There are a lot of different ways to hike to
Everest Base Camp, different people go at different paces, and have different amounts of time available. This is just how we did it, the whole trip took about 15 days including time to see Kathmandu (and celebrate afterwards). If you have more time, there are a lot of extra stops you can make along the way and things to see. I wouldn’t recommend going too much quicker. The altitude is powerful, the people we spoke to who skipped acclimation days failed to reach base camp and had to turn back.
- Arrive in Kathmandu (4383ft)
- If you dont have all your gear, arrange for rentals from the local shops, or purchase. Check out our checklist for Everest Base Camp trekking gear to be sure you have everything, and don’t bring anything unnecessary.
- Sort your paperwork – TIM’s card, if you need to pay your tour operator do so, meet your guide, etc.
- Fly Kathmandu to Lukla when you have all your gear and paperwork in order
- Hire porters and trek a short distance to Pakding on the Dudh Kosi river (9200ft) (Lukla to Phakding Journal)
- Hike Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11300ft)
- Namche Bazaar – Acclimatization day side trip to Khumjung (12400ft) and Khunde
- Namche Bazaar to Thangboche (12,670 feet)
- Thangboche to Periche (13,780 feet)
- Scale Dingboche (16,571 feet) – acclimatization day
- Periche to Lobuje (16,175 feet)
- Lobuje to Everest Base Camp (17192ft)
- Lobuje to Pangboche
- Pangboche to Namche
- Namche to Pakdingma
- Pakdingma to Lukla
- Fly to Kathmandu
- Allow some extra padding days in Kathmandu as the weather is temperamental and flights often get cancelled and backup out of Lukla
