The foot of Mount Everest is possibly the most iconic basecamp in the world, and can be explored on a number of organised treks.
(Photo: Royal Holidays Treks and Expedition / Courtesy Tourradar)
There are actually two base camps at Mount Everest, situated on opposite sides of the mountains: South Base Camp in Nepal and North Base Camp in Tibet. Both sites offer wonderful trekking opportunities, with a huge selection of tour companies offering guided hikes of varying lengths and durations. If you’d like to embark on this most magical of adventure travel experiences, we’ve picked out 5 of the best Everest base camp treks currently available.
10-Day Everest Base Camp Trek
This experience caters to those with limited time and budget but are still keen to explore the highest base camp in the world. Starting in Lukla after a short, scenic flight from Kathmandu, you’ll begin your trekking to Phakding before reaching Sagarmatha National Park, home to several endangered species of flora and faunas. Over the coming days, you’ll visit Nacmhe Bazaar, and climb early morning to Kalapatthar to celebrate spectacular mountain views, including Mt. Everest, before venturing on further to Everest Base Camp. Your domestic flights, tour guide and road transport are all included in the tour price. From £674 per person.
14-Day Everest Base Camp Trek
(Photo Tourradar)
Spread over two immersive weeks, this once-in-a-lifetime experience leads you to the base of the highest mountain on the planet. An ultimate goal for trekkers from across the globe, the astounding route takes hikers towards the cultural richness and natural beauty enveloped in the Khumbu region. Treading from the backyard of the ethnic Sherpa clans and frequent encounters with high-altitude monasteries, the trail itself takes you along numerous suspension bridges adorned with multi-hued prayer flags, rhododendron forests, picturesque villages, gushing streamlets, steep ridges, and awesome glaciers – along with stupendous views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and many other Himalayan titans. Price currently unavailable.
15-Day Everest Base Camp Trek
A slightly extended version of the above tour, this excursion invites intrepid travellers to experience the vastness of Mount Everest over 15 awe-inspiring days. Over the course of your adventure, you’ll get to walk through ice-capped mountains, visit the Tyangboche Monastery, discover the Sherpa culture in the Solukhumbu Region, and enjoy panoramic views from the world’s highest view point. There’ll also be a chance to explore Kathmandu at the start and end of the trip in the company of an expert guide. From £861 per person.
8-Day Tibetan Highlight: Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour
(Photo: Bookmundi)
This trip begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, following which you’ll embark on an 8-day whistlestop tour of Tibetan highlights, packed full of scenery, culture and natural beauty. During the tour, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of great Himalayas peaks, including Mt. Everest and the Ronbuk. You’ll also get to visit the most beautiful historical and cultural sites in Lhasa including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera and Deprung Monastery. A short journey to Gyantse takes you to the Kumbum Stupa while Shigatse introduces you to the fascinating Tashilumpho Monastery, the residence of Panchen Lama, before your return journey to Kathmandu. From £1,571 per person.
12-Day Everest Base Camp Trek
This epic 12-day tour takes travellers on an enchanting journey to the base of Mount Everest. The entire trek is filled with captivating beauty that will touch you to your core, with a rich amalgamation of natural scenery and cultural essence bewildering all who experienced it. The trekking route is quite challenging, but the rewards you’ll get are unparalleled. The panoramas are diverse encompassing the magnificent Himalayas, varied vegetation, monasteries, local settlements, alpine forests and so much more. From £1,115 per person.
Everest Base Camp & Annapurna Circuit Trek
(Photo: Bookmundi)
This trip combines two of the world’s great classic treks on this 30-day small-group tour that allows you to compare and contrast the terrain of both the Everest and Annapurna ranges. You’ll get your first glimpses of the might Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – surely one of the most dramatically located airports anywhere in the world – before heading off on your first trek. First you’ll conquer Everest’s Base Camp, a holy grail for mountaineers, before later completing the arduous Annapurna Circuit. You’ll get to take in stunning scenery and soak up the rich cultures and traditions Nepal, exploring tiny villages and meeting friendly locals along the way. From £1,784 per person.
17-Day Everest Base Camp Trek
Home to four 8000-metre mountainous monsters, namely; Mount Everest, Lhotse, Mt. Cho Oyu and Mt. Shisapangma, the Everest Region has the world’s most rugged trails, which makes the trekking in the region an adventurous experience of a lifetime. The Everest Base Camp Trek that goes as high as 5545m at Kalapattar is a moderately strenuous trek and also one of the most popular treks in Nepal. This two-and-a-half week adventure is one of the most incredible ways to experience both the base camp trek and the unrivalled magic of its surroundings. From £1,450 per person.