Nepal: a mecca for mountain hikers
Places are full. It is possible to register for the waiting list.
Everest Base Camp hikers and Island Peak climbers on the road together.
NB! On the trip, you can choose between the hikers' package (ends 11.05.2026) or the climbers' package (ends 14.05.2026).
There are 14 mountains in the world that are higher than 8000 meters, and Nepal has eight of them. We will see several of these 8000+ meter mountains on our hiking trip, as well as many lower ones, still beautiful and snowy. Our group this time is a bit unconventional: we will all hike together between the mountains, visit the base camp of the world's highest mountain Everest and climb a few easier hiking peaks (over 5000 m), but on the 12th day of the hike we will split the group into two: climbers and hikers. Climbers will move from the luxury of the tea houses to tents and accept the challenge of reaching the top of Island Peak (6189 m); hikers will arrive back to the city life earlier and enjoy cultural days with a local guide visiting world heritage sites.
In Nepal, hiking between mountains and at high altitudes is easier and more comfortable than in many other parts of the world. The trails pass through mountainous landscapes where the sun shines during the day and temperatures are pleasantly warm. Along the way, you’ll encounter mountain villages with tea houses where you can enjoy three meals a day at a table and sleep in a bed under a roof at the end of each hiking day. Hiking can be done either carrying your own belongings or with the assistance of porters (available as an additional service outside the package). For groups of hikers, standard hiking equipment and clothing are sufficient—no specialized climbing gear is required. Daily hikes usually last about half a day and are accessible to anyone with an active lifestyle and good physical fitness. We do, however, recommend that participants incorporate uphill walking into their regular exercise routine to prepare for the journey.
Climbers also need to pack a pickaxe, crampons, helmet, some carabiners and slings, and a climbing belt. They also need slightly thicker mountaineering boots so that their toes don't freeze at the 6000-meter mark.
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: hike to Everest Base Camp (5364 m), climbers have an additional goal to reach the summit of Island Peak (6189 m)
Dates: for hikers 26.04.2026-11.05.2026; for climbers until 14.05.2026 (flight time added)
Activity: hiking/mountain climbing
Accommodation type: tea houses and hotels (climbers additionally have two nights in a tent)
Adventure guide: Kerttu Olvet
Hikers’ rating: 1/5 (technically an easy uphill trek, but at high altitude, and some hiking days can last up to 9 hours).
Climbers’ rating: 3/5 (crampons, ice axe, and ropes required; a few hundred meters before the summit, skills in ascending and descending on a fixed rope may be needed).
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (medium difficulty hike, but moderate effort due to altitude)
Hiking group size: min 10, max 12; (climbing group size max 5)
Early bird discount (until 9.11.2025) — €2450 for hikers / €2950 for climbers
Late Registration (from 10.11.2025) — €2695 for hikers / €3245 for climbers
NB! Elamus+ community members get a 5–10% discount. Read more and check your discount eligibility. community members page.
👉 SEE EQUIPMENT LIST HERE 👈
Travel cost
Price includes:
The entire trip is organised for you, plus an Estonian-speaking guide with extensive experience in Nepal.
Local guide and sirdar from a partner organization (sirdar is a local sherpa who helps us find our way on the summit)
Transfers from Kathmandu airport to hotel and back
Domestic flight Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu (including 15 kg checked baggage and 5 kg hand baggage)
Planned hotel stays (double rooms) and teahouse stays (double rooms)
Climbers will be staying in tents at Island Peak Base Camp
Breakfast at Kathmandu hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner at tea houses/ Island Peak base camp
All national park permits and fees
Island Peak climbing permit for climbers
Technical group equipment for Island Peak climbers (ropes, etc.)
Cultural day in Kathmandu for hikers, including visits to major cultural monuments, transport and lunch
Stylish elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy (including high-altitude medications) and health assessment
Elamus+ mountaineering preparation package worth €250:
access to online mountaineering webinars;
personal 30 min online call with the tour guide;
winter mountaineering training day before the trip*.
*Held once a year in Estonia — participation depends on the time of registration.
EXTRA PRICES that should be taken into account:
Flight tickets to Kathmandu and back (from 800 EUR)
Nepal visa for 30 days 50 USD (can be organized together before the trip or applied for at the border)
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking).
