Today is all about arriving in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Meet your team and get settled into your hotel.
Elevation: 4,344 ft / 1,324 m
Accommodation: Hotel
March and April
22 days (20-day tour + 2 contingency days)
Hotel in Kathmandu, teahouses and mountain lodges on trek, tents in Lobuche and Everest Base Camps
Experiencing the iconic Everest Base Camp Trek feels super special all on its own. But add to it summiting the 20,000-ft Lobuche, and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable journey, a taste of expedition life in the world’s highest mountains. You’ll trek among actual Everest summiters and get to spend 2 nights at Everest Base Camp (something that 99% of trekkers don’t get to do!). With an IFMGA guide and the experienced Sherpas by your side, this three-week adventure will have you fully immersed in the culture and traditions of the Himalayan mountains, climbing a peak known for some of the best summit views in the world, and finally reaching the foothills of Mount Everest. The time spent among the highest mountains on Earth will leave you humbled, grateful, and wanting for more—which is why Lobuche might just be the perfect stepping stone to even higher peaks!
Once you summit Lobuche, panoramic views of the world’s tallest mountains open up (Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse…)
Spend two days at a luxury base camp with an actual Everest summit team & try out ice climbing
Lobuche is a fantastic training peak for taller mountains like Aconcagua, Manaslu, or Everest
Everest Base Camp Trek is likely the most famed route in the world, and certainly one of the most scenic ones. But apart from experiencing this iconic trek, this trip also includes summiting the 20,000-foot Lobuche—making it the perfect training for climbing even higher peaks. Everything on this trip is arranged from you, practically from the moment you set foot in Kathmandu. After climbing Lobuche, you'll reach the legendary Everest Base Camp, where you'll spend 2 nights and meet the Everest expedition community. Apart from the camp, you’ll stay in traditional teahouses on the trek, allowing you to learn about the Sherpa culture. And just when you start missing the everyday bustle, you’ll return to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital from where you began your journey.
Today is all about arriving in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Meet your team and get settled into your hotel.
Elevation: 4,344 ft / 1,324 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Today is your free day in the historical city of Kathmandu—we encourage you to explore it! You and your team will also obtain climbing permits. Have dinner together with your team, get to know each other, and have a briefing.
Elevation: 4,344 ft / 1,324 m
Accommodation: Hotel
The trek begins by flying into Lukla. This is a 35-minute flight serving you scenic views from the air. Once you arrive here, it’s all trekking going forwards. The trail will take you through mountain villages, suspension bridges, and forests all the way to Phakding, where you’ll stay overnight.
Elevation: 8,562 ft / 2,610 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 5.1 miles / 8.2 km
After a hearty breakfast, start your trek to Namche Bazaar. You can expect similar scenery from yesterday, passing through verdant mountains, suspension bridges, and over rivers. Get to Namche, a historic trading center of the Khumbu region, and spend the rest of the day here.
Elevation: 11,286 ft / 3,440 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 6.8 miles / 11 km
This is your rest and acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar. Often called the “Gateway to Everest”, this small town has everything from Tibetan artifacts to delicious food and trekking equipment. Apart from exploring the unique town, this day also serves to let your bodies acclimatize to higher altitudes.
Elevation: 11,286 ft / 3,440 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Continue walking through the Himalayan wilderness. On the trek to Tengboche, you’ll see incredible views of Lhotse and Everest. Once you reach Tengboche, a small alpine valley, settle in as you’ll be spending one extra day here.
Elevation: 12,687 ft / 3,860 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 6 miles / 9.7 km
Here you’ll find one of the most famous monasteries in Nepal—a large Tibetan Buddhist center in the Khumbu area. A visit to the monastery will deepen your knowledge and understanding of the Sherpas. You can also enjoy the daily morning and evening praying ceremony.
Elevation: 12,687 ft / 3,860 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Today’s trek takes you to Pheriche, a charming village dwarfed by towering peaks surrounding it. This is an important acclimatization stopover, so you’ll spend day 9 here as well.
Elevation: 14,340 ft / 4,371 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 7.4 miles / 12 km
Before continuing onto the Lobuche Base Camp, take an extra day in Pheriche to acclimatize and rest.
