The Lukla to Everest Base Camp trek begins with a short 40 minute early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport, which lies at an altitude of 2,860m. On the first day, trekkers begin their trip with a short decent of 3 to 4 hour to Phakding. After that it is an average of 5 hours walking each day, with a couple of long days of 7 to 8 hours. Built into this trek is time to acclimatize before trekking to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and the Everest viewpoint at Kalapatthar, with an altitude of over 5,500m.

The trekking route goes through alpine forests, through villages, and along the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers to a market town with a name that conjures up pictures of red cheeked Sherpa children and generations of mountain expeditions from around the world – Namche Bazaar. Here it is possible to trek to Khumjung Village to visit the school set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to successfully summit Mount Everest in 1953. Of course, no one can climb alone, so the setting up of this school was one of the ways Sir Edmund gave back to the Sherpa community who continue today to be the backbone of any expedition to Everest.

Another highlight of this trek is a visit to Tengboche Monastery. Unfortunately the monastery was extensively damaged by the earthquakes in 2015. The panoramic views from the monastery area, are, however, still spectacular and include views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. With all this natural beauty it is easy to see why the biggest monastery in the Khumbu Region was built on this spot. Both natural and spiritual beauty have always drawn people to this area. Interestingly, the Tibetan and Sherpa name of for Mount Everest is in Chomolungma or Mother Goddess of the Universe. In more recent times the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has added this area, which is part of Sagarmatha National Park, to its Sacred Himalayan Landscape initiative.

The trail to Base Camp from Gorakshep and back is quite arduous and will take 6 to 7 hours of walking over rocky ground, formed by millennia of glacial debris. The trail runs alongside the Khumbu Glacier with views of the Khumbu icefall. During the climbing season there maybe is an opportunity to witness expeditions setting up camp in order to attempt to summit Everest. Needless to say, the scenery is breathtaking!

Aside from the Base Camp itself, there is a spectacular close up view of Everest from the highest point of the trek at Kalapatthar. Not for nothing is Kalapatthar called the Everest View Point. Also seen from here are Mount Pumori and Ama Dablam.

This trek comes to an end by returning to Lukla for the short flight back to Kathmandu.

Outline Itinerary

INCLUDES AND EXCLUDES

Faqs

Days	Itinerary	Altitude	Time
Day 1	Kathmandu to Lukla (Flight) to Phakding	2651 m	3 - 4 hr
Day 2	Phakding to Namche Bazaar	3438 m	5 - 6 hr
Day 3	Acclimatization day (Day trip to Khumjung)	3700 m	5 hr
Day 4	Namche Bazaar to Tengboche	3870 m	5 - 6 hr
Day 5	Tengboche to Dingboche	4360 m	5 hr
Day 6	Acclimatization day (Day trip to Nagarjun Hill)	4900 m	4 - 5 hr
Day 7	Dingboche to Lobuche	4940 m	5 hr
Day 8	Lobuche to Gorakshep (Day trip to EBC)	5368 m	7 - 8 hr
Day 9	Gorakshep to Pheriche (Morning trip to Kalapatthar)	5545 m	7 - 8 hr
Day 10	Pheriche to Tengboche	3870 m	5 - 6 hr
Day 11	Tengboche to Jhorsalle	2730 m	6 - 7 hr
Day 12	Jhorsalle to Lukla	2860 m	4 - 5 hr
Day 13	Lukla to Kathmandu (Flight)	1380 m	40 min

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FAQs

Is it safe to drink the water in Everest

No. You cannot drink the water from the tap or streams in Everest. Mineral water is available on the trail. It is expensive to buy (perhaps 10 times more than in Kathmandu). You can use a water purifier or SteriPen.

Am I likely to get altitude sickness on my trek?

Be aware. Elevation on this trek will exceed 3,500m. The possibilities of getting altitude sickness generally start at this elevation. But in order to avoid this, as much as possible, we have designed the itinerary in such a way that it will give you enough time to acclimatize.

Am I at risk and how can I avoid altitude sickness?

There is no knowing who will suffer from altitude sickness. It does not follow that the younger and fitter people will not get altitude sickness where the older and less fit will. It is not related to (general) fitness or age. Talk to your doctor at home. There are prescription medications which help avoid the onset of altitude sickness. But above all, go slowly, listen to your body, be aware of any changes, and listen to your guide if he feels you are showing symptoms (which you might not notice).

What happens if there is need for emergency evacuation while I am trekking?

We will collect your travel insurance policies and details before the trek so that in case of an emergency we can coordinate with your insurance company and the helicopter providers for evacuation.

What about simple medical treatment on the trek?

First aid. On every trek we will carry a first aid kit. We also recommend you carry your own. Here is a checklist recommended by Karen Anderson of things you should bring. Vaccinations are not compulsory in Nepal but to be on the safe side we recommend you comply, where possible, with this list provided by again by Karen Anderson (medical doctor in New Zealand and friend and client of Magical Nepal).

Do I need to buy travel insurance before I come to Nepal?

Yes. Magical Nepal only provides insurance for our own staff. We recommend you buy insurance in your country. Note: Insurance should cover you for the altitudes you are trekking at (not all do). We recommend World Nomads.

Will I need to bring my own sleeping bag or not?

Yes, bring your own or you can rent it or buy it in Kathmandu. Renting a sleeping bag in Kathmandu will cost you $1 or $2 per day. To buy a new sleeping bag in Kathmandu expect to pay around $150 to $200 for one of medium quality.

Will I need to use crampons on this trek?

No. The trails are well marked. Unless you go in mid-winter you will not need crampons. Instead of crampons, carry micro spikes which are not technical, lightweight to carry, cheaper and fit any shoe size.

What happens if I forget to bring something with me from home?

If you forget something it might be extremely hard to find here. Please check here for an exhaustive packing list for (general) trekking in Nepal. If you are not a frequent hiker, you can rent most of the trekking gear in Nepal when you arrive.

Will we be using tents and mattresses on the trek?

No. There are teahouses along the trek. We will not need tents or mattresses.

Where can I leave stuff in Kathmandu when I am trekking?

Anything you don’t want to take on the trek with you can be stored at your hotel or in our office. We suggest you ensure your bag is lockable.

Who will be my guide?

We use local guides. On each trek our guides have been to the relevant areas numerous times. All are experienced, knowledgeable, flexible and authorized licensed guides with the Government of Nepal.

Will I need a porter for my trek?

Preferable. If you use a porter it has double benefit: you can fully enjoy your trek without carrying a heavy bag, and its improves the income of the local community.

How much can a porter carry?

20kg. On average a porter can carry 22kg including their own backpack. So, they can carry up to 18kg of your gear and equipment. We provide backpacks for porters.

Are your staff insured in case of accidents etc.?

Yes. At Magical Nepal we make sure all our staff are well insured.

I hear incidents when porters do not have proper shoes etc. Is this true?

At Magical Nepal we ensure all our guides and porters have proper gear, are well equipped and protected. This is for their own wellbeing and for the wellbeing of our clients.