.png?fit=crop&crop=entropy&h=350&w=1000&auto=format)
.png?fit=crop&crop=entropy&h=525&w=1500&fm=pjpg&auto=format)
It’s the mountain of all mountains – the highest point on Planet Earth. For many years, Mount Everest was only accessible to the local villagers who call it home and the bravest of mountain explorers. Now, this high-altitude legend can be traversed by practically anyone who aspires to witness its majesty firsthand.
There a few things that eclipse the feeling of trekking through a mammoth mountain range, and the Khumbu Region is as big as it gets. The ascent from the mountain hub of Lukla, through fertile fields, past towering peaks to the lunar landscapes of the Khumbu glacier is a worthy trek for even the most avid adventurer.
Every step you take towards Base Camp robs more vital oxygen from your already heaving lungs, every step becomes slower and more lethargic yet somehow the old-fashioned practice of one foot in front of the other gets you to the end of another day. It's a battle of mind over matter that may see the fastest fail, as the methodical march on towards the nightly teahouse, one chapter closer to their ultimate goal.
The ever-changing landscapes, bustling villages and passing yak trains provide a welcome distraction from the constant uphill slog, set to the background sounds of gushing mountain streams, tinkling prayer wheels and giggling school kids.
Our expedition to Everest Base Camp (EBC) are so much more than a hike in the Himalayas. With Best Life Adventures, your journey to the roof of the world will be one of cultural immersion, deep insight, and connection with this awe-inspiring landscape.
Following the success of our previous expeditions, we have revised and improved our EBC itinerary to take you places other bog-standard trekking and travel companies don’t even know about. We give you a seriously unique adventure in the Himalayas that includes Wim Hof-style glacial lake swimming, a tour of the Italian glass research station known as, The Pyramid, a local Nepali cooking class, and the best traditional Japanese Shiatsu massage you can find once you're back in Kathmandu.
WE HELP PRESERVE AND GIVE BACK
We make a donation to the Australian Himalayan Foundation, on behalf of everyone who books a trek with us, to help improve living standards in the Himal region through better education and training, improved health services, and environmental sustainability.
As part of our commitment to preserving the livelihoods of the people, and the landscapes of the Khumbu region, we have added a number of sustainability initiatives to each and every one of our EBC treks:
INSURANCE - We highly recommend taking out personal travel insurance within seven days of booking this expedition, ensuring you are covered if things go pear-shaped.
Remember to get a policy that covers you for trekking to 6000m with emergency helicopter evacuation, and in case of trip cancellation (e.g. due to low numbers or weather conditions). In the past, we’ve worked with several different companies and have had the best customer experience and speed of response with World Nomads, but the decision is 100% yours if you have a preferred company.
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Take a different view of the Khumbu region from up high, in a helicopter with a scenic flight over the trail you've spent the last week walking, well worth doing! From the landing pad at EBC, head over Gokyo Lakes, past Ama Dablam and take in the magnitude and magnificence of the Himalayas.
This will take place either from Gorek Shep, Lobuche or Namche. To be confirmed during the trek.
We've added the option of summiting one of the Khumbu's most accessible peaks - Lobuche East (6119m), to this year's Everest Base Camp trek.
For those aspiring adventurers looking to push themselves a little more, by adding 750 metres of additional altitude to the 5385m at base camp for some simply epic views of the surrounding peaks, this is an experience worth signing up for.
Climbing Lobuche East is one of the most popular 6000m peaks that's ideal for new and inexperienced, and is often people's 'first real mountain'. It was first climbed by Laurence Nielson and Ang Gyalzen Sherpa on the 25th of April, 1984, and is a top choice for people starting out on their mountain journey.
The best season to climb Lobuche East Peak is either March to May or October to November when winds are calm, the days are sunny, and temperatures are mild.
We've created an itinerary that allows you to summit in two days and still catch up with the rest of the group for the final night's celebration back in Lukla before flying back to Kathmandu together the next day.
The revised itinerary for the last few days looks like this:
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
You need to be fit and healthy at altitude (this will be determined by how your body reacts throughout the lead-up days on the trek), and prepared for some long drop-offs and exposure - that's what climbing mountains is all about. Lobuche East Peak is considered an introductory peak to Himalayan climbing and can be completed in a comparatively shorter period of time. There are a few technical challenges, and it is suitable for those with good physical fitness and who are comfortable with high-altitude trekking.
The cost includes:
There are no refunds available if you do not manage to make the start of the Lobuche climb due to AMS or other scenarios. All guides and equipment will already be on the mountain awaiting our arrival.
Head out and explore Kathmandu with your trekking crew, an English-speaking guide and visit some of the most historic, iconic tourist sites including:
Swayambhunath Stupa
All transport, entrance fees and bottled water are taken care of.
.jpeg?fit=crop&crop=entropy&w=600&h=600&auto=format)
Please ensure you arrive in Kathmandu no later than today for your check-in at Nepali Ghar Hotel.
Compulsory group briefing at the hotel AM. This will be conducted before the optional Cultural Half-Day Tour departs.
Tonight we all head out as a group for a Nepalese Cultural Dinner.
The 9km hike to Phakding (2160m) should take 3 hours. When you arrive, you can check into your room and spend the afternoon relaxing and acclimatising. Make sure you keep well hydrated; 4 to 5 litres of water a day is essential all the way through the trek.
You get to cross a number of vertigo-inducing suspension bridges while gradually moving uphill towards the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park and the Everest Region. Next, you head downhill for a short time before levelling out alongside the river crossing mixed terrain. The trail follows the river to the final high double suspension bridges before you begin the quad-burning ‘Namche Hill’. It can take 2 hours to reach the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar (3340m), where we will be based for two nights. Today’s trek is around 12km or 5 hours, with plenty of breaks along the way.
Today we hike towards Tengboche, at 3860m. After ascending out of Namche, the first 2 hours are relaxed walking, traversing the left-hand side of the valley, high above the river below. The trail descends down toward the river for our lunch stop. From here it will take 2 – 3 hours to hike up the long hill to the town of Tengboche, home to a stunning monastery and coffee shop that sells the best apple pie and espresso. There are 5-6 hours of hiking today, covering 10km.
From Dingboche, we head to Lobuche, at 4900m. The trail heads back towards the Khumbu valley and becomes a long and slow trek across a beautiful elevated route towards Dugla, where we stop for a while to eat lunch and rest. This usually takes 2 hours and after lunch, from Dugla to Lobuche, will be an additional 3 hours with plenty of rest stops. After stopping at Dugla we have a long uphill section over the Thukla Pass which tops out at the Everest Memorial, before heading on to Lobuche. We've been lucky enough to secure accommodation at The Pyramid, a stunning glass research station nestled at the base of the mountains, for our own private Himalayan retreat. We will be trekking for 12km over 5 hours today.
After nearly two weeks of sleeping at high altitude, your bed back at the Nepali Ghar feels super comfy and is the prefect place to recoup and recover.
Your Best Life Adventure officially ends today, but if inclement mountain weather delays our departure from Lukla to Kathmandu, it is advised that you plan to have at least two extra days in Kathmandu before your international flight departs. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
Free time to discover why Kathmandu is one of the friendliest cities in the world.
Kathmandu, Nepal 
.jpeg?fit=crop&crop=entropy&h=45&w=45&auto=format)