Elevation: 14,340 ft / 4,371 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
After a good rest in Pheriche, continue onto Lobuche Base Camp. Lobuche is a small Himalayan village with only a few teahouses.
Elevation: 15,750 ft / 4,800 m
Accommodation: Tent
Hiking: 4.5 miles / 7.25 km
Departing from Lobuche Base Camp, move forward along the Lobuche Glacier and enjoy stellar views surrounding you. You will reach the Lobuche High Camp, cache your gear there, and descend back to basecamp for the “climb high, sleep low” approach. You will also have a climbing skills clinic. Tomorrow you’ll get back go High Camp.
Elevation: 15,750 ft / 4,800 m
Accommodation: Tent
Hiking: 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
Today you’re moving to Lobuche High Camp, gaining another 2,000 ft. The climb is moderately steep and well marked with few difficulties other than carrying a pack at altitude. Once there, get some rest. Tomorrow you’ll take a rest day before pushing for the sumit.
Elevation: 17,575 ft / 5,357 m
Accommodation: Tent
Hiking: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Acclimatize with a foray out of high camp on the lower slopes of the summit ascent route to familiarize yourself and brush up your skills. As the sun goes down, head to bed early in preparation for summit day.
Elevation: 17,575 ft / 5,357 m
Accommodation: Tent
Wake up early for an alpine start and move towards Lobuche East. After working your way to nearly 20,000 ft on the ridge, you’ll be standing on top of the dramatic peak of Lobuche East, a shoulder peak of Lobuche. You’ll be surrounded with spectacular views of he Everest massif and the Khumbu Valley. Descend all the way to Lobuche Base Camp for your final night in that camp.
Elevation: 20,075 ft / 6,119 m
Accommodation: Tent
Today’s the day—you’ll finally reach the Everest Base Camp! Unlike many other tours, once you reach the basecamp, you won’t have to go back to the valley. You’ll get to stay in the actual base camp itself and get to know the climbing community. Explore the camp and the surrounding areas, marveling at the mighty peaks around you.
Elevation: 17,598 ft / 5,364 m
Accommodation: Everest Base Camp (tent)
Hiking: 8.3 miles / 13.4 km
Today you can explore the camp and you have the option to partake in a beginner-friendly ice climbing clinic on the Khumbu Glacier below the famed icefall. Before heading down the valley, you have one final night at Base Camp Proper.
Elevation: 17,598 ft / 5,364
Accommodation: Everest Base Camp (tent)
Prior to going down the mountains, follow the trail to Kala Patthar. This is a stellar lookout point with soaring views over Everest and the Khumbu Icefall. Continue towards Pheriche.
Elevation: 14,340 ft / 4,371 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 8.6 miles / 13.8 km
Descend back to Namche Bazaar. If you’ve had your eye on some Tibetan artifacts, this is a great chance to collect some souvenirs.
Elevation: 11,286 ft / 3,440 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 13.4 miles / 21.6 km
The final step of your Everest Base Camp trek is returning back to Lukla. Explore this tiny Himalayan settlement and the surrounding area.
Elevation: 9,383 ft / 2,860 m
Accommodation: Teahouse
Hiking: 11.9 miles / 19.2 km
Departing from Lukla, a plane will take you back to Kathmandu. Settle into your hotel for the night and get a good night’s sleep.
Elevation: 4,344 ft / 1,324 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Have breakfast and pack up—it’s time to leave this wondrous country. If you’d like to stay longer, simply ask your guides for some recommendations, or they can even help you with extra hotel arrangements!
Unused contingency days are not included in the cost of your program. However, we highly recommend that you factor them in to account for any weather delays. We suggest buying a flexible return ticket so you can move your flight if needed. If you don’t use your contingency days on the mountain or decide to stay longer in Kathmandu awaiting your return flight, associated hotel costs are strictly your responsibility.
I will never forget that you believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. For that, I will always be grateful.
As expected, you run a first-class show from start to finish… I look forward to the next adventure.
An incredible experience from start to finish. I can’t say enough what a difference it makes to have a great guide who cares so much about the whole experience and a great time to make the journey so special. I hope this is the first of many climbs with CTSS for me.
