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Title image - BAI takes you to: Everest Basecamp
Why climb with Berg Adventures

Everest Base Camp Trek – Trip Itinerary

Day 1 & 2 – Depart from home. International travel days.

Day 3 – Arrive in Kathmandu. We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, the legendary Yak and Yeti or another of Kathmandu's 5-star hotels.

  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
Climbers are welcomed to Nepal.

Climbers are welcomed to Nepal.

Day 4 – Kathmandu: Our first day in this famous city will be spent touring major temples and sites. Your introduction will only skim the surface, but it will be a unique and fascinating beginning.

  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
A happy monk rests between giant prayer wheels

A happy monk rests between giant prayer wheels

Rhesus monkeys are found throughout Kathmandu

Rhesus monkeys are found throughout Kathmandu

All meals are included throughout the trek.

Day 5 – The flight to Lukla (9,200ft/2,800m). This spectacular mountain landing strip is the gateway for expeditions, trekkers and Sherpa people to the Everest Region. You will be transported from Kathmandu to a bright and colorful scene in clear mountain air. It will feel good to stretch your legs, stiff from days of travel, as we walk downhill to the village of Phakding, along the Dudh Kosi River. Times have been good in the area recently and the trail is full of new Buddhist art, prayer flags and small monasteries. We sleep tonight with sounds of the roaring glacial water of the Dudh Kosi in the background.

  • Overnight Phakding
  • Altitude: 8,500ft/2,600m
  • Elevation Gain: 3,900ft/1,200m
Climbers excited to being their adventure

Climbers excited to being their adventure

Day 6 – Today we enter Sagarmartha National Park, arriving just before lunch. In the afternoon we climb the notorious "Namche Hill", our first real taste of "ukalo", the Nepalese word for "uphill." With some luck our first view of Everest will be on the way up the hill. Mid-afternoon we enter Namche Bazaar. Namche is small, scenic beyond belief, and surprisingly cosmopolitan.

  • Overnight Namche Bazaar
  • Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m
  • Elevation Gain: 2,900ft/850m
Relaxing in our cozy beds in Namche

Relaxing in our cozy beds in Namche

Day 7 – Our first day in Namche Bazaar. Namche will be our home base for this trip. We stay indoors in a classic Sherpa style lodge, one that has been a center of many of our expeditions since 1987. Before breakfast we usually take a 10-minute walk to the National Park overlook just above our lodge. The views of Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse are exciting and promise much about the adventures ahead.

  • Overnight Namche Bazaar
  • Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m
We hike above the town of Namche for incredible views.

We hike above the town of Namche for incredible views.

Shopping in Namche on our rest day

Shopping in Namche on our rest day

Day 8 – We trek out to Thame, toward the trading route that leads to Tibet. Thame is the home of many of the most accomplished Sherpa Everest climbers. We will stay in the family lodge of good Sherpa friends.

  • Overnight Thame
  • Altitude: 12,500ft/3,800m
  • Elevation Gain: 1,100ft/350m
Our comfortable lodge in Thame

Our comfortable lodge in Thame

Day 9 – Our destination is Khumjung. We will stop at the small but impressive hydropower project on the Bhote Kosi river. We arrive in Khunde and visit the Sherpa Hospital and continue on to Khumjung where we will spend the night near Hillary School.

  • Overnight Khumjung
  • Altitude: 12,700ft/3,850m
  • Elevation Gain: 200ft/50m
Having fun along the trails

Having fun along the trails

Day 10 – Today we hike from Khumjung to Tangboche. At Tangboche we will gaze up the valley towards the plume blowing off Chomolungma (Everest). After we visit the world famous Tangboche Monastery, we continue a short distance to Pangboche, where stay at the lodge owned by BAI’s Ang Temba and his family.

  • Overnight Pangboche
  • Altitude: 13,100ft/4,000m
  • Elevation Gain: 400ft/150m
Hot tea being served at our lodge in Pangboche

Hot tea being served at our lodge in Pangboche

Climbers with BAI lead guide Ang Temba and his wife Yangzing in their beautiful, welcoming lodge

Climbers with BAI lead guide Ang Temba and his wife Yangzing in their beautiful, welcoming lodge

Day 11 – A classic hiking day of the Khumbu. Ama Dablam still rises above us and we watch its shape change as we walk up the valley and see it from a different perspective. Our goal for the day is Pheriche, home of the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic. Pheriche is in the shadow of Everest Base Camp. Yak trains returning from Base Camp make their first overnight stop here.

