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This website is the most comprehensive online guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek. On it you will find all the information you
need to trek safely and successfully in the region.
On this page we provide a general overview to the Everest Base Camp Trek, along with many links to further reading on topics
like: Altitude Sickness, Packing Lists, Route Variations and many FAQs!
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The iconic Everest Base Camp Trek leads you through the Khumbu Valley, allowing you to experience the immense beauty of the
surrounding Sagarmatha National Park while simultaneously providing breath-taking vistas of 4 of the 6 highest peaks in the
world – My. Everest (8.848m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 meters), Mt. Makalu (8,470 meters) and Cho Oyu (8,201 meters).
The classic trek retraces the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and the countless other early pioneers of Mount
Everest as you trek from Lukla to the Base Camp.
As a teahouse trek you will stay in some of the highest villages in the world as you explore the local culture and traditions of the
native Sherpas by learning about their spiritual connection with the mountains.
On the trek you will have the chance to ascend Kala Patthar, reaching an altitude of 5,500m and witness awe-inspiring views of
Mount Everest.
You will also have the chance to explore the various Buddhist monasteries dotted along the trail and learn about a culture
steeped in history and tradition, inextricably linked to the very mountains on which you have unforgettable views.
Below we have provided a brief overview of the classic route itinerary, with regional and trekking maps. We have also answered
some of the most frequently asked questions on the logistics of the trek, permits, tour guides, weather, insurance, cost, difficulty
and what to pack.
All treks in the Everest region are located within the orange rectangle on the map below. The block represents the Everest or
Khumbu region of Nepal and shows its location in relation to Kathmandu, where flights to and from Nepal arrive and depart.
The starting point of the Everest Base Camp Trek, Lukla, is also visible on the map. Other variations of the trek which don’t involve
flying to Lukla generally start at Jiri – you can read more about this route variation here.
Everest Trek Maps
There are many great trekking maps for the Everest Region. Some take in the Gokyo
region, whereas others cover Jiri and further Southern and Western aspects of the
region.
Trekking Route
The classic route starts at Lukla in the south, then heads north to Namche Bazaar where its forks to the north-east and makes its
way to Pheriche/Dingboche. From there it continues along the right fork through Lobuche to Gorak Shep. The Everest Base Camp
is slightly further east and the view point of Kala Patthar can be seen to the west.
Variations of the trek can also be seen, such as the Gokyo Lakes Trek, which branches west at Namche Bazaar early in the trek
and hugs the leftmost route as shown on the map schematic below.
The Kala Patthar variation can be seen as the short dotted line leading north from Gorak Shep, which provides glorious views of
the peak of Everest as well as surrounding peaks.
The Lonely Planet Trekking in Nepal Himalaya guidebook is updated regularly and is a
well-known, trusted resource used by many trekkers worldwide.
The guide is very detailed and contains information for many treks, meaning you can
use it more than once!
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Detailed Trek Itinerary
The classic Everest Base Camp Trek starts in Lukla and leads you through the Khumbu Valley to the Everest Base Camp situated
on the south-side of Mount Everest.
Most trekker’s adventures, however, begin in Kathmandu where the international airport for Nepal is located. From there it is a
short, yet unforgettable flight into Lukla from where you will start the actual trekking (try get a seat on the left hand side of the
plane for best first views of the Himalaya).
The entire journey including the trek typically lasts between 14 and 16 days, with 12 days on the trail. Of these 12 days, 2/3 will be
spent acclimatising to the high altitude, so 9-10 days of actual trekking can be expected.
For those who don’t want to start their trek by flying into Lukla Airport, the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek variation provides a
unique alternative. This trek starts with a bus ride from Kathmandu to Jiri from where the trekking starts. Because Jiri is
considerably further away than Lukla, this variation will add around 5 days onto the trek.
Here is a standard itinerary for a 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek experience.
If trekking with a tour operator they will have arranged your flight, otherwise you can purchase tickets at the airport for around
US$250-$300 return. If you are taking a guide the cost of his flight with be charged at a local rate of about $100 return.
Expect a nerve-racking flight into the famous Lukla Airport that provides great views of the region and of Everest – try to get a
seat on the left side of the plane. Once landed, you will start the trek to the village of Phadking – on the way you will pass
incredible boulders, carved with Buddhist prayers.
You will enter the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on this day. You will have plenty of time spent in
Namche Bazaar – a small Sherpa market town, with countless sightseeing opportunities including the potential to catch your first
glimpse of Everest.
If it’s a clear day you should be able to snap some awesome pics of Ama Dablam in the foreground, and Mount Everest in the
background. The hotel also provides WiFi at a cost so if you’re looking to call back home or just to connect, bring your device with
you. For more information on internet on the trek, check out our detailed article.
Namche Bazaar
Some variations will take you through the ancient Tibet-Nepal trading route over the Nanpa La pass to Thami.
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Your tour guide might even take you to the nearby village of Dingboche where you will be able to see great views of Lhotse and
Island Peak to the east. Dingboche is used as the start to the variation trek to Island Peak.
