14-Day Everest Base Camp Trek through Sherpa Villages and Kala Patthar

Your Nepal guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu.

Enjoy a full day of rest, and meet your guide. There is also an option to do sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Board the 30-minute scenic flight to Lukla. Landing on a steep mountain runway brings us to the start of our trek at the village of Lukla [2850m].

After meeting the supporting crew, we head up the Dudh Kosi Valley on a well-marked trail and then stay overnight in Phakding.

After breakfast at Phakding, we set out for the mountain junction town of Namche.

Cross and re-cross the river on high, airy suspension bridges.

Beyond Monjo is the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, which was set up to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment.

Then take a steep hike to Namche Bazar. If the weather is clear, we get our first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market - a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. Namche is the gateway to the Khumbu.

This is where we stay for the night.

Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading off towards Syangboche.

To acclimatize, visit Khunde Hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for the sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest.

Then go to Khumjung, where we visit a school established by Hillary.

Begin the hike after enjoying lunch, bypassing the route of Khimde. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town.

After going through our acclimatization drills, we head down to our lodge for some beers and a good sleep.

After breakfast in Namche, we start our trek towards Tengboche, enjoying the superb view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and a close-up view of Thamserku.

Our trek follows a gradual trail with a few ups and downs overlooking a magnificent view of the great Himalaya.

Along the way, we can spot wildlife like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar.

Follow the trail that goes gradually down up to Kyangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sanasa, which is the major trail junction to Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp.

The track then follows through the pine forests, and after we cross the prayer-flag-festooned bridge over the Dudh Kosi River, we reach Phunki Tenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods.

After having a relaxed lunch at Phunki Tenga, we then have a slightly tough, steep climb through the pine forests before we reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close-up views of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest, and it has the biggest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu region. Overnight stay at the lodge in Tengboche.

Starting with a descent for 55 minutes to the bridge, from here tree lines fade into shorter junipers and alpine rhododendron with mixed bushes, which shows a big change at high altitude.

Continue to another beautiful Sherpa settlement, Pangboche, which is the biggest permanent settlement in this region.

Afterward, visit other villages like Pheriche, Thukla, and Dingboche that are active only from spring to autumn to serve travelers. Climb the path to Somare and cross the Imja stream with the beautiful view of Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam mountains.

Finally, the trail leads to another beautiful Sherpa village, Dingboche. Here, enjoy the prayer wheels and stones, and yak farms.

It is mandatory to spend another night at this altitude. Choose a hike towards Ama Dablam, Island Peak, or Lobuche. If you climb to Nagarjuna Peak, you can see Makalu on a clear day.

After breakfast, start climbing towards Thukla, enjoy the prayer wall and mani wheels along the trails. You may see yaks grazing and some mountain goats enjoying the sun. Do not forget to look back and take pictures of Mount Ama Dablam.

Take a short rest at Thukla hilltop for drinks or even lunch, and continue to Lobuche for the overnight stop.

Zig-zag trails take you to the actual base camp of Everest. Depending on your walking speed, it may take 5-7 hours round trip. This adventurous trip will be a memorable experience. The famous Khumbu Icefalls are very long, so follow the proper trails with your guide and experienced staff only.

After a marvelous and exciting time, retrace the journey back to Gorakshep for the overnight stop.

In the morning, take a steep uphill hike to reach the top of Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters, the highest point of the adventure, with fabulous and unique views of the mountains, including Mt. Everest at its closest.

After the greatest thrill with the best view, walk down to Gorakshep and then continue to Pheriche for the overnight stay.

Take a walk through dense forests and varying landscapes. The several ups and downs are difficult, but the beautiful scenery, diverse flora, and fauna will keep you motivated.

We will walk back to Lukla, the gateway to Everest. Our Everest Base Camp trek is now on its final stretch. We will walk all the way through Monjo, Benkar, Phakding, and finally to Lukla.

Cross several suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River. Walking along the riverbank through the forests feels amazing. We will see some small Sherpa settlements on our way back.

The trek is joyful. Finally, we will arrive at Lukla. Lukla is quite a busy place. There are various lodges, tea houses, and shops in Lukla.

Today is our last day in the Everest region. We will take the early morning flight from Lukla Airport to Kathmandu.

Get a window seat for an enchanting aerial view of the entire region.