Highlights
- You walk to the foot of the world's highest mountain.
- Kala Patthar (5,545m) is the trek's real climax.
- The Khumbu corridor is a culture trek as much as a mountain trek.
Overview
Everest Base Camp is a there-and-back trek up the Khumbu valley. The trek begins with a pre-dawn drive from Kathmandu to Manthali airport in Ramechhap and a 15–20-minute mountain flight to Lukla — peak-season Lukla flights are operated from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. From Lukla you walk down to Phakding and then climb the Dudh Koshi gorge to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) — the Sherpa capital and the trek's first acclimatisation halt. The trail continues through Deboche to Dingboche (4,410m), the second acclimatisation halt, and then up onto the Khumbu Glacier moraine via Lobuche (4,950m) to Gorak Shep (5,180m). On Day 9 you walk out to Everest Base Camp itself (5,364m) and return to Gorak Shep for the night. Day 10 begins pre-dawn with the climb of Kala Patthar (5,545m) for sunrise on Everest, then a long descent to Pheriche (4,200m). Days 11–12 retrace the trail to Namche and Lukla; Day 13 flies you back to Ramechhap and drives you to Kathmandu.
Who climbs with us
EBC pulls a wide mix — Indian working professionals using their two annual leave windows, repeat trekkers stepping up from Indian Himalayan trails, and a steady share of first-timers who've trained hard for 8–10 weeks and want their first 5,000m+ trek to be the iconic one. The tea-house lodging and the 13-day window with a Lukla buffer are the standard parts; the people are not.
Itinerary
13 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu.
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Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel
1,350mFly into Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Welcome briefing in the evening; final gear check and an early night before the pre-dawn drive to Ramechhap.
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Day 2 Drive to Ramechhap, fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding
2,610m2 am drive to Manthali airport in Ramechhap (during peak trekking season Lukla flights operate from Ramechhap, not Kathmandu). 15–20-minute mountain flight to Lukla (2,860m), then a gentle descent along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding (2,610m).
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Day 3 Phakding to Namche Bazaar
3,440mCross and re-cross the Dudh Koshi on suspension bridges, enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, then a steep climb to Namche Bazaar — the Sherpa capital, perched above the river junction.
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Day 4 Acclimatisation at Namche
3,440mAcclimatisation walk above Namche — climb high, sleep low. Visit the Sagarmatha National Park visitor centre or the Everest View Hotel for the first long view of Everest. Rest in Namche for the second night.
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Day 5 Namche to Deboche
3,730mTraverse the contour above the Imja Khola, drop to the river, then climb to Tengboche monastery before continuing a short distance down to Deboche for the night.
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Day 6 Deboche to Dingboche
4,410mCross the Imja Khola, pass through Pangboche (the highest year-round village on the trek), and climb steadily into the Imja valley to Dingboche.
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Day 7 Acclimatisation at Dingboche — view-point hike
4,650m view pointAcclimatisation hike up to the panoramic view point at 4,650m above Dingboche — Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam fill the skyline. Return to Dingboche for the night.
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Day 8 Dingboche to Lobuche
4,950mClimb to Thukla Pass and the climbers' memorial chortens, then onto the Khumbu Glacier moraine. A long, slow contour brings you to Lobuche under the west face of Lobuche peak.
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Day 9 Lobuche to Gorak Shep, continue to Everest Base Camp
5,180m sleep · 5,364m EBCWalk along the Khumbu Glacier lateral moraine to Gorak Shep (5,180m). Drop bags and continue out to Everest Base Camp at 5,364m — Khumbu icefall in front of you, prayer flags everywhere — then back to Gorak Shep for the night.
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Day 10 Sunrise on Kala Patthar, descend to Pheriche
5,545m high point · 4,200m sleepPre-dawn climb of Kala Patthar (5,545m) — the trek's highest point and the closest non-climber view of Everest's summit. Sunrise on the south-west face, then a long descent past Lobuche and Thukla down to Pheriche (4,200m).
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Day 11 Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
3,440mLong descending day — back through Pangboche, down to the river, up to Tengboche, and the long contour around to Namche.
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Day 12 Namche to Lukla
2,860mSteep descent out of Namche back to the Dudh Koshi, then the long but mostly gentle walk along the river to Lukla. Final group dinner on the trail.
