Everest Base Camp & Ama Dablam Trek

Detailed itinerary

• day 01
  Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m/4,593ft)

  Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Take time to rest and adjust to the time zone. In the evening, we’ll hold a comprehensive pre-trip meeting where we’ll review your trek itinerary, discuss gear requirements, and answer any questions you may have about your upcoming adventure to both Everest Base Camp and Ama Dablam Base Camp.

  Points of Interest:

  • Thamel district (shopping and restaurants)

  • Durbar Square (if time permits)

  • Local markets and temples

  • Accommodation: Three star hotel in Kathmandu (twin-sharing basis)
• day 02
  Fly to Lukla (9,334ft) from Kathmandu or drive to Manthali – 5 to 6 hours for a 20 minutes flight to Lukla. Trek to Phakding (8,562ft)

  Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Lukla’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport, famous for its short runway and spectacular mountain views. After landing in Lukla, we’ll have a brief rest and meet our porters before beginning our trek. The trail to Phakding is primarily downhill, following the Dudh Koshi River valley through pine forests and traditional Sherpa villages.

  Note: During peak seasons (March-May and October-November), flights operate from Manthali Airport, requiring a 2:30 AM departure and 5-6 hour drive from Kathmandu.

  Flight: 30 minutes (Kathmandu to Lukla) or 20 minutes (Manthali to Lukla) | Trek Distance: 8km (5 miles) | Trek Duration: 3-4 hours | Difficulty Level: Easy (gentle downhill with some flat sections)

  Points of Interest:

  • Tenzing-Hillary Airport

  • Dudh Koshi River valley

  • Buddhist prayer wheels and mani stones

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
  • Meal: Breakfast
• day 03
  Trek to Namche Bazaar (11,290ft)

  Today features one of the most significant elevation gains of the trek. After breakfast, we’ll follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing several suspension bridges including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. At Monjo village, we’ll enter Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) where permits will be checked. The trail climbs steeply after the park entrance. The final two hours involve a challenging uphill climb to reach Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the high Himalayas and the commercial hub of the Khumbu region.

  Trek Distance: 10-12km (6-7.5 miles) | Trek Duration: 5-7 hours | Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging (significant uphill sections)

  Points of Interest:

  • Hillary Suspension Bridge

  • Sagarmatha National Park entrance

  • First viewpoint of Mt. Everest (weather permitting)

  • Namche Bazaar market

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 04
  Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,290ft)

  This is an altitude acclimatization rest day. Following the mountaineering principle of “climb high, sleep low,” today we’ll take an acclimatization hike to higher elevation while returning to Namche to sleep. This helps your body adapt to the altitude and reduces the risk of altitude sickness. The recommended hike is to the Everest View Hotel, offering spectacular views of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and other peaks.

  Hike Distance: 4km (2.5 miles) round trip | Hike Duration: 3-4 hours round trip | Difficulty Level: Moderate

  Points of Interest:

  • Everest View Hotel

  • Khumjung village with its monastery

  • Hillary School

  • Sherpa Culture Museum and Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Center

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 05
  Trek to Tengboche (3,860m/12,660ft)

  After breakfast, we’ll begin with a relatively flat trail along the hillside with magnificent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The trail then descends to Phunki Tenga (3,250m/10,663ft), where we’ll stop for lunch near the Dudh Koshi River. After lunch, we face a challenging 2-hour steep uphill climb through pine forests to reach Tengboche, home to the most famous monastery in the Khumbu region. Located at the confluence of the Imja River and the Dudh Koshi River, Tengboche is home to the largest monastery in the region.

  Trek Distance: 10km (6.2 miles) | Trek Duration: 5-6 hours | Difficulty Level: Moderate (initial descent followed by steep ascent)

  Points of Interest:

  • Tengboche Monastery (established in 1916)

  • Spectacular mountain panorama

  • Evening prayer ceremony at the monastery (approximately 3:00 PM in winter, 4:00 PM in summer)

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 06
  Trek to Pangboche (3,930m/12,894ft) and Day Trip to Ama Dablam Base Camp (4,570m/14,993ft)

  Leaving Tengboche, we descend through rhododendron forests to cross the Imja Khola river and reach Pangboche, which houses the oldest monastery in the region and offers excellent views of Ama Dablam. After settling in Pangboche and having lunch, we’ll embark on our special day trip to Ama Dablam Base Camp. The trail ascends through rocky terrain and glacial moraines with Ama Dablam towering majestically above you. You will find mountaineers camping here before their ascent of Ama Dablam, the mountain shaped like a pendant. Experience the intimate setting of this base camp, much smaller and more personal than Everest Base Camp, where climbers prepare for one of the world’s most technical and beautiful climbs.

