We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
After two nights in Thamel for the briefing, kit check and permit paperwork, the early Lukla flight drops you onto the Dudh Koshi walk to Phakding, usually three to four hours. Namche comes next via the Hillary bridge, and the rest day there uses a hike toward Everest View Hotel or Khumjung so you sleep in the same lodge. Later walking days run four to six hours through Tengboche monastery and into Dingboche, with a second rest day on Nangkartshang ridge before the air thins.
Gorak Shep is the overnight before and after Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres beside the Khumbu Icefall. Optional Kala Patthar at 5,545 metres is a pre-dawn start if weather and how you feel allow it, then the descent runs through Pheriche or Pangboche and Namche to Lukla. Return flight and onward transfer fill the last two days. Main bags go with porters so you walk a daypack, breakfast lunch and dinner are included on walking days, and a buffer before an international ticket helps if Lukla weather moves.
Sagarmatha and Khumbu permits, Lukla seats and teahouse beds are arranged from Kathmandu before you start walking. Small-group guiding is government-licensed, and the Thamel briefing goes through daily pace and what to watch for at altitude. Porter support follows the ratio on your confirmation, usually one porter for two people.
Pace on the trail is checked through sleep, appetite and how the group is walking, and a stage can be slowed if someone needs it. Domestic flights and lodge nights are already held when you leave the capital, so the mountain days are not spent chasing rooms.
You should be able to hike uphill with a light pack for several hours at a time and recover overnight in basic lodges. Previous trekking experience helps but is not mandatory if you train consistently before departure.
Consult your doctor about travel at altitude if you have heart, lung, or blood pressure conditions. Bring valid insurance that explicitly covers trekking above 5,000 metres and helicopter evacuation.
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel in Thamel. Your trip leader introduces the leisurely pace of the trek, checks documents, and answers questions about gear and acclimatization before the mountain days begin.
After you land, a team member can meet you at the airport or your hotel in Thamel when transfer details are shared in advance. Use the afternoon to rest, hydrate, and unpack kit you will need on the trail.
Your lead guide introduces the route, checks permits and insurance wording, and answers questions about altitude, packing, and tipping customs before the mountain days begin.
Explore key sights in the valley with time to collect last-minute kit, change money, and attend a pre-trek briefing. Welcome and farewell meals in the capital are part of the package rhythm on this route.
This is the day to buy last-minute supplies, change money, and attend the full pre-trek briefing. Bring your passport copies, insurance documents, and any rental gear lists so nothing is missed.
Walk through the day-by-day plan with your guide, including realistic walking times, lodge standards, and what happens if Lukla flights or road travel are delayed by weather.
An optional pre-dawn climb to Kala Patthar at 5,545 metres rewards fit groups with classic Everest portraits. Descend to lower elevation afterward to recover and sleep more comfortably.
A pre-dawn start is common for viewpoints; pack a head torch, insulated layers, and gloves for windchill above 5,000 metres. Your guide sets a turn-around time so you descend before afternoon cloud builds.
The climb is steep but non-technical trekking: poles help on the way down. Celebrate the panorama, then pace the descent so knees and altitude recovery stay manageable for the next lodge night.
Retrace steps through the valley with gravity on your side. The return journey feels different as you notice details missed on the way up.
Downhill days feel faster but hammer knees on long stone steps. Trekking poles and steady pacing protect joints as oxygen gradually feels richer.
You will notice details missed on the ascent: side valleys, chortens, and village life.
A long but satisfying day back to Namche with celebratory snacks and hot showers if available. Legs are tired but spirits are usually high.
The climb from the river includes the famous Hillary suspension bridge and a steady pull into the amphitheatre of peaks above town. Bakeries, gear shops, and espresso stops make Namche a welcome rest hub.
Spend the evening sorting layers for higher cold and charging devices while power is available. Your guide may outline acclimatization hikes or tomorrow's trail time over dinner.
A final descent to Lukla secures your flight window for the next morning. Weather delays are possible, so the leisurely build includes buffer thinking in the overall plan.
Walking pace stays steady with breaks for water, snacks, and photos. Lunch is usually in a teahouse en route; dinner and breakfast are at the lodge where you sleep, often dal bhat or hot noodle dishes.
Carry rain gear and layers in your daypack even when mornings look clear. Tell your guide about headaches, nausea, or knee pain early so tomorrow's stage can be adjusted if needed.
Morning flight back to the capital when conditions allow. Free time to shop for souvenirs or rest tired feet in a comfortable hotel.
Mountain weather governs Lukla schedules, so an early start is normal and delays can happen even in peak season. Keep passports and permits in your daypack for airport security and weight checks.
Once you land, meet your trekking crew, adjust packs for porter loads, and begin walking on a gentler section if possible so legs warm up before steeper climbs.
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. Keep insurance details handy until you are fully home in case of baggage or delay issues.
Allow time for airport traffic in Kathmandu and keep insurance details handy until you are home. Porters and guides appreciate farewell tips in an envelope when you are happy with the service.
If Lukla or road delays shortened a buffer day, confirm international flight changes with your airline as soon as you have a new departure time from the team.