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Day 13 Fly Lukla to Ramechhap, drive to Kathmandu
1,350mEarly-morning flight from Lukla to Ramechhap, then the drive back to Kathmandu. Trip ends on arrival in Kathmandu.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation — stay first and last night in Kathmandu
- On trek — stay in tea houses on twin-sharing basis
- Flights — Ramechhap to Lukla & Lukla to Ramechhap
- Transportation — airport pickup & drop, Kathmandu to Ramechhap & back
- Permits — all trekking permits and national park charges
- Trekking & safety equipment
- Certified trek leaders, expert trek team
- Three meals (vegetarian) on trek + evening tea/coffee
- Offloading backpack (10 kg max)
Not included
- Customary tips to guide and porters (they expect a good tip)
- Phone and other battery charging costs, filtered drinking water
- Rescue — insurance and helicopter rescue expenses
- Personal expenses of any kind, and anything apart from the inclusions
Dates & availability
No fixed dates yet — get in touch for the next Apr – May (spring) · Oct – Nov (autumn) batch or private/custom dates.
We haven't opened a public batch for this trek yet. Reach out and we'll share the next departure as soon as it's confirmed, or set up a private group on dates that suit you.
Need different dates? Private departures are possible through Apr – May (spring) · Oct – Nov (autumn) with a minimum of 4 trekkers — message us on WhatsApp.
Your leaders
Subodh Bhadauriya ITRA
Lead Trek Leader · 8+ years
Long-distance hiker, trail runner, and occasional poet — at home in the Himalaya.
Frequently asked
What is the Everest Base Camp trek?
A 13-day trek from Kathmandu to South Base Camp of Mount Everest (5,364m) on the Khumbu Glacier, with a high-point sunrise climb of Kala Patthar (5,545m). The Vertical Tribe runs it Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu in April 2026.
How difficult is the EBC trek?
Mod-Diff per the TVT brochure — moderate-to-difficult. No technical climbing — high-altitude trail walking with two built-in acclimatisation days (Namche on Day 4, Dingboche on Day 7). The trek tops out at Kala Patthar (5,545m / ~18,200 ft).
How long is the trek?
Thirteen days Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu, including the Lukla fly-in via Ramechhap on Day 2 and the return flight on Day 13. Trail walking covers Days 2–12, around 110+ km in total.
How much does the trek cost?
₹98,500 per trekker. The fee covers first and last nights in a Kathmandu hotel, tea-house twin-sharing on trek, Ramechhap–Lukla flights both ways, all permits and national park charges, three vegetarian meals a day on trek with evening tea/coffee, certified trek leaders, and 10 kg backpack offloading.
Why does the Lukla flight depart from Ramechhap, not Kathmandu?
Since October 2022 the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has redirected all Lukla flights to Manthali airport in Ramechhap during peak trekking seasons (March–May, September–November) to ease congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport. Our 12 April departure falls inside that window — hence the 2 am drive on Day 2.
Will I actually summit Mount Everest?
No — this is a trek to base camp, not a climb. The high point of the trek is Kala Patthar (5,545m), a viewpoint above Gorak Shep. The Everest summit (8,848.86m) requires a separate, permitted climbing expedition.
What's the highest altitude I'll reach?
Around 5,545m / 18,200 ft (Approx) at Kala Patthar on Day 10. Everest Base Camp itself is 5,364m, reached on Day 9.
What temperature should I expect on the trek?
Average temperatures range from 12°C (day) to -10°C (night). Days are pleasant in sun below 4,000m; nights at Lobuche and Gorak Shep are well below freezing.
What gear do I need to bring?
Personal: trekking boots (broken in), down jacket, base + mid-layers, gloves, headlamp, glacier sunglasses, daypack. Trekking & safety equipment is provided. Full personal-gear checklist shared after enquiry.
What's the cancellation policy?
Cancellation more than 60 days before the start date: 75% refund. Between 60 and 30 days: 50% refund. Less than 30 days: no refund.
Are foreign nationals welcome on this batch?
Permit pricing and TIMS card requirements differ for foreign passport holders. Please write to us at least 60 days before departure so we can file the paperwork.
Is altitude sickness a concern?
Yes — above 4,000m the risk is real. The itinerary builds in two full acclimatisation days (Namche on Day 4, Dingboche on Day 7) and a graded ascent profile. Hydrate aggressively, watch for symptoms, and tell the trek leader the moment something feels off.
What happens if Lukla weather delays the flight?
Lukla weather windows are tight, and delays of 1–2 days are routine. Build a buffer day at the end of the trip before any onward flights from Kathmandu — not the day after Day 13.