Everest Base Camp
Equipment & Itinerary
Commitment to Porters Rights
Island peak
Nepal trekking info
The Everest Post
Bookings/Payments & Enquiries
Regional map
Download PDF pack
Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Mt. Kenya
Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo
Below is a guide for equipment needed. The symbol '*' denotes that it is available for hire or purchase in Kathmandu.
Scroll down for a day to day itinerary.
Boots
For hiking on the trails, a good pair of well worn-in leathers will be fine. Your leather boots will suffice as long as they have a good sturdy sole. A good pair of well-cushioned insoles is also necessary. A pair of trainers for walking round villages is also a good idea, or a pair of sandals.
Rucksacks or Duffle bags
Your main bag of around 70 litres will spend most of it's time with the porter, and the bulk of your gear will go there. You will not be carrying it at all. This means you can easily just take a large duffle bag instead of a rucksack which might be easier to get into every day.We have duffle bags for sale if you are interested. Make sure it has a good zip on it and is quite waterproof and strong.
You will be carrying a daysack a lot, so make sure it is comfortable and has ample space for small items such as fleece, camera, water bottles etc. Around 35 litres will be ample, and don't forget a water proof bag or liner in case it rains.
Waterproofs
Jacket and trousers. Mid-range and preferably breathable
Warm jacket / fleece
For up high and the colder nights. A duvet or down jacket* will be useful at Base Camp although a good fleece and layers will suffice just as well.
Sleeping bag*
You are sleeping in lodges which have comfortable beds with mattresses and blankets. So a 3 season sleeping bag is quite adequate. You do not need sleeping mats.
Clothing and Miscellaneous
2 pairs Trousers/skirts
2 Polartec/fleece tops or tops
2 Hiking shirts
Underwear & socks
Set Thermals (longjohns are fine or a long-sleeved T-shirt)
Hats, sun & warm
Gloves
Washkit
Water bottle
Sunglasses, UV protection
Headtorch, spare batteries can be bought on the trail
Camera kit
Passport, money, tickets
Money Bag for safety
Hiking sticks, very useful
Umbrella, for sun and rain
Gaiters, optional
First aid kit, personal
| Day | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Depart home |
| Day 2 | Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to Kathmandu Guest House |
| Day 3 | Day sightseeing - temples, Bhaktapur, Durbar Square |
| Day 4 | Flight to Lukla (2866m) and same day to Phakding (2640m) from where technical trekking peak Kusum Kangoro is visible. The hike follows the edge of the Dudh Kosi river. 2 hours. |
| Day 5 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m). Namche Bazaar is the heart of the Khumbu region. You will rest here to acclimatise. From Namche you can see Mt Thamserku (6377m) and also Mount Everest framed in the pine trees. A must to visit here is the Everest Museum. 6 hours. |
| Day 6 | Rest day in Namche Bazaar. |
| Day 7 | Namche to Tengboche or Deboche (3850m). This is a steep climb from the Dudh Kosi. At the village you can go into the famous monastery and watch the monks performing their puja. Overnight in a beautiful lodge with a stream and set in a glade of trees. 6/7 hours. |
| Day 8 | Deboche to Pheriche or Dingboche (4252m). We ascend a broad valley to this small village where you can visit the Himalayan Rescue Association hospital. From here it is possible to see Mt Tauche, Lobuje Peak, the back side of Ama Dablam (6856m) and far away the summit of Cho Oyu in Tibet (8201m). 4/5 hours |
| Day 9 | Rest day in Dingboche or Pheriche, time to walk up the valley, visit the Rescue station for their daily talk on altitude illnesses and just acclimatise. |
| Day 10 | Pheriche to Lobuche (4930m). The hike takes us up to the Thukla Hills where there are many stupas erected in memory of Sherpas who have died on expeditions. The hike then turns onto the snout of the giant Khumbu Glacier and further up the left hand side of the glacier to a small village with some lodges and outhouses. Close by is Lobuje Peak and the famous Italian research station, built as a glass pyramid. 6 hours |
| Day 11 | Lobuche to Gorak Shep. We hike up the side of the Khumbu Glacier on mountains of moraine through which an easy path meanders. The views are incredible and Nuptse dominates the other side of the valley, behind which the peak of Everest is just visible. Ahead are the peaks dividing Nepal from Tibet, like Shangri-La. Gorak Shep is the last outpost, a small collection of huts just below Kala Patthar which is the finest viewing point for Evererist itself. The hut is comfortable though and you will want to rest here as altitude will be obvious in increased and faster breathing and a generally slower pace of everything. 3 hours |
| Day 12 | Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar and back at dawn. Kala Patthar means Black Rock and is 5550 metres high. The views from there of Everest are quite stunning; you will clearly see the route through the Khumbu Icefall, into the Western Cwm and up the Lhotse Face to the South Col. The SE Ridge route is then visible on the skyline right of the summit. With binoculars you might be able to view climbers on their way up. To your left is Pumo Ri, an amazing peak which seems to hang over Kala Patthar, and as you pan right the most incredible mountainscape unfolds to the far horizons in every direction.. 3 hours After this a rest day at Gorak Shep with lunch and dinner. |
| Day 13 | Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp. We follow the edge of the Glacier again to reach the Camp where all the Everest climbers will be. Sometimes this route is impassable due to rockfall or very slippy conditions, it will just depend on the day. You need to take water and food and go very slowly on this day, it can be quite exhausting. 4 hours |
| Day 14 | Gorak Shep back to Pheriche. A long descent of about 6 hours back the same way as we came up. Or split this day and forfeit the rest day in Namche on Day 16. |
| Day 15 | Pheriche back to Namche Bazaar, another longish day but you will now feel much better with more oxygen to breathe. Stop at Khumjung (3790m). 6 hours. |
| Day 16 | Rest day in Namche OR hike to Phakding. 2 hours. |
| Day 17 | Namche Bazaar to Phakding and onto Lukla. A last long day of around 7 hours which finishes with quite a punishing uphill stretch back to the airport. 5 hours |
| Day 18 | Lukla flight to Kathmandu. Arr back 10am. Possible to fly back in evening but best to wait in case of delay with mountain flight. |
| Day 19 | Kathmandu. Could depart for home on this day or stay on for visits to Chitwan or a relaxing day or two in the Park View Spa. This is a beautiful spa village 15 minutes from town with massage, gardens, swimming pool, gym, outside games and restaurant. A perfect rest for the post-trek tiredness! |
| Day 20 | Flight to London, arriving same day in evening or next day. |
We also have the Park View Spa and Resort for a few days which is only 15 minutes from Kathmandu. Here you will find Jacuzzis, saunas, yoga, massage, steam rooms, restaurants with fine cuisine and utter peace and tranquillity.
Another option would be to take a flight over Everest and see the route you just came!
There is an opportunity for people to go rafting and/or elephant trekking in Chitwan. Please let us know in advance if you require this option and we will arrange this. Rafting starts about 3 hours out of Kathmandu and lasts the full day (an unforgettable experience). We also offer stays in the Chitwan Adventure resort where there is the opportunity to go elephant trekking, bathing the elephants and jungle trekking on foot. Contact us if you wish to book these add-ons.