A standard 14-day plan flies to Lukla on day 2, takes two acclimatisation days at Namche and Dingboche, reaches Gorak Shep and base camp on day 9, and flies back from Lukla on day 13. Altitudes and timings below are approximate.
Day 1: arrive in Kathmandu (about 1,400 m)
Arrive, meet your guide, check your gear and sort permits and the briefing.
Days 2 to 4: Lukla, Phakding, Namche
Day 2: fly to Lukla (about 2,860 m) and walk to Phakding (about 2,610 m), two to four hours. Day 3: walk to Namche Bazaar (about 3,440 m), five to six hours with a long final climb. Day 4: rest day at Namche with a short hike higher and a return to sleep.
Days 5 to 7: Tengboche, Dingboche, rest
Day 5: Tengboche (about 3,860 m), five to six hours. Day 6: Dingboche (about 4,410 m), five to six hours. Day 7: rest day at Dingboche with a climb toward 4,800 m and a return to sleep. See the acclimatisation rest days.
Days 8 and 9: Lobuche, Gorak Shep, base camp
Day 8: Lobuche (about 4,910 m), four to five hours. Day 9: Gorak Shep (about 5,160 m), then Everest base camp (about 5,364 m) and back to Gorak Shep, a long day of seven to eight hours.
Day 10: Kala Patthar and down
An early start to Kala Patthar (about 5,545 m) for sunrise views, then a long descent to Pheriche or Pangboche.
Days 11 to 14: the way out
Day 11: down to Namche. Day 12: walk to Lukla. Day 13: fly to Kathmandu, weather permitting. Day 14: departure or spare day.
How to read the plan
The itinerary gives typical walking times and sleeping heights, but real days vary. A hard climb after a rest day can feel easy, while a short walk after a poor night can feel heavy. Treat the schedule as a framework and let your guide adjust it when weather, health or flights require.
What a normal day looks like
Most days start with tea and breakfast around six or seven, walking until lunch in a village, then a few more hours to reach the night stop by mid afternoon. Evenings are for tea, dinner, washing and an early night. The routine is simple, which is why the days pass quickly.
What the plan does not include
There is no built-in spare day before a Lukla flight, so a delay can push the plan back. Add buffer time in your travel plans and read buffer days and the acclimatisation plan. For the general overview see the day-by-day itinerary guide.
What our guests say
Excerpts from trekker reviews on our reviews page.
“Everything was handled professionally and with great attention to detail, from permits to on-ground support.”
