The Everest Base Camp trek is not the world's highest walk — it's the world's most celebrated. At 5,364 metres, surrounded by the Khumbu Icefall and walls of ice and granite, you understand in your bones why this mountain has consumed the imaginations of climbers for over a century.
The Trek at a Glance
The classic EBC route covers roughly 130 km round trip, beginning and ending in the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,840 m). You walk through rhododendron forests, past yak herds and mani stones, through the Sherpa heartland of the Khumbu valley, and above the treeline into a world of permanent ice and stone. The final reward is not the summit — no permit can take you there — but the base of the mountain: a wind-scoured glacier at 5,364 m where the world's most ambitious expeditions begin.
Most trekkers complete it in 12–16 days, including two acclimatisation rest days. Fourteen days is the ideal balance: enough time to acclimatise safely without rushing through villages that deserve more than a passing glance.
Day-by-Day Route
- Day 1: Fly Kathmandu → Lukla (2,840 m), trek to Phakding (2,610 m) — 3–4 hrs
- Day 2: Phakding → Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) — 5–6 hrs, crossing the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge
- Day 3: Acclimatisation day in Namche — hike to Hotel Everest View (3,880 m) for your first Everest sighting
- Day 4: Namche → Tengboche (3,860 m) — 5 hrs, pass the famous Tengboche Monastery with Ama Dablam framed behind it
- Day 5: Tengboche → Dingboche (4,410 m) — 5 hrs
- Day 6: Acclimatisation day in Dingboche — hike to Nagarjun Hill (5,100 m)
- Day 7: Dingboche → Lobuche (4,940 m) — 5 hrs
- Day 8: Lobuche → Gorak Shep (5,164 m) → Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) — 7–8 hrs; return to Gorak Shep
- Day 9: Gorak Shep → Kala Patthar (5,545 m) at sunrise → descend to Pheriche (4,280 m)
- Days 10–13: Gradual descent via Namche Bazaar back to Lukla
- Day 14: Fly Lukla → Kathmandu
Never ascend more than 500 m per day above 3,000 m. The acclimatisation days at Namche and Dingboche are not optional rest days — they are medically critical. Descend immediately if you experience severe headache, vomiting, or loss of coordination.
Permits You Need
Two permits are required for the EBC trek. The Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit costs Rs 3,000 (~$22) for SAARC nationals and Rs 3,000 for others, obtainable in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board or at the park gate in Monjo. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit costs Rs 2,000 (~$15) and is collected at the checkpoint in Lukla. Carry passport-size photos and keep permits accessible — they are checked multiple times along the route.
Best Season
Spring (March–May) is the most popular window. Skies are clear, rhododendrons bloom in the lower forests, and temperatures at base camp hover around −10°C at night — cold but manageable. Autumn (October–November) is equally popular: post-monsoon skies are crystal clear, and the views from Kala Patthar on a clear October morning are among the finest in the Himalayas.
Avoid the monsoon season (June–August): trails turn to mud, leeches infest lower elevations, and clouds obscure mountain views for weeks at a time. Winter (December–February) is doable for experienced trekkers but temperatures at altitude drop below −20°C and Lukla flights are frequently cancelled.
Altitude Sickness — Know the Signs
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) affects roughly 50% of trekkers above 4,000 m. Mild symptoms — headache, fatigue, loss of appetite — are normal and manageable with rest and hydration. The warning signs that demand immediate descent are: severe headache unrelieved by ibuprofen, persistent vomiting, extreme fatigue, confusion, or difficulty walking in a straight line. These indicate High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) or High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE), both of which can be fatal within hours without descent.
Carry Diamox (acetazolamide) — consult your doctor before the trek. HACE/HAPE kits are available at Himalayan Rescue Association clinics in Namche and Pheriche.
The 35-minute flight from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla is one of the world's most thrilling approaches — the runway ends in a cliff face. Flights operate only in good weather and are frequently delayed or cancelled. Build buffer days into your Kathmandu arrival. Helicopter charters are available as backup for around $500–$600 per person.
What to Pack
- Layering system: moisture-wicking base layer, insulating mid-layer, waterproof shell
- Down jacket rated to at least −15°C
- Broken-in, ankle-supporting trekking boots (not trail runners above Namche)
- Trekking poles — knees will thank you on the descent
- Sleeping bag rated to −15°C (some teahouses provide blankets, none provide bags at altitude)
- Headlamp with spare batteries (cold kills batteries fast)
- Water purification tablets or a UV pen — giardia is common from glacier meltwater
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ and UV-blocking sunglasses — UV radiation is 30% more intense at altitude
- Travel insurance that explicitly covers helicopter evacuation above 5,000 m