Everest Base Camp Trek - Expedition Departures

Experience Overview

Take one of the world’s classic treks: to the most iconic base camp of all, at the foot of Mount Everest (29,029ft/8,848m). This special departure has the added excitement of camping at Base Camp for two nights, a magnificent setting near the Khumbu Ice Fall, at a time when it bustles with expedition parties preparing for their summit attempts. The journey to Base Camp passes through Sherpa country and allows time to acclimatise before reaching the spectacular high-altitude scenery: the incredible Thyangboche monastery, views of Ama Dablam, Everest and other mighty peaks of the Himalaya. Valerie Parkinson, winner of the Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2021, is leading the 10 April 2025 departure. Why trek with Exodus? Free four-season sleeping bag and down jacket hire, available on request One of the highest staff-to-traveller ratios on the trek with one staff member to every four travellers More than 30 years’ experience organising treks in Nepal Carefully planned ascent rates and itineraries with built-in acclimatisation and contingency days Established protocol for Lukla flight delays Exodus annually commissions independent air-safety audits on domestic carriers in Nepal and only use those approved as part of the audit Experienced English-speaking local leaders who are qualified in first aid and trained to recognise and deal with altitude sickness All staff (leaders, guides and porters) are fully insured and paid a fair wage Staff carry oxygen, a first-aid kit, and self-assessment acute mountain sickness cards, used to monitor every traveller at altitude Speak to Exodus office staff who have done the trek themselves
Profile
—  Three nights in standard hotels, 13 nights in teahouses and one night of full-service camping — 14 days of walking with full porterage — Group normally 4 to 16 plus tour leader and local staff. Minimum age: 16 — Altitude maximum: 18,195ft (5,545m); average: 12,795ft (3,900m) — Travel by private minibus and two internal flights — Between five and eight hours of walking per day, with some longer days — 10 April 2025 led by Valerie Parkinson, Wanderlust World Guide Awards winner 2021
At a Glance
—  Three nights in standard hotels, 13 nights in teahouses and one night of full-service camping — 14 days of walking with full porterage — Group normally 4 to 16 plus tour leader and local staff. Minimum age: 16 — Altitude maximum: 18,195ft (5,545m); average: 12,795ft (3,900m) — Travel by private minibus and two internal flights — Between five and eight hours of walking per day, with some longer days — 10 April 2025 led by Valerie Parkinson, Wanderlust World Guide Awards winner 2021
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page and walking and trekking fitness training guide. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  It is ideal for physically fit and healthy travellers looking to tackle one of the world’s great treks. An adventurous spirit helps too. There are 14 days of walking with full porterage throughout – you need only carry your backpack for the day. Worth knowing The trail crosses several modern suspension bridges (twice), all of which have mesh sides; some are quite long and high, so anyone with a strong fear of heights or vertigo may find them difficult.The maximum altitude is 18,192ft (5,545m) and the average is approximately 12,795ft (3,900m). Ample time is given for acclimatisation, but altitude is a factor and must be considered – please refer to the altitude warning in the Trip Notes.You should have some trekking experience before joining this trek (experience trekking at altitude is a big advantage). If you do not regularly exercise or hill walk, you should train beforehand.Walking hours stated within the itinerary are given as approximates only. Timings stated exclude lunch stops and vary depending on the group’s pace. These expedition departures offer the opportunity to spend two nights camping at Everest Base Camp – there is always the possibility of snow at Base Camp and it is cold in the mornings and evenings and below freezing at night. We arrive at Base Camp early afternoon and then have the rest of the day and the following day to explore. The setting is spectacular: set at 17,715ft (5,400m) at the foot of the Khumbu Ice Fall. Huge ice seracs surround the camp and the peaks of Pumori, Lingtren and Khumbutse tower above us. We have chosen dates when many expeditions attempt Everest and the Base Camp area is bustling with activity as groups prepare for their summit attempt. We stay close to an expedition team to soak up the atmosphere, excitement and trepidation of Base Camp life. We should even be able to watch teams climb up through the notorious Khumbu Ice Fall. We are not allowed onto the Khumbu Ice Fall (only climbers with permits are allowed). Please note: Anyone suffering from a cold or infection will be asked to stay at the lodge in Gorak Shep to avoid infecting a climber at this crucial time. This trip includes domestic flights – please refer to the Transport section of the Trip Notes for information about flying safety in Nepal. Nepal flight safety Many of our treks in Nepal use domestic flights to reach the trekking areas. The mountainous Nepalese terrain is subject to changeable weather, which makes flying conditions complex and challenging, and unfortunately there are significantly more incidents here than in other countries, including fatalities. The EU highlighted the poor safety record in Nepal by including all Nepalese-registered airlines on the EU banned list, which prevents them from flying in EU airspace. While no Nepalese-registered airlines currently fly within the EU, the EU instigated this ban to highlight the risk of flying in Nepal to EU citizens. Nepalese airlines are unlikely to be members of any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations. Flying within Nepal is therefore a known risk, and we strongly encourage you to consider this carefully before booking. We suggest you refer to the following sources: The current travel advice for Nepal issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Air Safety Network entry for Nepal In response to concerns over this safety record, Exodus arranges for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the suitability of the available carriers. We then restrict our use to only those approved as part of this audit. In emergency situations, we will need to use helicopters, so we also have a list of approved helicopter carriers.  