  • Overnight Pheriche
  • Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m
  • Elevation Gain: 900ft/250m

Day 12 – Today is an acclimatization day. We awake to awesome mountain views in this cold valley. Towache Peak towers above the town. Kantega is sunlit and sparkles to the south. In the other direction we see Lobuche Peak and Cho Oyu, at the border of Tibet. We will attend the Himalayan Rescue Association altitude lecture, and we will have time for hike up over the ridge to the village of Dingboche.

  • Overnight Pheriche
  • Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m
Taking it all in on an acclimatization hike in Periche

Taking it all in on an acclimatization hike in Periche

Day 13 – Today we walk up onto the Khumbu Glacier! The lateral moraine of this famous glacier is visible as we walk out of Pheriche. Distances are short now, but each step is measured and deliberate as we move higher in the thin air. We take a break for tea and a trekking style lunch at Tukla. In the early afternoon we climb the moraine past the Chortens that have been constructed for Sherpas lost in expeditions over the years. Cholotse Peak and Lobuche Peak loom above. Our destination is the Eco Lodge at Lobuche at 15,800ft/4,800m.

  • Overnight Lobuche
  • Altitude: 15,800ft/4,800m
  • Elevation Gain: 1,800ft/550m

Day 14 – We walk through the ice and rubble of the massive Khumbu glacier. We arrive at Gorak Shep, 16,800ft/5,120m. This old yersa, or seasonal yak grazing area, has become the last outpost before Everest Base Camp. Surprisingly close is the 18,300ft/5,580m top of Kala Pattar, the famous mountain known for its views of the top of Everest and Base Camp. We will climb up in the afternoon for photos.

  • Overnight Gorak Shep
  • Altitude: 16,800ft/5,120m
  • Elevation Gain: 1,000ft/320m
Yak trains on the way to Gorak Shep

Yak trains on the way to Gorak Shep

Day 15 – Today we visit Everest Base Camp (17,500 ft/5,334m). This is the day we get a small taste of what an Everest climber's life is like living at Base Camp and above for many weeks. You will feel the challenge as you hike up the glacial moraine towards Base Camp. The challenges of living at altitude will be very tangible. Everest Base Camp is a famous but temporary habitat among the glacial boulders and ice of the upper Khumbu Glacier. The full mass of the Khumbu Icefall is not viewed until you walk into Base Camp, but the creaks and groans of the glacier and the roar of avalanches from the slopes around will be heard during the entire day's hike. We return to our lodge at Gorak Shep with memories that will last a lifetime.

  • Overnight Gorak Shep
  • Altitude: 16,800ft/5,120m
Trekking over the glacial moraine on our way to Base Camp

Trekking over the glacial moraine on our way to Base Camp

Arriving at Everest Base Camp for a visit

Arriving at Everest Base Camp for a visit

Day 16 – Descent back down to Pheriche is fast. The air gets thicker with each step and you will be surprised how civilized your tiny room at the lodge feels.

  • Overnight Pheriche
  • Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m
  • Elevation Loss: 2,800ft/870m

Day 17 – Pheriche to Namche Bazaa

  • Overnight Namche Bazaar
  • Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m
  • Elevation Loss: 2,600ft/800m
Friendly faces welcome us back to Namche

Friendly faces welcome us back to Namche

Day 18 – Namche: this town always has friends to visit and things to do. We spend another day here to take it all in.

  • Overnight Namche Bazaar
  • Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m

Day 19 – Hike to Phakding.

  • Overnight Phakding
  • Altitude: 8,500ft/2,600m
  • Elevation Loss: 2,900ft/850m
Crossing a suspension bridge between Namche and Phakding

Crossing a suspension bridge between Namche and Phakding

Day 20 – Hike to Lukla. In the evening we have a party with our Sherpas and staff..

  • Overnight Lukla
  • Altitude: 9,200ft/2,800m
  • Elevation Gain: 700ft/200m

Day 21 – Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu.

  • Breakfast included
  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
  • Elevation Loss: 4,607ft/1,400m
Climbers saying goodbye to their Sherpa guides

Climbers saying goodbye to their Sherpa guides

Day 22 – An alternate day for KTM flight or extra day to spend in Kathmandu.

  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
Boudhanath Temple in Kathmandu

Boudhanath Temple in Kathmandu

Day 23 – Depart Kathmandu. International travel Day.

Day 24 – Return home.