Everest Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Nepal! On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport you will be met by a Lekali Journeys representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to acclimatise and explore the bustling streets of Thamel. An optional evening stroll through the neighbourhood reveals colourful prayer flags, aromatic spice shops and friendly locals. Tonight your guide briefs you on the days ahead and we share a welcome dinner with the group.

A morning of iconic sightseeing: Pashupatinath Temple — the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal — and the vast stupa at Boudhanath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. Afternoon is spent finalising gear hire from Thamel outfitters, collecting your TIMS card and Sagarmatha National Park permit from the Lekali Journeys office. Your guide conducts a mandatory kit check and distributes any group equipment. Early evening rest is strongly advised before tomorrow's mountain flight.

An early morning drive to the airport for the thrilling 35-minute mountain flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,860 m). The short runway is perched on a ridge with a cliff at one end and a mountain wall at the other — one of the world's most spectacular airstrips. From Lukla we begin our trek immediately, descending through pine forests and past yak herds to the Dudh Kosi river. Suspension bridges crisscross the turquoise water as we follow the valley to the village of Phakding for our first night in a Himalayan lodge.

Today is the first real climb of the expedition. The trail rises through dense rhododendron and fir forest, crossing a series of high suspension bridges — including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge — before the steep final ascent to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), the commercial hub of the Khumbu region. On a clear day the first views of Everest appear just before entering the national park gate at Mong La. Namche is a horseshoe-shaped town clinging to the hillside and packed with bakeries, gear shops and internet cafes. We enter Sagarmatha National Park today; rangers stamp your permit.

A full acclimatisation day is mandatory here and is the single most important factor in reaching Base Camp successfully. We hike high to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) for breathtaking panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku, then descend back to Namche to sleep low. This 'climb high, sleep low' protocol triggers red blood cell production. The afternoon is free to explore the Saturday market (held Fridays and Saturdays), visit the Sherpa Cultural Museum or simply rest. Adequate hydration — at least 4 litres of water — is essential today.

Leaving Namche we descend to the Dudh Kosi river at Phunki Thanga then climb steeply through rhododendron forest to Tengboche — home of the highest monastery in Nepal. Tengboche Monastery is the spiritual heart of the Khumbu region; if timing allows we attend the evening puja ceremony, filling the air with the resonant hum of horns and the scent of burning incense. Ama Dablam (6,812 m) appears in its full glory from the monastery courtyard, one of the most photographed mountains on earth.

Descending from Tengboche through birch and juniper woodland we cross the Imja Khola valley and begin the steady climb through Pangboche — famous for the oldest monastery in the Khumbu. Above Pangboche the terrain opens into high-altitude meadows where yaks graze against a backdrop of Lhotse's south face. We arrive at Dingboche (4,410 m) in the Upper Imja Valley, a wide open bowl of stone-walled fields. The elevation gain today requires slow, steady movement — your guide will set a gentle pace.

A second dedicated acclimatisation day with a hike above 5,000 m. We climb the ridge above Dingboche to a cairn-marked viewpoint that frames Island Peak (6,189 m), Makalu (8,485 m, the world's fifth-highest) and the entirety of the Lhotse-Nuptse wall. This high-altitude excursion without added overnight elevation consolidates adaptation before the Khumbu high camps. Afternoon in Dingboche: tea, rest and an optional card game. Your guide monitors all group members for signs of AMS.

Climbing out of Dingboche we cross the Khumbu moraine plain, passing the famous Thukla memorial chortens — a poignant ridge of stone monuments to the Sherpa climbers and expeditioners lost on Everest. The trail hugs the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, with Nuptse's enormous south face dominating the skyline. Lobuche (4,940 m) is a cluster of teahouses pressed against the moraine wall; the air is noticeably thinner and nights are cold. Good sleep is crucial before tomorrow's push to Gorak Shep.

The most demanding day of the trek and the goal of the entire journey. We start early from Lobuche, following the edge of the Khumbu Glacier to Gorak Shep (5,140 m) — the last teahouse stop. After depositing heavy packs we continue on to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m), picking our way across the glacial moraine and boulders. Standing at Base Camp in the shadow of the Khumbu Icefall is an emotional moment — the staging ground for all Everest expeditions. We return to Gorak Shep for the night, tired but triumphant.

A pre-dawn start (04:00) for the short but steep climb to Kala Patthar (5,545 m). At sunrise the view is unrivalled anywhere on earth: Everest fills the northern sky, Lhotse and Nuptse flank it, and the Khumbu Icefall tumbles below the Western Cwm in the first light. Photographs do not do it justice. We descend back to Gorak Shep for a late breakfast then continue all the way down to Pheriche (4,240 m), a long descent that the legs feel keenly but the lungs appreciate after days above 5,000 m.

A long descent back through Tengboche — now familiar — and down through the forest to Namche Bazaar. The knees work hard on this day but the returning trekker has the advantage of acclimatisation: you'll feel stronger and better rested than on the ascent. Namche celebrates your homecoming with hot showers, fresh coffee, pizza and apple pie from the many bakeries. Celebrate with the group tonight — you've earned it.

The final full trekking day. From Namche we reverse the route through Jorsalle, crossing the national park gate, and push all the way back to Lukla by late afternoon. It is a long day on the trail but the knowledge that hot showers and cold beers await in Lukla keeps the spirits high. The evening is a celebration: guides, porters and trekkers share the traditional 'farewell dinner' with Khukuri rum and dancing. Sleep early — the mountain flight back to Kathmandu departs before 07:00.

Early morning transfer to the airstrip for the return mountain flight to Kathmandu (weather dependent — always check the status with the lodge owner the evening before). After landing, your Lekali Journeys representative meets you for the transfer back to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for shopping in Thamel or a final massage. This evening we share a formal farewell dinner with your guide, where certificates of completion are awarded and memorable photographs are exchanged.