Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trek

How Difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

Everest Base Camp Trek is a moderately difficult trek as you do not require climbing skills for this journey, just you should have a good level of fitness and determination.

Far from the technical climbing challenges, Everest presents dangers such as altitude sickness, weather, as well as avalanches, and Khumbu icefalls.

During the walk, you have to walk through rough terrain, plenty of steps, steep ascents, and descents, and also you have to walk through varied weather conditions. But generally, you don't have to walk more than 5-6 hours a day, speed is not the most important, but stamina and confidence are. The Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trek is most achievable for the fit walker and the one who is the adventure lover.

Continue Reading to Know more about the Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trek

The attraction of Lukla- Everest Base Camp Trek

The world’s highest peak is Mt. Everest (8848m above sea level.
Two other peaks Lhotse and Cho Oyu higher than 8000m
Mt. Everest Base Camp and Kala Pathar
Gokyo Lake and Glaciers
Chuksung and Thame Valley
Snow-leopard, Mush Dee5, Red Panda, and Himalayan Normal
Sherpa Culture and Monasteries.

Detailed

Mt Everest

Mt. Everest is the earth’s highest mountain above sea level and is located in the sub-range of the Himalayas with a height of 8,848 meters. Mt. Everest attracts many climbers, including the highly experienced mountaineer. There are two main climbing routes to Everest, one leading to the summit from the southeast in Nepal and the other from the north in Tibet. Trekking to Everest, you will also see the fourth highest peaks, Lhotse and Nuptse, they constantly block a good view of Mt Everest until you reach Kalapather of Gokyo Ri. Exploring the Everest region, Mt Everest also offers gorgeous views of the fifth highest peak, Makalu which is seen from the Gokyo Ri, and also Mt Cho Oyu seen from the Gokyo Valley.

Kalapather

Kalapathar is a notable landmark located above the Gorakshep, although it's not a proper mountain the ascent of Kala Patthar is very popular with the trekkers trekking to the Everest Base Camp Trek and provides the most accessible closeup view of Mt Everest. The summit of Everest is blocked by Nuptse from much of the surrounding region. Everest, Nuptse, and Chabgttse are seen very clearly from the Kalapather, as it is also considered the highest altitude.

Everest Base Camp

Everest base camp is the base camp of the world's highest mountains and it is the dream of all trekkers to reach the base of Mt Everest but very few know that you cannot see summit views of Everest as it is blocked by Mt. Nuptse from Mt Everest Base Camp. Trekking to Mt Everest is the grandest of the adventure and reaching its base camp is a great achievement. The scene of the achievement and experience you collect from the Everest Base Camp you get after reaching the base camp is very beautiful.

Tengboche monasteries

Tengboche monasteries are located in the Tengboche village in Khumjung, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community which is situated at an altitude of 3867 meters. Tengboche monastery is the largest monastery and gompa in the Khumbu region. These monasteries offer panoramic views of the Himalayan mountains including, the famous snowy peaks-Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Tawache, and Thamserku.

Rani Rimdu Festival

Mani Rimdu is the popular festival of the Sherpa people in the Tengboche monastery. Held during the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar and falls in October or November during the autumn season when a large group of tourists visit the Khumbu region to trek to the Everest Base Camp you will get to enjoy this festival which lasts for nineteen days.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park was the country's first national park which was established in 1976. The exploration of this national park offers the views of the habitat to at least 118 species of birds, including the Himalayan monal, blood pheasant, red-billed chough, yellow-billed chough, and many more. Sagarmatha National Park is also the home of several rare mammal species, including musk deer, snow-leopard, Himalayan black bear and red panda, Himalayan Thar, Langur monkey, and Himalayan wolves more are found in the park.

Reasons to trek Lukla- Everest Base Camp Trek

Mountain views

Everest region is the home of the many numerous snow-capped mountains, home the tours of the six highest mountains of the world including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho you. The main reason to trek the Everest Base Camp Trek is to view the inspiring outlook of the snow-capped mountains. Enjoying a glimpse of the mountains through the landscapes of the Everest region. Playing the hike and seek, with the highest mountains crossing through the forest covered with the blooms of rhododendrons. Trekking to the Everest Base Camp is amazing to enjoy the great spectacles of the Himalayas.

