Key Highlights of the EBC Trek
- Fly into Lukla (2,860 m / 9,383 ft), the gateway to the Everest region, on one of the world's most scenic short mountain flights
- Acclimatize in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft), the Sherpa capital and trading hub of the Khumbu
- Visit Tengboche Monastery (3,867 m / 12,687 ft), the largest gompa in the Everest region
- Reach Everest Base Camp itself (5,364 m / 17,598 ft), the goal of the trek
- Climb Kala Patthar (5,545 m / 18,192 ft) before dawn for the clearest view of the Everest summit on the entire route
- Walk through Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, past Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse
- Cross the Dudh Koshi River on high suspension bridges and pass through Sherpa villages including Phakding and Pangboche
Trip Overview
The Everest Base Camp Trek takes you to 5,364 m (17,598 ft), the base of the world’s highest mountain, over 14 days through the Khumbu region of Nepal.
The trek begins with a 35 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m / 9,383 ft), the starting point for every Everest base Camp Itinerary. From there, the route follows the Dudh Koshi valley up through Namche Bazaar, the main Sherpa town and trading hub of the region.
The trail continues through Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche, then reaches Everest Base Camp and the Kala Patthar viewpoint at 5,545 m (18,192 ft).
This is not a technical climb. There are no ropes or climbing skills involved. The real challenge is altitude. The trail spends five nights above 4,000 m (13,123 ft). Two acclimatization days are built into this itinerary, at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. These are not optional extras. Skipping them is the single most common reason trekkers fail to reach Base Camp.
The trek passes through Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and through Sherpa villages along the way. Daily life, monasteries, and mountain hospitality shape the experience as much as the mountain views do.
You'll cross the edge of the Khumbu Glacier and walk beneath Ama Dablam and Nuptse. Climbers have prepared for Everest summit attempts from this same ground since 1953.
The full round trip covers roughly 130 km (81 miles), with a net elevation gain of about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) from Lukla to Kala Patthar. Daily walking distances range from 4 km (2.5 mi) on acclimatization days to 19 km (11.8 mi) on the longest descent day.
Since April 2023, a licensed guide is legally required for all trekking in the Khumbu region. This is included in every Shikhar Adventure Everest Base Camp package, along with both permits needed for the route.
Lukla Flight Information
During peak season (March to May and late September to November), Lukla flights operate from Manthali Airport instead of Kathmandu. Tribhuvan International Airport's air traffic gets too congested to handle the volume safely during these months.
Manthali is roughly 130 km (81 miles) from Kathmandu, a drive of 4 to 5 hours on a winding mountain road. We leave Kathmandu around 2:00 AM to reach Manthali in time for the first flights of the day. Weather conditions over the mountains are most stable early in the morning.
Lukla flights are weather-dependent regardless of which airport you fly from. Delays of a day or more are common. This itinerary should never be booked back-to-back with an international departure. We recommend building in at least 2 extra buffer days beyond this 14-day plan.
In an emergency or time-critical delay, we can arrange a helicopter to or from Lukla at an additional cost of USD 500-700 per person. This is the fastest way to resolve a delay that threatens an international flight connection, and Shikhar Adventure can coordinate this directly on the ground when needed.




