Personal hiking equipment and special equipment for climbers (can also be rented if necessary) Elamus Pluss)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
Additional amenities, snacks, additional drinks on hiking days
Extracurricular activities and transportation
Personal hygiene products and medications
Internet and data packages
Porter available upon request, approx. 25 USD/day
Gratuities (porter, local guide)
Additional costs incurred when canceling a trip
Registration for the trip
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, you must pay a deposit of 20% of the trip cost within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email. If there are less than 3 months left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
When registering, please indicate whether you would like to join the hiker or climber package. The number of places in both categories is limited.
Schedule and activities
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (1400 m)
Arriving in Kathmandu on a cloudless day is an unforgettable experience in itself, when you have the opportunity to catch your first glimpses of the world's highest snow-capped peaks and the Himalayan mountain range. There is a transfer opposite the airport, so you don't have to worry about getting to the hotel. The rest of the day is worth spending doing some last-minute shopping (Thamel, the capital's center and pedestrian quarter, is within walking distance of the hotel); in the evening, we will get to know each other, who don't know each other from before, and learn the word "namaste", which we will hear and use repeatedly over the next few days. We must arrive in Kathmandu no later than the evening of the first day (April 26), as we will be flying onward very early in the morning.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: FLIGHT TO LUKLA (2840 m), HIKE TO PHAKDING (2610 m)
Hike 7 km (4-5 hours)
Ascent meters 280 m
Descent 515 m
Early morning flight to Lukla on a small twin-propeller plane. We land at Lukla, the most popular airport in the Himalayas, with a short runway that ends at a cliff face directly in front of the plane’s nose (without touching it). The best mountain views are on the right side of the plane, so if possible, choose your seat accordingly. On clear days, you can see famous Himalayan and Tibetan peaks, including Cho Oyu (8153 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Gauri Shankar (7145 m), and Mount Everest, towering 8848 m above sea level.
After landing, it is possible to hire porters if necessary, who are ready to help carry luggage from tea house to tea house until returning to Lukla. We leave the village along a stone footpath that runs along the banks of the Dudh Koshi (translated as: milk river) river and that accompanies us for most of the first day's journey in the upper Khumbu region. For the first few days, we hike at a slow pace to get used to the movement and the thinner air than usual. We see the first large carved stone slabs that line the footpath and are engraved with Buddhist prayers, the first prayer wheels and shrines, all decorated with colorful prayer flags typical of Nepal. The shrines, prayer wheels and stupas are passed clockwise to show respect for the local faith and views. We pass through the smaller settlements of Chaurikharka, Cheplung, Thado Koshi and Ghat and reach our first destination, Phakding.
NB! On narrow sections of the trail, always give way to porters and yaks. When passing yaks, stay on the side of the road on the mountain side so that you don't get pushed down the mountain, and try not to disturb them, as the animals can behave unpredictably. The animals have bells around their necks, the ringing of which accompanies us throughout the hike.
DAY 3: HIKING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR (3440 m)
Hike 9 km (6 hours)
Ascent meters 1150 m
Descent 320 m
Today we hike to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpas, which is also the heart of the Upper Khumbu. Leaving Phakding, we cross the first suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River to the eastern bank of the latter and continue our journey along the river northwards. In two to three hours we reach the village of Monjo, where we enter the Sagarmatha National Park. During the journey, we get a closer look at the first higher peaks (Thamserku, 6608 m), descend to the river and cross the bridge to the village of Jorsale. After a tea break in the village, we return to the eastern bank of the river, cross the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge and undertake one of the more demanding stages of the hike: the ascent to Namche. The pace is slow, “bistari” in Nepali. Halfway to the village, we can also enjoy the first view of the peak of Everest, which flashes between the high ridges of Nuptse and Lhotse.
Day 4: ACCLIMATIZATION IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF NAMCHE BAZAAR”
Hike 3 km (2-3 hours)
Ascent meters 450 m
Descent 450 m
We will spend two days in Namche to help acclimatize and explore this colorful Sherpa capital, where the world's highest Irish Pub is also located. During the day, depending on our wishes and mood, we will either take a trip to Thame village at 3800 m (7-8 hours), visit Everest View Hotel (4 hours) or explore Khumjung village (4 hours). Thame village is less visited by hikers, as it is mainly off the EBC trail, but there you can see a genuine Sherpa village with colorful prayer flags and traditional houses. The road there leads through a rhododendron forest, along the Bhote Khosi River, past the rock paintings of Guru Padmasambhava, with high snowy mountain ridges in the background. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (the first person to summit Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, 1953) lived with his first wife in Thame village, and we will also find the current home of Apa Sherpa (who has summited Everest 21 times). A 600-year-old monastery towers over the village, which is also worth seeing.