Himalayan flora and fauna

Walking through the dense evergreen forest, covered with the blooms of rhododendrons, crossing the suspicious bridge joining the two hills, collecting the thrilling experience, walking through the scattered villages of Sherpa, walking through the Sagarmatha National Park exploring the park. You will see the dense area of forest covered by rhododendron trees, firs, and bamboo. At least 118 species of birds, including some rare ones like Himalayan monal, blood pheasant, red-billed chough, and yellow-billed chough. If you are lucky during the hike you will also see rare mammal species including musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, and red panda. Himalayan Thar, langur monkeys, and Himalayan wolves are also seen here. You get to see many more from this short trek to Everest base camp trek is worth going.

Unique Culture and Tradition

Everest region is also known as the Sherpa region, here all you see is the Sherpa people, they are very kind, friendly, and full of warm hospitality, they have their languages, religion, and culture. Sherpa is very popular as a mountain climber in the world. it is good to say NAMASTE to the people by joining both pam and blowing your head, as it’s the formal greeting and sound goods to the locals, you will get to experience the warm hospitality, satisfying meals, if you are lucky then you may get to see their cultural program which is age-old during the Everest Base Camp Trek. meeting them, interacting with them, and exchanging the culture with them add glory to your trek, reviewing the park where Birch, juniper, blues pines, firs, bamboo, and rhododendrons are covered is the major lights here.

Performed By All

Well listing for the first time, trekking to the world's highest mountains, you might have the question that it's not for the first-time trekker. not a family trek? not for aged people? Then obviously you are thinking wrong, Everest base camp is a loved one trip as well as a solo Trek. It is good to have quite an experienced adventure hike, but if you are a first-time trekker then no problem, you can have an amazing trek with Nepal Hiking Trek and their guide.

Everest base camp trek is designed for all just you have to be physically and mentally fit to trek here, leaving other problems for us.

Affordable price

Trekking to the world's highest mountains, the offered price by your agency is quite reasonable and for you, it's quite affordable too. Sometimes you might question to yourself whether the trek packages you choose and the itinerary are worth that amount. well, let me tell you, trekking to the Everest region means you will be trekking to the remote area of Nepal, where is a lack of communication, transportation, fancy things, food, and many things, to get these you might have to pay little more in everything you buy there, so calculating these all the price is set to you at a very reasonable price.

Ways to See Mt. Everest

Many trekking routes and different itineraries take you to Sagarmatha, where the experience you collect is best and to be honest, with the mind-blowing views this sight of Mt Everest, it's not common for one to want to experience it more than once.

So for those who are planning to see Mt Everest but are very confused about choosing the right path, here is the route that takes you to Mt Everest. The choice is yours to make the right decision to reach to the mt Everest from where you will not miss anything of the trek.

Trekking Everest Base Camp Route

The short 12 days Everest Base Camp Trek is a beautiful trek that is an introduction to the isolated and cultural villages of the Sherpa people: exploring the capital of the Khumbu region and the colorful markets of the Namche Bazaar, the oldest and the highest monasteries of the Khumbu region, Tengboche monastery and the visit of the Khunde and the Khumjung villages where sir Edmund Hillary established the first hospital and the school through the Himalayan trust.

Everest Base Camp Heli flight

Views of the surrounding peaks and also the world's highest peaks by the hell are mind-blowing adventures. You don’t need to do the 18 or 12 days long trek as you can reach the base camp within just 2-3 days. You can enjoy the helicopter flight from Kathmandu to base camp and return from it. The best months to enjoy this adventure are between October and April.

Everest base camp self-guided trek

Enjoy doing your things when it comes to traveling in the mountains. Make your way to the base camp of the world's highest mountains. If you want to take a porter with you then all the trail map, descriptions, accommodation, and luggage transfer are taken care of by them and you can enjoy the journey on your own.

