Overview
Duration
12 Days
Country
Nepal
Maximum Altitude
5364 (Everest Base Camp)
Group Size
Min. 1 Pax
Activities
Trekking, Helicopter Tour
Everest Base Camp Trek & Heli Return is a 12-day adventure that combines stunning mountain panoramas, cultural immersion, and historical significance. This trek takes you through diverse landscapes, including lush valleys, glacial moraine, and high Himalayan terrains, offering breathtaking views of majestic peaks and pristine lakes.
Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to explore traditional Sherpa settlements, learn about their rich culture, and follow in the footsteps of legendary climbers. The trek is designed for those with no prior high-altitude experience, providing well-established trails and comfortable accommodations. It’s an unforgettable journey that captures the beauty of the Himalayas and the warmth of the Nepalese people.
The Everest Base Camp Leisurely & Heli Return Trek will be a memory that you will cherish for a lifetime, where there are stories at every turn, with some of the most beautiful locations on earth where destinations come to life. Like most places if you travel the back road, you’ll see something else. In this Everest Base Camp Leisurely Trek, you’ll see the side of the country that does what it does, and it is to capture your imagination not just the mountains but the people you meet.
Embark on The Everest Base Camp Leisurely & Heli Return Trek, and trace Nepal’s classic trekking routes that legendary climbers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa once journeyed during their conquest of Mount Everest. These historic paths, also frequented by traders and merchants, offer a journey rich in history and adventure. This trail takes you across remote alpine regions, mountain ranges, glacier moraine and folds, lakes, and raging rivers. Where you’ll be happy to travel, discover new things, and meet new people.
At the Alpine Club of Himalaya, your safety is the most important thing to us. We can cancel the trip or change the plans at any time if we think it’s necessary or if we have reason to believe that your safety is at risk. When travelling in remote mountain areas, things like bad weather, natural disasters, the health of a group member, and other things can cause changes to the plan. We kindly ask that you fully support the trusted leader of the group chosen by the Alpine Club of Himalaya in these very dangerous situations. We promise, though, that we will do everything we can to stick to the above schedule.
Gallery
Itinerary
The flight into Nepal is beautiful, with views of mountains and hills that never end. As soon as you get to Kathmandu International Airport and finish the immigration process, a representative from the Alpine Club of Himalaya will meet you and drive you to your hotel. You are free to go on your own for the rest of the day.
Max. Altitude:
1400m
Hotel
Meal
Welcome Dinner
After breakfast, you will go on a full-day tour of Kathmandu valley, which is also called the “city of glory.” You can choose from many things to see and do in the valley. One option is to go to Durbar Square, which is the centre of religious and cultural life and is full of old temples and palaces with beautiful old architecture that are historically important. Kal Bhairav, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap, and Kumari Ghar, which is home to the Living Goddess, are some of the places to see.
After that, go to Swayambhunath Stupa, which is also called the “monkey temple” and is said to be one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world. It is majestically set high on a hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley and has a view of the mountain ranges to the north. Next, go to the Pashupatinath Temple, which is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This huge temple complex is on the holy Bagmati River. The courtyard of the temple is only open to Hindus. Tourists can see the temple from the eastern shore of the Bagmati River. We will later go to Boudhanath, which is another Buddhist Stupa and one of the world’s biggest. This huge building stands tall and has four sets of eyes, one facing each of the four cardinal directions. These eyes watch over people to make sure they behave well and that everyone gets ahead.
Max. Altitude:
1440m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast
Early in the morning, you can take an exciting flight from Kathmandu Airport to Lukla and see views of huge mountains. Your trek begins in Lukla, a beautiful Sherpa settlement on top of a mountain.
From Lukla, go to Phakding and then descend to the Dudh Koshi River. Along the way, you’ll pass through the settlements of Chheplung, Ghat, Sano, and Thulo Gumela, as well as the Chorten and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa. From these places, you can see the sacred mountain peaks of Kumbila and Kusum Kanguru. No one is allowed to climb this holy mountain, which makes it one of the few peaks in the Khumbu area that hasn’t been climbed yet.
At a height of 2,610 meters, Phakding is a small Sherpa village that is hidden in the middle of the Dudh Koshi Valley. When you get to the settlement, go to your tea house to rest. After you’re done, go explore the area.
Max. Altitude:
2,860 m (9,383 ft)
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You are going to Namche Bazar today. It is known as the “Sherpa capital.” After breakfast, go to the trail that goes through the villages of Zamphute and Tok Tok. On the way, you can see the morning sun shining on Thamserku peak. As the trail goes up to Monjo, it crosses a number of suspension bridges and the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. The trail goes along the Dudh Koshi, a milky glacial river.
Before you get to the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, make sure your permits are ready to be checked. Once they are, follow the Dudh Koshi River down to Jorsale. After a short break, take a steep uphill path that leads to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge on your way to Namche Bazaar. Just before this bridge, the Bhote Koshi, a stream that flows into the Dudhkoshi, meets it. As you go higher, you’ll see Mount Everest for the first time through the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. It’s only a short walk from here to Namche.
Max. Altitude:
3440m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is your acclimatisation day in Namche Bazar. As you climb higher, your body needs to get used to breathing in thinner air. The settlement has a number of good spots for acclimatisation hikes.
