18 to 35s Epic Everest Base Camp Trek

Day 1 – Kathmandu Namaste! Welcome to Kathmandu, the colourful capital of Nepal where ornately carved balconies sit side by side with grand shrines and temples. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. Tonight, join your group and leader for an included welcome dinner. If you arrive early, maybe check out the storied stupas and pagodas of Swayambhunath (AKA Monkey Temple) or take a walk around Durbar Square. ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY IN THE CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS Weather conditions in the Himalayas can change rapidly, leading to flight cancellations and varied on-ground conditions. This means you need to be prepared for possible changes to your itinerary while you’re travelling. Flights between Kathmandu/Ramechhap and Lukla are particularly prone to delays. If bad weather prevents fixed-wing aircraft flights from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla, the itinerary will be as follows: Day 2 – We will attempt to fly as planned. If this flight is cancelled, we will return to our hotel in Kathmandu/Ramechhap for an additional night. Day 3 – We will again attempt to fly, but if this flight is cancelled, we will endeavour to charter a helicopter for the group to fly to Lukla. This is reliant on availability of safety audited helicopter operators and that the weather conditions don’t prevent helicopters taking off as well. You will need to use your emergency funds to cover the cost of the chartered helicopter. The exact cost will depend on how many travellers are in your group and could be up to USD 500 per person. It is common practice for helicopter companies to charge varying prices, so you may pay different amounts to others on the flight. If we reach Lukla on Day 3, we will pick up the planned itinerary to Everest Base Camp, but take one less day to descend so that we can fly from Lukla to Kathmandu/Ramechhap on Day 14. Day 4 – If both fixed-wing planes and helicopters are unable to reach Lukla on the morning of Day 3, then on Day 4 we will drive back to Kathmandu. From there we will trek to Annapurna Basecamp. While this trek doesn’t reach Everest Base Camp, our travellers have found it a highly enjoyable trek, with scenery of glaciers, mountain pastures and the Himalayas. We also advise allowing a few extra days in Kathmandu at the end of your trip, should your return flights from Lukla be delayed due to weather conditions. Your flight to Lukla may depart from Ramechhap Airport (130km away from Kathmandu). This helps ease congestion at Kathmandu Airport and is decided by the Civil Aviation Authority. Your leader will advise at the Welcome Meeting which airport you’ll depart from. If your flight is departing from Ramechhap, you’ll depart in the very early hours of Day 2 for the 5.5 hour drive to Ramechhap Airport. This private vehicle transfer is provided at no additional cost.

Rise and shine this morning for a very early flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – a town sitting at 2860 m above sea level. If the weather is good, the views of the Himalayas from the small plane are amazing! After breakfast in Lukla, a safety talk and an introduction to your porters, gear up and commence your trek. Today is a fairly gentle introduction, following the frothy waters of the Dudh Kosi River to Phakding (2610 m).

Trek to Namche Bazaar, where you’ll spend two nights acclimatising to the altitude – and maybe even get your first look at Everest itself. From Phakding, you’ll begin to head up the valley. The trail, lined with blue pine forest, follows the river valley and is especially spectacular in spring when the rhododendron flowers are in bloom. Cross the Dudh Kosi River at Benkar, then continue to Monjo (2835m), a good place to break for lunch. From here, the walk starts to get a little tougher. Cross the Hillary Bridge and begin the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. Get your camera out – on a clear day, you’ll get your first glimpse of Everest. Namche will be your last chance to check your equipment and hire any additional gear for the high altitudes from Dingboche onwards.

Spend a full day and night at Namche Bazaar so that you can properly acclimatise to the altitude. One of the best ways to do this is to take a walk up to a high altitude, then come back down to sleep. Your optional (but recommended) walk today will take you to see views from the Tenzing Norgay Memorial and Sagarmatha National Park Museum above the village. If the conditions are right, this provides panoramic views of the Khumbu peaks and great views of Everest. The National Park Museum showcases Sherpa lifestyle and culture, and the local flora and fauna. Continue your hike to higher elevations with a visit to Sagarmatha Next, who support local communities to create and implement a sustainable waste handling system in the region. Return to town – the rest of your day is free. While you’re here, be sure to stock up on any extra supplies you might need. Maybe pop into Namche Bakery, where you’ll find the best sweet treats on the mountain.

Not many groups stop in Phortse – a traditional Sherpa village that offers an insight into their life and culture – so today will be something special. Weave your way above the valley, then take the less-travelled fork in the road just after Sanasa. Most travellers follow the same path to and from Base Camp, while you’ll make more of a loop to see more of the national park. Look out at the epic views of the valley below, then stop for lunch at around 4000 m. Make your way downhill before a final uphill push to your teahouse in Phortse. The dramatic mountain views and quiet ambience of this village make this one of the highlights of the trek. Here, you’ll be almost completely above the tree line, so make sure you snap a photo of the sunset tonight.

Enjoy the stillness of Phortse at sunrise, then set off along the trail, taking in the incredible views of the mountains surrounding you. You might stop for tea in the ancient Sherpa village of Pangboche. After lunch in Shomare, you’ll notice the scenery around you start to change, with forests being replaced with rocky outcrops. When you arrive in Dingboche, you’ll be greeted by the sight of a patchwork of small fields enclosed by stone walls. If the weather’s right, there will be a gorgeous sunset illuminating the peaks – Ama Dablam, the south face of Lhotse to the north, and Imja Tse (Island Peak), in the centre of the valley.

Today is another acclimatisation day. You'll go on a morning hike to Nagarjun Hill or Chukhung, returning to Dingboche for lunch. In the afternoon, take some time to explore the town or simply rest up at your teahouse. If you’re looking for a cosy cafe to hole up in, check out Cafe 4410, where you can sip on a hot drink while watching one of the Sherpa documentaries that are screened here every day.