Everest Base Camp & Island Peak Trekking Adventure - 20 Days

Highlights

• Walk amid history on visits to Kathmandu's temples, stupas, and squares
• Hike over rivers and up mountains on your way to Everest Base Camp
• Spend a few days on the forest and mountain trails up to Island Peak
• Stop in local villages and enjoy the hospitality of locals at teahouses

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, Optional Activities

Welcome to Nepal! This country is renowned for its mountain landscapes, as it's nestled in the mighty Himalaya between Nepal and China. It's home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, which makes it a premier destination for trekking and mountaineering. This itinerary focuses on just such outdoor pursuits, but it's also a celebration of Nepal's rich cultural heritage. For example, Nepal is a multi-religious state, as here you'll find practitioners of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Kirat Mundum, and Christianity.

You'll witness this melting pot firsthand when you arrive in the capital, Kathmandu. This city of around 1.5 million is a great intro to the nation's identity, which is a melting pot of Indian and West Asian influences. After transferring to your hotel, you can head out and visit landmarks like Durbar Square. This public space houses an eclectic mix of architectural styles, from 15th-century pagodas to the neoclassical Gadi Durbar Palace. The square suffered severe damage during the 2015 earthquake but is slowly being restored.

When you get hungry, head to the bustling hub of Thamel to grab your first meal. There's a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Then, if it's not too late, you can visit the busiest bazaar in the city, Asan Tole. It's lined with an authentic display of spice, produce, and curio vendors that make for great photo ops. It's also a good opportunity to practice some basic Nepali phrases as you chat with friendly locals.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing: Boudhanath & Pashupatinath

Rise and shine! Before setting off on your grand trekking adventure, you'll spend today visiting the highlights in and around Kathmandu. First, meet your driver and travel about 5 miles (8 km) east of the city to Boudhanath. This is one of the largest stupas (Buddhist shrines) in the world, dating to the 14th century. At the top of it are renderings of four pairs of eyes staring in the four cardinal directions, eternally on the lookout for righteous behavior and human prosperity. The structure is part of the shared history of Nepal and Tibet, with Tibet having ruled the site until the last century.

Then, after returning to the city for a more formal tour of Durbar Square, you'll visit Pashupatinath. Dating way back to 400 CE, this is one of the holiest temples in the Hindu religion, regarded as the birthplace of Lord Shiva. It sits on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River and is the main cremation site for Hindus in the Kathmandu Valley. It's also a vital pilgrimage site, as Hindus are obligated to visit it at least once in their life. Like Boudhanath, Pashupatinath also enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. 

Day 3: Fly to Lukla, Trek to Phakding (8,563 ft/ 2,610 m)

After breakfast, return to the airport and board a small plane for the 30-minute flight east to Lukla. You'll touch down on the steep mountain runway in this small town, which is a base for excursions to Mount Everest. If you can, sit on the left during the flight, as you'll be treated to fine views of the Himalaya peaks and lower valleys.

Upon arrival, you'll meet your guide and begin the first hike of the trip. It's an easy route that covers 4.7 miles (7.5 km) and takes 3-4 hours to complete. As you go, you'll enjoy the beautiful scenery while encountering other trekkers, locals, and their trusty yaks. This is a nice warm-up for the more rigorous hikes to come. The journey will take you through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail to the village of Phakding, where you'll stay overnight in a local teahouse.

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (11,290 ft/ 3,440 m)

After breakfast in Phakding, set off on a steady and steep incline toward Namche Bazaar. It's a principal staging point for expeditions to Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks. In fact, most Sherpas who work in Nepal's tourism business are originally from the Namche region. Know that this is a more challenging trek than the introductory hike you did yesterday. It takes about six hours to complete, and you'll really feel the thinner air as you ascend in altitude and cross high suspension bridges.

As for logistics, you'll pass the village of Monjo and arrive at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, which was created to protect Himalayan peaks like Everest (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, expect to catch your first glimpses of Mount Everest.

Upon arrival in Namche, you'll settle into your teahouse and can then explore the town. You might want to take this opportunity to stock up on supplies from the many small shops selling snacks and trekking gear. If your visit falls on a weekend, stop by the Saturday market—a buzzing hub where you'll meet Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans from Tibet. 

