The Everest Base Camp Trek is the most famous walk in the world. Every year, 40,000+ trekkers make the journey to the foot of the highest mountain on earth. Here is what it actually takes — and what you will find when you get there.
What Is Everest Base Camp?
Everest Base Camp (EBC) sits at 5,364m at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall — the first major obstacle on any Everest summit attempt. During the climbing season (April–May), it is a city of expedition tents, satellite phones, and climbers preparing for their summit bids. Outside climbing season, it is quieter but no less dramatic — a field of glacial moraine with prayer flags, memorials to fallen climbers, and the blue-white seracs of the Khumbu Icefall directly above.
Important note: Everest itself is not visible from Base Camp — it is blocked by Nuputse and Lhotse. The iconic Everest view is from Kala Patthar (5,545m), a separate half-day hike that we include in our itinerary. Kala Patthar at sunrise is the defining experience of the trek.
The Route
The standard EBC route flies from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860m), then walks through the Khumbu valley over 12–14 days. Key stops: Phakding, Namche Bazaar (3,440m, acclimatisation stop), Tengboche, Dingboche (4,410m, second acclimatisation stop), Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar (5,545m), Everest Base Camp (5,364m). Return is via the same route.
The Lukla Flight
The flight from Kathmandu (or Manthali airport, depending on season) to Lukla is one of the most dramatic in commercial aviation — a 35-minute journey through mountain valleys to a 527m uphill runway carved into a clifftop at 2,860m. Weather cancellations occur, particularly in late October and November when Kathmandu fog is common. We build buffer days into our itinerary. The flight is safe — Tara Air and Summit Air operate it daily in season.
Acclimatisation
Our EBC itinerary includes two critical acclimatisation days: one at Namche (3,440m) and one at Dingboche (4,410m). These are not optional rest days — they are medically essential. On each acclimatisation day, we hike to a higher altitude (4,000m+ from Namche, 5,000m+ from Dingboche) and sleep lower. This stimulates red blood cell production without the risk of sleeping too high too fast. We monitor oxygen saturation twice daily throughout.
What Makes Our EBC Trek Different
Our groups are capped at 12 people and guided by TAAN Class A certified Sherpa guides who grew up in the Khumbu valley. They know the families who run the tea houses. They know the history of every peak on the horizon. They know what your oxygen saturation should be at Dingboche and will act if it is not. This is not a packaged walk — it is a guided mountain experience backed by genuine expertise.
Is EBC Right for You?
You do not need mountaineering experience. You do not need to have trekked before. You need: good cardiovascular fitness (comfortable walking 6–8 hours per day on uneven terrain), mental resilience, and 14 days minimum. If you are unsure whether you are ready for EBC, consider the Annapurna Base Camp Trek (4,130m, 11 days) as an excellent preparation — or the Langtang Valley Trek (4,773m, 9 days) as a comparable alternative with far fewer crowds.
Ready to go? Our Everest Base Camp Trek departs throughout the spring and autumn season.
