Fly into Lukla, then an easy 3-hour walk down the Dudh Kosi valley to Phakding to start acclimatising gradually.
Everest Base Camp Trek
12
Days
Overview
- NTB-certified guides with real Khumbu altitude experience
- Small groups, 12 trekkers or fewer, on a fixed daily pace
- Two full acclimatisation days built into the schedule, not skipped for speed
- All-inclusive pricing: permits, lodges, meals and porters covered
- A contingency day at the end for Lukla flight delays, which are common
The Everest Base Camp trek is a 12-day teahouse trek to 5,364m in Nepal's Khumbu region, flying into Lukla and following the Dudh Kosi valley through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and Gorak Shep. It's a genuinely demanding high-altitude trek, not a casual walk. Full route, cost and permit details are below.
The Everest Base Camp trek follows the same valley Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used on the way to the first summit of Everest in 1953. It climbs from Lukla's 2,860m airstrip to 5,364m at base camp, with a side trip to Kala Patthar at 5,545m for the actual mountain view, since Everest itself is hidden from base camp by the Khumbu ice wall.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, well over 40,000 trekking permits are issued for the Khumbu region each year, most of them for this exact route. It's popular for a reason, but it's also genuinely high, genuinely cold, and worth respecting.
Trip snapshot
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 days (trek only, Lukla to Lukla) |
| Max altitude | 5,545m (Kala Patthar), 5,364m at base camp itself |
| Difficulty | Strenuous, 4 to 7 hours walking most days, real altitude risk above 4,000m |
| Best season | March to May, September to November |
| Group size | 2 to 12 people, or private on request |
| Price basis | Per person, teahouse full board included |
| Permits required | Sagarmatha National Park entry and Khumbu Rural Municipality fee |
Booking
We run this trek with the same guide throughout, not a rotating roster. Email contact@aqtreks.com or visit aqtreks.com to check open dates.
Itinerary
Cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge and climb steadily into Sagarmatha National Park. 5 to 6 hours.
Rest day with a hike up to the Everest View Hotel or Khumjung village for early mountain views. Sleep low, climb high.
Along the valley to Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual centre of the Khumbu. 5 to 6 hours.
Day 5 :
Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410m)
Through Pangboche village into the drier, higher Imja valley. 5 hours.
Day 6 :
Acclimatisation day in Dingboche
Rest day with an optional hike up Nagarjun Hill for a first proper look at Makalu and Lhotse.
Day 7 :
Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940m)
Past the Thukla memorials for climbers lost on Everest, then along the Khumbu Glacier’s edge. 5 to 6 hours.
Drop packs at Gorak Shep, then walk the rocky glacier moraine to Everest Base Camp itself and back. Long day, 7 to 8 hours total.
Pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar for the best Everest view on the whole trek, then a long descent to Pheriche. 7 hours.
Day 10 :
Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
Retrace the valley back down to Namche. 6 hours.
Day 11 :
Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Final long descent back to Lukla. 6 to 7 hours.
Day 12 :
Contingency day in Lukla
Built in on purpose. Lukla flights get cancelled by weather often enough that we plan for it instead of pretending it won’t happen.
The cost includes
- All teahouse accommodation on the trek
- Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day on the trail
- Sagarmatha National Park permit and rural municipality entry fee
- Licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers)
- Kathmandu to Lukla flights, both directions
The cost excludes
- International flights to Kathmandu
- Nepal visa fee
- Travel insurance with high-altitude helicopter evacuation cover
- Personal trekking gear and down jacket rental if needed
- Tips for guide and porters
Before You Go
Best time to go
We send most guests in spring or autumn, and honestly there's not much between them. Spring gets you rhododendron colour lower down and slightly warmer nights; autumn gets you the sharpest, driest mountain views of the year. If you can only pick one, we lean autumn for Everest specifically.
Winter is trekkable but genuinely cold, well below freezing most nights above Namche. Monsoon, June to August, brings cloud that hides the views you came for, plus a higher chance of Lukla flight delays.
