On arrival in Kathmandu, a Basanta Adventure representative greets you and transfers you to your hotel, which is usually within walking distance of good restaurants and shops. We give you a short briefing on the hotel facilities and safety, as well as a short introduction to the area. The next day, there will be a comprehensive trip briefing.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Kathmandu

Route note: Arrive in Kathmandu, settle into the hotel, and meet the team for an overview of the Island Peak and Everest Base Camp program.

After breakfast, the trek briefing takes place at around 9 am. We discuss all aspects of gear and conditions to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip, introduce your guide and answer any last-minute questions. We then visit Boudhanath, also known as Little Tibet, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. Next, we visit Pashupatinath, one of the most revered Hindu temples, known for the cremation ceremonies that take place beside the holy Bagmati River.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Kathmandu | Meals: Breakfast

Route note: Complete the expedition briefing, confirm permits and technical equipment, and keep the day easy before the mountain flight.

We take the morning flight, a thrilling experience, to the dramatic airfield at Lukla (2,860 m), where we are immediately among the peaks and are welcomed by the rest of the trekking crew at the airport. The sudden change in altitude can leave some of us quite breathless, but we descend to Chheplung (2,680 m) before lunch to let ourselves acclimatize more gradually. The afternoon is an easy introduction to trekking up the beautiful Dudh Koshi River valley, passing huge carved mani stones and prayer wheel shrines, to our lodge at Phakding.

The lodges on the first half of the trek are good: twin rooms with comfortable mattresses and cozy dining rooms with stoves for cold days. The menus include all sorts of wholesome favorites: pasta, noodle and rice dishes with remarkably fresh vegetables, puddings and every variety of hot drink. The lodges follow the same pattern all the way up, though understandably they become simpler near the top of the trek, and they are still remarkably good for the location. We always select the best of the standard lodges at each night stop.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Phakding

Route note: Fly into Lukla and follow the Dudh Koshi trail through pine forest to Phakding, keeping the first walking day relaxed.

Through blue pine and rhododendron forests, we continue gradually upriver to reach Monjo at the entrance to Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. Just beyond, after crossing the river on one of the excellent metal suspension bridges that are the lifeline of this mountain region, we take lunch at one of the teahouses that line the riverbank at Jorsale (2,775 m). So far our gain in height has been barely noticeable, but the afternoon sets a fairly tough challenge, made harder by the early stage of our acclimatization.

Rising first to cross a marvelous bridge high above the river, we then gradually climb the ridge opposite, and halfway up we look out for our first view of Everest ahead. We also watch for pack yaks, which we will see from now on: they are generally good-natured, but always stay on the uphill side of these huge animals to avoid a playful nudge. We arrive at Namche Bazaar, the main town of the Khumbu, built within a natural amphitheater surrounded by peaks and now a thriving lodge town.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Namche Bazaar 

Route note: Cross suspension bridges and climb gradually to Namche, the main Sherpa hub and a useful staging point for acclimatization.

This is the first of our carefully planned days to let us adapt naturally to the gain in altitude. There is plenty to do and explore around Namche, including the Sherpa museum above the village and a short hike to viewpoints such as the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m), returning to Namche to sleep.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Namche Bazaar

Route note: Take a gentle higher walk toward the Everest View Hotel, then return to Namche for rest, hydration, and gear checks.

A lovely morning takes us down through the forested hillside to the river at Phunki Tenga (3,245 m), with Thamserku straight across the valley and the beautiful form of Ama Dablam ahead. It is worth taking a good break at the teahouses over the bridge, where there are some wonderful water-driven prayer wheels, as it is a continuous climb from here to lunch. On the winding way up through the rich forest, we are very likely to see groups of Himalayan tahr grazing on the steep slopes above.

We reach the famous monastery of Tengboche for lunch. As well as giving us our next view of the summit of Everest above the Nuptse ridge, this is the most important gompa in the Sherpa region, rebuilt after it burned down in 1989, and it carefully balances its religious role with the many visitors it receives. The lodges here are fine to eat in and to base our afternoon visit to the monastery, but they can get crowded at night. So, after plenty of time to absorb the peaceful atmosphere, we walk on for 20 minutes down a gentle slope to our quiet, comfortable lodge in Deboche, set in a garden among beautiful forest.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Deboche 

Route note: Walk through rhododendron forest to Tengboche and visit the monastery area when open, with views toward Ama Dablam.

