12 Days Everest Base Camp Short Trekking Tour Nepal
Trip Overview
Everest Base Camp Trek is a thrilling, adventurous, and spiritually elevating experience. This Himalayan trek from Lukla to Kala Patthar may not be easy, but it’s definitely worth it with a steady climb from 2800m/9187ft to 5545m/18193ft. The trail takes you from the river valley of Dudh Kosi to the Sagarmatha National Park, following the footprints of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to the foothills of the World’s Highest Peak- Mount Everest.
After a flight from the domestic airport Kathmandu to Lukla, we start trekking to upper Phakding and follow the Dudh Kosi river valley, which takes you through the Sherpa capital of Namche - a bustling bazaar(market) with ATM’s, and other important facilities for the trekkers. From the junction of Namche, we trek along the high traversing path to witness the first enchanting view of the Everest and then head towards a 2-hour climb to the Tengboche Monastery. The monastery is at 3869m and sits around a beautiful spot with dwarf firs and rhododendrons surrounding it. It is located very structurally on the top of the ridge, and the landscape elaborates the commanding views of the Everest.
Then we descend to Imja Khola and continue walking towards the villages of Pangboche and Pheriche, till the time we reach the Khumbu Glacier. By following the glacier we reach Lobuche, and trek uphill the next day to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp, again returning back to Gorakshep for the night stay. As we climb on the grassy ridge of Gorakshep, we finally reach Kala Patthar (5545m) in about 2 hours, an astonishing sight-seeing location.
This trek is challenging, aggressive, and could be exhausting as there are no proper acclimatization days. So, this trek is advised and suitable for people with good physical fitness who have prior trekking experience.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sightseeing of the architectural beauty of temples and Stupas.
- Himalayan Mountain flight from or to Lukla.
- 8000m mountains including the Mount Everest.
- Sherpa culture and the Khumbu Valley.
- Tengboche Monastery.
Departure/Return Location
Kathmandu International Airport
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Kathmandu International airport, where a representative will welcome you by holding a clear sign, and you will be accompanied to check-in to your hotel, where you can taste the authentic Nepali food(free dinner). Explore the historical and vibrant city of Nepal for the rest of the day.
Day 2:
Take an early morning flight to Lukla, and start trekking to Phakding, a 2-3 hours of trek with 200m descent and 50m ascent, as we pass through the Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat, Sano, Thulo Gumela, shrines, monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa, the sacred mountain Kumbila, and the sister summits of Kusum Kanguru peaks.
Day 3:
Trek to Namche Bazaar, a 5-6 hours distance of 1000m ascent, and 100 m descent. We will be crossing the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see Thamserku, the villages of Benkar, Chumoa, Monjo, Utche Choling Gompa, Sagarmatha National Park, Jorsale village, Dudh Kosi river gorge, and Lhotse-Nuptse ridge.
Day 4:
Trek to Tengboche for 4 hours with 350m descent and 750 ascent from Namche Bazaar. A grand panorama of peaks from Thamserku to Ama Dablam, to Lhotse to Everest can be viewed. From there, we traverse to Kyangjuma, the trail junction at Sanasa, Tashinga to Phunki Thenga, to ultimately reach the monastery of Tengboche through a forest of tall and mature rhododendrons.
Day 5:
Trek to Dingboche for 3-5 hours, which has 70m descent, and 580m ascent from Tengboche. Be alert if you can spot the Musk Deer as you cross Debuche Gompa, Pangboche Gompa, Imja Khola, the village of Shomare. Cross through yak pastures and the stone huts of herdsmen at Orsho and Tsuro Wog to end up at the sprawling settlement of Dingboche.
Day 6:
Trek to Lobuche for 4-5 hours which has a 700m ascent. On the trail to Lobuche, pass through a place called Dusa, Dughla, Chupki Lhara, Khumbu glacier moraine giving a giving of three great peaks of Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori.
Day 7:
Trek to Gorak Shep, leading towards the Everest Base Camp, and returning back to Gorak Shep. Get a spectacular 360 degree view from the Thangma Riju spot, of the mountains around Taboche and Labuche peaks. Witness the blue waters of the Gorak Shep lake , while the Chantgse peak in Tibet and Lho La depression can be seen right ahead. From EBC trekking ends and mountaineering begins. Descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay.