Check the forecast for the Khumbu specifically on Windy.com before you fly, and look at the route on OpenStreetMap if you want to see the exact trail ahead of time.
Permits and practical info
Two fees cover the whole trek: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and a local Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee. Neither needs a TIMS card, since this specific region has its own entry system. We handle both when you book.
This is the highest trek we run, and altitude sickness is a real risk above Dingboche. Our guides check oxygen saturation daily and won't push a schedule if someone needs an extra rest day. For general reference, the Himalayan Rescue Association runs an aid post in Pheriche during trekking season, and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology publishes Nepal's official weather forecasts.
Ready to go? Email contact@aqtreks.com or book through aqtreks.com.
Departures
No fixed departure dates published yet for this trek — send us an enquiry for a private departure.
Routes
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Everest Base Camp trek take?
Our itinerary runs 12 days, trek only, Lukla to Lukla. Many agencies quote 14 to 16 days because they add Kathmandu arrival, departure and buffer days. We count trekking days specifically, since plenty of guests are already in Nepal and only need the trek portion planned.
How high is Everest Base Camp?
Everest Base Camp itself sits at 5,364 metres. Most trekkers also climb Kala Patthar at 5,545 metres, which is actually the better viewpoint, since Everest's summit is hidden from base camp by the surrounding ridgeline and the Khumbu Icefall. We build both stops into every itinerary.
How hard is the Everest Base Camp trek?
It's strenuous, mainly because of altitude rather than technical difficulty. You'll walk 4 to 7 hours most days on well-established trails, no ropes or climbing gear needed. The real challenge is acclimatising properly above 4,000m, which is why we build two full rest days into the schedule.
Do I need a helicopter option for Everest Base Camp?
No, it's entirely optional. Some companies sell an Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return as a way to skip the multi-day walk out. We run the full trek both ways because that's what most of our guests actually want, but we can arrange a helicopter return on request.
What permits do I need for Everest Base Camp?
You need a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry fee (NPR 2,000). This region doesn't use the standard TIMS card system that most other Nepal treks require. We arrange both permits as part of your package.
What is the best time for the Everest Base Camp trek?
Spring, March to May, and autumn, September to November, are both reliable. Autumn tends to give the clearest, driest mountain views of the year, which is why we lean slightly toward it for this specific trek, though spring's rhododendron forest at lower elevation is genuinely worth seeing too.
How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost?
Our all-inclusive package starts at USD 1,600 per person solo, dropping to roughly USD 1,150 per person in a group of 7 to 12. That covers Lukla flights, permits, teahouse lodging, full board, a licensed guide and porter service. International flights and insurance aren't included.
What is the Khumbu Icefall?
It's the notoriously unstable, crevassed section of the Khumbu Glacier directly above Everest Base Camp, the first major obstacle on the standard climbing route to Everest's summit. Trekkers see it clearly from base camp and Kala Patthar but never cross it. it's for climbers only, roped and with fixed ladders.
Do I need travel insurance for the Everest Base Camp trek?
Yes, and it needs to specifically cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation above 5,000m. Standard travel insurance often excludes this. We ask every guest to confirm their policy covers at least 6,000m before departure, since rescue costs from this altitude are genuinely high without it.
What should I pack for the Everest Base Camp trek packing list?
Layered clothing rated for well below freezing, a warm sleeping bag (minus 15°C or colder), good broken-in boots, sunglasses rated for glacier glare, and a headlamp for the pre-dawn Kala Patthar climb. We send every booked guest a detailed packing list, and gear rental is available in Kathmandu if you'd rather not fly with it.
Reviews
4.7
★★★★★
3 reviews
★★★★★
“Our guide Pemba called the altitude pace exactly right — nobody in the group got sick. The extra acclimatisation day in Dingboche was worth every hour.”
★★★★★
“Lodges were basic but warm, and the porters were treated properly which mattered to me after reading about weight limits elsewhere. Would book again.”
★★★★☆
“Incredible trip. Knocking one star only because our Lukla flight got weathered out two days — not really anyone's fault, just Khumbu weather.”
Per person
Total
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