Experience the heart of the Himalayas and trek to the world's highest basecamp
The trek to Everest Base Camp is the world’s most famous multi-day adventure hike for a reason.
Taking you into the heart of the Himalayas, the route winds its way up to 5,643m above sea level, offering you unparalleled views of the world’s highest mountain. Along the way, you’ll be immersed in Sherpa culture, soaking up the sounds and sights of the Khumbu region, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Nepal
16 days
Challenging 3A
5555 m
18225 ft
Approx
5 - 6hours
Spring &
Autumn
24 Oct - 11 Nov
USD $3,000
Aimed at individuals with a high level of basic fitness. Prior experience of mountain environments is preferable, but not necessary. We can teach you what you need to know on this trek.
It’s easy to understand why an Everest Base Camp hike is a bucket list item for many.
One of the most adventurous, challenging, but rewarding treks in the world, this trail offers phenomenal mountain landscapes and incredible insights into the lives of Sherpas and others in the Khumbu Region.
And who better to show you all this than Sherpas themselves? Elite Exped is entirely Nepalese-run, with our record-breaking directors Nimsdai, Mingma David Sherpa, and Mingma Tenzi priding themselves on their ability to bridge the gap between Western and Himalayan climbing cultures, offering the best of both worlds.
Elite Exped’s Everest Base Camp climb follows an expedition plan that our leaders have set out. After exploring the shrines, temples, bazaars and restaurants of Kathmandu, we take a flight to Lukla, a gateway to Everest.
Then, we walk up to the Dudh Kosi Valley, surrounded by the magnificent peaks of Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku. We make the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Khumbu Sherpas, where we spend a day acclimatising and sightseeing.
From there, we follow the trails to Tengboche, located high on a ridge, which provides one of the most spectacular 360-degree mountain panoramas anywhere on the planet. You can see Everest, the Lhotse-Nuptse Wall, Ama Dablam and Kantega. We pass through Buddhist monasteries and past ancient shrines, with the massive bulk of Mount Everest itself looming ever closer. From Kala Patthar at 5,643m, you’ll get an incredible vista of the world’s most famous mountain, before we head to base camp.
Our return journey takes us through Dingboche, Phortse and Khumjung, before we part ways in Kathmandu, 16 days and a whole lifetime’s worth of experiences later.
Our tried and tested Everest Base Camp trek itinerary is informed by decades of mountaineering experience. As with all adventurous activities of this type, however, circumstances may arise where Elite Exped is forced to make alterations, possibly at short notice. While making every effort to adhere to this published schedule, we kindly ask for your patience if the weather, or other naturally occurring circumstances, intervene.
Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel.
Preparation day in Kathmandu, gear check and safety/trip briefing, before a team meal.
Flight to Lukla at 2846m and then a stunning short trek to Phakding that takes three to four hours.
A five to six-hour trek from Phakding to Namche, crossing the famous Hillary Bridge with a nice climb into Namche Bazaar for a team dinner.
Acclimatisation day in Namche, including a short two to three-hour hike to Everest View Hotel for lunch, and then a visit to Sagarmatha National Park Museum for one to two hours.
A four to six-hour trek from Namche to Debuche via a visit to Tengboche Monastery, as well as an hour lunch stop.
Trek from Debuche to Dingboche for four to six hours, as well as a lunch stop.
Acclimatisation day in Dingboche, including a four to five-hour hike up to Nagarjun Hill hours with an incredible view of Ama Dablam. This is followed by team dinner and rest in Dingboche.
A four to six-hour trek from Dingboche to Lobouche via Thukla Everest Memorial Pass, including an hour lunch stop.
An early morning trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp, before heading back to Gorak Shep for an overnight stay. This stage takes six to eight hours.
An early morning hike to Kalapathar and trek to Pheriche. This takes four to six hours, with a lunch stop of approximately one hour.
A six to eight-hour trek from Pheriche to Namche, with an hour lunch stop.
Trek from Namche to Lukla for four to six hours, with a lunch break of one hour. You will spend the night in Lukla, one of the world's highest-altitude airports.
Fly back to Kathmandu and relax and unwind from a memorable trip.
Leisure day in Kathmandu sightseeing and exploring.
Departure day and drop off at Tribhuvan International Airport.
We believe the mountains are there for all to enjoy, but they must be respected, and protected. We are the voice, carers and keepers of these sacred places for future generations, and our environmental policy ensures we do no harm, and leave no trace. Learn more here.
Our tailored approach to training will help you improve as a climber, developing the mental and physical skills you need to achieve your dreams. Find out more here.
The following frequently asked questions may help answer any queries you have about Elite Exped, what our Everest Base Camp hikes involve, and what is required.
If your question isn’t answered here then please check our dedicated FAQ support page — otherwise don’t hesitate to get in touch.
All Elite Exped expeditions — including our Everest Base Camp climbs — are within extreme high-altitude environments, with differing requirements for ability.
Due to the nature of these operational landscapes, you must provide concise, honest descriptions of relevant experience and current fitness levels. Upon receipt, we will review your experience and respond accordingly. If we consider there to be any shortfalls at this point, then we can collectively discuss the opportunities and/or provide a training support plan to achieve your goals.
Nimsdai Purja, Mingma David Sherpa’s and Mingma Tenzi’s mountaineering groundbreaking records speak for themselves, but our leaders are more than just supremely talented climbers.
While some choose to direct operations from back office, our three directors lead from the front. Their experience in every aspect of guiding and climbing — from fixing ropes to organising logistics — is unparalleled. It's no surprise that they have the industry-leading success rate when it comes to summiting 8,000m peaks.
Beyond this, our handpicked team of guides have also chalked up dozens of successful summits between them.
If it’s controllable we control it: this is key to attaining and maintaining our industry-leading strategy for success and safety.
We maximise our options, agility and responsiveness by running self-sufficient expeditions that don’t rely on any other teams to achieve our objectives.
Our team is capable of setting up our own fixed lines (with a proven track record on all 8,000m peaks) and has backups to cover all scenarios. These include everything from secondary oxygen supplies to the ability and experience to operate our own rescue missions if the situation arises.
With his Nepalese roots and UK residency, our co-founder Nimsdai Purja brings a unique perspective and an unparalleled ability to bridge the gap between Western and Himalayan climbing cultures.
We can assemble trusted teams and networks anywhere in the world, but our founders’ roots are a particular advantage when it comes to summiting the world’s very highest peaks.
An intimate knowledge of how things work on the ground ensures that everything runs smoothly when you’re 8,000m above sea-level.
The 67km long trek to Annapurna Base Camp is a Himalayan classic. Demanding, but not too demanding, this epic itinerary gives you the chance to walk among some of the world’s most impressive peaks, and come face to face with an 8,000m peak. Along the way, you’ll dive deep in Nepalese culture, discovering a flavour of what makes these mountains so special. As Himalayan specialists, no-one is better placed to guide you on this adventure than Elite Exped.
Standing at 6,119m above sea level, high above the glaciers of the Khumbu region of Nepal, Lobuche East is a significant peak, but also one of the most popular, and the easiest to climb.
