Everest Base Camp Trek Packages

With stunning scenery, we immerse ourselves in the Nepalese culture as we trek to the starting point for climbing the highest mountain in the world, Everest!  But we'll save the summit for another day, we're going to Everest Base Camp! And we may be a little biased, but there's only one company to go with when you’re hiring a UK guide for Everest Base Camp and that's us, Active Mountaineering. From the moment you arrive in Kathmandu, we'll take care of you. Right from the very start of us offering challenge events, our ethos has been that your Everest Base Camp tour should leave you with amazing memories that last a lifetime. And nothing should take away the lustre of what you have achieved. That's why we ensure that there will be no surprise costs when you get there, or even before you get there. And that's also why we've worked hard to ensure that everything you would expect on a bucket list challenge like hiking to Everest base camp is covered.  All of your meals and water are taken care of. All of your transfers, accommodation and even your tips for our incountry team are already included in the cost.  All you need to worry about is getting yourself to Base Camp. Keep reading to find out exactly what you get in our Everest Base Camp trek packages, or if you have any questions about hiring a UK guide for Everest base camp tours, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team today – we’re here to help.

Hiking to Everest Base Camp

The only thing not covered in the cost is your alcohol. And that's only because we've seen how much some of you can celebrate and we could never afford that! But we're sure that Chris will buy a few rounds. Did we mention that? Chris will be with you all of the way during the Everest base camp tour. From meeting you at the airport in the UK to waving you goodbye after the event, they're by your side. This is how we ensure that everything runs as it's supposed to. Any of you who have already been on a challenge with Chris already know how well organised and determined he is to get you to your goal. We do have to mention a possible additional cost of the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek if our flight to/from Lukla is delayed due to bad weather but we'll discuss that later.

You may be asking yourself why we've wittered on about what's included in the cost of our Everest Base Camp trek package. And the answer will most certainly surprise you! There's a myriad of UK companies offering this challenge and they're all competing to get your attention with the price! And let us be honest with you, if a company is offering this event for as low as £1500, then there's a reason. Out of the companies we know well, your water on the mountains is not provided. You have to buy it at the teahouses that you stay in and you need at least 3 litres of water each day. And with it costing as much as £5 a litre, that can be expensive. You read that right, £5 a LITRE! WHAAATTTT!!!! Well, your water bill alone could be in excess of £150!!  And then there's the food. Don't get us started on the food! Nearly every other company leave you to fend for yourselves when in Kathmandu and let's face it, as a tourist, you're going to pay well over the odds! And the cheaper companies don't include food on the mountains! Honestly, I shit you not! You have to pay for your breakfasts, lunches and dinners and you've seen the price of water, imagine what your food will cost! You can expect to at least double the cost of your trip on food and water alone!  None of that BS when you hire a guide for Everest Base Camp from Active Mountaineering.

And then there's the tips. Imagine how well your cheap-ass UK company pay the incountry team! Not very well we imagine, but how do they get them to work for them? Is it by promising them payment in the form of excessive tips? We couldn't really say, well we could, but we won't!  Do you really want to be pressured and harassed into paying more than you should? Absolutely not! That's why your tips with us are included in the cost. Tips are a tradition, but only for good service and that's where we excel. We are completely transparent when presenting the team with their tips, in front of you. You could even add up the tips if you wanted to see how much has been given on your behalf. We've got nothing to hide. Contact the team at Active Mountaineering to discuss your Everest Base Camp tour today!

Everest Base Camp

A little bit about the mountain. Mt. Everest, standing tall at 8848m, holds a great deal of historical and spiritual significance for locals and foreigners alike. Since the 20th century, when the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest was made by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Known locally as Chomolungma (Goddess Mother of Mountains), Mt. Everest has been attracting adventurous explorers. And while summiting Everest is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, it is still a magical achievement to reach Base Camp. The Mount Everest Base Camp trek offers a great mixture of high-altitude trekking and cultural exploration of the renowned Sherpa people. It is guaranteed to exceed your expectations in every way. Our carefully planned itinerary runs through famous trails that lead through the famous villages of Namche and Khumjung as well as Thyangboche monastery that reflect the renowned Sherpa people and their culture. As you ascend to Kalapatthar, which stands at a massive 5545m, you can enjoy the 360-degree panorama of Everest and its siblings and witness for yourself the classic climbing route to the top of the world!

