Everest Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return - 11 days

The adventure of your Everest Base Camp is near to an end. This will be your last day, and with a magnificent view of the enormous mountains at sunrise, you'll have breakfast. Today, you will hike to the highest point, Kala Patthar (5545 m / 18193 ft). It is also the highest altitude you can climb without a permit in Nepal and see an up-close, unobstructed view of Mount Everest. It is the time to take as many photos as you want and stroll around the area then descend to Gorak Shep. Later, a shared helicopter ride to Lukla awaits, providing a spectacular aerial perspective of the Himalayas and marking a memorable conclusion to your adventure and spending your night at a lodge.

The return trip to Kathmandu has finally arrived. After spending a little time shopping at Lukla village, we will fly to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, your journey will end at this last point of arrival, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, where our Yeti Hikes staff will welcome you. We'll transfer you to the designated hotel nearby and heartily extend you a Farewell Dinner. Without any further plans, you can also visit nearby markets, local places, clubs, and restaurants.

Your journey will start from the very point of arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, where our Yeti Hikes staff will welcome you. We will transfer you to the designated hotel nearby and heartily Welcome You. This voyage requires proper gear; our office representative will brief you about the necessary information and the mandatory equipment. With this, you'll have the remaining daytime to visit the local markets and stores within walking distance. Do swing back to enjoy your Dinner!

Namche is a charming place to spend your night, and then you will head towards Tengboche, a tiny Sherpa settlement with the most Buddhist Gompa in the whole of Khumbu. Hearty breakfast will lead you to the day's walk with stunning views of the famous mountains. The trail begins gently, mainly flat, hugging the mountainside with great views across the Dudh Koshi River. You will then descend another flight down to the river valley, cross the Phungi Thenga bridge, and take lunch in a small village at the Phungi Thenga Teahouse. After lunch, however, the climb gets tough to continue through the forests of pine and rhododendron trees. This 5-6 hour climb brings us to the monastic community of Tengboche – the largest in the Khumbu region. Quite dramatic views of the mountains like Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and the majestic Ama Dablam are visible here. To top it all up, the day is finally winding up with a simple but quiet dinner, and some more talks, interaction with fellow trekkers and the feel of what the coming days will be like. 

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, which takes approx. 30 minutes marks your second day and is also the starting point. After landing at the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu. Lukla is a tiny village with less than five hundred people, but it is destined for hikers. You will meet the other crew members, have some breakfast, and move towards your day's destination. Moving forward, you'll experience many ups and downs, pass by several giant yaks, stone stairs, and terraced hillsides, and cross Dudh Koshi River using a suspension bridge; you will reach this beautiful village, Phakding, in the next 5 hours.

With a short break and lunch, you will travel uphill through Monjo and Jorsale. You'll further ascend via the famous Hillary Bridge. The way goes on as you walk through a beautiful pine forest, following the Dudh Koshi River and Everest National Park's entrance. You will pass by the beautiful lush forests of rhododendrons and pines. Following the stunning sight of Thamserku Peak, Khumjung Peak, Kongde Peak, and many more, you will have the first glance of Mount Everest, and heading towards the north, you will finally reach the Namche Bazar, 3,438 m (11,280 ft) high, within 4 to 5 hours. With the dinner of local Sherpa cuisine that will end the second day of the trek.

The overnight stay at Phakding leads to Namche Bazar in the morning. After breakfast, you will trek uphill through Monjo and Jorsale. You’ll further ascend through the famous Hillary suspension bridge. The way goes on as you walk through a beautiful pine forest, follow Dudh Koshi River and Everest National Park's entrance. You will go through river banks, suspension bridges, and beautiful lush forests of rhododendrons and pines. Following the stunning sight of Thamserku, Khumjung Peak, Kongde Peak, and many more, You will have the first glance of Mount Everest, and heading towards the north, you will reach the Namche Bazar, 3440 m high, within 4 to 5 hours of walking; that will end on the third day of the trek.

The gradual increase in altitude will hamper your health and your adventure hence it is necessary to pause your voyage. However, next to breakfast, you will have an option or two for easy acclimatization hikes. 

The first is a 3-4 hour round trip to Everest View Hotel, where you can regain your strength with coffee or tea and get rewarded with the surrealistic sight of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. Lunch is also served there, including Sherpa Dishes and continental meals. Another hiking option is Khumjung Village, which also takes 3-4 hours. You will also engage with the Sherpa people and visit Khumjung Monastery and the Hillary School. For lunch, meals familiar to trekkers are available in the tea houses around the village. 