Day 5: Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day

Today is yours to sleep in, rest up, and relax. Take it easy and acclimate to the altitude as you kick back in tea shops and browse for souvenirs at local markets. You can also visit landmarks like Khunde Hospital (founded by Everest legend Sir Edmund Hillary) or take a brisk one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel. There are also great views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above town.

Day 6: Trek to Tengboche (12,687 ft/ 3,867 m)

Enjoy an early breakfast in Namche, after which you'll hit the trail. Today's path runs 5.7 miles (9.2 km) alongside the valley high above the Dudh Kosi River. As you hike, you'll admire views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam, passing by several villages and tea shops before descending to a bridge over the river. After a stop in a local village for lunch, continue on a final ascent through rhododendron forests to Tengboche, where you'll overnight. This village is famous for its legendary monastery (the largest in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal) and its grand Himalaya views.

Day 7: Trek to Dingboche (14,304 ft/ 4,360 m)

Today's trek up to the Sherpa village of Dingboche is a little lighter than yesterday. The moderate trail covers 6.7 miles (10.8 km) and only takes about 3-4 hours to complete. It's a scenic route dotted with stupas, Mani stone walls, and quaint local villages. Stop for lunch at one such community, where you'll enjoy your meal amid fantastic views of nearby Ama Dablam. After eating, you'll continue on a trail beneath the north face of Ama Dablam, and from there, it's an easy hike through the Imja Valley to the Lobuche River. From the river, ascend on a steep climb up to Dingboche, where you'll overnight.

Day 8: Dingboche Acclimatization Day

Plan your trip to Nepal
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.

Get Started

Give your lungs a break as you take another day to rest up and acclimate. Enjoy a long, leisurely breakfast at the teahouse complemented by views of the surrounding peaks, followed by a nap (or two). If you're feeling restless, you can embark on an easy hike up the ridge behind the village. It features views of some of the world's highest peaks, including Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Yu. To the west, you'll see Lobuche, Cholatse, and Taboche. In the afternoon, you can relax in the village, sip tea, and perhaps stop in at the local internet café.

Day 9: Trek to Lobuche (16,175 ft/ 4,930 m)

Fill up with a hearty breakfast in Dingboche, after which you'll set off on a full-day trek. This 7.5-mile (12 km) hike will take you up into a wide valley beneath the sharp peaks of Cholatse and Tawache. From there, it's a steep climb toward the foot of the Khumbu Glacier, where you can stop at a remote teahouse for lunch. Then the trail zigzags through a glacial moraine, at the top of which are stone cairns that serve as memorials to Sherpas who died while climbing Mount Everest. From here, the path climbs gently alongside the glacier to the small settlement of Lobuche, near Everest.

Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep & Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft/ 5,364 m)

Get ready for the final push to the famous Everest Base Camp. It's another full-day hike (around seven hours) but divided into two sections. The first leg follows a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) trail along the Khumbu Glacier to Gorak Shep, a settlement adjacent to a frozen lake bed. The scenery on the way is incredible, as you'll be treated to views of Everest's north crest, as well as Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, Nuptse, and other notable peaks. Once in Gorak Shep, you'll find yourself completely surrounded by soaring Himalayan peaks. 

During a break, you'll have time to rest and enjoy some refreshments before continuing 2-3 hours to Everest Base Camp. During this section, you'll pass rocky dunes, moraines, and mountain streams. Eventually, you'll find yourself at the official starting point for ascents up the world's tallest mountain (29,031 ft/ 8,848 m). Marvel at the views and snap plenty of pics before heading back down to Gorak Shep, where you'll spend the night in a teahouse. 

Day 11: Sunrise Trek to Kala Patthar, Descend to Lobuche, Train to Dingboche

Your guide will knock on your door before dawn, after which the two of you will begin an ascent up to Kala Patthar. This lookout point is famous for offering some of the best views of not just Mount Everest but also the peaks of Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumori, and Ama Dablam. You should arrive in time to watch the first rays of morning light gild these awe-inspiring Himalayan peaks. 

Afterward, you'll hike back down to Gorak Shep, where you'll enjoy a hearty breakfast. Then, continue the descent to Lobuche. There, you'll board a train that will take you on a wild and scenic ride through the Himalaya back to Dingboche, where you'll spend the night. 

Day 12: Trek to Chukhung (15,580 ft/ 4,750 m)

The ascent to Everest Base Camp was merely the first of two epic hikes on this itinerary. Now, from Dingboche, you'll challenge yourself once again on the ascent to Island Peak Base Camp. This peak is located near Everest, in the Imja Valley (its Indigenous name is Imja Tse), and to arrive there involves a couple of days of scenic ascents. 

