The 130 km round-trip takes around 15 days to complete; it takes 10 days to reach the base camp and 5 days to descend back, which includes 10 days of long trekking, 2 days of acclimatization, 2 days of leisure at Kathmandu and one day of departure. The trek takes you to the foothills of the imposing Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

An expedition that is interspersed with thrill, adventure and awe-inspiring beauty of staggering mountain ranges and lush greenery of raw Himalayan terrain, Everest Base Camp Trek is a true calling for trekking enthusiasts. This expedition offers you the closest encounter with the majestic Mount Everest and takes you to a heavenly journey in the footsteps of legendary mountaineers like Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. You meet the friendliest locals and explore local villages, lush hamlets, cascading waterfalls, verdant forests, steep trails, and glacial moraines; it promises an all-in-one experience of a trekking expedition.

Highlights of the classic trek

• Everest Base Camp trek offers a wholesome package of adventure. Experience the thrill of maneuvering through the treacherous passes and steep rocky terrain and surviving in the sub-zero temperatures with a lot of snowfall.
• The exhilaration and thrill of being in the close proximity of the grandiose Mount Everest are unparalleled. Scintillating view of Mount Everest soaring against the backdrop of azure blue skies and standing tall at 29,029 feet will be etched in your mind forever.
• Meet some of the friendliest locals (Sherpas), explore local villages and know about their distinct culture.
• Visit the culturally rich Namche Monastery, Namche Museum, Dingboche Monastery, and Tengboche Monastery.
• Undertaking the challenging treks to Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, Kala Patthar, and Everest Base Camp add an exceptional spark to the whole expedition.
• Revel in the stunning beauty of Khumbhu Icefall, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Cho Yu.
• Enjoy your stay in the traditional Tea houses, the Everest Base Camp route is interspersed with tea houses where trekkers stay overnight.
• Visit the school established by Sir Edmund Hillary in the mountain village of Khumjung.
• Spend a day of leisure in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu. Familiarise yourself with colourful Buddhist and Hindu traditions, visit the famous Hindu and Buddhist temples, engage in some retail therapy, try local cuisine and buy souvenirs for your loved ones.

About

Located on the border between Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayas in Asia, Mount Everest is earth's highest mountain above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. At an elevation of 29,029 feet, Mount Everest is home to 14 of the world's tallest peaks measuring above 26,246 feet.

Some facts

• Sherpas, the mountain people of the Himalayas, consider Mount Everest sacred. The indigenous people who live in the foothills of Everest call it Chomolungma, which translates to "The Mother Goddess of the World".
• Believed to be more than 60 million years old, local people did not climb Mount Everest until the 1900s. They considered it too sacred to go near it.
• It is known as Sagarmatha in Nepal which means "Goddess of the Sky".
• Mount Everest was known as "Peak 15" earlier. In 1965, it was renamed Mount Everest after Sir George Everest.
• Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa were the first to scale the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.

Flora and fauna

• Throughout the trek, you come across tahr mountain goats, yaks (your supplies and mountain gear are loaded onto the backs of yaks), and musk deer while trekking through a forest.
• Picturesque birch and rhododendron forests, 400- year old Juniper trees are the main vegetation of the region. The forests are home to some colourful mountain bird species.

Best season to visit

April, May, early-June, September, October and early- November are the best months for undertaking the Everest Base Camp trek. These months boast of clearer skies, little rain and snow, and very comfortable weather for trekking.

The monsoon season, from June to September is dotted with high precipitation, strong winds, and moisture that bring frequent storms and heavy fog.

Winter storms, strong winds, and precipitation pose a hazard to the climbers during the winter season. Hurricane winds (up to 285 km per hour) that often carry sand, bits of stone, snow, and ice are a frequent occurrence from late-November to February. Unexpected winter storms can bring as much as 10 feet of snow.

Short Itinerary

Kathmandu-Lukla-Phakding-Namche Bazaar-Tengboche Dingboche-Dughla-Thukla-Lobuche-Gorakshep-Kala Patthar-Pheriche-Namche Bazaar-Lukla-Kathmandu

How to reach

• By air-Fly to Lukla from Kathmandu, flight time is 35 minutes