This is a short, easy morning. We continue down to recross the Imja Khola at a dramatic bridged gorge, then walk the short way to Pangboche (3,930 m), where there is plenty of time before lunch to climb to the gompa above the village. It dates from the original settlement of the area by Sherpas from Tibet and is a more private and intimate gompa than Tengboche, so please be respectful with cameras and dress.

After lunch, we continue up through beautiful mossy forest as the landscape starts to feel distinctly higher. The dramatic towers of Ama Dablam dominate overhead as the valley splits, with the Imja to the right and the Khumbu to the left. We have now reached the right altitude for another acclimatization day. Of the two villages at the head of these valleys, Dingboche on the Imja Khola is by far the nicer, sheltered from the wind that blows down from the north into Pheriche, where the Himalayan Rescue Association post is located.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Dingboche

Route note: Continue up the Imja Valley to Dingboche, where the terrain becomes dry, open, and increasingly high alpine.

Today is your second acclimatization day in Dingboche, which is vital considering the high altitudes you are now reaching. The best way to acclimatize is to hike up Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 m) above the village or toward Chhukung, both of which offer panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Makalu and Lhotse. You return to Dingboche for the night.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Dingboche

Route note: Use the Nangkartshang hike to gain elevation without sleeping higher, then return to Dingboche for recovery.

Today we start our final approach to the Base Camp area. It is easy enough to start with, as we round the ridge above Dingboche by a single chorten and contour along wide grassy slopes all the way to Thukla (4,620 m), our lunch stop. Then we climb steeply up the terminal moraine at the snout of the Khumbu Glacier until we come out alongside it at a ridge lined with hundreds of cairns dedicated to the many Sherpas and climbers who have lost their lives on Everest and other peaks. We continue alongside the glacier, finally crossing what is now no more than a stream, to reach our lodge at Lobuche. There are limited single rooms available here, and in peak season we sometimes have to use the still very comfortable dormitory of the best lodge.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Lobuche

Route note: Follow the moraine valley toward Lobuche, maintaining a slow pace and drinking regularly at altitude.

We make an early start to cover the few hours alongside the Khumbu Glacier to Gorak Shep, and after breakfast we continue to Everest Base Camp. The trail here can be misleading because it changes every year with the movement of the glacier, so follow the lead Sherpa. The walk is quite strenuous because of the altitude and lower oxygen, crossing rocky dunes, moraine and streams until you reach Base Camp, where climbers set up their camps and acclimatize before heading for the summit of Everest. If we arrive during the climbing season, we can see the lively expedition groups. Our guide will organize a prayer and offer lungta (prayer flags) for the good health and happiness of all members, then we return to Gorak Shep.

Note: We offer lungta (prayer flags printed with prayers for peace, good health and happiness) together with our guide. Offering prayer flags at high passes and sacred sites is believed to bring good fortune and long life in Buddhist culture.

If the weather is clear, we take our chance and climb Kala Patthar. Crossing an open sandy flat, we climb a good, well-trodden path. It is breathless walking, so we keep a deliberately slow, steady rhythm with plenty of short breaks to watch the view unfold. The final slopes become rocky as we approach the top (5,545 m), decked in colorful prayer flags, where a stunning 360-degree panorama awaits: the free-standing form of Pumori directly in front of us, Changtse in Tibet and, across the wide Khumbu Glacier, the vast black pyramid of Everest itself, down to the South Col that joins it to Lhotse. The end of the Nuptse ridge dominates the foreground, and we look down on Base Camp at the edge of the glacier. Sunset on Everest from here is pure magic, gold to pink catching the tips of the peaks, and worth every effort. It turns very cold after the sun goes down, so wrap up in everything you brought, down jacket and all, and don't forget your headlamp for the descent.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Gorak Shep 

Route note: Trek to Everest Base Camp via Gorak Shep and the Khumbu Glacier route, then return for the night; this is a long high-altitude day.

After breakfast, we trek down to Thukla, then go straight up the hill from the bridge to reach an upper trail. Staying high above the valley floor, we pass the yak pastures at Dusa to a chorten at the head of the Imja Valley. Enjoy the scenery as we drop into Dingboche, known for its barley fields enclosed by stone walls.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Dingboche 

Route note: Descend toward Dingboche after the EBC section, allowing the body to recover before moving toward the climbing valley.

From Dingboche, the trail heads east up the Imja Valley through stone-walled fields and past the small settlement of Bibre, crossing icy streams on the glacial moraine, with Lhotse's huge south face above and Ama Dablam across the valley. After this gradual walk, we reach Chhukung, the last settlement before Island Peak and a good place to rest and check climbing gear.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Chhukung 

Route note: Walk into the Chhukung Valley, with Island Peak visible ahead and time to organize climbing equipment.

