through a sky-soaring suspension bridge. The walking up to Namche takes 2 hours with rest.

Namche Bazar lies at an altitude of 3500 metres, and it is one of the main junctions, branching trails to Thame, Khumjung and Tengboche. The path via Thame leads to Tibet via Nangpa La Pass, Rolwaling via Tashi Lapcha Pass, and Gokyo via Renjo La. With the demand of the time, the Sherpa town has developed itself as a colourful and divergent market, selling everything, including trekking and mountaineering equipment. In addition, there are hotels, restaurants, pubs, cybercafé, pool houses, Banks, health posts, a monastery, and a Sherpa house museum. Most trekkers rest at Namche while hiking up and stop for lunch or refreshments while returning. Those taking a rest at Namche can hike to Thamo village on the way to Thame or stroll to Everest View Hotel, a five-star hotel above Namche with fantastic views of Everest and its surroundings.

A 5-hour Trek.

A scenic trail leads to the northeast of Namche. The Dudh Kosi valley, Thamserku, Kusum Kangru, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Tawoche, Khumbila and Kongde are some of the highlights of the day. From Namche, the trail climbs for 15 minutes to a Junction to Khumjung and Tengboche and forks to the right on a level and view-filled trail until Senasa, the main junction below Khumjung village from where the path to Everest Basecamp, Gokyo Valley, Namche and Khumjung get branched. The area from Namche to Tengboche and Phortse is home to the Himalayan tahr, standing on the sheer cliff tops and hill slopes with luxurious manes and rainbowy impean pheasants, the national bird of Nepal, and skittery Musk Deer. We take the trail to the Everest base camp and head toward the Phortse Tenga with a pleasant descent, where we take our lunch below the Phortse and Tengboche villages.

The afternoon requires uphill till Tengboche through a forest full of rhododendron, pine and birch. While resting, the views toward Namche with Kongde, Everest view hotel, Mongla, Kangthega, Kusumkangru, Dudh Koshi Valley, and Khumbila are beautifully open. With the first step on the Tengboche meadow, the views to the north are unobstructed, with an imposing Mount Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse topped by the tip of Mount Everest. Tengboche is a beautiful place in terms of its views. Get checked into the rooms and refreshments, and visit the Tengboche Monastery.

Tengboche Monastery is one of the most known monasteries in Nepal, probably because of its unrivalled backdrop of Mt. Ama Dablam. This monastery was the leading Buddhist centre in the Khumbu region under the guidance of Tengboche Rinpoche, who passed away on the 10th of October 2020. Another active monastery in the Khumbu region is the Thame Monastery. But among the most ancient are Pangboche Monastery, Thame Monastery and Rimijung Monastery, founded by Lama Sangwa Dorjee and his two tantric brothers.

A 5-hour Trek.

The morning starts with grand views in front. The first part of the trek leads downhill through the lovely rhododendron and pine forest to Diboche, with several lodges and a monastery of nuns; those interested may visit the monastery. Continuing a level walk through a pleasant and primitive-looking forest brings us below the Pangboche village. Next, we cross the bridge and go uphill to Pangboche with a majestic view of Ama Dablam; the base camp of Ama Dablam is barely within two hours of easy walking distance. As we approach the village, the view toward the Chhukung, Lhotse, and Nuptse walls is amazing until we reach Dingboche, the last major settlement.

 We arrive at Dingboche with time for a stroll around. A short climb above the village offers beautiful scenery of the complete Dingboche village with imposing Ama Dablam and your surroundings.

A 6-hour Trek.

A further acclimatizing day at Dingboche before entering the base of Everest to ensure nothing surprises our lifetime program. There are several options to spend the day, including a relaxing day at the lodge. The most recommended option is an excursion to Chhukung, the last inhabitable site below the sheer Lhotse and Nuptse wall. The trail to Chhukung and back are beautiful, with mani-walls and some sacred sites adorned with colourful prayer flags fluttering against the incredible views. If you make this trip, give some energy to summit the Chhukung Ri 5540 metres, and enjoy seeing the red granite of Makalu, the south wall of Baruntse, Ama Dablam; and in hand reaching distance, the sheer wall of Lhotse and Nuptse! Many of our guests say Chhukung Ri has the most beautiful views. Have lunch at Chhukung and back to Dingboche, one of the beautiful days.

A 4-hour Trek.

The trek begins with a gentle uphill and traverses to Thugla, with beautiful views of Pheriche village and its valley expanding high above until the Dzongla with a beautiful view of Mount Tawoche, Cholhatse and Lobuje Peak. Lobuje is one of the most preferred six thousand metres acclimatizing peaks for most Everest climbers and a trekkers’ peak to experience climbing in the Himalayas while on a trek in the region. Then, cross the freshly exiting Khumbu glacial river, on a bridge, at Thugla and climb gradually up until the level of the Khumbu glacier rim. Looking back toward the lower valley while taking short rests offers incredible sceneries, yet 360-degree views, Everest hidden by the Nuptse.

The pace naturally gets slowed due to the less oxygen in the influence of the World’s highest mountain, but the distance from Dingboche to Lobuche is very short; for local Sherpas, it is a 40-minute walk!

Lobuche is the major stoppage for all trekkers and mountaineering groups to Everest. Most trekkers use Lobuche as a base for Kalapather’s viewpoint and make a day excursion to avoid the chances of altitude sickness. Everest climbing groups come here to rest and recharge.

A 6 to 7-hour Trek.

