- Length
- 12 days
- Highest point
- 5,364 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–May
- Starts
- Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
- Group size
- 2–12 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House
The 12-day EBC trek hits the sweet spot — full classic route with proper acclimatisation stops, trimmed for trekkers with limited time but serious ambition.
- Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) — the most popular EBC itinerary; pace-acclimatisation balance
- Kala Patthar (5,545 m) — sunrise panorama of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse
- Namche Bazaar — vibrant Sherpa capital with Saturday market and cultural museum
- Tengboche Monastery — 3,867 m shrine with Ama Dablam in full view
- Ama Dablam — one of the world's most photographed peaks; front-row views throughout
- Sagarmatha National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Full Khumbu valley experience: Phortse, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep
- Khumbu Icefall from Everest Base Camp: iconic mountaineering landmark
The climb, day by day
Day 1Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 m) · Trek to Phakding (2,610 m)2,610 m
Early morning flight to Lukla through spectacular mountain scenery. Meet your guide at Tenzing-Hillary Airport and trek south along the Dudh Koshi river through pine and rhododendron forest to Phakding for the night.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)3,440 m
Cross the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge and other prayer-flag-draped bridges over the Dudh Koshi. Enter Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo and make the sustained climb to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Acclimatisation Day — Namche Bazaar (3,440 m)3,440 m
A vital rest day to let your body adjust. Hike up to Everest View Hotel (3,962 m) for stunning panoramas of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Explore Namche bakeries, gear shops, and the local Sherpa museum.
- Distance
- 4 km
- Walking
- 3 hours hike
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860 m)3,860 m
Traverse the high trail above the Dudh Koshi valley with continuous Himalayan panoramas. Descend to Phunki Thanga then climb through lush rhododendron forest to Tengboche Monastery — one of the most scenic spots in the Khumbu.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m)4,360 m
Descend through Debuche, cross the Imja Khola, and pass through ancient Pangboche village. The trail opens into the wide Imja valley as you climb to the summer yak-grazing settlement of Dingboche, ringed by stone walls.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 6Acclimatisation Day — Dingboche (4,360 m)4,360 m
Second acclimatisation day. Hike up to Nagarjun Hill (5,100 m) for extraordinary views of Makalu, Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam. This high hike, low sleep approach is key to a successful summit bid.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours hike
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 7Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940 m)4,940 m
Climb through Thukla and pause at the Thukla Pass memorial cairns — a solemn tribute to Everest mountaineers. Follow the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier north to the isolated settlement of Lobuche.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,164 m) · Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)5,164 m
Cross glacial moraine to reach Gorak Shep, the highest permanent settlement in the Khumbu. Continue to Everest Base Camp — stand on the ice where the world greatest mountaineers launch their summit bids. Return to Gorak Shep.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 9Kala Patthar (5,545 m) · Descend to Namche (3,440 m)3,440 m
Pre-dawn start to climb Kala Patthar for the world most celebrated Everest sunrise. Descend all the way to Namche Bazaar in one long day — reward yourself with a hot shower and a hearty dinner.
- Distance
- 25 km
- Walking
- 9–10 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 10Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,860 m)2,860 m
Follow the familiar trail back down through Jorsalle and Monjo, crossing the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi. Final night in Lukla with a celebration dinner before your flight tomorrow.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 11Fly Lukla to Kathmandu1,400 m
Early morning flight back to Kathmandu, drinking in the Himalayan panorama one last time. Afternoon free for shopping, spa, or a cultural visit. Farewell dinner in Thamel.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flight
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 12Departure Day1,400 m
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your homeward flight. Your Everest journey ends, but the memories will last a lifetime.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Government-certified English-speaking senior trek guide
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers; 18 kg max porter load)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu round-trip flights (scheduled)
- All teahouse accommodation on trek
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Kathmandu hotel and airport transfers
- Altitude illness prevention kit and pulse oximeter
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal gear
- Tips
The 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek is our fast-track Khumbu itinerary — designed for fit, experienced trekkers who have prior high-altitude experience and want to reach EBC in the shortest responsible timeline. The route is identical to the classic programme: Lukla, Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep, EBC (5,364 m), and Kala Patthar (5,545 m). The difference is pacing: one Namche acclimatisation rest day (vs two on the 15-day), and a more direct return with fewer overnight stops on the descent.
The 12-day schedule is viable for trekkers who have previously trekked above 4,000 m within the past 12 months and whose bodies are proven acclimatisers. We do not recommend it for first-time high-altitude trekkers — the acclimatisation margin is thin, and the consequence of getting it wrong at 5,000+ m is a helicopter evacuation. Our pre-booking screening call includes an honest assessment of whether the 12-day schedule is right for your profile.
For experienced trekkers returning to the Khumbu, or those with hard flight constraints who cannot stretch to 14–15 days, the 12-day itinerary delivers the complete EBC and Kala Patthar experience with the minimum responsible time budget.
Choosing Between 12, 14, and 15 Days
12 days: Prior altitude experience required. Tight but complete. Best for returning trekkers or those with constrained schedules. 14 days: Standard. Right for most fit trekkers with moderate fitness backgrounds. 15 days: Recommended for first-timers. The Namche rest day makes a measurable difference in completion rates. All three itineraries cover the same route; the only variable is acclimatisation time.
Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Prior altitude experience: Required (4,000+ m within past 12 months). Max altitude: Kala Patthar 5,545 m.