An early domestic flight to Lukla opens views of the Khumbu before you meet the trail crew. A gentle descent through pine forest brings you to Phakding for your first teahouse night on the Dudh Koshi.
Sherpa villages and suspension bridges line the river valley. Porters usually pass ahead so your main bag is waiting at the lodge when you arrive.
Even on shorter first days, hydrate steadily and keep sunscreen handy on open sections. Your guide checks how everyone feels before tomorrow's climb toward Namche.
Cross suspension bridges draped with prayer flags and climb steadily toward the Sherpa capital. Namche sits in an amphitheatre of peaks, with bakeries and gear shops if you need anything before higher altitude.
The climb from the river includes the famous Hillary suspension bridge and a steady pull into the amphitheatre of peaks above town. Bakeries, gear shops, and espresso stops make Namche a welcome rest hub.
Spend the evening sorting layers for higher cold and charging devices while power is available. Your guide may outline acclimatization hikes or tomorrow's trail time over dinner.
A rest day with a short hike to higher elevation and back to sleep low. This extra time is central to the leisurely itinerary and helps your body adjust before pushing toward Tengboche.
A popular option is the hike toward Everest View Hotel or Khumjung for wider panoramas, then return to town. Even a few hundred metres higher helps your body adapt.
Use the afternoon for gear checks, optional museum visits, or a slow stroll through market stalls. Skip alcohol and drink plenty of fluid so appetite stays strong.
Walk through rhododendron forest with Ama Dablam dominating the skyline. Tengboche monastery is a cultural highlight where monks chant against a backdrop of ice-coated summits.
If timing allows, listen for chanting and watch light change on the ice walls. Ask your guide about respectful photography inside sacred spaces.
The lodge area sits just below the gompa; evenings cool quickly once the sun drops. Pack a warm layer for dinner and turn in early if tomorrow climbs higher.
The trail opens into alpine country with wider views of Lhotse and Island Peak. Dingboche is a spread-out village where another acclimatization day is built into the schedule on the following morning.
The Imja Khola valley widens here and walking feels more exposed, so windproof layers help even on clear afternoons.
Turn in early if tomorrow is another walking day or a ridge hike for acclimatization, depending on your confirmed schedule.
Hike to a nearby ridge for panorama training without gaining permanent height for the night. Your guide monitors pace and hydration as altitude starts to bite.
Nangkartshang ridge or similar viewpoints give a stiff but rewarding climb while you still return to the same teahouse bed.
Rest legs when you get back: stretch, refill water bottles, and note any headache or poor sleep for your guide.
Morbaine and glacial debris mark the approach to Lobuche, where the air feels thinner and the peaks feel close. Teahouses here are simple but warm after a long walking day.
The air feels thinner; slow steps and steady breathing matter more than speed. Eat fully at dinner even if appetite is muted.
Walking pace stays steady with breaks for water, snacks, and photos. Lunch is usually in a teahouse en route; dinner and breakfast are at the lodge where you sleep, often dal bhat or hot noodle dishes.
Reach Gorak Shep, drop bags, and continue to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres. Standing beside the Khumbu Icefall is the emotional high point many trekkers carry home.
Many groups walk to Base Camp with a light load. The icefall and colourful expedition tents make the moraine walk unforgettable when weather holds.
Altitude still rules at 5,300 metres plus: sip water often, wear sun protection on snow glare, and follow your guide's call on when to turn back for the overnight lodge.
Most guests fly into Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Share arrival times after booking so a transfer to Thamel can be arranged, or make your own way to the meeting hotel in the Thamel area.
Pre-trek briefings usually take place in Kathmandu one to two days before the Lukla flight. Allow extra days after the trek in case mountain flights are postponed by weather.
Twin or double rooms in Thamel cover the first nights and the return from Lukla, with a private bathroom and breakfast on those city stays. Briefing happens at the hotel, and airport collection from Tribhuvan is available when flight times are shared. Kathmandu nights are also the time to sort kit, change money and rest before the early mountain departure.
Family-run lodges line the trail from Phakding through Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Twin beds and a stove-heated dining room are the usual pattern, and rooms get simpler and colder as you climb, with shared bathrooms common above Namche. Room heating is rare, so a bag rated for altitude is worth packing. Lodge beds are reserved before you leave Kathmandu. Hot water, Wi-Fi and charging are paid at the lodge when they are offered.
About the centre
Kathmandu
We are a Kathmandu-based team of licensed trekking and mountaineering guides who lead small groups through the Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, and peak-climbing routes of Nepal. Every itinerary is built around steady acclimatization, reliable local logistics, and tea-house or lodge nights that keep you comfortable after long days on the trail.
From your arrival briefing in Thamel to the flight to Lukla or the roadhead for western circuits, we handle permits, domestic connections, porter support, and experienced lead guides who know these valleys season by season. Whether you are aiming for a classic base camp, a high pass, or a summit attempt, we focus on safety briefings, realistic pacing, and warm Sherpa hospitality so you can enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Operated by Alpine Club of Himalaya, a partner of adventuro.
