Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek Team Departure: $5,495 USD
Annually: April 3rd – April 22nd
Annually: April 12th – May 1st
The trek to Everest Base Camp is widely heralded as the best trek in the world, and for good reason.
Over the course of 20 days, you will travel by plane from Kathmandu to Lukla, the head of the Khumbu Valley. From there, you will trek roughly 40 miles/70 km through the lush green pastures, blossoming Rhododendron forests, up into the most precipitous mountain terrain one can imagine. En route to Everest Base Camp, you will experience the famous Sherpa culture and hospitality while taking in the views of the tallest mountains on earth.
The terminus of your trek is Everest Base Camp at 17,600ft/ 5,500m, where, since you are affiliated with an Everest climbing expedition, you are allowed to spend a night at our luxury expedition camp. This gives you insider access to the Everest Base Camp scene and community, an amenity not available to other trekking groups.
At Everest Base Camp proper, you will spend 2x nights in the heart of camp, with the opportunity to do a beginner-friendly ice climbing and mountaineering skills clinic on the lower part of the Khumbu Glacier. In addition, you will have ample time to hang out, relax, and soak up the vistas over the icefall in our famed Big House, complete with unlimited cappuccinos from the world’s highest cafe, and lively games of ping-pong on the world’s highest ping pong table! Finally, before you make your descent back to Lukla, you will have the opportunity to climb Kala Pathar, which boasts stunning views of the Everest Massif, Lhotse, and Nuptse.
This trek is ideal for anyone who wants to challenge themselves and is a great option for families and friends of CTSS climbers. They can join the trek-in, stay at Everest Base Camp, and gain firsthand experience as part of our Everest and Lhotse expeditions.
After your once-in-a-lifetime stay at Everest Base Camp, you will retrace your steps back down the valley, before flying back to Kathmandu and onward home.
- If these dates don’t work for you, or you would like a private trip and private guide, we also build custom itineraries for many of our climbers.
- You can trek to Everest Base Camp as a standalone expedition, or you can round out your experience in the Himalayas with additional climbs, treks, and tours.
This is our traditional guided team trek, which ascends the stunning Khumbu Valley. CTSS provides guidance, leadership, and expedition oversight from renowned expedition leader Mike Hamill, along with expert guides, logistics, team gear, porters, food, and support for your trek to Everest Base Camp.
All prices are in US Dollars.
CTSS requires clients to buy trip insurance for all expeditions. Please see our trip insurance and cancellation policy page for more information.
All payments, once submitted, are non-refundable and non-transferable. If balances are not received by the specified dates, the client forfeits their place on the program and any prior fees paid.
This itinerary is a rough estimate and will be adjusted according to weather and conditions. This is adventure travel, meaning things rarely go as planned, and this schedule will likely change. Climbers need to be adaptable and maintain a positive attitude.
We always recommend climbers arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. The client is responsible for the added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day. Please let us know if we need to organize logistics for your early arrival or accommodation upgrades.
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, airport pick up and transfer to our hotel
- Day 2: Meet for breakfast, guide briefing, gear check, free day in Kathmandu, team dinner
- Day 3: Fly to Lukla and begin trekking to Phakding
- Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar
- Day 5: Rest day and acclimatization hike in Namche
- Day 6: Hike to Tengboche
- Day 7: Rest day and acclimatization hike in Tengboche. Visit the Tengboche Monastery
- Day 8: Hike to Pheriche
- Day 9: Rest day and acclimatization hike in Pheriche
- Day 10: Hike to Lobuche Base Camp, overnight in CTSS tented camp
- Day 11: Trek to Lobuche High Camp, return to Base Camp, overnight in CTSS tented camp
- Day 12: Trek to Gorak Shep
- Day 13: Trek to Everest Base Camp, overnight in CTSS tented camp
- Day 14: Explore Everest Base Camp, ice-climbing clinic, overnight in CTSS tented camp
- Day 15: Climb Kala Patthar and descend to Pheriche
- Day 16: Trek to Namche
- Day 17: Trek to Lukla
- Day 18: Fly to Kathmandu
- Day 19: Contingency day
- Day 20: Fly home
Our expeditions are designed to be fully inclusive, except for certain services and personal items, such as flights, gear, and insurance.
We highly recommend adding contingency days to the end of your trip and booking a flexible fare for the return flight. Flights can sometimes be delayed out of the Khumbu due to mountain weather. Please note CTSS covers one night in Kathmandu at the end of your trip.
Included in the Everest Base Camp Trek:
- Professional trek leaders
- Leadership, strategy, logistics, and expedition oversight
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation in Kathmandu (double-occupancy)
- Welcome dinner
- Transportation associated with the program itinerary
- Flights to and from Lukla
- Accommodation in lodges and teahouses in the Khumbu Valley (double-occupancy)
- 2x nights accommodation at Everest Base Camp Proper (double-occupancy)
- Tent accommodation at Lobuche Base Camp
- Breakfast and dinner during the expedition
- Park fees and trekking permits
- Porters to carry trekking duffels on the trek
- Mountain camp infrastructure and logistics
- Group gear that is not included in the expedition gear list
Excluded from the Everest Base Camp Trek:
- International Flight to/from Kathmandu, Nepal
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Associated travel expenses (visas, passports, reciprocity fees, vaccination charges, excess baggage)
- Optional add-ons, excursions, or additional days before or after the scheduled program
- All costs incurred prior to the start date of the trip and after the end date
- Single-room accommodations, if desired and pre-booked
- All in-town restaurant meals (non-team meals in Kathmandu are your own responsibility)
- Bar tabs, minibars, hotel internet bills, laundry, etc.
- Personal climbing gear, equipment, and snacks (see Gear List for details)
- Sherpa tip pool ($300 for trekkers)
- Guide tips (customary but optional)
- Required trip insurance policy (trip cancellation, interruption, rescue & evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation, etc.)
- Unused contingency days at the end of your program (CTSS covers one night in the hotel in Kathmandu on your return; additional nights are your responsibility)
- Costs incurred as a result of events beyond the control of CTSS
- Expenses while on the expedition that are above and beyond the normal scope of the trip
- Rescue expenses or excess expenses above and beyond our normal trip costs
All prices are in US Dollars.
CTSS requires clients to buy trip insurance for all expeditions. Please see our page on trip insurance and cancellation policy for more information.
All payments once submitted are non-refundable and non-transferable. If balances are not received by specified dates, the client forfeits their place on the program and any prior fees paid.