DAY 5: HIKING TO TENGBOCHE (3860 m)
Hike 9 km (6-7 hours)
Ascent meters 985 m
Descent 585 m
After a short climb out of the Namche Valley, we see views of the pearls of the Himalayas such as Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku and Ama Dablam (6812 m). Ama Dablam means “Mother’s Necklace”, as its high ridges on both sides of the peak resemble a mother’s hands protecting a child. The glacier hanging in the middle is like a pendant, which is a traditional necklace of Sherpa women. Ama Dablam is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.
We pass through the villages of Kenjuma and Phunke Tenga on the river bank, after which we hike uphill for a few hours to the village of Tengboche. The Tengboche Monastery is one of the most unique and if we are lucky we will arrive there to witness the daily prayer (at 3 pm), which is a unique experience in itself. It is a place where all those aspiring to higher peaks are also blessed before the challenge ahead.
Day 6: TRIP TO PANGBOCHE (3930m) – AMA DABLAM BASE CAMP (4576m) – PANGBOCHE (3930m)
Hike 19 km (10 hours)
Ascent meters 170 m, 645 m
Descent 80 m, 645 m
Leaving Tengboche, we descend through a pine forest to the village of Deboche and the Imja Khola River. We cross the river and admire the towering Ama Dablam mountain directly in front of us. We reach the village of Pangboche, which is also our place to stay for the night. We have a light meal and, if you wish, we set off on a day hike to the Ama Dablam base camp, where the road leading to it is in a quieter area of the Khumbu Valley. We are now in the middle of the mountains and the view is magnificent in every direction. The base camp offers views of the Kangtega (6783 m), Thamserku (6618 m) and Taboche (6542 m) mountains, and the peak of Ama Dablam itself rises at an altitude of 2300 m. We return to the village of Pangboche, where the oldest monastery in the region is also located (a 15-minute climb from the place to stay above traditional Sherpa households).
Day 7: HIKING TO DINGBOCHE (4410 m)
Hike 6,5 km (4-5 hours)
Ascent meters 600 m
Descent 120 m
We leave Pangboche, passing yak huts, bordered fields and the settlements of Shomare (4010 m) and Orsho (4190 m). We cross the bridge and take the last sharp climb of the day to Dingboche, surrounded by high peaks. We spend two nights at this altitude, and climbers can also leave their climbing equipment here, which we will use later on Island Peak.
Day 8: FIRST PEAK NANGKARTSHANG (5080 m)
Hike 3,5 km (3-4 hours)
Ascent meters 67 0m
Descent 670 m
We will tackle our first mountain peak and hike up the steep rocky slope to Nangkartshang Peak, where the magical 5000 meter mark is crossed. From the summit, views of mountains such as Ama Dablam, Taboche, Cholatse and Makalu open up.
The afternoon is spent relaxing.
Day 9: HIKING TO LOBUCHE VILLAGE (4931 m)
Hike 8 km (5 hours)
Ascent meters 620 m
Descent 100 m
Leaving Dingboche, we cross the plateau above the Pheriche valley and pass through the settlement of Dughla. Afterwards, we reach the site of the memorials dedicated to all who have perished on Everest—a solemn yet strangely uplifting sight. From there, we gradually descend through the valley to the village of Lobuche, where spectacular views open up of the peaks of Taboche and Nuptse.
Day 10: GORAKSHEP (5160m), EVEREST BASE CAMP (5364m)
Hike 12 km (8-9 hours)
Ascent meters 490 m
Descent 260 m
After two to three hours of hiking along a rocky path and over the Lobuche Pass (5110 m), we reach the small village of Gorakshep, from where we hike to the main destination of our trip, EBC, in the afternoon. The Khumbu Glacier stretches out ahead and we see how preparations are going for another Everest season.
Day 11: CLIMB TO KALA PATAR (5545 m), DESCEND BACK TO DINGBOCHE (4410 m)
Hike 14 km (8 hours)
Ascent meters (385 m summit ascent +) 200 m
Descent (385 m from the summit + descent) 950 m
Early in the morning we will climb Kala Patar, which will be cold and difficult, but worth the effort. At sunrise, the peak of Everest will blush on the horizon and the most famous view of Nepal is before our eyes: the giants Everest, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse and Changtse stand in a row. The climb takes 2-3 hours, after which we will descend back to Gorakshep and via Lobuche we will make our way back to Dingboche.
