Have you been gripped by listening, reading, and watching about Everest Base Camp Trek adventure? A trek that has been admired as the grandest walk by seasoned walkers, a classic trek that takes you to the bottom of the world's highest peak. Who is not fascinated by the thought of standing at 29,028 feet, at the bottom of the world's highest mountain? You don't have to trek for 12 days to see Everest. You can book an EBC helicopter tour to see Everest in just 4 hours.
Yes, the Everest base camp trek is the adventure of a lifetime for many who love walking adventure. But have you deterred yourself to do it only because you love creature comfort? Only because you love traveling in style, comfort, and luxury? Have you been avoiding it because you have a notion that only rustic teahouses with limited facilities are available for accommodation? Have you been thinking you have to poop in the woods? Have you been thinking you have to use squat toilets every day? And only because you are scared of the flying in a twin otter to land in world's thrilling airport?
You don't have to suspend your dream to be at Everest base camp only because you love comfort. Everest Base Camp Trekking trail can provide a lot a luxury trekker desires. Everest base camp trek is an incomparable hike and now a variety of options are there. Over the years, Everest Base Camp in Nepal has developed itself as a superior hiking trail of the world for a multi-day trekking.
Now people can do Everest base camp trek in their own style, i.e. luxuriously, sleeping in comfy beds and eating food of their choice in style accompanied by drinks and deserts, flying in and out in helicopter, using as much porters as you need and of course guide, and horses, etc.
At first, you land in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, a beautiful Himalayan country. You have plenty of choices for 5-star stays in Kathmandu such as Hotel Hyatt, Radisson, Soaltee Crown Plaza, Marriott, etc., but I would recommend staying at Hotel Dwarika's to get unique cultural experience.
In the mountain, there are some lodges that focus on providing comfort and luxury and not only a night's sleep. The chain of Yeti Mountain Home Luxury lodge is in Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Khunde and Thame. The chain of Everest summit Lodge is also there in several places along the trail at the service of luxury lovers. You can also choose to sleep at a hotel situated at the highest elevation, Everest View Hotel, and enjoy the mountain panorama from your window. At Deboche, you can sleep at Rivendell Lodge. In Lobuche, the Italian pyramid Lodge welcomes you and provides you with the comfort possible at this altitude. Only in Dingboche and Gorekshep, you have to negotiate a little bit (but they are better than you expect).
You just can enjoy the company of a knowledgeable, friendly, and experienced guide. There will be porters who carry luggage for you. They need a job and you need comfort.
You can just spend time walking, photographing, and enjoying the magnificence of Himalayas because you will be in front of four of the world’s six tallest peaks -Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Cho Oyu rising tall above everything in view. Just indulge yourself in the splendor of the place, the mountains, landscape, nature, Himalayas, ancient monasteries, fluttering prayer flags, suspension bridges, and the sound of gushing rivers.
There is nothing to worry about except the walk. And if you don't want to walk, hiring a pony is an option too. The itineraries are made carefully keeping in mind the acclimatization process. Generally people keep two acclimatization days one at Namche Bazaar (3440m) and second at Dingboche (4490m) but if you want you can customize your trip and keep 1-2 more days in your trekking itinerary and be totally at ease in relation to any mountain sickness.
The luxury Everest base camp trek begins after a short but scenic flight to Lukla. You can choose to fly in Helicopter instead of twin otter airplane if you want to add luxury and enjoy the mountain views from Helicopter.
As soon as you land at Lukla, you are surrounded by the mountains. The trail passes along Sherpa villages through Sagarmatha National Park and offers photography opportunities of majestic mountain sceneries from every corner and bend. As you reach Namche Bazaar, a town also popular as Sherpa capital you get to see the highest peak or the world- Mt. Everest (8848m) for the first time. Gradually the following days you get views of Mt Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Nuptse (7855m), Mt. Pumori (7161m), Mt. Changaste (7550m), Mt. Amadablam (6856m), Mt. Thamserku(6723m), Mt. Kantega( 6685m), Mt. Kusum Khagaru (6367m), Mt. Kongde (6011m), Mt. Khumbila(5761m), Mt. Twache peak(6367m), Mt. Lingterin (6679m), Mt. Cholaste (6335m), Island peak(6179m), Honku south peak (6119m), Lobuche peak(6145m), Pokalde peak (5806m), and many more. Reaching Everest Base Camp and Standing at the top of Kalapatthar (5545m) viewpoint is the major highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek. You will be amazed by the view of Khumbu icefall and the sunrise over giant massifs that make the Himalayan peaks gleam golden.