  Trek Distance: 8km (5 miles) to Pangboche + 6km (3.7 miles) round trip to Ama Dablam BC | Trek Duration: 3-4 hours to Pangboche + 4-5 hours round trip to Ama Dablam BC | Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • Upper Pangboche Monastery

  • Spectacular views of Ama Dablam (6,856m/22,493ft)

  • Ama Dablam Base Camp and mountaineering expeditions

  • Technical climbing route observation

  • Glacier formations and seracs

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 07
  Trek to Dingboche (4,410m/14,470ft)

  From Pangboche, the trail follows the Imja Valley with stunning views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam. The landscape begins to change as we enter a more arid region above the tree line. The final stretch to Dingboche involves a gradual climb through pastures. This hill station is cold and arid and you might feel the first real signs of fatigue in your journey. Dingboche is located at the bank of the Imja River and is known for stone walls that run throughout and beyond the village.

  Trek Distance: 8km (5 miles) | Trek Duration: 3-4 hours | Difficulty Level: Moderate

  Points of Interest:

  • First views of Island Peak (6,189m/20,305ft)

  • Traditional Sherpa agricultural fields

  • Stone-walled fields characteristic of Dingboche

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 08
  Acclimatization Day in Dingboche (4,410m/14,470ft)

  Today is another crucial acclimatization day. After breakfast, we recommend a hike to Nangkartshang Peak, a viewpoint above Dingboche. The climb is steep but rewarding, offering spectacular views of Makalu (the world’s fifth highest mountain), Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawache, and Ama Dablam. Dingboche is good for a day of sightseeing. It is located at the bank of the Imja River and the monasteries and the stone walls here are prime tourist attractions.

  Hike Distance: 5km (3 miles) round trip | Hike Duration: 3-4 hours round trip | Difficulty Level: Moderate

  Points of Interest:

  • Nangkartshang Peak viewpoint

  • Stone-walled fields of Dingboche

  • Local monastery

  • Views of Island Peak (Imja Tse)

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 09
  Trek to Lobuche (4,940m/16,210ft)

  Today we enter the high alpine zone above 4,500m where vegetation becomes extremely sparse. The trail initially climbs gradually from Dingboche to Dughla/Thukla (4,620m/15,157ft), a small settlement where we’ll stop for lunch. After lunch, we face a steep, challenging climb up the Thukla Pass (4,830m/15,850ft) where we’ll find the moving Everest Memorial site with numerous stone memorials for climbers who have lost their lives on Everest and surrounding peaks. You will hike through rugged snow-covered terrain passing through Thukla village to reach Lobuche at the foot of the Khumbu glacier.

  Trek Distance: 8.5km (5.3 miles) | Trek Duration: 5-6 hours | Difficulty Level: Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • Thukla Pass/Everest Memorial site

  • First views of Khumbu Glacier

  • Panoramic views of Pumori (7,161m/23,494ft) and surrounding peaks

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 10
  Trek to Gorakshep (5,164m/16,942ft) and Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft)

  Today is the highlight of our trek! We’ll start early, following the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail undulates over rocky terrain with several short, steep sections. A short three-hour trek will take you to Gorakshep, a village sitting on top of a frozen lake bed. This village will serve us lunch and will be our final stop on our trek to the Everest Base Camp. After a light lunch at Gorakshep, we’ll continue to Everest Base Camp. It’s a two to three hours walk to the base camp from here and you will get to stand on the foot of the tallest peak in the world. Gaze at the Everest as much as you want but you cannot camp here with your trekking permit so we will have to return to Gorakshep before night.

  Trek Distance: Lobuche to Gorakshep: 4.5km (2.8 miles) | Gorakshep to EBC and back: 7km (4.3 miles) round trip

  Trek Duration: Lobuche to Gorakshep: 2-3 hours | Gorakshep to EBC and back: 4-5 hours round trip

  Difficulty Level: Very Challenging

  Points of Interest:

  • Khumbu Glacier and Icefall

  • Everest Base Camp

  • Prayer flags marking the site

  • Views of Nuptse, Pumori, and Khumbutse

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 11
  Hike up to Kala Patthar (5,545m/18,192ft) and Trek to Pheriche (4,371m/14,340ft)

  We’ll wake before dawn for the challenging climb to Kala Patthar, timed to reach the summit for sunrise (weather permitting). We will ascent to Kala Patthar, which lies on the southern ridge of Mount Pumori (23,494 feet). It’s a two-hour uphill expedition that will put to test your mountain-climbing skills. Here you will get the best panoramic view of the Everest along with the Khumbu Glacier and other Himalayan peaks. After returning to Gorakshep for breakfast, we’ll begin our descent, retracing our steps to Lobuche and then taking the trail to Pheriche. It’s all downhill from here and we will descend to Pheriche, a small village full of yaks, and rest for the day.

