Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return — Self-Launched (12 Days)

Land at Tribhuvan International Airport, get your Nepal visa on arrival (US$30/15 days or US$50/30 days, roughly £24–£40 — bring USD cash and a passport photo), and grab a prepaid taxi to Thamel (~NPR 800–1,000, £5–6). Spend the afternoon sorting logistics: pick up your Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 3,000 / ~£17) and Sagarmatha National Park entry (NPR 3,000 / ~£17) — either at the Nepal Tourism Board office or through a Thamel trekking agency, which can usually do both in an hour for a small fee. Rent or buy any missing gear (down jacket, sleeping bag, microspikes, water purification) along Thamel's gear streets — rentals run about £1–2 per item per day. Book your Lukla flight if you haven't already and confirm your helicopter seat-share for the return leg (bookable through Kathmandu agencies or Himalayan helicopter operators, roughly £200–£300 per seat shared).

🚌Prepaid airport taxi ~£5

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Thamel (£8–15/night dorm or simple private)

• →Visa on arrival at TIA
• →Collect Khumbu municipality + Sagarmatha National Park permits
• →Rent trekking gear in Thamel
• →Confirm Lukla flight and heli seat-share

Early morning flight from Kathmandu (or Manthali/Ramechhap in peak season) to Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport — around 35 minutes and roughly £130–£175 one-way booked direct with Tara Air, Summit Air or Sita Air. Build in a buffer day mentally: weather cancellations are common, so don't book anything tight on the way home. From Lukla it's a relaxed 3–4 hour walk down through Chheplung and along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding (2,610m). Teahouses in Phakding are plentiful and cheap — pay per room (NPR 300–500, often waived if you eat dinner there) plus meals. Dal bhat runs NPR 400–600 (£2–3.50).

🚌Lukla flight ~£150 one-way; on foot 3–4 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Phakding (£3–6 per person, shared bathroom)

• →Scenic mountain flight to Lukla
• →Trek Lukla to Phakding
• →First views of Kusum Kanguru and Nupla

The big day: 6–7 hours up through Monjo (checkpoint for your permits), across the Hillary Suspension Bridge, into Sagarmatha National Park, and up the notorious Namche hill to 3,440m. Start early (7–7.30am breakfast) to beat the big commercial groups — a tip straight from the reviews of the original tour. Take it slow, drink water, and stop at the Everest View teahouse at Jorsale for lunch. Namche has ATMs, bakeries, gear shops and the best coffee on the trail; it's also where you can hire a freelance guide or porter if you want one (porter roughly £15–20/day, guide £25–30/day, shared with other trekkers if you find a buddy).

🚌On foot, 6–7 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Namche Bazaar (£5–9 per person)

• →Hillary Suspension Bridge
• →Sagarmatha National Park entry and checkpoint
• →Namche Bazaar evening market and bakeries

A rest day with a purpose — climb high, sleep low. The classic self-guided acclimatisation hike is up to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) at Syangboche, about 2 hours up and 1 hour back, with the first proper full-frontal Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam panorama. Alternatives: Khumjung village (with its alleged yeti scalp at the monastery), Khunde hospital, or the longer walk towards Thame. Afternoon for laundry, a hot shower (NPR 200–300) and charging devices (NPR 100–300 per hour at altitude).

🚌On foot, 3–4 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Namche Bazaar (£5–9 per person)

• →Acclimatisation hike to Everest View Hotel
• →Optional Sherpa culture wander through Khumjung or Khunde

5–6 hours along a spectacular high traverse above the Dudh Koshi, dropping to Phunki Tenga for lunch before the climb up to Tengboche (3,860m). Tengboche Monastery is the largest in Khumbu — time your arrival for the late-afternoon prayer ceremony (usually around 3–4pm; small donation appreciated). The courtyard view of Ama Dablam is one of the best on the whole trek. Teahouses here are a bit pricier as everything is carried up by porter or yak.

🚌On foot, 5–6 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Tengboche (£6–10 per person)

• →Trek to Tengboche
• →Tengboche Buddhist Monastery prayer ceremony
• →Ama Dablam and Everest panorama

A gentler 4–5 hours through rhododendron forest (vivid in spring) and the village of Pangboche, then up onto the open Imja Valley to Dingboche (4,410m). The landscape goes treeless and dramatic — Island Peak (Imja Tse) and Ama Dablam dominate. Arrive early, rest, and keep hydrating; you're now well above 4,000m so sleep can be broken. Hot lemon and ginger tea is the local altitude remedy.

