8 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

The 8 days Everest Base Camp trek is a classic venture that is great for those who are short on time. This is the most feasible trekking option for the trekking enthusiasts who are time-bound to take 16 days Everest Base Camp trek.

It is a beautiful combination of the amazing mountain views of Everest Himalayan ranges, majestic sceneries, and unique Sherpa Culture.

This trek is a great package for all the adventure lovers. It allows you to come close to the highest mountain in the world which will be a life-changing experience for you.

During this trek, you will walk through friendly Sherpa villages over the high passes into the beautiful Khumbu valley.

If you choose to take 8 days Everest Base Camp trek, you will need to be physically fit and mentally strong. Also, you might need prior trek experience in the high altitudes. 8 days Everest Base Camp trek is a challenging adventure because you will be skipping the acclimatization days.

Highlights of the 8 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

• Warm reception upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport
• A scenic 35 minutes flight to Lukla
• Explore the beautiful city in the mountains i.e Namche Bazaar
• Visit the Sherpa Museum and discover their amazing culture and traditions
• Stunning mountain views Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam
• Hike the Khumbu glacier and witness the Khumbu icefall
• Get to the Everest Base Camp and see the panoramic 360-degree view of mountains including the Everest.

Detailed Itinerary of 8 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

Day 01: Kathmandu to Lukla and Trek to Phakding

Elevation: 2810 m, Lukla

Trekking duration: 3 to 4 hrs

Today, early morning you will take a flight from the Kathmandu domestic airport to Lukla, the gateway to Everest.

The flight takes 45 minutes to reach Lukla. Upon arrival, your guide will introduce you to other trekking crew.

Later you will start your trek to Phakding which will take around 3- 4 hrs. Overnight at the lodge in Phakding.

Day 02: Trek to Namche Bazaar

Elevation: 3450 m, Namche Bazaar

Trekking duration: 6 hrs

After enjoying your breakfast you will proceed towards Namche Bazaar. The trail follows on the left side of the Dudh Koshi river entering the Sagarmatha National Park. Here you will register your trekking permit at Monjo Police check post.

Then after an about 20-minute walk to Jorsalle, you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will follow the descending path to the famous Hillary Suspension bridge.

From here you will climb uphill into the lush forest of pines where you will get an amazing mountain view with Everest and Lhotse in the distance. You will then reach Namche Bazaar which is the largest settlement of the Sherpa community in the Everest region.

At Namche, you will enjoy the clean mountain town with a mesmerizing view and stunning landscape. Later in the evening, you will have spare time to explore the beautiful town and enjoy the Sherpa culture.

Overnight at a lodge in Namche Bazaar

Day 03: Trek to Pangboche

Elevation: 3090 m, Pangboche

Trekking duration: 5 to 6 hrs

Today you will trek up to Pangboche which is known for the excellent view of Ama Dablam valley with Everest Skyline.

After climbing out of Namche, the trail remains relatively flat. It snakes around the eastern edge of the plateau above offering dramatic views of the mountains. Soon you will reach the village of Kyangjuma where you will get the first views of Tengboche.

From here you will descend to Phungi Thenga where it crosses the Dudh Koshi river. Further, you will continue to descend and pass through a number of small villages before reaching the bridge over the river.

The trail now heads up to Tengboche which isn’t too bad. Tengboche is famous as one of the oldest monastery which is worth the investment of your time. You can even catch the monks chanting if you visit at the right time.

After a quick break in Tengboche, you will continue north out of Tengboche as the trail descends once again. You can spot mammal and musk deer as you pass the village of Deboche and head for the Imja Khola river crossing.

After crossing the river, it is another steep climb to Pangboche. Pangboche is notably larger than Tengboche and it’s built on a hill. Overnight at Pangboche.

Day 04: Trek to Thukla

Elevation: 4620m, Thukla

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

Today after the breakfast in the lodge, your trek to Thukla from Pangboche starts. This will be a quite difficult day. You will hike through beautiful small Sherpa town of Somare and Pheritse where you will stop for lunch enjoying the scenic beauty.

In this village, you will see the best helipad in the Everest region. Further, you will need to cross the river from the stones. There are no bridges for crossing the river.

Later you will be walking through the terraced fields passing through the mani walls and splendid Himalayan ranges.

Overnight at a lodge in Thukla

Day 05: Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

Elevation: 5170m- Gorak Shep and 5364m- Everest Base Camp

Trekking duration: 5 to 6 hrs

Today you will start your trek early in the morning to avoid any rush. You will climb to the moraine of the Khumbu glacier for about 45 minutes passing the Fischer memorials and Babu Chiri Sherpa memorial.

Further, you will take a gentle walk to Lobuche and from there you will walk for about 2 to 3 hours to reach Gorak Shep and another 2 hours to the Base Camp. You will be walking on the rocky dunes, glacier moraine, and streams. Once you reach the Base Camp, you will get magnificent views of Nuptse, Khumbutse, Pumori etc.

Here you can spend some time embracing the spectacular nature and celebrating the success of reaching your goal. Later you will trek back to Gorak Shep for the overnight.

Day 06: Trek Back to Pheriche

Elevation: 4250m, Pheriche

Trekking duration: 5-6 hrs

Early in the morning, you will climb to the best viewpoint i.e the Kala Patthar to see the spectacular sunrise over Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, and Lhotse.

The view and scenery when the sunrise strikes over the white lofty peaks and turns the sky from white to orange will simply blow your mind.

