Classic EBC trek Nepal (with a special return route!)

So you've heard about the classic EBC trek in Nepal ...

We know, we're as starry eyed about it as you are. 🤩

Here's a description of the famous EBC trek route, as well as the special detour that we at Follow Alice hike on the return. We do this because we think the variation takes what's already a great trek and turns it into a truly epic one!

The route of the classic EBC trek in Nepal (not to be confused with the EBC trek in Tibet) starts in the town of Lukla and follows a relatively direct route to Everest Base Camp. It's not a straight line, of course, since the trail wends its way up various valleys.

After reaching Everest Base Camp, most classic EBC trek tour operators then lead you back along the same route, since that's the traditional path. But we think it's far more interesting and rewarding to trek back a different way. The route we've selected sees fewer trekkers, and also gifts you the joy of seeing and appreciating some different valleys, peaks and villages.

Khumjung is one of the villages visited on the return route

Map of the classic EBC trek with Follow Alice's special return route

Here's a breakdown of what the classic EBC trek itinerary with Follow Alice looks like. As you can see, the entire trip lasts 14 days, but you're on the trail for 11 days.

Here now is a short description of each day, as well as the odd explanation for why we've made certain choices concerning the itinerary, such as having you wait a day after flying back to Kathmandu before flying home (heads up: it's a good reason!).

Your guide meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to the hotel in the lively city district of Thamel. If you arrive early enough, we recommend wandering into the streets to explore and experience the atmosphere of this iconic city. There are also loads of trekking gear shops should you still need to buy or rent anything.

A Kathmandu street scene

In the evening you gather together for a briefing dinner with your trek guide.

In the morning you fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, the airport town known as the Gateway to the EBC trek.

Lukla's famously short airport runway

Fortunately, Lukla's elevation of 2,860 m (9,383 ft) above sea level (asl) isn't high enough to cause altitude sickness. But it's near the mark where one needs to take the elevation seriously, making it the perfect starting location for the EBC trek!

Once you land, it's straight on with the backpacks and you spend the next few hours trekking through forest alongside the river known as Dudh Kosi. Your first overnight stop is the charming village of Phakding, which straddles the river. At 2,610 m (8,563 ft) asl, Phakding is actually lower in altitude than Lukla.

Today you have a big trek ahead of you, not least because you must climb about a vertical kilometre to reach tonight's stopping point of Namche Bazaar (3,440 m or 11,286 ft). En route you cross suspension bridges dripping in multicoloured Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, including the high Hilary Suspension Bridge.

Namche Bazaar sits in a natural amphitheatre and offers sublime views: to the east you look over the valley of Bhote Kosi to the high, sharp ridge of Kongde Ri, and to the west over the valley of Dudh Kosi to the white peaks of Kantega and Thamserku.

A night-time view of Namche Bazaar and snow-topped Kongde Ri

Namche Bazaar is a real experience, as its a regional trading hub while also being one of the primary waypoints on the EBC trek, so you can find people from all over the world hanging out here. Note that Namche Bazaar is a great place to draw cash and also stock up snacks and medicines, as the villages you visit after this are small and lean on amenities.

You have an early start today as there's many hours of trekking ahead! Your destination for the day is Pangboche (also spelled Panboche), a neat village with green roofs in the valley of Imja Khole. The trek today is incredibly pretty, with Mt Ama Dablam presiding all of the way.

A view of Ama Dablam over a rooftop in Pangboche

Pangboche has an absolutely incredible mountain backdrop. In fact, from here Ama Dablam really does feel like a brooding mother, as suggested by its name.

Note that there's a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the village that you can visit if you arrive in good time.

Sacred books in Pangboche's monastery

Today is a relatively short trek, but your body will be feeling the effect of the ever-increasing high altitude, so it's important to take things slowly.

An obvious sign of the high elevation is that you climb above the tree line today and enter scrubland. This vegetation zone has an austere beauty all its own, and you really start to feel the remoteness of your location here.

The mountain views in and around Dingboche are just breathtaking

Your destination (where you will stay for two nights) is Dingboche (4,360 m or 14,304 ft), a small farming community that sits on a bank of the Imja Khola.

Today is about allowing your body to acclimatise to the high altitude before making it climb higher. Altitude sickness on the Everest Base Camp trek is very common, and so it's absolutely vital to take a rest day on the ascent.

The glorious view from above Dingboche

While you can spend today just resting if that's what your body is telling you it needs, there are some great excursions on the cards if you're feeling up to it, for instance:

Ama Dablam and Chhukung Glacier as seen from the hill above Chhukung

Today's trek takes you up to Lobuche (4,930 m or 16,175 ft) along a path carved into a fairly desolate landscape. But as always, the views en route are awe-inspiring, and you can look forward to eyeing the peaks of Taboche, Cholatse, Ama Dablam and Kangtega.