🚌On foot, 4–5 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche (£6–10 per person)

• →Trek along the Imja Valley
• →Views of Ama Dablam and Island Peak

Second acclimatisation day. The standard route is the short 2–3 hour climb to Nangkartshang Gompa (4,730m) for Makalu and Cho Oyu views — steep but worth it. The stronger option is the 4–5 hour walk towards Chhukung (4,730m) for a closer look at Island Peak base camp. Both are self-navigable; the trails are obvious and signposted. Don't push if you have a headache — this is where altitude sickness catches people out.

🚌On foot, 2–5 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Dingboche (£6–10 per person)

• →Hike to Nangkartshang Gompa
• →Optional longer walk to Chhukung for Makalu views

4–5 hours climbing past the yak pastures of Pheriche (with its Himalayan Rescue Association clinic — worth noting for altitude advice, small donation for treatment), through Dughla (4,620m) and up over the Thukla Pass memorial cairns to Lobuche (4,910m). It's a short but tough day at altitude. Lobuche teahouses are basic and cold — bring a good sleeping bag and expect to pay for charging.

🚌On foot, 4–5 hrs

🛏Teahouse in Lobuche (£6–10 per person)

• →Trek over the Thukla Pass memorial cairns
• →Views of Cholatse, Pumori and Nuptse

The big one. Walk out along the Khumbu Glacier's lateral moraine to Gorak Shep (5,164m) in about 3 hours, drop your bag, then continue 2–3 hours each way to Everest Base Camp itself (5,364m) — the actual spot where expeditions base themselves each spring. It's slow, rocky and the altitude makes every step a negotiation, but there's nothing else like standing among the icefall and the prayer flags. Phone signal is patchy (Everest Link wifi cards, around NPR 500–800 for a day), so tell someone where you are. Return to Gorak Shep for dinner and a very cold night.

🚌On foot, 6–8 hrs total

🛏Teahouse in Gorak Shep (£8–12 per person)

• →Trek to Gorak Shep
• →Reach Everest Base Camp
• →Khumbu Icefall views

Set your alarm for 4am and climb Kala Patthar (5,545m) for sunrise — the highest point of the trip and the single best legal view of Everest's south face, an hour up and 45 minutes down. Back for breakfast, then the helicopter: shared seat-share hoppers lift from Gorak Shep (or nearby Pheriche) to Lukla when weather allows, roughly £200–£300 per person for the 15–20 minute hop, saving you the two-day walk out. Book in advance through a Kathmandu helicopter operator (e.g. Simrik, Heli Everest, Altitude Air) or a Thamel agency; they'll only fly with enough passengers and in safe conditions, so keep a buffer day in mind. Sip a celebratory Everest beer in Lukla.

🚌Helicopter Gorak Shep/Pheriche → Lukla ~£250 per shared seat

🛏Teahouse or lodge in Lukla (£6–10 per person)

• →Sunrise climb of Kala Patthar
• →Shared helicopter return to Lukla
• →Celebratory evening in Lukla

Morning flight back to Kathmandu (~£150 one-way direct with Summit Air/Tara Air/Sita Air). Weather delays are possible, so don't schedule a same-day international departure. Afternoon in Thamel: hot shower, a proper meal, and pick up any souvenirs. If you fancy a farewell dinner with live Nepali folk music and dance, Nepal Chulo or Nepali Chulo in Thamel do a set-menu cultural dinner for around NPR 1,500–2,000 (£9–12).

🚌Lukla–Kathmandu flight ~£150; airport/Thamel taxi ~£5

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Thamel (£10–18)

• →Return mountain flight
• →Thamel souvenir shopping
• →Optional Nepali cultural dinner show

If your flight is late, squeeze in a half-day Kathmandu Valley tour: Boudhanath Stupa is 15 minutes from Thamel by taxi (~£2) and the entry is NPR 400; Swayambhunath and Patan Durbar Square can be done by cycle rickshaw for a few pounds. Taxi to Tribhuvan for your international flight. Welcome to the EBC club.

🚌Taxi to airport ~£5

🛏None (onward travel)

• →Optional Boudhanath or Swayambhunath visit
• →Departure