Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Best Season

March to May & August to November

Trip Duration

12 Nights
13 Days

Trip Difficulty

Challenging

Accommodation

Hotels in cities & Lodges during the Trek

Max. Elevation

5,545m
(18,192 ft)

One of the best treks in the world

Tour Overview

This whelming journey takes you to the base of the world’s highest mountain with a magnificent view of Mt. Everest. The Everest base camp trail progresses along with beautiful, brave climber memorials, Sherpa villages, and glaciers that an adventure enthusiast would never want to miss. This glimpse of the world’s highest peak will certainly be an eye-pleasing sight.

The trek starts from one of the epic airports ‘Tenzing Hillary Airport-Lukla Airport’ which was built in 1964 and is elevated at 2,860 mt/9,383 ft. As soon as you step off from the plane, you will witness the mighty snow-capped Himalayas and the diverse geography. This 2-week voyage will follow the same path ‘Sr. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa’ used.

Crossing several sparse settlements of the Himalayas and Sherpa community, beautifully paved paths, chorten along the way, you will have an amazing experience. The trail follows ‘Dhudh Koshi’ which literally means Milk and the color of the river is whitish. Another major attraction ‘Namache Bazaar’ also known as the city without a vehicle will astonish you as it is the most amazing mountain settlement. You also can enjoy the night view of Bazaar within a few minute hike at the night and be prepared to see the snow-capped mountain every morning. The path is more commercialized as it boasts a healthy number of visitors every year so even if you forget to purchase things in Kathmandu you will be able to get them in Namache. On the fourth day of trek, embrace yourself with the Buddhist mantras inside the oldest monastery ‘Tengboche Monastery’ built-in 1916 Lama Gulu which sits just below the lap of mighty Himalayas.

A few gazing points such as Kalapathar (5,545 mt/18,192 ft), Nagakarsang 5,090mt/16,699 ft) the highest point of this trail, offer never forgetting and jaw-dropping panoramic view of Mount Everest up close just in front of your sight. Mostly, you pass through the Sagarmatha National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site and a refuge for musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, black bear, and many spectacular types of iridescent pheasant, so you can encounter much wildlife too!. On this journey to Everest Base Camp (5,545 mt/18,192 ft), the view of Himalayas; Thamserku (6,608 mt/21,680 ft), Kangtega (6,788 mt/ 22,251 ft), and Ama Dablam (6,812 mt/22,389 ft) does not fail to amaze you.

So are you ready to undertake this life-changing trip with Trekkers Paradise?

Trip Itineraries are customizable according to your choice & the number of days you want to stay.

Day 01

Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal

See for yourself if all that you have read and watched on the internet, about the tranquil beauty of Nepal and warm hospitality of Nepalese. After flying through the beautiful view of this trekkers’ paradise, you will meet our company representative at the airport. You must have an impatient heart for a breathtaking adventure. Get ready to experience Nepal up close and personal. But first, we will transfer you to your hotel.

If you have an early arrival, you may stroll around the hippest and happening area in Thamel, where you can find restaurants with varieties of cuisine to dine.

This first night in the country, you will be staying in Kathmandu.

Day 02

Sightseeing in Kathmandu, and Preparation Day

On your second day, you can go sightseeing to some of the famous religious and historical sites of Kathmandu. (Follow the link for more information on sightseeing sites-in-Kathmandu). After exploring this city of temples, you will meet your trekking guide at the hotel. You will be briefed in detail about the trekking adventure. The guide will also assist you with any last-minute shopping that you require for the trek.

Have a well-rested night at Kathmandu before heading off to the mountains.

(You can dump the stuff you do not want during the trek at the hotel or our office store.)

Day 03

Fly to Lukla, and trek to Phakding

An early morning breathtaking Himalayan flight to Lukla. After the flight of about 40 minutes, we will spend about an hour in Lukla and feel the drastic change in the weather from Kathmandu to there. This will help us to cope with the weather there and be ready for real adventure.

