Everest Base Camp Trek - Expedition Departures

The tour starts at the Royal Singi Hotel, which has hosted countless numbers of our trekkers over the years. There is a full trek briefing this evening, in which we gather as a group for the first time and go over any questions you may have. Rest up, we begin our trek to Everest Base Camp tomorrow. Stay: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar).

We have a very early start this morning to drive (approximately four hours) to Manthali Airport (RHP) where all Lukla flights now operate from. We leave our hotel at approximately 3am to ensure we arrive in Manthali in time for the first morning flights to Lukla. The hotel provides a packed breakfast for the journey.

We then fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (9,190ft/2,800m), and set off on the first short leg of our trek, heading north up the valley of the Dudh Kosi (Milk River). We descend from the small plateau into the forested valley. The trail offers tantalising views of green, hilly terrain before reaching the settlement of Phakding, where we spend our first night. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 8,701ft/2,652m) (B).

Heading out of Phakding, we follow the Dudh Kosi north. Today's walk takes us through magnificent forests with glimpses of the mountains ahead. We cross the river several times by bridge as we pass through the villages of Benkar, Monzo and Jorsale. A final bridge brings us to the foot of the steep climb to Namche. Halfway up the ascent, we may get our first glimpse (cloud permitting) of the Everest summit behind the great ridge of Nuptse-Lhotse.

A last 985ft (300m) climb brings us to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital and the main town in the area, which get can explore properly on our return from Base Camp. Namche is a prosperous Sherpa town and an important trading centre. It has a weekly market on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, but the town always bustles with trekkers, coffee shops, bakeries and stores selling all kinds of trekking and climbing gear and Tibetan souvenirs. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 11,285ft/3,440m) (B).

We climb steeply out of Namche past the airstrip at Shyangboche to the Everest View Hotel, the highpoint of our day at 12,730ft (3,880m). Built by the Japanese, this spectacularly situated hotel with wonderful views of Everest and Ama Dablam is an ideal place for a tea break. En route to the Everest View Hotel, you have the option to stop at the Sagarmatha Next experience centre and learn about the work this local organisation is doing to tackle waste pollution on the mountain trails and how you can help.

Descending through forest, we come to Khumjung, where we have lunch close to the Sir Edmund Hillary School. After, we walk up to Kunde and visit the Edmund Hillary Hospital. The twin villages of Kunde and Khumjung are below Khumbila, the rocky peak sacred to all Sherpas. For much of the walk, we have great views of Ama Dablam and other Himalaya giants. We walk back down through Khumjumg to the monastery. Sadly, it was damaged in the earthquake but is now being repaired. Inside is a small box and, after paying the entry fee (which goes towards the repairs), we are shown the only yeti skull in the world. Descending to the main trail, we spend the night at Kyanjuma. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 11,810ft/3,600m) (B).

This morning, we descend to the river. We cross at the little settlement of Phunki Thangkha (10,665ft/3,250m), then climb steeply through the forest to Thyangboche (12,867ft/3,867m). We arrive by lunchtime and visit the famous monastery in the afternoon. The sunset and sunrise over the mountains is not to be missed – Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Ama Dablam provide a wonderful backdrop to our teahouse. Look out for Himalayan tahr, a native wild goat, in the forest surrounding the monastery. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 12,700ft/3,870m) (B).

We descend through the forest to Devoche and, a little further on, cross the rushing Imja Khola, whose valley we now follow. Climbing steadily, the trail enters Pangboche (12,795ft/3,900m), the highest permanent settlement in this valley. Ascending, we have lunch at Shomore, after which we leave the trees and cross a wooden bridge at the confluence of the Khumbu and Imja rivers. A short, steep climb brings us to Dingboche (14,270ft/4,350m), a summer settlement where great peaks surround us. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 14,270ft/4,350m) (B).

We spend the day at Dingboche to continue our acclimatisation. Those adapting well to the altitude can climb Nangkartshang Peak (16,730ft/5,100m) for great views of Makalu, Lhotse, Chalotse, Tawoche and Ama Dablam. There is the option to climb halfway up or, if you're feeling energetic, it takes about 3hr 30min to the top. It's a tough, steep climb but well worth the effort for the amazing views. We return to Dingboche for a late lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and acclimatise. Stay: Teahouse (B).