Today we visit the Everest Basecamp, the base of the third pole, and at least once a lifetime destination for most lucky people to come here. The trail leads through the rim of the Khumbu glacier, with fantastic views around. As we approach Gorakshep, Mount Pumori appear as beautiful and majestic as Mount Ama Dablam from Tengboche. At Gorakshep, we check into a Lodge, leave our bags and porters here, take a refreshing drink, and continue to the east with great views of the Khumbu glacier and Everest basecamp in front. The trail is primarily flat but requires walking on a glacial moraine. However, the sight of Mount Pumori and the Khumbu Icefall is attractive. We stop at the base camp, enjoy our packed lunch, talk about the triumph and tragedies, take essential photos for lifetime memory and walk back to Gorakshep. We arrive at Gorakshep well-tired but with a feeling of accomplishment. The views all around are astonishing all day and night. If you take a chance to come out of your lodge, you may start counting the stars with dazzling summits!

A 5-hour Trek.

Another great day ahead! Today we hike to the top of Kalapathar, one of the most famed viewpoints in the World, to catch the best views of Mount Everest. The trip starts early at dawn to see Everest’s changing colours, black to yellow, gold and silver, with the first sunrise rays landing on top of Everest! The trip takes about 45 minutes, enjoying the glowing east, the sign that the sun is throwing its beam at any moment. Take great pictures and descend to Gorakshep to enjoy a hearty hot breakfast.

We have reached the maximum points of the third pole and captured as much as we could see and understand. After breakfast, we retrace the trail back to Gorakshep, Thugla, then walk through Pheriche village and exit southeast to meet the path we took while going to Dingboche. The sceneries around are indescribable in words. Grand and beautiful summits rim the valley toward Dzongla, Chhukung and Pangboche. A gradual walk down brings us to Pangboche, one of the ancient villages of Khumbu Valley with a monastery. While coming from Tengboche, we passed through the lower village, which was developed to serve the trekking and mountaineering groups. The Upper Village is the primary and original settlement amidst tall Himalayan juniper trees. Check into a lodge and, time permitting, visit its monastery and villages.

A 5-hour Trek.

Breakfast and continue to Phortse village, another beautiful village of Sherpa people. Tourists frequent less this part of the trail, so the chances of seeing wildlife and birdlife are high. From Phortse or the entire trail offer views of Ama Dablam, Tengboche, Kusumkangru, Khumbila, Khumjung, Kongde, and Dudh Koshi Valley. Phortse village has a monastery and a mountaineering school, and it is opposite the west of the Tengboche meadow and can view each other from them. From Phortse, there are trails to Gokyo, Tengboche, Pangboche and Khumjung.

Stop at Phortse for lunch and trek to Phortse Tenga, crossing the river from Gokyo Valley, fed by Ngozumba glacier, which merges with the river from Khumbu glacier at Pungi Tenga, where we took lunch while going to Tengboche. A short walk reaches a junction to Gokyo and Namche/Khumjung, and the trail traverses a narrow valley with a steep climb to Mongla. Mongla is a small hill ridge with a stupa, some teahouses and an extraordinary view, including Tengboche and Phortse villages, Everest view hotel, and the uncountable mountains in a row few kilometres across the valley.

A 5-hour Trek.

Breakfast with amazing sceneries and a short downhill to Khumjung village, the Khumbu region’s main ancient village, composed of the Khumjung and Khunde. And accordingly, the villages have two monasteries, a school, a hospital, several hotels and lodges. On the way, visit the Khumbu monastery, walk up to Khunde village, rest with some refreshments, and see the villages. Then leave the Khunde village and walk southwest, cross a mani-wall and stupa, and a beautiful gradual hike through sparse but tall pine trees and fantastic Himalayan sceneries, including Khunde village and Khumbila. Khumbila is the sacred black mountain above Khumjung and Khunde villages, with several ancient meditation caves. Finally, arrive at a lovely ridge opening to the southwest with views of Kongde and a small Pilatus potter landing field. Cross the landing field and see the entire Namche bazaar under our knees and the huge Dudh Kosi valley with countless rolling hills, and the mountain sceneries are always there. A short descent at Namche, have rest and lunch. After lunch, we retrace the trail down to Monjo, a pleasant two-hour walk.

A 6-hour Trek.

The last day of the trek! The trail retraces through all those tiny hamlets of Sherpa people along the Dudh Kosi river valley until Chhoplung but with different views and perspectives. From Chhoplung, we take the trail to Lukla, which requires a short uphill through a thin forest above the Chaurikharka village. Arrive at Lukla and get checked into a lodge. Trekking is over with a great sense of accomplishment. The evening is an occasion to celebrate to see off to your porters who accompanied you until here. The porters will travel separately to Kathmandu with one long day walk to Kharikhola and another full day drive to Kathmandu or start another trek to Everest basecamp!

A 30-minute flight.

Most flights get operated early in the morning, so we must wake up early. Take an early breakfast while the guide and porters transport your bags to the airport, take a short walk to Tenzing-Hillary airport, get checked in and fly to Kathmandu. A short scenic flight takes you to Kathmandu. Upon landing, the representative of Happy Feet Mountaineers will welcome you back and transfer you to your hotels. Get distributed to the rooms, and the rest of the day is free.

A reserve day to make sure of a trouble-free itinerary. If all goes well, use the extra day to visit some of the medieval towns of Kathmandu, such as Bhaktapur, Patan, Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambunath Stupa, some of not to miss sites in the Kathmandu valley when you are already here.

Breakfast and the rest of the day are leisure on your own. The Representative of Happy Feet Mountaineers will arrive at your hotel with transport three hours before your departure flight time. Get escorted from the hotel to the International Departure Terminal, see off formalities, and go through the immigration and departure.