Nepal · Khumbu · Trek
Everest Base Camp Group Trek
Lukla to Kala Patthar with two acclimatisation days
- Duration
- 14 days
- Group size
- 4–12
- Difficulty
- Demanding · 4/5
- Highest point
- 5,545 m
Is this your kind of journey?
The published itinerary covers 5 of the 14 days in detail, typically 3.5–6 hours of walking a day, with lodge with heated dining room accommodation. Read the day-by-day route and preparation information below to judge whether this journey suits you.
Explore fitness and preparation ↗The journey
More than a destination.
A journey through Khumbu.
The Everest Base Camp group trek follows the Dudh Kosi from Lukla to the Khumbu Glacier over eleven walking days, sleeping in lodges the whole way. Two rest days at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) and Dingboche (4,410 m) are built in, so the highest nights come only after your body has had time to adjust.
The group is capped at twelve, with one guide for every four trekkers and a porter shared between two. Flights in and out of Lukla are included, and we hold a spare day at the end for weather.
The reward comes on the last high morning: a 5 am start from Gorak Shep for the summit of Kala Patthar, where Everest, Nuptse and Pumori stand in a line as the sun comes up.
- ✓Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu flights
- ✓Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- ✓Two nights in Kathmandu, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓All meals on trek
- See all inclusions and exclusions ↗
Highlights
- •Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the Khumbu Icefall
- •Sunrise from Kala Patthar (5,545 m)
- •Tengboche monastery and its Ama Dablam view
- •Two rest days for acclimatisation
- •Lukla flights and a weather buffer day included
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu
Meet at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Thamel. Evening briefing with your guide: gear check, permits and the flight plan for tomorrow.
Meals: Dinner. Overnight: City hotel, twin-share.
Day 2Fly to Lukla, walk to Phakding
A 35-minute flight to the Tenzing-Hillary airstrip, then an easy descent along the Dudh Kosi through Cheplung and Ghat. A gentle first day to settle the legs.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Riverside lodge, twin-share.
Day 3Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Cross the Hillary suspension bridge and climb the long switchbacks to Namche. The first glimpse of Everest comes halfway up if the sky is clear.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge with heated dining room.
Day 4Namche acclimatisation day
A morning walk to the Everest View Hotel at 3,880 m for the first full panorama, then back down to explore the Saturday market and Sherpa museum.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge with heated dining room.
Day 5Namche to Tengboche
Contour above the Dudh Kosi to Phunki Tenga, then climb through pine and rhododendron to the monastery. Afternoon prayers at 3 pm are open to visitors.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge beside the monastery.
Full day-by-day detail for all 14 days is in the itinerary PDF we send with every inquiry.
Route map
Route map is sent with the itinerary PDF.
Dates & prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 2026 – 22 Nov 2026 | 11 seats | $1,890 | Book |
| 12 Mar 2027 – 25 Mar 2027 | 12 seats | $1,890 | Book |
| 15 Apr 2027 – 28 Apr 2027 | 12 seats | $1,890 | Book |
| 6 Oct 2027 – 19 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | $1,890 | Book |
Prices per person, twin-share. Single room supplement $290. 25% deposit at booking; balance due 60 days before departure.
What's included
- ✓Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu flights
- ✓Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- ✓Two nights in Kathmandu, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓All meals on trek
- ✓Lodge accommodation on trek, twin-share
- ✓Licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- ✓One porter between two travellers (15 kg limit)
- ✓Trekking permits and national park fees
- ✓Guide and porter insurance, wages and equipment
- ✓Group first-aid kit and pulse oximeter
- ✓Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu municipality permits
Not included
- –International flights
- –Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days, on arrival)
- –Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- –Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- –Personal trekking gear
- –Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging in lodges
- –Tips for guide and porters
- –Anything not listed under included
Travel information
Best time to visit
March to May and late September to November. Autumn gives the clearest skies; spring brings rhododendrons below Namche and warmer nights. December departures run with colder nights (−15 °C at Gorak Shep) and emptier trails.
