Everest Base Camp Trek

We will arrive at Kathmandu Airport, where our local partners will collect us and bring us to our city accommodation, the family-run Hotel Butsugen in the Boudha District.

This day will be spent getting any last-minute items needed for our trek and capped off with a welcome dinner in Boudhanath, a vibrant cultural hub and UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are few better ways to realign your body to the time change than getting up at dawn to drive to Swayambhunath, the monkey temple, and watch the deep orange Nepali sun rise, marking the beginning of our adventure.

Citizens of the Wild offer deep travel experiences and today, as we adjust to the jet lag, is all about diving right into the fascinating Nepali culture and history in the mythic Kathmandu.

Weather permitting, we will board a small plane designed for navigating the mountainous terrain to Lukla (2860m).

The runway at Lukla is incredible, perched on the mountainside and pitched at a 12% incline to aid in the slowdown of the plane. It is an adventure in its own right. Once on terra firma, our trek begins right away towards our first teahouse in Phakding (2610m). Within minutes, you will be surrounded by Sherpa culture, prayer flags, and a distinct spirit which will accompany us on the rest of our journey.

This day we will actually descend slightly, which will help with the initial acclimatisation of our bodies.

Distance: 6.2 km

• Elevation Loss: 250 m

The trek from Phakding (2610m) to Namche (3440m) is unforgettable. As you wind up through forests and villages, Nepalese children greet you with beaming smiles, while their grandmother dries corn on the patio. We will cross our first suspension bridge, spanning a steep gorge. Once across, the path steepens as we share our journey with mules, yaks, Sherpas, tourists, and porters carrying loads ranging from a thousand Mars bars to actual refrigerators on their backs! This experience utterly transports us into a world vastly different from our own, where geography shapes imagination, and everything you see and meet fuels inspiration.

And just wait until you reach Namche Bazaar (3440m), the otherworldly mountain city and Sherpa capital. Perched in resplendent color between steep mountains above and deep valleys below, it's a sight to behold. We will rest here for two nights, soaking in the unique atmosphere of this exceptional town.

Distance: 7.4 km Elevation Gain: 830m

On our trek, it is vital that we allow our bodies to acclimatize to the high altitude before moving higher. Luckily, our first rest day is in one of the most interesting places you could ever visit.

In the morning, we will take a hike up to the Hotel Everest View.

Ama Dablam peak, which translates to 'mother’s necklace', dominates the skyline here and draws our eyes towards the giants further away. She will watch over us for much of our trek.

We descend back to Namche and the afternoon will be yours to explore the many shops and art houses of the Sherpa capital. Get a little lost in the winding alleys and streets.

• Distance: 5 km
• Elevation Gain: 470 m
• Elevation Loss: 470 m

Rising up through the Namche alleys and leaving the city behind, we contour around the mountain, gaining elevation. We then start up the stepped ascent to the Mong La pass, veering off the normal and busy path to find one of the last remaining truly wild corners of the Khumbu. We lunch at the Mong La Pass before dropping down and crossing a river, then rising back up to our teahouse at Phortse.

From this point on, the mountains begin to grow in stature and steepness as we leave behind the foothills. Some of the world's most aesthetic and technically difficult peaks appear on the skyline, such as Thamserku and Ama Dablam—two peaks that inspire both awe and fear in the hearts of alpinists.

The village of Phortse (3840m) is one of the best places to witness true Sherpa culture. Villagers mostly farm potatoes, and while the men leave to guide treks or high mountain climbs during the high season, the women (Sherpani) stay and take care of the land and home.

• Distance: 5.4 km
• Elevation Gain: 400 m

Citizens of the Wild's favorite walking terrain lies between Phortse (3840m) and Dingboche (4410m). As the vegetation becomes sparse at this altitude, the terrain opens up. Shrines, covered in prayer flags, dot the landscape, often inscribed with the names of men and women who have lost their lives in the surrounding mountains.

These mountains themselves act as shrines, towering ever higher with gleaming white summits mottled with steep black cliffs. They guide us along to Dingboche (4410m), our second acclimatization station, where we will stay for two more nights.

• Distance: 13 km
• Elevation Gain: 800 m
• Elevation Loss: 400 m

We will take a day hike above the village this morning to help with the acclimatization process for our high altitude days that follow, before dropping back down to our teahouse for lunch.

Depending on the weather, we may even make an attempt at Nangkartshang Peak (5,073m).

The French Cafe in Dingboche has some of the best coffee and hot chocolate you're likely to find in Nepal and sits below a majestic stupa which carries good tidings for the final few days of our journey to Everest Base Camp.

From now on, we are in what the locals call the high desert. The vegetation is sparse and the land is rockier than before. But the surrounding colossal peaks more than make up for the stark landscape.

We are now very far from the bright lights of Namche, making it more difficult for porters to deliver goods. This is reflected in the style of teahouse that we will see and stay at—think mountain refuge rather than high-altitude guesthouse.

