Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal

Apr 6 to Apr 21, 2025

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Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

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Located between the autonomous region of Tibet and India, Nepal is home to some of the world’s largest mountains, including Mount Everest. Multiple ethnic groups call Nepal their home, with over 100 different languages spoken in a land where cultural diversity is everywhere and proves one of the many highlights when visiting this enchanting country.


Everest Base Camp is a classic, world-class trek, that takes you to some of the most enormous mountains on our planet. The sheer size and enormity of these mountains are breathtaking, and with our enriching 18-day itinerary we have the opportunity to explore some of the more remote trails including Ama Dablam base camp and the beautiful Gokyo Valley and lakes, while also making ascents of Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri to take in incredible views of the Himalayan range.

Highlights
Hike to Everest Base camp
Ascend Kala Pattar 5545m / 18 192ft
Tour Kathmandu and UNESCO World Heritage sights

Level: Strenuous
7 - 10 hours a day of hiking
Altitude between 4000ft - 18000ft
Moderate + steep trails and technical trails.

Nepal is home to some of the worlds largest mountains in the Himalayan range, including the highest mountain, Mount Everest, measuring 8,848m (29,028 feet) in
height. First climbed on May 29, 1953 by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal, Mount Everest is also known by the Tibetan name Chomolangma (Goddess Mother of the Snows), and by the Nepali name Sagarmatha (Mother of the Universe).

There are a further seven peaks over 8000m, and with many trekking routes opened up it is now possible for the average person to stand close to these mountains.
The Everest region, known to Nepalese as the Solukhumbu district, is part of the Sagamartha National Park and is accessed either on foot from Jiri, or in our case via an exhilarating 40min flight to Lukla, landing on a small airstrip perched on the side of the mountain. Inhabited by the ethnic group known as Sherpa’s, the hub of the district is Namche Bazar, a small but thriving town located where three valleys meet. Throughout our journey we will gain wonderful insight into the Sherpa culture (Sherpa in Tibetan means: "eastern people", from shar "east" and pa "people") and way of life that has existed for over 300 - 400 years, since the Sherpa’s migrated from Tibet.

About

All accommodation

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners, drinks on first and last night (apart from 2 lunches & 1 dinner in Kathmandu).

We provide private vehicle transfers to/from the airport and to the start/finish of the trek.

Internal flights to Lukla. Helicopter for the luxury trip.

International Mountain Leader and Sherpa guiding team.

Guided excursions in Kathmandu.

All permits and access fees.

Airfare

Meals: In Kathmandu we have access to a full variety of international cuisine in a range of vibrant restaurants. Whilst on trek we have a private cooking team who cater
exclusively for our group. Breakfast consists of a hot option, often porridge, pancakes and when possible eggs. Lunches are also often hot, except when crossing high passes when we carry a picnic lunch with us. Dinners are generally set menus, and normally 3 courses often including Nepalese specialities. We can cater for dietary requirements with advance notice and endeavour to accommodate your needs whenever possible. Nepalese diet by its nature is traditionally vegan based (Dal Bhat) lentils and rice, and we typically provide a blend of Western and Nepalese cuisine.

Accommodation and facilities: The unique nature of this trek means we have a variety of accommodation. This ranges from simple mountain Teahouses whilst on trek to finishing with a wonderful 4* Spa Hotel in Kathmandu. On trek accommodation is basic but comfortable in this remote part of the world. At every location a bathroom facility is available and we encourage maintaining good levels of hygiene throughout.

Passport: Please make sure your passport has 6 - 9months validity, and is kept on you at all times in a plastic, waterproof wallet.

Visa: Visa’s are gained on arrival at Kathmandu airport. We will send you detailed information prior to departure, however the process is very straightforward and requires a passport photo and payment either in $ or with a bank card.

Insurance: We require all clients to have travel insurance. Please ensure you have suitable insurance to cover the activities you are undertaking in Helicopter rescue and altitude to a max height of 5600m. Also be aware of exclusions within policies.

Luggage: Once on trek your main baggage will be transported by mules. Please ensure you have only one main item of baggage max 12kg, in addition to a hiking rucksack. Additional luggage can be stored in our hotel in Kathmandu available on your return from trek.

Gallery
About The Host

All of our trips are led by qualified, highly capable and knowledgeable Mountain Leaders who use their breadth of experience to ensure the hikes are safe and enjoyable, with plenty of time for rest breaks, snacks and photos to enjoy the mountain experience.

Itinerary

Days 1 - 3

Arriving in the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu you have the opportunity to explore, visiting the worlds largest stupa and UNESCO world heritage site, Boudhanath. With time to undertake any last minute shopping, you finalise your expedition equipment before taking the famous Lukla flight into the Everest region. The first few days are spent following the Dudh Kosi river to Namche Bazar, a thriving Sherpa village and traditional trading center (11286ft).

