The main trekking trail goes through the Sagarmatha national park. It is a natural UNESCO world heritage site from out of 10 UNESCO sites in Nepal. The total area of this national park is 1,148 km2 squires (443 sq mi). This national park was established in 1,976 and from 1,979 is the country’s heritage site.

This area is also known as the Khumbu region. Everest base camp trek remains in the Solukhumbu district so below Lukla is known as Solu and after Lukla is known as Khumbu.

The Everest base camp trek begins with a short scenic mountain flight to Lukla and walks to the base camp within 8 days and 4 days back to Kathmandu.

How Hard Is Everest Base Camp Trek?

The most common question before planning a trek to the Everest base camp is “how difficult is the Everest base camp trek?”

Trekking to base camp is not a serious difficulty if you hike often anywhere else. But facing high altitude should be one of the headaches. So, visiting above 3000m altitude in the other Himalayas is highly recommended.

This is not a climb! This is a trek through the mountain path. And you don’t visit the base camp within one or two days so it takes over a week with slowly altitude gain. Of course, there are some steps and a long day's trek some days. But you can take several rests along the trail. Mostly, the trekking hours are shorter when you will be walking on higher elevation.

How Long Does It Take To Trek To Everest Base Camp?



Everest base camp trek map

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It takes 12 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu with a short flight into Lukla and outback from the same place. You need to have additional 4-5 days with trekking itinerary to explore in the UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu and manage if there would be a problem of a delayed flight to or from Lukla.

There are some other routes to the Everest base camp as starting from Jiri, Salleri, and Phaplu with a drive from Kathmandu. Starting your trek from any of these points takes longer days with lots of up and downhills.

It takes 8 days to base camp with 2 acclimatization practice rest days in Namche and Dingboche. Then 3 long days to come back to Lukla and catch a flight back to Kathmandu.

This is the basic itinerary which most of the trekkers are following. If you would like to be more careful about the altitude problem, you may increase the number of acclimatization practice days. Or if you are an adventure traveller, visiting often to the high elevation, you can cut off about one day.

Do I Need Climbing Experience Or Any Training For Everest Base Camp Trek?



Crossing glacier on the trek

Well, if you have some physical and hiking training, it helps a lot but you don’t need to have any technical climbing experience. If you are fine walking mostly 5-6 hrs each day with a light daypack, then you should do it.

Except for physical matter, another thing comes that is an altitude problem. You might not train to avoid the altitude problem. There is 50% less oxygen in the air at the base camp compared to sea level.

You need to take easy walking with slow face, drink plenty of fluids, eat well, keep warm, and sleep well with some extra acclimatization practices before hop on to further higher elevation after 3000m of elevation.

How Dangerous To Trek To Everest Base Camp?

It can be if you don’t plan well before. You need to collect some essential info about the trek. Trek with an experienced guide booking through a reliable trekking company. Collect information about altitude problems and its prevention, safety, and security while you are walking. There are Yak, Jopke (Hybrid of Yak and Cow), Mules, and Porters who are carrying local supplies and building materials. While you meet them in a narrow space, you should be on the safe side otherwise the loads may push to the cliff.

Everest Base Camp Trek Daily Distance And Elevation



Trek distance board along the way



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Everest base camp trek round trip from Lukla to Lukla is 130km in total. You will finish this distance in 11 days. 8 days to reach base camp with 2 rest days for 68km and 3 long days to come back to Lukla for 62km. Here is in detail about each day.

Day – 1: Fly to Lukla (2,840m) and trek to Phakding (2,610m)

Flight time 30 minutes Walking hours 3 Walking distance 9km Elevation gain/loss 1,490m ascends to Lukla and 2,30m descends to Phakding

You have an early morning flight to Lukla which is about 30 minute’s scenic flight in a small aircraft. Right after landing at Lukla airport, you will start your hike towards Phakding. You will issue the Pasang Lhamu rural municipality entry ticket at the end of this town. The trail ascends mainly passing Chheplung, Thadokoshi, and Ghat.

Day - 2: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

Walking hours 6-7 Walking Distance 12km Elevation gain/loss 8,30m ascends

After having your breakfast in your guest house, you will start the trek towards Namche Bazaar. You will cross a bridge here and walk to Toktok. You will cross the next bridge after banker and reach Monjo. Here, you will issue your Sagarmatha national park entry permit and cross the other side where you will stop for lunch. Still, you will walk another 3 hrs crossing the highest bridge in this region then ascending through the pine forest to Namche.

Day – 3: Rest day in Namche (3,440m) and an acclimatization hike to Everest view hotel (3,680m)

Hiking hours 3 Walking distance 3km Elevation gain/loss 2,40m ascends

This is your first-day acclimatization rest day for the altitude practice. You will hike to the Everest view hotel after your breakfast. Walking about 2 hrs to the hotel from Namche Bazaar, you will pass a high airport (Syangboche). You will see Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam and many other snow-capped Himalaya during this hike. You will hike back to Namche bazaar by lunchtime after visiting the Everest view hotel.

