Back to Everest Base Camp
AI-Curated Day-by-Day Plan

Everest Base Camp Trek

Lukla → Khumbu → Everest

Best season: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov·Kathmandu (Lukla flight) → Kathmandu (Lukla flight)

Days
12
Total
127 km
Max Altitude
5,364 m
Total Ascent
2,755 m

Choose your route

2 presets · or build your own below

Classic EBC · at a glance

Recommended

The defining Himalayan trek — fly into the world's most dangerous airport, follow the Dudh Koshi up to Namche, then a slow acclimatization-led climb past Tengboche, Dingboche and Lobuche onto the Khumbu glacier moraine. Kala Patthar (5,545 m) gives the iconic Everest panorama.

Best for

First Everest trip · 12 days available · standard tea-house comfort

What you'll see
Tenzing-Hillary Lukla airstrip arrivalNamche Bazaar Saturday marketTengboche monastery sunriseKala Patthar (5,545 m) sunrise on Everest
Permits
Sagarmatha National Park · Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality entry
Group
Guide mandatory since 2023 (no solo trekking)
Stay
Tea-house lodges throughout, basic dorms above Lobuche
Walking time
~66 h total
Start · Kathmandu (Lukla flight)End · Kathmandu (Lukla flight)Challenging

Route waypoints

12 stops · hover days to highlight
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Day-by-day plan · Classic EBC

1
Flight

KathmanduPhakding

End altitude
2,610 m
8 km4 h

30 min STOL flight to Tenzing-Hillary airport at Lukla (2,860 m), then a 3 h descent through Cheplung beside the Dudh Koshi to Phakding.

Landmarks today
Lukla airstrip (2,860 m)CheplungFirst suspension bridgePhakding

Tip · Lukla flights cancel in cloud — keep buffer days both ends.

2
Trek

PhakdingNamche Bazaar

End altitude
3,440 m
11 km6 h+830 m

Cross five suspension bridges including the high Hillary Bridge, enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, then a steep 600 m climb to Namche with the first Everest peep on the way.

Landmarks today
Monjo park gateHillary Suspension BridgeFirst Everest viewpointNamche amphitheatre
3
AcclimatizeAcclimatization Day

Namche BazaarNamche (acclimatization)

End altitude
3,880 m
8 km5 h

Acclimatization hike up to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) and on through Khumjung village to see Hillary's school and the Khunde monastery yeti scalp. Sleep low.

Landmarks today
Everest View HotelKhumjung Hillary SchoolKhunde monasterySaturday market

Tip · Rest day means hike high, sleep low — don't skip.

4
Trek

Namche BazaarTengboche

End altitude
3,860 m
10 km5 h+420 m

Long contour above the Imja Khola gorge with continuous Everest-Lhotse-Ama Dablam views, drop to Phunki Tenga, then a brutal 600 m climb to Tengboche's monastery on its forested ridge.

Landmarks today
Mong La viewpointPhunki TengaTengboche monastery (3,860 m)Ama Dablam south face
5
Trek

TengbocheDingboche

End altitude
4,410 m
12 km6 h+550 m

Pass Pangboche (oldest Khumbu monastery), cross the Imja Khola and climb past Shomare and Orsho to Dingboche — first true high-altitude village above the treeline.

Landmarks today
Pangboche monasteryImja Khola gorgeShomare yak fieldsDingboche stone walls
6
AcclimatizeAcclimatization Day

DingbocheDingboche (acclimatization)

End altitude
5,083 m
6 km4 h

Climb Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 m) for direct Makalu and Lhotse views. Drop back to sleep at Dingboche.

Landmarks today
Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 m)Makalu skylineImja Tse viewDingboche return
7
Trek

DingbocheLobuche

End altitude
4,940 m
8 km5 h+530 m

Up the Pheriche valley to Thukla (lunch), then the heart-wrenching Memorial Pass — chortens and prayer flags for Everest climbers lost on the mountain. Lobuche sits on the lateral moraine of Khumbu glacier.

Landmarks today
Thukla teahouseMemorial Pass chortens (4,830 m)Khumbu glacier moraineLobuche lodges
8
Trek

LobucheEverest Base Camp

End altitude
5,364 m
15 km8 h+425 m

Side-moraine traverse to Gorak Shep (5,164 m, drop bags), then the exposed glacial trail to EBC. Touch the prayer flags, return to sleep at Gorak Shep.

Landmarks today
Gorak Shep frozen lakeKhumbu icefallEverest Base Camp stone markerPumori west face

Tip · EBC itself has no Everest view — Kala Patthar tomorrow does. Drink 4+ litres.

9
Trek

Gorak ShepPheriche

End altitude
4,280 m
16 km8 h-1265 m

Pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for Everest sunrise — the iconic shot. Then a long descent past Lobuche and Thukla into Pheriche's wider valley.

Landmarks today
Kala Patthar (5,545 m)Everest sunriseMemorial PassPheriche HRA clinic
10
Trek

PhericheNamche Bazaar

End altitude
3,440 m
14 km7 h-840 m

Drop to Pangboche, cross the Imja Khola and recross Tengboche on the ridge, then descend hard to Phunki Tenga and climb back into Namche.

Landmarks today
PangbocheTengbochePhunki TengaNamche return
11
Trek

Namche BazaarLukla

End altitude
2,860 m
19 km7 h-580 m

Long final descent — recross all five Phakding suspension bridges, exit the national park at Monjo and climb the last hour into Lukla. Celebration dinner.

Landmarks today
Monjo park exitPhakdingCheplungLukla airstrip
12
Flight

LuklaKathmandu

End altitude
1,400 m
1 h

Early-morning STOL flight back to Kathmandu — clouds typically build by 10 AM, so first slot is safest.

Landmarks today
Lukla → KTM flightKathmandu return

Ready to lace up?

Save this trek to your dream list and tick villages off as you walk them.

Plan based on standard tea-house schedules · always carry buffer days for weather and AMS