Day-by-day descriptions

Approximate Trekking Distance Lukla to Everest Base Camp

• 65km or 40 miles 1 way OR 130km / 80 miles round trip

October 28, 2026
Depart from home country. 

October 29
Transit. 

October 30
Arrive Kathmandu. You will be picked up from Tribhuvan airport and transported to the famous climbers and trekkers hotel, the Yak and Yeti.  Early Evening gathering.

Mandatory arrival day for the whole team.

October 31
Full day of orientation, Q&A, gear checks and packing at our hotel. 
Team dinner at a local restaurant. 

November 1. Lukla to Phakding
Very early departure for the domestic terminal and our flights to Lukla (weather permitting). In Lukla (2,860 m) we will meet our Sherpa staff and have breakfast with our friends at the Namaste Lodge. 

Our porters will pack up our duffel bags and we will enjoy a beautiful trek following the Dudh Kosi river to Phakding (2610 m).

Trekking distance 8km/5 miles/5 hours

November 2 Phakding to Namche Bazaar
We will continue to follow the Dudh Kosi, ascending a total of 975 m/3,198 ft (when accounting for elevation loss) through the Himalayan Pine and Deodar cedar forests to the celebrated Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar (3440 m/ 11,286 ft). 

We will leave the Dudh Kosi after crossing the famous Hilary suspension bridge and climb steeply up to Namche. 

Namche Bazaar is a historic trading post where Tibetan and Nepalese would exchange salt, dried meat, and textiles. Namche is a center of the Sherpa culture and to this day still acts as a central trading post for the Solu Khumbu valley. 

Our team will spend 2 nights in Namche, allowing time for an acclimatization hike and shopping for arts and crafts in town. We stay with Mingma and Lakpa, our dear friends of more than 20 years, at the Panorama Lodge. 

On our acclimating hike, we will have an opportunity to glimpse our first views of Everest and neighboring peaks, as well as visit the Sagarmatha Next project.

Trekking Distance 11 km / 6.9 m / 6 hrs

Elevation Gain 975 m / 3,100 ft

November 3
In the morning we will enjoy an acclimatization hike, gaining around 300 m / 985 ft to take in the amazing mountain views up valley of Ama Dablam (6,854 m), Lhotse (8498 m), Nupste (7,876 m), and Everest (8,848 m). 

We will visit the Sagarmatha Next project, which is ushering in a new era of waste management in the Solu Khumbu valley.  Typically around 4 hours return.

In the afternoon we have time to visit the sights in Namche Bazaar after lunch.

November 4
Today we will venture off the busy, main trekking route and visit the beautiful village of Phortse. We will gain around 950m/3000 ft, this is excellent for our acclimation! From Namche Bazaar we will traverse above the Dudh Kosi river and stop for tea at Kyangjuma. From there we will climb over the more remote Mong-La pass (3975m/13,000 ft) and descend 300m/1000 ft to cross the river at Phortse Tenga. We then have 1 hour uphill to the farming village of Phortse at 3810m/12,800 ft. Phortse is off the main trekking route and is the home of many of the strongest climbing Sherpa working on Mt Everest. Phortse is also home to the amazing Khumbu Climbing School, a non profit project dedicated to building the next generations of Sherpa guides through education in hands on technical climbing and guiding skills. We will visit the Khumbu Climbing School in the afternoon.

Trekking Distance 10 km / 6.4 m / 6 hrs

Elevation Gain 950 m

November 5

Phortse to Debouche/Tengboche via Pangboche
Today’s route is a bit shorter and will take us along the cliffs above Phortse and back to the main trekking route at Pangboche, then along to Debouche on easy trail. Keep an eye out for Himalayan Tahr and colorful Danphe(pheasants) along the cliffs near Phortse. Tengboche is the religious center of the Khumbu valley and hosts one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in the world.  If possible, we will attend a Buddhist ceremony performed by local monks in the afternoon post lunch and showers.   The 30 minute climb up to Tengboche Monastery takes us through a lovely rhododendron forest.

