Mt Everest

Everest: The Trek Most People Actually Do

Everest is 8,849 metres tall, the highest point on earth, and the summit is reachable by non-professional climbers only with months of preparation, commercial expedition support, and approximately $50,000-100,000 in costs. For the vast majority of visitors, the objective is Everest Base Camp: a 130km trek through the Khumbu valley to 5,364 metres, typically completed in 12-14 days with acclimatisation stops.

The Trek to Base Camp

The standard approach flies into Lukla airport (elevation 2,860 metres, one of the more demanding airports in commercial aviation — a 527-metre runway on a hillside) from Kathmandu in a 30-minute flight. From Lukla the trail follows the Dudh Kosi river north through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche to Gorak Shep, the last settlement before base camp.

Namche Bazaar (3,440 metres) is where most trekkers spend an acclimatisation day. It’s a substantial Sherpa town with bakeries, decent coffee, gear shops, and a weekly Saturday market. The Hillary Museum here covers the history of Sherpa mountaineering culture and the 1953 Tenzing-Hillary summit in detail.

Tengboche monastery at 3,860 metres has a spectacular setting with Ama Dablam visible to the southeast and Everest appearing over the Nuptse ridge to the north. The monastery hosts a mani rimdu festival in November or October depending on the lunar calendar.

The terrain above Dingboche becomes more barren as you climb into the Khumbu moraines. Kala Patthar, a subsidiary summit at 5,645 metres above Gorak Shep, is the standard alternative viewpoint to base camp itself — the view of the southwest face of Everest from Kala Patthar is unobstructed by the lateral moraine that blocks much of the mountain’s view at base camp.

Permits and Practicalities

The Sagarmatha National Park entry permit costs NPR 3,000 (roughly $22) per person. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee adds another NPR 2,000. Flights to Lukla cost around $200-300 from Kathmandu. Tea house accommodation runs NPR 500-1,500 per night; meals add NPR 500-2,000 per day.

The spring season (March-May) and autumn season (September-November) are the standard trekking windows. Monsoon (June-August) brings heavy rain and reduced visibility. Winter is possible but cold and less supported.

Altitude sickness is a serious risk above 3,000 metres. The standard advice — ascend no more than 300-500 metres per day above 3,000 metres, include rest days, descend immediately if symptoms worsen — is well understood by experienced guides. Guided trekking is not compulsory but is strongly advisable; the tea house system is established enough that independent trekking is viable for experienced mountain walkers.

The Tibetan Side

From Tibet, the northern approach reaches Rongbuk Monastery at 5,000 metres — the highest monastery in the world — and Everest Base Camp at 5,150 metres on the Tibetan plateau. This approach provides a different view of the mountain: the North Face rather than the Khumbu Icefall side. Tibet access currently requires a Chinese permit and organized tour; independent travel in Tibet is not permitted for foreign nationals.