- Length
- 16 days
- Highest point
- 6,119 m
- Difficulty
- Extreme
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Starts
- Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
- Group size
- 2–6 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House + High Camp
The 16-day Lobuche East itinerary builds an extra acclimatisation day into the schedule — giving you the best possible chance of standing on this dramatic 6,119m Khumbu summit with a technical ridge approach in full view of Everest.
- Lobuche East summit (6,119 m) — Khumbu's finest technical peak for intermediate climbers
- Extra acclimatisation day at Dingboche vs the 15-day programme
- Summit views: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Pumori from 6,100 m
- EBC approach route — full Khumbu valley experience included
- High camp at 5,600 m — proper mountaineering expedition atmosphere
- Kala Patthar (5,545 m) optional on descent day
- NMA-certified guide with 50+ successful Lobuche East summits
The climb, day by day
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu — Welcome Briefing1,400 m
Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel. Evening welcome dinner with your climbing guide covering the expedition plan, gear check, and permit documentation.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Fly Kathmandu to Lukla — Trek to Phakding2,652 m
Early morning flight to Lukla (2,860m). Trek down through pine and rhododendron forest along the Dudh Koshi River to Phakding.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Phakding to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Cross suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and climb steeply to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital. First views of Everest en route.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Acclimatization Day — Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Rest and acclimatize. Hike up to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for panoramic views. Visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and explore Namche market.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Namche to Tengboche3,867 m
Trek past Khumjung village and climb through ancient juniper and rhododendron forest to Tengboche Monastery (3,867m), with stunning views of Ama Dablam.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 6Tengboche to Dingboche4,410 m
Descend to Pangboche, cross the Imja Khola river, and climb to Dingboche (4,410m) beneath Lhotse's south face.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 7First Acclimatization Day — Dingboche4,410 m
Acclimatization hike up to Nagarjun Hill (5,083m) for 360° views of Makalu, Lhotse, Island Peak, and Cholatse. Rest and hydrate well.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Second Acclimatization Day — Dingboche4,410 m
A further rest and adaptation day at Dingboche. Optional short hike toward Chhukung Ri (5,546m) for additional altitude exposure. Your body is preparing for the climb ahead.
- Distance
- 5 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 9Dingboche to Lobuche4,940 m
Trek up the Khumbu valley past the memorial cairns at Thukla Pass to Lobuche (4,940m), below the Lobuche glacier.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 10Lobuche to Lobuche East Base Camp5,000 m
Trek up the lateral moraine to Lobuche East Base Camp (5,000m) beneath the dramatic east face. Gear check, crampon fitting, and technical route briefing. Early rest.
- Distance
- 4 km
- Walking
- 2–3 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camping
Day 11Base Camp to High Camp5,800 m
Climb the glacier and navigate technical terrain to High Camp (5,800m) on a narrow ridge with sweeping views of the Khumbu. Fix ropes and prepare summit kit.
- Distance
- 3 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- High Camp
Day 12Summit Day — Lobuche East 6,119m — Descend to Base Camp6,119 m
Pre-dawn start. Climb the steep mixed terrain and fixed ropes to the summit of Lobuche East (6,119m). Views of Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and the entire Khumbu. Descend to Base Camp.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- Climb
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camping
Day 13Base Camp to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Long descending day retracing through Lobuche and Tengboche back to Namche Bazaar. Celebration dinner.
- Distance
- 22 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 14Namche Bazaar to Lukla2,860 m
Final Khumbu valley descent following the Dudh Koshi River back to Lukla. Farewell dinner with the local crew.
- Distance
- 19 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 15Fly Lukla to Kathmandu — Free Evening1,400 m
Morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel. Free afternoon in Thamel for shopping and celebration.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flight
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 16Departure Day1,400 m
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. Congratulations on your Lobuche East summit!
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Lobuche East climbing permit ($250 spring / $125 autumn)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- Government-certified senior guide + high-altitude climbing Sherpa
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers)
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu round-trip flights
- All teahouse accommodation on approach; base camp and high camp tents
- 3 meals per day throughout
- Altitude illness kit, pulse oximeter, and emergency oxygen
- Climbing equipment rental (harness, crampons, ice axe, jumar)
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee ($30–$50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency helicopter evacuation (mandatory for climbing)
- Personal climbing gear not listed in included items
- High-altitude medication beyond the included kit
- Tips for guides, climbing Sherpas, and porters (USD 10–15/day for climbing Sherpa)
- Beverages, hot showers, and battery charging at teahouses (payable direct)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Costs from extended summit bids, weather delays, or early descent
Lobuche East (6,119 m) is a technical trekking peak at the heart of the Khumbu — reached via the classic Everest Base Camp approach and rising directly above the Khumbu Glacier moraine at Lobuche village. The summit is a knife-edge ridge of ice and mixed ground that requires crampon technique, jumar skills, and comfort with exposure. The view from the top — across the entire Khumbu icefall to the west face of Nuptse and the summit pyramid of Everest above — is one of the most dramatic in the Himalaya accessible to non-professional climbers.
The 16-day itinerary includes the full EBC acclimatisation approach (Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche) before branching to Lobuche Base Camp (4,940 m) and High Camp (5,600 m) for the summit bid. The approach trek doubles as acclimatisation — by the time trekkers reach Lobuche village at 4,910 m, they have been above 4,000 m for six days. Our summit success rate on Lobuche East is 74% — the mountain has a sharper technical learning curve than Mera Peak, which is why we recommend it for trekkers with prior technical climbing experience or completion of a basic mountaineering course.
Full climbing gear (crampons, ice axe, harness, jumar, helmet) is included, along with one climbing Sherpa per two trekkers on summit day, base camp and high camp tents, and -20°C sleeping bags.
Is Lobuche East Harder Than Island Peak?
Both are 6,000 m technical trekking peaks requiring crampon work and jumar technique. Lobuche East has more mixed ground (rock and ice) on the approach to high camp, and the summit ridge is more exposed than Island Peak's headwall. Island Peak's fixed-rope headwall is steeper in places but more direct. Our guides characterise Lobuche as "more committing" — you are farther from the valley floor and the terrain above high camp has less margin for error. For this reason we recommend prior 5,000+ m trekking experience before attempting Lobuche East.
Best seasons: October–November and April–May. Permit: Lobuche East climbing permit (included). Summit altitude: 6,119 m.