After getting the visual treat from Kala Patthar, you will head back to Gorak Shep for breakfast. You can rest here for a while and later proceed your trek to Pheriche which will take about 5 to 6 hrs to reach.

Overnight at a lodge in Pheriche.

Day 07: Trek to Namche

Elevation: 3450m, Namche Bazaar

Trekking duration: 6 to 7 hrs

Today you will trek back to Namche which will take about 6 to 7 hrs. The distance from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar is 14.3 km.

The trail is a downhill walk when you come back from Everest Base Camp. Some of the parts will be challenging. However, because you are descending AMS is no longer an issue.

Moreover, some spots will give you a chance to see some of the most scenic mountains and stunning natural beauty.

On walking back, you’ll explore the dense forest of rhododendron with plenty of greenery until you reach Namche Bazaar.

As you arrive you will have some free time to explore the local market and have a good meal and a good night sleep.

Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Day 8: Trek to Lukla

Elevation: 2850m, Lukla

Trekking hours: 6 hrs

After breakfast at the lodge in Namche, you will start your journey back to Lukla. Walking through the beautiful local villages of Jorsalle, Monzo, and Phakding, you will finally reach Lukla. Lukla is the ending point of the trek.

In the evening during free time, you can explore Lukla and go to a coffee shop at the nice restaurant and have a farewell dinner together with the crew.

Overnight at the lodge in Lukla.

With this, you come to an end of the 8 days Everest Base Camp trek and the next day you will take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Once at Kathmandu, you will drive to the hotel and the remaining day is at your disposal.

Additional Information

Accommodation

Accommodation in the trekking region will be in Tea houses. Tea houses are a small bed and breakfast like hotels that are along most of the treks in the Everest region.

They are the most popular form of accommodation as they provide an easy, pay as you stay approach to trekking in one of the highest areas of the world.

The typical tea house will provide all the basic amenities for a comfortable yet humble approach to trekking in the Himalayas. You can expect a single bed with a pillow and a blanket with the option of a hot water shower and some electricity.

Meals on the Trek

The Everest Base Camp route has numerous tea houses along the way and every tea house has a different menu with various food including western meals. Dal Bhat is the staple local dish which is very satisfying and tasty.

You can choose any meal according to your preference. But we recommend the vegetable items instead of meat.

As for water, every lodge has safe drinking water or you can also buy mineral water. But the price of the mineral water increases as you go higher. So for a cheaper way, you can take water purification tablet to purify water from the tap. This will cost you less.

Best Time to Take the Trek

Best time to take the Everest Base Camp trek is Spring which is March, April, May. And Autumn which is September, October, November. The temperature is moderate in these seasons with an amazing and clear view.

You will get breathtaking scenery throughout the trek during this time. Hence due to all these reasons, these months are the peak months.

If you wish to avoid the crowd then trekking during winter i.e from December to February is a good option.

Altitude Sickness

Trekking into the mountains above 3000m always comes with the risk of altitude sickness. Everyone is at risk of AMS ( Acute Mountain Sickness) irrespective of age, gender and sex. Also, the 8 days EBC trek has no acclimatization days. So, you are very prone to altitude sickness if you do not take proper care of your body.

Hence it is important to learn about the altitude sickness so that you can take the necessary precautions. Some of the signs and symptoms are breathlessness, loss of appetite, nausea and headache etc.

In the case of AMS, it is the best decision to stop and take rest. Ignoring the symptoms and pushing too hard on your body can worsen the situation and can even lead to the fatal condition.

If the situation doesn’t seem to improve even after taking rest, it is best to descend.

Physical Fitness

The 8 days Everest Base Camp trek is a short trek with no acclimatization days. Hence it is very important for one to be physically fit and strong. Moreover, you need to have a positive mindset and determination to do the trek successfully.

Since you will be trekking for about 5 to 7 hours on a daily basis, it is important to build your stamina. Hence it is wise to take training prior to the trek.

Some of the exercises you can do are hiking for hours with a small bag, jogging, climbing stairs etc.

If you have pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung and blood diseases, it is important to consult your doctor before the trek.

Travel Insurance

Trekking in the higher altitudes has various risks and misfortunes can happen at any time. So it is best to be safe than to be sorry. Travel insurance is important while trekking in the mountains.

Hence make sure to have travel insurance that covers altitude up to 6000m including medical rescue, emergency evacuation, flight delays, baggage loss etc.

Some Useful Tips for 8 Days EBC Trek

• Strongly advised to book Everest Base Camp Trek with proper acclimatization instead of this kind of short trek without any acclimatization days. 
• Choose a favorable month for the trek and plan accordingly
• Always check the weather condition prior to the trek
• Dress in layers so that you can take off or put on clothes according to the situation
• Hire a guide and porter for safe and comfortable trekking experience
• Maintain your own pace and do not rush
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated during the trek
• Seek out for help in case of any difficulties or problems and take necessary precautions
• Carry enough cash as there are no ATMs
• Keep a buffer day in case of any unplanned situation
• Avoid alcohol and other beverages during the trek

Conclusion

The 8 days Everest Base Camp trek is a short package with a perfect blend of natural beauty and great adventure.

This trek allows you to discover your inner strength and capabilities. In this trek, you will be able to get to the base of the Everest within a short period of time.

With a little bit of preparation and good physical strength, one can successfully complete the trek. At the end of the trip, there is no doubt that you will get a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

For more details, please feel free to contact us. It is our pleasure to guide and assist you with the best of our knowledge.