This trek is great for the owner who is an extreme adventure lover as it introduces the great Himalayan region, where you will walk through the famous Sherpa Settlements of the Namche and Khumjung, view the Tengboche monastery in the Tengboche monastery-the biggest monasteries of the Khumbu region.

The Trekking route of Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trekking.

The Trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp is considered popular. Gokyo Lake and Chukung Valley offer incredible views. Thame Valley is known for its Sherpa culture while Photse is famous for wildlife viewing. There are some high passes and suspension bridges worth crossing over. However, the trekkers must have a professional guide and proper to carry the luggage and equipment for the trek and to be safe throughout the journey.

From Lukla-Everest Base Camp (EBC)

From Destination Duration

Namche Bazar Tengboche 5 hours

Tengboche Dengboche/Pheriche 3 hours

Lobuche Kala Pathar 6 hours

Kala Pather Everest Base Camp 8 hours

Other Trekking routes

From Destination Hours

Namche Bazar Khumjung/Khunde 2 hours

Khumjung/Khunde Dole 6 hours

Dole Macherma 4 hours

Macherma Gokyo 3 hours

Gokyo Gokyo Peak 3 hours

Gokyo Peak Thaknak 3 hours

Thaknak Phortse 6 hours

Phortse Pangboche 2 hours

Pangboche Namche Bazar 6 hours

Lukla-Everest Base Camp Option One:

Day 01 Kathmandu arrival (1350m).

Namaste and welcome to Nepal! After greeting we transfer you to your hotel.

Day 02 Fly to Lukla (2,869m) and trek to Phakding

After an early breakfast, we fly to Lukla and begin the journey above the Dudh Koshi River to reach Phakding. Overnight at lodge.

Day 03 Trek to Namche Bazaar

After checking in at the Sagarmatha National Park counter, we begin a long, uphill walk to Namche Bazaar, enjoying the stunning Himalayan ranges crossing the scattered village of Manjo. Overnight at lodge.

Day 04 Rest and acclimatization

During our acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar, we take short trips to explore the shrines, markets, and natural surroundings. We can opt to walk up to Everest View Hotel and around villages such as Khunde, Khumjung, and others, experiencing the colorful monasteries and Chhortens. Overnight at lodge.

Day 05 Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

Today, after having breakfast our walk takes in cultural sights along with jaw-dropping views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and many other white peaks. Overnight at lodge.

Day 06 Tengboche to Dingboche

On the seventh day of our journey, we cross the Imja Khola/River, below the Ama Dablam peak, as the grade gets steeper to reach Tengboche. Overnight at lodge

Day 07 Rest Day

To deal with the higher altitude and adjust to the atmospheric pressure, we recommend a rest day at Dingboche. enjoying the magnificent snowy mountains. Overnight at lodge.

Day 08 Dingboche to Lobuche

Views of Khumbu glacier, and also memorials to mountaineers who died during their trip. Overnight at lodge.

Day 09 Lobuche to Gorpshe

Walk to Gorakshep, stop for lunch walk to our target destination Everest base Camp, and descend to Gorakshep. Overnight at lodge.

Day 10 To Kalapattar (5,545m), descend to Gorakshep-Pheriche

Walk up Mt. Kalapatthar to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and views of Mt. Everest as well as surrounding Peak Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. We return to the lodge for breakfast and start our long trek down to Pheriche. Overnight at lodge.

Day 11 Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

Crossing the famous cultural villages like Pangboche and Tengboche, we gradually move to Namche Bazaar. Overnight at lodge.

Day 12 Namche Bazaar to Lukla

On the final day of our journey, we return to Lukla and enjoy the evening to celebrate our exciting, successful trek. Overnight at lodge.

Day 13 Fly back to Kathmandu

Today we fly balck to Lukla. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 Departure day

Thank you for your journey with us!

Lukla-Everest Base Camp Option Two:

Day 01 Arrived in Kathmandu

Namaste and welcome to Nepal! After greeting we transfer you to your hotel.

Day 02 Fly to Lukla(2850m) then trek to Phakding -3/4 hours

After an early breakfast, we fly to Lukla and begin the journey above the Dudh Koshi River to reach Phakding. Overnight at lodge.

