The long-form itinerary, day by day, in our own words.

You arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, where a representative meets you and escorts you to Hotel Dwarika’s or Hyatt Regency. Once you have rested, we visit the local market in Thamel for any last-minute preparations for the trail, and your assigned guide gives a briefing on the 20 days ahead. No meals are included today, and dinner in Kathmandu is not included in the package.

If the weather permits, we board an early-morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, a journey of about half an hour. At Lukla you meet your porters and set out along the Dudh Koshi river, passing prayer wheels and prayer flags along the way, to Phakding. You spend the night in a teahouse.

From Phakding the trail traces the Dudh Koshi river, crossing suspension bridges through verdant valley landscapes. The walk takes about six hours and brings views of Thamserku, with a possible first glimpse of Everest. You arrive in Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa hub of the Khumbu, and sleep in a teahouse at 3,440 m.

Today is set aside for acclimatisation, giving the body time to adapt to lower oxygen levels before the route climbs further. In Namche Bazaar you can visit the Sherpa Museum, see the local markets and bakeries, and stroll through the Sherpa village. An optional hike climbs to Hotel Everest View and returns to Namche, where you spend a second night at 3,440 m.

Today you trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche and spend the night at 3,860 m. The monastery is regarded as the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, set among Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Everest, and it offers a quiet setting for prayers and blessings. Its architecture and calm atmosphere make it a restful stop, and you sleep in a teahouse.

From Tengboche the trail descends through rhododendron forest, crosses the Imja Khola and rises gradually to Pangboche before continuing to Dingboche. The walk takes five to six hours, and the higher altitude calls for a steady pace. Dingboche sits in the Imja Valley, with views of Lhotse and Island Peak, and you sleep in a teahouse at 4,410 m.

Today the body adjusts to the higher altitude, which helps reduce the risk of altitude sickness. A short, steep and demanding hike climbs towards Nangkartsang Peak, reaching 5,083 m, with views of nearby mountains such as Ama Dablam and Lhotse. You then return to Dingboche and spend a second night in a teahouse at 4,410 m.

A short day of about four hours follows the Imja Valley to Chhukung, with views of Island Peak and the rugged country around it. Chhukung is a peaceful settlement and the last stop before Kongma La, so the day is kept brief to prepare for the pass. You sleep in a teahouse

This is the first of the three passes and the highest of them. From Chhukung the ascent to Kongma La, at 5,535 m, is strenuous, with views over glacial moraines and peaks such as Lhotse. The descent to Lobuche needs care, and you spend the night in a teahouse there. The pass is less travelled than the main Base Camp trail.

From Lobuche you follow the path of the Khumbu Glacier via Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m. During the expedition season the camp is busy with climbers. After time at the base of Everest, you return to Gorak Shep, where you sleep in a teahouse. At six to eight hours on foot and at this altitude, it is one of the more demanding days.

The day begins early at Gorak Shep with the hike to Kala Patthar, a viewpoint over Everest, Changtse and Nuptse that is popular with photographers for its early light. The weather decides what is visible. You return to Gorak Shep for breakfast and then descend to Lobuche, where you sleep in a teahouse.

About five hours on foot take you from Lobuche to Dzongla, leaving the main Base Camp route behind. The trail descends into a quieter valley, with views of Cholatse and Taboche. Dzongla is a small settlement and a place to recover before Cho La, and you sleep in a teahouse.

Cho La is a strenuous crossing at 5,420 m, with a glacier crossing and steep rock that demand focus. The day takes seven to eight hours, and on a clear day the pass offers views towards Ama Dablam and Cholatse. You descend to Gokyo and sleep in a teahouse beside the lake.

From Gokyo you climb Gokyo Ri, a major viewpoint with panoramic views of the high peaks, including Everest, Lhotse and Cho Oyu, and the Gokyo Lakes and Ngozumpa Glacier below. Visibility depends on the weather. By midday you return to Gokyo, where you spend a few hours by the turquoise lakes before a second night in a teahouse.

Detailed Description Renjo La, at 5,360 m, is the last of the three passes and is considered a little easier than the others because its steep sections are less severe. The day is long, at about eight hours. From the pass you look back towards Everest, the Gokyo Valley and Cho Oyu before descending to Lunden, a quiet village, where you sleep in a teahouse.

The trail descends from Lunden to the village of Thame and feels easier than recent days as the air thickens at the lower altitude. Thame’s monastery and cultural heritage offer a peaceful stop. It is a shorter day and a welcome break after the passes, and you sleep in a teahouse.

You return to Namche Bazaar from Thame by pine forest and mountain paths, descending gradually, so the air feels thicker and walking becomes more comfortable. Along the way you may meet local people and yaks. Namche feels warm compared with the higher elevations, and its bakeries are a welcome treat. You sleep in a teahouse at 3,440 m.

Your last day on foot follows the valley back from Namche Bazaar to Lukla, crossing suspension bridges and passing through forest and villages such as Phakding. The descent takes about six to seven hours and includes steeper sections that can be demanding on the knees. You sleep in Lukla in a teahouse before the flight to Kathmandu.

After breakfast in Lukla, you take the flight to Kathmandu, weather permitting, with a last look at the mountains from the air, and transfer privately to your hotel. Kathmandu offers its urban amenities for the rest of the day. Dinner in Kathmandu is not included in the package.

After breakfast at the hotel, there may be time to stroll through Kathmandu and buy souvenirs, depending on your flight schedule. A private transfer then takes you to the international airport. You leave with memories of the high passes, the peaks and the Sherpa culture of the Khumbu, and the friendships made along the trail.