Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek - 13 Days, Itinerary, cost, permits

Your alarm goes off at around 1am. Yes, really. The 5-hour drive to Manthali Airport is the quietest part of this trek; most people sleep in the vehicle. The pre-dawn departure is the trade-off for flying into one of the most dramatic airstrips on earth.

The 30-minute flight to Lukla is an adventure in itself. The runway is short, tilted, and hemmed in by mountains on all sides. But pilots fly this route every single day during trekking season. Sit on the left side of the plane for your first mountain views.

After landing at Lukla (2,860m), you meet your full porter team. They take your main bag. You carry only a daypack with water, snacks, and your gadgets.

The walk to Phakding is gentle and perfect for Day 1 on the trail. You follow the Dudh Koshi River through pine and rhododendron forests. You cross your first suspension bridge. Kids wave from doorways. Prayer flags snap in the wind. Everything feels very far from home.

We descend slightly to reach Phakding at 2,652m. This intentional starting lower helps your body begin adjusting to altitude gradually.

Insider Tip: Sleep as much as you can in the vehicle to Manthali  you'll need the energy. And on the flight, sit left for mountain views. Once you're on the trail, walk at a comfortable pace. There's no medal for arriving first.

Today you climb to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital of the Everest region and the beating heart of the Khumbu Valley. It's a bigger day. You gain nearly 800 metres in altitude.

The morning is gentle. You walk through lush forests and cross the first of many suspension bridges over the rushing Dudh Koshi River. The longest one sways over a deep gorge. It's exciting, not scary.

After the village of Monjo, you show your permits at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. Then comes the famous Namche Hill, a steep 2-hour climb on stone steps. Everyone finds it hard. Take it slow. Rest when you need to.

Halfway up, the forest opens. Through a gap in the trees you see for the first time  the white pyramid of Mount Everest in the distance. That's where you're going.

Namche Bazaar is unlike anything else on the trek. It curves around the hillside like a horseshoe, built into the mountain. There are bakeries, gear shops, hot showers, and restaurants serving everything from dal bhat to apple pie. Tonight, you sleep in one of the best-equipped lodges on the entire route.

Insider Tip: When you reach Namche, resist the urge to collapse in bed. Walk around town for 20–30 minutes first. This helps your circulation and your acclimatisation. Then rest. Your legs will thank you tomorrow.

This is your first rest day. Rest does not mean lying in bed all day. The golden rule of altitude trekking is: climb high, sleep low. We put this into practice today.

In the morning, we hiked to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880m. The walk takes about 2 hours up and 90 minutes back down. The view from the hotel is one of the finest in the Himalayas. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam  all visible at once.

After lunch back in Namche, the afternoon is yours. Options include visiting the Sherpa Culture Museum, browsing the Saturday market (if it's Saturday), watching a film about Everest at the local theatre, or simply finding a sunny terrace with a hot drink and a view.

Your body is doing a lot of work right now, even when you're sitting still. It's producing more red blood cells and adjusting to thinner air. Drink 3–4 litres of water today. Skip alcohol.

Early in the morning, we will begin our trek towards one of the spiritual centers of the region, surrounded by amazing mountain views. The trail starts with a short climb, and after about one hour, you will reach the White Stupa. Take a short rest here and do not miss the chance to capture beautiful photos of the mountains all around.

We then continue towards Kyangjuma Village, where we will stop for a tea break with close-up views of Mount Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Mount Lhotse. From there, the trail descends for about one and a half hours until we reach Phungi Thanga, a perfect lunch spot.

After lunch, get ready for a continuous three-hour climb. Your effort will be greatly rewarded with stunning mountain views and a spiritual experience at Tengboche.

Insider Tip: At Khenjuma Village, there is an alternative trail that goes to Gokyo Lake. Avoid the left trail and take the right one by following the signs carefully.

Tengboche can be very busy during the peak trekking season, and sometimes it may be difficult to find a room there. In that case, you can visit the monastery and continue for another 45 minutes to the nearby village of Debuche for accommodation.

You're getting higher now. The air feels noticeably thinner today. You might breathe faster than normal on uphills. This is your body working hard. It's not a warning sign, it's progress.

The trail drops from Phortse to cross a small stream, then climbs through an alpine landscape to Pangboche. Pangboche is one of the last permanent Sherpa settlements in the upper valley. Visit the Pangboche Monastery, it's the oldest in the Khumbu region and claims to hold a yeti scalp. Worth a quick look.