Remember, however, as close as we are to our destination, we must respect the rhythm of this place and our bodies and continue our slow pace to our refuge in Lobuche (4940m), our final night before we head for base camp the following morning.

• Distance: 7 km
• Elevation Gain: 569 m

Sleeping and eating at this altitude can be difficult, so get what sleep you can and force yourself to fill up because, after breakfast, we leave our teahouse in Lobuche and hike on a gently rising trail to our final village, Gorakshep (5165m). We will stop to quickly refuel in our teahouse before heading back out to complete the final leg of our journey.

The ground here is mostly rubble and boulders. The trail is never particularly steep or challenging, but at this altitude, each step requires effort, and many an overexcited trekker has burnt out here, just before reaching the base camp. We will move slowly and steadily, rising towards EBC.

It's easy to move slowly here. The mountains are so huge and inspiring that you'll want to stop and stare at every opportunity. The sense of history also slows you down; we are genuinely walking in the footsteps of men who conquered the impossible.

We will arrive at the base camp and celebrate. Some will take photos, others will embrace; we will all feel somehow satisfied, and the tallest peak on earth, the mother goddess of earth, Chomolungma, whom we know as Everest, will silently watch over us.

We will then return to where we will eat and sleep.

• Distance: 11.5 km
• Elevation Gain: 450 m
• Elevation Loss: 224 m

The hike to Kala Patthar (5644m) is a steep switchback path rising from the frozen lake on which Gorak Shep sits. Those who wish to catch some of the most incredible views of Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse will wake before dawn and begin the ascent to this iconic sub-peak on the Pumori south ridge. It is a very challenging hike, but often you will rise through the dawn cloud to brilliant mountain views, while a cloud inversion covers the valley below. Pure magic.

There will also be the option of a second attempt at the base camp at this time for those who didn’t make it the day before.

Once we regroup at the teahouse in Gorakshep, we will begin our descent via a slightly higher path above Pheriche and over a ridge to our resting place of Pheriche (4240m). You will feel your body grow in strength as the oxygen begins to return to the air.

Kala Patthar Ascent

• Distance: 1.8 km
• Elevation Gain: 430 m
• Elevation Loss: 430 m

Gorakshep to Pheriche

• Distance: 18 km
• Elevation Gain: 1436 m
• Elevation Loss: 242 m.

We leave Pheriche, full of the energy of our accomplishment, and descend through wilder terrain, where local farmers and porters move their herds and carry heavy loads. We descend to the riverbed of the sacred Sagarmatha River before hiking back up to Tengboche Monastery.

A working Buddhist monastery, Tengboche is a place where, if we are lucky, we may be able to sit in on the monks' daily prayers. Deeply spiritual and affecting, this place, surrounded on all sides by towering peaks, inspires deep inner peace and mindfulness.

After lunch, we follow the trail lower still before making an uphill push to reach Sanasa, where Killian met the love of his life in a teahouse overlooking Ama Dablam. We will continue on a balcony trail before descending to the bustling Namche Bazaar. Perhaps a celebratory drink awaits us in the highest Irish bar in the world—we have certainly earned it.

• Distance: 20 km
• Elevation Gain: 855 m
• Elevation Loss: 1700 m

We leave the bustling Sherpa capital and begin our descent, walking over high suspension bridges and along twisting trails. We pass many trekkers making their own ascent, our smiles broader than theirs, knowing the hardest part is behind us.

We traverse familiar ground and pass through the gates of Sagarmatha National Park for the final time, heading to our last teahouse. It’s a time for celebration and sharing stories, marking our last night in the wilderness.

• Distance: 18 km
• Elevation Gain: 833 m
• Elevation Loss: 1410 m

The next morning, we walk down to the airport. As the plane takes off from the downhill runway, flying over the dense forests of the foothills, we leave our trail behind but carry our good vibes back to Kathmandu. The flights take off depending on the weather, so there might be some waiting around until it's our turn.

Sooner or later, we will find ourselves back in the magical bustle of the ancient city of Kathmandu, and once again in the warm care of Diki at the Hotel Butsugen

You could spend a lifetime in this city of alleys, arches, temples, and market stalls.

We have added spare days into our trip to ensure that if weather affects our ability to fly to or from Lukla, we can remain flexible.

But all going well, we will spend 3 days in the mystic city of Kathmandu.

Staying at our family-run Hotel Butsugen in Boudhanath once again, we will be right in the heart of Kathmandu’s Buddhist and traditional Art District, with endless opportunities for the curious right on our doorstep.

These days will be divided between fascinating city tours of both Buddhist and Hindu places of worship (all led by our local partners with transportation included) and your own free time in the city to wander and go on your own adventures, whether it's visiting the beautiful gardens or haggling with local shopkeepers for local art or unique crafts.

On our last night, we will gather for a superb farewell meal in a gem of a restaurant.

We will fly home from Kathmandu International Airport on day 16. If you would like to extend your stay for additional days on your own, please book your flights accordingly.