You will be able to see Scott Fischer’s memorial here. You will also see Lobuche East (make sure to use the zoom on your camera
or if you have binoculars to try see any climbers on the peak)
Scott Fischer's memorial
The trekker stop point is just before the actual base camp.
Most tour groups are not allowed to enter or stay in Everest Base Camp so take the chance to experience the buzz and
excitement of the climbing groups is often limited.
After getting your iconic picture taken at EBC you will descend back to Gorak Shep where you will stay for the night.
That same day you will descend over 1,000m down to Dingboche where you will spend the night.
View from Kala Patthar with EBC, the Khumbu Glacier, Nuptse and Mount Everest in the
background
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Can one trek to Everest Base Camp independently or without a guide / support?
Yes, but it is only advised for trekkers that have experience of high altitude multi-day trekking, and are comfortable carry 15-20kg
a day.
Trekking independently is the cheapest option because you forgo any of the amenities and expertise that is typically offered with
a guided trek. You will have to arrange your own domestic flights to and from Lukla airport, and arrange accommodation for each
stop in the trek.
If you are comfortable organising the logistics of the trek, then this might be an option for you.
Western tour operators will provide a much more consistent service. Without cutting prices, they offer affordable yet comfortable
accommodation and will employ the best guides in the region who will be able to converse in English. Prices range from £1000
($1300) to £2000 ($2600).
Weather during these months is stable and dry – perfect for trekking and for sightseeing. The mountain is most colourful during
this time as well, so you can expect verdant fields and hillsides covered in rhododendrons.
September to October is another popular trekking period on the other side of summer that tends to be a little less busy. Another
way to avoid the hustle and bustle of peak season is to try some of the trek variations such as the Gokyo Lakes Trek.
Trekking in the winter months is still possible, but be prepared for temperatures below freezing. Peak summer is known as
monsoon season, characterised by short, sharp downpours. The trails are very wet and trekking during these months is not
advised.
Read our detailed article on the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp.
The round-trip length of the trek is 130km, which is spread over just short of two weeks of trekking. Expect to cover around 15km
over 5/6 hours of trekking each day – a very achievable number. The hardest part of the trek is the altitude and the effect that it
can have on your body.
All good tour operators will factor in acclimatisation days into their itinerary and will aim for a gradual pace of ascent that will
ensure your body slowly gets used to the altitude.
We recommend undertaking a gym training programme and practice hikes 6-8 weeks prior to embarking on the trek. Read up
more on the difficulty of the EBC trek and how to train for the EBC trek.
You will need a Trekkers Information Management System card (TIMS) as well as a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. Tour
operators will include both in their price and will obtain them for you beforehand. If you plan to trek independently, however, you
will need $20 for the TIMS card and roughly $40 for the Sagarmatha entry permit.
Make sure you bring at least four passport sized photos in case they are needed for permits.
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That being said, altitude sickness is not correlated to age or fitness and can affect some people worse than others.
Because it is a potential risk, you must read up about acclimatisation and altitude sickness so that you understand the symptoms
and how to prevent them.
It is possible to buy most gear in Kathmandu, but we recommend bringing all the important stuff with you from home. Read our
guide for recommendations on what to bring, which brands are trusted as well as items you won’t need during the trek.
You will need to take out insurance that will cover you for hiking
up to altitudes of 6,000m.
EBC Trek
Route Variations
There are a number of route variations for the trek to Everest Base Camp. Below we briefly discuss the three most popular
options.
The detour adds 2/3 days onto the trek but provides the
wonderful opportunity to summit a peak while also avoiding
Gokyo Lakes Trek Guide some of the busier parts of the trek.
The variation adds an extra 5/6 days onto the trip as you trek
through the Solukhumbu region and make your way past Lukla,
where the trek then follows the same route as the classic
Everest Base Camp Trek.
The next pass, Cho La, involves walking up a fairly steep and
Three Passes Trek Guide icy trail before reaching a small glacier at the top. From here,
you descend and re-join the main base camp trek where you
summit Kala Patthar – the iconic viewpoint. You continue onto
base camp itself before descending to Lobuche.
You then head east over the third pass of Kongma La and
continue onwards to summit the third peak of Chukking Ri.
Once again you will have amazing views of the surrounding
peaks that you would not get to see on the classic trek. The
circuit is completed by returning to Lukla through the main
Everest trail.
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Everest Base Camp Trek DJ Paul Oakenfold Plays Gig At Food on the Everest Base Camp
Packing List – Exactly What You Everest Base Camp Trek
Need To Bring
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Teahouses on the Everest Base Sagarmatha National Park – Island Peak and Everest Base
Camp Trek Home To Mount Everest Camp Trek
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References
References: EBC Trek Guide is maintained by a group of passionate Nepal guides and independent trekkers, many of whom live in Kathmandu and are
experts on the trekking trails to Everest and throughout the region. Much of the site is based off personal experiences which are then cross-referenced with
secondary sources like trail and travel guides (i.e. Trailblazer, Lonely Planet), and third party websites. If you find any inaccuracies on the site please contact
us.
Tags: Everest Base Camp Trek, Trekking to Everest Base Camp, EBC Trek
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experience in Nepal. We provide
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