BodhVia

Khumbu

Everest Base Camp

Twelve days on foot to the foot of the world's highest mountain — privately guided, unhurried, and built entirely around your pace and the weather.

A twelve-day trek through the Khumbu to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m, with sunrise from Kala Patthar at 5,545 m. Privately guided by NMA-registered mountain guides, with hand-picked lodges, daily altitude monitoring, and rest days built in. We plan it with you before you arrive.

The most famous trek in the world, done properly

Everyone knows Everest Base Camp by name. Too often it is rushed — ten days, tired guides, crowded lodges, and altitude pushed faster than the body can handle. We do it differently.

We give it twelve days, not ten, so acclimatisation is real and the pace stays human. Your private team of NMA-registered guides and porters has walked this trail every season for years. The lodges are chosen for their food, their warmth, and their windows. By the morning you climb Kala Patthar for sunrise on Everest, you will have slept well enough to be fully present for it.

Every journey begins with a conversation. Tell us when you would like to travel, and we will plan your departure with you — privately guided, with limited places each season.

Pair this trek with our Threshold journey to recover afterward, or arrive a few days early with The Inner Ascent for a calm landing in Kathmandu before the climb.

The line of the walk · 12 days on foot

max 5,545m (Kala Patthar)

5,545m

Hover the markers — 6 places along the way

Day by day

The walking
itinerary.

  1. Day 1

    2,610m

    Fly to Lukla, walk to Phakding

    A morning mountain flight to Lukla, then an easy three-hour walk along the Dudh Koshi river to Phakding. A gentle first day to settle in before the climb begins.

    Distance8 km

    Walking3 hrs

  2. Day 2

    3,440m

    Phakding to Namche Bazaar

    A full, beautiful day through pine forest and across high suspension bridges. The final climb to Namche, the gateway town of the Khumbu, is steep — we take it slowly and steadily.

    Distance11 km

    Walking5–6 hrs

  3. Day 3

    3,440m

    Acclimatisation day in Namche

    An active rest day to help your body adjust. We walk up to the Everest View Hotel for your first sight of the mountain, then return for a relaxed lunch and an afternoon at the Sherwi Khangba cultural museum.

    Walking3 hrs

  4. Day 4

    3,860m

    Namche to Tengboche

    A day of high ridges and wide views to Ama Dablam, then a descent to the Imja Khola and a climb to Tengboche. In the evening, we sit in on prayers at its famous monastery.

    Distance10 km

    Walking5 hrs

  5. Day 5

    4,410m

    Tengboche to Dingboche

    Today we climb above the tree line into open, quiet country of stone and juniper, passing the occasional yak train. We reach Dingboche in time for a long, restful afternoon.

    Distance12 km

    Walking5–6 hrs

  6. Day 6

    4,410m

    Acclimatisation day in Dingboche

    A short climb to Nangkar Tshang for views of Makalu, the world's fifth highest mountain, then a long afternoon to rest. This is where your body does its most important adjusting before the higher days.

    Walking3–4 hrs

  7. Day 7

    4,910m

    Dingboche to Lobuche

    We follow the Khumbu Glacier moraine, pausing at Thukla Pass and its stone memorials to climbers lost on Everest. A moving, reflective stretch, then on to Lobuche for the night.

    Distance8 km

    Walking5 hrs

  8. Day 8

    5,364m (EBC)

    Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

    The big day. We walk to Gorak Shep, break for lunch, then continue to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m — the goal of the trek. We return to Gorak Shep for the night as the last light catches Pumori.

    Distance13 km

    Walking7–8 hrs

  9. Day 9

    5,545m / descend to 4,371m

    Sunrise on Kala Patthar, then down to Pheriche

    A pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar at 5,545 m — the highest point of the trek and the finest view of Everest there is. Then a long descent to Pheriche, where the air thickens and recovery begins.

    Walking7–8 hrs

  10. Day 10

    3,440m

    Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

    A long descent back toward the tree line and warmer air. A demanding day on the knees, but a deeply satisfying one — and a hot shower waiting in Namche.

    Walking6–7 hrs

  11. Day 11

    2,860m

    Namche to Lukla

    Our last day on the trail, mostly downhill, retracing the suspension bridges and forest of the first days. We celebrate the trek over dinner in Lukla.

    Walking6–7 hrs

  12. Day 12

    1,400m

    Fly back to Kathmandu

    A morning flight back to Kathmandu, then a late lunch in the old city of Patan, a long hot soak, and a private farewell dinner.

What is included

  • Private NMA-registered mountain guide and senior sirdar throughout
  • Hand-picked lodges, with a private room per traveler wherever possible
  • All meals, snacks, and high-altitude provisions
  • Round-trip Lukla flights, with a helicopter contingency
  • Daily SpO2 monitoring and a full oxygen and altitude-safety protocol
  • A porter team that carries all your luggage
  • Kathmandu accommodation before and after the trek

Not included

  • International flights to and from Kathmandu
  • Nepal visa fees
  • Travel insurance covering trekking at altitude and helicopter evacuation
  • Personal trekking gear and clothing
  • Drinks beyond the tea and water provided on the trail
  • Tips for your guiding and porter team
  • Expenses of a personal nature

Honest answers

Practicalities

  • How fit do I need to be?

    You should be comfortable walking five to seven hours a day on consecutive days. You do not need climbing experience. We build acclimatisation rest days into the route and never push the pace.

  • How should I train beforehand?

    The best preparation is time on your feet — long hill walks on consecutive weekends, ideally with a light pack, in the months before you travel. We share a simple readiness guide during planning and are happy to talk it through.

  • How do you keep me safe at altitude?

    We take SpO2 readings twice a day from day three onward, and carry supplementary oxygen on every stage above 4,000 m. Your senior sirdar is wilderness-medicine trained.

  • What happens if the Lukla flights are delayed?

    Lukla flights can be held by weather, so we build a helicopter contingency into every departure. If the fixed-wing flight cannot run, we move you by helicopter to keep your trek on schedule.

  • What travel insurance do I need?

    You will need a policy that covers trekking at altitude, including helicopter evacuation. It is not included in the trek price. We review your cover with you during planning to make sure it fits the route.

  • I am travelling solo — is that possible, and is there a single supplement?

    Yes. This trek is privately guided, so solo travellers are welcome. A private-room supplement applies where a single room is available; we quote it clearly during planning.

  • Is there wifi and charging in the lodges?

    Most lodges offer wifi and charging, usually for a small fee, though both grow slower and less reliable the higher you go. We suggest treating the upper Khumbu as a chance to be offline, and carrying a power bank for your own devices.

  • Is the drinking water and food safe?

    Yes. We provide safe, treated drinking water throughout and choose lodges we trust for their kitchens. Meals are freshly cooked, and we steer the menu toward what travels and digests well at altitude.

  • Do I have to carry my own bag?

    No. Your porter team carries up to fifteen kilos per traveler. You walk with a light day-pack only.

  • When is the best month to go?

    October and November bring the clearest skies and the finest views; April and May are warmer, with rhododendron in bloom lower down. We will help you choose the window that suits you when we plan your dates.

  • How does payment work, and what is the cancellation policy?

    There is no online checkout. Every trek is arranged by application, and the payment schedule and cancellation terms are set out in the written proposal we prepare for you.

  • How do I book this trek?

    Every journey begins with a conversation. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will reply within three days to start planning your departure.

Begin

Walk this with us.

Autumn 2026 · October–November · From $6,400 per guest, twin share

From $6,400 per guest, twin share

Begin a conversation
Chat