Everest Base Camp Trek 12 Days Itinerary (2024)

About Everest Base Camp Trek:

Everest Base Camp is a magical place on earth. Not only is it the closest site to the largest mountain in the world, but reaching there gives people a whole new perspective on life. Mount Everest has always been the object of fascination for adventure lovers and mountaineers across the globe. That is why Everest Base Camp is such a massively popular trekking site in Nepal and the world. To reach the Everest Base Camp, tourists require at least nine days. They require immense physical fitness and energy to complete this glorious expedition. Despite the challenging terrain and the uncomfortable accommodations, tourists flock from worldwide to participate in Everest Base Camp Trek.

This 120 km-long-trek ends at Kala Patthar and usually starts at Lukla. You will have to reach up to 18,500 feet to reach the Everest Base Camp expedition’s top-most point at Kala Patthar. You will have to hike through the mesmerizingly beautiful villages and towns in Nepal for approximately twelve days to reach there. In case you have not hiked anywhere for more than ten days, it would be best for you to skip this trek. This hike is only for those who have hiked rough terrains previously. In this trek, you will have to climb high altitudes for days. You might even have to stay in camps in different remote locations of the hike. But do not worry, in most places on the Everest Base Camp trek, you will find tea houses where you will get to stay comfortably for a day or two.

Many trekkers even extend the Everest Base Camp excursion to sixteen or nineteen days. You can cover other places in the region in these extra days, including Gokyo Lakes or Sagarmatha National Park. In case you have had a lifelong dream of trekking to Everest Base Camp, this guide will come in quite handy to you. Here, you will get the important details and the detailed itinerary of Everest Base Camp Trek. So, let us get started with the adventure of a lifetime right now!

Ways to Reach the Starting Point of the Trek

To reach the Everest Base Camp, you will have to cover many sites in the Solu Khumbu region. To get there, you will have to reach Lukla. Lukla is a major town in the Khumbu region of Nepal. There are multiple ways of reaching Lukla, but availing a flight is the most common one. Lukla airport is one of the most famous airports in the country. You could reach there easily by taking a flight from Kathmandu. The journey between Kathmandu and Lukla will not take you more than thirty minutes.

Many people travel to Lukla by Jeep as well. You will need more than six hours to reach Lukla from Kathmandu by car. In case you want to start your hike from before Lukla, you can get to Salleri. By choosing Salleri to be the starting point of your Everest Base Camp Trek, you will need four more days to complete it.

Best Time to Partake in Everest Base Camp Trek

Trekkers and mountaineers participate in the Everest Base Camp trek throughout the year. But it would be best for you if you choose the spring or the autumn seasons to go there. Between March to May and late September to early November, the entire route looks excessively beautiful. Moreover, the climate of the Khumbu area during these months is perfect for exploration. In the spring, you will get to witness the vibrant rhododendrons in their fully bloomed forms throughout the hike. If you go there in the autumn, you will have a crystal-clear view of Mount Everest, Mount Annapurna, Mount Makalu, and other mountain ranges due to the clear skyline.

Despite the positive points of partaking in the Everest Base Camp Trek in the said seasons, some nature lovers prefer to avoid them. Due to the popularity of the months, the entire region surrounding Everest gets overly crowded at the time. That is why many people prefer to partake in this hike during the off-seasons. They can genuinely complete the trip in solitude during the off-season.

The Perfect 12 Days Itinerary for Everest Base Camp Trek

To start the ever-famous Everest Base Camp Trek, you will have first to reach Kathmandu. It would be best for you if you keep the first day in Kathmandu free for sightseeing. You could easily visit most of the renowned places of the valley in a day. If you are an experienced hiker, you can fly Lukla from Kathmandu the next day only, or you can keep the second day free as well. Now, your trek genuinely starts when you reach Lukla. In the following, you will get a thorough itinerary of the hike.

