Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp: The Day by Day Breakdown
If you’re anything like me, you’ve dreamed of hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp for a while now. When I was slowly coming to the end of my year long around the world trip, I decided it was finally time to tackle the challenge because if not now, then when?
I’ve covered a couple of important topics in other posts such as Planning Your Mount Everest Base Camp Trek and Packing for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, but below you will see the nitty-gritty details. This includes some notes I took along the way to help give an idea of what to expect each and every day of the hike. If you decide to do it – good luck! It is an incredible adventure.
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The Day to Day Breakdown of Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp
Committing to the Mount Everest Base Camp is a big deal. You’ll spend 12 days hiking in the stunning Himalayan Mountains with the end goal of reaching the Base Camp of the tallest mountain in the world.
It’s no small feat, but it is certainly doable for most people who set out to accomplish it. In fact, I’ve seen the success rate of hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp listed anywhere from 65 – 90%. To give you an idea of what to expect each day, let’s take a look at the day to day break down!
Day 1: The Adventure Begins
Starting Point: Lukla at 2,840m
Ending Point: Phanking at 2,650m
Distance: 9 – 10km (2 -3 hours of walking)
Highlights: The flight into Lukla is amazing! The plane is small and the scenery is beautiful. They have to weigh you and all of your belongings to ensure the plane is balanced.
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, and fleece
Details of Day 1
- 7:30am flight Kathmandu to Lukla about 25 minutes long and $150 each way through some breathtaking scenery
- Cost: Breakfast 700, Lunch 600, Dinner 600
- Temperature: It was 5 degrees Celsius when we landed
- Water: Under 3,000m drink 2-3 liters and above 3,000m drink 3-4.5 liters
Day 2: Off to Namche Bazaar
Starting Point: Phanking at 2,650m
Ending Point: Namche Bazaar at 3,440m
Distance: 16 – 17km (5 – 6 hours of walking)
Highlights: The views of the mountains and river as you cross numerous swinging bridges. A cow/yak stabbed me with its horns! Don’t worry, there was no blood, just a bruise.
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, and fleece
Details of Day 2
- 7:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 350, Lunch 450, Dinner 400, Tea 100
- 8:00am started walking. After 2 hours of walking we reached the National Park Permit checkpoint. Then a 3-4 hour uphill walk to where we stopped for the night in Namche Bazaar.
Day 3: Acclimation Day 1
Starting Point: Namche Bazaar at 3,440m
Ending Point: Namche Bazaar at 3,440m
Distance: 3km around Namche Bazaar ascending to 3,800m (2 – 3 hours of walking)
Highlights: First sighting of Mount Everest! We saw the world’s highest airport. And I bought a yak wool hat.
Clothing: Leggings, heavy trekking pants (overkill), short sleeve, long sleeve, fleece, and neck warmer
Details of Day 3
- 8:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 400, Lunch 400, Dinner 400
- Steep uphill climb to the world’s highest airport.
- I bought a yak wool hat for 500. It’s much cheaper in Kathmandu.
- Namche Bazaar has a number of shops, restaurants, and even an Irish bar.
Day 4: Hiking to the World’s Highest Monastery
Starting Point: Namche Bazaar at 3,440m
Ending Point: Tengboche at 3,870m
Distance: 12 – 13km (5 – 6 hours of walking)
Highlights: Finally seeing yaks (as opposed to the cow/yak crossbreed)! We got to explore the world’s highest monastery. There is a great view of Everest from our tea house window. First sighting of snow and ice.
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, fleece, and neck warmer
Details of Day 4
- 7:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 600, Lunch 600, Dinner 350
- First few hours gradual slopes. Last couple of hours all uphill.
Day 5: Sunrise Over Mount Everest
Starting Point: Tengboche at 3,870m
Ending Point: Dingboche at 4,370m
Distance: 11km (5 – 6 hours of walking)
Highlights: Sunrise over Mount Everest. Ran into a German couple I met in Sri Lanka!
