How long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek Distance?

Which is the main trekking route of Nepal? Out of many trekking routes, the Everest Base Camp Trek is the major one. It being the trail to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest holds the highest significance in the Nepalese Trekking Industry. Therefore, there are lots of queries regarding the trip. Today’s blog goes in minute detail about finding answer on how long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek Distance. It is necessary to know the exact kilometers to plan efficiently for trekking especially the high – altitude trail like the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Before we go deeper into the blog details, let’s find out few things that you should consider while planning for the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Planning for Everest Base Camp Trek

Always remember that the Everest Base Camp Trek is an epitome of all the adventures. You have to challenge the demands of high – altitude and the rugged terrain full of glaciers and moraines. Consider the budget factor, timing or best season, transportation, accommodation, meals, permits, guiding options, packing lists, and minor miscellaneous amenities.

Choose months of spring season and autumn season for better trekking experiences. Always buy the trekking package from the reliable and Nepal government registered trekking agency. Keep the alternative of using road trip to Lukla via Surke if in case of Lukla flights cancellations which is common during the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Don’t worry about the lodging and meals as you can get varieties of options from basic to luxurious. Prepare physically and mentally so that you can walk for about 6 to 7 hours daily and buy the travel insurance for safety. Remember that there is an option of helicopter return or helicopter tour in Everest. You can plan for this too.

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How long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek Distance?

Well, there are different ways to do the Everest Base Camp Trek. Therefore, we can’t exactly say the number of days to do the Everest Base Camp Trek. So, the answer to the question “how long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek distance?” can be tricky. Normally, trekkers take about 12 to 14 days to complete the trek including arrival and departure in Kathmandu. However, there are short trekking itineraries as well.

Let’s find out about different options of the Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary:

Different Options of Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary

Search in the internet or simply contact the travel planners of the leading trekking company that specializes in the Everest Trekking to find best options of the EBC Trek itinerary. For example, you can contact the travel planners of the Everest Trekking Routes Pvt. Ltd. for any kinds of consultation regarding the Everest Trek. They are the experts of the region. You can find 10 Days, 12 Days, and 14 Days standard trekking itinerary of the region. Moreover, you can also choose to do the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek which involves returning back to Kathmandu from Gorakshep after visiting the Everest Base Camp.

Furthermore, you can also choose to do the Everest Helicopter Tour if you don’t like to walk the trail. Remember that the cost of the helicopter tour, helicopter return trek, and the Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek is expensive than the regular trekking cost. To those trekkers who don’t want to take risk of the altitude sickness, the Everest Base Camp Short Trek and the Everest View Trek are the best options.

Now, let’s find out the day to day distance covered by a trekker in the Everest Base Camp Trek. How long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek Distance? Let’s find out!

Day to Day Everest Base Camp Trek Distance Covered

This blog has focused on the distance covered by a trekker in the Everest Base Camp Trek after the Lukla Flights. If you are taking the road to reach Lukla or Phakding, then the kilometers increase. Therefore, we are keeping it simple and focused on providing the most used route to the Everest Base Camp from Lukla after the flight.

Lukla to Phakding Trek Distance

8 kilometers is the distance between Lukla and Phakding. On this day, trekkers fly to the world’s most extreme airport the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla and start their trek to Phakding. The idea of today’s trek is to acclimatize to the altitude. The altitude of Lukla is about 2800 m from sea level and Phakding is at 2600 m.

Phakding to Namche Bazaar Distance

The trek distance between Phakding to Namche Bazaar is about 10 kilometers through places like Monjo, Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate, Jorsalle, and Hillary Twin Bridge. Today’s trek is 10 kilometers long but it is easy to walk along the banks of the Dudhkoshi River with about 1 hour of uphill hike to Namche Bazaar from Twin Bridge.

Everest View Hotel Acclimatization Hike Distance

The first acclimatization hike from Namche Bazaar to Everest View Hotel is about 5 kilometers including round trip. If you add the excursion of the villages like Khumjung and Khunde, then the distance covered increases. Consider about 3 to 4 kilometers more if you add the Khunde View Point and return back to Namche Bazaar via Kyangjuma instead of retracing the same trail back to Namche Bazaar from Everest View Hotel.

Namche Bazaar to Tengboche Distance

Trekkers have to cover about 6 to 10 kilometers on this day between Namche Bazaar and Tengboche. The trail is both downhill and uphill through the places like Kyangjuma and Phortse Thanga. Exploring the monastery can increase the distance by few meters and if you choose to stay either in Debuche or Pangboche can also increase the distance covered in this journey.

Tengboche to Dingboche Distance

Finally, trekkers enter more Himalayan zone with few tree lines. Therefore, walking from this onward can be challenging. It is about 10 kilometers that a trekker covers in the section between Tengboche and Dingboche.

Nagarshan Hill Hike Distance from Dingboche

The second acclimatization during the Everest Base Camp Trek is the Nagarshan Hill Hike from Dingboche. The traveler has to cover around 7 kilometers including the round trip for this hike. Please note that the distance is if you reach the top but most of the trekkers return back from the big boulder located on the trail to the top of the Nagarshan Hill.

Dingboche to Lobuche Trek Distance

The more high you go the harder it becomes to cover even few kilometers. Dingboche to Lobuche via Thukla and Pass is about 7 kilometers. The trail is on the grassy meadows in an open valley at first and then enters the rugged rocky trail from Thukla.

Lobuche to Everest Base Camp Trek Distance via Gorakshep

The trekking distance from Lobuche to Gorakshep is about 5 kilometers through moraine and glacier. Furthermore, the distance between Gorakshep and the Everest Base Camp is about 4 kilometers. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete the round trip from Gorakshep to the Everest Base Camp (5364 m).

Kalapathar Hike Distance

7 kilometers is the total hike distance from Gorakhsep to Kalapathar (5545 m). The hike is famous for the sunrise experiences and it is also the best place to get mesmerizing scenery of mountains from the Everest Himalayan range. The day can be tiring and long as trekkers have to return back to Pheriche on the same day of the hike.

Total Everest Base Camp Trek Distance

The total Everest Base Camp Trek Distance is approximately 130 to 140 kilometers depending upon the route. So, Lukla to Everest Base Camp distance is approximately 65 kilometers. By this, I think the blog gave you an idea about “how long does it take to hike Everest Base Camp Trek distance” and helped you plan properly.

Addition of Side Trips Increase the EBC Trek Distance

There are many side trips that you can do from the Everest Base Camp Trek route. If you add these side trips, then the total distance covered in the trek increase naturally. Major side trips that you can do from the Everest Base Camp Trek route are as follows:

1. EBC Chola Pass Trek
2. Three High Passes Trek
3. Gokyo Lake Trek
4. Lobuche Peak Climbing
5. Island Peak Climbing
6. Amadablam Base Camp Trek

Among these side trips, the Lobuche Peak Climbing and the Island Peak Climbing are special.

How many days do I need to add for Island Peak Climbing with EBC Trek?

Add 2 to 3 days in the original Everest Base Camp Trek to add the Island Peak Climbing. The distance between the main Everest Base Camp Trek routes in Dingboche to Island Peak Base Camp is about 10 kilometers. While doing the Everest Base Camp trek, add the itinerary of the Island Peak Climbing or Lobuche Peak Climbing. In fact, this is the best way to knit the activity of conquering the towering snowy mountain peak. These two peaks are best for new climbers as well and Everest trek provides much needed acclimatization options. Book the Island Peak Climbing at 2150 $ or book the Lobuche Peak Climbing at 2050 $ where you can get chance to reach Everest Base Camp in each itinerary.