2018 Everest Base Camp

Map of our trip

Overview

We spent an incredible (and hard) 2 weeks hiking to Everest Base Camp, with quick stops in Kathmandu either side. I won't say we adored every minute of it, but overall it was an amazing adventure!

We went to Everest Base Camp as part of the Healthfix Adventure Club, with Cold Feet Adventure. Healthfix put on a fabulous 12 week training course in the lead up for the 15 of us going. This was fantastic as it enabled us to build up the fitness and strength required, as well get to know everyone in the group. Training consisted of sessions on the Lavendar Bay stairs, running up and down Awaba St (Mosman Burn), Spit Bridge to Manly and back and pushing the damn sled. All in our hiking boots of course!

Coldfeet Adventure were amazing. Our guides (Uttam, PK, Nassan and Chilli) were incredible, and were supported by a great team back in Kathmandu (Gopi and Ranju).

Our trip consisted of:

• 2 Days Exploring Kathmandu and completing final preparations
• 10 Days hiking up to Everest Base Camp (via Gokyo and Chola Pass) and 3 Days hiking back down the main route (see detailed itinerary below)
• 2 Days Relaxing and Recovering in Kathmandu

Note that the initial day in Kathmandu and the final 2 nights at Dwarika were not part of our Cold Feet tour.

Blog Posts

Read all the posts for this trip

Detailed Itinerary

Day	Activities	Hiking Hours	Altitude
The Way Up
Day 1: Lukla to Phakding	Fly from Kathmandu 1,400m to Lukla 2,840m Hike from Lukla 2,840 to Phakding 2,610m	~3hrs	Sleeping at 2,610m +1,200m (-230m excluding flight)
Day 2: Phakding to Namche	Hike from Phakding 2610m to Namche Bazaar 3,440m	~8hrs	Sleeping at 3,440m +830m
Day 3: Acclimatisation Day in Namche	Acclimatisation hike to the Museum, then the airstrip above Namche	~3hrs	Sleeping at 3,440m +0m
Day 4: Namche to Dole	Hike from Namche Bazaar 3,440m to Dole 4,200m	~9hrs	Sleeping at 4,200m +760m
Day 5: Dole to Machermo	Hike from Dole 4,200m to Machermo 4,470m Acclimatisation hike up the ridge behind Machermo	~3.5hrs	Sleeping at 4,470m +270m
Day 6: Machermo to Gokyo	Hike from Machermo 4,470m to Gokyo 4,790m Acclimatisation hike up the ridge behind Gokyo		Sleeping at 4,790m +320m
Day 7: Gokyo to Thangnak	Hike from Gokyo 4,790m to Gokyo Ri 5,360m and back Hike from Gokyo 4,790m to Thangnak / Dragnag 4,700 over the glacier		Sleeping at 4,700m -90m (+570m to Gokyo Ri then -660m back)
Day 8: Thangnak to Dzongla over Chola Pass	Hike from Thangnak / Tagnak / Dragnag 4,700m over Chola Pass 5,330m to Dzongla 4,830m		Sleeping at 4,830m +130m (+630m up to Chola Pass then -500m to Dzongla)
Day 9: Dzongla to Lobuche	Hike from Dzongla 4,830m to Lobuche 4,940m		Sleeping at 4,940m +110m
Day 10: Lobuche to Gorak Shep & Everest Base Camp!	Hike from Lobuche 4,940m to Gorak Shep 5,140m Hike from Gorak Shep 5,140m to Everest Base Camp 5,364m and back		Sleeping at 5,140m +200m (+424m to Base Camp then -224m back to Gorak Shep)
The Way Down
Day 11: Kala Patthar then Gorak Shep to Pheriche	Hike from Gorak Shep 5,140m up to Kala Patthar 5,545m and back Hike from Gorak Shep 5,140m to Pheriche 4,240m		Sleeping at 4,240m -900m (+405m to Kala Patthar then -1,305 to Pheriche)
Day 12: Pheriche to Namche	Hike from Pheriche 4,240m to Namche Bazaar 3,440m		Sleeping at 3,440m -800m
Day 13: Namche to Lukla	Hike from Namche Bazaar 3,440m to Lukla 2,840m		Sleeping at 2,840m -600m