Everest Base Camp Luxury Lodge Trek

Everest Base Camp Luxury Lodge Trek overview

Nothing can make Everest Base Camp low or short, but the right lodges make a big difference to how you feel every evening. On this trek you stay in the luxury lodge network of the Khumbu for the lower nights, where rooms have en-suite bathrooms, electric blankets and good food, and in the best rooms of the best teahouses above Dingboche, where no luxury lodges exist. In Kathmandu you stay in a 5-star heritage hotel before and after the trek.

The route is the classic one: Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. The pace is relaxed, with acclimatisation days in Namche and Dingboche, and your guide is one of our most experienced Everest leaders.

Luxury Everest trek at a glance

What makes it luxury?

• En-suite rooms with hot showers and electric blankets in the lower Khumbu.
• One porter per trekker, so you carry only a daypack.
• Senior guide with years of Everest experience and a pulse oximeter and first-aid kit.
• Better food: freshly cooked meals, fruit and good coffee.
• 5-star hotel in Kathmandu with private transfers.

Honest expectations

Above Dingboche there are no luxury lodges. At Lobuche and Gorak Shep, even the best rooms are simple and cold, bathrooms are often shared, and the altitude makes sleep hard. We book the best rooms available, but it is important to expect three or four basic nights. A helicopter return from Gorak Shep can be added to avoid the walk down.

Difficulty

Comfort does not change the altitude. You walk 5–7 hours a day on rocky trails and spend several nights above 4,000 m. Good fitness, a slow pace and listening to your guide are essential; no climbing experience is needed.

Fitness and preparation

You should be comfortable walking 5–7 hours a day for several days in a row on hilly, uneven trails. Start training two to three months before the trek with long hill walks, stair climbing and cardiovascular exercise, and break in your boots before you travel.

Altitude sickness

The highest point is 5,545 m at Kala Patthar, with nights at 4,940 m and 5,164 m. Most people feel the altitude a little: a mild headache, poor sleep, less appetite. Go slowly, drink 3–4 litres a day, skip the beer until you are back down, and tell your guide straight away if you feel worse. Going down is the cure that always works. Ask your doctor before you travel whether altitude medication makes sense for you.

Weather and temperatures

Luxury lodges are heated, but higher teahouses are cold at night (−10°C to −15°C in autumn). Days are often clear and sunny.

Domestic flights and baggage

The Lukla flight has a baggage limit of about 15 kg per person including hand luggage. Weather can delay flights, so a spare day at the end of your trip is recommended.

Permits

The Sagarmatha National Park permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee are included.

Money, charging and Wi-Fi

Carry Nepali rupees for drinks, snacks, showers and charging, and get them in the city; mountain ATMs are rare and unreliable. Wi-Fi is available in many lodges for a small fee. A power bank is worth packing.

Drinking water

Buy boiled or filtered water at lodges or use purification tablets or a filter with a refillable bottle, instead of buying plastic bottles.

Travel insurance

You need travel insurance that covers trekking to 5,600 m, medical care and helicopter rescue. We ask for your policy details before you arrive.

Visa

You can usually get a Nepal visa on arrival at the airport or apply online in advance. Check that your passport is valid for at least six months, and pack a few passport photos for permits.

Clothing

• Moisture-wicking base layers
• Fleece jacket or mid-layer
• Warm down jacket (can be borrowed from us)
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Trekking trousers and shirts
• Warm hat, sun hat and buff
• Liner gloves and insulated gloves
• Trekking socks

Footwear

• Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
• Camp shoes or sandals for the lodges

Equipment

• Sleeping bag rated to about −15°C (can be borrowed from us)
• Daypack of 25–35 litres with rain cover
• Trekking poles
• Head torch with spare batteries
• Water bottles and purification tablets
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Power bank and charging cables

Personal items

• High-factor sunscreen and lip balm
• Personal first-aid kit and medication
• Toiletries, quick-dry towel and wet wipes
• Snacks such as energy bars and nuts
• Passport, insurance details and copies

More trip options, quoted on request:

• Helicopter return from Gorak Shep, saving three days.
• Private helicopter both ways for a shorter trip.
• Chitwan or Pokhara luxury extension after the trek.