After Kalapatthar climb, it's time to return back. The trek back is through same trail (unless you want to trek for more days and make a circuit), so if you want to avoid walking back the same trail you can opt to fly from Kalapatthar to Kathmandu in chopper again.
For the Everest base camp luxury trek to be organized contact a local trekking agency in Nepal. They organize Everest Base Camp trek economically as well as luxuriously as per customer interest. Tell them your needs, they will provide you with royal level service.
I have put here a general itinerary followed on Everest Base Camp Trek and the accommodation on luxury lodges where available.
Itinerary Option I Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu 1,350m/4,429ft. (Accommodation: 3, 4, or 5 star hotel of your choice)
Day 02 Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation 1,350m/4,429ft (Accommodation: a 3, 4, or 5 star hotel of your choice). It's wise to get rid of jet lag, adjust to the environment, and hang around Kathmandu UNESCO World Heritage site before flying to mountain.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla airport in an airplane or helicopter and trek to Phakding 2,800m/9,187ft 3-4 hours walk (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home)
Day 04: Phakding - Namche Bazaar 3,438m/11,280ft 5-6 hours (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home)
Day 05: Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day 3,438m/11,280ft 3-4 hours acclimatization hike (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home or Everest View Hotel)
Day 06: Namche Bazzar to Deboche 3,820m/12,533ft 5-6 hours (Accommodation: Khumbu Rivendell Lodge)
Day 07: Deboche to Dingboche 4,360 m/14,305ft 4-5 hours (Accommodation: Hotel Summit- this is not luxury lodge but best among the teahouses)
Day 08: Dingboche Acclimatization day (Accommodation: Hotel Summit - this is not luxury lodge but best among the teahouses)
Day 09: Dingboche to Lobuche 4,940m/16,208ft 2-3 hours (Accommodation: Italian Pyramid Lodge-again not a luxury lodge but a different experience)
Day 10: Lobuche to Gorak Shep, visit Everest Base Camp and sleep at Gorekshep 5,364m/17,599ft 6-7 hours (Accommodation: Everest Lodge is best among the teahouses)
Day 11: Gorak Shep - Kalapatthar - Pheriche 5,545m/18,193ft 8-9 hours (Accommodation: Himalayan Lodge- best among the teahouses in Pheriche)
Day 12: Pheriche-Pangboche-Tengboche-Namche Bazzar 3,438m/11,280ft 6-7 hrs (Yeti Mountain Home or Everest Summit Lodge)
Day 13: Namche Bazaar - Lukla 2,800m/9,187ft 6 hrs (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home or Everest Summit Lodge)
Day 14: Fly Lukla to Kathmandu 1,350m/4,429ft (Accommodation: 3,4,5 star hotel in Kathmandu)
Day 15: Depart Kathmandu
Itinerary option II Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu 1,350m/4,429ft. (Accommodation: a 3, 4, or 5 star hotel of your choice)
Day 02: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation 1,350m/4,429ft (Accommodation: a 3, 4, or 5 star hotel of your choice)
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla in an airplane or helicopter and trek to Phakding 2,800m/9,187ft 3-4 hours walk (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home)
Day 05: Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day 3,438m/11,280ft (Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home or Everest View Hotel)
Day 07: Deboche to Dingboche 4,360 m/14,305ft 4-5 hours (Accommodation: Summit Lodge- this is not luxury lodge but best among the teahouses)
Day 08: Dingboche Acclimatization day (Accommodation: Summit Lodge- this is not luxury lodge but best among the teahouses)
Day 09: Dingboche to Lobuche 4,940m/16,208ft 2-3 hours (Accommodation: Italian Pyramid Lodge)
Day 10: Lobuche to Gorak Shep, visit Everest Base Camp and sleep at Gorekshep 5,364m/17,599ft 6-7 hours (Accommodation: Everest Lodge)
Day 11: Gorak Shep - Kalapatthar – and fly back to Kathmandu
Day 12: Depart Kathmandu