Day 03 Trek to Namche(3443m) – 5/6 hours

Day 04 Acclimatization day in Namche – 3/4 hours

Day 05 Trek to Tengboche 5/6 hours

Today, after having breakfast our walk takes in cultural sights along with jaw-dropping views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and many other white peaks. Overnight at lodge

Day 06 Trek to Dingboche 5/6 hours

On the seventh day of our journey, we cross the Imja Khola/River, below the Ama Dablam peak, as the grade gets steeper to reach Tengboche. Overnight at lodge

Day 07 Acclimatization day in Dingboche and Hike to Nagarsan Hill(5100m) – 4/5 hours

To deal with the higher altitude and adjust to the atmospheric pressure, we recommend a rest day at Dingboche. enjoying the magnificent snowy mountains. Overnight at lodge.

Day 08 Trek to Lobuche 5/6 hours

Follow the Lobuche Peak and Pumori Peak to Lobuche leaving behind the Lobuche Peak from Thukla while the Pumori view lasts until you have reached the Gorakshep. The memorial in the Thukla pass of many great legendary mountaineers will create the spines on your skin. You can see the Kongma La Pass from Lobuche as well and it is one of the three high passes of the Everest region.

Day 09 Trek to Gorakshep-3/4 hours

Today we can see Khumbu Glacier, all the trekking trails Nepali Flate see amazing mountain views. this is sort of day but we need a hiking trail high altitude is better to walk slowly, we can see Pumori, and Nupche close to our hiking trail.

Day 10 Trek to EBC(5364m) then back to Gorakshep - 4/5 hours

we trek further about two hours to the iconic Everest Base Camp. Take as many pictures as possible and leave your footprints on this place.

Day 11 Hike to Kalapatthar(5545m) for sunrise then trek to Pheriche – 7-8 hours

Early morning we trek to the top of the Kalapathar for the gorgeous rising of Mt. Everest and its neighbouring mountains. The site will be marvellous and fabled and trek down to Pheriche.

Day 12 Trek to Khumjung – 6/7 hours

Today we will trek down to Khumjung, observe the people’s daily life, and experience the life of Sherpa closely.

Day 13 Trek to Phakding – 6/7 hours

Most of the trekking trail is downhill and along the flatland at the banks of the river. Therefore, enjoy nature on the way to Phakding.

Day 14 Trek to Lukla

The short-distance trekking will allow you to reach Lukla early. You can enjoy the trekking crew members with local food, drinks, and music.

Day 15 Fly back to Kathmandu

Today we will fly to Kathmandu.

Day 16 Departure

Our Airport representatives will take you to the TIA for the departure. We will bid farewell and our trip ends here.

The things that you need to know for the Lukla- Everest Base Camp Trek

Altitude sickness

As you hike to the high altitude, the amount of oxygen that your body gets becomes less as the atmosphere at the high altitude is very thin. This means you will suffer from muscle fatigue, loss of appetite, and dizziness and if it gets extreme you will also have hallucinations.

And if you are trekking without a porter or a professional guide, the problems of this will double as there is no one to give you physical as well as mental support.

Even if your altitude sickness goes extreme and you want to get help in the form of a helicopter to take you to the hospital in the middle of the treks, then the cost can range anywhere from USD 5000 to USD 10000. And isn't it simply breaking your bank?

So in this case, your insurance will cover any portions of it. But carry some medicine and if you discover symptoms of altitude sickness or feel uneasy walking then share everything with your guide so that they can help you on time and try to get good acclimatization and rest day at the altitude.

Sign/Symptoms

Dizziness
Fatigue
Nausea
Severe Headache
Loss of appetite
Difficult for breathing
Problems in sleeping

Preventative measures:

At least drink 4- 5 liters of water to keep your body hydrated.
Avoid alcohol – it easily makes you dehydrated, stay far from tobacco, and don't intake medications like Sleeping pills while trekking at high altitudes like Everest Base Camp.
Avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours when you see the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness.
Follow the principle: climb high and sleep low, to stay far from altitude sickness if you climb around 1000 per day then make sure to come down and rest at the lower altitude.
Avoid meat and only consume the balanced diet food of local and traditional cuisine including Dal Bhat which is very rich in protein and increases your strength to walk the altitude.
Carry some chocolates and a bar to increase your strength and provide you with the extra energy to hike in altitude.
If you feel difficult, or uncomfortable, feel or identify the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness immediately share them with your friends or your professional guide and move you to the lower altitude as fast as possible.

