Trekking · Packages
Everest Base Camp Trek — 15 Days
The complete 15-day guided EBC package — Kathmandu to Kathmandu, day-by-day, with cost, inclusions and booking.
The 15-day Everest Base Camp trek is the standard guided package for reaching the foot of the world's highest mountain — measured door to door, from the day you land in Kathmandu to the day you fly home. Inside that fortnight you get two days in the capital for arrival, permits and a gear check, about eleven nights in teahouses on the trail, and a built-in buffer for the weather-dependent Lukla flight. It is the most popular length precisely because it balances a real summit-viewpoint experience with the acclimatisation and safety margin that shorter trips cut out.
This page lays out the full Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu itinerary, what a package includes, a realistic cost range and the best months to go, so you can compare it properly and book.
At a glance
| Duration | 15 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu (≈12 days trekking) |
| Highest point | Kala Patthar, 5,545 m; Everest Base Camp, 5,364 m |
| Start / end | Kathmandu (via a flight to Lukla, 2,860 m) |
| Difficulty | Challenging but non-technical — no climbing skills needed |
| Best seasons | Autumn (late Sep–Nov) and spring (Mar–May) |
| Nights | ~2 in Kathmandu hotels + ~11 in trail teahouses |
The 15-day itinerary, day by day
| Day | Plan | Approx. altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Kathmandu; transfer and trip briefing | 1,400 m |
| 2 | Kathmandu — permits, gear check, free afternoon | 1,400 m |
| 3 | Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding | 2,610 m |
| 4 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m |
| 5 | Acclimatisation day at Namche | 3,440 m |
| 6 | Namche to Tengboche | 3,860 m |
| 7 | Tengboche to Dingboche | 4,410 m |
| 8 | Acclimatisation day at Dingboche | 4,410 m |
| 9 | Dingboche to Lobuche | 4,940 m |
| 10 | Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then Everest Base Camp | 5,364 m |
| 11 | Kala Patthar at sunrise, descend to Pheriche | 5,545 m / 4,240 m |
| 12 | Pheriche to Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m |
| 13 | Namche to Lukla | 2,860 m |
| 14 | Fly Lukla to Kathmandu | 1,400 m |
| 15 | Final departure | 1,400 m |
The two rest days — at Namche (day 5) and Dingboche (day 8) — are the heart of the plan, not padding. They follow the "climb high, sleep low" rule that keeps you healthy above 3,000 m; read altitude sickness in Nepal before you go. For the trek-only, night-by-night version without the Kathmandu days, see our 14-day Everest Base Camp itinerary.
What's included
A standard guided package covers:
- Airport transfers and 2 nights in a Kathmandu hotel (arrival and departure).
- Return Kathmandu–Lukla flights and all ground logistics.
- A licensed English-speaking guide and porters (typically one porter per two trekkers).
- Teahouse accommodation on the trail, on a twin-sharing basis.
- Most meals on the trek (usually breakfast, lunch and dinner on trail days).
- All trekking permits — the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit.
Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa, travel and helicopter-rescue insurance, meals in Kathmandu, drinks and snacks, personal gear, and tips for your guide and porters.
Cost
A guided 15-day EBC package typically runs from around US$1,300 for a budget group departure to US$2,200 or more for premium, small-group or fully private trips. What moves the price is group size, teahouse comfort, the guide-to-trekker ratio and the season. For a line-by-line view of where the money goes — permits, flights, teahouses, guide and porter wages, insurance and tips — see the Everest Base Camp trek cost guide.
14, 15 or 16 days — which length?
The walking is the same; the difference is how much cushion you build in around it.
- 12–14 days is the trek itself, Lukla to Lukla — best if you're arranging Kathmandu nights separately or are short on time. Our 14-day itinerary is the trail-only plan.
- 15 days is the sweet spot for a full guided trip: it adds the Kathmandu arrival, permit and departure days and a single flight buffer, which is why most operators sell it as the standard package.
- 16 days or more adds a second Lukla-flight buffer or an extension such as Gokyo over the Cho La pass — worth it in the monsoon shoulder or if you want insurance against delays.
Best time to go
Autumn (late September to November) and spring (March to May) are the prime windows, with clear skies, stable trails and the sharpest mountain views. Winter is quiet and cold with a real chance of snow on the passes, while the summer monsoon brings cloud and frequent Lukla flight delays. For a month-by-month view, see the best time to trek Everest Base Camp guide, and pack to our Everest Base Camp packing list.
Difficulty and fitness
This is a strenuous walk, not a climb — there are no ropes, harnesses or technical sections, but you'll walk five to seven hours a day on steep, rocky trails and cross 5,000 m twice. The challenge is the altitude, so build a training base of hill walking and cardio in the months before, and never rush the acclimatisation days. The full planning picture — fitness, gear, seasons and permits — sits in our Everest Base Camp trek guide and the wider trekking in Nepal pillar.
Book this trek
Ready to go, or want to tweak the dates, group size or route? Departures run through both trekking seasons, and the itinerary can be customised — private trips, a Gokyo extension, or an extra Lukla buffer day.
Enquire about this trek
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll come back with departures and a firm price.
Prefer to browse first? See the rest of our Nepal trekking packages.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Everest Base Camp trek?+
The trek itself takes about 12 days on the trail, but the standard guided package runs 15 days from your arrival in Kathmandu to your departure. The extra days cover two nights in Kathmandu for arrival, permits and a gear check, plus buffer time for the notoriously weather-dependent Lukla flight. Fifteen days is the most popular length because it builds in proper acclimatisation and a safety margin without feeling rushed.
How much does the 15-day Everest Base Camp trek cost?+
A guided 15-day package typically runs from around US$1,300 for a budget group trip to US$2,200 or more for premium, small-group or private departures. The price usually covers your guide, porters, teahouse nights, Kathmandu hotels, Lukla flights, permits and most meals on the trek; international flights, Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are extra. See our full Everest Base Camp trek cost breakdown for what drives the number.
Is the 15-day Everest Base Camp trek hard?+
It is a challenging but non-technical walk — no ropes or climbing skills, but long days of five to seven hours on steep, rocky trails at high altitude, topping out at Kala Patthar (5,545 m). Anyone reasonably fit who trains beforehand and acclimatises properly can complete it. The real difficulty is the thin air, not the terrain.
What is the best time for the 15-day EBC trek?+
Autumn (late September to November) and spring (March to May) are the prime seasons, with the clearest skies, stable weather and the best mountain views. Winter treks are possible but cold, and the summer monsoon brings cloud, rain and flight delays. Book two to three months ahead for the peak autumn and spring departures.
What permits do you need for the Everest Base Camp trek?+
Two permits are required: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit, both arranged as part of a guided package. Since 2023 a licensed guide is also required for the route. Carry your passport, as details are checked at posts along the trail.
