Short Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary - 12 days

Welcome to Nepal! Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative from Third Rock Adventures, who will transfer you to your hotel. After refreshment, your guide will discuss the itinerary of the days to follow.

As it is a short trek to Everest Base Camp, you will have to make sure to arrange all the required gear, essentials, and appropriate clothing without any acclimatization stops. Consult with your guide for more details, then prepare your packing checklist.

In the evening, you can enjoy some authentic food at Thamel, the tourist hub of Kathmandu, to observe the vibrant night market.

Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.

On this day, you will head to the Khumbu region with a scenic flight to Lukla with a bird’s eye view of river tributaries, forests, hills, and mountains. Landing in the heights of the airport in Lukla is one of the most thrilling experiences. Upon reaching Lukla, you will notice the tranquil cold wind blowing through your face and the silent Sherpa settlement on the horizon.

You will begin your trek to Phakding for an overnight stay. Head on to the lovely Chaurikharka village and walk beside the milky Dudh Koshi river. You will pass through some mani walls, a few stone houses with naked mountains in the backdrop. On the way, you will spot the Khumbila, an unclimbed sacred peak for the Sherpa. Phakding village is nestled in the Dudh Koshi valley and is inhabited largely by the Sherpa community.

Upon reaching the village with a stone-paved road decorated by prayer flags, you will be transferred to your tea house. After taking some rest, stroll around the village to interact with the local people and taste the locally brewed hot butter tea.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Phakding.

After having breakfast, begin your trek to the commercial hub of the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar. After crossing the glacial Dudh Koshi river, walk past a suspension bridge and into the thick pine forest. The forest trail leads to Monjo, which is the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park. From there on, you will cross the popular Hillary Suspension Bridge. Your permit will be checked at the Monjo checkpoint.

Trek alongside the Dudh Koshi River until reaching Jorsale (2,740m/8,989ft), where you will stop for lunch. You can enjoy some dessert at the bakery there. From there, a steep climb will take you to Namche. From the hilltop of Top Danda, you will spot the scattered settlement lit up in the evening, but most of all, you will be amazed by the first intimate views of the majestic Mt. Everest. You will find all the basic to standard necessities in Namche Bazaar from ATMs, Coffee shops, bakery, and clothing stores. You can enjoy the last western meal in Namche before your trek further up the Khumbu region.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Namche Bazaar.

Begin your trek with the views of some of the tallest mountains in the world including, Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kwangde, never leaving your sight. Since there is no acclimatization day in this short trek, you will have to follow the itinerary without rushing to the destination to avoid altitude sickness. You might get a chance to spot some rare Himalayan flora and fauna in the Sagarmatha National Park. The trail passes forests adorned with juniper and rhododendron, eventually reaching the Sherpa village of Tengboche.

Upon reaching Tengboche, you will be offered close views of Ama Dablam peak. After transferring to the Teahouse and getting some rest, you can head to the largest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu region, Tengboche Monastery/ Dawa Choling Gompa, built-in 1916. The monastery looks surreal amidst snowy terrain straddled between mountains.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Tengboche.

After breakfast, you will head towards Dingboche village early in the morning, our next stop. Begin the trek to Imja River, passing plains towards Pangboche village. You will instantly spot the clustered settlement of the Sherpa community, which is the biggest and highest permanent settlement. You can interact with the warm and welcoming locals. Try some of the local delicacies which will keep your body warm in the cold weather.

From there, the trek continues to Dingboche village in the Chukhung valley with adjacent views of Island Peak and Ama Dablam. If time permits, you can hike further above the village to acclimatize your body and head back to enjoy some local food.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Dingboche.

As there are no rest days in this itinerary, you will have to continue on pace and head to Lobuche on this day. Pass through rocky topography to reach your destination. As it is a high-altitude trek, you might face some difficulties, so make brief stops in between to catch your breath and absorb the amazing views.

You will reach Thukla Pass on the way, which is our first pass of the trek sitting at an elevation of 4,865m/15,961ft. You will find memorial stupas constructed in the past to honor the climbers who lost their lives during the Mount Everest expedition. The most highlighted, ill-fated expedition of Scott Fisher and Rob Hall has been made into a popular movie named Everest. Along the trail from there, you will be graced with surrounding views of Pumori Nuptse and Lobuche even closer than the previous days.