Accidents

Accidents are part of life, everyone faces them as they can take place anytime and anywhere but the probability of these accidents increases when you are trekking in challenging regions such as Everest region (Everest Base Camp Trek).

Good trekking books and rap will help you to drip and enjoy the comfortable walk and make your trekking a pleasurable experience despite this you might slip or pull your muscles and when you are hiking down from the mountains your muscle sprains go worse than that.

No doubt you might also be someone who gets thrilled and scared about trekking in the unpopular trail and remote area. Though it is not recommended, there might be a rock where you cut yourself open, and losing the blood means losing energy while hiking at a high altitude.

Then, in this case, your travel insurance will come in very helpful in such accidents taking place while trekking to Everest Base Camp.

Illness

There are also some other illnesses except altitude sickness that you have to consider while trekking to the Everest Base Camp. if you are careless or if you are not careful with your drinking water or don't pay attention to your hygiene and problems like Diarrhea then it will spoil your trek also such sanitation problems will cause Dehydration in your body which might turn out to be fatal in the high altitudes. Then it this cause your travel insurance will help to care for such illness.

Flight cancellation

Flight can be canceled for a variety of reasons. Very worse and bad conditions can lead way to the cancellation of the flight. Other problems also include some maintenance problems in the flight insert or problems in the runway and many others.

Besides these, there will generally be two different flights you will take. One of them will be your international flight while the other will be the domestic flight you take to Lukla Airport, the airport in the Everest Base Camp region.

If you face problems during the flight your flight cancellation insurance will help you to recover your losses so make sure that your insurance covers the international flight, domestic flight, or both of them.

A few Questions we received frequently related to Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trek.

Where is Lukla-Everest Base Camp?

Everest Base Camp is at the Everest, Solukhumbu Region, at the base of the world's highest mountain Mt Everest, located in northeastern Nepal. Trekking through Lukla- Namche bazaar-Gorakshep crossing the Sagarmatha National Park, you can reach here.

What high is Everest Base Camp?

Everest base camp lies 5,364 meters above sea level.

How hard is Lukla-Everest Base Camp trekking?

Everest base camp is not difficult/hard to trek but their altitude will make it very a bit challenging to trek, like altitude sickness, and frostbite if you have previous experience and trekking above 3000 meters, then it may not be a problem.

What are the total hours I need to walk per day?

Normally you have to walk around 54-6 hours a day but It also depends upon the packages you choose and the length of the itinerary. If you choose to complete the trek within very short periods then you have to walk more hours than average to complete the trek in time and vice versa.

When is the best time to trek Lukla- Everest Base Camp Trek?

You can trek throughout the years, but sometimes the climate and temperature can make your walk very difficult so to face the less problems with pleasant weather trekking in Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best times to trek Everest Base Camp. Being slippy throughout the months and cold trekking with a high level of snowfall in monsoon and winter can put you in difficulty but it's not bad to trek for those who want to experience more adventure.

What is the shortest itinerary for the Lukla- Everest Base Camp Trek?

If you are a busy person and have a very short itinerary 9 days trek is best for you where you will have 8 days to reach the Everest Base Camp and next day fly back by helicopter is the shortest trekking itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Trek. if you want to skip the trek and just reach in a very short time then you can choose helicopter flight tours just need a couple of hours.

Do I need to bring my tent for the Everest Base Camp Trek?

If you are planning to enjoy the fire camp to make your trek more adventurous then you can bring one, if not you don't need to bring a tent with you because you can get a lodge and teahouse to spend overnight.

Can I get a hot shower bath during the Everest Base Camp Trek?

You can get the host shower bath but you have to pay them accordingly, which may cost you more.

How are the toilet facilities during the Everest Base Camp Trek?