Above Pangboche, the trees disappear. You're above the tree line now. The landscape opens into a vast plateau of rocks, grass, and sky. Ama Dablam dominates the view, its twin towers rising like a cathedral above the valley.

Dingboche sits on a wide plateau surrounded by stone-walled fields. These low walls protect barley crops from the wind. The views from the village in every direction are enormous. Tonight, your heart may beat faster and your sleep may be lighter. This is a normal altitude response.

Insider Tip: Tonight, put your water bottle inside your sleeping bag before you sleep. At 4,360m, an uninsulated bottle freezes solid by morning. It sounds like a small detail. It makes a big difference.

Your second acclimatisation day. This one matters even more than Day 4. You are now higher than every mountain in the European Alps. Your body needs one more day to prepare for the push to Base Camp.

This morning we hike to Nagarjun Hill at 5,100m, a 3 to 4 hour round trip. This is the first time you go above 5,000 metres. The climb is steady but not technical. At the top: 360-degree views of Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lobuche. You will want to take photos for a long time.

Then you come back down and sleep at 4,360m. Climb high, sleep low  exactly as planned. Your body will use tonight to adapt.

The afternoon is yours. The lodges in Dingboche often have fresh-baked apple pie. At 4,360 metres, a slice of warm apple pie with a cup of ginger tea is one of the finest things you'll ever taste.

Insider Tip: Headaches at this altitude are common. Before reaching for Diamox or paracetamol, drink a litre of water first. Many altitude headaches are dehydration headaches. They clear within 30 minutes of proper hydration.

Today you enter the high-altitude zone. Every step costs more energy. You breathe deeper. You walk slower. This is exactly how it should feel.

The trail climbs gently to Thukla, a small cluster of teahouses at the base of the Thukla Pass. After a tea break, you face the steep climb up the pass itself. At the top is the Thukla Memorial, a field of stone cairns, each one honouring a climber who died on Everest. It's quiet here. Most trekkers stop, look, and say nothing for a while.

After the memorial, the trail levels out on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. A moraine is the ridge of rock pushed up by the glacier's movement. The path is rocky and uneven. Watch your footing.

Lobuche is just a handful of lodges huddled together at the end of the valley. It's cold, even inside the dining room. The lodges burn yak-dung in their stoves. The smell is an acquired taste. The warmth is welcome.

Insider Tip: Tonight you're at 4,940m. You may wake up gasping or with a pounding heart  this is called Cheyne-Stokes breathing. It's a normal high-altitude response, not a medical emergency. Your guide will check your oxygen levels tomorrow morning. Read a book if you can't sleep. Worrying about not sleeping makes it worse.

This is the day. Base Camp day. The reason you trained for months.

You start at 6am. The walk to Gorak Shep takes 2–3 hours. Gorak Shep is the last permanent settlement before Base Camp, just a few lodges on a flat glacial plain. You drop your main bag here and eat a proper lunch before the final push.

The trail to Base Camp crosses the Khumbu Glacier. You walk on rocks and ice. The route weaves between tall ice towers called seracs. It is slow, uneven, and extraordinary. Coloured expedition tents appear in the distance. Prayer flags snap against the glacier. The Khumbu Icefall towers above  the dangerous first section of every Everest summit attempt.

You made it. 5,364 metres above sea level. You're standing where every successful Everest expedition has started. Take your time here. Take photos. Cry if you want to. Many trekkers do. You just did something most people only dream about.

After 30–45 minutes at Base Camp, you return to Gorak Shep for the night. The walk back feels lighter; you're heading slightly downhill and you're on the other side of the biggest moment of the trek.

Insider Tip: Bring hand warmers for Base Camp. Your fingers go numb fast when you stop moving to take photos. Also: the exact location of Base Camp shifts on the glacier throughout the season. Don't worry if it looks slightly different from photos you've seen online; it's the same place.

Wake up at 4:30am. Yes, this early. The sunrise on Everest from the top of Kala Patthar is one of the most famous views on earth. The first light turns the summit pyramid gold. It is worth the early alarm and cold fingers.

The climb to Kala Patthar takes 2–3 hours. It's steep, dark (you'll use headlamps), cold, and your legs are tired from yesterday. But at the top, Everest fills the sky directly in front of you. No foothills. No foreground clutter. Just the summit. People cheer. Strangers hug. It's that kind of moment.

