Our Everest Base Camp trek itinerary takes 12 days, from Kathmandu to Lukla and back. You spend eight days walking up to Base Camp, with rest days at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. On Day 9 you climb Kala Patthar at sunrise, then take three days to walk down. Day 12 is the flight back to Kathmandu.
This guide goes through each day: where you sleep, how high it is, how long you walk and what to watch for. It follows the same route as our Everest Base Camp Trek package.
What’s Inside This Guide
- The 12-day itinerary at a glance
- Day-by-day itinerary
- Why the itinerary is paced this way
- Spare days and Lukla flights
- Changing the itinerary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
The 12-Day Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Sleep at | Walking | Height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly Kathmandu to Lukla, walk to Phakding | Phakding, 2,610m | 3–4 hrs | −250m from Lukla |
| 2 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | Namche, 3,440m | 5–6 hrs | +830m |
| 3 | Rest day, hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) | Namche, 3,440m | 3–4 hrs | None |
| 4 | Namche to Tengboche and Debuche | Debuche, 3,820m | 5–6 hrs | +380m |
| 5 | Debuche to Dingboche | Dingboche, 4,410m | 5–6 hrs | +590m |
| 6 | Rest day, hike Nagarjun Hill (about 5,000m) | Dingboche, 4,410m | 4–5 hrs | None |
| 7 | Dingboche to Lobuche | Lobuche, 4,940m | 4–5 hrs | +530m |
| 8 | Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then Everest Base Camp (5,364m) | Gorak Shep, 5,164m | 6–7 hrs | +224m |
| 9 | Kala Patthar (5,644m) at sunrise, then down to Pheriche | Pheriche, 4,371m | 6–7 hrs | −793m |
| 10 | Pheriche to Namche Bazaar | Namche, 3,440m | 6–7 hrs | −931m |
| 11 | Namche to Lukla | Lukla, 2,860m | 5–6 hrs | −580m |
| 12 | Fly Lukla to Kathmandu | — | — | — |
Height change is the difference in sleeping altitude from the night before. For every altitude in feet as well as metres, see our EBC elevation guide.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Lukla, Walk to Phakding (2,610m)
The flight to Lukla takes about 35 minutes. In the busy spring and autumn seasons, it often leaves from Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu. That means a drive of several hours before dawn, so we confirm the departure point a day or two ahead.
The walk to Phakding is mostly downhill, which is why you sleep lower than Lukla on the first night. Keep the pace easy and drink plenty of water.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
This is the first hard day, and it surprises a lot of people. The morning follows the river, crossing several suspension bridges. At Monjo, your guide buys and shows your Sagarmatha National Park permit at the park gate.
After the high Hillary Bridge, the trail climbs steeply for the last two hours to Namche. It is the biggest gain in sleeping height on the whole trek, at 830m. Walk slowly here, even if you feel strong.
Day 3: Rest Day in Namche Bazaar
A rest day here means a morning hike, not a lie-in. You climb to the ridge near the Everest View Hotel at 3,880m, then come back down to sleep in Namche. On a clear morning, this is your first good view of Everest.
Namche is the last place with a proper choice of shops, ATMs and bakeries. Buy or rent anything you are missing today. Above here, prices go up and choice goes down.
Day 4: Namche to Tengboche and Debuche (3,820m)
The trail contours above the Dudh Koshi, drops to the river at Phunki Tenga, then climbs through forest to Tengboche monastery. Arrive in the morning if you can, because cloud often builds after midday.
We sleep at Debuche, a short walk down from Tengboche. It is quieter than Tengboche and keeps today’s sleeping height a little lower.
Day 5: Debuche to Dingboche (4,410m)
After Pangboche, the trees end and the valley opens out. Dingboche is the first night above 4,000m, and the 590m gain in sleeping height is a big step.
Mild headaches are common tonight. Tell your guide how you feel, eat a full dinner even if you are not hungry, and keep drinking water.
Day 6: Rest Day in Dingboche
The morning hike up Nagarjun Hill takes you to about 5,000m, then back down to sleep at 4,410m. You don’t need to reach the top. Going partway up still helps your body adjust.
This is the day trekkers are most tempted to skip. Please don’t. It is what makes the next three days possible.
Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940m)
A gentle start across open pasture leads to Thukla. Then a steep climb takes you to the memorial cairns at the top of the moraine. From there, the trail follows the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche.
Lobuche is cold, and teahouses here are basic. It is a short day, so rest in the afternoon. Report any headache that gets worse, or any nausea, to your guide straight away.
