8 Days Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Flight about 35 minutes, trek about 3 hours | Altitude: Lukla 2,860 m, Phakding 2,610 m | Overnight: Phakding Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

Take an early-morning flight from Kathmandu (or from Ramechhap, depending on the season and airline schedule) to Lukla, landing on one of the most famous mountain airstrips in the world. Your guide and porters meet you here, and you have breakfast while the team prepares the luggage.

Walk through Lukla village and through the “Khumbu Gateway”, then descend gently on stone trails through rhododendron forest, small farms and hamlets to the banks of the Dudh Koshi river, with glimpses of snow peaks above. Pass large mani stones carved with prayers, stop at tea houses along the way, and arrive at the riverside Phakding Lodge in time for a late lunch. In the afternoon, rest or take a short walk up to a small monastery above the village.

Trek about 4 hours | Altitude: 2,835 m | Overnight: Monjo Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

After breakfast, follow the Dudh Koshi upstream with the sharp summit of Thamserku ahead. Cross streams and suspension bridges, climb through terraced fields to the village of Benkar, and continue on an up-and-down path to Monjo.

Monjo is a small, peaceful village with only a few lodges, which makes it a perfect place to relax. A stone-paved path leads through the garden to the warm and welcoming Monjo Lodge, where the afternoon is free to rest, read and enjoy the mountain air before dinner.

Trek about 5–6 hours | Altitude: 3,440 m | Overnight: Namche Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

Just beyond Monjo you enter Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where your guide checks the permits. The trail drops to Jorsalle, crosses the river and follows a wooded gorge to the meeting point of the Bhote Koshi and Dudh Koshi rivers.

Cross the famous high suspension bridge, draped in prayer flags, and climb steadily up the hillside. On a clear day you get your first view of Everest on the way up. After lunch, reach Namche Bazaar, the horseshoe-shaped Sherpa capital, and check in to Namche Lodge, overlooking the town. In the evening explore the bakeries, cafés, shops and the small monastery with its fine thangka paintings.

Acclimatisation hike about 5–6 hours | Highest point: about 3,880 m | Overnight: Namche Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

Today is for acclimatisation – the golden rule is “climb high, sleep low”. After breakfast, hike up above Namche towards Syangboche and the Everest View Hotel area, with a magnificent panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku.

Continue to the quiet village of Khumjung, home of the Hillary School, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961 as the first school in the region. Visit the school and the Khumjung monastery, and have lunch at a local lodge before walking back down to Namche for a relaxed evening.

Trek about 6 hours | Altitude: 3,820 m | Overnight: Deboche Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

Now you are on the trail to Everest. The path contours around the hillside past large chortens, prayer walls and painted rocks, with Ama Dablam ahead – look out for Himalayan tahr (mountain goats) and colourful pheasants. Descend to the river at Phungi Thenga for lunch, then climb through rhododendron and pine forest.

Pass the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery in the Khumbu, set against a stunning backdrop of Everest and Ama Dablam, and walk a short way down to Deboche, a quieter and slightly warmer village – the perfect place to acclimatise. Go slowly today, as there is a good height gain. The newly built Deboche Lodge is your base for two nights.

Acclimatisation hike about 5–7 hours | Highest point: viewpoint above Pangboche, about 4,500 m | Overnight: Deboche Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

Walk about 1.5 hours to Pangboche, one of the oldest villages in the Khumbu, and visit its ancient monastery, long famous for its legendary “yeti” relics. Enjoy tea in the village with Ama Dablam towering above.

For those feeling strong, continue up the hillside above Pangboche to a high viewpoint with stunning close-up views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kangtega and Island Peak, and enjoy a picnic lunch with the mountains all around. Return to Deboche for a well-earned rest. This gentle climb helps your body adjust before tomorrow’s helicopter flight to high altitude.

Helicopter about 30–45 minutes | Highest point: Kala Patthar, 5,644 m | Overnight: Lukla Lodge (Mountain Lodges of Nepal) (all meals)

After an early breakfast, board your helicopter for the highlight of the trip. Fly up the Khumbu valley past Pheriche, Lobuche and Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m, with the Khumbu Icefall and glacier below you, and over Kala Patthar (5,644 m) for the classic close-up view of Mount Everest, Nuptse and Pumori. Where weather and conditions allow, the helicopter makes a short landing for photos.

Then fly back down the valley to Lukla, with Ama Dablam and Thamserku outside the window. Spend the afternoon relaxing in Lukla and celebrate the journey with your trekking crew in the evening.

Flight about 35 minutes | End of trek

Say goodbye to the Himalaya on the short but spectacular flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu (or Ramechhap, depending on the season). In clear weather the mountain views from the plane are one of the highlights of the whole trip.

On arrival you are transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu or to the airport for your onward journey. Because mountain flights can be delayed by weather, we recommend keeping one spare day in Kathmandu before your international flight.