Day – 4: Trek to Tengboche (3,860m)

Walking hours 5-6 Walking distance 12km Elevation gain/loss 420m ascends

This is a beautiful day walking to Tengboche. You will have a nice and clear trail for about 2 hours and a half to Kyangjuma. After passing Kyangjuma, you will see a trail dividing to the Gokyo lakes trekking route. You will ascend to the riverside Phunkitenga. Here you have lunch. The remaining trail after lunch is ascending through rhododendron and pine forest. You will ascend about 300m from here to Tengboche. Here, you will visit a historical old Buddhist monastery after 3 pm.

Day – 5: Trek to Dingboche (4,410m)

Walking hours 5-6 Walking distance 12km Elevation gain/loss 5,50m ascends

After enjoying the great view of the Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam, and other magnificent mountains in the early morning, you will have your breakfast and start your trek to the next destination. Today, you will trek to Dingboche, passing Pangboche and Somare villages. You will be above the tree line from Pangboche so you have all the time open views of the mountains and landscapes all around you.

Day – 6: Acclimatization rest day (4,410m) and hike to Nangar-Tsang hill (5,000m)

Hiking hours 3-4 Walking distance 2km Elevation gain/loss 590m ascends

This is you’re the second-day altitude practice day in Dingboche. You will hike up to Nangar-Tsang hill which is 5000 plus meters. It is pretty tuff ascend so you may hike up to around 5000m or less and hike back to the lodge in Dingboche for lunch. You will see Mt. Makalu from this hike. Mt. Makalu is the 5th highest mountain in the world. This mountain is not in the Everest Himalaya so it is in the Makalu Barun region.

Day – 7: Trek to Lobuche (4,910m)

Walking hours 5-6 Walking distance 12km Elevation gain/loss 5,00m ascends

You will trek through a ridge keeping Pheriche on your left. You need to be careful about the altitude from today because you will be walking with high atmospheric pressure and low oxygen in the air. After walking about 3 and a half hour, you reach Thukla and stop for lunch. From here, you will ascend to Thukla top and see lots of memorials of the death climbers with scenic Mountain View. Then, you will walk another hour on a flat trail to Lobuche.

Day – 8: Trek to Gorakshep (5,180m) and hike to base camp (5,364m)

Walking hours 7-8 Walking distance 15km Elevation gain/loss 454m ascends

This is an important day that you are reaching your goal. You will start your day earlier than other days from Lobuche and trek about 3 hrs to Gorakshep passing a small glacier keeping the Khumbu glacier on your right. Once you reach Gorakshep, you will have your quick lunch and leave all your stuff in the lodge and hike to base camp with the necessary equipment. It is about 2 to 2 and a half hour hike one way to base camp and at the same time to come back to Gorakshep.

Day – 9: Hike to Kala Patthar (5,550m) and Trek back to Pheriche (4,210m)

Walking hours 2 hrs to Kalapatthar and 5 hrs to Pheriche Walking Distance 18km Elevation gain/loss 370m ascends to Kala Patthar and 970m descends to Pheriche

You will hike in the early morning before daylight with a flashlight to Kala Patthar. There will be cold and windy so very warm equipment required for this hike. It takes about 2 hrs to climb this hill. You will enjoy with 360 degrees Mountain View all around you with stunning Mt. Everest very close. Then, you will hike back Gorakshep and have breakfast and pack your gear and trek back to Pheriche passing, Lobuche and Thukla using the same trail.

Day – 10: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,40m)

Walking hours 7-8 Walking distance 22km Elevation lose 7,70m descends

This is a long day trek to Namche Bazaar. You need to start your day a little bit earlier because the distance you are going to make is long. It is not hard to walk in this area because you are already in a lower elevation. Climbing to Tengboche and Sanasa from Phunki Tenga may be pretty tuff so breathing will come to normal after visiting higher elevations. You can hang around the nice bakery or play pool visiting the bars celebrating the successful base camp visit.

Day – 11: Trek to Lukla (2,840m)

Walking hours 7 Walking distance 21km Elevation loss 600m descends

This is your final trekking day of the Everest base camp trek. You will have a long day descending to Phakding taking 4 hrs and have lunch. After Phakding, the trail gradually ascends to Lukla which takes another 3 hrs. You can celebrate your last night's stay in the mountain here visiting a nice bakery or bars. You even enjoy your evening at your lodge dancing with other trekkers who finished the itinerary.

Day – 12: Fly back to Kathmandu (1,350m)

Flight duration 30 minutes Elevation loss 1,490m descends

You will have an early morning flight from Lukla. Today you will be back to the city with the beautiful memory of the Himalaya. You can enjoy your successful Everest base camp trek this evening in the city and be ready to go home back.

Everest Adventure Trek:

Conclusion

This is the day to day information about the classic Everest base camp trek. Various trekking trails are using different starting points to the base camp. The distance, length, and the elevation gain depends on which routes you are going to take. And also on how many days you are going to spend.

The elevation during the trek is high enough for the people coming from sea level. Walking slowly with taking rests along the way is the best idea to avoid the altitude problem. And acclimatization rest days for the altitude practice is the main key so, do not try to skip these acclimatization rest days which has mentioned above.

Try research more or ask us anything before planning a trek to the Everest base camp. Then it helps a lot and makes you easy-going for your trek.

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