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Embarking on a hike to Everest Base Camp at nearly 18,000 feet is a legendary and challenging trek that pushes both physical and mental limits. This journey through the Himalayas offers unparalleled scenic beauty and a profound sense of accomplishment upon reaching the foot of the world’s highest mountain. It’s a transformative experience demanding meticulous preparation and acclimatization to the high altitudes.

Everest Base Camp Trip Report

I embarked on this trip with a group of adventures with G Adventures.

Hiking Summary
Day	Location	Altitude (ft)	Distance (mi)	Climb (ft)	O2 level
Day -2	Kathmandu	4,539	0	0	73%
Day 0	Lukla	9,337	0	0	68%
Day 1	Manjo	8,788	7.76	1,700	68%
Day 2	Namche Bazaar	11,286	4	2,700	64%
Day 3	Tengboche	12,664	6.25	2,825	60%
Day 4, 5	Dingboche	14,239	7.5	2,400	57%
Day 6	Lobuche	16,503	6.87	2,761	53%
Day 7	Gorak Shep	16,864	3.27	1,093	53%
Day 7	EBC	17598	2.72	712	50%

Including the acclimatization hikes at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche the one way hike to EBC comes to 45 miles and 16,500 ft of elevation gain. The return trip adds another 3,000 feet of elevation gain.

Day 1: Lukla Landing and the Push to Manjo: A Trekking Start

Your Everest region adventure begins with an exhilarating flight into Lukla’s infamous short runway, accessible from either Ramche or Kathmandu depending on the time of year. Stepping off the plane, you’ll quickly locate your luggage, ready to be entrusted to the capable hands of your porters or junior sherpas. After a hearty breakfast to fuel the day, the trek immediately kicks off with an ascent towards Manjo. This push further up the trail, closer to Namche Bazaar, becomes necessary after navigating weather delays in Ramche, ensuring your journey stays on track.

Day 2: The Push to Namche: River Views and Suspension Bridge Thrills

Leaving Manjo with the much-anticipated Namche Bazaar on our minds, we embarked on what we knew would be a challenging climb. Thankfully, the weather was on our side! Our morning began with a long and scenic stretch alongside the Dudh Koshi river, a truly majestic waterway flowing through Sagarmatha National Park. As we gained significant elevation, the trail treated us to the exciting experience of crossing two suspension bridges spanning this powerful river. Throughout this leg of the journey, the views of the park and its lush forests were simply breathtaking, making every step worthwhile.

Day 3: Acclimatization climb in Namche and the First Glimpse of Everest on our way to Tengboche

Namche Bazaar provided a crucial acclimatization hike, which included a rewarding 3-mile hike with a significant 1132-foot elevation gain to Syangboche Airport. Near the airport, we had the insightful experience of visiting a local conservation museum, dedicated to recycling efforts and educating hikers within the Everest region. With our acclimatization cut short by a night, we then set our sights on Tengboche. A considerable climb led us to a breathtaking reward: our very first panoramic view of Everest! Surrounded by the stunning peaks of Nuptse and Lhotse, Everest shared the stage with the immediately captivating Ama Dablam, often referred to as Mother-Daughter mountain. The journey to Tengboche proved to be one of the most demanding yet, involving a significant descent into the valley followed by a challenging ascent to our destination.

Day 4, 5: Tengboche: Monastery Blessings and the Journey to Dingboche

Tengboche is home to the world’s highest monastery, which we had the privilege of visiting upon arrival. There, we received a special blessing from a Buddhist priest, who tied a beautiful red thread around our necks. Our hotel lived up to its promise of “Everest Views,” as we awoke to a stunning morning with an incredible panorama of the Everest range. The day’s trek to Dingboche promised to be another challenging one. The initial path out of Tengboche is well-paved, offering glimpses of yaks and jopsis grazing peacefully. However, the landscape gradually transforms as we ascend, leaving behind the lush greenery and entering the more arid and higher elevations on our way to Dingboche.

Day 6: Acclimatizing in Dingboche: Valley Views and Crucial Climbs before getting to Lobuche

Dingboche served as our vital two-night acclimatization stop. On our arrival day, we took a short but insightful climb, offering views of the valley stretching towards Everest Base Camp and several dramatic dried-up icefalls. The following day, we undertook a more substantial acclimatization hike, gaining 1014 feet over 2.14 miles on a nearby mountain. These shorter climbs are invaluable for allowing our bodies to adjust to the increasing altitude. After our second night in Dingboche, we continued our trek towards Lobuche. It’s worth noting that the weather in this region can change rapidly, emphasizing the importance of dressing in layers. Lobuche also marks the current upper limit for helicopter rescue operations.

Day 7: The Final Push to Everest Base Camp: A Dream Realized

An early start from Lobuche fueled our eager anticipation of reaching our ultimate goal: Everest Base Camp (EBC). We made a quick breakfast stop at Gorak Shep before pressing on towards EBC. This final stretch is physically demanding, taking a significant toll as you hike through high altitudes, arid conditions, and with no respite from the sun. The trail from Gorak Shep winds alongside the dramatic Khumbu Icefall and other now-dry icefalls, requiring some scrambling over massive rocks, which can be slippery with any recent snow. Fortunately, we encountered only patches of snow and had sufficient traction. The moment of arrival at EBC is the ultimate reward, a truly unforgettable experience marked by a flurry of phones and cameras capturing the once-in-a-lifetime memory. Huge congratulations are in order if you reach this point! Our group of fourteen finally had the chance to sit on the iconic rock, soak in the views, and celebrate this incredible achievement.

Day 8, 9, 10, 11: Reflecting on the Descent: From Gorak Shep to Kathmandu

Our EBC adventure culminated with an overnight stay in Gorak Shep. For the truly intrepid, an early morning hike up Kala Patthar offered even more spectacular views of Everest – a worthwhile endeavor for those with remaining energy, considering the long journey ahead. Our descent took us through familiar and beautiful stops: Pheriche, Namche Bazaar, and finally Lukla, before our return flight to Kathmandu. The mountains offer a different perspective on the way down, so take your time and savor the equally stunning vistas. The entire Everest Base Camp trek is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The mountains are calling, and you absolutely should answer!