Short Everest Base Camp Trek — Self-Launched 10 Days

Book a morning Kathmandu–Lukla flight yourself (Sita Air, Tara Air or Summit Air; roughly £150-190 one-way, book 2-4 weeks ahead and keep a buffer day — weather cancellations are common). From Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport walk north through Choplung and along the Dudh Kosi river valley to Phakding. Stay in a teahouse and register your TIMS/ Khumbu permit details en route.

🚌Kathmandu–Lukla flight ~£160 + local taxi to airport ~£4

🛏Teahouse in Phakding (twin shared, ~£5-8/night)

• →Kathmandu–Lukla mountain flight
• →Trek Lukla–Choplung–Phakding (approx. 4 hrs)
• →Dudh Kosi river valley walk

Cross suspension bridges through Sherpa villages to Monjo, where you buy your Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (~£25) and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality permit (~£18) at the checkpost. Climb through pine and rhododendron forest, cross the high Hillary suspension bridge above the Dudh Kosi and zig-zag up to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m).

🚌On foot, approx. 6-7 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Namche Bazaar (~£6-10/night)

• →Monjo permit checkpost (Sagarmatha National Park permit)
• →Hillary suspension bridge
• →Arrive Namche Bazaar viewpoint

Trek out of Namche with the classic first views of Everest and Ama Dablam, descend to the Imja/Dudh Kosi confluence at Phunki Tenga, then climb steadily through forest to Tengboche (3,860 m). Visit the Tengboche Monastery — entry is by small donation (~£3) and afternoon prayer ceremonies are open to visitors. Remember to do an acclimatisation walk in Namche the evening before if you haven't already.

🚌On foot, approx. 5-6 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Tengboche (~£8-12/night)

• →Everest & Ama Dablam viewpoints
• →Tengboche Monastery visit
• →Phunki Tenga river crossing

Descend past Deboche, cross the steel bridge over the Imja Khola and pass through Pangboche (its gompa is one of the oldest in Khumbu). Continue climbing above the treeline to Dingboche (4,410 m). Take it slow — this is where altitude starts to bite. Optional short acclimatisation climb to Nangkartshang ridge in the late afternoon if you feel good.

🚌On foot, approx. 5 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche (~£8-12/night)

• →Pangboche gompa
• →Imja Khola steel bridge
• →Optional Nangkartshang acclimatisation hike

Climb the prayer-flag ridge above Dingboche, walk up the wide valley to Thukla for lunch, cross the bridge and climb the steep ridge past the mountaineers' memorial cairns (a moving stop for those lost on Everest). Continue on the moraine path to Lobuche (4,940 m).

🚌On foot, approx. 5 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Lobuche (~£8-12/night)

• →Thukla pass and memorial ridge
• →Khumbu Glacier views
• →Cholatse and Taboche peaks

Walk along the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Gorakshep (5,164 m), drop your bag at a teahouse, then continue 2-3 hours across the glacier to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) for the classic prayer-flag and Khumbu Icefall viewpoint, before returning to Gorakshep for the night. Eat and hydrate early — sleep here is short.

🚌On foot, approx. 7-8 hrs including EBC out-and-back

🛏Teahouse in Gorakshep (~£12-18/night, basic)

• →Khumbu Glacier moraine traverse
• →Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)
• →Khumbu Icefall viewpoint

Start before dawn (approx. 4:30-5:00am) for the 2-hour climb to Kala Patthar (5,545 m) for sunrise on Everest — the best summit view on the whole trek. Descend back to Gorakshep for breakfast, then walk down via Lobuche and the Pheriche valley to Pangboche (3,930 m). This is the toughest day of the itinerary, as noted by past trekkers on the group version.

🚌On foot, approx. 8-9 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Pangboche (~£6-10/night)

• →Sunrise at Kala Patthar (5,545 m)
• →Pheriche valley descent
• →Everest & Pumori views

A big descent day back into the trees. Revisit Tengboche Monastery, descend to Phunki Tenga and climb the switchbacks back up to Namche Bazaar. Celebrate with a bakery stop and a hot shower — Namche has the best teahouses on the route.

🚌On foot, approx. 6 hrs

🛏Teahouse/guesthouse in Namche Bazaar (~£8-12/night)

• →Tengboche Monastery second visit
• →Namche Bazaar bakeries and gear shops
• →Sherpa Culture Museum (optional, ~£2)

Long final walking day: descend past the national park gate at Monjo, retrace the Dudh Kosi valley through Phakding and take the final climb up to Lukla (2,840 m). Book your return Lukla–Kathmandu flight for the next morning and confirm it with the airline office in Lukla the evening before.

🚌On foot, approx. 7-8 hrs

🛏Teahouse/lodge in Lukla (~£8-12/night)

• →Sagarmatha National Park exit checkpost
• →Dudh Kosi valley descent
• →Confirm return flight in Lukla

Early flight back to Kathmandu (approx. £150-190, booked with your outbound ticket for a better rate). If weather grounds flights, shared helicopter seats are the usual fallback — around £250-350 per person if you join a group; budget for this as contingency. Transfer to a Thamel hostel or guesthouse. Optional afternoon Kathmandu walking tour (Durbar Square, Swayambhunath) on a self-booked GetYourGuide/Klook tour from ~£20-30, much cheaper than the operator's $75 private vehicle option.

🚌Lukla–Kathmandu flight ~£160 + airport taxi ~£4

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Thamel, Kathmandu (~£10-15/night)

• →Lukla–Kathmandu flight
• →Optional self-booked Kathmandu walking tour
• →Thamel evening