Day 1: Trekking to Phakding

Lukla is a fairly popular town in Nepal, from where many popular trekking trails begin. Like many other treks, the Everest Base Camp trek also starts from Lukla. The first day of your hike will start with the majestic views of the Dudh Koshi Valley. On this day, you will have to reach Phakding, a tiny Nepali town with a variety of tea houses where guests could stay pretty comfortably for a night.

The distance from Lukla to Phakding is not that long, but the steep terrain can exhaust you pretty easily. You will get to witness the beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks amid the lush greenery of forests from this day only. The downhill trail will impact your knees. That is why a comfortable stay at Phakding will come in handy to rejuvenate you.

Day 2: Trekking to Namche

On the second day of the Everest Base Camp trek, you will have to hike to Namche Bazaar. The hike from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is quite challenging as you will have to climb a steel altitude to get there. The Dudh-Koshi river will follow you throughout your hike. The surrounding beauty of the path will genuinely awe you. If you have some extra days in your hand, you can take a detour and trek to Sagarmatha National Park on the way. Otherwise, you will have to keep on moving to reach Monjo. Now, Monjo is the site where you will have to register yourself as a trekker.

The last part of the hike from Monjo to Namche Bazaar is quite challenging. The abrupt altitude change will make you genuinely tired. That is why a night at Namche Bazaar will feel so great to you. This town is quite modern and updated compared to other rural Nepal towns. You will find trekking gear shops, cafes, pubs, and a lot of different stores for all your necessities over there. The hotels in Namche Bazaar are the best among the entire Khumbu region.

Day 3: Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar

Located at an altitude of 11,286 feet, Namche Bazaar is the best place to acclimatize yourself. That is why it would be best for you to stay there for another night. On the third day of your trek, you can explore the beautiful sites of Namche. While staying there, always try to hike to higher altitudes. By hiking to the Khunde hospital, Sunrise point, Sherpa Culture museum, and others, you will see and get to know a lot about the Khumbu region and get acclimatized to higher altitudes pretty well.

Day 4: Trekking to Tengboche

On the fourth day of the excursion, you will have to hike to Tengboche. The trek might feel quite tiring at first, but soon you will feel energized due to the astounding surrounding views. After leaving Namche, the views of the Himalayas will become clearer. You will get genuinely rejuvenated by seeing the spectacular mountain views. Moreover, you will get a glimpse of Mount Everest quite clearly for the first time on the trip. The views will keep on encourage you to complete the hike to Tengboche.

During this trip, you will come across different Sherpa villages where you will learn a lot about Mount Everest. After trekking for the better part of the day, you will reach the Tengboche monastery. This Buddhist temple is the largest monastery in the entire region. The site of this monastery with the backdrop of the majestic mountains will genuinely mesmerize you. It is better to explore this site right after reaching there.

Day 5: Trekking to Dingboche

After spending a night in one of the tea houses in Tengboche, you will have to start the hike to Dingboche the next morning. This hike is relatively easier as it is downhill in its path. But the steep descent might hurt your knees. So, always try to move slowly to minimize the pressure on your knees. On the way, you will have to cross the beautiful Imja Khola River. You will also come across Pangboche, a beautiful village that offers a spectacular view of Ama Dablam.

Soon after crossing Pangboche, you will reach Dingboche. Like Tengboche, Dingboche is also a renowned Buddhist monastery in Nepal. This site is the largest monastery in Khumbu. As you will reach Dingboche during the day, you will have time to explore the monastery quite easily. The stories that you will hear associated with the monastery will genuinely amaze you.

Day 6: Acclimatizing at Dingboche

As the days of your Everest Base Camp trek will proceed, the altitude will get higher. You will require to acclimatize yourself with the height to keep on moving. After Namche, Dingboche is the second place on this trip where you will have to spend a day to acclimatize your body. You can spend the day relaxing in the region, or you can take some shorter hikes to be comfortable with the region. The upper part of the town is quite beautiful. Many trekkers camp in this region of the town.