The afternoon is free, so you can stroll around and also visit the Sherpa Culture Museum, which provides information about the ancient trade and culture of the Sherpa people. Food is an excellent energy source, and a quiet dinner at your teahouse will help you prepare for the next stage of the excursion.

The overnight and wonderful stay at Deboche village, your morning will be blessed with peaceful early morning chanting by the monks. We will start the next journey towards Dingboche (4,410 m /14,469 ft) in the early morning, where you'll go through the alpine forest. The least populated dense village is the last Sherpa village, but a few Sherpas still live and work there.

After about 1.5 to 2 hours of walking, you will reach Phunki Thenga for a short and sweet break and a quick snack/ lunch. Continuing, the trail ascends steeply, and you'll pass several water-driven prayer wheels. The short trail of Pungi Thanga will reward you with views of the majestic Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Nuptse, and other peaks.

You will follow the Imja Khola River via a suspension bridge and come across a wall inscribed with stones. You will see Chortens, stunning stupas, and small villages where people work on farms. As we ascend to Pangboche, you will finally reach Dingboche village after a 5 to 6 hours of walk.

The trail begins with a gradual ascent out of Deboche, following a scenic path along the Imja Khola River. Arriving in Dingboche, you'll notice the change in terrain to a more arid environment. The village is bordered with some of the enormous mountains, such as Mt. Lhotse mountain and Mt. Makalu. It is a critical explorers stop mainly for altitude acclimatization. Take a shopping-walking tour around the village, sightseeing and shopping. Savor hot food and beverages back at your teahouse that ends your sixth day.

You will have a restful day in a crucial acclimatization point of Dingboche for your body to adjust to high altitude. Relaxation but the Yeti Hikes team suggests you hike to Nangkartshang Peak, which will be a perfect chance to make the body and mind acclimatize with the physical environment and enjoy the nature view. Starting the trek, mild steeping takes you through beautiful terrains with prayer flags and big rocks. As the journey progresses, views open up even further and provide incredible vistas of the most significant peaks of the Khumbu region, so trekking becomes both an arduous and rewarding experience.

Managing the top of Mount Nangkartshang at an elevation of about 5,616 metres (18,423 ft) is fulfilling and shows how stubborn the trek has been. The hike will take 4-5 hours. The scenic beauty from top of the mountain is crystal clear, giving the feeling of paradise, including the sight of Lhotse, Makalu and the towering Island Peak. Some minutes, you'll spend some time on the top admiring the views in the countryside and enjoying the feeling of having climbed to such a high altitude. It would be an excellent place for an icy packed lunch where you could take some sandwiches or power bars and feast on a worthy scenery.

After going to Dingboche, you will have extra time to explore the village. You could go to narrow tea shops where you can taste more of course meals, such as vegetable curry or noodle soup, which should help to restore strength after the climbing. But besides helping your body get accustomed to this altitude, the acclimatization day also lets you get a feel of the beauty and culture of the Himalayas before moving to the other day hikes that make up part of your trekking tour.

The following destination will be the heart of Khumbu, Lobuche, approximately 4940 m/16,208 ft high. It will be a rise most of the time, although not steep, but because it is at this level, you may struggle to breathe a little. It goes through stunning scenes; the voyagers get to see stunning mountains such as Taboche. You will pass through the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and stone memorials built for the remembrance of the deceased souls of climbers, enhanced by the colorful prayer flags at Thukla Pass. You'll have a brief recess. You're at the Lobuche Village area, where you encounter rocky trails and occasionally steep sections. With a few guesthouses, lodges, and a stunning view of the surrounding peaks, you will enjoy lunch and walk nearby or rest. Afterward, you'll have your dinner and head back to sleep.

Time passes without us knowing, and you're already on the ninth day. In the morning, as soon as you have your early breakfast, you will have to travel towards Gorak Shep (5,164m/ 16,942ft), the last stopover point on this camp trail. It is a reasonably short trail, but there are steep parts, sharp rocks, and high altitudes to discuss. There is also an excellent opportunity to have beautiful views on the great Khumbu Glacier and on the Khumbu Icefall, which become a part of the view all the time.

When getting to Gorak Shep, it's essential to take some rest and time before attempting the final push to the EBC. The trail is very primitive, as it is rather apparent and quite steep, which should require much energy since the footing is on the rocks most of the way. Camping here, you are among climbers and explorers from all corners of the world, with a view of Mt.Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Pumori, and Mt. Khumbutse.

When you get to the base camp, you will spend about one hour taking photographs and enjoying the serenity before retracing your steps back to Gorak Shep. The return journey will allow you to look at the landscape in a completely different way because the mountain transforms in front of your eyes at sunset. Finally, when you get down to Gorak Shep, you will have your warm dinner and get ready for the end point of the adventure.