Day 12: The group splits into two: hikers and climbers
Hikers continue with a local English-speaking guide, while climbers are accompanied by the adventure guide.
HIKERS:FROM DINGBOCHE (4410 m) BACK TO NAMCHE BAZAAR (3440 m)
Hike 18 km (9 hours)
Ascent meters 300 m
Descent 1270 m
The day begins with a descent to the village of Pangboche, then through Deboche we reach the monastery village of Tengboche again. In the afternoon we descend to the Dudh Khosi riverbed before ascending again to the foothills of Phuki Tenga. The second part of the hike is slightly up and down in changing terrain until we reach the main center of the region, Namche Bazaar. Here we have the opportunity to be almost back in the city life, but still surrounded by nature.
CLIMBERS: FROM DINGBOCHE (4410 m) TO ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP (5100 m)
Hike 10 km (6 hours)
Ascent meters 700 m
Descent 50 m
We take a new direction from the already familiar Dingboche and begin our journey to the base camp of Island Peak (Imja Tse). The road first passes through Chhukung (4730 m), which is a good place for a short break. From there, the trail continues through rocky valleys and the foothills of crevasses. The terrain becomes rougher and here we clearly understand that we have turned off the main road, left the masses of people behind and are in the middle of the wild nature. At the base camp we spend the night in tents that have already been set up for us and the cook welcomes us with refreshing snacks. In the evening we quickly pull ourselves together and buy straw, so that shortly after midnight we can start the summit climb.
Day 13
HIKER: FROM NAMCHE BAZAAR (3440 m) BACK TO LUKLA (2840 m)
Hike 18 km (7-8 hours)
Ascent meters 330 m
Descent 930 m
The last day of the trek takes us back from Namche Bazaar to Lukla via Monjo village. The journey is pleasant and green, with some small climbs and crossing the Bhote Khosi River three times making the day varied, and the final 45-minute climb to Lukla seems to come at a leisurely pace alongside the rest of the trek.
CLIMBERS: SUMMIT TO ISLAND PEAK (6189 m)
Peak rise approx. 14 hours
Ascent meters 1089 m
Descent 1089 m
The summit day starts very early – around 1–2 am. The first few hours are spent on rocky slopes and gravel, followed by a steep climb to high camp (~5600 m). From there, the ice glacier begins, where we use ropes, crampons and an ice pick. To reach the summit, we have to overcome a steep wall of ice and snow (45–60 degree angle), which may require the use of fixed ropes. The summit offers powerful views of Lhotse, Makalu and Ama Dablam. The return journey to base camp also takes several hours, but we have time and it is known that there is no rush in the mountains.
Day 14
HIKERS:FLIGHT TO KATHMANDU
The flight takes about 35 minutes and usually departs between 6 and 11 in the morning, so we arrive back in Kathmandu by lunchtime. At the airport, we will be met by a shuttle that will take us back to the same hotel where we started our trip.
CLIMBERS: RETURN TO DINGBOCHE VILLAGE (4410 m)
Hike 10 km (6 hours)
Ascent meters 50 m
Descent 700 m
After summit day, this day is more restorative. The journey follows the same route back to Chhukung and then on to Dingboche. As we descend, breathing becomes easier and the body can start to recover. Dingboche is already a familiar and comfortable place for us to rest.
Day 15
HIKERS:CULTURE DAY IN KATHMANDU
A local guide will introduce you to the charms and pains of the capital: we will visit world heritage sites such as Durbar Square, Boudhanath, Swoyambhunath and Pashupatinath. The tour will be conducted by private transport and guided by an English-speaking guide. We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
CLIMBERS: HIKING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR (3440 m)
Hike 18 km (9 hours)
Ascent 300m
Descent 1270 m
A long day awaits us, with the trail descending through Pangboche and Tengboche, then the ascent through the forests begins. The last kilometers towards Namche are undulating and tiring. At the same time, this day offers the last wonderful views of Everest and Ama Dablam. In Namche Bazaar, infrastructure and cafes and even a pub await us.
Day 16
HIKERS:RETURN HOME
This is where the hiker group's journey ends.
