12-Day Everest Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu with Kala Patthar Sunrise

• Take a domestic flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. Lukla is a quiet town with many tea shops, lodges, hotels, resorts, banks, monasteries, and general stores.

• Begin the day's trek from Lukla, following a gentle climb up the mountainside on the right bank of the Dudh Koshi River. Nupla (5885 m) can be seen directly on the opposite bank, a peak atop the Kongde Ridge. Descend along a mountainside path that merges into the route to Everest, with views of the valley on your right. At its far end, you can spot Kusumkangaru (6369 m).

• Approach the Dudh Koshi as you pass a Mani wall and arrive at a tea house.

• Continue along the small path and descend, following the right bank of the Dudh Koshi to Phakding.

Stay overnight in Phakding.

• Begin your trek for the day by crossing the river and heading up the valley. The trail stays close to the river valley and is lined with beautiful blue pine and rhododendron forests.

• Cross the Dudh Koshi at Benkar, where you can catch tantalising glimpses of the snow peaks Kusum Kanguru (6369 m) and Thamserku (6808 m).

• Take a short walk to Monjo and stop for lunch.

• Spend the afternoon exploring the surroundings. The day has been deliberately kept short to aid acclimatisation, which is a critical process.

Stay overnight in Monjo.

• From Monjo, take a short walk to the entrance of the National Park. Cross the Dudh Koshi to reach Jorsale.

• The trek continues upstream on generally flat terrain, crossing back to the right bank to the confluence of the Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers, where the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar begins.

• After crossing a large, stable suspension bridge high above the river, the trail slowly ascends towards Namche. There are fantastic photographic opportunities as the peaks of Tawache (6542 m), Nuptse, Everest, and Lhotse come into view for the first time.

• Arrive in Namche and enjoy lunch.

• Rest through the day.

• Leave the village to climb a ridge and follow a level mountain path that offers an excellent panorama of Thamserku, Kantega, and Kusumkangaru.

• Make your way around a branch ridge, and Ama Dablam (6856 m), Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse (7896 m), and Tawache (6540 m) suddenly appear.

• After a gentle descent, the mountain path ends. Descend past two tea houses through the village of Tashinga.

• Arrive in Phunki Tenga (3250 m) and have lunch.

• Resume climbing towards Tengboche (3860 m). Climb through the forested zone, where the incline gradually eases and a splendid view appears. Continue diagonally up the mountainside until you reach the stone gate built by lamas, which marks your entry into Tengboche (3860 m).

Stay overnight on the large plateau in front of the splendid monastery.

• Leave Tengboche.

• Walk past a Mani stone wall to enter the village of Deboche, a nunnery village with a monastery.

• Continue to Minlinggo and leave the mountain path to cross over a suspension bridge towards Imja Khola.

• Climb the mountain path while looking at Ama Dablam and Kantega (6779 m).

• Walk until you reach the Imjatse Valley.

• Reach Dingboche, a beautiful patchwork of fields enclosed by stone walls that protect crops of barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals.

• The day's walk offers views of Mt. Tawache, Cholatse, Lobuche Peak, Ama Dablam, Pokalde (5745 m), Kongma-Tse (5820 m), and the great wall of Nuptse to the north.

• After two hours of walking, the trail from Pheriche joins near Dugla (4640 m), before a small wooden bridge over the river of the Khumbu Glacier. Stop at Dugla for lunch before continuing for an hour up a steep hill to the top.

• After a short break, continue trekking up to Lobuche.

Stay overnight in Lobuche.

• Trek up the valley following a rocky moraine path. Witness views of icy glacial ponds and icebergs below the Khumbu Glacier.

• After the last rocky moraine dunes, a short downhill walk will take you to Gorakshep, the flat field below Kala Patthar (5545 m) and Mt. Pumori (7145 m). Gorakshep is the location of the original Everest Base Camp.

• Continue through rocky paths and the Khumbu Glacier. The view of Nuptse, Lho-La, and Khumbutse appears above.

• Retrace your way back, passing through the Khumbu Glacier, with magnificent views of Lobuche, Cholatse (6441 m), Mt. Pumori, and Tawache.

• Begin the day with an early morning trek to Kala Patthar (5545 m). Enjoy the sunrise from the summit. From there, you can have a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and many other mountain peaks, such as Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Ama Dablam.

• Walk down to Lobuche.

• Continue along the flat trail up to the memorial place, then descend steeply to Dugla.

• Descend to Pheriche and spot the mountain yaks there.

Stay overnight in Pheriche.

• Pay a morning visit to the research center in Pheriche.

• Trek back to Tengboche via an easier descent, passing through a rhododendron forest. It is a small village with a famous monastery offering a splendid view of Ama Dablam and the green hills.

Stay overnight in Tengboche.

• Walk from Tengboche downhill on the main busy trail, with steep climbs for an hour from the bridge at Phunki Tenga.

• You can walk down to Namche Bazaar. En route, see the traditional villages of Khumjung and Khunde. There is an opportunity to visit one of the monasteries, the only monastery with a Yeti Scalp.

• From Khumjung village, take another 30 minutes to walk towards Khunde.

• After Khunde, a scenic and pleasant walk leads to Namche Bazaar.

Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

• Begin the last day of the trek from Monjo via Ghat to Lukla.

Stay overnight in Lukla.

• Fly to Kathmandu.

• Rest for the day or take a flight home.