After sunrise photos, you descend to Gorak Shep for breakfast. Then you begin the long descent to Pheriche at 4,288m. Going down feels wonderful. Your lungs work easily again. Your legs find energy. The valley opens below you.

Pheriche is home to the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic. We stop so you can visit and learn about altitude medicine if you're interested. The doctors there are excellent and happy to answer questions.

Insider Tip: Wear every warm layer you own for the sunrise climb. Take two pairs of gloves, inner liners and outer mitts. The wind at the summit makes -10°C feel like -20°C. Bring tissues. The cold makes everyone's nose run constantly.

You're descending now and everything feels easier. More oxygen. Warmer air. Stronger legs. Today you pass back through some of the most beautiful landscape on the route.

The trail takes you through thick rhododendron forests  in spring (March–May), these trees are covered in red and pink flowers. Even in autumn, the forest is stunning. The mountains appear and disappear behind ridges as you walk.

Tengboche holds the most famous monastery in the Khumbu region. Built in 1916 and rebuilt after a fire in 1989, it's the spiritual centre of Sherpa Buddhism. If you arrive before 3pm, you can attend the evening prayer ceremony. Monks chant in deep voices. Long horns echo off the walls. It is one of the most peaceful sounds you'll hear anywhere.

Tengboche sits on a ridge above the forest with a clear view of Ama Dablam and Everest. Tonight's lodge has a view that most hotels in the world charge a fortune for.

Insider Tip: Arrive at the monastery by 2:45pm for the best seats at the 3pm ceremony. Photography is permitted but keep voices low and phones on silent. This is an active place of worship, not a tourist attraction.

A long descent day. You drop over 1,000 metres in altitude and your body celebrates every step downward. Breathing feels easier with every passing hour.

The trail follows the Dudh Koshi River, crosses the suspension bridges you remember from the first few days, and passes through Jorsale. At Top Danda, you catch one of the last views of Everest on the return journey. Stop here and look back. Take a photo. It may be your last clear sighting before the valley walls close in.

You exit Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. The checkpoint here marks the end of the official park boundary. The valley is green again. The air smells of pine and earth. It's a different world from the glacier camp you stood on two days ago.

Your knees will feel today's descent. Trekking poles help enormously on this section. If you don't have them, walk in a slight zigzag on steep sections to reduce impact.

Insider Tip: Don't rush the descent. Twisted ankles happen on tired legs on the way down, not on the way up. Take your time on rocky sections and use your poles on the steep stone steps.

The final trekking day. It's bittersweet. You're ready to finish and somehow not ready at the same time.

The trail is mostly flat or gently downhill today; you pass through all the villages you saw on Days 2 and 3. Phakding. The long suspension bridge. The forests above the river. But everything looks different heading home. You were nervous then. Now you're a different person.

In the afternoon you arrive in Lukla. Your porters have carried your gear since Phakding on Day 2. Today is the day to thank them properly. Most trekkers prepare tip envelopes in the morning, see the tipping guidance in the FAQ section below.

Tonight is the official celebration. Your guide may arrange a small party at the lodge. There's singing. There's laughter. You swap contact details with people you met on the trail. You realise the mountain has given you something you didn't expect, not just a view, but a community.

Insider Tip: Book your international flights with at least 2 buffer days after this trek ends. Lukla flights can be delayed by weather. If your international connection is the day after you land in Kathmandu, a single weather delay puts your whole flight at risk. Two buffer days gives you peace of mind.

You wake up early for the flight back. Lukla Airport has no heating. Keep your trekking clothes on while you wait. The 30-minute flight over the mountains is always a small celebration. You see the valleys and ridges from above. Then the hills flatten. Green fields appear. Kathmandu spreads out below you.

We drive you to your hotel from the airport. The drive takes about 30–45 minutes.

Tonight we celebrate with a farewell dinner. This is the moment to share stories, exchange contacts with your fellow trekkers, and raise a glass to what you've done.

Most trekkers spend the next 12 hours sleeping, eating something that isn't dal bhat, and uploading photos. All completely understandable.

Insider Tip: Keep your trekking shoes on for the Lukla wait, don't pack them at the bottom of your bag. Lukla airport in the morning is cold and the waiting area is exposed. A thin warm layer goes a long way.