Lobuche exists because of the EBC trek

If you arrive early enough and have some energy left in the tank, it's just a 20-minute hike to the so-called Italian Pyramid, which is a scientific research station at the foot of Lobuche Glacier. Alternatively, you can climb to the top of the ridge east of Lobuche and enjoy your first sighting of Khumbu Glacier!

This morning you get up early with a twinkle in your eye, because you've got just one last push ahead of you until you reach Everest Base Camp. Wow.

The going is naturally pretty tough today, as the air is very thin and you must also ascend roughly 400 m to reach base camp at 5,364 m (17,598 ft) asl. Yet needless to say, every which way you look during today's hike rewards you with showstopper scenery.

Our client Karen shared this great group shot taken at EBC in 2023

Before you know it, you're standing in Everest Base Camp, which is an unassuming spot in its way, but is festooned with multicoloured prayer flags, dotted with fellow visitors, and laden with the hopes and memories of thousands of trekkers and mountaineers before you.

Please note that you can't actually see Mt Everest from base camp. But you will see it tomorrow! So you head to Gorakshep (5,164 m or 16,942 ft) for the night, ready to earn that incredible view the next morning!

Kala Patthar offers an incredible, unobstructed view of Mt Everest

This morning you have another red-letter day ahead of you: enjoying that classic view of Everest from the top of Kala Patthar!

The hike up Kala Patthar ('Black Rock') is taxing, as you ascend to 5,643 m (18,514 ft), where the air is really thin. But the view from the top of that oh-so-recognisable mountain peak is worth every moment of effort.

From here, it's time to start the trek all the way back to Lukla. But as promised, this itinerary has a special twist: you trek back via a quieter route just to the west of the one that brought you to base camp.

Very few trekkers visit the remote village of Pheriche

Your destination for the night is the village of Periche. At 4,371 m (14,340 ft) asl, it's nearly 1.5 km lower than Kala Patthar, so expect a lot of downhill trekking today. The village offers utterly sublime views of the surrounding peaks, which include Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam.

Today's trek is a long one, but by dropping down below the 4,000 m asl mark you can expect to feel the invigorating effect of more oxygen. During the day's hike you leave Periche Valley and enter Khumjung Valley, another impossibly picturesque corner of the world with towering mountain peaks and continued views of Everest.

Today's destination is Khumjung (3,780 m or 12,402 ft), a fascinating village with much to explore and appreciate, including a beautiful little monastery, a gorgeous mani wall, a famous bakery, and the high school founded by Sir Edmund Hilary.

Statue of Sir Edmund Hillary at Khumjung High School

On the trek today you walk the beautiful path between Khumjung and Namche Bazaar, after which you link back up with your outward path, getting the chance to once again cross the truly photo-worthy Hilary Suspension Bridge.

Tonight you stay in the pretty village of Monjo (2,840 m or 9,318 ft), which sits alongside the Dudh Kosi at the bottom of a narrow, tree-filled valley.

A guesthouse near Monjo

Today involves a relatively short hike to get back to Lukla, where you can relax and celebrate the mega achievement of the past several days!

A suspension bridge crossing the Dudh Kosi at Phakding

Today you begin your journey home, and this starts with a short airplane ride over incredible mountains to reach Kathmandu.

While this flight should leave early in the morning, mountain weather is unpredictable and so we've left this entire day 'open' to account for any delays. It's far too risky, in our experience, to have an international flight out of Kathmandu planned for the same day as your flight out of Lukla.

One of the small aircrafts that fly in and out of Lukla

So please think of today as a buffer day; should your flight to Kathmandu be delayed by a day, you should still be able to catch your international flight home the next evening.

That said, if all goes to plan with your flight to Kathmandu in the morning, you then have the afternoon and evening to explore the city! Your trip manager can give you suggestions of the very best things to do based on your preferences.

Today we drive you to the airport for your international flight home. Depending on your departure time, however, you could well have a nicely big window to explore this famous city further.

Kathmandu Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it boasts seven complexes of great historic and artistic importance, including the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath. Whichever ones you choose to visit, you're guaranteed to see and experience something incredible during your time in the city!

Durbar Square in Kathmandu

Finally, please check out our Classic EBC trek trip to see what's included and what's not included in our package. We've scaled back the inclusions on this trip (in comparison to our other EBC trek itineraries) for those looking for a really affordable package with a company that nonetheless retains its preoccupations with safety and quality.