Everest Base Camp Trek

Early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla — one of the world's most dramatic airport landings, the runway tilted into a mountainside. From Lukla, a gentle descent through pine forest along the Dudh Kosi river to Phakding. Easy first day to find your trail legs.

Cross and re-cross the river on suspension bridges draped in prayer flags. The final push to Namche is a steep 600m climb — the trail's first real test. Your first glimpse of Everest comes at a bend about two-thirds up. Namche sits in a natural amphitheatre, a bustling Sherpa trading town.

Climb high, sleep low. Morning hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse. Afternoon to explore Namche — the Sherpa Culture Museum, Saturday market if timing aligns, or just rest in a bakery with apple pie and coffee.

Contour trail with views of Ama Dablam dominating the skyline. Descend to the Dudh Kosi, then climb through rhododendron and birch forest to Tengboche. The monastery sits on a ridge with Everest directly behind — one of the most photographed viewpoints on the trek.

Drop down through forest to Pangboche — the oldest Sherpa village in the Khumbu. From here, the tree line ends and you enter a broader valley. Stone walls line the trail, yak pastures spread out. Dingboche sits in a wind-swept basin below the walls of Lhotse.

Second acclimatization day. Hike up Nagarjun Hill for views of Makalu, Island Peak, and the Lhotse wall. Return to Dingboche for lunch. Afternoon rest — read, write, drink tea. Your body is adapting. Listen to it.

Pass the memorial cairns for climbers lost on Everest — a sobering reminder of altitude's power. The trail crosses the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Landscape is stark now — grey rock, ice, thin air. Lobuche is small, cold, and functional.

Morning trek to Gorak Shep across rocky glacier moraine. Drop bags, eat lunch, then push on to Everest Base Camp. The trail follows the Khumbu Glacier — a chaotic landscape of ice towers and shifting rubble. Base Camp is marked by prayer flags and, in season, colourful expedition tents. Return to Gorak Shep before dark.

Pre-dawn start for Kala Patthar — the trek's highest point. Watch sunrise light up Everest's summit pyramid in gold and pink. Descend all the way to Pheriche, losing over 1,100m. Your lungs will thank you. Pheriche has a medical post and surprisingly good apple pie.

Long descent through familiar territory — but it looks different going down. More oxygen in each breath. Trees return. Colour returns. Back in Namche for a hot shower and a celebratory dinner. The bakeries feel like fine dining after a week of dal bhat.

Final trekking day. Retrace the trail along the Dudh Kosi, crossing those suspension bridges one last time. The air feels thick and warm. Arrive in Lukla for a farewell dinner with your guide and porters. Early sleep — tomorrow's flight leaves at dawn.

Early morning flight back to Kathmandu (weather permitting — always keep a buffer day). Transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is yours: Thamel's chaos, a proper restaurant meal, or just a long shower. You did it.