The morning air at 5,364 metres (17,598ft) is thin and cold, and the silence is so deep you can hear your own heartbeat. Then the sun breaks over the ridge, and Everest fills the sky. This is not a photograph. You are standing here.
The 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek takes you through the heart of the Khumbu, across suspension bridges strung above glacial rivers, past ancient Sherpa monasteries where monks chant at dawn, and through villages where prayer flags snap in the mountain wind. You will walk beneath four of the world’s fourteen highest peaks: Everest (8,849m / 29,032ft), Lhotse (8,516m / 27,940ft), Makalu (8,463m / 27,838ft), and Cho Oyu (8,201m / 26,906ft). You will sleep in teahouses warmed by yak-dung stoves, eat dal bhat with families who have lived in these mountains for generations, and wake each morning to views that most people only see in documentaries.
What Makes This Trek Unforgettable
- Stand at Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,192ft) at sunrise, the most famous viewpoint of Everest, where four of the world’s highest peaks surround you
- Walk through Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, and over 100 species of birds
- Visit Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, with Everest and Ama Dablam framed behind it
- Cross suspension bridges draped in prayer flags over the Dudh Koshi River, some of the highest in the world
- Experience Sherpa hospitality in centuries-old villages where Buddhist prayer wheels spin at every corner
- See the Khumbu Glacier up close, the largest glacier in the Everest region, stretching 12 kilometres
- Land at Lukla, one of the world’s most dramatic airports at 2,860m (9,383ft), where the runway ends at a mountain wall
- Acclimatise in Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286ft), the vibrant Sherpa capital with markets, bakeries, and the best apple pie in the Himalayas
- Hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880m / 12,730ft) on your rest day, your first clear view of Everest, with a hot cup of tea in your hand
- Pass the Thukla memorial cairns, a quiet, powerful tribute to the climbers who gave everything to these mountains
- Stand at Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,598ft), where the world’s greatest mountaineering expeditions begin, on the edge of the Khumbu Icefall
12-Day Everest Base Camp Trek Overview
Twelve days. That is all it takes to walk from the airstrip at Lukla to the foot of the highest mountain on earth and back. Most trekkers say those twelve days changed how they see the world.
The route follows the Dudh Koshi River valley through Sagarmatha National Park, climbing steadily from Phakding (2,610m / 8,563ft) through Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286ft), Tengboche (3,860m / 12,664ft), Dingboche (4,410m / 14,468ft), and Lobuche (4,940m / 16,207ft) before reaching Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres (17,598ft). Along the way, the scenery transforms, from rhododendron forests alive with birdsong, to the stark, windswept moraines of the Khumbu Glacier where nothing grows and the only sound is ice shifting beneath your feet.
Two acclimatisation days are built into the itinerary, one at Namche Bazaar and one at Dingboche, because rushing altitude is dangerous and we will never compromise your safety for schedule. These rest days are not wasted days. At Namche, you hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m / 12,730ft) for your first clear sight of the summit. At Dingboche, you climb to a ridge where Island Peak, Makalu, and Lhotse fill the horizon.
The summit day is not the peak itself, it is Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,192ft), a rocky viewpoint where you stand before dawn in freezing darkness, waiting. Then the sun hits Everest. That moment is why people come here.
The walk back to Lukla takes three days of descending through familiar villages where teahouse owners now greet you by name. The final evening in Kathmandu is a farewell dinner with your guide and team, a chance to look back at what you did and realise you are not the same person who landed at Tribhuvan Airport twelve days ago.
Before You Arrive
Please arrive in Kathmandu by 4 PM the day before your trek. This gives you time for a final gear check, a briefing with your guide, and a good night’s rest before the early morning start.
Your Online Briefing
Think of this as our first coffee together, but online. After you book, we will schedule a video call where we walk you through every detail: what to pack, what each day on the trail looks like, how the altitude will feel, and anything else on your mind. No question is too small.
This is also when we learn about you. Our trek itinerary does not include your hotel in Kathmandu, during the briefing, share your preferences and budget, and we will arrange accommodation that fits. Whether you want a simple guesthouse in Thamel or a five-star hotel, we will set it up for you.
Lukla Flight — What You Need to Know
The flight to Lukla is one of the most dramatic in the world, a short ride between mountain peaks that ends on a runway carved into a hillside at 2,860m (9,383ft). From Kathmandu, it takes about 40 minutes. From Manthali, it takes about 20 minutes. It is also weather-dependent. Flights can be delayed by fog, cloud, or wind, sometimes for a full day. This is normal in the Himalayas and nothing to worry about, but it is something to plan for.
We strongly recommend keeping two buffer days at the end of your trip before your international flight home. This protects your connection if weather delays your return from Lukla.
During peak trekking season (March–May and October–November), flights to Lukla operate from Manthali Airport (Ramechhap) instead of Kathmandu, to reduce congestion on Kathmandu’s single runway. If your flight departs from Manthali, we will pick you up from your hotel around midnight and drive you there (4–6 hours).