Apart from crossing Everest Base Camp Trek (and staying at the base camp) off your bucket list, you will also have the opportunity to summit Lobuche East, standing at 20,075 ft! You will climb Lobuche alongside an actual Everest summit team.
You will be welcomed into an actual Everest climbing team and trek alongside mountaineers who are attempting to scale the world’s largest peak! Apart from a terrific opportunity to chat with mountaineers, you’ll be invited to stay in a tent inside the Everest Base Camp. This is something that you won’t see most guided treks offering. Instead of just tagging the “trekkers rock” on the outskirts of camp and returning down into the valley, you’ll stay in Everest Base Camp for two days!
Everything on this trip is held to the highest standard, and so is food! You’ll eat in the finest teahouses and once you reach the base camp, you can expect delicious dishes from a top-notch cook.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Optional add-ons:
Everest Base Camp Trek itself is achievable and accessible to anyone who is healthy, relatively fit, and willing to train for the adventure. However, keep in mind that this tour includes climbing Lobuche, which does require excellent physical fitness and prior experience would be ideal. You can read more about what it takes to climb Lobuche down below. You will receive a pre-trip departure booklet and a program which has all you need to know about trekking at altitude, gear, visas, and more. Follow the program and allow yourself sufficient time to prepare for this adventure—you will not only enjoy the trek and the climb, but be able to immerse yourself in the surroundings and be truly present, without feeling totally out of your comfort zone.
If you’re unsure whether you’re fit enough to climb the 20,075-foot Lobuche, contact us and we can give you more information.
If you’d like to stick to Everest Base Camp Trek only, without the climbing experience, we have a regular Everest Base Camp Trek on offer. And if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, a truly luxurious trek to the base camp, then the rugged luxury EBC Trek is for you.
If you’re looking to summit Lobuche East, you should ideally have prior experience using ice axe, crampons, and glacier rope travel techniques. However, you will spend ample time retraining and refreshing these skills. Lobuche involves long rock/snow/ice slopes of moderate angle protected by a fixed line. The terrain and skill set required is similar to that found on the full Everest climb, making it a fantastic pre-climb or progression peak.
This is what the Lobuche climb usually looks like:
Walking at altitude is a slow process, so we encourage you to settle into the rhythm and pace set by your experienced guides. Enjoy taking in the magnificent views of the mountains around you, and the quaint villages that you pass through. There is no rush at altitude. You will spend 4 to 7 hours hiking each day. Be prepared to walk in all weather, and on undulating mountain terrain, crossing creeks and rivers and climbing some high passes. There will be rest and acclimatization days.
From the minute you land in Lukla, you are at altitude, and your body requires time to ease and adjust to this new altitude naturally. One of the best ways to do this is to climb slowly. This Everest Base Camp Trek tour is designed to allow time for acclimatization to minimize the stress of altitude on the body. However, illness at altitude can be experienced in varying degrees, from a slight headache, breathlessness or fatigue. Your guides know the signs and will work with you to help avoid and manage altitude illness. We will ask you to practice a very high level of hygiene at all stages of the trek. Your guides take many precautions to make sure we minimize the chances of our team members getting sick.
This gear list has been carefully compiled over years of treks and expeditions. Please take it seriously. All of the items on the list are mandatory. If you don’t have all the items on the list, you will be required to purchase them in Kathmandu. Please contact us for specific items or more details on items.
Climbing equipment
Clothing
Personal equipment
Personal items
Group sizes and pricing
Everest Base Camp Trek tours & Lobuche climb can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital and the starting point of your tour, most people fly into Tribhuvan International Airport. Your guides will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your five-star hotel in Kathmandu. Feel free to arrive any time, but make sure you communicate it well with your guide so they know when to pick you up.
Apart from the fact that you’ll have a highly experienced and knowledgeable person by your side—who’ll also make sure you have the best time in the country—trekking in Nepal is no longer allowed without a guide. This decision has been made for the tourists’ benefit, as many tourists have gone missing over the past few years when they went trekking by themselves.
Deposits
When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 50% deposit. The remaining 50% of the trip price is to be paid 120 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
Cancellations