Itinerary
- Day 1
Kathmandu to Lukla
You'll fly into Lukla on one of the world's most challenging mountain air routes, landing on a steep airstrip surrounded by peaks. After you touch down, the trek begins right away heading toward Phakding. It's a relatively short walk to get acclimated, and you'll spend your first night in a guesthouse there, settling in and preparing for the days ahead.
Landmarks/POIs Lukla Airport - Day 2
Phakding to Namche Bazaar
After breakfast, you start trekking from Phakding, crossing rivers and suspension bridges as you pass through several small villages. The trail takes you into Sagarmatha National Park, and then things get steeper as you climb toward Namche Bazaar. Once you arrive, you'll check into a guesthouse with views of the surrounding mountains, giving you a first real sense of the landscape you'll be navigating.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar via Sagarmatha National Park entrance
Landmarks/POIs Sagarmatha National Park - Day 3
Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization)
This day is for your body to adjust to the altitude, so you'll spend it exploring Namche Bazaar on foot. You can wander through restaurants, visit local temples, and browse shops at your own pace. If you want a more active option, there's a hike up to Everest View Hotel to catch the sunset and see Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. Another choice is heading to Khunde Hospital, which Sir Edmund Hillary established back in the 1960s.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar with village exploration
Optional Activities
- One-hour hike to Everest View Hotel above Namche for sunset views
- Visit Khunde Hospital (established by Sir Edmund Hillary)
- Explore Namche Bazaar restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and temples
Landmarks/POIs Namche Bazaar Everest View Hotel Khunde Hospital - Day 4
Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
You'll take a leisurely walk to Phulki first, then the trail climbs to Tengboche village, home to the region's largest monastery. During your visit, you might catch traditional prayer ceremonies happening inside. The views from here are really something, looking out at Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku all at once.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Tengboche Monastery
- Traditional prayer ceremony (pooja) at Tengboche Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Tengboche Monastery Sagarmatha National Park - Day 5
Tengboche to Dingboche
The morning takes you downhill through forests of birch, conifer, and rhododendron trees. You'll cross the Imja River at Debuche, then continue through Imja Valley following the Lobuche River upward. The final push brings you to Dingboche village, which sits among fields of barley, potatoes, and buckwheat, giving the landscape a very different feel from what you've seen so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek through Imja Valley from Tengboche to Dingboche
Landmarks/POIs Imja River Lobuche River - Day 6
Dingboche (Acclimatization)
You'll spend the day at Dingboche letting your body adjust to the higher altitude. You can explore the village itself, or if you're feeling up for it, climb the ridge behind the village to Nankartshang Peak at 5,073 meters/16,644 feet. That hike rewards you with views of Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and several other major peaks all in one panorama.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Acclimatization day in Dingboche
Optional Activities
- Climb ridge to Nankartshang Peak (5,073 m) for panoramic mountain views
Landmarks/POIs Nankartshang Peak - Day 7
Dingboche to Chhukung
You'll trek for about 3 to 4 hours with a gentle climb ahead to Chhukung village. Once there, you can tackle Chhukung Peak for excellent sightlines of Lhotse (the fourth-highest mountain in the world), Ama Dablam, Island Peak, and Thamserku. After that, you'll rest up because tomorrow involves crossing one of the trek's most significant passes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung
- Climb Chhukung Peak
Landmarks/POIs Chhukung Peak - Day 8
Chhukung to Lobuche
An early start gets you moving across Khumbu Glacier's terminal moraine to Kongma La Pass at 5,180 meters/17,000 feet, the highest point on this entire trek. The terrain gets steep as you navigate Nuptse Glacier moraines or follow the trail above Niyang Khola. Once you crest the pass, you descend to Lobuche with views of Mt. Lobuche, Mt. Pumori, and Nuptse surrounding you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Kongma La Pass
- Cross Khumbu Glacier and high mountain terrain
Landmarks/POIs Kongma La Pass Khumbu Glacier Nuptse Glacier - Day 9
Lobuche to Everest Base Camp and Gorak Shep
