Everest Base Camp Trek - Overview
The Everest Base Camp trek (EBC) is possibly the most dramatic and picturesque in the Nepalese Himalaya. Not only will you stand face to face with Mount Everest, Sagarmatha in Nepali language, at 8,848m (29,029 ft), but you will be following in the footsteps of great mountaineers like Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who all wanted to reach Everest's summit.
The trek to EBC is scenic and offers ever-changing Himalayan scenery through forests, hills and quaint villages. A great sense of anticipation builds as you trek up the Khumbu Valley, passing through intriguing Sherpa villages, Tibetan monasteries, all towered over by some of highest and most stunningly beautiful mountains of the world. In the evenings you will be rewarded with delicious Nepalese cuisine around the dining-room fire while sipping Sherpa tea and conversing with other like-minded travelers.
Besides the superlative Mount Everest, some other prominent peaks visible during the Everest Base Camp trek include Lhotse (8501m), Makalu (8463m), Cho Oyu (8153m), and Ama Dablam (6856m).
| Everest Base Camp Trek - Trek Facts | |
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Trek Difficulty: |
Level 3 - Medium |
| Trek Duration: | 12 days |
| Remoteness: | Remote but a busy and well-serviced trekking trail |
| Max Altitude: | 5364m at EBC and 5643m at the Kala Patthar |
| Accommodation: | Basic teahouses / Moderately-priced lodges / Fancy guesthouses and Hotels |
| Best season: | Mar-May, Oct-Nov |
| Transport To/From Trek | Flight to the town of Lukla (2860m); also accessible by taking a bus to Shivalaya and then a few days of trekking up to Lukla. |
| Required permits: |
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Everest Base Camp Trek - Itinerary
The standard trekking itinerary for the Everest Base Camp Trek is 12 days long. However, it may vary slightly depending on the trekking agency you choose to go with:
- Day 1: Flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding (2,650m)
- Day 2: Phakding - Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
- Day 3: Acclimization day at Namche Bazaar
- Day 4: Namche - Tengboche (3,860m)
- Day 5: Tengboche - Dingboche (4,360m)
- Day 6: Dingboche - Dughl (4,600m)
- Day 7: Dughl - Lobuche (4,940m)
- Day 8: Lobuche - Gorakshep (5,150m), then to Everest Base Camp (5,364m), and back to Gorakshep
- Day 9: Gorakshep - Kala Patthar (5,643m) - Pheriche (4,280m)
- Day 10: Pheriche - Namche (3,440m)
- Day 11: Namche - Phakding - Lukla (2,860m)
- Day 12: Flight from Lukla - Kathmandu
Alternate Routes:
- Option 1: Although the EBC trek is the most well-known of all the treks in Nepal, there are other alternative treks that you can take. A popular choice is the shorter Everest Panorama Trek which can be completed in 8 days. You will get to see Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks but the Base Camp itself is not part of this trekking route. The maximum altitude on this trek is normally around 3,860 meters, as the itinerary's highest point is normally Tengboche.
- Option 2: Another option is the Gokyo Trek which takes 12 days to complete and offers views of Everest and nearby peaks, Gokyo Lake and the longest glacier in Nepal - Ngozumpa Glacier. You also have the option to combine the Everest Base Camp Trek with the Gokyo Trek for a 15-day trip.
- Option 3: A third alternative is the combined Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek which takes 15 days. This trek is highly recommended, as you will both see the amazing and pristine Gokyo region as well as Everest Base Camp.
- Option 4: Finally, if you have 16 days available or more, you can do the amazing Everest Base Camp 3 Passes Trek, crossing the 3 passes Kong Ma La Pass, Cho La Pass, and Renjo La Pass, each of them above 5,000 meters.
Everest Base Camp - Safety considerations
Please note the following safety considerations for the Everest Base Camp trek:
- This is a high altitude trek and therefore careful acclimatization is needed. Acclimatization days are required during the trek to avoid altitude sickness.
- Temperatures regularly drop below freezing around EBC during early spring, late autumn and winter. Please ensure that you have the proper gear and clothing for the time of the year.