Days 4 - 9

After spending 2 nights in Namche Bazaar, you have time to acclimatise before gradually ascending towards Everest Base Camp (EBC). Passing through Tengboche, the home of the famous Tengboche Monastery, you enjoy magnificent panoramic views before continuing up the valley to spend several days hiking through the villages of Pangboche, (nb our 22 day trip includes a visit to Ama Dablam BC), Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorek Shep (16864ft). The higher you climb the grander the landscape as you become surrounded by the highest mountains in the world.

Days 10 - 14

Ascending higher up the valley we reach Gorek Shep (16864ft) and have the option of hiking up to ‘Kalapathar’ (18208ft) with panoramic views of Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori and of course Everest. We then journey onto Everest Base Camp (17598ft). On our Spring trips we spend a night at EBC amongst the Everest expeditions which has a real buzz of excitement . A vibrant, bustling and purposeful community, at EBC you witness climbers from across the world prepare to offer their all in an effort to conquor this titan of mountaineering achievement. From EBC we can view the incredible Western Cym, known as the ‘Khumbu Icefall’. After a night at EBC you descend the moraine before passing through Lobuche and down to Pheriche. If you are on our 14 day trip we utilise helicopters to fly from EBC to Kathmandu.

Days 15 - 16

From Pheriche we return to Namche Bazaar and familiar terrain for the trail to Lukla. Your return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu provides an exhilarating departure from the Everest region. In Kathmandu, you have an opportunity for some well-earned rest and recuperation before enjoying a farewell meal and final opportunity to share your adventures before departing onwards.


Location
Things to keep in mind

Terms and conditions


1. Insurance

All clients need to be adequately insured for all activities they are taking part in. Insurance must include repatriation and details should be provided at the beginning of each trip.

All European clients should obtain a European Health insurance card (EHIC), however, this is not a substitute for travel insurance.

2. Health and fitness

Trip members have the responsibility to select a trip appropriate to their abilities and interests. In order to assist with this, all trips are graded and we welcome the opportunity to discuss trip details/answer questions in advance of your reservation. Trip members must be in sufficiently good health to undertake the trip, and if unsure seek medical advice in advance. For your own safety, you need to inform us of any medical conditions in advance or at the start of the trip. Trip members are also required to bring adequate clothing/equipment as advised in the pre-departure information.

3. Dietary requirements

We endeavor to work with clients and accommodate their dietary requirements. However such is the nature of adventure travel we may be limited to specific menus e.g remote Mountain Huts, Tea Houses in the Himalaya’s etc. We fully encourage you to contact us in advance to discuss your requirements then we have every opportunity to explore options thereafter.

4. Cancellations and fee schedule per person

91 days or more prior to departure – €250 cancellation fee

61 – 90 days before departure – 25% of the trip cost

46 – 60 days before departure – 50% of the trip cost

45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

Fees are calculated from the date we receive written cancellation notice which can be via email. If clients are unable to access email and cancel over the phone we will confirm in writing the cancellation.

If you cancel 91 days or more prior to departure, it may be possible to transfer to another trip without occurring any fees. Please discuss this with us in the first instance.

With specific departures, there may be an increase in cancellation fee if the accommodation provider T & Cs mean we are liable for payment.

4.1 Cancellation due to COVID travel restrictions.

If your chosen destination country or the country where you reside have restrictions in place due to COVID, meaning you are unable to travel, you have three options:

4.11 Postpone your trip until a later date.

4.12 Take a credit note and use against a future trip with us.

4.13 Request a full refund.

If any other reasons prevent you from travelling, including quarantine measures then our normal (4) T&Cs will apply. We recommend that you check with your travel insurance provider to fully understand your level of cover.

5. Complaints

If you have a complaint, please contact us as soon as possible, in the first instance your leader is often your obvious point of contact. This ensures we have every opportunity to explores solutions to the problem(s) arising and we will do all we reasonably can to resolve the complaint. You must tell us within 4 weeks after your holiday of any complaints that you feel have not been dealt with properly.

6. Alterations By Us

We will tell you as soon as reasonably possible if we must make any alteration to your holiday. Most alterations are minor, but very occasionally we might have to make a major alteration. A major alteration is a change of location or to a lower standard of accommodation for a substantial part of your holiday, a change in start/finish dates or necessary price rise in your holiday caused by rises in costs (e.g. exchange rates, internal transport etc). You may then choose as follows:

To accept these alterations

To withdraw from the holiday, in which case we will repay all monies paid to us including your deposit and this is the sum of our liability to you

To accept an alternative holiday that we may propose to you, in which case if the proposed holiday is a lower price we will pay you the difference and if it is a higher price we may ask for the difference.

You must inform us of your choice as soon as possible after we contact you.