The path from Chhukung climbs fairly steeply south, then turns east into the main line of the valley. It winds along or below the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier, and a short, pleasant walk beside a stream leads to a spot we call Big Rock. The route to the Amphu Labtsa Pass lies to the southeast. A criss-cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley on the southwest side of Island Peak, where we camp.

Overnight: Tented camp at Island Peak Base Camp | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (included while camping)

Route note: Approach Island Peak Base Camp across glacial terrain; the climbing team reviews rope systems, harnesses, crampons, and summit protocol.

We move up to Island Peak High Camp, from where we will climb the mountain. The path leads up beyond Base Camp for several hundred meters before striking off left up the steep hillside. Initially sandy, the path soon turns to grass before becoming strewn with boulders. As we climb, the slope narrows and the path enters a steep rock channel near camp.

Overnight: Tented camp at Island Peak High Camp | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (included while camping)

Route note: Climb to High Camp with a light pack and careful pacing, preparing for the early summit start and changing mountain weather.

We begin the ascent early in the morning by climbing the rock gully. This is not difficult, but there are several short rock steps to climb before you emerge on the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline that leads to an exciting, exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. You rope up for the glacier, as it contains several crevasses, but it leads without difficulty to a 100 m (330 ft) snow and ice slope of 40 to 45 degrees, on which the guides fix a rope. From the top of this slope, three rope lengths along a sharp summit ridge lead to the top. After enjoying the views, we descend and spend the night at Base Camp.

Overnight: Tented camp at Island Peak Base Camp | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (included while camping)

Route note: Begin the summit push at night or very early morning; use fixed lines and climbing protection as directed, then descend safely to Base Camp.

There is no such thing as a guarantee of good climbing conditions in the Himalaya, so an extra day maximizes our chances in this normally fair-weather season. If we have already summited, we decide whether to rest or move on down.

Overnight: Tented camp at Island Peak Base Camp | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (included while camping)

Route note: Keep this contingency day available for wind, snowfall, visibility, route conditions, or the need for additional acclimatization.

After breakfast, we leave Base Camp and retrace the route over the moraine to Chhukung, then follow the Imja Valley back down past Bibre to Dingboche. Enjoy the scenery and the easier breathing as we drop back to the village.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Dingboche 

Route note: Descend through Chhukung toward Dingboche, trading the climbing terrain for established trekking trails.

Today's walk is easy as we head downhill to lower elevations, and it is pleasant all the way to Kyangjuma. After the bridge, our route follows the stream down toward Pangboche village and continues down to Kyangjuma, one of the most beautiful places in the Himalaya.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Kyangjuma 

Route note: Continue down to Kyangjuma through changing vegetation, with increasingly comfortable oxygen levels and wide valley views.

We walk back past Namche Bazaar and trek down to the river. The trail descends through forest of silver fir, blue pine and rhododendron, with a few magnolia and birch trees. After crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, we continue down the valley to Phakding.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Phakding 

Route note: Follow the route through Namche to Phakding, taking a steady pace on the long descent.

We trek back down the valley, enjoying the green scenery, mountain views and Sherpa villages along the way. Arriving in Lukla, you have time to stroll around while your guide reconfirms your flight. This is our last night with the trekking crew, as only your guide continues to Kathmandu, so it is the best time to tip the staff (not compulsory, but customary). It usually turns into a small ceremony with big Sherpa smiles, and something of a party is inevitable. Try the local drink called rakshi, but be aware: it is very strong and an acquired taste.

Overnight: Teahouse lodge in Lukla 

Route note: Complete the final trek to Lukla and confirm the next day flight with the guide team.

Flights to Kathmandu are normally scheduled in the morning because of the afternoon winds, and they can sometimes be delayed by bad weather or other reasons beyond our control. On arrival in Kathmandu, a Basanta Adventure representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel, and any hired gear is collected.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Kathmandu

Route note: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu subject to mountain weather and airport operating conditions.

Enjoy a full day at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore Kathmandu, go shopping and try the city's wide variety of restaurants and cafes. This day also works as a buffer in case your Lukla flight was delayed.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Kathmandu | Meals: Breakfast

Route note: Use the flexible day for rest, cultural visits, shopping, or final expedition debriefing.

Today you can extend your holiday with another tour, or we transfer you to the airport for your final departure. The tour concludes.

Meals: Breakfast

Route note: Transfer to the airport for your onward journey, or extend your Nepal adventure with another Basanta Adventure trip.