Everest Base Camp Trek — Self-Launched

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport and take a pre-paid airport taxi or the local microbus to Thamel (taxi ~£4-6, microbus ~£0.30). Settle into a Thamel guesthouse or hostel. Spend the afternoon sorting logistics: buy or rent a down jacket and sleeping bag (rental ~£1-2/day), pick up a TIMS card and Sagarmatha National Park permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office (TIMS ~£14, park permit ~£22), and get a local SIM (Ncell/Namaste, ~£1.50 with data). Confirm your Lukla flight for the next morning — book directly with Tara Air, Summit Air, or Yeti Airlines, or via a Kathmandu agent. Note that flights are weather-dependent and often delayed.

🚌Airport taxi ~£5; walkable Thamel

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Thamel (~£10-15 dorm or private twin)

• →Permit office (TIMS + Sagarmatha National Park)
• →Gear rental in Thamel
• →Boudhanath Stupa evening visit (~£2 entry)

Early morning flight Kathmandu–Lukla (~35 min, ~£130-160 one-way depending on season and booking; if flights are cancelled there's a shared jeep option via Salleri/Jiri taking 1-2 days, or a helicopter share ~£250-300). From Lukla, walk the classic trail north through Chaurikharka and Ghat to Phakding — about 3-4 hours, mostly easy downhill and river-side. Teahouses in Phakding are plentiful; just turn up and ask, or use a booking app like Nepal Trek Booking.

🚌Domestic flight Kathmandu–Lukla ~£140; on foot from Lukla

🛏Teahouse in Phakding (~£5-8 per person, twin room; meals extra)

• →Lukla flight
• →Trek Lukla–Phakding (~3-4 hrs)
• →Sagarmatha National Park entry gate at Monjo next day

A long day: ~6-7 hours up through Monjo (park checkpoint), Jorsale, and the famous high suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi, then the steep climb to Namche Bazaar. Take it slowly. Views of Thamserku and, on a clear day, Everest from the Namche ridge. Teahouses in Namche are numerous and competitive — around £7-10 for a twin, with meals £3-5 each.

🚌On foot (~6-7 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Namche (~£7-10 per person)

• →Sagarmatha National Park checkpoint at Monjo
• →Suspension bridges over Dudh Koshi
• →First Everest viewpoint on the climb to Namche

Rest and acclimatise. Do a short day hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) or Khumjung village with its monastery and the 'Yeti scalp' — 3-4 hours round trip, free apart from tea stops. Optional excursion to Thame. Pick up any remaining gear or cash in Namche (there are ATMs, but they are unreliable — bring cash from Kathmandu). Check your insurance covers high-altitude trekking and consider adding a porter-guide here for the high sections if you want support.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Namche (~£7-10 per person)

• →Day hike to Everest View Hotel (free)
• →Khumjung village and monastery
• →Optional Thame excursion

~5-6 hours with a dramatic descent to Phunki Thanga on the Dudh Koshi, then a steady climb through rhododendron forest to Tengboche. The monastery is the spiritual heart of Khumbu — visit in the late afternoon (small donation ~£2). Teahouses are limited (4-5), so arrive early to secure a room in peak season (Oct-Nov, Mar-May).

🚌On foot (~5-6 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Tengboche (~£6-9 per person)

• →Tengboche Monastery visit
• →Everest/Ama Dablam mountain views
• →Afternoon monastery prayer ceremony

Trek via Pangboche (its monastery is the oldest in Khumbu) and on to the Chhukung Valley side — a quieter alternative route and good acclimatisation. Attending the early morning prayer at Tengboche before leaving is worth it. This is a long day (~6-7 hrs), so start early. Accommodation at Chhukung or Dingboche in basic teahouses (~£7-9).

🚌On foot (~6-7 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Chhukung/Dingboche (~£7-9 per person)

• →Pangboche Monastery
• →Tengboche morning prayer (optional)
• →Chhukung Valley walk

Acclimatisation day. Optional hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) for excellent views of Makalu, or explore the Chhukung Valley. Both are self-guided and free. Keep it to 4-5 hours and descend to sleep at Dingboche. Watch for AMS symptoms; carry paracetamol/ibuprofen and know the symptoms of HACE/HAPE.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche (~£7-9 per person)

• →Nangkartshang Peak hike (5,083m)
• →Chhukung Valley exploration
• →Rest and acclimatisation

~5 hours, climbing over the Dughla Pass (4,620m) with its memorial chortens to trekkers who died on Everest. Then a gradual climb to Lobuche. Cold nights now — expect -10°C or lower in shoulder season. Teahouses here are basic and pricey (~£8-12 per person, with food ~£5-7 per meal). Bring cash, as there are no ATMs.

🚌On foot (~5 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Lobuche (~£8-12 per person)

• →Dughla Pass and memorial chortens
• →Khumbu Glacier views

Walk ~3 hours to Gorak Shep, drop your bag at a teahouse, then continue 2-3 hours along the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp (5,364m). Self-guided trekkers can walk to the BC viewpoint; you cannot enter the climbing base camp itself. Alternatively, hike Kala Patthar (5,545m) for sunset. Either way, do one, not both, on the same day. Extremely cold at night — most trekkers now carry a -20°C rated sleeping bag.

🚌On foot (~5-6 hrs total)

🛏Teahouse in Gorak Shep (~£10-15 per person)

• →Everest Base Camp (5,364m)
• →Khumbu Glacier walk
• →Kala Patthar sunset (alternative)

If you didn't summit Kala Patthar yesterday, get up at 4-5 am for sunrise on Kala Patthar (5,545m) — the best Everest viewpoint on the trek. Then descend to Pheriche (~6 hours). Pheriche has the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic, a good place to get any altitude-related worries checked (consultation donation-based).

🚌On foot (~6 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Pheriche (~£6-9 per person)

• →Kala Patthar sunrise hike
• →Descent via Khumbu Glacier
• →HRA clinic (optional)

A long descent day, ~7 hours back through Pangboche, Tengboche, and Phunki Thanga to Namche. Your legs will thank you for the lower altitude. Treat yourself to a proper shower and a bakery pastry in Namche.

🚌On foot (~7 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Namche (~£7-10 per person)

• →Downhill trek via Tengboche
• →Namche bakeries and gear shops

Descend through Monjo to Phakding (~5 hours), or push on all the way to Lukla (~7-8 hours) if you want to buffer against flight delays. Staying in Lukla tonight means you can catch the first flight out. Teahouse ~£6-9.

🚌On foot (~5-8 hrs)

🛏Teahouse in Phakding or Lukla (~£6-9 per person)

• →Descent through Sagarmatha National Park
• →Last views of Thamserku

Morning flight Lukla–Kathmandu (~£130-160). If flights are cancelled (common in bad weather), a shared helicopter to Kathmandu costs ~£250-300, or a jeep to Salleri and bus back to Kathmandu (~£20, 1-2 days). Back in Kathmandu, a hot shower and a Thamel meal never felt better.

🚌Domestic flight Lukla–Kathmandu ~£140 (helicopter/jeep alternatives)

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Thamel (~£10-15)

• →Rest day in Thamel
• →Durbar Square or Swayambhunath visit (~£2)
• →Celebration dinner

Final departure from Kathmandu airport. If you have time before your flight, a last walk through Thamel or a spa/massage for aching trekking legs.

🚌Airport taxi ~£5

🛏N/A

• →Departure