Everest Base Camp
EBC and Three Passes
The Everest Base Camp and Three Passes trek is a master class in Nepal trekking! Not only do you hike deep into the Himalayas to visit Everest Base Camp, you also summit three snow-encrusted mountain passes: Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La. From these passes you enjoy views of mountains like Everest and Lhotse, glaciers like Ngozumpa and Khumbu, and high-altitude lakes like the gorgeous Gokyo Lakes. This is a challenging and exhilarating trek into some of the wildest and quietest corners of Sagarmatha National Park.
Alternative Itineraries
Highlights
Experience Sherpa culture
Experience Sherpa culture
A special aspect of this trek is staying in several Sherpa villages, meeting locals, and eating traditional foods.
Stand in Everest Base Camp
Stand in Everest Base Camp
Have your moment standing at the world's most famous base camp! And climb Kala Patthar for a brilliant view of Mt Everest.
Summit three high passes
Summit three high passes
Summit three famous mountain passes – Cho La, Renjo La, and Kongma La – all of which offer incredible views.
Alternative Itineraries
Itinerary
Day 1 |
Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 1 |
Arrive in KathmanduToday is meet-up day. We fetch you from the airport and take you to the hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu. Arrive early enough and there'll be time to purchase any last-minute items and explore the town a bit. We enjoy dinner together as a group and chat about what to expect in the upcoming days.
Day 2 |
Trek to Phakding (3 hr)
Day 2 |
Trek to Phakding (3 hr)We take a short flight to the mountainside town of Lukla (2,860 m). Then we get walking! We head into in a pretty forested valley and tackle a relatively easy first-day hike. The trail stays close to the river and passes by picturesque Sherpa settlements. We overnight in the riverside village of Phakding (2,610 m).
Day 3 |
Trek to Namche Bazaar (6 hr)
Day 3 |
Trek to Namche Bazaar (6 hr)Today's trek is harder as we climb greatly in altitude to reach the town of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m). Namche sits high above a steep valley and overlooks the confluence of two rivers. For many, this is where the change in altitude can really be felt, and so rest is paramount.
Day 4 |
Acclimatisation and hike (3 hr)
Day 4 |
Acclimatisation and hike (3 hr)It's important to give your body time to adjust to the higher altitude, so we spend another night in Namche. That said, there's lots you can choose to do locally, like visit the Sherpa Museum or local monastery, or do a beautiful hike to Hotel Everest View for a drink and snack.
Day 5 |
Trek to Tengboche (5 hr)
Day 5 |
Trek to Tengboche (5 hr)Today we head further up the Dudh Kosi valley to reach Tengboche (3,870 m). The views on today's hike of Lhotse, Everest and Ama Dablam are unforgettable! Tengboche Monastery is the largest gompa (Tibetan Buddhist fortification) in the Khumbu region and definitely worth a visit.
Day 6 |
Trek to Dingboche (6 hr)
Day 6 |
Trek to Dingboche (6 hr)We walk today through woods, and enjoy increasingly spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks towering around us. Ama Dablam and Island Peak in particular are breathtaking. We also pass by Panboche, whose monastery is the oldest in the region. We overnight in Dingboche (4,360 m).
Day 7 |
Trek to Chhukung (3-4 hr)
Day 7 |
Trek to Chhukung (3-4 hr)Today we head east up Chhukung Valley to Chhukung (4,730 m). The area used to be used as a yak pasture, but has developed into a cluster of lodges that serve trekkers. The village sits alongside the icy Imja Khola and is nestled at the base of Chukhung Ri, a rocky peak.
Day 8 |
Acclimatisation and explore
Day 8 |
Acclimatisation and exploreToday we stay put in Chhukung to acclimatise. We can either climb Chhukung Ri (5,550 m) or visit Island Peak Base Camp. Island Peak (6,189 m), or Imja Tse, got its name from a British Everest expedition because they thought it looks from Dingboche like an island in a sea of ice.