Then, our porters will carry our belongings and we will start our trekking to Phakding for 3 to 4 hours. We can see many mountain ranges on our way including Mt. Khumbila, a sacred mountain that has never been climbed. After reaching Phakding, we can already find our luggage there.

Day 04

Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Today we will trek for about 6 to 7 hours to Namche Bazaar, a place which is also known as the gateway to Everest. We will walk along the bank of Dudh Koshi River and reach Bengkar in around an hour. We can see the first view of Mt. Thamserku (6,623m), another local divinity. From Bengkar, the walk continues through a long suspension bridge, and then through a beautiful pine forest to Monjo. Soon thereafter, we will approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park for a brief permit check and then descend to Dudh Koshi River.

We reach Jorsale(2,740 m.), a small village that lies on the west side of the Dudh Koshi river, just north of Monjo and south of Namche Bazaar. Jorsale is also the last settlement before Namche, so after this village, there is a continuous tough walk of around 2 hours before we finally reach Namche.

Day 05

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

To adjust to high altitude and to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness in the further trial, acclimatization is required. After trekking for two days, we will take a rest at Namche for a day. We will acclimatize ourselves in this largest Sherpa village of Nepal. First, we will visit Sagarmatha National Park and if the weather is clear we can see the first glimpse of Everest.

We will hike for two hours to Everest View Point and Khumjung Valley and also visit Sherpa Museum and explore Sherpa culture and the history of mountaineering. Have lunch in Khumjung Valley. Furthermore, we will also visit Syangboche Airport, which is the highest airport in Nepal. Rest of the day we can visit the town and go to cafes, shops, and restaurants.

Day 06

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Debuche

After breakfast, we will resume our trek towards Deboche Village. Deboche is a monastic settlement established by Lama Gulu for the benefits of a nun. Doboche and Tengboche, 3867m, are the alternatives to each other for today’s destination. But we prefer Deboche as it is located at less altitude and the forest here is much denser.

While walking for about 2 hours before we reach Kyangjuma, the gentle flat path is built by Pasang Sherpa, also known as Lama Seru. Lama Seru has been actively constructing trails beyond Namche leading up to the foothill of Everest. We will see many different mountains like Thamseku, Amadablam, Lhotse, and Everest and cross beautiful stupas and manes. Walking downhill towards Dudhkoshi River, we reach Phunki Tenga (3,312m) and Juniper forest. This is the place for us for refreshment and having lunch. After spending some time here, you will start walking again.

We will resume our trek, crossing the suspension bridge with the view of Imja River which is separating from Dudhkoshi River. We will walk continuously for 2 hours uphill to reach Tengboche. As the altitude increases, we have to drink water every hour. Tengboche is one of the most beautiful villages in the Everest region which contains Tengboche Monastery established by Lama Gulu with strong links to its mother monastery known as the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet.

Tengboche village may be overcrowded during the peak season of trekking; hence we head towards Deboche just 15 minutes smooth downhill. During the period of today’s trek, we must drink enough water and continue moving slowly, the trail gives us a magnificent view of towering big mountains just in front of our eyes.

Day 07

Trek from Debuche to Dingboche

Today’s journey continues with a trek through the Rhododendron forest and several villages across the path. We will walk for 45 minutes inside Juniper forest to reach Imja River. Continuing our walk leads us to Pangboche village (3,950m). We can visit Pangboche School built by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust. Continuing our walk for one and a half hrs, we will reach Somare (4,060m). This is the place where the tree line finishes. We will stop by here for lunch.

After spending a few times there, continue to walk to reach Orsho, a place where Everest disappears and is covered by the Lhotse-Nuptse wall. We continued our trek to the Imja Valley and Lobuche River before ascending to Dingboche for about an hour trek. We must drink enough water and continue moving slowly, the trail gives us a magnificent view of towering big mountains just in front of our eyes.

