Short Everest Base Camp Trek: Top 3 Recommendations
The thought of the Everest Base Camp trek seems like a lengthy, arduous affair—the one that goes on for weeks on end. While there are plenty of trekking itineraries that last over 14 days, you can also do short Everest Base Camp treks. Here are our guides on accomplishing the coveted trek that will take you all the way to the foothill of the world’s highest peak within 8 to 10 days.
1. Explore Tibetan Highlights: Everest Base Camp Trek in 8 days
| Day 1 | Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa |
| Day 2 | Enjoy the sights in Lhasa |
| Day 3 | Visit the Potala Palace |
| Day 4 | Drive along the Friendship Highway to Shigatse |
| Day 5 | Continue driving towards Rongbuk |
| Day 6 | Trek up to Everest Base Camp and return to Shigatse |
| Day 7 | Drive back to Lhasa |
| Day 8 | Return to either Kathmandu or China by air or rail |
If you have only 8 days to complete an Everest Base Camp trek, then we recommend cutting the journey time by driving along the Tibetan side. This 8-day Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary allows you to learn more about Tibetan culture and see the beautiful Buddhist palaces and temples before heading into the mountains. If you do not want to spend multiple days hiking through the Himalayas but still want to visit the Everest Base Camp, this itinerary is for you.
2. Get Panoramic Views of Everest: Everest Base Camp Trek in 9 days
| Day 1 | Fly to Lukla and head to Phakding |
| Day 2 | Hike to Namche Bazaar |
| Day 3 | Acclimatize to the high altitude and hike to the Everest View Hotel |
| Day 4 | Hike to the Thame Monastery |
| Day 5 | Trek to Khumjung |
| Day 6 | Continue trek to Tengboche |
| Day 7 | See the sunrise over Mount Everest and return to Namche Bazaar |
| Day 8 | Trek back to Lukla |
| Day 9 | Fly back to Kathmandu |
Want to see the glorious views of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam in a 9-day short Everest Base Camp trek? This itinerary will offer you just that. This Everest Base Camp trek follows the most popular route, with stopovers at Sherpa villages and sightseeing tours of local monasteries. Along the way, you will also see panoramic views of the Himalayas.
3. Everest Base Camp on a Chopper Return: Everest Base Camp Trek in 10 days
| Day 1 | Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding |
| Day 2 | Continue trek to Namche Bazaar |
| Day 3 | Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar |
| Day 4 | Hike to Tyangboche |
| Day 5 | Trek through the forest to Dingboche |
| Day 6 | Acclimatize by taking a day’s hike to Nangkartshang Peak or Chhukung |
| Day 7 | Head to Lobuche |
| Day 8 | Trek to Everest Base Camp via Gorakshep |
| Day 9 | Hike to Kala Patthar and take a chopper ride back to Lukla |
| Day 10 | Fly back to Kathmandu |
If you have got only 10 days to reach Everest Base Camp, you are going to want to reduce the time that you spend returning to Lukla. The easiest way to do this is to take a chopper ride back from the beautiful Everest viewpoint at Kalapatthar. Once at Lukla you can catch a flight back to Kathmandu. Check out our helicopter tours to Everest Base Camp.
It is possible to complete a short Everest Base Camp trek within 8 to 10 days, without missing out on the experience of journeying through the Himalayas’ most iconic routes and immersing yourself in local culture. Check out our guide if you are not sure how long the Everest Base Camp trek takes or reach out to our travel experts for the most up-to-date conditions.
