The walk to Everest Base Camp is the most recognised trek on earth, and for good reason. Over roughly twelve days you climb from the airstrip at Lukla to 5,364 m, through Sherpa villages, pine forest, glacial moraine and finally onto the Khumbu Glacier itself.
How long does it take?
Most people walk it in 12 to 14 days round trip from Lukla. That includes two acclimatisation days — one at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) and one at Dingboche (4,410 m). Skipping those days is the single most common reason trekkers get sick and turn back.
The classic route
- Day 1–2: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla, walk to Phakding, then on to Namche Bazaar.
- Day 3: Acclimatisation at Namche — a short climb to the Everest View Hotel.
- Day 4–5: Tengboche Monastery, then Dingboche.
- Day 6: Second acclimatisation day, usually up Nangkartshang.
- Day 7–8: Lobuche, then Gorak Shep and Base Camp itself.
- Day 9: Sunrise on Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for the classic Everest view.
- Day 10–12: Descend to Lukla and fly back.
What does it cost?
Budget between USD 1,400 and 2,600 for a guided trek including permits, lodges, meals, guide and porter, and the Lukla flights. Independent trekking is cheaper but you lose the safety net that matters most above 4,500 m.
Permits you need
Two: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. Since 2023 the TIMS card is no longer required in Khumbu. We arrange both for every trekker.
Do you need to be an athlete?
No. There is no technical climbing and no ropes. What it does demand is the ability to walk five to seven hours a day, day after day, on uneven ground and thin air. If you can comfortably hike six hours with a daypack at home, you are ready.
When to go
Two windows. March to May brings warmer nights and rhododendron in bloom. Late September to November gives the clearest skies of the year and is the most reliable for mountain views. December and January are perfectly walkable but very cold at altitude.
Ready to start planning? Browse our Everest treks or talk to one of our guides about tailoring the itinerary to your dates.