You can hike to see Nangan Dzong and Dolma Ri while staying in Dingboche. The scenic views you will witness from Dingboche will genuinely make you happy that you came on this trip.

Day 7: Trekking to Lobuche

After spending two days in Dingboche, now it is time to re-start your hike. On the seventh day of the trip, you will hike to Lobuche. Trekking to Lobuche will give you the chance to walk on snowy paths for the first time on the expedition. Throughout the hike, you will get breathtakingly beautiful views of the Tawache and Cholatse peaks. You will rarely see any villages or houses in this pathway due to the harsh climate and tricky terrain.

The most difficult part of the entire trek lies on the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. This glacier is the highest in the world, and climbing it will certainly be one of the most adventurous incidents of your life. On this trip, you will see many stone cairns dedicated to the memories of the Sherpas who died in the past Everest treks. After following the glacier for some time, you will finally reach a tiny village known as Lobuche, where you will spend the night.

Day 8: Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Now, this is finally the day when you will get to reach the famous Everest Base Camp. On the eighth day of the trek, you will start your walk at the crack of dawn from Lobuche. The view of the Himalayas and the entire Khumbu valley during sunrise will make you stunned. We can guarantee that the view that you will encounter during this hike will certainly be one of the best views of your life. You will have to keep trekking on the Khumbu glacier on this day too. After hiking for a few hours, you will reach Gorak Shep. Some eateries and lodges are located on this site where you can have a meal or light snacks.

Finally, after trekking for a few hours from Gorakshep, you will reach Everest Base Camp. When you reach the base camp, you will be stunned to see the sheer number of groups present there. You will see several tents camped in the location. After going there, take a moment to soak in the beauty of the Himalayas and be grateful that you have been lucky and fit enough to come to this trek. You might get emotional after reaching this point, but soon you will have to return to Gorak Shep to spend the night.

Day 9: Trekking to Kala Patthar

Located at an altitude of 18,500 feet, Kala Patthar is the summit of the Everest Base Camp trek. This site will be the main point of your hike. Not everyone climbs the peak, but those who do get to witness the majestic views of the beautiful Khumbu glacier and Mount Everest. Even if you do not climb the peak, you will see the breathtakingly beautiful views of the surrounding region. The best part about Kala Patthar is that it is located right opposite Mount Everest. So, reaching its top will allow you to fathom the surreal glory of the highest mountain in the world.

From the summit of Kala Patthar, you will have to descent a long way down to Lobuche. In case you are not going to scale Kala Patthar, you will have to trek to Periche, a tiny village in Khumbu.

Day 10: Trekking to Tengboche

On the tenth day of your expedition, your return trip will start. From Periche or Lobuche, you will have to walk to reach Tengboche. If you have missed some points surrounding Tengboche, including Pangboche or the monastery, then you can explore them extensively during this hike. You will have the entire day to reach the town. So, click as many pictures as you want and genuinely have fun.

Day 11: Trekking to Namche

On the penultimate day of the trek, you will hike to Namche Bazaar. The trip will be relatively way easier. On the way, you will get to witness the Dudh Koshi river quite easily. If you want to do some shopping, remember to do that in Namche Bazaar.

Day 12: Trekking to Lukla

On the final day of your Everest Base Camp Trek, you will hike to Lukla. The trip will genuinely make you nostalgic about the past eleven days that you spent amid the wilderness of the Himalayas. But make the final night at Lukla worthwhile by having a nice meal with your family or friends.

The Everest Base Camp trek is in no way easy, but with sheer determination, it can be attained. Throughout the trip, you will get to stay in comfortable houses apart from a few sites. Moreover, the food offered in these tea houses and hotels is quite delicious. This trek will genuinely help you get connected to nature in its truest form. By studying this blog, we hope you got a clear perception of the Everest Base Camp Trek.