Everest base camp trek is a demanded mountain destination for adventure lovers. This trekking trail has millions of visitors every year. Everest base camp trek is considered as the 4th best trek according to LonelyPlanet travel guide book.
Everest base camp trek begins from Kathmandu with a short adventurous flight to Lukla mostly. But, it has other entries too like starting from Jiri and Salleri after a long bus and jeep drive. Right after landing at the Lukla airport, you start walking to Phakding on the first day of the journey. Then, other hiking days go forward towards the Everest base camp passing Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep.
EBC trekking trails are inside the Sagarmatha national park which is a natural UNESCO heritage site in Nepal. Seeing stunning views of tall snow-capped mountains, natural beauty and experiencing local Sherpa people's activities and lifestyle give you a lifetime experience.
Everest Base Camp Trek Highlights
There is no fun if there is no attraction where you visit. Of course! Everest base camp trek can be the best holiday ever seeing its attractions. The main goal for the Everest base camp visitors is Mt. Everest (the highest mountain in the world) and reaching the bottom of this mountain. But, there are lots of other highlighted things that make your trip worthy.
- Landing experience on an airport that known as one of the dangerous airports in the world with scenic mountain flight
- The great vision of the Everest Himalayas with 3 mountains above 8000 meters (Everest, and Lhotse Makalu )
- Traditional villages with nicely carded buildings of mountain legendary Sherpa people
- Ancient and historical Buddhist monasteries and other religious monuments
- Stunning viewpoints like Everest view hotel, Tengboche, Nangkar-Tsang and Kalapatthar with eye-captivating sceneries
- Beautiful river valleys with attractive waterfalls
- Rare animals like musk deer and other animals and birds
Everest base camp trek is best to do in autumn and spring. You will have a mostly nice and clear day with adorable temperatures during the months of autumn and spring. Winter is doable with extra warm layers but summer is not recommended highly. The summer season has rainy months with poor visibilities.
This trekking tour needs to have two different entry permits which are issued by the Sagarmatha national park office in Monjo and Pasang rural municipality ticket in Lukla. Sagarmatha park permit costs 3000 NPR for all trekkers except the people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Bhutan and Maldives. These people from SAARC nations need to pay 1000 NPR but the Pasang Lhamu ticket fee is the same for all.
Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Lukla to Everest base camp trekking is a 12 days round trip that goes from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. It takes eight days to reach the base camp including 2 acclimatization days in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. This is a regular Everest base camp trek itinerary that is followed by most Everest base camp trekkers:
Day 01: Lukla (2,840m) flight - 30 minutes, and Trek to Phakding (2,610m) 3 hrs
Day 02: Namche (3,440m) 7 hrs
Day 03: Spare day at Namche, Everest view hotel (3,880m) hike for acclimatization - 4 hrs
Day 04: Tengboche (3,860m) 5-6 hrs
Day 05: Dingboche (4,410m) 5 hrs
Day 06: Altitude practice day, Nangkar-Tsang (5,160m) 4 hrs
Day 07: Lobuche (4,910m) 5-6 hrs
Day 08: Gorakshep (5,180m) 3 hrs, EBC (5,360m) hike - 4/5 hrs both way
Day 09: Hike Kalapatthar (5,550m) 2 hrs, trek to Pheriche (4,210m) 5 hrs
Day 10: Namche (3,440m) 7 hrs
Day 11: Lukla (2,840m) 7 hrs
Day 12: Kathmandu fly out
The above-mentioned plan is a regular trekking itinerary of the Everest base camp but, you can customize it to a few days shorter or longer according to your time and stamina.