Difficulty & fitness
Grade 4 of 5. Eleven walking days averaging 5–7 hours, with the longest (Dingboche to Lobuche and the Base Camp day) around 7 hours. The challenge is altitude rather than terrain: you sleep at 5,164 m in Gorak Shep. Train with back-to-back long walks carrying 6–8 kg for at least eight weeks.
Accessibility & dietary needs
Vegetarian and vegan meals are available in every lodge; gluten-free is manageable with dal bhat, potatoes and eggs. Tell us at booking. The route is not suitable for wheelchair users; helicopter return from Gorak Shep can be arranged privately at extra cost.
Health & safety
The itinerary follows the standard rule of no more than 500 m sleeping-altitude gain per day above 3,000 m, with dedicated rest days. Your guide checks oxygen saturation each evening and carries a first-aid kit. Helicopter evacuation is arranged through your insurer; carry the policy number with you. Drink treated or boiled water only.
Local etiquette
Pass mani walls and chortens on the left. Ask before photographing people and inside monasteries. Remove boots in monastery halls. Sherpa hosts appreciate a Namaste and modest dress in villages.
Travel documents & permits
Passport valid six months beyond your return date. Nepal issues a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport (USD 50 for 30 days, cash or card). We arrange the trekking permits and park entry cards and hand them to your guide before the first walking day.
Packing list
Everything we recommend bringing for this trip.
- Broken-in trekking boots
- Trail shoes or sandals for evenings
- Down jacket rated to −10 °C
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Fleece or mid-layer
- Base layers, two sets
- Trekking trousers and shorts
- Warm hat and sun hat
- Gloves, liner and insulated
- Sunglasses, category 3 or 4
- Sleeping bag rated to −10 °C (hire in Kathmandu)
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Two 1-litre water bottles or bladder
- Water purification tablets or filter
- Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
- Personal first-aid kit and blister care
- Trekking poles
- Daypack 25–30 litres
- Duffel bag 60–80 litres for porter
- Passport, two photos, insurance printout
Questions about this trip
How cold does it get at Gorak Shep on the Everest Base Camp Group Trek?
Night temperatures at Gorak Shep drop to −10 °C in October and −15 °C in December. Lodge bedrooms are unheated; a sleeping bag rated to −10 °C plus a liner is enough for most people, and the dining room stove runs every evening.
Do I need previous trekking experience for the Everest Base Camp Group Trek?
No, but you need to be a strong walker. Most first-timers manage well if they train with long weekend walks for two months beforehand. Altitude, not terrain, is the main challenge, which is why we include two rest days.
What happens if the Lukla flight is cancelled on this trek?
We hold a spare day at the end of the itinerary. If weather closes Lukla for longer, we switch to a helicopter shuttle at no extra cost on the outbound leg; on the return, helicopter costs are shared and often covered by insurance.
Is the deposit for the Everest Base Camp Group Trek refundable?
The deposit is refundable on the schedule shown on our booking conditions page, which depends on how far before departure you cancel. Departures marked Guaranteed are never cancelled by us.
How many people will be in my Everest Base Camp group?
Between four and twelve. We confirm the departure at four; most run with eight to ten. There is one guide for every four trekkers so the group can split pace on the hills.
Can I add a helicopter return from Gorak Shep on the group trek?
Yes. A shared helicopter from Gorak Shep or Pheriche to Lukla or Kathmandu can be booked through us before departure or arranged by your guide on the trail, subject to weather and seat availability.
Reviews
★★★★★
Best two weeks of my year
Our guide Pasang read the group perfectly — he split us into two paces on the Namche hill and nobody felt rushed. Kala Patthar at dawn with the whole group up there is something I'll keep for a long time.
★★★★★
Well organised, small group
Eight of us, two guides, and the rest days made all the difference. The lodges were simple but warm. Would book again for Annapurna.
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