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, fleece, and neck warmer
Details of Day 5
- 7:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 700, Lunch 450, Dinner 700, Tea 225
- Mostly gradual climbing.
Day 6: Acclimation Day 2
Starting Point: Dingboche at 4,370m
Ending Point: Dingboche at 4,370m
Distance: 3km straight up to 4,700m (2 – 3 hours walking)
Highlight: My roommate, Jalanna, was helicoptered out with dysentery. (And this is why you get travel insurance kids…) Views of mountains all around.
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, and fleece
Details of Day 6
- 7:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 450, Lunch 550, Dinner 400
- Morning temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
- The night is freezing – definitely need extra blankets in addition to layered clothing and down sleeping bag.
- I bought wifi for 350. There is wifi all throughout the mountains.
Day 7: Hiking through Snow
Starting Point: Dingboche at 4,370m
Ending Point: Loboche at 4,930m
Distance: 8 – 9km (6 hours walking)
Highlight: It snowed throughout the morning!
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve x2, fleece, neck warmer, hat, gloves, and socks x2
Details of Day 7
- 7:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 450, Lunch 450, Dinner 450, Tea 150
- The morning was at -5 degrees Celsius plus snow. It was too cold for my cell phone to turn on and stay on. I had to use my actual camera. It is very cold at night. All sinks were completely frozen.
- Mostly flat with one hour uphill.
- Many of the hikers suffered from altitude headaches.
- Met other groups who had had most of their group helicoptered out.
Day 8: Reaching Mount Everest Base Camp!
Today’s the day! You have made it and will reach Mount Everest Base Camp. Congratulations on this outstanding feat of physical fitness and mental determination!
Starting Point: Loboche at 4,930m
Ending Point: Loboche at 4,930m
Distance: 22km (10 hours walking)
Highlight: Reaching Mount Everest Base Camp at 5,380m! It was snowing from Base Camp and most of the way back to Loboche. We had to climb over glaciers while dealing with the blizzard like conditions.
Clothing: Leggings, heavy trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve x2, fleece, down coat, neck warmer, hat, gloves, socks x2
Details of Day 8
- 6:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 370, Lunch 400, Snack 400, Dinner 400, Coffee 150, Tea 150, Tea 150
- Hiked to Gorak Shep at 5,160m (5 – 6 km or 3 hours) – this is normally where people stay after Base Camp. Then hiked Gorak Shep to Base Camp at 5,380m (5 – 6 km or 3 hours). Hiked back from Base Camp to Gorak Shep (5 – 6 km or 2 hours). Then since Hendrick from my group was suffering from altitude, we decided to hike back to Loboche. Gorak Shep to Loboche (5 – 6 km or 2 hours)
- Slow ascending, not a tough walk but many suffering from the high altitude.
- Lots of snow and wind while walking – it just kept getting worse.
- Base Camp in itself was not the most impressive. It was just starting to be set up for the season. But, it was incredible to make it there.
Day 9: Continuing to Descend
Starting Point: Loboche at 4,930m
Ending Point: Phunkytanga at 3,200m
Distance: ~ 20km (7 – 8 hours walking)
Highlight: More snow in the morning and trekking without the crowds since we stayed in Loboche rather than Gorak Shep.
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve x2, fleece, neck warmer, hat, and gloves
Details of Day 9
- 6:30am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 400, Lunch 450, Dinner 450, Dinner x2 300
- We were descending most of the day. Janna in my group suffered from major altitude headaches and considered getting helicoptered off. My boots caused my ankle to swell up after about four hours of walking on uneven snow so switched to my gym shoes once we were out of the snow.
- Once we hit Tengboche a Sherpa took my backpack.
- Hiking through snow for hours. Started snowing again near Deboche in the afternoon.
- Traditional Day 9 goes from Gorak Shep to Pangboche.