Lobuche closely borders Tibet and comprises a few local homes and teahouses particularly targeted towards trekkers. After the strenuous trek, you can take some rest in your cozy teahouse.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Lobuche.

On this day, your dream of setting foot on the plinth of the tallest mountain in the world will come true as you will be heading to Everest Base Camp. The highlight of your entire trek is not as easy. Rather, today you will have to take a rigorous hike through some tough terrain. You will take steady steps to reach Gorak Shep, which reaches an altitude of 5,140m/16,860ft.

Upon reaching Gorak Shep, you will have some refreshments and leave your heavy backpack in the teahouse because you will return for an overnight stay. Taking only the essentials, hike up through rocky paths with stunning views of Khumbu Glacier and thrilling Khumbu Icefall on the slopes of Everest.

After the exhilarating hike, you will be offered an unhinged view of Mt. Everest from the Base Camp. Absorb the panoramic views of the most talked-about mountain in the world and make sure to take great pictures as a memory. In the base camp, you will spot expert climbers preparing to acclaim Mt. Everest. You can interact with them and get reviews on mountaineering which might be useful to you for your Mount Everest Expedition in the future. After enjoying the views, you will head back to Gorak Shep, as the weather in the Base Camp can change dramatically in the evening.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Gorak Shep.

Your Everest Base Camp trek cannot be comprehensive without visiting the Kala Patthar viewpoint. Kala Patthar is a Nepali word translated to ‘black rock’ given the name as it is a popular vantage point in the south ridge of Pumori. It offers views of the Khumbu region peaks. Early in the morning, after having breakfast, take a short hike to the viewpoint at an elevation of 5644m/18,519ft for a more detailed view of the Everest summit.

You will be offered a 360-degree view of some of the 14 tallest mountains in the world located here in Nepal. The peaks including Mt. Everest (8848.86m/29,031.69ft), Lhotse (8,516m/27939ft), Cho Oyu (8,188m/26,863ft), Nuptse (7861m/25,790ft), and Changtse (7560m/24,803ft) are seen vividly from the viewpoint. After the stunning views, hike back to Gorak Shep to pick up your backpacks. Trek takes a descend to Pheriche. It is a village inhabited by the Sherpa community engaged in farming potatoes and buckwheat in the winter.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Pheriche.

Walking from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar is an easier trek, although it covers a large distance. You will head back to Tengboche village as you bid farewell to the views of the high mountains. In the evening, you will reach Namche Bazaar.

You can take a hot shower and enjoy some long-awaited western dishes and hot coffee in the cafes around Namche. Internet is readily available, so you can connect with the outside world and share experiences of your trek.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Namche Bazaar.

Today is the final trekking day in the Khumbu region. You will be bidding farewell to the snowcapped mountains as you pass the Hillary Suspension Bridge. Head straight to Monjo to exit the Sagarmatha National Park. From there on, the trail takes you to Chaurikharka village and Phakding alongside the Dudh Koshi River. You will pass through scattered localities until finally reaching Lukla.

Upon reaching your accommodation, you will get refreshed and pack up your bags. As it is the last day in the cold Everest region, you can enjoy yourself with the locals and your trekking crew by having some locally brewed drinks, authentic meals, and folk songs.

Overnight stay at teahouse in Lukla.

Early in the morning, you will take a scenic flight from the thrilling airport in Lukla towards Kathmandu city. After reaching Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel for refreshment. In the afternoon, head out for some sightseeing activity around Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the evening, stroll down the streets of Thamel to purchase souvenirs to take back home. You will find ancient artifacts, crafts, pure pashmina, and woolen clothing in the shops. Enjoy yourself with Nepali friends in the local pubs and enjoy authentic Nepali food and drinks.

Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.

It marks your final day in Nepal. Our representative will drive you to the Tribhuvan International Airport and bid you a hearty farewell. As you head back home, you will remember the triumphant moment when you reached the most awaited Everest Base Camp and the mesmerizing views of mountains from Kala Patthar's viewpoint.

After the amazing and successful Everest Base Camp Short trek in the high Himalayas of Nepal, you can reach out to us anytime for similar trekking experiences in the popular Annapurna, Langtang, or the Everest region.