Tour Overview
| Duration | 12 Days / 11 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Everest Region — Nepal, Himalayas |
| Price From | $1,239 per person (twin share) |
| Max Elevation | Kala Patthar (5,545m) — best Everest viewpoint |
| Tour Style | Trekking — Teahouse Style |
| Difficulty | Challenging (good fitness required) |
| Best Season | Mar-May, Sep-Nov |
| Operator | Alpine Ramble Treks | Data: TourRadar 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu (1,400m)
Touch down in Kathmandu, the chaotic, colorful capital of Nepal. Your guide meets you with a marigold garland — the traditional Nepali welcome. Transfer to your hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu’s backpacker hub of narrow lanes, trekking shops, and rooftop cafes. Evening: welcome dinner with your guide and porters. Briefing over dal bhat (the lentil-rice meal that fuels every trekker in Nepal — eaten twice daily, unlimited refills). Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Fly to Lukla & Trek to Phakding (2,610m)
The adventure begins with one of aviation’s most thrilling flights — 30 minutes in a twin-prop through mountain valleys to Lukla’s famously short, sloping runway (527m long, with a cliff at one end and a mountain wall at the other). Your first taste of Everest trekking: suspension bridges draped with prayer flags over the Dudh Koshi (Milk River), carved mani stones inscribed “Om Mani Padme Hum,” and the first distant glimpse of a snow peak. Gentle 3-4 hour walk to Phakding. Overnight in teahouse.
Day 3: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
The big climbing day — 800m of elevation gain through pine forests and across five suspension bridges, including the famous Hillary Bridge (named for Sir Edmund). The final ascent is steep and relentless, but the reward is worth it: rounding a bend to see Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital, built in a natural amphitheater on the mountainside. This is the last real town before Everest — bakeries, coffee shops, gear stores, and the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Centre. First views of Everest from the ridge above town — the black pyramid summit unmistakable against the sky. Overnight in Namche teahouse.
Day 4: Acclimatization Day in Namche
Acclimatization is critical — “climb high, sleep low.” Day hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m), the highest-placed hotel in the world, for panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam (the most beautiful mountain in the world, many argue), and Thamserku. Visit the Sherpa Museum to learn about the people who have summited Everest more than any other ethnic group. Overnight in Namche.
Day 5: Namche to Tengboche (3,860m)
A stunning day of trekking. The trail contours the mountainside with constant views of Ama Dablam, then descends to the Dudh Koshi river before climbing through rhododendron forests to Tengboche. The Tengboche Monastery is the spiritual heart of the Khumbu region — 60 monks, daily puja ceremonies, and a backdrop of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam that no cathedral can match. If you’re lucky, attend the 3pm ceremony with monks chanting and blowing conch shells. Overnight in Tengboche teahouse.
Day 6: Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410m)
The landscape changes as you cross the treeline. Forests give way to alpine scrub, then bare rock and ice. Pass through Pangboche, the highest permanent settlement in the valley. The Imja Khola valley opens up with views of Island Peak (6,189m), a popular first climbing peak. Arrive at Dingboche, a cluster of stone lodges in a basin surrounded by 6,000m peaks. The altitude is now real — simple tasks require concentration. Overnight in Dingboche teahouse.
Day 7: Acclimatization at Dingboche
Day hike to Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) for views of Makalu (8,485m, the world’s fifth-highest) and the Lhotse wall. Return to Dingboche. Rest, hydrate, eat — your body is working hard just maintaining normal function at this elevation. Overnight in Dingboche.
Day 8: Dingboche to Lobuche (4,910m)
The trail climbs through the Khumbu Glacier moraine, a desolate landscape of rock and ice. Pass memorial stupas for climbers who died on Everest — Scott Fischer, Babu Chiri Sherpa, and many more. The memorials are sobering reminders of the mountain’s power. Overnight in Lobuche teahouse.
Day 9: Lobuche to Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp (5,364m)
The summit day for trekkers. Morning climb to Gorak Shep (5,164m), the last settlement before base camp. Drop your pack and continue along the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp — a collection of colorful expedition tents in spring (climbing season) or a barren rocky plain in autumn. Stand at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall, the most dangerous section of the Everest climb, where seracs the size of buildings can collapse without warning. The altitude, the cold, and the achievement all hit at once. Return to Gorak Shep. Overnight in Gorak Shep teahouse.
Day 10: Kala Patthar Sunrise & Descend to Pheriche
4:30 AM departure for Kala Patthar (5,545m) — the best Everest viewpoint. The 2-hour climb in darkness, guided by headlamps, is brutal at this altitude. But the sunrise: Everest turning gold, then pink, the entire Khumbu glacier glowing below, Nuptse’s massive wall — this is the image that makes every step worth it. Descend back through Lobuche to Pheriche (4,240m). The relief of dropping altitude and breathing easier air is almost intoxicating. Overnight in Pheriche.
Day 11: Pheriche to Namche
Long but joyful descent day. Trees reappear, oxygen levels rise, and every step feels like flying compared to the days above. Celebrate in Namche’s Irish Pub — yes, there is an Irish pub at 3,440m in the Himalayas. Overnight in Namche.
Day 12: Namche to Lukla & Fly to Kathmandu
Final descent to Lukla. The last suspension bridge, the last mani stone, the last glimpse of Everest on the horizon. Fly back to Kathmandu for a hot shower and celebratory dinner. You’ve walked to the foot of the world’s highest mountain.
Inclusions
- 11 nights (2 nts Kathmandu hotel + 9 nts mountain teahouses)
- All meals during trek (dal bhat — unlimited refills!)
- Round-trip Kathmandu-Lukla flights
- TIMS card + Sagarmatha National Park permits
- Experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers, max 18kg)
- Sleeping bag rental, down jacket rental
- Airport transfers
- First aid kit + pulse oximeter monitoring
Exclusions
- International flights
- Travel insurance (mandatory, must cover helicopter evacuation)
- Hot showers, WiFi, battery charging in teahouses
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips for guide and porter