Day 8:
Trek to Kala Patthar, and return trek to Pheriche. The trek begins after an early breakfast without any hurry, we will be crossing through the wide sandy bed of dried up lake and steep zigzags about 100m to enjoy the view of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. Grasp the unbelievable Himalayan beauty in a panoramic view of the highest peaks. Then, retrace the way back for a night stay, along Khumbu Khola to Pheriche, instead of Dingboche through Gorak Shep, Lobuche, and from Dughla.
Day 9:
Trek back to Namche Bazaar! Get down to Tsuro Wog, and then proceed through Orsho, Shomare, to upper Pangboche, and finally to the Tengboche which has Khumbu’s largest gompa. Move towards Phunki Tenga from Sanasa and Kyangjuma to Namche Bazaar.
Day 10:
Final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi, down to Lukla, the same way we came up, and then spend the overnight at the lodge.
Day 11:
Take a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu where you will be dropped to the hotel. Let the night be full of sharing the experiences, clicking photos, and most importantly taking a deep breath during your farewell dinner.
Day 12:
After gaining a new feeling of accomplishment, head back to your home by taking a flight from the International Airport of Kathmandu to your respective homes. If you change your mind, and prefer to stay, then you can still consult us to help you explore the other excursion activities at Nepal like rafting, mountain biking, Bhutan tours, etc.
Included
- Pickup and drop-in from the airport/hotel in a private car/van.
- Two nights stay at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (breakfast included).
- Nine nights stay at a Lodge/Guest House during the EBC trek.
- An experienced English speaking Trekking Guide, and a porter for the trek (2 trekkers will get 1 porter).
- All expenses, cost, payments, food, insurance, and lodging charges of guide and porter.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Tea and Coffee during the trek.
- Welcome meals and Farewell meals with breakfasts in Kathmandu.
- All permissions like National Park Permit and TIMS for the Everest.
- Domestic flight charges from Kathmandu to Lukla, and Lukla to Kathmandu.
- Down Jacket and Sleeping Bag (needs to be returned back to the office, after the trek).
- ACH Kitbag, and a T-shirt.
Excluded
- Nepal entry Visa fees.
- International flight charges and Departure tax.
- Miscellaneous expenses for personal use like laundry, bar, etc.
- Travel Insurance including evacuation.
- 1 Lunch at Kathmandu.
- Tips for the local staff, guide, porters.
- Mineral Water, Wi-Fi, Hot Water, Hot Shower.
Good to Know
This trip operates at altitudes over 2780m (max altitude 5545m). In this itinerary we don’t have much acclimatizing days, so you may experience headaches, nausea, and lethargy on arrival in Namche Bazaar, 3420m. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one’s tolerance especially on going high to Namche.
Also, accommodation while trekking in the Everest Region is arranged in basic rooms (dorms with no or little running water). However, at places like Dingboche, Lobuche, Namche, Phakding and Lukla there is upgraded accommodation facility (standard rooms with running water).
The maximum group size is 14 and the minimum is 2.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Kathmandu International airport, where a representative will welcome you by holding a clear sign, and you will be accompanied to check-in to your hotel, where you can taste the authentic Nepali food(free dinner). Explore the historical and vibrant city of Nepal for the rest of the day.
Day 2:
Take an early morning flight to Lukla, and start trekking to Phakding, a 2-3 hours of trek with 200m descent and 50m ascent, as we pass through the Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat, Sano, Thulo Gumela, shrines, monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa, the sacred mountain Kumbila, and the sister summits of Kusum Kanguru peaks.
Day 3:
Trek to Namche Bazaar, a 5-6 hours distance of 1000m ascent, and 100 m descent. We will be crossing the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see Thamserku, the villages of Benkar, Chumoa, Monjo, Utche Choling Gompa, Sagarmatha National Park, Jorsale village, Dudh Kosi river gorge, and Lhotse-Nuptse ridge.
Day 4:
Trek to Tengboche for 4 hours with 350m descent and 750 ascent from Namche Bazaar. A grand panorama of peaks from Thamserku to Ama Dablam, to Lhotse to Everest can be viewed. From there, we traverse to Kyangjuma, the trail junction at Sanasa, Tashinga to Phunki Thenga, to ultimately reach the monastery of Tengboche through a forest of tall and mature rhododendrons.