Should concerns arise regarding the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will remove the carrier from the list immediately; it would only be reinstated once our air-safety auditors are confident the airline meets acceptable safety standards. We appreciate you may have concerns about flying within Nepal, so we ask that you please consider all the information above when deciding to book this trip. Internal flight delays Adverse weather conditions at Lukla airport occasionally mean that flights to/from Manthali or Kathmandu cannot operate. Please read the Important Information section of the Trip Notes for more information.
Group Description
The group is generally between four and 16 people. We have representatives in Kathmandu who look after your transfers to and from the airport and are around to answer other questions you may have about your trek. The departure starting in Kathmandu on 10 April 2025 will be led by Valerie Parkinson who has been leading treks in the Himalaya for more than 35 years. Valerie was the first British woman to summit Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. She will share her mountaineering experience, including talking about her own Everest summit expedition and Everest North Col Expedition with you along the way! Valerie won Best Tour Leader in the prestigious annual Wanderlust World Guide Awards in 2021. All other departures have an English-speaking Nepali tour leader throughout, who is assisted by Nepali trekking guides. All Exodus leaders are highly experienced, trained in wilderness first aid, and have taken the Exodus leader training courses. The trekking guides are licensed by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and receive additional training through Exodus. The trekking guides will walk with the group, spacing themselves out to ensure the pace is appropriate for careful acclimatisation and to ensure the safety of all trekkers in the group, helping those who may need some encouragement or support. On all our Nepal treks, there will be one trek staff to every four travellers – this ratio may change if a guide has to stay behind with a group member. The leaders are assisted by additional guides and as many porters or dzos (cow-yak hybrids) as necessary to carry the kitbags. All your main gear is carried for you and you only have to carry whatever you require for that day’s trek. Dzos carry four client kitbags each and porters carry two – kitbags should be 22lb (10kg) maximum. Porters are given porter clothing for treks above 14,765ft (4,500m), which includes a windproof jacket and trousers, boots, socks, gloves, hats and sunglasses. All trekking staff are insured by our local partner in Nepal.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners are included. In the teahouses, breakfast will be a choice of bread (a slice of toast, chapatti or Tibetan bread), egg (boiled, fried or omelette), and either muesli or porridge each day. Hot tea/coffee is also served. On some days, there will not be a choice for breakfast and either a trekkers breakfast (egg, hash brown, baked beans and toast) or a pancake with jam/honey will be served. You may also be able to supplement your included breakfast with additional items on the teahouse menu should you wish – additional items not included in the set menu should be ordered and paid for separately. Please note, some more remote teahouses/lodges are unable to provide an extensive menu due to irregular delivery schedules. During periods of bad weather or a high volume of trekkers, there may be a more limited menu choice. Also, the menus and extras are generally more expensive at higher altitudes. Lunches are taken at a teahouse en route – sometimes one of your guides will go ahead with the group’s order to make it more expedient. Dinner is in the same teahouse you sleep at (this is custom in Nepal as teahouses base their room rate on it). Although most lodges have almost identical menus, they are reasonably extensive and offer a varied selection, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat to pizza and apple pie. Dhal bhat is the staple diet in Nepal and comes in many different forms but generally comprises curried lentils and meat or vegetables, some rice, and a pickle/chutney. Another popular snack is momos: a Nepalese dumpling (fried or steamed) that’s filled with meat or vegetables. Meat is available in the teahouses but we advise against eating it. Meat is often carried in the heat for several days before reaching the lodges and can cause stomach upsets or illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money – we recommend using hand sanitiser. Dietary requirements Gluten-free diets: We strongly recommend you bring extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek as there will be little variety available to you, particularly for breakfast. Even many of the soups are powdered and contain gluten. Gluten-free breakfast options are limited to vegetable fried rice and a choice of egg. On specific days only, a trekkers breakfast (without the toast/with an extra egg) will be served. Vegan diets: Breakfasts are limited to a choice of muesli/porridge made with water each day, and on specific days only, a trekkers breakfast (without