Ultimate Everest

Ready for the ultimate experience of the Everest region? Our adventurous 20-day trek brings us to the top of Kala Patar (18,365'), a trekker’s peak with sensational views of Everest’s entire Southwest Face (the best you’ll get without climbing it), and to Gokyo Ri (17,500'), with the unbelievable panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu—four of the highest mountains on earth. With special exploration days that take us off the main trekking route, we hike to remote Ama Dablam Base Camp, into the high Chukhung Valley, and right to Everest Base Camp itself. Our journey is the mountain adventure of a lifetime, with an itinerary fine-tuned over the years and led by the most experienced, safety-oriented Trip Leaders in the Himalaya.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Kathmandu

In this fabled city, we explore fascinating temples and bustling artisan markets.

Days 3-7
Lukla / Namche / Khumjung / Tengboche

After flying to Lukla, we trek to the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar, with a layover day for acclimatization and exploration and our first views of the Khumbu’s Himalayan giants. In the beautiful twin villages of Khunde and Khumjung, we visit the Hillary School and a village monastery with a purported yeti scalp. Ascending through conifer and rhododendron forests, we arrive at stunning Tengboche Monastery (12,650'), where the snow peaks of Kangtega and Thamserku soar directly above us.

Days 8-12
Ama Dablam Base Camp / Chukhung Ri

The next few days bring us across remarkable terrain seldom explored by trekkers. Rising regally just up the valley is Ama Dablam (22,494'), one of the most spectacular peaks in the whole of the Himalaya. We hike to its Base Camp at 15,400 feet, where we may see climbers attempting its summit, and from our camp below Ama Dablam we have amazing perspectives of the icy giants of the Everest region. In the Chukhung Valley, options include a hike to the settlement of Chukhung (15,584'), surrounded by massive glaciers and moraine fields, and to the top of Chukhung Ri (17,772'), with its panoramas of the famous trio of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. A hike up the Khumbu Glacier’s terminal and lateral moraines brings us to the yak grazing pastures of Lobuche.

Days 13-14
Kala Patar / Everest Base Camp

Hiking up Kala Patar (18,365’—the highest point of our trek) rewards us with classic views of Everest’s Southwest Face as well as the Lho La Pass leading into Tibet, the peak of Pumori (23,628'), and the enormous faces of Lhotse (27,833') and Nuptse (25,843'). Our optional hike to Everest Base Camp (17,600') offers an incredible view of the Khumbu Icefall and a fascinating journey in mountaineering history.

Days 15-19
Cho La / Gokyo Ri

Crossing the snow-covered Cho La Pass (17,780'), we descend into the Gokyo Valley, with its stunning turquoise glacial lakes. Gokyo Ri (17,500') features fantastic top-of-the-world views of four of the eight highest peaks in the world—Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu!

Days 20-25
Lukla / Kathmandu

We head down the Gokyo Valley, descending through the terminal moraines of Gokyo’s glaciers, and trek back to Lukla. Fly to Kathmandu on Day 23, with an extra day to explore the city, and depart on Day 25.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 6, Very Strenuous. A trek to the base of Everest is one of the world’s great adventures, but also very physically demanding. Most hiking is between 10,000 and 16,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 17,000 feet with optional day hikes to 18,365 feet. Trail conditions are often rough, not the well-maintained switchbacks you may be accustomed to, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). For the most part, you can hike at your own speed; the group will spread out along the trail during the day to cover a normal maximum of 6 to 10 miles per day (4-8 hours of hiking). There are a number of days on this trek when the walks are shorter, as well as rest days, allowing opportunities for day hikes and exploring the villages, monasteries, and beautiful surroundings near our campsites.

There are dangers inherent in any expedition traveling to remote wilderness regions, especially when they involve travel to high altitude. These dangers include everything from rock falls to the possibility of a serious fall, accident, or sickness without access to means of rapid evacuation, availability of medical supplies, or adequate medical attention once provided. Our Trip Leaders and support crew are experienced veterans of the Nepal Himalaya, but it takes cooperation and flexibility from each participant to ensure a successful trek.

Explanation of Trip Levels