From Lobuche, you trek to Gorak Shep, then the trail becomes more challenging as it heads straight toward Everest Base Camp. Most of this path crosses glacier terrain with several ups and downs along the way. You'll reach base camp and spend time taking in the scene, then head back down to Gorak Shep for the night, which keeps you from getting too exhausted at this extreme altitude.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Everest Base Camp
- Return trek from Everest Base Camp to Gorak Shep
Landmarks/POIs Everest Base Camp - Day 10
Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar and Dzongla
You'll start before dawn to trek to Kala Patthar, 'Black Stone,' positioned to catch sunrise hitting Mt. Everest. The morning light illuminates Nuptse Nup, Changtse, and Lhotse in warm tones, and this is honestly the best photo opportunity you'll get on the whole trek. After Kala Patthar, you head down and continue to Dzongla for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Kala Patthar for sunrise views
- Trek from Kala Patthar to Dzongla
Landmarks/POIs Kala Patthar - Day 11
Dzongla to Thagnag via Cho La Pass
Today brings the challenging Cho La Pass at 5,330 meters/17,490 feet with a steep climb that's often covered in snow, so you'll need crampons for safe footing. After reaching the pass, you descend steeply to Thagnag village, picking your way through moraine, rocky sections, and boulder fields. It's a tough day physically, so be prepared.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Cho La Pass (5,330 m)
- Descent to Thagnag village
Landmarks/POIs Cho La Pass - Day 12
Thagnag to Gokyo Village
You'll have a shorter trek today, roughly 2 to 3 hours, walking along moraine and Nagjumba Glacier to reach Gokyo Lake. The village sits right on the shores of this turquoise lake, and you'll see yaks grazing in the open space around it. The water's color alone makes the effort to get here worthwhile.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek along Nagjumba Glacier to Gokyo Lake
Landmarks/POIs Gokyo Lake Nagjumba Glacier - Day 13
Gokyo Village
You trek to the 5th Lake and then climb up to Gokyo Ri summit at 5,360 meters/17,586 feet for a full 360-degree view all around you. From up there, you can see four of the world's fourteen eight-thousander peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, with countless smaller peaks filling in the rest of the panorama.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to 5th Lake
- Ascend Gokyo Ri (5,360 m) peak
Landmarks/POIs Gokyo Ri - Day 14
Gokyo Village to Lungden via Renjo La Pass
You'll trek to Renjo La Pass at 5,345 meters/17,535 feet, the final and highest pass on this circuit trek. The terrain changes as you go, mixing gentle slopes with steep climbs. From the pass, you get eastern views of Everest, Gyachung Kang, Lhotse, Makalu, and the Gokyo Lakes below. After crossing, you descend past Rermo Pokhari Lake and arrive in Lungden.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Renjo La Pass (5,345 m)
- Descent to Lungden
Landmarks/POIs Renjo La Pass Rermo Pokhari Lake - Day 15
Lungden to Thame
After the recent challenging passes, this hike feels relatively easier. You'll follow an ancient Tibetan and Himalayan trade route that runs along the Bhote Koshi River all the way to Thame. This village holds historic significance as the birthplace of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who summited Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary back on May 23, 1953.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek along Bhote Koshi River to Thame
Landmarks/POIs Bhote Koshi River - Day 16
Thame to Monjo
The morning involves descending before the trail levels out into a relatively flat and nice walk toward Namche Bazaar. From Namche, you continue descending further to reach Monjo, a charming village with delightful views of rivers and surrounding hills. By now, you're definitely getting back to lower elevations and feeling it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Thame to Monjo via Namche Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Namche Bazaar - Day 17
Monjo to Lukla
You descend through a forest of rhododendrons and pines, then trek along river banks to reach Phakding. After lunch, you'll have about 3 hours of gentle uphill walking to arrive in Lukla. This is your final night in the Everest trekking region before you fly back to Kathmandu tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Monjo through rhododendron and pine forests to Phakding
- Trek from Phakding to Lukla
- Day 18
Lukla to Kathmandu
You'll fly back to Kathmandu today, marking the end of the Everest Circuit Trek. If the weather cooperates, consider staying 1 to 2 extra days in Kathmandu for sightseeing around the city, Bhaktapur, or Patan before heading home. You'll have earned the rest after those two weeks at altitude.
Optional Activities
- Extra days in Kathmandu for sightseeing (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan) if flight delayed or weather permitting
