Trekking · Nepal
Everest Region Itinerary
How to plan a Khumbu trip — Lukla, Namche, Tengboche and Everest Base Camp, paced for safe acclimatisation.
The Everest region, known locally as the Khumbu, is Nepal's most famous mountain destination, and a well-paced itinerary is the difference between a triumphant trek and a miserable, altitude-stricken retreat. The golden rule is to ascend slowly: most of the trip is spent walking through Sherpa villages between Sagarmatha National Park's 6,000- and 8,000-metre peaks, with deliberate rest days to let your body adjust.
The short answer
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, then trek up the Dudh Koshi valley to Namche Bazaar (around 3,440 m) with a rest day there. Continue via Tengboche monastery and Dingboche — taking a second acclimatisation day — to Lobuche and Gorak Shep, then push to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the Kala Patthar viewpoint (about 5,545 m) before descending. The full round trip runs twelve to fourteen days.
Day-by-day outline
Days 1-2: Lukla to Namche Bazaar
Land at Lukla's dramatic hillside strip and walk down to Phakding, then climb through pine forest and across suspension bridges to Namche, the Sherpa capital and the Khumbu's trading hub.
Day 3: Acclimatisation at Namche
Rest here, but stay active: hike up to the Everest View Hotel for a first glimpse of the peak, or visit the Sherpa Culture Museum and the Saturday market.
Days 4-6: Tengboche to Dingboche
Continue to Tengboche, home to the region's most important monastery, then climb above the treeline to Dingboche for a second acclimatisation day with an optional hike up Nangkartshang.
Days 7-9: Lobuche, Base Camp and Kala Patthar
Trek past the memorials at Thukla pass to Lobuche, then to Gorak Shep. Make the day trip to Everest Base Camp and rise early for the Kala Patthar sunrise, the trek's highest and best viewpoint.
Days 10-14: Descent and buffer
Retrace your steps to Lukla over three days and fly back to Kathmandu, keeping a buffer day in hand for the weather-prone Lukla flight.
Where it can go further
Strong, experienced trekkers can extend west to the Gokyo Lakes and cross the Cho La pass, linking the turquoise lakes and the Ngozumpa Glacier to the Base Camp route. The toughest option, the Three Passes circuit, adds Renjo La and Kongma La for an eighteen-to-twenty-day loop.
Before you go
Altitude is the real challenge here, so read our altitude sickness in Nepal guide and never skip the rest days. Study the broader Nepal trekking guide for kit, fitness and guide arrangements. To see how this region compares with others, return to the Nepal regional itineraries hub, or weigh it against the gentler Annapurna region itinerary if you are short on time or wary of extreme altitude.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Everest region?+
Plan twelve to fourteen days for the classic Everest Base Camp round trip from Lukla, including two acclimatisation days at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. Add three to four days for Gokyo or the Cho La pass, or around eighteen to twenty days for the full Three Passes circuit.
How do you get to the Everest region?+
Almost all Khumbu treks begin with the short flight from Kathmandu, or from Manthali in the busy season, to Lukla's mountain airstrip. From Lukla you walk; there is no road. The lower Pikey Peak trek in Solu is the only Everest-area route reached entirely by road.
What permits are needed for the Everest region?+
You need the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. A licensed guide is also required for trekking in the area. Agencies usually arrange the paperwork, or you can buy the permits in Kathmandu and Monjo.
When is the best time to trek the Everest region?+
Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) offer the clearest skies and most stable weather. Autumn is the most popular for its crisp post-monsoon views; spring adds rhododendron blooms lower down. Winter is cold but quiet, and the monsoon brings cloud and Lukla flight delays.