the egg) or vegetable fried rice. Lactose-free diet: The same will apply although you will also have a choice of egg each day. If you buy imported food and drink on trek, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Drinking water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 0.7gal to 1gal (three to four litres) per person per day. We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in Nepal. The teahouses sell boiled water for approximately 150-300 Nepalese rupees (US$1.15-US$2.30) per litre (the price increases the higher you trek), which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double as a hot-water bottle. Alternatively, all teahouses provide free cold water. This should not be drunk untreated, so we recommend you bring a reusable bottle/water bladder/CamelBak (ideally two and wide mouth) and use an effective form of water treatment. There are a wide range of products available including Steripens or purification tablets, which are the quickest and easiest options to use on trek – we recommend talking to an outdoor retailer for the latest advice as technologies are improving all the time. Make sure to check the product’s performance in cold/freezing conditions and consider battery life (lithium batteries are best in cold conditions). Exodus has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates more than 99.99 percent of all microbiological contaminants from any non-saltwater source – visit Water-to-Go for more information. Exodus customers can claim 15 percent off their first order and, better still, 15 percent of the purchase value will be donated to the Exodus Travels Foundation. These bottles filter the water as you drink, though the spout may not be the most efficient while moving on trek. Please note, if the water freezes it will clog up the filter. In this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes.
Transportation
For airport transfers, we use a private minibus. Flights to/from Lukla are usually in a Twin Otter or Dornier plane. This trekking trip requires you to walk between each overnight stay under your own steam. Other forms of transport may be available along the route (horses, 4x4s etc) but Exodus cannot take responsibility for the safety or cost of any transport that you choose to take, even if provided with the assistance of our leader or staff. Nepal flight safety Many of our treks in Nepal use domestic flights to reach the trekking areas. The mountainous Nepalese terrain is subject to changeable weather, which makes flying conditions complex and challenging; unfortunately, there are significantly more incidents here than in other countries, including fatalities. The EU highlighted the poor safety record in Nepal in 2013 by including all Nepalese-registered airlines on the EU banned list, which prevents them from flying in EU airspace. While no Nepalese-registered airlines currently fly within the EU, the EU instigated this ban to highlight the risk of flying in Nepal to EU citizens. These airlines are unlikely to be members of any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations. Flying within Nepal is therefore a known risk and we strongly encourage you to consider this carefully before booking. We suggest you refer to the following sources: The current travel advice for Nepal issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Air Safety Network entry for Nepal In response to concerns over this safety record, Exodus arranges for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the suitability of the available carriers. We then restrict our use to only those approved as part of this audit. In emergency situations, we will need to use helicopters, so we also have a list of approved helicopter carriers. Should concerns arise regarding the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will remove the carrier from the list immediately, and it would only be reinstated once our air-safety auditors are confident the airline meets acceptable safety standards. We appreciate you may have concerns about flying within Nepal, so we ask that you please consider all the information above when deciding to book this trip.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Royal Singi Hotel, Lal Durbar, Kamaladi, Kathmandu Phone: +977 144 24190 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately Airport: Kathmandu Airport (KTM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Kathmandu Airport (KTM) from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15C to 35C (59F to 95F) in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10C (50F) at 11,810ft (3,600m) and progressively lower the higher we go. Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking. Post-monsoon/autumn: Mid-September to November The main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approximately above 20C (68F). Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as -10C (14F) at the highest altitudes. Winter: December to end of February Despite the cooler conditions, this is an ideal time to trek in Nepal. Skies are usually very clear, especially in December, and the mountain views are at their best. Nights are very cold with temperatures down to -20C (-4F) at the highest altitudes but days are pleasant and sunny. The trails are also much less busy at this time of year. In Kathmandu, maximum daytime temperatures are 19C (66F). Pre-monsoon/spring: March to May Both day and night temperatures are warmer in general but often a haze builds in the afternoons. It is very hot in the lowlands and temperatures rise to 35C (95F) in Kathmandu. Flowers bloom in this season, one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring. Snow should be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes. Please remember, the weather is never wholly predictable in any mountain area, and you should be equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.