Day 8: Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp (5,364m)
You walk to Gorak Shep in the morning, over rocky moraine, and check in to the teahouse. After lunch, the walk to Base Camp takes about two hours each way along the edge of the glacier.
Base Camp sits below the Khumbu Icefall. In spring, it is full of expedition tents. In autumn, it is mostly empty rock and ice. Gorak Shep, at 5,164m, is the only night above 5,000m on the trek.
Day 9: Kala Patthar Sunrise, Down to Pheriche (4,371m)
You start for Kala Patthar at around 4:30am, in the dark and well below freezing. The climb takes about two hours. From the top, at 5,644m, you see the whole of Everest, which Base Camp itself does not show.
After breakfast back at Gorak Shep, you walk down past Lobuche to Pheriche. Most people sleep far better tonight, nearly 800m lower.
Day 10: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
A long day downhill, back past Pangboche and Tengboche. Downhill is hard on the knees, so use trekking poles. Expect to feel much stronger as the air thickens.
Day 11: Namche to Lukla (2,860m)
The last day on foot retraces Day 2 and Day 1. The final climb into Lukla is short but steep. Check your bag weight tonight, because Lukla flights have strict baggage limits.
Day 12: Fly Back to Kathmandu
Morning flights are the most reliable, so you usually leave early. If your flight lands at Ramechhap, the drive to Kathmandu takes several more hours.
Why the Itinerary Is Paced This Way
Altitude, not distance, sets the pace of this trek. The CDC Yellow Book cites the Wilderness Medical Society on safe ascent. Above 3,000m, it advises gaining no more than 500m of sleeping height per night. It also suggests a rest day for every 1,000m gained.
Three stages of this route go faster than that: Namche (+830m), Dingboche (+590m) and Lobuche (+530m). The rest days at Namche and Dingboche come straight after the two biggest gains. That is why we never cut either one, even for a strong group.
Our altitude sickness guide explains the symptoms to watch for, and what to do if they appear.
Spare Days and Lukla Flights
Lukla flights depend on the weather, and cloud can stop them for a day or more. Keep two to three spare days in Kathmandu after the trek. Never book your international flight for the same day you fly out of Lukla, or the day after.
If cloud stops flights for several days, a helicopter is the usual way out. A shared seat currently costs roughly $650–700 per person, one way. The price moves with fuel costs and the number of passengers.
Changing the Itinerary
- Adding a night. If you have had altitude sickness before, we can add a night at Dingboche or Lobuche. Tell us when you book.
- Gokyo Lakes instead of Base Camp. The Gokyo Lakes trek follows a quieter valley to the west. Our EBC vs Gokyo Lakes guide compares the two.
- Both, plus the high passes. The 16-day Three Passes trek links Gokyo and Base Camp over three passes above 5,300m.
- A climbing peak. Lobuche East and Island Peak both build on this route. See our Lobuche Peak vs Island Peak guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our itinerary takes 12 days, from Kathmandu to Lukla and back. That includes two acclimatisation days, at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. Allow two or three extra days in Kathmandu for Lukla flight delays.
Day 8. You walk from Lobuche to Gorak Shep in the morning, then to Base Camp in the afternoon. You sleep at Gorak Shep, at 5,164m.
It can, but we don’t recommend it. Shorter itineraries usually drop a rest day, and that raises the risk of altitude sickness. The faster way back is a helicopter from Gorak Shep, not a shorter walk up.
Usually five to six hours. Day 1 is shorter, at three to four hours. Day 8, Day 9 and Day 10 are the longest, at six to seven hours each.
Mostly, yes. The main difference is that you sleep at Pheriche on the way down instead of Dingboche. The trail between Lukla and Pangboche is the same in both directions.
Day 3 at Namche Bazaar and Day 6 at Dingboche. On both days, you hike higher in the morning and come back down to sleep.
Related Planning Guides
- Everest Base Camp Trek package — this 12-day itinerary, from $1,039
- Everest Base Camp Trek Elevation — every altitude in metres and feet
- How Hard Is the EBC Trek? — the hardest days and how to prepare
- Everest Base Camp Permits — what you need at Lukla and Monjo
- Everest Base Camp Trek Cost — full price breakdown
- EBC Accommodation Guide — the teahouses on this route
Walk This Itinerary With Us
Our Everest Base Camp Trek follows this exact 12-day itinerary, from $1,039 to $1,379 per person. The price includes Lukla flights, permits, teahouses, meals and a licensed guide. See the full trek details, or ask us on WhatsApp about dates.