Day 10: Out of the Snow
Starting Point: Phunkytanga at 3,200m
Ending Point: Phakding at 2,650m
Distance: ~ 22 km (7 – 8 hours walking)
Highlight: Long day of trekking. Tons of hikers, sherpas, and yaks on their way up to Base Camp!
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, and fleece
Details of Day 10
- 7:00am start to the day
- Cost: Breakfast 450, Lunch 450, Dinner 600, Tea 80, Porter tip
- Started the day hiking uphill but hit lots of downhill and eventually gradual slopes.
- The weather was clear so we were able to see a lot along the way.
- Traditional Day 10 goes from Pangboche to Namche Bazaar.
Day 11: Flying Out Early
Starting Point: Phakding at 2,650m
Ending Point: Lukla at 2,840m
Distance: 9 – 10 km (2 hours walking)
Highlight: Flying out one day early! Hello there you beautiful (cold) shower waiting in Kathmandu!
Clothing: Leggings, light trekking pants, short sleeve, long sleeve, and fleece
Details of Day 11
- 6:00am start to the day
- Traditional Day 11 goes from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Day 12: Already Back in the City
Traditional Day 12 flies out of Lukla in the morning.
13 Key Things to Know Before Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp
The more knowledge you have, the better you plan and the higher rate of success you have in reaching base camp. Here are some things that will help you prepare and understand what you have to look forward to when hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp!
About the Experience You’ll Have Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp
1. Kids greet you with Namaste as you pass by. Or throw snow and yak dung depending how well they like the tourists. Pay attention. You don’t want yak dung to the face.
2. When animals are passing, stand on the side of the mountain that butts up to land, not the ledge to avoid being pushed over. The animals will bulldoze you if you are in the way. Stand to the side!
About Your Accommodations at Tea Houses
3. There is no hot water which really equates to glacial cold water for washing hands, face, teeth, etc. Further up towards base camp there is no running water and even if there was, the pipes would freeze. Take hand sanitizer and wet wipes! Kitchens still have water for drinking.
4. Most guest houses have Western toilets, but they do not flush. You dump water in them to flush them. Squat toilets are available along the path. Take toilet paper and hand sanitizer. At the top the sides of the squat toilets (where you stand) are ice to add to the fun!
5. There is no heat except for in the restaurant areas from the stove in the evenings so expect to be bundled up 24/7. Fun fact: Fires at high altitude use yak dung instead of wood as fuel.
6. Wifi and battery charging are available along the way, for a price. 200 – 500
How to Stay Warm when Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp
7. Everything starts to freeze higher up. Sleep with electronics and anything else you’re concerned will freeze (deodorant!) in your sleeping bag. The cold wears down batteries really fast too.
8. Ask for an extra blanket at each tea house… You’ll want it.
9. Layer your clothes and remove or add layers as necessary along the way.
Additional Planning Tips
10. Take water purifying tablets and a bottle or camel pak. It is way cheaper than buying water and also better for the environment as they cannot dispose of the plastic.
11. The air is thinner higher up, walk slowly. Watch for symptoms of altitude sickness. If you have a guide, they will help you identify the symptoms and the best way to deal with it.
12. The sun is strong higher up. Pack sunscreen and sunglasses. It is especially bright when you get to where there is snow for the sun to bounce off of.
13. Remember you’ll have to tip your sherpa and your guide! Take extra cash.
Finish Planning Your Trek
Need more details about hiking up to Mount Everest Base Camp? Here are two more detailed posts to get you ready:
- Planning for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek: Do you need to book in advance? Do you need a guide? Can you hike on your own? Check our more information to get ready for your hike in this post.
- Packing List for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek: Getting ready to hike to Mount Everest Base Camp? Start gathering all the things you need with this packing list. See what you need and the justification for bringing or leaving behind key items.
Or, take a look at some of the other awesome hiking opportunities around the world!
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