Day 5:
Trek to Dingboche for 3-5 hours, which has 70m descent, and 580m ascent from Tengboche. Be alert if you can spot the Musk Deer as you cross Debuche Gompa, Pangboche Gompa, Imja Khola, the village of Shomare. Cross through yak pastures and the stone huts of herdsmen at Orsho and Tsuro Wog to end up at the sprawling settlement of Dingboche.
Day 6:
Trek to Lobuche for 4-5 hours which has a 700m ascent. On the trail to Lobuche, pass through a place called Dusa, Dughla, Chupki Lhara, Khumbu glacier moraine giving a giving of three great peaks of Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori.
Day 7:
Trek to Gorak Shep, leading towards the Everest Base Camp, and returning back to Gorak Shep. Get a spectacular 360 degree view from the Thangma Riju spot, of the mountains around Taboche and Labuche peaks. Witness the blue waters of the Gorak Shep lake , while the Chantgse peak in Tibet and Lho La depression can be seen right ahead. From EBC trekking ends and mountaineering begins. Descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay.
Day 8:
Trek to Kala Patthar, and return trek to Pheriche. The trek begins after an early breakfast without any hurry, we will be crossing through the wide sandy bed of dried up lake and steep zigzags about 100m to enjoy the view of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. Grasp the unbelievable Himalayan beauty in a panoramic view of the highest peaks. Then, retrace the way back for a night stay, along Khumbu Khola to Pheriche, instead of Dingboche through Gorak Shep, Lobuche, and from Dughla.
Day 9:
Trek back to Namche Bazaar! Get down to Tsuro Wog, and then proceed through Orsho, Shomare, to upper Pangboche, and finally to the Tengboche which has Khumbu’s largest gompa. Move towards Phunki Tenga from Sanasa and Kyangjuma to Namche Bazaar.
Day 10:
Final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi, down to Lukla, the same way we came up, and then spend the overnight at the lodge.
Day 11:
Take a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu where you will be dropped to the hotel. Let the night be full of sharing the experiences, clicking photos, and most importantly taking a deep breath during your farewell dinner.
Day 12:
After gaining a new feeling of accomplishment, head back to your home by taking a flight from the International Airport of Kathmandu to your respective homes. If you change your mind, and prefer to stay, then you can still consult us to help you explore the other excursion activities at Nepal like rafting, mountain biking, Bhutan tours, etc.
Included
- Pickup and drop-in from the airport/hotel in a private car/van.
- Two nights stay at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (breakfast included).
- Nine nights stay at a Lodge/Guest House during the EBC trek.
- An experienced English speaking Trekking Guide, and a porter for the trek (2 trekkers will get 1 porter).
- All expenses, cost, payments, food, insurance, and lodging charges of guide and porter.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Tea and Coffee during the trek.
- Welcome meals and Farewell meals with breakfasts in Kathmandu.
- All permissions like National Park Permit and TIMS for the Everest.
- Domestic flight charges from Kathmandu to Lukla, and Lukla to Kathmandu.
- Down Jacket and Sleeping Bag (needs to be returned back to the office, after the trek).
- ACH Kitbag, and a T-shirt.
Excluded
- Nepal entry Visa fees.
- International flight charges and Departure tax.
- Miscellaneous expenses for personal use like laundry, bar, etc.
- Travel Insurance including evacuation.
- 1 Lunch at Kathmandu.
- Tips for the local staff, guide, porters.
- Mineral Water, Wi-Fi, Hot Water, Hot Shower.
Good to Know
This trip operates at altitudes over 2780m (max altitude 5545m). In this itinerary we don’t have much acclimatizing days, so you may experience headaches, nausea, and lethargy on arrival in Namche Bazaar, 3420m. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one’s tolerance especially on going high to Namche.
Also, accommodation while trekking in the Everest Region is arranged in basic rooms (dorms with no or little running water). However, at places like Dingboche, Lobuche, Namche, Phakding and Lukla there is upgraded accommodation facility (standard rooms with running water).
The maximum group size is 14 and the minimum is 2.