Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.

After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day or we can provide a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around).

Overnight: Kathmandu

After breakfast, you'll fly to Lukla (a 30-minute jaunt) and land on the steep mountain runway that brings you to the start of your trek. Try to get a window seat on the left-hand side of the plane and keep your camera close: the flight takes you between mountains and through valleys, with great views of the Himalaya on clear days.

Your first day on the trail is intentionally easy, enabling you to get used to the higher elevation. Today you'll trek a short distance through local villages where you'll likely encounter fellow trekkers, locals, and yaks with their tinkling bells. Continue through the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail and stay overnight in Phakding.

Trekking time: 3-4 hours (4.7 miles / 7.5 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Phakding

After breakfast in Phakding, you'll start a steady and steep incline towards Namche. This is a challenging day as you'll start to feel the altitude. The route also consists of a number of high suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River that you need to cross.

Just beyond the village of Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up in order to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment (your guide will cover your permit fees here). The trail gets steeper along the way, and if the weather is clear, you will get the first glimpses of Mount Everest.

When you arrive at Namche, settle into your accommodations and explore the town. Namche is a great place to stock up on supplies as there are numerous small shops selling snacks and trekking gear, as well as restaurants and bars. If here on a weekend, check out the Saturday market—a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La.

Trekking time: 4-6 hours (4.6 miles / 7.4 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Namche Bazaar

Today is a rest day so take time to relax and sleep in. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amid the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir markets. It is an ideal place to spend a day acclimatizing to the higher altitude.

To speed up the acclimatization process, you can also head to the Khunde Hospital set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a highly-recommended one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for views of notable peaks like Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. There are also good views from the Sherpa Culture Museum just above town.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Namche Bazaar

After breakfast in Namche, you'll follow the trail along the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi River. You'll get your first views of the Khumbu region's giant peaks: Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. Pass by several villages and numerous tea shops, and descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch and you can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche.

Although this next zigzag path is tiring, your views will include beautiful rhododendron forests, colorful birds, and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in Khumbu, and a spectacular panorama of the aforementioned peaks can be seen from where you'll stop for the night.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours (5.7 miles / 9.2 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Tengboche

After breakfast, take some extra time to enjoy the scenery around Tengboche Monastery before you start today's journey. With mountains in the background, the monastery looks even more beautiful in the morning sunlight.

Once you set out, choose the upper trail for better views on the way to Pangboche village where you'll pass several stupas, Mani walls, and small villages. Stop for lunch at a place that serves delicious food with a fantastic close-up view of Mount Ama Dablam.
In the afternoon, walk north to Pheriche or take the eastward trail beneath the towering north face of Ama Dablam. From here, the walk is fairly moderate as you enter the Imja Valley, which gradually unfolds as you approach the confluence of the Lobuche River. Descend towards the river and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche.

On arrival, you will see a stunning set of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat, and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals.

Trekking time: 3-4 hours (6.7 miles / .8 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Overnight: Dingbuche

Today is your second acclimatization day of the trip, so sleep in and relax. Enjoy breakfast with great views of Ama Dablam to the south.

To better appreciate numerous other peaks visible from Dingboche, you can climb the ridge behind the village. This is an ideal (and easy) acclimatizing excursion allowing you to see three of the world's six highest peaks: Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Cho Yu. Meanwhile, look west to see the peaks of Lobuche, Cholatse, and Taboche.

In the afternoon, you can relax in the village checking out the lodges, a bakery, a handful of shops, and even an internet café.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Dingboche

After breakfast in Dingboche, you'll continue trekking up a wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. Then, turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier.

The teahouse at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. From here, the trail zigzags through the boulders of the glacier's terminal moraine. At the top of this climb, there are many stone cairns built as memorials to sherpas who have died while climbing Mount Everest.

From here, the path climbs gently along the glacier to eventually reach a cluster of houses at Lobuche.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours (7.5 miles / 12 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lobuche

After breakfast, you'll trek along the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Ahead, you'll see the crest of the north ridge of Everest along with Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtern, Khumbutse, and Nuptse. A small ascent takes you to Thangma Riju where you can admire panoramic views and then ascend on a steep trail to the top of Changri Glacier. Soon, you'll reach Gorak Shep.

Later in the afternoon, just before sunset, you'll start the climb up to one of the finest viewpoints in the Everest region, Kala Patthar (5,554 m). As you reach the top, the sunset colors will light up Nuptse and Everest as the stars slowly begin to appear. Before it's too dark, you'll head back down to the teahouse at Gorak Shep for dinner and an early night in preparation for your trek to Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

Trekking time: 3 hours (2.7 miles / 4.3 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Gorak Shep

Today is the day you've been waiting for! Have an early breakfast in Gorak Shep and get a head start towards Everest Base Camp. It'll take 2-3 hours to get here, as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier. Though the path is a gentle climb, the high elevation makes it more difficult. Take it slow and enjoy Mount Everest views along the way.

When you arrive, you'll be greeted with piles of stones, strings of prayer flags, and a few “Everest Base Camp” signs with dates and elevation. Celebrate with your fellow trekkers and absorb the incredible landscapes.

On the return journey, you can take a higher route to get a spectacular view of the Khumbu icefall. Return to Lobuche for the night.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours
Trekking distance: 6.6 miles (10.7 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lobuche

After breakfast in Lobuche, you'll begin a mostly downhill trek to Pangboche. Retrace your steps and descend to Pheriche, where you'll arrive at The Himalayan Rescue Association—a trekker’s aid post and worth a visit.

Stop for lunch and then cross the Khumbu Khola on a wooden suspension bridge. From here, follow the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours (9.9 miles / 16 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Pangboche

After breakfast in Pangboche, you'll continue a downward trek (be careful of your footing) and then climb back up through a beautiful birch and rhododendron forest to get to Tengboche.

From here, descend to the bridge over the Dudh Kosi river while admiring the Himalayan giants around you. At Phunki Tenga, you'll get to see the water-driven prayer wheels before making your way back to Namche for the night.

Trekking time: 6-8 hours (9.4 miles / 15.12 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Namche Bazaar

Wake up for an early breakfast in Namche, then retrace your steps back to Lukla following the Dudh Kosi river valley. It's a long day, but it won't be too difficult as it's downhill and you'll be in good shape from all the previous days of trekking.

You'll make your way through villages like Chumoa, Benkar, Phakding, and Chuthawa, eventually reaching the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate signifying the end of the trek. Though most of the route is an easy downhill slope, the last section of trail before arriving takes you uphill—a fitting way to finish.

With Lukla’s handful of shops, bars, and cafes—and even a faux Starbucks!—there are plenty of things to occupy your time as you reflect on your experience.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours (11.1 miles / 17.9 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lukla

After breakfast in Lukla, you'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

Other ideas include rewarding your muscles after the trek with a massage service at Seeing Hands (services are offered by the visually impaired), or the more upscale Kinjalla Spa. You can also take an early evening yoga class at Pranamaya Yoga, with two locations (Thamel and Patan).

Flight time: 30 minutes

It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.