Lobuche Peak Climbing with EBC & Kala Patthar

Kathmandu – 1,300 m / 4,265 ft

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Not Included

Overnight: Kathmandu

Today is the opportunity to meet your guide and ask any questions you have regarding your climb and trek.

Phakding – 2651 m / 8697 ft – 35 min + 3 hrs

Trek time: 3 to 4 hours

Flight time: 35 to 40 minutes

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Phakding

Your flight into the Everest Region leaves early morning from the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan Airport.  You will fly over hills and through the Himalayan mountains to reach the high-altitude airport at Lukla.

On landing, once the gear is sorted, it’s time to head out for a 3 – 4 hour hike to Phakding, where you spend the first night in the Khumbu (otherwise known as Everest) Region.

Namche – 3440 m / 11286 ft

Trek time: 5 to 6 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Namche Bazaar

You are now in the Sagarmatha National Park. A check post is on the way, so make sure you have your permits ready.

It is mainly an uphill trek today, rising at around 800m/ 2,624 ft.  Entering Namche be prepared to see many other trekkers and climbers as everyone gathers here to acclimatize for their journey or to celebrate the end of their trip.

Namche – 3700 m / 12139 ft

Trek time: 5 to 6 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight in Namche Bazaar

Today is an essential acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar, a lively Sherpa town set high in the Himalayas. As the altitude increases from here, this day helps your body adjust naturally—by staying active rather than resting completely.

You can explore nearby traditional Sherpa villages, visit the historic school and health post established by Sir Edmund Hillary, or enjoy a warm coffee at the famous Everest View Hotel, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Everest. From here, you may also witness helicopters arriving for the popular Everest Breakfast Heli Tour, adding excitement to the Himalayan atmosphere.

This is also the best place to stock up on snacks and essentials if you missed shopping in Kathmandu—options become very limited beyond Namche. A small reminder: in high

Tengboche – 3956 m / 12979 ft

Trek time: 5 to 6 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Tengboche

You will have seen on the trails and Namche evidence of the prominent Buddhist culture in this region.  Today you will see many stupas (Buddhist shrines), mani walls (stone walls with Buddhist mantras carved into them), prayer flags, and other evidence of this culture and religion.

Tengboche Monastery is the highest monastery in the region and home to numerous monks.  If you are there at the right time, there is an opportunity to participate – quietly – in a puja (worship) or light some butter lamps.  Regardless of your religious beliefs, there is no denying the panoramic views from  Tengboche are out of this world, including views of Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse.

Pheriche – 4,371 m (14,340 ft)

Trek time: 4 to 5 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Pheriche

The trail descends to Dingboche and then follows the ridgeline with the Dudh Khosi River flowing below on a relatively flat area.

Coming to a fork in the trail, you will reach the village of Pangboche, where, if you are lucky, the bakery will be open.

Great place to stop for lunch or grab something sweet on the road. By now, you should be looking for any tell-tale signs of altitude sickness and report this to your guide.

Pheriche – 4,371 m (14,340 ft)

Trek time: 4 to 5 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Pheriche

At Pheriche, there is the Himalayan Rescue Association’s Pheriche Aid-Post, whose main purpose is to help trekkers and mountaineers with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and other mountain-related illnesses and ailments.

They also help locals, guides, and porters and offer information about ASM. It is possible to organise a talk on this subject from the staff there.  This is a good way to spend your acclimatization day.

Day 8: Pheriche to Lobuche

Lobuche – 4938 m / 16200 ft

Trek time: 4 to 5 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche

There are several boulders to scramble over today as the path passes through the half-frozen streams in wide valleys.  While the sun is hidden from the valley, it will be very cold, surrounded by mountains. Despite the desire to walk faster to warm up, the altitude will slow you down: be patient.

You will likely see yak trains on the trail.  As you pass through villages, you can stop for a hot cup of tea or soup before reaching a row of chortens.  These chortens are for the many people – guides, mountaineers, and trekkers – who have died in the Everest Region.

Prayer flags honor all those who have passed, including Scott Fisher, an American guide whose life is remembered in the book and film ‘Into Thin Air.  With the mountains all around, it is a very atmospheric place.

Lobuche – 4938 m / 16200 ft

Trek time: 4 to 5 hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche

There are several boulders to scramble over today as the path passes through the half-frozen streams in wide valleys.  While the sun is hidden from the valley, it will be very cold, surrounded by mountains. Despite the desire to walk faster to warm up, the altitude will slow you down: be patient.