So, you really need to join us for what is one of the most immersive, scenic bucket list challenges you could ever wish to complete. Tick it off the bucket list and find out more about our Everest Base Camp Trek packages by contacting us today.

So, what will we be doing?

Everest Base Camp Tours from Active Mountaineering

So, what will we be doing?

Day 01: Arrival day. 

You will be welcomed at airport by Chris and transferred to our hotel. A little time to relax and then after dinner, Chris will brief the group about what to expect on the expedition.

Day 02: Kathmandu

We start today with a special breakfast and then depart for a full day sightseeing in the Kathmandu valley. We will take in the sights of the Hindu temple complex at Pashupatinath (a UNESCO world heritage site) and the biggest Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath. We will also pay a visit to Kathmandu Durbar square and the Monkey Temple at Syambhunath which is 2000 years old (almost as old as Chris!).  We then spend the night in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Kathmandu - Lukla (2880m) - Phakding (2740m). (5 hour trek) mix of ascent and descent but mostly an easy walk

We will take an early morning flight by Twin Otter aircraft to the world renowned Lukla airport. If you've never seen this airport, you're in for a treat. On the flight we watch the rugged foothills give way to the snowline of the Himalaya. Many of the world’s highest mountains, including Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (the world’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th highest respectively) may be visible from the window of the plane. Once we are in Lukla, surprisingly, this high-altitude trek begins by descending to the river at Phakding where we will stay overnight.

Please note that the flight to Lukla may be from Ramechap or from Kathmandu. In case the regular flight is not operating due to bad weather, we may have the option to take a Helicoptor which will be an additional cost (the only one, we promise!)

Day 04: Phakding - Namche (3445m). (5-6 hour trek). Moderate walk but after lunch, we head uphill.

The first day may have been surprisingly long for some, but by staying at Phakding this allows us to begin the ascent to Namche Bazaar first thing in the morning. At about half-way up the hill, a gap in the trees allow us to spy Everest for the first time. If the weather is clear the top of the South-West Face will be just visible behind the long Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. A plume can often be seen stretching away from the very summit.

Namche is the largest and most prosperous town in the Khumbu. A bazaar is held here every Saturday. The wares on display include meat, grains and vegetables, tennis shoes and trinkets as well as hand woven aprons and Tibetan boots. The Sherpas play host to trader from the foothills, as well as Tibetans from over the border. Thamserku (6648m), Kwangde Ri (6187m) and Khumbila (5707m) surround the natural bowl that Namche sits in.

Day 05: Namche - Rest/acclimatization day.

We take the day off to allow our bodies to acclimatize. The secret of safe acclimatization is to ‘climb high, sleep low’ so we'll be encouraging you to hike up the hill behind Namche to the airstrip at Syangboche, or stroll across to the museum behind the police post. You may prefer to ‘chill out’ and visit one of the lodges for a freshly-baked cinnamon roll. Namche is a busy and bustling trading place and there is always plenty going on.

Day 06:  Tyangboche/Diboche (3,800m): (5 hour trek). Uphill, with a little downhill.

From Namche we continue our trek to Phunki and Tyangboche monastery for one of the most magnificent views in the world; an awe inspiring panorama of Himalayan giants: Kwangde, Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kategna and Thamserku.

Day 07: Dingboche (4,300m). (7-8 hour trek). Uphill

Today we trek across the Imja Khola and continue through terraced fields and rolling pastures where yaks graze to Pangboche (3,860m).

Day 08:  Dingboche (4,300m): Rest/acclimatization day

Another day to relax around the tea house, not! We encourage you to attempt one of two hikes. The shorter option ascends the hill immediately behind Dingboche, to drop steeply down to Periche. The Himalayan Rescue Association operates a medical post here and the western doctors conduct excellent seminars on Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) here on most afternoons. The longer option is to trek up the Imja Tse valley towards Island Peak. The views of Lhotse, Ama Dablam / Cho oyu from here are outstanding. After a few hours we reach Chukung A short rest and we then return down to the valley. The choice of trek will be decided by the group.