Day 08

Acclimatization day in Dingboche

Another rest/acclimatization day at Dingboche is very important as it will help everyone to cope with its high altitude and cold environment. During this time we can explore Dingboche and the surrounding valleys of Chhukung and Imja. We can also do a day hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5085m) from where we can see Mt. Makalu (8,485m), the 5th highest mountain in the world along with different faces Amadablam, Kangtega (6,685m), and Cholatse (6,440m).

With the exploration of amazing views and scenic beauty, we will again explore Dingboche village in the evening time and rest there overnight.Road surprise for today is Namling Brak and Thrumshingla Pass (2nd the highest motor able pass in Bhutan) 3750m above sea level through Ura Valley. We will have some good tea and coffee breaks on the way.

Day 09

Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche

Due to the higher altitude, this trek will be more difficult in comparison to previous days. We will walk in the alpine region where there are no forests and just above Periche village to reach Thukla (also known as Dukhla) 4,615m. Finally, we reach Thukla after crossing Khumbu Glacier and walking for around 3 hours. Short break here and feel your energy and again continue to walk and climb Thukla pass for 1an hour. This is the place where memorial stupas are built dedicated to the climbers and trekkers who failed to return from Everest over the years.

We reach Lobuche in an hour and a half. This trail of a total of 6 to 7 hours is slightly difficult as well, but the breathtaking view of the mountains will keep us motivated and it will feel like we reached Lobuche in no time. We feel completely different as we are staying nearly 5,000m above sea level. We must drink water again and again to help ourselves. From Lobuche, we can see mountains like Lobuche Peak (6,119m), Pumori (7,138m), Nuptse (7,661m), and many others small mountains. But from the place where there are most of the lodges, we cannot see any of those.

Day 10

Trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorakshep

The biggest day of our trek will lead us towards Everest Base Camp. Comparatively easier at the beginning, the trek will be harder after we reach Gorak Shep. Here we have to ascend and descend mostly on glacier paths and hard rocks. After 1 and half hours, we will see the first view of Kalapatthar (black rock mountain) along with other mountains such as Pumori (7,138m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lingtren (6,749m). We will reach Gorak Shep in about 3 hours of walk. Short break at Gorak shep and we will feel the energy, keep your backpack there, and head towards EBC.

Drink enough water while walking. On our way, we will approach Khumbu Glacier, the highest glacier in the world and the largest of Nepal. After nearly 3 hours of hiking on a straight trail, yet dangerous, we will finally reach the basecamp.

When we reach the base camp all the exhaustion of a week trek will be lost as its beauty will make you feel like in heaven. We can enjoy amazing views of Nuptse (7,861m), Khumbuste (6,665m), and Pumori (7,136m) mountains from the base camp. After spending some time there we will head back to Gorak shep where we will spend the night.

Day 11

Hike to Kala Patthar, Helicopter ride to Lukla, regular flight to Kathmandu

Kalapathar is the highest point of altitude that we will trek. As Mt. Everest cannot be seen from basecamp, Kalapathar is the best viewpoint where we can see Everest just in front of our eyes. We will head towards there before dawn, the weather will be freezing and we have to wear warm clothes along with a light attached to our head. After 2 hours of trek in the dark, we will finally reach Kalapathar. From the best viewpoint of our trek, we can see 360 degrees of mountains like Khumbutse (6,665m) Pomori (7,136m), Lingtren (6,749m), Lhotse (8,516m), Nuptse (7,861m), Amadablam (6814m) and highest of them all Everest (8,848.86). After spending a few minutes there, we will head back towards Gorak Shep for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will be doing another highlight of our tour which is to return back to Lukla by helicopter. We will be picked up by helicopter and will return to Lukla. On our way we can see all the treks and walks that we did from the bird’s eye view, we can enjoy the view of all the mountains and ranges yet again and see many Sherpa villages from our flight. After reaching Lukla, we will rest there for some time and will return back to Kathmandu with a flight from there.

