A 10-day Everest Base Camp plan is the compact version of the classic trek. Here the ten days run from the Lukla flight in to the Lukla flight out, and add Kathmandu days on both sides. It has one rest day instead of two, so it works best for people who are fit and comfortable at altitude.
How we count the days
Operators count days in different ways: some include Kathmandu, some do not. Here, day 1 is the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and day 10 is the flight back. With a night in Kathmandu either side, your trip is about 12 days.
Day by day
Altitudes and walking times on this page are approximate and differ a little between maps, GPS devices and lodges. Treat them as planning figures, not survey data.
- Lukla to Phakding (about 2,860 to 2,610 m). Fly in and walk down. Two to four hours.
- Phakding to Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m). Suspension bridges and a long final climb. Five to six hours.
- Namche rest day. Hike to the Everest View area or Khumjung and return to sleep in Namche.
- Namche to Tengboche (about 3,860 m). Five to six hours.
- Tengboche to Dingboche (about 4,410 m). Five to six hours.
- Dingboche to Lobuche (about 4,910 m). Four to five hours.
- Lobuche to Gorak Shep (about 5,164 m) and base camp (about 5,364 m). Seven to eight hours with the return.
- Kala Patthar (about 5,545 m) at dawn, then down to Pheriche (about 4,371 m) or Pangboche.
- To Namche. A long, easier day as the air thickens.
- Namche to Lukla and the flight to Kathmandu, weather permitting.
How it differs from the 12-day plan
The 12-day plan adds a rest day at Dingboche and a spare day. The 10-day plan has the Namche rest day only. Compare in the 12-day itinerary.
What the compromise costs
You go from Tengboche at about 3,860 m to Dingboche at about 4,410 m and then to Lobuche at about 4,910 m with no second pause. Each night is within the common guideline of about 500 m, but there is no slack if you feel unwell.
Where to add a day
If you only have one more day, add it at Dingboche. It sits at the point where many trekkers first feel the altitude. See the Dingboche rest day guide.
What a typical day feels like in this plan
Days three and four are the ones people remember. After the Namche rest day you leave early for Tengboche, and the afternoon is spent at the monastery or resting. The next day, the walk to Dingboche has little shade. Expect a dry throat, cold evenings and an early dinner. By day six, appetite often drops, so eat steadily even when you are not hungry.
Packing for a fast schedule
There is little time to buy or fix anything on the way. Test your boots on long walks before you leave and carry spare laces, blister tape and a second pair of warm socks. See the Everest Base Camp packing list.
Common questions
Is a 10-day Everest Base Camp trek enough?
For fit trekkers who acclimatise well, yes. It has one rest day and little room for delays.
Does the 10 days include Kathmandu?
Not in this plan. Ten days are from the Lukla flight in to the Lukla flight out.
Which extra day is most useful?
A rest day at Dingboche.
