Overview
Trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Our Everest Base Camp trek is a 16-day expedition through the spectacular Khumbu Valley to the foot of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
Across 13 days on the trail, you’ll follow one of the world’s most iconic trekking routes. Pass through Sherpa villages, cross high suspension bridges and journey deeper into the Himalayas, surrounded by peaks including Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest.
The route reaches Everest Base Camp at 5,364m, with the option to trek to Kala Patthar at approximately 5,550m for one of the best-known views of Mount Everest.
You don’t need previous high-altitude trekking experience to join. With a good level of fitness, consistent training and the right preparation, Everest Base Camp is an achievable goal for first-time high-altitude trekkers as well as experienced hikers.
Our itinerary includes two dedicated acclimatisation days in Namche Bazaar and Pheriche, giving your body time to adjust gradually as you gain altitude. Rather than rushing to Base Camp, we take a steady approach through the Khumbu Valley.
Along the way, you’ll stay in locally run, traditional tea houses and experience life in the Sherpa communities of the Everest region, with incredible views of peaks including Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest itself.
We also spend time in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. This bustling city is a melting-pot of ethnicities and a great contrast to the relaxed pace of life in the mountains.
Throughout the expedition, you’ll be supported by our experienced Nepalese guiding team and a dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor.
Before travelling, you’ll also have the option to join our training weekend in Wicklow, helping you prepare for the trek and meet some of the people you’ll be travelling with.
Expedition Highlights
Reach Everest Base Camp – 5,364m
Stand at the foot of Mount Everest after an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Himalayas.
13 Days in the Himalayas
Spend 13 days trekking through the Khumbu Valley and walk beneath some of the world’s most famous mountains, passing through villages, forests, glacial valleys and high Himalayan terrain.
Optional Kala Patthar Trek – approx. 5,550m
Weather and conditions permitting, make the early-morning trek to Kala Patthar at 5,550m for one of the best panoramic views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and the surrounding Himalayas.
Experience Sherpa Culture
Stay in locally run tea houses with time to experience the villages and mountain culture that makes this route so special.
Dedicated Expedition Doctor
A dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor travels with the group throughout the expedition, providing an additional layer of medical support at altitude.
Everest Base Camp Expedition Costs & What’s Included
The total expedition price is shown above.
Just pay a €399 deposit to secure your place. A part-payment of €1,000 is due six months before departure, with the remaining balance due three months before departure.
You can choose to pay the balance in instalments or in full.
Before You Go
- Pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland
- An Earth’s Edge team jacket, buff and cap for you to keep
- Ongoing pre-departure support from the Earth’s Edge team
- Advice on training, equipment and preparing for altitude
In Nepal
- Highly experienced Nepalese Expedition Guide and mountain guiding team
- Dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor
- Internal flights between Ramechhap and Lukla
- Accommodation throughout the expedition, based on twin sharing in hotels in Kathmandu and in mountain tea houses during the trek
- All meals and drinking water as outlined in the itinerary, except in Kathmandu and Ramechhap where accommodation is based on B&B
- Celebratory dinner at the end of the expedition
- Planned group transport throughout the trip
- Airport transfers that match our recommended flights
- Required trekking permits
- Fully stocked expedition medical kit
Flights
Flights to Nepal are not included in the expedition price.
Travelling from Ireland? We’ll send you our recommended flight timings approximately 10 months before departure. These are designed to connect with our complimentary group airport transfers.
You are, of course, welcome to choose alternative flights that suit you better. Just make sure you arrive in Kathmandu in time for the expedition briefing on Day 1.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Kathmandu.
↓
Arrive in Kathmandu and settle into your hotel before meeting the team for a detailed expedition briefing.
We’ll talk through the journey ahead, answer any last-minute questions and make sure everyone is ready to begin the trek.
Day 2
Transfer to Ramechhap. Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2,610m), 3 hrs trekking.
↓
We make an early transfer to Ramechhap Airport before taking the spectacular mountain flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region.
From Lukla, we begin trekking through the Khumbu Valley towards Phakding, following trails alongside the Dudh Kosi River.
Day 3
Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m), 8 hrs.
↓
Today we continue through the valley, crossing suspension bridges and entering Sagarmatha National Park before beginning the long climb towards Namche Bazaar.
