If you have perused lists of the most popular treks in the world – then you will have noticed the Three Passes Trek to Everest Base Camp always features. Mountaineers and adventurers from all over the world are drawn in by the mysticism of Mt. Everest, undeniable spirituality of the region, and the warm, friendliness of the Sherpa people.

The Everest Base Camp Trek immerses you into those experiences and layers in the challenge of high altitude with some of the most amazing mountain vistas in the world. I could keep going but who really needs more reasons to understand why it’s on everyone’s list?

The Everest Base Camp Trek is located within Sagarmatha National Park. This 1148 sq. km park was established in 1976 to protect the Everest Region and ensure that future generations of adventurers get the opportunity to see and explore the Everest Region for decades to come. Given the sheer number of trekkers hitting the trails these days and increasing numbers of expedition teams heading to Base Camp to make summit bids, the role the park plays in conservation will be key to the protection of Sagarmatha, the Nepalese name for Mt. Everest.

Making the decision to trek to Everest Base Camp is an easy one. How you get there? Well, that’s a different story. You might be surprised to find out that there are actually quite a few trekking options in the region that direct you to Base Camp. What you choose depends on how much time you have during your trip, how physically challenging you want the trek to be, your comfort level with high-altitude, and last but certainly not least, how busy you want your trails to be. Check out Top Treks In The Everest Region Trekking for a break down of the five most popular treks in the region.

When mapping out my Everest Base Camp Trek, I knew I wanted to accomplish three things:

  • Overnight at Everest Base Camp, which requires a special permit.
  • Find a route less trodden and more challenging to avoid the crowds and up the adventure.
  • Minimize backtracking on the same trail to be able to see more of the Everest Region.

I enlisted the help of one of my favorite travel companies – OUT Adventures – to assist in the planning of the perfect, tailored itinerary. The result was a combination of the standard Everest Base Camp Trek with two of the three passes of the Three Passes Trek. OUT Adventures made all the arrangements for us locally and paired us up with an awesome local guide and Sherpa team. This trip is one that fed my soul and already has me wanting to go back for more.

Time to start planning your own adventure? Check out the Everest Base Camp itinerary below.

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK ITINERARY

Below is a snap shot of the itinerary we used for trekking to Everest Base Camp. You will find multiple villages along the various routes when planning your own trip. Depending on the route you take, the village may or may not be one of the standard stops. Note that we took additional side trips for acclimatization (and for fun), which means the approximated max altitudes listed may differ from a standard route. Accomodation along the trek varies from very basic to luxury. You will find a combination of both included in the below.

DAY

ROUTE MAX ALTITUDE ACCOMODATION
1 Lukla – Phakding 2,800m/9,200ft Yeti Mountain Home
2 Phakding – Namche 3,440m/11,300ft Yeti Mountain Home
3 Namche – Thame 3,820m/12,500ft Yeti Mountain Home
4 Thame 3,820m/12,500ft Yeti Mountain Home
5 Thame – Lumdeng 4,400m/14,450ft Renjo Pass Support Lodge
6 Lumdeng – Gokyo via Renjo-La Pass 5,100m/16,700ft Himalayan Eco Resort
7 Gokyo – Thangna 4,650m/15,250ft Chola Pass Resort
8 Thangna – Dzongla via Cho-La Pass 5,340m/17,500ft Hotel Green Valley
9 Dzongla – Lobuche 4,910m/16,100ft Himalayan Eco Resort
10 Lobuche – Gorakshep  5,160m/16,900ft Himalayan Guest House
11 Gorakshep – Everest Base Camp  5,364m/17,600ft Camping
12 Everest Base Camp – Pheriche  4,240m/13,900ft Pumori Lodge
13 Periche – Tashinga via Tengboche 3,860m/12,660ft Everest Summit Lodge
14 Tashinga – Monjo via Kenjoma 3,550m/11,650ft Yeti Mountain Home
15 Monjo – Lukla 2,800m/9,200ft Yeti Mountain Home

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK DAILY GUIDE

Heading to Everest Base Camp was a dream. The variety of what there is to experience each day along the way is mind-blowing. Want to get a closer look at what the day to day is like on the trail? Check out the links below and start exploring DomOnTheGo’s Everest Base Camp Diary.

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 1

LUKLA TO PHAKDING

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 2

PHAKDING TO NAMCHE

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 3

NAMCHE TO THAME

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 4

THAME

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 5

THAME TO LUMDENG

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 6

LUMDENG TO GOKYO

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 7

GOKYO TO THAGNA

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 8

THANGNA TO DZONGLA

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 9

DZONGLA TO LOBUCHE

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 10

LOBUCHE TO GORAKSHEP

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 11

GORAKSHEP TO BASE CAMP

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 12

BASE CAMP TO PERICHE

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 13

PERICHE TO TASHINGA

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 14

TASHINGA TO MONJO

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK – DAY 15

MONJO TO LUKLA

TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS: NEPAL

 

Flights

Nepal is accessible via Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Check out Kayak to find the best deals on flights to Nepal.

Accommodation

As a long-time rewards member, Hotels.com is my first stop when exploring accommodation options. Not only do they have great inventory, but you get a free nights stay after every 10th booking.

Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. (As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OTHER PLACES VENTURED IN THE EVEREST REGION BE SURE TO CHECK OUT EVEREST HUB.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase, I will receive a small affiliate commission. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. My full site disclosure and privacy policy is here.