At dawn and dusk, go to any vantage point to see the most beautiful view of the Himalayas. The sun shines on Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde, and Lhotse, which all have snow on their peaks. After that, go to the Sherpa Culture Museum to learn about the traditions and culture of the Sherpa people.
The best bakeries, cafés, restaurants, and shops around Namche are in the afternoon. You won’t find these places on most trekking trails in the country.
Max. Altitude:
3440 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is your acclimatisation day in Namche Bazar. As you climb higher, your body needs to get used to breathing in thinner air. The settlement has a number of good spots for acclimatisation hikes.
At dawn and dusk, go to any vantage point to see the most beautiful view of the Himalayas. The sun shines on Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kongde, and Lhotse, which all have snow on their peaks. After that, go to the Sherpa Culture Museum to learn about the traditions and culture of the Sherpa people.
The best bakeries, cafés, restaurants, and shops around Namche are in the afternoon. You won’t find these places on most trekking trails in the country.
Max. Altitude:
3985 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast, the trail follows the Imja Khola up to the village of Shomare and across the tree line. From there, the landscape changes to arid, dry areas with patches of conifers, scrub and lone pastures.
From here, cross the grazing lands with scattered stone huts, going past the settlements of Orsho and Tsuro Wog. The trail then goes down to a place near where Imja Khola and Khumbu Khola meet. After finally climbing a short ridge, you’ll reach the large village of Dingboche. This is a cold, windy area where the nights are often below zero, even in the summer.
Max. Altitude:
4410m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is your second day of getting used to the altitude. The settlement has a number of great spots for acclimatisation hikes. Hike to the Chukhung valley after breakfast. From the head of the Imja Khola valley, you’ll reach a land carved by glacial moraines and surrounded by tall, dangerous mountains. From there, you can see Lhotse, Makalu, Cho You, Cholatse, Taboche, and Lobuche West and Lobuche East from the top of Chukhung Ri, a rocky hill behind the village. Later, look around the settlement.
Max. Altitude:
4,410 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On today’s trail to Lobuche, you’ll be in the Himalayas, with mountains on all sides that will take your breath away. You’ll pass through Dusa, where you’ll see the uninhabited stone huts of herders. From here, head towards Dughla, and then to Chupki Lhara, where you’ll see memorials made of large rocks with prayer flags on them for the mountain climbers who died trying to reach the top of Mt. Everest and other peaks in the area. After a short climb, you’ll be able to see the clear blue waters of Chola Lakes. The trail goes down from Chupki Lara to the Khumbu glacier moraine. You can walk along the three big peaks, Khumbutse, Lingtren, and Pumori. After one last stretch along a gurgling stream, you’ll reach the village of Lobuche.
Max. Altitude:
4940 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The hike today is long and hard, so you should get up early. The first part of the hike goes through high Himalayan pastures and grassy areas with rocks and boulders all over the place. All the way, you can see the snowy walls of high mountains in the distance.
Ascending 60 meters (200 feet) brings you to the top of the lateral moraine wall of the Changri glacier, to a flat area known as Thangma Riju. From here, you can see the Himalayan giants Taboche, Lobuche, Pumori, and the rest of the Mahalangur Himal peaks, as well as Tibet and Nuptse in the east.
The trail from here goes across the Changri glacier moraine and then joins the Khumbu glacier from the west. To get to Gorak Shep, you’ll have to walk on steep, rocky slopes, so be extra careful. You will see Kala Patthar for the first time when you get to Gorak Shep.
From Gorak Shep, leave your heavy backpack behind and walk along the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep lake to reach Everest Base Camp. You can see Changtse and Lho La peaks in the distance. On your way to Everest Base Camp, you’ll have to go through glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of meltwater, exposed icy walls, and big rocks. Once you’re done exploring the base camp, go back down to Gorak Shep for the night.
Max. Altitude:
5364 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you will be going to the famous view point of Kala Patthar, which is often crowded with hikers. After a light breakfast, get up early and walk along the wide, sandy bed of a dried lake, along a steep, winding trail, and up a steep trail to see views of Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse. As you go higher, you’ll get a better look at the Khumbu glacier and the Nuptse massif. On the last stretch to the top of Kala Patthar, you’ll see views of Mt. Everest and many other high mountains. You should go back to Gorak Shep after spending a short time at the top.
After getting off the helicopter in Gorak, you’ll be leaving the rough terrain of the Everest region behind. Watch the stunning beauty of the Himalayas from the plane. Enjoy the beauty of nature from a different point of view as you fly over snow-covered peaks, deep valleys, and cute villages. As soon as you get to Kathmandu, go to your accommodation. After that, go out and see the busy streets of Thamel. Watch a farewell dinner show in the evening to mark the end of your successful trip.
Max. Altitude:
5,555 m
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You are going back to your country today. Someone from the Alpine Club of Himalaya will pick you up at the airport three hours before your flight. If you’d like to stay longer, you can talk to us about short tours like game drives in national parks, rafting, mountain biking, tours of Tibet, India, or Bhutan, and more.
Please feel free to contact Alpine Club of Himalaya if you have any questions or need help or more information about this trip or any other trip.
Note that all of the above trekking times are estimates and should only be used as a general guide.
Max. Altitude:
Hotel
Meal
Breakfast
Official Everest Base Camp Trek Map