Weather permitting, we may get our first distant glimpse of Mount Everest along the way.
Day 4
Acclimatisation Day in Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
↓
Today is an important acclimatisation day.
Rather than simply resting, we’ll usually head out on an acclimatisation walk before returning to Namche Bazaar to sleep at the same altitude.
There will also be time to explore this bustling market town and enjoy the surrounding mountain views.
Day 5
Namche Bazaar to Phortse (3,950m), 5 hrs.
↓
Leaving Namche behind, we continue deeper into the Khumbu Valley towards Phortse.
This is a beautiful day on the trail, with impressive views of Ama Dablam and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
Day 6
Phortse to Pheriche (4,371m), 6 hrs.
↓
We continue higher into the mountains as the landscape becomes increasingly rugged and dramatic.
On a clear day, there are excellent views towards Everest and the surrounding peaks as we make our way to Pheriche.
Day 7
Acclimatisation Day in Pheriche (4,371m)
↓
Our second dedicated acclimatisation day gives your body more time to adjust before we move into the highest section of the trek.
We’ll usually take an acclimatisation hike before returning to Pheriche for another night.
Day 8
Pheriche to Lobuche (4,940m), 6 hrs.
↓
Today we climb higher towards Lobuche, passing the memorials dedicated to climbers who have lost their lives on Mount Everest.
By now the landscape feels distinctly high-altitude, surrounded by some of the biggest mountains in the Himalayas.
Day 9
Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and Gorakshep (5,164m), 9 hrs.
↓
Today is the day! We start early and trek to Gorakshep, where we stop before continuing towards Everest Base Camp. From Gorakshep, it takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach Base Camp across rough, rocky glacial terrain.
After time to take in the achievement and enjoy the surroundings, we return to Gorakshep for the night.
Day 10
Kala Patthar (5,550m) and Trek to Dingboche (4,410m,) 10 hrs.
↓
Weather and conditions permitting, there is the option of an early-morning trek to Kala Patthar at 5,550m.
Kala Patthar offers one of the classic panoramic views of Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayan giants.
We then begin our descent through the valley towards Dingboche.
Day 11
Dingboche to Tengboche (3,860m), 4 hrs
↓
We continue descending through the Khumbu Valley to Tengboche, home to one of the best-known monasteries in the Everest region, enjoying increasingly green surroundings as we lose altitude.
Day 12
Tengboche to Namche Bazaar (3,440m), 4 hrs
↓
Today we descend all the way back to Namche Bazaar. After several days high in the mountains, you’ll have some time in the afternoon to relax, explore or pick up a few souvenirs.
Day 13
Namche Bazaar to Phakding (2,610m), 5 hrs
↓
We continue retracing our route through the valley, crossing the familiar suspension bridges and descending alongside the Dudh Kosi River towards Phakding.
Day 14
Phakding to Lukla (2,860m), 3 hrs
↓
Our final trekking day takes us back to Lukla.
With the walking complete, it’s time to relax and celebrate the end of an unforgettable journey through the Himalayas with our guiding and porter team.
Day 15
Fly to Ramechhap, transfer to Kathmandu
↓
We fly from Lukla back to Ramechhap and transfer by road to Kathmandu.
That evening, we’ll get together for a celebratory dinner and a final night as a group.
Start Planning Your Journey
Facts
Why Trek to Everest Base Camp?
There are few mountain journeys as iconic as the trek to Everest Base Camp.
But the experience is about much more than simply reaching Base Camp.
Over 13 days on the trail, you’ll travel deep into the Khumbu Valley, stay in Sherpa communities, cross high suspension bridges, visit mountain villages and watch the landscape gradually change as you move towards the highest mountains on Earth.
Taking the time to walk there is what makes reaching Everest Base Camp so memorable.
The journey becomes just as important as the destination.
Why Trek Everest Base Camp with Earth’s Edge?
Adventure changes lives. At Earth’s Edge, we believe how you trek to Everest Base Camp matters just as much as reaching it.
Our approach is built around preparation, expert support, responsible travel and a strong sense of community.
Dedicated Expedition Doctor
Every Earth’s Edge Everest Base Camp expedition travels with a dedicated expedition doctor for extra peace of mind.
This is a bedrock of our service and safety standards, giving the group an additional level of medical support while trekking at altitude and in a remote mountain environment.
