The Everest Base Camp trek route runs north from Lukla, up the Dudh Koshi valley to Namche Bazaar. From there it continues to Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Base Camp sits at the end of the Khumbu Glacier, at 5,364m. On the way down, our route returns through Pheriche, in the next valley west of Dingboche.
The map at the top of this page shows the full route. Below, we list every overnight stop, describe each stage on the ground and show where the trail branches. It follows our 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Route overview
- Stops in order, with altitudes
- The route section by section
- Where the trail branches
- Permit checkpoints on the map
- Do you need a map on the trail?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Everest Base Camp Route Overview
The route is an out-and-back trek, shown on the map above. You fly in and out of Lukla, so you walk most of the trail twice. The main difference is between Pangboche and Lobuche, where you go up through Dingboche and come down through Pheriche.
Stops in Order, With Altitudes
| Stop | Altitude | Day | Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lukla | 2,860m | 1, 11–12 | Dudh Koshi |
| Phakding | 2,610m | 1 | Dudh Koshi |
| Monjo (park entrance) | On the trail | 2 | Dudh Koshi |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440m | 2–3, 10 | Above the Dudh Koshi |
| Tengboche | On the trail | 4 | Ridge above the Imja Khola |
| Debuche | 3,820m | 4 | Imja Khola |
| Dingboche | 4,410m | 5–6 | Imja Khola |
| Thukla and the memorials | On the trail | 7 | Khumbu Glacier moraine |
| Lobuche | 4,940m | 7 | Khumbu Glacier |
| Gorak Shep | 5,164m | 8 | Khumbu Glacier |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364m | 8 | Khumbu Glacier |
| Kala Patthar | 5,644m | 9 | Above Gorak Shep |
| Pheriche | 4,371m | 9 | Khumbu Khola |
Every altitude in feet is in our EBC elevation guide.
The Route Section by Section
Lukla to Namche Bazaar
From the Lukla airstrip, the trail drops to the Dudh Koshi and follows it north through pine forest and Sherpa villages. Phakding, Monjo and Jorsale sit along the river. Suspension bridges cross it several times. The last and highest is the Hillary Bridge. Then a steep climb leads to Namche Bazaar, built in a horseshoe on the hillside.
Namche Bazaar to Dingboche
Leaving Namche, the trail contours high above the river. It then drops to Phunki Tenga, near where the Dudh Koshi meets the Imja Khola. A long climb through forest leads to Tengboche monastery, then down to Debuche. Past Pangboche, the trees end. Dingboche lies in the wide Imja valley, with stone-walled fields and Ama Dablam to the south.
Dingboche to Everest Base Camp
From Dingboche, the trail crosses a ridge into the Khumbu valley and climbs to Thukla. A steep pull leads to the memorial cairns, and from there you follow the side of the Khumbu Glacier. Lobuche and Gorak Shep are the last settlements. Base Camp is a rocky area on the glacier itself, below the Khumbu Icefall, with no permanent buildings.
The way down through Pheriche
After Kala Patthar, you retrace the trail past Lobuche to Thukla, then drop into the Khumbu Khola valley to Pheriche. Below Pheriche, the two valleys join again, and the trail back to Lukla is the one you walked up.
Where the Trail Branches
The main trail is easy to follow, but it is not a single path. These are the junctions that matter on this route:
- Namche Bazaar. Trails lead west to Thame, and north towards Gokyo. Stay on the trail to Tengboche.
- Above Pangboche. The trail splits. Right goes to Dingboche, where we sleep on the way up. Left goes to Pheriche, where we sleep on the way down.
- Dingboche. A trail heads east up the Imja valley to Chhukung, the route to Island Peak.
- Lobuche. The Kongma La pass on the Three Passes route comes in from the east.
- Gorak Shep. Kala Patthar is the hill directly behind the teahouses. The trail to Base Camp follows the glacier to the north-east.
Want a longer loop? Our Three Passes trek uses several of these junctions, and the Gokyo Lakes trek takes the Gokyo branch.
Permit Checkpoints on the Map
- Lukla. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality issues its permit at its Tourist Information Centre here.
- Monjo. The Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate, where rangers check your park permit.
Our EBC permits guide covers the fees and documents.
Do You Need a Map on the Trail?
With a guide, no. The trail is busy, and villages are rarely more than an hour or two apart below Lobuche. Signposts stand at the main junctions.
If you trek without a guide, carry a printed trekking map or an offline map app that uses OpenStreetMap data. Phone signal and mobile data are patchy above Namche. Cloud can also hide the trail markers on the moraine above Lobuche, which is where people most often lose the path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp. On our 12-day trek, you climb Kala Patthar, then return through Pheriche and Namche to Lukla.
Yes, below Lobuche it is a busy, obvious trail with signposts at the main junctions. Above Lobuche, the path crosses glacier moraine, and it is harder to follow in cloud.
Mostly. You walk the same trail between Lukla and Pangboche, and between Thukla and Base Camp. In between, you go up through Dingboche and come down through Pheriche.
At Monjo, between Phakding and Namche Bazaar. Rangers check your national park permit at the gate there.
The Dudh Koshi, from Lukla to below Tengboche. Above that, the trail follows the Imja Khola to Dingboche, then the Khumbu Glacier to Base Camp.
It sits just above Gorak Shep, the last stop before Base Camp. Most trekkers climb it at sunrise the morning after visiting Base Camp.
Related Planning Guides
- Everest Base Camp Trek package — 12 days from Lukla, from $1,039
- 12-Day EBC Itinerary — each stage day by day
- Everest Base Camp Trek Distance — kilometres and hours for each day
- Everest Base Camp Trek Elevation — every altitude in metres and feet
- EBC vs Gokyo Lakes — the other main route in the Khumbu
Walk the Route With Us
Our Everest Base Camp Trek costs $1,039 to $1,379 per person, with Lukla flights, permits and a licensed guide included. See the full trek details, or ask us on WhatsApp about any part of the route.