Everest Base Camp Budget Trek - 12 Days

Upon your arrival at the airport, one of our representatives will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. We'll have a complete pre-trek briefing this evening to make sure you're ready for the walk. Then, you can take a short stroll around the streets and corners of the Thamel area and feel the vibrancy. 

Early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Lukla ( 2860M). This 35 minutes flight above the magnificent Himalayas is spectacular. We will meet our crew members in Lukla and start our trek towards Phakding along the edge of the Dudh Koshi River. We pass past camps, looking for mani stones, which are boulders inscribed with Buddhist inscriptions. Once we get to Phakding, we shall explore the area.

After breakfast, we leave Phakding and start our walk towards the Namche Bazaar, Khumbu Region’s primary trading village. Today, we cross many suspension bridges and reach Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) behind Monjo. From here, we will continue on our way to Jorsale village.

We will then pass Hillary's suspension bridge as we make our way through the lush pine forest. The trail offers us the amazing vistas of the Kwande peak, as well as Kusum Kanguru and Mt. Everest. You'll arrive at your overnight stay with time to purchase souvenirs or any extra gear you might need. 

Today is separated to get acclimatized to the higher altitude. It's a good idea to go for a short acclimatization walk to assist your body to acclimate to a higher altitude. You can either go to Khunde Hospital or take a one-hour hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel and Khumjung village through Syangboche Airport.

We will be blessed with sunset views behind Khumbu's big peaks, including Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. If we are in Namche Bazaar on Saturday, we will get the opportunity to see the weekly Saturday market on the town's southern outskirts selling a wide range of goods.

The trail traverses the valley from Namche, high above the Dudh Koshi River. Continue on the trail, passing through Sherpa settlements and passing by villagers going about their everyday lives. We descend steeply to a river bridge at Phunki Tenga, passing by various villages and countless tea stores. We can have a break here before continuing to Tengboche, which is known for its legendary monastery, the Khumbu's largest. We pass several suspension bridges over the Imja River and ascend steeply to Dingboche town.

After breakfast in Dingboche, we start our trek by crossing bridges across streams while admiring the views from Tokla Pass before arriving at the Khumbu glacier, the world's highest-altitude glacier. Our trail passes across alpine meadows and summer yak pastures near the end of the Khumbu Glacier moraine and reaches the settlement of Lobuche, which boasts amazing views of Nuptse. 

Today involves a strenuous climb on the glacial moraine to Gorak Shep, just below Mount Pumori's shoulder known as Kala Patthar, which will be our destination the next morning since it provides excellent views of Everest. We'll eat lunch in Gorak Shep before hiking to Everest base camp 5364 Meters above sea level.

We hike over the lateral moraine before crossing the Khumbu glacier and arriving at base camp at the foot of the Khumbu Ice Fall. After taking some time to view your surroundings and roam around the camps, we will return to Gorak Shep for the night's stay.

After some warming tea and soup, the trek begins with a difficult climb up the north corner of the Gorakshep. We will hike to Kalapathar early this morning for a spectacular 360-degree vista of the mountain peaks. We will be up close and personal with the world's tallest peak and the Khumbu icefield from here. 

After there, it's back to Gorekshep for breakfast before heading down to Pheriche, where we will be staying for a night. As we descend, your pace will quicken considerably, and walking will be easy. Once in Pheriche, relax and enjoy your dinner beside the fireplace.

Today's route has a lot of downhills, but there are also some uphills to struggle with! The descent to Tengboche Monastery (called Gumba) is delightful, followed by a wide field with tents, teahouses, and lodges beneath the soaring and spectacular peaks of Ama Dablam before dropping the route to Namche Bazaar. As we get closer to Namche, the forests and vegetation reappear. And now is the time to toast your successful Everest Base Camp journey with a beer!

Today is the last day of our trek. The trail follows the Dudhi Koshi River all the way back to Lukla, where you will spend your final night in the Himalayas. It's time for a farewell celebration: try some local chyang (rice beer made at home) and learn some Sherpa dance moves.

We fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning, leaving the rest of the day free for shopping, sightseeing, or relaxing at one of the city's many rooftop cafés. In the evening, you will be invited over to an authentic Nepali restaurant for the farewell dinner organized for you.

It's time to say goodbye to Nepal after this incredible trek over the Himalayas. A representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport 3 hours before your return trip.