Spending Money
We recommend taking your personal spending money in cash (US dollars, British pounds or euros can all be changed easily). Any marked, torn or damaged notes may not be accepted. Please remember, £50 notes, Scottish or Northern Irish currency cannot be changed in Nepal. Cash can be changed easily at the airport on arrival in Kathmandu or at money changers in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Hotels in Nepal can also change up to US$300 per person. Travellers cheques can NOT be exchanged in Nepal. Our staff will advise you about how much money to take with you on trek. You need to withdraw/exchange enough money in Kathmandu to last the duration of your trek – to cover meals, drinks, tipping and other incidentals. It is a good idea to carry spare cash on the trek in case of an emergency. Carrying a large amount of cash is unavoidable, so we suggest splitting it up into a few different places – but remember to keep track of how much you have stashed where. Prices of food and amenities in teahouses generally become more expensive the higher altitude/more remote you are and access to ATMs/money changes are extremely limited. Please allow 4,400-5,800 rupees (US$33-US$44) per day for lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, showers, toilet roll and charging on trek, and for meals not included in Kathmandu. This amount is given as a rough guideline only. Your expenditure will be towards the top end if you buy boiled water rather than treating cold water, and depending on how many hot showers you take, if you pay to charge electrical devices, drink alcohol, use wifi on the trek and so on. Optional excursions Several optional tours and activities are available from Kathmandu. Prices for a half-day sightseeing tour start from 5,240 rupees (approximately US$40) per person, based on a group of six or more. For all trips, return transport and a qualified sightseeing guide are included. The price does not include lunch or entry fees. Please enquire with your leader in Kathmandu, who can provide further information. An optional Everest sightseeing flight is available on your free day (weather permitting) from around 28,100 rupees (US$215) per person (the price is subject to change). Anyone taking an internal sightseeing flight in Nepal should pay attention to the statement ‘Flying in Nepal’.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Nepal. Your tour leader will usually offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which will be used to tip hotel porters, local guides, assistant guides, porters, and the drivers. Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but a rough guideline is provided below. Tipping of the leader is at your discretion and separate to the amount for the other staff. We suggest you send an envelope around the group at the end of the trip and you can put in what you like and give it to the leader on the last evening. The following are guideline amounts received by each staff member from the group as a whole Tour leader: 35,000-40,000 rupees (usually given on the last night in Kathmandu) Your trekking crew (tips are usually given on the last evening of the trek in Lukla) Trekking guides: 20,000-25,000 rupees for each guideTrek porters/yak men: 15,000 rupees for each porter or yak man General tipping guidelines: Kathmandu/Manthali Airport transfers: 1,000-1,500 rupees for each driverDrivers (shorter journeys): 200-300 rupeesHotel porters: 100 rupees each time for each roomTeahouses and lunch stops on trek: It’s customary to round your bill up to the nearest 50 or 100 rupeesRestaurants: 10% of the bill for good service To help budget for the tips, generally there will be one member of trek staff (guide/assistant) for every four travellers. You will also have one porter for every two travellers to carry your luggage. If you are unsure how much to personally budget, you can check with your tour leader when you arrive in Kathmandu. Please try to give all tips in local currency.

Highlights