You will likely see yak trains on the trail.  As you pass through villages, you can stop for a hot cup of tea or soup before reaching a row of chortens.  These chortens are for the many people – guides, mountaineers, and trekkers – who have died in the Everest Region.

Prayer flags honor all those who have passed, including Scott Fisher, an American guide whose life is remembered in the book and film ‘Into Thin Air.  With the mountains all around, it is a very atmospheric place.

Gorakshep – 5160 m / 16929 ft

Trek time: 4 to 5 Hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Gorakshep

Today you head to Gorakshep, where you will spend two nights to give time to make some awesome trips.  Walking along the Khumbu Glacier, there are some steep sections of the trail, but with Mt Everest in full view, it’s well worth it.  Passing the glacier, you come to Gorakshep, where lunch is taken before a trip up the amazing ‘Everest View Point,’ known as Kala Patthar.

Hiking up the ‘black rock,’ a translation of its name, we get as close to Everest as possible.  At no other point can we see such wonderful views of Everest and the other mountains surrounding it.   After taking in this wonderful panorama of mountains, return to Gorakshep for the night

Lobuche – 4938 m / 16200 ft

Trek time: 4 + 4 Hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche

After breakfast, we set off to Everest Base Camp, interestingly, it is not the same base camp for trekkers as it is for mountaineers.  But you can see the climbing expedition camps just a little ahead.  After the astounding views at Kala Patthar, the base camp might seem a little disappointing as far as views go.

You are too close to Everest to get good views here.  But this is an iconic spot and one you will treasure in your memories forever.  After this visit, head to Lobuche, where you will spend the night.

Lobuche High Camp – 5400 m / 17712 ft

Trek time: 3 Hours

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche High Camp

It takes around 3 hours to reach High Camp – which seems somehow longer in the thin air at this altitude.  Here tents are set up, and climbing equipment is checked for tomorrow’s climb.

Lobuche Base Camp – 4938 m / 16200 ft

Trek time: 9 to 10 Hours

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lobuche Base Camp

This extremely long and tiring day begins with a 3 am start.  At the snowline, crampons are fixed because the trails are slippery underfoot.  Ropes and ice axes will assist you, as will your guide, in the climb.  From the summit, the whole Everest Region is on display.  Breath in the air, glory in your achievement.  Return to Lobuche Base Camp.

Pangboche- 3930 m / 12900 ft -7 hrs

Trek time: 7 Hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Pangboche

This morning, enjoy a great breakfast to revive you from yesterday’s long day, descend slowly to Lobuche village for lunch and onward to Pheriche village.  By now, we are used to seeing the magnificent Himalayan mountains all around us, and today we welcome green and often colourful juniper and Rhododendron forests.

Namche – 3440 m / 11286 ft – 6 hrs

Trek time: 6 Hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Namche Bazaar

A relatively easy day today through Sherpa villages with the ever-present mountains – Thamserku, Nuptse-Lhotse, and others –  above you and the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi River valleys below.

Finally, you reach Namche Bazaar, where you can reflect on the marvelous journey and experiences you have just made.  Tonight celebrate with a beer or two and compare notes with your companions.  Don’t forget to call home to tell them of your success!

Lukla – 2860 m / 9383 ft

Trek time: 8 Hours

Accommodation: Tea House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Lukla

This is the last day of the trek, and it is a bittersweet one.  Say goodbye to the mountains as you retrace your steps to Lukla.  Overnight in Lukla to await your morning flight to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu – 1,400 m / 4,593 ft

Flight Duration: ~30 minutes
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Overnight: Kathmandu

Your Himalayan adventure with Equator Expeditions concludes with a scenic morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, offering one final aerial view of the majestic mountains. As you arrive in the capital, you may feel pleasantly tired—but your heart will be full of unforgettable memories and achievements.

Upon arrival, there is time to relax, freshen up, and enjoy some souvenir shopping around Kathmandu before gathering for a celebratory farewell dinner. This is a perfect moment to reflect on your journey and celebrate the successful completion of your expedition with the Equator Expeditions team.

On behalf of Equator Expeditions, we wish you a safe and pleasant onward journey if you are departing Nepal today. We hope the memories and experiences you’ve gained here will stay with you for a lifetime.

If your adventure doesn’t end here, our team will be happy to assist you in planning another unforgettable journey—whether it’s a new trek, peak climbing, cultural tour, or a return to the Himalayas.

Until next time, travel safely and see you again with Equator Expeditions.