Ultimate Everest

Here’s the ultimate experience of the Everest region! Our adventurous 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 its unforgettable panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu—four of the highest mountains on earth. Special Exploration Days take us off the main trekking route up to Ama Dablam Base Camp, into the high Chukhung Valley, and right to Everest Base Camp. This is the trip of a lifetime, with an itinerary fine-tuned over the years and led by our experienced Sherpa guides who share their world with us. A bonus: staying in Sherpa family-owned lodges keep us comfy as we explore this incredible realm.

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 3-8
Lukla / Namche / Khumjung / Tengboche

After flying to Lukla, we trek to the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar, with an Exploration Day for acclimatization. In the lovely villages of Khunde and Khumjung, we visit the Hillary School and a monastery with a famous yeti scalp. Ascending through forests, we arrive at stunning Tengboche Monastery (12,650'), where the snow peaks of Kangtega and Thamserku soar directly above us. Throughout our trek, we overnight at comfortable Sherpa lodges offering private rooms, private or shared facilities, and a welcoming ambiance.

Days 9-13
Pangboche / Ama Dablam Base Camp / Chukhung Ri / Lobuche

The next few days bring us across remarkable terrain off the main trekking trail. Rising regally just up the valley is Ama Dablam (22,494'), one of the most spectacular mountains in the Himalaya. From our lodge at Pangboche, we hike to Ama Dablam’s Base Camp at 15,400 feet for amazing perspectives. In the Chukhung Valley, options include a hike to Chukhung (15,584'), surrounded by massive glaciers and moraine fields, and to Chukhung Ri (17,772'), with its panoramas of the famous trio of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. A hike up the Khumbu Glacier’s moraines brings us to the yak grazing pastures of Lobuche.

Days 14-15
Kala Patar / Everest Base Camp

Hiking up Kala Patar (18,365') rewards us with classic views of Everest’s Southwest Face, 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.

Days 16-19
Cho La / Gokyo Ri

Crossing the snowy Cho La (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 six highest peaks in the world—Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu!

Days 20-25
Lukla / Kathmandu

We head down the Gokyo Valley, descending through the moraines of Gokyo’s glaciers and back to Lukla. Fly to Kathmandu on Day 23 and depart on Day 25.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

Trip Level

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 the beautiful surroundings.

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.

Getting in Shape

Every participant must understand that this trek is truly challenging—you should be in excellent physical condition. Even though trip members carry only a daypack (with camera, jacket, rain gear, water bottle, and other small necessities you may need during the day), we recommend you make a special effort to get in top physical shape for the trip by hiking, running, swimming, bicycling, or engaging in other forms of aerobic exercise well beyond your normal routine. Many activities get heart and lungs into shape, but the most effective way of getting fit for hiking is to hike! Walking up and down flights of stairs is also an effective way to train for the steep ascents and descents in the Himalaya. Bending your knees as you go down stairs will help strengthen your quad muscles. At least two months prior to your trek, we urge you to go on weekend day hikes that involve long uphill and downhill walking.

For this trek, we require your doctor sign the Wilderness Travel Medical Form. Once Wilderness Travel has confirmed your place on the trip roster, no refunds beyond our standard fees will be made if your physician refuses to sign the form. It is very important that you and your physician fully agree that you are physically capable of undertaking a strenuous trek, and equally important that you undertake proper conditioning prior to the trek.

The Trip Leader has the right to disqualify any member from the trip at any time if it is medically necessary, to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.

Trip Leader

Our lodge-based treks are led by an experienced English-speaking Sirdar (leader) who is ably assisted by a team of assistants and a trail crew. He and his team have a deep connection with the Himalayas and are wonderful trailside companions, hiking with you throughout each day on the trail, providing good company, and making sure that you are comfortable and hiking at a pace that suits you.

Meals on Trek

Our own experienced cook crew is part of the Wilderness Travel trekking staff, and all our meals at the lodges will be prepared by them. Our cooks are professionally trained and offer a good variety of hygienically prepared meals. Our drinking water is always boiled and treated washing water is put out before every meal so you can wash your hands before eating. Meals are a blend of Nepalese and Western dishes. Breakfast is normally a light meal of porridge or granola, with hot milk, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, or cookies. Lunches may include potatoes, eggs, curried vegetables, cheese, local-style breads, fruit, tea, hot chocolate or a fruit drink. Dinner is typically soup and a main course such as a noodle dish, or meat or vegetable stew, depending on what is available in local villages. Dessert on trek is usually canned or fresh fruit.

A Typical Trekking Day 

Hiking distances on trek are normally measured in hours, not miles, since maps aren’t really accurate enough to assess how far we walk up and down winding mountain trails. On a typical trek day, wake-up is around 7:00 am. After packing up our duffels and having breakfast, we set off on the trail. There is always a guide in the lead and a “sweeper” who trails behind the slowest hiker to ensure that no one is lost on the trail. We ask you not to hike ahead of the leader because trails are often not well-marked. We typically walk for three to four hours in the morning, then stop for a leisurely lunch of an hour or more (either in a lodge or picnic-style at a scenic spot on the trail).

After lunch, we walk for another three hours or so until we reach our next night’s lodging, where we can enjoy a cup of tea and a snack on arrival. On our exploration days, we occasionally have more time in the morning or afternoon near the lodge to rest or for further individual exploration. Temperatures drop quickly as the sun falls behind the peaks, and it’s easy to get chilled after exerting yourself for several hours, so have an extra layer of clothing ready.

Explanation of Trip Levels