A 12-day expert-guided trek through the Khumbu region of Nepal — flight to Lukla, two acclimatisation nights at Namche Bazaar, then a steady ascent to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the optional summit of Kala Patthar (5,545 m). Maximum eight trekkers per group.
The Everest Base Camp trek is the most popular high-altitude trek in the world for a reason — but most companies sell you a fantasy. We sell you what it actually is.
You will fly into Lukla on a small twin-engine plane that lands on a 527-metre uphill runway. You will walk 5–7 hours a day for nine days, gaining about 4,000 metres of cumulative elevation. You will sleep in family-run teahouses, eat dal bhat twice a day, and shower less than you would like. Above 4,000 metres, you will sometimes feel like a draft horse on a rest day. And on the morning you stand on Kala Patthar and watch the sun hit Everest, you will understand why a million people have done this before you.
Our flagship trek runs the classic Tenzing–Hillary route. We build in a Namche acclimatisation day with a side hike to Khumjung, a Dingboche rest day with a climb up Nagarjun Hill, and one full buffer day at the end specifically for Lukla flight delays.
Airport pickup, hotel check-in in Kathmandu, gear check at our Satungal office, team briefing over dinner.
35-minute mountain flight. Trail begins at the Tenzing–Hillary airstrip; gentle descent along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding (2,610 m).
Steep climb into Namche Bazaar, the historic Sherpa hub of the Khumbu region. Cross five suspension bridges. First glimpse of Everest from the trail.
Side hike to Khumjung village and the Everest View Hotel. Back to Namche to sleep — climb high, sleep low.
Forest descent, suspension bridge over the Imja Khola, then a steep climb to the ridge-top monastery. First close-up of Ama Dablam.
Above the treeline. Mani walls, prayer flags, the air noticeably thinner.
Acclimatisation hike up Nagarjun Hill (5,100 m), back to Dingboche by lunch. Rest in the afternoon.
Past the Thukla Pass memorials. Slow pace, frequent breaks. Most-felt altitude day.
Morning to Gorak Shep (5,170 m). Drop packs, two-hour push to Base Camp at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. Return to Gorak Shep to sleep.
Pre-dawn 4 am start for the optional Kala Patthar summit — the classic Everest viewpoint. Long descent to Pheriche (4,371 m).
Long downhill day back through Tengboche and Namche. Celebration dinner in Lukla.
Morning flight back. Hot shower, lunch, and your evening is yours.
Sagarmatha National Park entry (NPR 3,000) and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 2,000). We arrange both — you send us a passport scan.
Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu. If weather forces a helicopter share, we cover the first $200 per person of the cost difference.
15+ years of high-altitude experience, wilderness first-aid certified, fluent English. One guide per group of up to 8 trekkers.
Carries up to 15 kg of your duffel. Insured, equipped, and paid above-market wages.
11 nights of teahouse accommodation. Single supplements available where the teahouse can offer a single room — typically $250 extra.
Group first-aid kit, daily oxygen-saturation checks above 3,500 m, emergency oxygen carried above 4,500 m.
Strenuous but non-technical. You walk 5–7 hours a day for 12 days, gaining 4,000 m of cumulative elevation. No climbing skills are needed, but you must be cardiovascularly fit and willing to walk slowly above 4,000 m. Most people who train consistently for 8–12 weeks finish without issue.
Late September to mid-November is the single best window — driest air, sharpest mountain views, mild daytime temperatures. March to May is the second-best season; warmer, with rhododendron in bloom, but slightly hazier views. We do not run the trek in late June, July, or August because of monsoon flight cancellations to Lukla.
Our 12-day trek is from $2,180 USD per person on twin-share basis, fully inclusive of flights, permits, guide, porter, teahouse stays, and airport transfers. Tips for guides and porters are not included; budget around $200–$300 per trekker.
Most trekkers do not. Our guides carry emergency oxygen above 4,500 m and check oxygen saturation every morning. If your reading drops below 80% or AMS symptoms do not resolve overnight, we descend immediately. The combination of slow ascent, two acclimatisation nights at Namche, and an active acclimatisation hike at Dingboche keeps severe AMS uncommon.
If the morning flight is cancelled we wait one day and try again. If two consecutive days are lost we offer a helicopter charter (around $500 per person, split). We also build one buffer day into every booking specifically for this risk.
Yes. The Khumbu route is one of the most-trekked in the world; you are never alone on the trail in season. We assign female trekkers a single room at every teahouse where one is available, and you can request a female assistant guide on enquiry.
You should be able to walk 5–6 hours a day on consecutive days with a 6 kg daypack. We have guided trekkers from 14 to 71 — but the trek is harder than most walkers expect. Eight to twelve weeks of structured cardio training is the minimum we recommend.
Two: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000, around $23) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 2,000, around $15). Both are included in our trip price.
Yes, but it costs more the higher you go. Teahouses charge $2–$5 per hour, rising to about $7 at Gorak Shep. Bring a 20,000 mAh power bank. Wi-Fi is available at most stops; an Ncell SIM with 4G works as far as Tengboche.
Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) sits at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall, but you cannot actually see Mount Everest from there — the summit is hidden by Nuptse. Kala Patthar (5,545 m) is a pre-dawn climb on the morning after base camp; it is the classic photograph viewpoint where Everest, Nuptse, and Pumori are all visible at once. We recommend doing both.
