Overnight at EBC: The Ultimate Trek
Overview
A twist on the classic Everest Base Camp trek. Not only will we visit this iconic destination for trekkers but we’ll be spending the night at 5,364m above sea level. Only offered during the season where climbers descend on the region to take on Everest, you’ll be in one of the tents that spring up to support the trekkers, climbers, guides, porters and myriad other people that congregate in this strange landscape for a couple of months each year. Rub shoulders with the people making their rotations through the icefall and up the mountain and experience the thrill of being in the midst of teams vying to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak. Perhaps even get inspired to undertake a feat of your own (it doesn’t have to be Everest!).
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Local Transport
- Expert Local Guides & Porters
- 3 Nights in a Hotel in Kathmandu
- 12 Nights in Local Teahouses
- 1 Night in a Tent at EBC!
- Return Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla
- 16 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches & 13 Dinners
- Park Fees & Permits
- Sherpa Cooking Class & Massage in Namche
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides & Porters
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
- Sleeping at Everest Base Camp: There’s a few highlights and bucket-list activities on this trip but there’s only one place to start. It’s pretty hard to know but it’s estimated that fewer than 1,500 trekkers will spend the night at Base Camp. The vast majority of people will come along just for a couple of hours. So, if you want to be a bit different and fall asleep to the creaks, groans and rumbles of the Khumbu icefall, then this might be the trip for you.
- Fun in Namche: You’ll have the chance for a bit of R&R mid-trip as you spend two nights acclimatising in Namche, the biggest town in the region. You’ll do a Sherpa cooking class and get some extra help with the recovery by getting a massage with an organisation helping up-skill local people. Win-win!
- Summit Kala Patthar: At 5,644m this is just a couple of hundred meters off the height of Kili and a great opportunity to bag a Himalayan summit! The views can be pretty spectacular.
Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal! Our team will be at the airport to greet you and take you to your hotel in the vibrant neighbourhood of Thamel. After settling in, you’ll have the chance to explore the bustling streets filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. In the evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner where you’ll meet your guide and discuss the exciting adventure ahead. Meals Included: None
Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in the rich culture of Kathmandu, visiting its most iconic sites. You’ll explore the grand Boudhanath Stupa, the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, and the historic Kathmandu Durbar Square. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel for a pre-trek meeting to ensure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. The rest of the day is yours to relax or finish any last-minute preparations. Meals Included: Breakfast
We start early today with a scenic flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region. The flight offers stunning views of the Himalayas. After landing, we’ll begin our trek with a gentle walk to Phakding, passing through charming villages and along the Dudh Koshi River. The day is relatively easy, allowing you to ease into the trek. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek is more challenging as we make our way to Namche Bazaar. We’ll cross several suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags and enter Sagarmatha National Park. After a steep climb, we’ll reach Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa town in the region, known for its vibrant markets and stunning mountain views. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Acclimatisation is crucial, so today we’ll take a hike to the Everest View Hotel, offering breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. We’ll also visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and Everest Photo Gallery to learn more about the local culture. The afternoon is free for you to explore Namche Bazaar or rest and acclimate. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Another day to acclimate and enjoy Namche Bazaar. We’ll start with a Sherpa cooking class, where you’ll learn to prepare traditional dishes. In the afternoon, unwind with a relaxing massage that will prepare your muscles for the trek ahead. This day is all about cultural immersion, relaxation, and ensuring your body is ready for the challenges to come. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ll leave Namche Bazaar today and head towards Tengboche, a scenic trek that offers magnificent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. After passing through rhododendron forests and crossing the Dudh Koshi River, we’ll arrive at Tengboche, home to the largest monastery in the Khumbu region. You’ll have the chance to visit the monastery and attend the evening prayer ceremony. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us through a mix of landscapes, from forests to alpine meadows. We’ll descend to Debuche before crossing the Imja Khola and ascending to Dingboche. This village is known as the "summer valley," and offers spectacular views of Ama Dablam. You’ll have the rest of the day to explore the village or rest. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Another acclimatisation day, today we’ll hike to Nangkartshang Hill, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of some of the Himalayas’ highest peaks, including Makalu and Lhotse. This hike is both challenging and rewarding, helping your body adjust to the altitude. After the hike, return to Dingboche for some rest and relaxation. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