The trail climbs steeply out of Dingboche, past a chorten (Buddhist shrine), and ascends the valley gradually to Dugla at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. We stop here for a tea break and snack before the steep climb to Chukpo Lari, a beautiful, poignant place with a line of memorials to climbers who have died on Everest and a beautiful panorama of the peaks on the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuje, a tiny hamlet with a few teahouses. In the late afternoon, there is the option to walk up onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Sunset on Nuptse is not to be missed. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 16,175ft/4,930m) (B).

We leave early, following the Khumbu Glacier northwards to Gorak Shep (17,008ft/5,184m). The trail rolls up and down along the moraine with some short, steep sections. The trail is rocky as we are now on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. It takes us about three hours to reach Gorak Shep, where we have a rest and something to eat.

In the afternoon, we climb steeply above Gorak Shep to the small peak of Kala Pattar (Black Rock) at 18,192ft (5,545m), from where we can look over the base camps of the various Everest expeditions. This climb affords a magnificent view of the Khumbu Glacier and, above all, a close-up view of the highest mountain in the world. We return to Gorak Shep for the night.

Please note, accommodation options are extremely limited at Gorak Shep and the teahouse is very basic, though the communal dining area is warm and the food served promptly to satisfy trekkers' appetites. Because of the high altitude, the plumbing facilities can be affected and water freezes much of the time. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 17,008ft/5,184m) (B).

We start by walking across the sandy flat at Gorak Shep and climb onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail ascends the side of the glacier for a couple of hours before finally descending onto the rocky glacial moraine itself. The trail winds up and down through fascinating ice seracs to the area known as Everest Base Camp.

We walk past the Base Camp Rock (17,390ft/5,300m), which is covered in prayer flags and where the normal trekking groups visit, and continue through the rocky moraine into the actual base camp – a significant moment for adventure lovers the world over! We get to our camp by lunchtime and the afternoon is free to gaze in awe at our surroundings. From Base Camp, we get close-up views of the Khumbu Ice Fall and can appreciate just how difficult it is for climbers to negotiate through the huge ice blocks. Nuptse towers above us and Pumori rears behind. Stay: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 17,715ft/5,400m) (B/L/D).

We spend the whole day at Everest Base Camp with time to absorb the way of life on expeditions.

After a relaxed breakfast, we have a walk around Base Camp and through some of the ice seracs. We meet Sherpa guides preparing to climb and may well be able to watch climbers as they ascend the Khumbu Ice Fall. We have lunch in camp and can visit the Everest ER medical tent if it is there and if they are quiet. Stay: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 17,715ft/5,400m) (B/L/D).

Today is a long day as we leave Everest Base Camp, saying goodbye to the adventurers ready to climb the mighty mountain. We return to Gorak Shep and retrace our steps down to Lobuje for lunch.

After a rest, we continue down the valley to the lower altitude of Pheriche for the night. Once we reach the valley bottom, it is an easy walk along into the village of Pheriche. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 13,921ft/4,243m) (B).

Descending through Pheriche, we cross a small bridge and have a short climb before descending to join the main Imja Khola valley. We follow the valley down to Pangboche through an alpine meadow landscape. We drop down to the rushing river then walk through peaceful rhododendron forests to the village of Devoche from where we climb back up to Thyangboche on the ridge for lunch. We descend off the ridge to Phunki Tenga and walk back up to Kyanjuma, where we spend the night. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 11,810ft/3,600m) (B).

The walk to Namche Bazaar takes us along a beautiful rolling trail high above the Dudh Kosi. We have time in Namche and, after lunch, descend through Namche Bazaar and pick up our outward trail again to Monzo, where we stay tonight. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 9,350ft/2,850m) (B).

We retrace our steps to Chaunrikhara, where we start the last climb to the airstrip at Lukla. Stay: Teahouse (altitude: 9,185ft/2,800m) (B).

We fly back to Manthali airport on one of the first flights of the day (approximately 7am to 7. 30am) to allow for the five to six-hour bus transfer back to Kathmandu arriving in the city for mid to late afternoon. Stay: Royal Singi Hotel (B).

Today is free for sightseeing in Kathmandu (it is also a spare day to allow for any delays in the flights to/from Lukla). You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. We offer a full range of sightseeing tours, which can be booked and paid for locally. Please see the Optional Excursions section within the Trip Notes or the Exodus noticeboard in the hotel in Kathmandu. Stay: Royal Singi Hotel (B).

The tour comes to an end after breakfast, so it's time to start your return journey home. If you'd like a little more time to explore Kathmandu, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay (B).