Land at Tribhuvan Airport and get your visa on arrival ($50). Spend two days exploring Thamel's labyrinthine streets, visiting Boudhanath Stupa (UNESCO), Pashupatinath Temple, and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple). Sort your trekking permits here — you'll need a TIMS card and Annapurna/Sagarmatha NP permit.
📅 Fly to Lukla, Trek to Namche
Take the 35-minute flight to Lukla (the world's most exciting airstrip) and begin the classic Everest Base Camp approach. Trek through rhododendron forests and suspension bridges to Phakding, then the steep climb to Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Acclimatise for a day with a hike to the Everest View Hotel.
📅 Everest Base Camp
Continue through Tengboche (with its stunning monastery views of Ama Dablam), Dingboche, and Lobuche. Reach Gorak Shep (5,164m) and make the final push to Everest Base Camp at 5,364m. Optional: sunrise hike to Kala Patthar (5,545m) for the best Everest view on Earth. Descend to Pheriche.
📅 Return & Pokhara
Trek back to Lukla via a different route, fly to Kathmandu. Spend a day in Pokhara on Phewa Lake — paragliding, kayaking, and the best dal bhat of your trip. Fly home or extend into the Annapurna Circuit.
💡 Key tips: Acclimatise properly — altitude sickness is serious. Drink 3L of water daily above 3,500m. Carry cash (ATMs stop at Namche). Tea house meals are cheap ($3–8). Hire a local guide — it supports the economy and they know the mountain.