Having a doctor as part of the expedition team allows us to monitor acclimatisation closely, identify potential issues early and provide additional reassurance throughout the trek. It's why many of our clients choose to travel with Earth's Edge.
Experienced Nepalese Guiding Team
Our highly experienced Nepalese guiding team know the Khumbu Valley, its trails and communities extremely well.
They are at the heart of the expedition, setting a steady pace on the trail, managing the day-to-day journey through the mountains and helping you experience the Everest region through the people who know it best.
Two Dedicated Acclimatisation Days
Our itinerary includes dedicated acclimatisation days in both Namche Bazaar and Pheriche.
At altitude, getting there faster isn't better. These additional days give your body valuable time to adjust gradually before moving higher into the mountains.
Training Weekend in Wicklow, Ireland
Before travelling to Nepal, you’ll be invited to take part in a pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland.
Our training weekends are designed to build confidence and community, giving you time on the hills alongside practical advice on training, packing, pacing and what to expect at altitude.
You arrive in Nepal prepared, informed and ready to go.
Small-Group Experience
We keep our Everest Base Camp groups small, allowing for a more personal experience and strong support from the guiding and medical team.
And you certainly don’t need to know anyone before joining. Many Earth’s Edge clients travel on their own, and the shared experience of trekking through the Himalayas quickly creates a strong sense of team.
For many people, that team becomes one of the highlights of the expedition.
Responsible Travel
Earth's Edge is a Certified B Corp and currently the highest-scoring B Corp in Ireland. We're committed to responsible travel, fair treatment and wages for local staff and reducing the impact of our expeditions on the places we visit.
Preparing for Your Everest Base Camp Trek
Is Everest Base Camp Suitable for Beginners?
Yes. You don’t need previous high-altitude trekking or mountaineering experience to trek to Everest Base Camp.
What matters most is having a good level of general fitness and being prepared to train consistently in the months before departure.
This is a sustained trek, with 13 days on the trail and several nights above 4,000m, so it shouldn’t be underestimated. However, we move at a steady pace and you’ll be supported throughout by our Nepalese guiding team and dedicated expedition doctor.
If you’re unsure whether Everest Base Camp is right for you, book a free consultation and we’ll talk it through with you.
How Fit Do I Need to Be?
We classify Everest Base Camp as a Level 4 expedition. You should have a good level of general fitness and be comfortable walking for several hours over hilly terrain on consecutive days.
Regular hillwalking is one of the best ways to prepare, alongside cardiovascular and strength training.
Your training weekend in Wicklow will also give you an opportunity to spend time in the hills before travelling to Nepal.
What About Altitude?
Altitude is one of the biggest challenges of trekking to Everest Base Camp. Base Camp itself sits at 5,364m, while the optional trek to Kala Patthar reaches approximately 5,550m.
Our itinerary is designed to allow your body to adjust gradually, with a steady rate of ascent and dedicated acclimatisation days in Namche Bazaar and Pheriche.
Our experienced Nepalese guides will set a steady pace, and a dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor travels with the group throughout the trek for additional medical support and peace of mind.
What Is the Accommodation Like?
During the trek, you’ll stay in locally run tea houses throughout the Khumbu Valley.
Tea houses are a classic part of trekking in Nepal. Accommodation is generally simple, with twin rooms and shared communal dining areas where trekkers gather in the evenings.
In Kathmandu, you’ll stay in hotel accommodation based on twin sharing.
What Should I Pack for Everest Base Camp?
You’ll experience a wide range of temperatures during the expedition, from relatively mild conditions lower in the Khumbu Valley to much colder temperatures above 4,000m.
You’ll need suitable trekking footwear and clothing, warm insulating layers and a sleeping bag, along with the other personal equipment outlined in our packing list.
See our full Everest Base Camp equipment list.
When Is the Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp?
The main trekking seasons in the Everest region are spring and autumn.
We schedule our Everest Base Camp expeditions between March and May and September and November, when conditions are generally best suited to trekking and there is a better chance of clear mountain views.
Mountain weather is always changeable, however, so you should be prepared for a range of conditions at any time of year.
Read Our Everest Base Camp Guides
Looking for even more advice?
Explore our Everest Base Camp guide for detailed information on training, altitude, equipment and what to expect on the trek.