This flight sometimes may not be constant because of the difficult weather situations. So we have to wait for the perfect moment. But we will always search for different alternatives to make our guests comfortable. We can yet again enjoy the view of beautiful mountain ranges and peaks from the flight. If we reach Kathmandu early we will have plenty of time to rest for the whole day. Even if we reach late, there is nothing to worry about as we will have another day in Kathmandu for the whole day to rest.

Day 12

Rest day at Kathmandu

The flight from Lukla is canceled due to poor weather add an extra day as a buffer after the EBC trek.

Looking at your schedule you can plan your free day in Kathmandu. You can spend a productive day by engaging in outdoor activities like cycling, wall climbing, day tour, or short hiking (Outdoor-activities-in-Kathmandu).

Later in the evening the all of us associated with this amazing trip will gather for a farewell dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant.

(If you don’t have time you can departure same day)

We descend through the pine forest and can enjoy the views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Nuptse mountains yet again. We can also find other trekkers heading in opposite directions. If we have time we can share the great experience with them as well. After the descending trek of about 6 to 7 hours, we will reach Namche Bazaar.

Day 13

Final Departure

We will drop you at the airport according to your flight schedule.

Trekkers Paradise hopes to take you on another exciting trek soon !!

Includes

All necessary airport arrival departure as per the itinerary.
4 night’s hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on a twin sharing basis on BB plan.
Kathmandu Sightseeing by professional English-speaking tour guide.
Private transportation for sightseeing in Kathmandu
Domestic Flights (Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu) Tickets for clients and guide.
3 meals a day during the trekking (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) as mention in the itinerary.
Boiled water, tea, or coffee during the trek.
Five nights room with attached bathroom at Lukla, Phakding, Namche (3 night), six nights at best available room at Tengboche, Dingboche, Louche, Gorakshep and Pheriche (twin Sharing room)- 11 Night
Professional government license holder English speaking trekking guide and his salary.
The required number of porters to carry the luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests).
Coverage of Guides and Porters, Their meals, insurance, transportation, flight, and other necessary equipment.
Sagarmatha National Entry Park Permit
Trekking permit (TIMS)
Farewell dinner.
A comprehensive medical kit.
All government and local taxes.
Trekkers Paradise’s appreciation of certificate after the successful trek.

Excludes

International airfare to/ from Nepal.
Nepal Entry Visa Fees for multiple Entries on arrival at Tribhuwan Internationa Airport- (15 days – $25-30, 30 days- $40-50 and 90 days- $100-110)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
Insurance covers, medical, emergency evacuation, loss, etc.
Personal expense (shopping, snacks, boil bottle water, hot and cold drinks, hot shower, Alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery re-charge fee), extra porters, etc
Hot shower during the trekking.
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
Additional costs or delays caused by out of management control, for example, landslide, weather condition, itinerary modification due to safety concerns, illness, change of government policies, strikes, etc.
Tips and gratitude provided to staff.

Train Yourself

Qualification/Training

Best physical condition is required to trek in Nepal’s high altitude. Without some pre-trek training or a good level of basic fitness, it can be hard. We suggest running, walking, hiking on the hill, climbing stairs rather than elevators to prepare for the trek. Include swimming, rowing, biking in your daily base training.

Basic further experience and strength required for Trekking

- One should be able to hike for 6-7 hours a day.
- One should be able to carry 8 kg themselves on a backpack for preparation.
- We suggest you run about 4/5 miles in the home for the preparation with some load on your back for 2 to 3 months to make your climbing much easier. Or use treadmill for everyday running and walking.
- If you have an uphill location/mountain then once a week you should go hiking with a loaded bag pack on your back. If you do not have mountains and high hills then use stairs to go up/down than the elevator.
- Regular swimming, biking, rowing is also a good way to maintain your physical strength.

