How to get to Everest Base Camp
Fly to Lukla, the mountain airstrip where the trail starts, and walk from there. In busy seasons most Lukla flights leave from Manthali, a drive of 4 to 6 hours from Kathmandu.
From Lukla you reach base camp on the eighth day, with two rest days on the way.
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- Flights and routes checked on 1 October 2026 against the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal’s newspapers
From Kathmandu to Lukla
By plane. Lukla (2,860 m), the mountain airstrip town where the walk begins, is 30 to 35 minutes from Kathmandu by air. In busy seasons most flights leave from Manthali instead, which means about 132 km by road first, usually before dawn.
Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority decides each season which airport the Lukla flights use, so ask us which one your dates fall under.
| Route | Flight time | Before the flight |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu to Lukla | 30 to 35 minutes | A short ride to Kathmandu airport. |
| Kathmandu to Manthali, then Lukla | 17 to 21 minutes | A drive of about 132 km to Manthali airport, 4 to 6 hours, usually before dawn. |
Kathmandu to Lukla
- Flight time
- 30 to 35 minutes
- Before the flight
- A short ride to Kathmandu airport.
Kathmandu to Manthali, then Lukla
- Flight time
- 17 to 21 minutes
- Before the flight
- A drive of about 132 km to Manthali airport, 4 to 6 hours, usually before dawn.
Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times and Republica (1 October 2022); checked 1 October 2026.
From Lukla to Everest Base Camp on foot
Eight days up the valley, sleeping in teahouses (family-run lodges on the trail) at Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorak Shep.
Two of those days are rest days to acclimatise, at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche: you walk higher in the day and come back down to sleep, which helps your body get used to the height.
| Day | Route | Overnight | Altitude | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu to Lukla, then Phakding | Phakding | 2,610 m | 3 to 4 hours |
| 2 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | 5 to 7 hours |
| 3 | Rest and acclimatise: Namche Bazaar | Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | 3 to 5 hours |
| 4 | Namche Bazaar to Tengboche | Tengboche | 3,860 m | 5 to 6 hours |
| 5 | Tengboche to Dingboche | Dingboche | 4,410 m | 5 to 6 hours |
| 6 | Rest and acclimatise: Dingboche | Dingboche | 4,410 m | 4 to 5 hours |
| 7 | Dingboche to Lobuche | Lobuche | 4,940 m | 5 to 6 hours |
| 8 | Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then Everest Base Camp and back | Gorak Shep | 5,164 m | 7 to 9 hours |
Day 1
- Route
- Kathmandu to Lukla, then Phakding
- Overnight
- Phakding
- Altitude
- 2,610 m
- Walking
- 3 to 4 hours
Day 2
- Route
- Phakding to Namche Bazaar
- Overnight
- Namche Bazaar
- Altitude
- 3,440 m
- Walking
- 5 to 7 hours
Day 3
- Route
- Rest and acclimatise: Namche Bazaar
- Overnight
- Namche Bazaar
- Altitude
- 3,440 m
- Walking
- 3 to 5 hours
Day 4
- Route
- Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
- Overnight
- Tengboche
- Altitude
- 3,860 m
- Walking
- 5 to 6 hours
Day 5
- Route
- Tengboche to Dingboche
- Overnight
- Dingboche
- Altitude
- 4,410 m
- Walking
- 5 to 6 hours
Day 6
- Route
- Rest and acclimatise: Dingboche
- Overnight
- Dingboche
- Altitude
- 4,410 m
- Walking
- 4 to 5 hours
Day 7
- Route
- Dingboche to Lobuche
- Overnight
- Lobuche
- Altitude
- 4,940 m
- Walking
- 5 to 6 hours
Day 8
- Route
- Lobuche to Gorak Shep, then Everest Base Camp and back
- Overnight
- Gorak Shep
- Altitude
- 5,164 m
- Walking
- 7 to 9 hours
Sources: Lonely Planet and Nepal Tourism Board; checked 1 October 2026.
Getting back to Kathmandu
The same way, faster: three days down to Lukla, then the flight to Kathmandu, or to Manthali and the drive. Lukla flights only run in daylight and good weather and are often a day or more late, so keep a spare day.
“Thanks to their prompt coordination and immediate action, we were able to get our flight from Lukla to Kathmandu without any delay, while many other trekkers were facing difficulties and long waits for flights.”
Sources: Rough Guides and Wikipedia; checked 1 October 2026.
Do you need a guide for Everest Base Camp?
Nepal’s rule since 1 April 2023 says foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide, booked through a registered agency.
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality does not apply it in the Everest region; news in 2025 still reports the Everest region as the exception.
Our treks come with a trekking guide from our team, and our 2023 notes add porters, one for every two trekkers. Narbin Magar, who founded High 5 Adventures in 2016, has stood on the summit of Everest twice.
Source: The Kathmandu Post; checked 1 October 2026.
Permits for the trail
You need two, NPR 6,000 in all for a foreign trekker: one for Sagarmatha National Park (Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Everest) and the trek card for the Khumbu. We arrange both; the Everest Base Camp trek cost guide has the fees for every passport and where they come from.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- NPR 3,000
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality trek card (local entry permit)
- NPR 3,000
More guides for the Everest Base Camp trek
See every planning guideEverest Base Camp trek cost
From US$1,419, our 2023 price for 16 days. Permits come to NPR 6,000 for a foreign trekker.
Everest Base Camp trek distance and days
About 42 km each way on foot from Lukla to Gorak Shep; 12 days from Kathmandu and back.
Best time for the Everest Base Camp trek
October to November and March to May, steadiest from early October to mid November and late March to late April.
Everest Base Camp trek difficulty
No climbing, but 3 to 8 hours of walking a day and five nights above 4,000 m.
Ask Narbin’s team to book your Lukla flights and permits with the Everest Base Camp trek.
WhatsApp or call +977 985-1180155, email info@high5adventures.com, or see the Everest Base Camp trek first.