We’ll continue our trek today, making our way to Lobuche. The trail takes us past memorials dedicated to climbers who lost their lives on Everest, a poignant reminder of the challenges of high-altitude climbing. The landscape becomes more rugged as we approach Lobuche, a small settlement nestled beneath towering peaks. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is one of the highlights of the trek. We’ll start with a trek to Gorak Shep, the last settlement before Everest Base Camp. After a brief rest, we’ll hike to the summit of Kala Patthar, where you’ll be treated to stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. The sunset from Kala Patthar is unforgettable, and we’ll return to Gorak Shep for the night, ready for our journey to Everest Base Camp. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A short trek today takes us from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp. Reaching Base Camp is a momentous achievement, and you’ll have time to explore, take photos, and soak in the incredible surroundings. Spending the night at Everest Base Camp is a unique experience, as you’ll be amidst the climbers preparing for their summit attempts (if we're in the climbing season). It’s an unforgettable night under the stars and a chance to listen to the creaks and groans of the Khumbu icefall that towers over Base Camp. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a memorable night at Everest Base Camp, we’ll begin our descent, retracing our steps to Pangboche. The descent offers a different perspective on the landscape, and you’ll have a chance to reflect on the incredible journey you’ve completed. Pangboche is known for its ancient monastery and traditional Sherpa culture. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us back to Namche Bazaar, passing through Tengboche along the way. We’ll descend through forests and along rivers, with the opportunity to revisit Tengboche Monastery. After a rest stop, we’ll continue to Namche Bazaar, where you can enjoy the comforts of the town and celebrate the successful completion of your trek. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The final day of trekking takes us from Namche Bazaar back to Lukla. The trail descends steeply at first, then follows the Dudh Koshi River, passing through villages and forests. It’s a time to reflect on the incredible journey you’ve just completed. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early morning flight back to Kathmandu, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore the city. It’s a great time to visit some of the places you may have missed earlier or do some last-minute shopping. In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of your trek and reflect on the incredible experiences we’ve shared. Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we’ll arrange your transfer to the airport for your onward flight. If you have extra time, feel free to do some last-minute shopping or sightseeing before your flight. We hope you leave with unforgettable memories and a desire to return to this beautiful country. Safe travels! Meals Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve taken on the tough task of staying at some of the best hotels and guest houses around the world to hand pick those that we think you’ll love. They’ll always be locally-owned where possible. Below are some examples of where you’ll be staying on your trip, although please note, we don’t guarantee which hotels or guesthouses we use. On this trip, most of the time we’ll be staying in teahouses. These are often basic with twin rooms, shared facilities and communal dining. They’ll always be clean, provide great hospitality, have breathtaking views and be a welcome place to get some rest after long days on the trail! And of course, that one night at Everest Base Camp in a tent.
Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
This trip emits approximately 297 kg of carbon per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly the same as driving a typical petrol car about 930 miles.
It’s equivalent to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 12 days during winter.
Our Approach
We recognize the significant carbon emissions from international travel, but we believe that the positive impact on the countries and communities we visit outweighs these challenges. We provide this estimate to help you make informed decisions about your carbon footprint and consider any offsets you may wish to support.
More Information
What's the fitness level required for this trip?
We grade all of our trips to try and make it easy to understand the fitness levels required. These are broad guidelines however so you’re welcome to chat to us about any specific concerns you might have.
You’ll find more information about these levels here and you can find the difficulty rating for this specific trip at the top of the page.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to Nepal?
Your trip starts and ends in Kathmandu. You will need to book flights to arrive and depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). This is around a 20-30 minute drive to the hotel you’ll be staying at.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
How much should I tip in Nepal?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Trekking Guide: $10-$20 USD per day
Porters: $5-10 USD per day
Drivers: $5-10 USD for short trips; $10-15 USD for full-day services.
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
What should I know about the possible cold climate?
This trip spends time in locations where there might be significantly cold temperatures (below freezing) during the day with further temperature drops at night. You might be staying in poorly insulated accommodation in rural locations. It’s important that you are adequately equipped and that you remain sufficiently hydrated and nourished.
Our guides are trained to mitigate the risks associated with undertaking activity in cold weather but you should be aware of the risks and ensure you’re appropriately prepared.
What should I consider about trekking at altitude?
A lot of our trips spend considerable time above altitudes of over 2,500m. Some people may experience symptoms associated with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It’s really important to note a couple of things. Firstly, past experience at high altitudes is not necessarily an indicator of how you’ll fare in the future. Secondly, our itineraries have been curated and our guides have been trained to mitigate the risks associated with trekking at altitude. However, due to the nature of trekking at altitude it’s vital that you report any symptoms to your guide immediately. It’s also important that you have travel insurance covering you up to the maximum altitude at which you’ll be trekking.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!