Safety precaution for Everest Base Camp

Aside from geographical protection, Trekkers Paradise has taken safety in following things to make travel as safe as possible making the most out of it without any worry!

Our guides have received extensive wilderness first-aid training.
Trek leaders and guides have years of trekking experience who can help you if there is any kind of uneasiness and assure happiness & satisfaction are guaranteed.
We’ll have High-quality masks & Gloves with sanitizers for everyday use throughout the journey for the Trekkers Paradise team assisting you.
Encouragement and inspiration can be a regular occurrence.
Food and accommodation in the mountains would be rechecked for additional hygiene.

The meals during the trek

Our trek takes us to high altitudes near the world’s highest point, which means your body will need enough starch, protein, and nutrition, as food is the body’s fuel for hiking on such massive Himalayan trails. The food on this trek is very convenient, but not as convenient as it is in cities.

There will be Breakfasts, Lunch, Dinners, Tea & coffee will be provided in the trek. The popular menu items are:-

Breakfasts – (Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, and Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati Local tsampa porridge, Hashed brown eggs, Varieties of eggs (Omelets) Pancakes Muesli Breads Fruits and Vegetables Hot drinks like varieties of teas and coffees Hot chocolates, etc)

Lunch – (Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari (Dal Bhat power 24 hours) Tibetan Bread Various Soups items Sherpa Stew Steaks Sandwiches Momo (dumplings) Macaroni dishes Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles Thukpa Pasta Vegetable curry Potatoes items Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed) Snakes (Papad, Prawn) Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc)

Dinners – ( Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari Tibetan Bread Various Soups items Sherpa Stew Steaks Sandwiches Momo (dumplings) Macaroni dishes Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles Thukpa Pasta Vegetable curry Potatoes items Vegetable and salad Pizza (, Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed) Snacks (Papad, Prawn) Pokada, finger chips, etc.

Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc.) are available on the menu during the trek.

The best items from the lodge’s menu are fresh, hygienic, delicious, and nutritious. Almost everywhere on the menu, there is a mix of typical local, Asian, and western cuisine, but as we get closer, the menu list will be shortened. We highly recommend liquids green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup, etc. at high altitude and also the fresh vegetable items for health benefit.

Accommodation details during the Trek

11 days Everest base camp trek includes eleven night’s lodge to lodge stay at a mountain and four nights in Kathmandu hotel, where we use the best available lodge and select the best accommodation in the Everest region. We provide five nights room with attached bathroom at Lukla, Phakding, and Namche, six nights standard room at Debuche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, Pheriche (Generally twin Sharing room)

Four nights of Hotels in Kathmandu before and after the trek is required which is included in the package.

Passport and Visa

All foreigners except Indian nationals must have a valid visa to enter Nepal. Visa is available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport upon entry in Kathmandu, Nepal, and at Nepal borders of India and Tibet. Visa can be easily extended to the central immigration office. www.immigration.gov.np Visa application requires a passport with at least 6 months until expiration and one passport size photo.

The current cost of a visa for 15 Days – 30 USD, 30 Days – 50 USD, and 90 Days – 125 (to be paid in cash) Other currencies are also accepted although rates may differ. Other nationalities should check entry requirements. Visitors are requested to specify return flight tickets, time intended to stay in Nepal.

Visa Extension Fee: Tourist visa extension is done for a minimum of 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days. In the case of a delay of less than 150 days additional USD 5 per day as of late fine.

Difficulties during Everest Base Camp Trek

The trekking trail to the Everest Base Camp gets filthy during Monsoon.
Cancellations of flight following bad weather and heavy snowfall
Altitude sickness like nausea, breathing difficulties, and headache becomes common
High-tech facilities like Wi-fi and ATM gets exorbitant at high lands like Namche Bazar
Peak season gives rise to insufficiency of guest house and lodge in Everest
Accommodations are of economic with no luxurious items and extra facilities