CLIMBERS: HIKING TO LUKLA (2840 m)
Hike 18 km (7-8 hours)
Ascent meters 330 m
Descent 930 m
This day is technically easy, but physically tiring, as the distance is relatively long and the journey alternates between ascents and descents. First we descend steeply through the forest to the river (Dudh Kosi), cross several suspension bridges again, after which there is a moderate climb through the villages of Monjo and Phakding. The last few kilometers before Lukla are a slight climb, which may seem exhausting at the end of the day, but since we are waiting for a hot shower and a final evening in the mountains, we do it with ease.
Day 17
CLIMBERS: FLIGHT TO KATHMANDU
Early morning flight back to the capital. Sights await: Patan Durbar Square, Buddhist stupa Boudhanath, Hindu altar Pashupatinath, all are World Heritage Sites.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 18
CLIMBERS: KATHMANDU / SPARE DAY
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 19
CLIMBERS: RETURN HOME
NB! The schedule and planned activities may be subject to minor changes depending on the traveler's wishes or the weather.
Nepal's specific features
Official data:
population 29,65 million inhabitants
monetary unit Nepalese Rupee (NPR or रु), 1 EUR = 163,5 NPR
mainly spoken Nepali language, in addition, nearly 120 different local languages and dialects are used
Kathmandu (the capital) is XNUMX hours and XNUMX minutes ahead of Estonian time.
Nepal covers an area of approximately 147 km², which makes it comparable in area to, for example, Portugal
Fun facts:
📆 Nepal has a different calendar system
§ Nepal uses the Bikram Sambat calendar, which is about 57 years ahead of our Gregorian calendar. For example: if we have 2026, then in Nepal it is 2083.
🚦The only country in the world where traffic management is done without traffic lights (in Kathmandu)
§ The capital Kathmandu does not use traffic lights - police officers control traffic with hand signals. A traffic light was once installed, but it was taken down just days later because confused people ignored it.
🇳🇵 Nepal has a unique flag
§ It is the only national flag in the world that is not a rectangle – it consists of two triangles. It symbolizes the Himalayan mountains and two important religions: Hinduism and Buddhism.
🚫 There are no McDonald's, Starbucks or KFC in Nepal
§ One of the few countries where these international fast food chains have not entered. Instead, local food is served, such as momo dumplings and dal bhat (lentil dish with rice).
🐾 Tihar – a holiday honoring dogs!
§ Tihar is a Hindu festival where one day is dedicated to dogs: they are garlanded with flowers, have tikas painted on their foreheads, and are given sweets. Dogs are considered messengers of God in Nepal.
☕ In Nepal, they drink tea... with salt!
§ In some Himalayan regions, especially those with Tibetan influences, tea is drunk with salt – often with butter. It keeps you warm!
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. For this trip you will need:
passport;
Nepal visa (50 USD, can be applied for either at the border or at the nearest embassy);
Sports insurance that is suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike;
travel insurance (including travel disruption, baggage, medical assistance).
We recommend that you take out travel insurance immediately after receiving confirmation of your travel registration so that you are also covered for longer-term health problems!
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read more also travel conditions or feel free to ask the adventure locomotives.
FAQ
Is this mountain hike within my reach?
The Everest Base Camp hike (5364 m) is technically easy and is suitable for novice hikers. However, we will be hiking higher than usual (including a lot of uphill), where there is less oxygen and every move is therefore a little more difficult. Previous hiking experience at 4000+ meters is useful, as altitude affects everyone very differently.
For the summit attempt of Island Peak, in addition to the previous experience, technical mountaineering skills, rope work, and ice axe braking techniques are required. If you are unsure whether to register as a hiker or a climber, feel free to contact the adventure guide, who can help you decide.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?!
You’ll need to stretch your budget a little, but not too much. For the Everest Base Camp trek, standard hiking clothing and boots, rain gear, and a warm layer are required. You should also bring a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature around 0 °C. Most of these items can also be purchased locally in Kathmandu.
Hikers do not need climbing equipment, but climbers should still pack crampons, a pick, a climbing harness, a helmet, and carabiners in their bag - all of this can be rented.
Okay, I registered. Now what?
To make your mountain hike more enjoyable, we recommend that you participate in our preparatory events before the trip - it's also part of the fun. We organize preparatory hiking training, give advice on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheap equipment, what to train for, etc. We will definitely check the collected equipment just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more about Elamus+ tours frequently asked questions.