Today's hike will take you from Dingboche to the village of Chukhung. It's a relatively quick and easy trail that covers 3.1 miles (5 km) and takes about three hours to complete. The route will take you through the valley dotted with stone walls up to glacier moraines amid the towering Himalaya. The trail then continues to Bibre, a yak herdsman's outpost. Directly across the valley are the Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains, while the trail ahead is intersected by icy streams.

Upon arrival in Chukhung, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing at your teahouse. Or, continue trekking up to a rocky knoll near the peak of Chukhung Ri. This viewpoint offers epic vistas of Lhotse, Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and other mountains.

Day 13: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp (17,060 ft/ 5,200 m)

Today, you'll reach Island Peak Base Camp. To do so requires a 4.5-hour ascent from Chukhung that involves some steep climbing up into the Imja Valley. The trail then winds along the southern flank of a glacial moraine, passing mountain streams. After traversing a mountain pass, the roughly 3-mile (5 km) route crisscrosses to a wider valley on the southwestern side of Island Peak, where the base camp is located. You'll spend the night here in a teahouse. 

Day 14: Climbing Practice, Optional Trek to High Camp (18,372 ft/ 5,600 m)

Meet your guide this morning and spend some time in some training to learn the fundamentals of ice climbing. This involves peak climbing techniques using specialized climbing gear, like an ice ax, crampons, and harnesses. Following this, you can set off on a brisk hike up to Imja Lake, where you'll enjoy fantastic views of the valley below.

There's also the option to ascend to Island Peak High Camp. If you choose this option, you'll climb a slope that narrows the higher you go. Eventually, the path enters a steep rock channel, where you'll overnight in a tented camp. 

Day 15: Island Peak Summit Hike (20,305 ft/ 6,189 m), Return to Chukhung

It's another early start as you set off at dawn on the final push to the very top of Island Peak. The journey to summit the mountain and descend back to Chukhung takes a full day (around nine hours). During the ascent, you'll navigate rocky steps, icy seracs, crevasses, and 45-degree slopes until finally reaching the summit, which tops out at an impressive 20,305 feet (6,189 m). Once here, enjoy the unrivaled views of surrounding peaks while snapping plenty of photos. Then descend back to camp, collect your packs, and continue to Chukhung, where you'll overnight in a lodge. 

Day 16: Trek to Khumjung (12,401 ft/ 3,780 m)

After breakfast at the lodge, hit the trail on a hike back toward Tengboche through rhododendron and pine forests. The trail then drops steeply down into a valley, where you'll cross the familiar suspension bridge and continue toward the village of Khumjhung. Once at your teahouse, you can enjoy a hot shower and loosen up your muscles.

Day 17: Trek to Namche Bazaar

Set off this morning on a route that follows the river to a crossing point. After traversing it via suspension bridges, you'll ascend through birch and rhododendron forests on your way back to Tengboche. Like many other legs of this journey, you'll be treated to fine views of Himalayan peaks like Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. From Tengboche, descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi as you make your way back to Namche, where you'll overnight. 

Day 18: Trek to Lukla, Optional Activities

Wake up for an early breakfast in Namche, then retrace your steps back to Lukla following the Dudh Kosi river valley. It's a long day (around seven hours of hiking), but it won't be too difficult as it's mostly downhill. There's also much to see and do, as during this journey, you'll pass colorful villages on your way to the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate, signifying the end of the trek. Then, spend the rest of the day with some well-earned relaxation and fun in Lukla. There are plenty of shops here to browse—you can even get your caffeine fix at the Starbucks in town.

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu

After all those mountaineering and hiking adventures, it's time to start the journey home. After breakfast at the teahouse, you'll transfer to the airstrip and board the small plane for the 30-minute flight back to Kathmandu. During the short flight, keep an eye on the Himalaya and try to spot the routes you followed over the previous couple of weeks. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will pick you up for the ride to your hotel.

Day 20: Depart Kathmandu

It's time to bid a fond farewell to Kathmandu and Nepal. Enjoy one more leisurely breakfast at your hotel, then stroll the alleys, bazaars, and temples to do some final souvenir shopping. Then, at the appropriate time, you'll meet your driver for the ride to the airport and your hotel. 

More Great Nepal Itineraries