Day 09 :  Lobuche (4,900m): (6-7 hour trek). Uphill, again.

The trail climbs through a grass carpeted valley to Khumbu Glacier and reaches Dughla - Lobuche.

Day 10 :  Lobuje - Kala Pattar (5545m) - Gorakshep. (7 hour trek). Uphill, nearly there.

A long day and an early start. We trek along the rough path along the side of the Khumbu glacier to the tea shacks at Gorak Shep. Behind rises the attractive 7000m peak of Pumori which dwarfs our trek’s summit of Kala Pattar. The route up is straight forward and takes most people between 90 minutes and 2 hours. All the peaks - Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam and scores of other lesser peaks can be seen from this wonderful vantage point.

Day 11: Gorak Shep - Everest Base camp 5,364 mtrs – Pheriche (6-7 hour). Uphill in the morning and a long way back downhill.

This is the day! You will re-pack your pack this morning before breakfast and leave your main kit at the guest house.  We are then ready for the fairly easy trek from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp. Although we don't encourage leaving items on a mountain, we are aware that you may have a special reason for being here with us and as such, may want to leave a token of some description.  Prayer flags are popular or a photo of a loved one….anything that has meaning to you, as long as it’s eco-friendly!!! We're all about the eco-friendly, be warned! Everest Base Camp has been cleaned up recently by some expeditions, specifically tasked for that purpose.  We will in no way add any of our own litter and will be picking up any we see. The icefall and glacier are now in pristine condition. The elevation here is 5,495 meters, 17,598 feet. We will enjoy lunch at Base Camp and you have time to take lots of photos to commemorate your triumph before hiking back out to Gorak Shep. Try not to leave Chris behind who will be busy taking photo's for your souvenir photobook. Him and his bloody camera!! We will stop to pick up our main kit bags that were left at the guesthouse and begin the trek back out to Lobuche and down to Phireche, where we will overnight.

Day 12 : Phireche to Khumjum (7 hour trek). Downhill and a little uphill

It's all downhill to Khumjum (and a little uphill) 

Day 13 : Khumjum– Namche-Manjo (3445m). (6-7 hour trek). Downhill and after lunch, uphill (really??)

The route continues down and then again up a bit to Namche. After lunch we head down to manjoo. We may have the option to get a nice final view of Everest before we leave.

Day 14: Manjoo - Lukla (2880m). (5 hour trek)

With a heavy heart, we head to Lukla. There is something very special about this setting. The villages and the people of the high Khumbu hills and valleys will leave memories that last a lifetime.  These will help us up the deceptively long, final climb into Lukla. Our teahouse is well situated and offers a good place to rest.

Day 15: Lukla - Kathmandu.

Another chance to enjoy this great flight and probably the most memorable part of your adventure.  When we arrive back in Kathmandu, we will transfer back to our hotel and get ready for our evening celebratory dinner.

Day 16: Kathmandu

A day to relax and enjoy in Kathmandu.  Staying this extra day also mitigates in case our flight from Lukla is delayed due to bad weather, meaning you won't miss your international flight.

Day 17: Return home

We transfer to the airport, kiss and hug, wave our goodbyes, and set off back home!

What's included in our Everest Base Camp Trek Package:

3 star accommodation in Kathmandu, twin sharing rooms

Lodge accommodation on the mountains

Full board meals

Water 

Professional guide team

National park fees

Kathmandu sightseeing

Airport and internal transfers (See terms)

Cultural show and celebration dinner

Down jacket and sleeping bag for trek if necessary

Tips for the incountry team

Whats not included

International flight to and from Kathmandu

Drinks apart from water (Alcohol etc)

Personal, medical and evacuation insurance (6000m travel insurance required)

Airport tax

Visa fees

Worldwide travel insurance with helicopter rescue up to 6000m is required for this event.  We have an insurer that we use for ourselves who are very competitive and we will send you details after you have booked.  We are in no way affiliated with them, nor receive any commissions.  We just like to help you as much as possible to fulfil your dreams.