The toilets are quite remote but very clean and clean but in the higher altitude due to the extreme cold, it may freeze sometimes. They are indoors so you don't need to go out at night.

What kinds of foods are available during the Everest Base Camp Trek?

During the trek to the remote area don't expect to have more things on the menu. You can have some options like having local food items, momo, french fries, pancakes, and a few others. Trekking means you need high energy throughout the day and junk foods lack to provide you with this, so it's better to intake the local foods, to get enough energy. The food here is cooked by the basic trained cooks so the taste can quite differ.

Lukla - Everest Base Camp Trekking Accommodation:

There are several resorts and hotels, lodges, tea houses snow cap sites in the region that offer modern amenities.

Here I have a detailed explanation about the accommodation you will likely have during the trek:

Accommodation at Lukla

Most people prefer to hike straight to Phakding after having a flight to Lukla. But few choose to spend the rest of the day at Lukla because of its beautiful mountain views and plenty of good hotels. Although they are a little more expensive than the lodges you will get the best services with the good facilities than tea houses.

Accommodation at Phakding

After Lukla, Pkhading is the next stop you will spend overnight. It is the small villages that come passing the Dudh Koshi River valley north of Lukla and south of Monjo. Manly trekkers choose to spend their nights at Pkhading over Lukla because it offers affordable and accessible accommodation services with enough hotels. If you are a budget traveler, then this is the best stop with a more comfortable option.

Accommodation Manjo

Trekkers also tend to choose Manjo skipping Phakding for their accommodation. After crossing the villages including Gumela, Toyok, Bengkar, and Tawa from Phadking we reach our overnight stop. You will see very affordable and accessible accommodation services out here.

Accommodation at Namche Bazar.

Namche Bazaar is the famous stop of the Everest Base Camp trek. It is a popular stop as many trekkers are likely to spend 2-3 days enjoying the beauty and adjusting to the atmospheric pressure.

Namche has more to offer and is worth exploring, hike to the viewpoint above the village to see the first glimpse of the world's iconic peak Mt. Everest. Far from the beauty, this place has some luxury hotels and the best tea houses with great facilities and services. You will have a wide variety of tea houses from Luxury to basic.

Accommodation at Tengboche

Tengboche is the next popular stop during the Everest Base Camp Trek. This small village is famous for the Tengboche monastery. The place has barely 5 hotels you may have to spend your night at the basic teahouses with basic facilities. Even the few tea houses provide a room attached with bathrooms and hot showers, or you have to walk distance for the bathroom and hot shower.

Most of the trekkers prefer staying overnight at Tengboche so that they can attend morning prayers at the monastery.

Accommodation at Dingboche

Dingboche is a beautiful Sherpa village that offers a wider range of lodges and teahouses than Tengboche, this place also has a bakery and internet cafe facilities around. Most trekkers spend 2 days so that they can adapt to high-altitude atmospheric pressure.

Accommodation at Lobuche

Lobuche is the last stop in the tea house, their village offers limited tea houses and hotels. But the accommodation you get here is quite basic. During peak time, it can be even harder to find the basic tea houses so to avoid this you have to book the room in advance so that you don’t need to share your room with strangers.

Accommodation at Gorakshep

Gorakshep is your last stop during your ascend, it is always crowded. In terms of accommodation, it is average here. Lodges offer basic facilities. It's hard to get a room here so you might end up sleeping in the dining room or spending your night in the tent.

Tips to Follow and Remember:

Never trek alone, hire a local guide if you can’t find a companion.
Camping inside the Sagarmatha National Park should be made only in designed areas.
Do respect the cultural and religious sites.
Trekking the Everest region without a Park permit is illegal. You can issue the permit from the Nepal Tourism Board and request to keep the permit with you.
All the flora and fauna are fully protected and must not be disturbed.
Take only photographs and leave only footprints
Don’t use polythene or plastic material.
Use safe drinking water or purify water yourself.

Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trek is an amazing journey so what are you waiting for? Go and pack your bag and start the adventure journey. If you want to know more about trekking in Nepal then you can contact us: at [email protected].