We operate five routes for an Everest base camp trek. A summary of each route is below and and they are described in detail on the individual route page. You can check out our video opposite for advice on which route might be best for you
And of course if you want a private trek and the route you have in mind is not covered please do call us as we can arrange all possible itineraries in this region.
Our favourite Everest base camp treks
Follow the route followed by all the Everest summiteers
Everest via the classic route
The famous modern route, starting with an exhilarating flight into the mountain airport at Lukla then taking you all the way up the Khumbu Valley to reach base camp itself. Stunning gorges, exciting swing bridges, fascinating culture- this classic Everest base camp trek has it all.
A really quiet, fabulous circular route
Everest via Gokyo Lakes
With a few extra days and a little extra challenge, you can follow this fabulous circular route to base camp keeping away from the crowds on the main trail. Taking in the summit of Gokyo Ri and the tough Cho La Pass, this option for a base camp trek is really special.
Summit a real Himalayan peak after visiting base camp
Climb Island Peak
If you are really fit and have a good head for heights then adding on an expedition to climb Island Peak after you have trekked to base camp may be just the ticket for an adventure of a lifetime. No technical experience needed, one of our Everest summiteer guides will teach you everything you need to know.
Our favourite introduction to trekking in Nepal
Everest Panorama
Short on time or uncertain about trekkking for two weeks? Our Everest Panorama takes you to the best view points on the Everest trek route with stunning views of Everest itself, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. And all in a 8 day trek that is perfect as an introduction to trekking in Nepal.
Why book your Everest base camp trek with us?
- Your safety is paramount which is why we run all our own treks with qualified guides and high guide to client ratio.
- Because we specialise in high alitude trekking in just a few locations we really are expert in what we do so can give you the best advice to arrange the trek of a lifetime.
- By operating our own treks directly we are able to offer a high quality trek at a great value price with no corners cut.
- All of us at Private Expeditions are fanatical about looking after the environment and the communities in which we operate.
- And of course, if you want to see what past customers have said you can see our most recent reviews belo
The top questions asked about Everest treks
Q1How fit do you need to be for the Everest base camp trek?
No individual section of the classic trek is more difficult than a typical days hiking at home but the route takes 12 days and takes you up to over 5000m. This combination of many days walking and high altitude can be very tiring but with determination, a reasonably fit recreational walker can handle this comfortably. The longer route via Gokyo adds in two more high altitude ascents and 3 more days which makes it one step harder and the Island Peak ascent really does demand a high level of fitness.
Q2Which is the best route for an Everest base camp trek?
The choice of the route really depends on just how to fit you are and how long you have. We have a short video you can watch and a summary on each route we offer below but in a nutshell, this is the highlights of our advice. If you are relatively new to trekking at high altitude we would recommend the Classic Route. If you are more experienced and fitter the Gokyo Lakes itinerary is a great alternative. and for the really fit trekker looking for the ultimate challenge look at climbing Island Peak.
Q3When is the best time of year to trek in the Everest region?
The Everest region has two seasons when the conditions for trekking are perfect. September to November in the Autumn are generally dry, warm and sunny as are March to May in the Spring. The Spring period also has the attraction that all the climbers preparing to climb Everest are in base camp.
The winter months are normally dry and clear but temperatures can get very low particularly at night. Summer weather is dominated by the Monsoon which means heavy downpours most days. Upside of the off-peak periods is that the trails are very quiet.
Q4How many days do I need for the Everest trek?
We have designed our standard classic trek so that it can be completed in 12 days with proper allowance for acclimatisation. This itinerary though involves some longer days trekking on the descent. If you would like to make the trek more leisurely you can add extra days to all our private treks.
If you are short on time we offer a “Heli-trek” where you walk up to base camp on the normal schedule but catch a helicopter back. It’s an expensive option but as well as saving days you get fantastic views on the flight.
Q5How much does an Everest base camp trek cost?
Our classic trek in an open group normally costs £899 per person but we also have some off-peak offers at a discount to this. Private treks start from £1099pp. Flights to Nepal from Europe are generally around £6-700.
Why book your Everest base camp trek with us?
- Your safety is paramount which is why we run all our own treks with qualified guides and high guide to client ratio.
- Because we specialise in high alitude trekking in just a few locations we really are expert in what we do so can give you the best advice to arrange the trek of a lifetime.
- By operating our own treks directly we are able to offer a high quality trek at a great value price with no corners cut.
- All of us at Private Expeditions are fanatical about looking after the environment and the communities in which we operate.
- And of course, if you want to see what past customers have said you can see our most recent reviews below.
Learn more about Everest before you start your trek
Geology
- Everest is 29,035 feet or 8848 meters high and is over 60 million years old
- It was formed by the collision of the Indian tectonic plate and the Asian plate and is still growing
- Remarkably the rocks on Everest were formed under the ocean as it is made up of shale, limestone and marble
History
- Like all mountains around the world, the local, indiginious people were the first to see it
- Everest is called Chomolungma in Tibet. It means mother goddess of the universe
- Everest is called Sagarmatha in Nepali, the goddess of the sky and in Tibet it is called Chomolungma meaning mother goddess of the universe
- The first westerner to see Everest was Sir George Everest in 1841. It was only in 1865 that it was officially named Mount Everest
- The official height of Everest is 29,028 feet but it was measured at 29,035 feet in 1999 using GPS
Weather
- The weather on Everest is affected by two huge forces and these will affect your Everest base camp trek as much as it impacts on climbs
- First is the Jet Stream that sits on top of Everest with wind speeds up to 200mph and with this windchill temperatures can get down to-80c.
- Second is the Monsoon which affects the direction and speed of the Jet Stream
- In mid May each year, the jet stream changes to a northerly and as it transitions the winds calm enough for climbing
- The same things happens in reverse in November and both these periods are an excellent time for an Everest base camp trek.
All the great summit records
- The first successful ascent of Everest was on May 29, 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary andTenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal climbing from the south side.
- The youngest summiteer is Jordan Romero, an American aged 13
- The oldest summiteer is Japanese Miura Yiuchiro, age 80 on May 23, 2013
- The first climbers to summit without oxygen were Italian Reinhold Messner with Peter Habler in 1978
- Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi have both climbed a record 21 times
- setting a new record for the fastest climb of the world’s highest mountain.
- Lakpa Gyelu climbed Everest in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2014 breaking the record held previously by fellow Sherpa guide Pemba Dorjee, who reached the 29,035ft summit in 12 hours, 45 minutes. And this is all the way from base camp!
Summit and Death Statistics
- About 4,042 climbers have summited Everest
- 248 people have died on Everest and sadly almost all are still on the mountain.
- The top cause of death was from a fall, avalanche, exposure and altitude sickness