Day 9 |
Summit Kongma La (9-10 hr)
Day 9 |
Summit Kongma La (9-10 hr)Today we tackle our first pass! Kongma La (5,550 m) is a challenging mountain pass that's actually higher than EBC! It's also the easternmost and highest of the three passes on our trek. Excitingly, we also cross Khumbu Glacier today. We overnight in Lobuche (4,940 m).
Day 10 |
Visit Everest Base Camp (9 hr)
Day 10 |
Visit Everest Base Camp (9 hr)Today is THE DAY! We head straight for Everest Base Camp. During climbing season, it's a humming base camp; at other times it's deserted, with just wind-ripped prayer flags to mark the spot. Having spent time soaking it in and gazing upon Khumbu Glacier, we travel to Gorakshep (5,164 m).
Day 11 |
Climb Kala Patthar (8-10 hr)
Day 11 |
Climb Kala Patthar (8-10 hr)We take on Kala Patthar (5 643 m), a tough climb with a massive reward: an unobstructed view of Mt Everest! We then head south along the classic EBC trek route, but where the path meets the head of the Imja Khola river, we veer west away and head to Dzongla (4,830 m).
Day 12 |
Summit Cho La (9-10 hr)
Day 12 |
Summit Cho La (9-10 hr)We climb Cho La (5,420 m) today! The going is steep and challenging. This is a remote and gorgeous section of Sagarmatha National Park that many don't get to see. We then descend to the village of Gokyo (4,750 m) and the beautiful, icy blue Gokyo Lakes.
Day 13 |
Gokyo Ri day hike
Day 13 |
Gokyo Ri day hikeToday is a rest day of sorts. We don't move on to another location, but those who wish can climb up to Gokyo Ri, a 5,357 m-high peak that offers an incredible view of Ngozumpa glacier, the Gokyo Lakes, and Mounts Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu!
Day 14 |
Summit Renjo La (8-9 hr)
Day 14 |
Summit Renjo La (8-9 hr)Today we tackle the third and final of the passes on our trek route: Renjo La (5,360 m). We walk along the north shore of Gokyo Lake to reach the base of the pass. It's a tough climb, but it's not as high as the other two passes, and you might even see some locals with their yaks using the path.
Day 15 |
Trek to Namche Bazaar (7-8 hr)
Day 15 |
Trek to Namche Bazaar (7-8 hr)We now head to Namche Bazaar. The scenery is beautiful, as we walk a contour path along the northern bank of the Bhote Khosi, a tributary of the Dudh Khosi. We pass by the pretty village of Thame and Thame Monastery. Anyone lucky enough to be in Namche on a Saturday can visit its market.
Day 16 |
Trek to Lukla (7-8 hr)
Day 16 |
Trek to Lukla (7-8 hr)This is our last day of our trekking! We now follow the same path that we took on the outward journey. We hike the final miles through forested valley and to the sound of rushing water to reach Lukla, where we spend the night.
Day 17 |
Fly to Kathmandu
Day 17 |
Fly to KathmanduThis morning we catch the short flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. The scenery during the flight is magnificent. Arriving in Kathmandu, we have all afternoon and evening to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the capital city!
Day 18 |
Depart Nepal
Day 18 |
Depart NepalIt's time to say goodbye after the adventure of a lifetime! We drive you to the airport to catch your flight.
Meet our Local Leaders
Oangdi Gurung
Oangdi, a son of Nepal, has a smile and energy that are contagious! He's been leading multiday treks in the Himalayas for years and has a wealth of knowledge he's always eager to share. You can't go trekking in the Himalayas without knowing what you're doing, but with Oangdi you're in great hands!
Sonam G. Sherpa
Sonam, who grew up in the Everest region of Nepal, is a mountain man through and through. He's a highly experienced and knowledgeable trek guide, and someone you can trust to lead you safely through the formidable Himalayas!
Everest Base Camp Guide
