Everest Base Camp sits at 5,364m (17,598 ft). On our 12-day trek, the highest point is Kala Patthar at 5,644m (18,517 ft). The highest night is Gorak Shep at 5,164m (16,942 ft). You start at Lukla, 2,860m (9,383 ft), so the route climbs about 2,800m in nine days.
Below is every overnight altitude in feet and metres, and how fast the route gains height. We also compare it with medical guidance on safe ascent.
What’s Inside This Guide
- How high is Everest Base Camp?
- Key elevations on the trek
- Elevation profile, night by night
- How the climb compares with altitude guidelines
- What the altitude does to your body
- EBC elevation compared with other treks
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
How High Is Everest Base Camp?
South Base Camp in Nepal, the one this trek reaches, is at 5,364m (17,598 ft). North Base Camp in Tibet is lower, at about 5,150m (16,900 ft), and you can drive to it. The summit of Everest is 8,848.86m (29,032 ft), the height Nepal and China announced jointly in December 2020.
Base Camp is not the highest point of the trek. Most trekkers also climb Kala Patthar, a hill above Gorak Shep. It gives a far better view of Everest than Base Camp itself.
Key Elevations on the Trek
| Place | Metres | Feet | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lukla (start and finish) | 2,860m | 9,383 ft | Day 1, 11 |
| Phakding | 2,610m | 8,563 ft | Day 1 |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440m | 11,286 ft | Days 2–3, 10 |
| Everest View Hotel (day hike) | 3,880m | 12,730 ft | Day 3 |
| Debuche | 3,820m | 12,533 ft | Day 4 |
| Dingboche | 4,410m | 14,469 ft | Days 5–6 |
| Nagarjun Hill (day hike, approx.) | 5,000m | 16,404 ft | Day 6 |
| Lobuche | 4,940m | 16,207 ft | Day 7 |
| Gorak Shep (highest night) | 5,164m | 16,942 ft | Day 8 |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364m | 17,598 ft | Day 8 |
| Kala Patthar (highest point) | 5,644m | 18,517 ft | Day 9 |
| Pheriche | 4,371m | 14,341 ft | Day 9 |
Elevation Profile, Night by Night
This is where you sleep each night, and how much higher or lower that is than the night before. Sleeping height matters more for acclimatisation than the highest point you reach during the day.
| Night | Where you sleep | Altitude | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phakding | 2,610m (8,563 ft) | −250m |
| 2 | Namche Bazaar | 3,440m (11,286 ft) | +830m |
| 3 | Namche Bazaar (rest day) | 3,440m (11,286 ft) | No change |
| 4 | Debuche | 3,820m (12,533 ft) | +380m |
| 5 | Dingboche | 4,410m (14,469 ft) | +590m |
| 6 | Dingboche (rest day) | 4,410m (14,469 ft) | No change |
| 7 | Lobuche | 4,940m (16,207 ft) | +530m |
| 8 | Gorak Shep | 5,164m (16,942 ft) | +224m |
| 9 | Pheriche | 4,371m (14,341 ft) | −793m |
| 10 | Namche Bazaar | 3,440m (11,286 ft) | −931m |
| 11 | Lukla | 2,860m (9,383 ft) | −580m |
Two day hikes take you higher than you sleep. These are the Everest View Hotel at 3,880m on Day 3 and Nagarjun Hill, at about 5,000m, on Day 6. You return to sleep lower both times. This is the “climb high, sleep low” approach, and it is why we never cut either rest day.
How the Climb Compares With Altitude Guidelines
The CDC Yellow Book cites the Wilderness Medical Society on this. It advises gaining no more than 500m of sleeping altitude per night once above 3,000m. It also suggests an extra night for every 1,000m gained. Three stages of this route go faster than that:
- Phakding to Namche Bazaar, +830m. The biggest single gain. You start below 3,000m, and the next day is a rest day in Namche.
- Debuche to Dingboche, +590m. Followed by a rest day and the Nagarjun Hill hike.
- Dingboche to Lobuche, +530m. Just over the guideline.
Almost every 12-day EBC itinerary has these same stages. Avoiding them would need extra days on the trail. The two rest days, at Namche and Dingboche, are what make the pace workable for most people. If you have had altitude sickness before, tell us when you book, and we can add a night.
For symptoms and what to do if they appear, read our altitude sickness guide.
What the Altitude Does to Your Body
Air pressure falls as you climb, so each breath carries less oxygen. At about 5,500m, close to Kala Patthar, there is roughly half the oxygen of sea level. Your body adapts by breathing faster and making more red blood cells, but that takes days.
Fitness makes the walking easier, but it does not speed up acclimatisation. Fit trekkers who climb too fast get altitude sickness too. Headaches, poor sleep and loss of appetite are common above 4,000m. If symptoms get worse instead of better, the answer is to go down.
EBC Elevation Compared With Other Treks
| Trek or peak | Highest point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp Trek | 5,644m (Kala Patthar) | Base Camp itself is 5,364m |
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | 4,130m | About 1,200m lower than EBC |
| Manaslu Circuit Trek | 5,106m (Larkya La) | A high pass rather than a base camp |
| Annapurna Circuit Trek | 5,416m (Thorong La) | Similar top height, crossed in one day |
| Island Peak Climbing | 6,189m | Built on the EBC route, with a climbing section |
Thinking about going higher than Base Camp? Our Lobuche Peak vs Island Peak guide compares the two trekking peaks that build on this route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everest Base Camp in Nepal is at 5,364m, which is 17,598 feet. Kala Patthar, the highest point of the trek, is 5,644m or 18,517 feet.
No. Kala Patthar, a hill above Gorak Shep, is higher at 5,644m. Most trekkers climb it at sunrise on Day 9 for the best view of Everest.
Gorak Shep, at 5,164m, on Day 8. It is the only night above 5,000m. The next day, after Kala Patthar, you descend to Pheriche at 4,371m.
South Base Camp, in Nepal, is at 5,364m, and this trek reaches it on foot. North Base Camp, in Tibet, is at about 5,150m, and you can drive to it.
No. Trekkers reach Base Camp and Kala Patthar without supplemental oxygen. What matters is a slow ascent, the two rest days, and turning back if symptoms get worse.
We don’t recommend it. Altitude sickness often appears a day or two later, not straight away. Both rest days stay in our itinerary, however strong the group feels.
Related Planning Guides
- Everest Base Camp Trek package — 12 days from Lukla, from $1,039
- 12-Day EBC Itinerary — each day in detail
- Altitude Sickness on the EBC Trek — symptoms and prevention
- How Hard Is the EBC Trek? — the hardest days and why
- Everest Base Camp Trek Cost — full price breakdown
- EBC Trek for Beginners — how to prepare
An Itinerary Paced by Altitude
Our 12-day Everest Base Camp package costs $1,039 to $1,379 per person, with Lukla flights and permits included. Both rest days are built in. See the full Everest Base Camp Trek package → Or message us on WhatsApp with any question about the altitude.