We overnight in the new wing at Rivendell Lodge with our old friend Jangmu Sherpa and her family.

Trekking Distance 9.5 km / 6 m / 4 hrs

Elevation Gain 200m/600 ft

November 6

From Deboche we will climb up valley to Dingboche (4400 m/ 14,435 ft) via Pangboche and Shomare, with a lunch stop along the way. Here we are beginning to reach the higher elevations, so we will spend 2 nights for acclimating purposes. 

From Dingboche the massive Southern flank of Lhoste (8498 m) dominates the skyline.  On our second day we will enjoy an acclimatization hike with views of Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Ama Dablam North Ridge (6,854 m) and others. 

On the way down we have the chance to visit Pheriche, and the famous Himalayan Rescue Clinic, just over the valley. 

We will stay with our friends at the Countryside Lodge in Dingboche.

Trekking Distance 11 km / 6.9 m / 6 hrs

Elevation Gain 600m m / 1,968 ft to Dingboche

November 7

Dingboche 2nd night. Morning acclimation hike followed by afternoon rest and relaxation. On our second day we will enjoy an acclimatization hike on Nangkartshang, with views of Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Ama Dablam North Ridge (6,854 m) and others.  the goal of gaining at least 500m (1600ft) to help us acclimate approximately to the elevation of Lobuche, the next village we will stay in at 16,200 ft.

November 8
We climb up valley from Dingboche to Lobuche (4940m/ 16,210 ft), crossing summer yak pastures as the character of the terrain changes to the high alpine landscape. 

We ascend the terminal moraine of the mighty Khumbu glacier at Thagnak and pass through the famous climbers’ memorial at Thok La pass, arriving to Lobuche village (4,929 m/16,170 ft) on the left flank of the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier.

Trekking Distance 9.5 km / 5.9 m / 5-6 hrs

Elevation Gain 650 m / 2,130 ft

November 9
From Lobuche we trek along the lateral moraine and high tundra to Gorak Shep (5,158 m/16,920 ft), the last Sherpa village before Everest Base Camp.  The environment and lodging in Gorak Shep is rustic and gives us the true flavor of the challenges of living in this high-altitude environment. 

After an early lunch, we will continue along the moraine above the Khumbu glacier all the way to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep for the overnight.

Trekking Distance 4.5 km / 2.8 m / 5 hrs

Elevation Gain 200 m / 650 ft

Trekking Distance 3.5 km / 2.2 m / 3 hrs to EBC

Elevation Gain 200 m / 650 ft to EBC

November 10
We ascend Kala Pattar (5,577 m/18,300 ft) early by headlamp to catch the sunrise coming up behind Everest.  The dramatic views of Everest and Nupste from this small peak at sunrise are amazing. 

After breakfast we will helicopter to Kathmandu via Pheriche and Lukla. We will have two helicopters flying for the team, and we will do shuttles down valley. If weather is poor and the helicopters cannot fly, then we will likely descend down to Lobuche or Pheriche to overnight.

Trekking Distance 3 km / 1.9 m / 4 hrs to Kala Pattar and back

Elevation Gain 400m/1,300 ft to Kala Pattar

Trekking Distance 3.5 km / 2.2 m / 3 hrs to EBC

Elevation Gain 200 m / 650 ft to EBC

November 11
This is our alternate day to fly to Kathmandu if weather does not allow on November 10th. If already in Kathmandu, we will arrange a city tour to visit some of the historic temples and landmarks of the Kathmandu Valley. 

Team celebration dinner.

November 12
International departures homeward from early evening (3 p.m.) onward. Please do not book morning departures for the 12th in case we are delayed getting to KTM.

November 13
Arrival home to USA (or alternate departure times from Kathmandu, if you’d like more rest at the hotel before long flights).