  Wake-up Time: 4:00-4:30 AM for sunrise hike (recommended)

  Trek Distance: Gorakshep to Kala Patthar: 2km (1.2 miles) round trip | Gorakshep to Pheriche: 13km (8.1 miles)

  Trek Duration: Gorakshep to Kala Patthar: 2-3 hours round trip | Gorakshep to Pheriche: 5-6 hours

  Difficulty Level: Very Challenging (Kala Patthar), then Moderate (descent to Pheriche)

  Points of Interest:

  • Sunrise views from Kala Patthar

  • Himalayan Rescue Association clinic in Pheriche

  • Dramatic change in landscape as you descend

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 12
  Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,290ft)

  Today features a long but rewarding trek as we continue our descent. From Pheriche, we’ll follow the Imja Khola valley down to Pangboche, then to Tengboche. We’ll notice the air becoming richer with oxygen as we descend, and vegetation gradually returning to the landscape. An easy downhill trek through forests, suspension bridges and alongside mountain ridges will get you to Namche Bazaar. Upon reaching here in about six hours, you will feel like you are back to the society after your ordeal with wilderness. It’s a great place to share your experience with fellow trekkers and look back on the feat you just achieved.

  Trek Distance: 15km (9.3 miles) | Trek Duration: 6-7 hours | Difficulty Level: Moderate (long distance but mostly downhill)

  Points of Interest:

  • Pangboche (3,930m/12,894ft)

  • Tengboche (3,860m/12,660ft)

  • Phunki Tenga (3,250m/10,663ft)

  • Kyangjuma (3,550m/11,646ft)

  • Accommodation: Guesthouse
• day 13
  Trek to Lukla (2,840m/9,334ft)

  Our final day of trekking takes us back to where our journey began. From Namche, we’ll descend steeply to the Dudh Koshi River and cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge. We’ll follow the river, passing through the checkpoints and entrance gates of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, then continue through the villages of Jorsale, Phakding, and several other small settlements. It will be a five-hour trek down to Lukla, the place where it all started. Your Everest Base Camp trek ends here and Lukla is famous for hosting your end-of-journey party. You will not have to walk anymore.

  Trek Distance: 18km (11.2 miles) | Trek Duration: 6-7 hours | Difficulty Level: Moderate (long distance with varied terrain)

  Points of Interest:

  • Monjo (checkpoint)

  • Jorsale

  • Phakding

  • Cheplung

  • Final uphill climb to Lukla

  • Accommodation: Hotel
• day 14
  Fly to Kathmandu (1,400m/4,593ft)

  We’ll have an early breakfast and head to the Lukla airport for our return flight to Ramechhap (Manthali) Airport. Morning flights from Lukla are often subject to weather conditions, so be prepared for possible delays. The flight to Ramechhap is shorter than the direct flight to Kathmandu, taking approximately 15-20 minutes, and offers spectacular views of the mountains and foothills.

  Upon landing at Ramechhap, our vehicle will be waiting to transport us to Kathmandu. This 5-6 hour drive follows the Sunkoshi and Tama Koshi river valleys, passing through rural villages, terraced fields, and forested hills. The drive provides a fascinating glimpse into rural Nepali life outside the trekking regions. We’ll make 1-2 stops along the way for refreshments and restroom breaks.

  Upon arrival in Kathmandu, check into your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved hot shower and comfortable bed. The evening is free for last-minute shopping in Thamel, relaxing, or enjoying a farewell dinner with cultural shows.

  Flight Duration: 15-20 minutes (Lukla to Ramechhap/Manthali)

  Drive Duration: 5-6 hours (Ramechhap to Kathmandu)

  Total Travel Time: 6-7 hours

  Note: During peak trekking seasons (March-May and October-November), flights often operate via Ramechhap instead of directly to Kathmandu due to air traffic congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport. This alternative route helps manage the high volume of trekker flights while maintaining schedule reliability.

  Points of Interest:

  • Scenic mountain flight from Lukla

  • Sunkoshi and Tama Koshi river valleys

  • Traditional Nepali villages along the drive

  • Terraced agricultural fields

  • Changing landscapes from mountains to middle hills

  • Dhulikhel viewpoint (if time permits)

  • Accommodation: Three-star hotel in Kathmandu
  • Meal: Breakfast and farewell dinner with cultural shows
• day 15
  Final Departure

  After breakfast, depending on your flight time, you’ll have some free time for last-minute shopping or relaxation. Our representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight. We will drop you to Tribhuvan International Airport and you will be gone with recollections of your Himalayan journey to keep you busy throughout the flight.

  Airport Transfer: Scheduled according to your flight time (typically 3 hours before international flights)

  Practical Information:

  • Standard hotel check-out time is 12:00 PM

  • Luggage storage available for those with evening flights

  • Late check-out may be arranged (subject to availability and additional cost)

  • Extension options available (Chitwan, Pokhara, Nagarkot)

  • Meal: Breakfast