7. Group Leadership

On a guided holiday your leader is responsible for the safety and enjoyment of the whole group and has sole discretion, on behalf of Activ Retreats, to exclude temporarily a participant from the group. They may also choose to terminate the participants holiday without the possibility of a refund if the leader thinks the participant is likely to endanger the group safety or spoil its enjoyment.

8. Your Responsibility

Mountain holidays by their very nature are adventurous, with a certain level of risk is undertaken. Individuals need to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner at all times; responding to advice, guidance, and instruction that may be given by the group leader / experienced professional and take all reasonable actions to eliminate accidents or injury.

9. Our Responsibilities

We will take all reasonable care to ensure that the information we give to you is accurate, including on our website, in your schedule and information pack. We will do all that we can to provide the service as described in the information we give to you. We are not liable if any failure is:

Attributable to anyone other than us

Attributable to a third party unconnected to us, and unforeseeable or unavoidable

Due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and could not have been avoided even if all due care had been taken

Due to an event which even with all due care we could not foresee or forestall

10. Cancellation by us

Activ Retreats reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup or logistics problems that may impede trip operations. The refund of all land payments received shall relate Activ Retreats from any further liability.

Activ Retreats must normally make substantial payments to its suppliers far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. If a trip is canceled due to force majeure; (acts of God, war, strikes, earthquake, flooding etc), Activ Retreats will promptly refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However, Activ Retreats does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made.

11. Additional costs

Activ Retreats shall not be liable for (a) expenses such as additional nights and meals not specified in the individual trip itineraries, but which may required to get to from a trip start or end; expenses due to the delay of a trip for any reason (e.g. bad weather, trails conditions, land slides, flooding, sickness etc); (c) expenses occurred in recovering lost luggage by airlines, belongings left behind on a trip or in shipping purchases or other goods home from abroad; (d) visa and other incidental costs.

Activ Retreats reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any trips, and may use any such records for promotional and/or commercial purposes without payment.

Trip grading:


Easy

Suitable for people with little experience and intermediate levels of fitness. Hikes are short with gentle gradients and require the walker to carry a small rucksack containing basic essentials.
1 – 4 hours hiking per day


Moderate

Some hiking experience is preferable although not essential. Average to good levels of fitness required. Half and full day hikes are undertaken with multiple moderate ascents and descents and require the hiker to carry a small rucksack containing basic essentials.
3 – 5 hours hiking per day


Challenging

Hiking experience is essential. Good to excellent fitness required to complete day-long hikes carrying a small rucksack where multiple ascents and descents are undertaken.
6 – 8 hours hiking per day


Strenuous

Strong levels of fitness are required and you will have experience of multi-day hikes in mountainous terrain, carrying a rucksack. Hiking days can be long with multiple ascents and descents. You will also have the ability to cope with several days of hiking, often staying in different locations every night.
7 – 10 hours of hiking per day



Fitness

Happy and healthy on the hills and trails.


Fitness Advice and Guidance

As with all adventure trips, proper fitness and preparation will greatly enhance, not only your enjoyment of the trip but also the enjoyment of the trip for the other people in your group.

For trips graded as ‘easy’, several preparatory walks, carrying a day pack for a duration from three to four hours, would be recommended.

Before undertaking any of our trips graded from ‘challenging’ to ‘strenuous’, we recommend that you undertake a program of purposeful preparation training or are clearly confident in your own fitness and hiking experience. You must be able to cope with six to eight hours of hiking in mountainous terrain on a daily basis, whilst carrying a rucksack.

A combination of cardio activity (running/biking/cross trainer/swimming) in addition to undertaking practice hikes of six to eight hours in undulating terrain while carrying a rucksack, is recommended.*

We recommend the use of two hiking poles to reduce the pressure on your knees and also assist with balance on rocky terrain.

If you have any questions on the grade and preparation for your trip we will be happy to assist. For further advice on physical preparation please contact your local gym or a fitness professional.

*As with all strenuous activity, please consult your GP before embarking on any physical training program.

Tips to Guides: Tips are very much a personal choice however should you a require some guidance the following offers a general approach to gratuity for guides. When tipping our trekking team, we as a group collect money together and share out tips which are given at the end of our trek when we have a celebration farewell party in the mountains. For your guide, depending on the length of your trip we propose between $120 - 200 per participant.

Money: Cashpoints / ATMs are readily accessed in Kathmandu. The main currency is ‘Nepalese Rupees’ in Nepal, however a small amount of ‘US Dollars’ will be useful.

Weather conditions: This trip is in a high remote area of the Himalayas. Therefore you need to allow for all conditions from hot sun to dry cold freezing temperatures and possibly snow. We have programmed this trip in Spring, allowing for clear, dry days and when the weather is most likely to be stable. As a guide expect temperatures ranging from +15 to -15 centigrade or 60 to 5 Fahrenheit.