Everest Base Camp Trek

Continuing from Monjo, we walk northward along the banks of Koshi and reach the entry point of Sagarmatha National Park. The gruelling uphill of almost two and a half hours awaits before you reach the amphitheater town of Namche, nestled perfectly atop a hill.

Spend the rest of the day exploring monasteries, mountain museums, tiny cafes, coffee bars and purchasing gears and souvenirs.

Having crossed 3,000m in elevation, we take it slow and easy to the peaceful and serene settlement of Khumjung. On our way, we stop by Hotel Everest View in Syangboche for a stunning view of the Everest mountain chain shining on the horizon.

The green-roofed valley of Khumjung and Khunde offers several options to explore, including a monastery housing a (supposed) yeti scalp and a school established by Edmund Hillary.

We make our way to Tengboche today. The walk on the first bit is a combination of minor uphills, downhills and flats with views of the picturesque Ama Dablam mountain staying with us. We have lunch in a riverside hotel in Phungi Tenga right before the uphill walk of over 1.5 hours leading to Tengboche.

The largest and the most impressive monastery in Khumbu, Tengboche Gumba reveals itself in all its glory. We take a break here. Catch a closer look of some of the world’s highest mountains – Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. We trudge on and stop at Pangboche village, with equally impressive sights.

We’re greeted by the charismatic Ama Dablam as we wake up in the morning. The trek to Dingboche today is only a few hours, but you will feel the altitude and notice a complete change in vegetation and landscape. From Somare, we leave the tree line behind and walk the arid and breezy lands of Khumbu.

Once in Dingboche, we settle in a mountain lodge which will also be our home for the following rest day. After lunch, you can either choose to rest or take short hikes to nearby hills to experience some incredible mountain views over sunset.

To acclimatize to rising elevation, we hike to the Nangkartsang peak in the morning. The peak, around 600 meters ascent from Dingboche, is your first encounter with 5000m on the trek. Although Everest hides behind Nuptse, it is absolutely rewarding to see the giant, alluring face of Ama Dablam standing right across the valley. Several other mountains are also seen from this gorgeous vantage point along with the views of Dingboche valley.

We slowly head down for lunch, and have the rest of the day for leisure.

After a gradual uphill from Dingboche, we walk the wide barren flats until the white-washed rocky terrains show up. We cross the chalky Dudhkoshi river originated from up the Khumbu glacier and reach Thukla, a tiny settlement with only two structures maintained to serve lunch to trekkers. Feed well for a short but arduous climb ahead.

You’re rewarded with the Lobuche memorial right where the uphill ends. We take a break here to admire the grandeur of the Himalayas and pay respect to all those who lost their lives in attempts to climb these mountains. In no time, you’ll find yourself walking on lateral moraines of Khumbu glacier before you reach Lobuche.

The BIG day is here. Today, we bid farewell to the mountains of Lobuche valley and set off to Gorakhshep on rocky trails. Watch out for yak caravans ferrying goods. Khumbu glacier stays right next to you with tiny turquoise water bodies formed by melting ice.

In about three hours, you reach Gorakhshep – the last settlement in Khumbu. We leave our bags in the hotel, have a quick lunch, and set about to the grand prize – Everest Base Camp. The round trip to EBC and back is around 4 hours. Setting foot on the icy terrain surrounded by mountains on all sides is an ineffable feeling. You realize that you’re literally living and breathing mountains. Relish the moment by taking pictures with the massifs of Khumbu mountains on the backdrop. We then head back before the afternoon winds turn unforgiving.

Today is a pre-dawn start as we head out for a victorious climb to Kalapatthar (5500m) to catch the first rays of golden light over Everest. The grueling ascent of two hours in the chilly cold is absolutely worth it. Everest stands tall and enchanting with the other giants in the frame – Lhotse and Nuptse adjoining to the right and left from the viewpoint of Kalapatthar. Pumori perfects the frame with its imposing massif.

There’s a long day ahead of us. After descending and having breakfast in Gorakhshep, we make our way to Pheriche through the rocky terrains of Lobuche and Thukla.

We start early today to make it to Namche Bazaar before dark. The trails keep rolling up and down through valleys and villages you crossed on your way up. We stop in Tengboche for lunch and in Kyanjuma for a quick tea break.

Hot shower and a hearty dinner await in Namche Bazaar after a long hectic day from up the mountains.

The final trekking day is also a long one. We leave Namche and take the same route back to Lukla. The team will gather to share laughs and maybe raise a glass or two before flying out of Lukla the next morning. We thank porters and assistant guide, and bid them farewell.

We have a flight to catch today after an early breakfast. Fly out of Khumbu with a content heart, glimpses of the mountains we saw from the trails and memories to cherish a lifetime.