For your return, you fly from Lukla back to Kathmandu or Manthali. If your return flight lands at Manthali, we drive you back to Kathmandu (4–6 hours). All ground transportation is included in every package.
Your Trek, Your Way
Every trek we run is private, your group only, no strangers added. Whether you choose Budget, Standard, or Luxury, the mountains are yours and your companions’ alone. This is not a conveyor belt. This is your personal Himalayan experience.
Your hotel in Kathmandu is not included in the trek package, and that is intentional. Kathmandu has everything from USD 10 guesthouses in Thamel to five-star hotels with rooftop views of the city. During the online briefing, tell us what you prefer and we will arrange it for you. Your trek package begins the moment you leave Kathmandu for the mountains.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging (4 out of 5)
You will walk 5-8 hours a day over mountain trails, gaining altitude each day until you reach 5,545m (18,192ft). The paths are well-established but uneven, stone steps, river crossings, and steep ascents are part of every day. No previous trekking experience is required, but you should be comfortable walking for extended periods and be in reasonable physical health. The two acclimatisation days help your body adjust, and our guides monitor your condition throughout.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | USD 1,072 | USD 1,250 | USD 2,500 |
| Meals | Choose your own (approx. USD 15-25/day) | 3 meals + tea + fruits + 2L water daily | All meals + all drinks anytime (except alcohol) |
| Room | Shared teahouse | Private twin w/ bathroom | Private deluxe w/ bed heater |
| Porter | Not included | 1 per 2 trekkers | 1 per trekker (carry nothing) |
| Guide | 1 guide, assistant at 8+ | 1 guide per 6, assistant at 6+ | 1 guide per 2 trekkers |
| Transport | Local vehicle + flight to Lukla | Private vehicle + flight to Lukla | Luxury vehicle + helicopter to Lukla |
| SIM data | SIM only | Limited data | Unlimited data |
| Best for | Backpackers and independent travellers | Comfort trekkers, couples, families | Premium experience seekers |
Himalayas for Every Budget, same expert guides, same safety, three comfort levels.
Your Trek, Our Family
In the 1960s, Shreejan’s grandfather Hari Lal Simkhada helped international travellers experience the Himalayas for the first time, arranging logistics, finding routes, building trust with people who had come halfway around the world on a dream. His son Ganesh went on to serve at the Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal Mountaineering Association. And now Shreejan, the third generation, designs every itinerary you see on this website.
This is not a company that was started in a boardroom. It was started on a mountain trail, three generations ago.
Shreejan hand-picks the guide for your group from our team of TAAN-certified mountaineering professionals, people who grew up in these mountains and know every trail, every teahouse owner, and every weather sign. He briefs your guide personally before your trek begins, because your safety and experience are not something we delegate to a system.
Have a question right now? WhatsApp Shreejan directly: +977 9810351300. No sales team. No chatbot. The person who designed your trek answers personally.
Our Credentials
- 196+ TripAdvisor Reviews, 4.9 out of 5 stars, TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2024
- 108+ Google Reviews, 4.9 out of 5 stars
- TAAN Certified, Member #1586, Government Reg: 147653/072/073
- Secure 10% Deposit, pay just $107 to reserve, via Himalayan Bank
- Himalayas for Every Budget, breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the trek
- Three Generations, family guiding in the Himalayas since the 1960s
Solo Trekkers Welcome
You do not need a travel partner to trek in Nepal. Most of the people who book with us come alone, and by day three on the trail, they are sharing meals, swapping stories, and watching sunrises together like old friends.
Our groups are small, 2 to 20 people, because the Himalayas deserve more than a crowd. You book your trek, and it is yours. We will never add strangers to your group without your permission.
If you want to trek completely privately, you can. If you prefer company, tell us and we will list your dates as a fixed departure on our website so other solo travellers can find you and join. Either way, the trek is built around you.
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging (4 out of 5)
You need to be comfortable walking 5-8 hours per day over uneven terrain with significant altitude gain. No previous trekking experience is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is important. We build two acclimatisation days into the itinerary (Namche Bazaar and Dingboche) to help your body adjust safely.
Trek With a Purpose — Changing the World, One Step at a Time
In 2019, Shreejan and Shamjhana Basukala founded the Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum Village, one of the most remote communities in Nepal’s Dhading District, where children had no school after hours, no computers, and limited healthcare. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals every school day. The centre has grown to 7 learning centres across Nepal, providing healthcare for 600 people, internet access for 65 children, and support programmes for over 275 women.
A portion of every trek you book funds this work directly. The centre is verified and listed on the United Nations Partner Portal.
When you walk these mountains with us, every step you take helps change a life in rural Nepal. That is what we mean by Trek With a Purpose, changing the world, one step at a time.
