Berg Adventures on Pinterest
Berg Adventures on Pinterest
Berg Adventures on RSS Feed
Berg Adventures on Facebook
Berg Adventures on Facebook

Follow us:

Title image - BAI takes you to: high passes of Mt. Everest

Everest Base Camp and High Passes with Berg Adventures – Trip Itinerary

Day 1 & 2 - International travel days.

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

  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
New and friendly faces greet us in Kathmandu

New and friendly faces greet us in Kathmandu

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
Prayer wheels in Kathmandu

Prayer wheels in Kathmandu

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: 3,907ft/1,200m
Flying into Lukla; the gateway to our adventure

Flying into Lukla; the gateway to our adventure

On the way to Phakding

On the way to Phakding

All meals are included throughout the trek

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
On our way to Namche

On our way to Namche

Arriving in the colorful village of Namche

Arriving in the colorful village of Namche

Day 7 - Today is a rest day in Namche. 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
Plenty of gear to buy in Namche!

Plenty of gear to buy in Namche!

Day 8 - We trek 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

Day 9 - Our destination is Khumnjung. We will stop at the small but impressive hydropower project on the Bhote Kosi River. We will arrive in Khunde for a visit to the Sherpa Hospital and continue on to Khumjung for a night near the Hillary School.

  • Overnight Khumjung
  • Altitude: 12,700ft/3,850m
  • Elevation Gain: 200ft/50m
Trekking to Khunde

Trekking to Khunde

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 will visit the world famous Tangboche Monastery, then continue to Pangboche and stay at the Highland Sherpa Resort, the lodge owned by BAI’s Ang Temba and his family.

  • Overnight Pangboche
  • Altitude: 13,100ft/4,000m
  • Elevation Gain: 400ft/150m
Feeling at home in BAI Ang Temba’s lodge in Panboche

Feeling at home in BAI Ang Temba’s lodge in Panboche

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
High peaks towering over the village of Pheriche

High peaks towering over the village of Pheriche

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 a hike up over the ridge to the village of Dingboche.

  • Overnight Pheriche
  • Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m
Resting in Pheriche

Resting in Pheriche

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 in Lobuche at 15,800ft/4,800m.

  • Overnight Lobuche
  • Altitude: 15,800ft/4,800m
  • Elevation Gain: 1,758ft/550m
Chortens on the way to Lobuche

Chortens on the way to Lobuche

Day 14 - We walk through the ice and rubble of the massive Khumbu glacier. We arrive at Gorak Shep, 16,800ft/5,120. 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 in the afternoon for photos.

  • Overnight Gorak Shep
  • Altitude: 16,800ft/5,120m
  • Elevation Gain: 1,000ft/320m
Yak trains going up to Everest Base Camp

Yak trains going up to Everest Base Camp

Incredible views from Kala Patar

Incredible views from Kala Patar

Day 15 - Today we visit Everest Base Camp at 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 will not be 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
Arriving at Everest Base Camp

Arriving at Everest Base Camp

Day 16 - Today we will depart from our fellow EBC trekkers and make our way to Gorak Shep onto Dzonglha via Lobuche. Cholatse Peak and Lobuche Peak loom above us as we make our way to Dzonglha. Our destination is Dzonglha at 15,950 ft/4860m where we will stay in a cozy lodge for the night.

  • Overnight Dzonglha
  • Altitude: 15,950ft/4,860m
  • Elevation Loss: 850ft/260m

Day 17 - We will cross the Cho La Pass and descend into Gokyo, 15,750 ft/4,800m.

  • Altitude: 15,750ft/4,800m
  • Elevation Loss: 200ft/60m
Taking a rest as we cross the Cho La

Taking a rest as we cross the Cho La

Arriving to incredible views in Gokyo

Arriving to incredible views in Gokyo

Day 18 - Climb Gokyo Ri at 17,580ft/5360m. From the summit we will have spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. We will rest and explore more of this beautiful village in the afternoon.

  • Overnight Gokyo
  • Altitude: 15,750ft/4,800m
Looking onto Everest from Gokyo Ri

Looking onto Everest from Gokyo Ri

Returning to nice hot showers

Returning to nice hot showers

Day 19 - Early morning departure to Renjo La, 16,300ft/4,970 m. There is no glacier and it is easier than the Cho La pass. We will descend all the way into Langden where we will be staying at the Renjo Pass Lodge, 14,450f/4,400m.

  • Overnight Langden
  • Altitude: 14,450ft/4,400m
  • Elevation Loss: 1,300ft/400m
Looking down from Renjo Pass

Looking down from Renjo Pass

Day 20 - Today we begin our trek back to Lukla. We will depart Langden in the morning and the hike will take us down the trading route from Tibet, the famous trail from the Nangpa La to Thame.

  • Overnight Thame
  • Altitude: 12,500ft/3,800m
  • Elevation Loss: 1,950ft/600m
Incredible views as we make our way back to Lukla

Incredible views as we make our way back to Lukla

Day 21 - Thame to Namche Bazaar where we will stop for lunch and carry on to Phakding, along the Dudh Kosi River.

  • Overnight Phakding
  • Altitude: 8,500ft/2,600m
  • Elevation Loss: 4,000ft/1,200m
Trekking to Phakding

Trekking to Phakding

Day 22 - Hike to Lukla. At Lukla in the evening we have a party with our Sherpas and staff. They will remain in their homeland, and we will return to Kathmandu.

  • Overnight Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m
  • Elevation Loss: 3,907ft/1,200m
Happy climbers departing Lukla

Happy climbers departing Lukla

Day 23 - Kathmandu. This is an alternate flight day from Lukla in case flights there are delayed. But, if we are back on schedule we have a full day to shop, see the sights we missed the first time, or perhaps lay by the pool.

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

Back in Kathmandu

Day 24 - Return flights to your home country. BAI TRIP ENDS