Trek to Everest base camp
Highlights
Kathmandu tour | Pashupatinath | Boudhanath | Internal flight to Lukla | Ghat | Dudh Kosi river | Monjo | Sagamartha National Park | Namche Bazaar | Khumjung | Deboche | Thyangboche | Pangboche Gompa | Dingboche | Khumbu Glacier Gorak Shep | Kala Pattar | Pangboche Monastery | Thyangboche Monastery | Namche | Everest Base Camp | Internal flight to Kathmandu |Description of Trek to Everest base camp
Every ascent of the world’s highest mountain from the Nepal side begins at the South Base Camp. This 17-day trekking experience takes you from the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, to Kala Pattar, the black rocks from where many of the most famous ascent routes are clearly visible. During this unforgettable adventure you’ll be accompanied throughout by a professional team to ensure your safety, and stay in a series of private and comfortable eco camps or guesthouses along the route. You’ll see ancient monasteries, experience Sherpa culture, and learn the many efforts Sir Edmund Hillary and others have made over the years to support this area and make it more accessible.After a day spent getting your bearings around Kathmandu and meeting your crew and fellow walkers, you’ll fly to Lukla, and the airstrip built by Hillary and friends, past the majestic Eastern Himalaya. From Lukla you’ll walk by the river and through thick pine forest over which towering snowcapped peaks gradually begin to appear. Passing Mani walls, you’ll reach the ‘Sherpa capital’ of Namche Bazaar, and your first glimpse of the mighty Mount Everest.
The daily treks will naturally prove challenging, but this itinerary is carefully planned to ensure you have enough time to acclimatise and also appreciate the scenery up here at the roof of the world. As you pass through glacial valleys, grassy meadows and forested ridges full of wildlife (perhaps even a yeti) you are surrounded by spectacular Himalayan peaks including Kantega, Lhotse and Nuptse. Everest itself frequently appears, and only approaching it slowly like this can you truly recognise its scale. Even shrouded in mist, the mountain is an awesome sight.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates, prices & availability
The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Responsible tourism


Responsible tourism: Trek to Everest base camp
We stay 8 nights in our permanent exclusive camps and 6 nights in carefully chosen lodges. Why does that make a difference? We want to support the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas. Many teahouses burn wood to heat their water for cooking and hot showers and we avoid these. This in turn contributes to deforestation, associated erosion and loss of biodiversity. That is why 30 years ago, we pioneered the use of only kerosene above and below the tree-line – to ensure that we are loyal to our policies of making a minimal impact on the environment. Also, we want to stay off the beaten track. We believe that you will get a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural beauty of your surroundings if you are away from the hordes which follow the ‘tea-house trails.’
Permanent eco-campsites in the Everest Region:
Ensure the environmental footprint of our permanent campsites is significantly smaller than that of tea house/lodge based treks through close scrutiny of the following components:
Fuel for cooking & heating - all by kerosene & pot belly stoves (fuelled by dried animal dung)
Water usage: all campsites use a rainwater tank
Waste management: all non-biodegradable refuse is carried out & we use composting toilets.
Minimise deforestation to:
Reduce the threat to the biodiversity of the regions flora and fauna.
Reduce the risk of landslips, which can be catastrophic for villages.
Contribute in a positive way to social, cultural and economic aspects of life for the Sherpa people by providing employment and training, purchasing goods locally and interacting with the local people respectfully and with high regard.
To set the benchmark, demonstrating how commercial trekking groups should be operating in this delicate environment.
Our pioneering Porter Policy
Porters are an integral part of your trip, and we have a close association with the IPPG, IMEC and Porters Progress to improve the conditions for porters. As well as paying our guides out of season, and an above-average take-home wage, our porter welfare supplement includes insurance, all meals on trek, appropriate clothing and accommodation for ALL our porters on all our treks. Their safety and comfort is as important to us as our customers.
We have committed US $3000 to sponsor the Porter Rescue Post at Machermo which has been set up by the IPPG. This facility is for the benefit of sick or injured porters in the Everest region and building has already started.
Our Responsible Travel Guidebook
Our philosophy since 1975 has been to leave only footprints and take only photographs. To reiterate this, every customer who travels with us receives a copy of our award-winning Responsible Travel guidebook. This detailed book outlines our environmentally sustainable principles, and outlines how each customer can minimize their impact while travelling.
Global Warming and Carbon Balancing
The root cause of Global Warming is society's dependence on emission creating fossil fuel. Planting trees is not going to reverse this trend or cancel our carbon emissions very quickly or effectively. We believe the way to reduce these dependencies is to create clean energy production. Therefore, we support renewable energy projects like wind and solar power, and we are aligned with Climate Friendly, the gold standard setter in effective, meaningful action addressing climate change. So, while we believe that tree planting can play a small role in greenhouse gas abatement, we have gone the extra mile in promoting a longer term solution. Is this cheap? No. Is it responsible? Absolutely.
By joining this trek you can be assured that you will not be contributing to deforestation or the associated soil erosion and loss of biodiversity but rather you'll be making a significant contribution by supporting our efforts to set the standards for a sustainable trekking service.
1 Reviews of Trek to Everest base camp
Reviewed on 10 Dec 2017 by Marie Cook
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Getting to Everest Base Camp and travelling with such a wonderful group of people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for cold weather at night and don't underestimate the effects of high altitude.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
What an amazing experience. We had the best Nepalese guide (Tikendra) and support team. I travelled with an amazing group of people, we supported each other through the hard times and encouraged each other when the going got tough!
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