We’ll rise early this morning and dig into a hot breakfast at our lodge. Make sure to have a second helping, since we’ll be trekking for about six hours today. Our third day on the Everest Base Camp Trek kicks off with a hike through a verdant wonderland of cool, shaded woods and secret waterfalls. We’ll cross scenic suspension bridges hanging over the rushing waters of the Dudh Koshi river, and we’ll get our first good look at some of the Himalayas’ highest peaks, including snow-capped Thamserku (6,608 meters). Our path then leads into Sagarmatha National Park: a vast area of natural beauty which shares its name with the Sanskrit name for Mount Everest. After lunch, we’ll cross another series of suspension bridges before laying eyes on Everest itself. From this vantage point, the lively town of Namche Bazaar is just around the corner. We’ll pick out the best available trekking lodge for tonight’s accommodations.

As we reach higher and higher altitudes, it will be important to allow time for our bodies to adjust to the thinner atmosphere. We’ll spend today in Namche Bazaar, acclimatizing to the altitude and enjoying everything that this quirky trading hub has to offer. The town is actually known for its bakeries, which deserve accolades for producing mouth-watering pastries at high altitudes. You can also visit the Sherpa Culture Museum or take a short hike to enjoy the viewpoints from Syangboche Airport or the Hotel Everest View. However you choose to spend the day, time spent at Namche Bazaar is never wasted—and you certainly won’t go hungry. Tonight, we’ll return to our lodge to enjoy a second night here in town.

After fortifying ourselves with a stout breakfast, we’ll shoulder our packs and make for the narrow hilltop above Namche Bazaar. You’ll get the chance to see a unique stupa here which memorializes Tenzing Norgay and his ascent to the top of Mount Everest, along with Edmund Hillary. Before long, some of the lesser-known but tremendously impressive Himalayan mountains will soar into view—along with Thamserku and Kangtega, don’t miss the iconic triple summits of Kusum Kanguru. From here, the path levels out as it approaches the waterway of the Dudh Koshi once again. Enjoying the marvelous scenery along the way, we’ll gradually begin our ascent through leafy rhododendron forests to reach Tengboche. If you’re trekking in the springtime, the colorful rhododendron blooms are a wonder to behold. Upon reaching Tengboche, we’ll get checked in at a local teahouse. Don’t miss your chance to visit Tengboche Monastery this afternoon: the most historic and well-known Buddhist gompa in Khumbu.

Our Sixth day on the Everest Base Camp Trek leads through the villages of Pangboche, Somare, and Dingboche. As we hike through pleasant rhododendron forest and cross a long suspension bridge over the iridescent waters of the Imja Khola river, gargantuan white mountains like Lhotse and Ama Dablam dominate the horizon. On the approach to Dingboche, we’ll also see a large number of mani stones arranged by the trailside. These are rocks painted or engraved with Buddhist mantras; you should always keep them to your right-hand side as you pass. Finally, we’ll trek across a wide expanse of terraced fields where barley and potatoes are grown, before arriving at Dingboche. We’ll pick out a comfortable lodge here to spend the next two nights.

We’ve now reached the point on our Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary where our bodies need another day to adjust to the increased elevation. As always, the trekker’s maxim is “climb high, sleep low.” This means that we can safely ascend to the stunning vantage points of Nagarjun Hill or Chukhung Village before returning to Dingboche in the afternoon. Both of these day hikes afford superlative views of Makalu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other Himalayan mountains. This evening, you’ll want to get a bite to eat at one of the bakeries or cafes in town. Later, watching the sunset over the windswept peaks of the mountains and the stone-walled terraces of Dingboche will make for an exquisite memory that you’ll return to again and again.

We’ll wake up this morning properly acclimatized and ready to continue our adventure. Today’s hike begins with a gradual climb through small villages and temporary herders’ settlements. Along the way, you’ll see familiar mountains like Ama Dablam and Nuptse, but don’t miss your chance to identify the lesser-known Kongma Tse and Taboche. Each of these peaks represents another breathtaking landmark on the proverbial road to Mount Everest. Shortly after passing through a little town called Dughla, we’ll stop to pay our respects at a series of memorial stupas dedicated to fallen climbers. Then it’s onward to Lobuche, where we’ll stop for the night. A hot meal and a good night’s sleep at our teahouse will come as a welcome reward after our hard work on today’s trail.

Along with Namche Bazaar, Gorak Shep must be one of the most evocative names in all of the Khumbu. Merely hearing the name of this village spoken aloud conjures up images of excited trekkers, friendly Sherpas, and the spectacular massif of Everest itself. Our morning will begin with a hike along a rocky glacial moraine before arriving in Gorak Shep. We’ll stop here for a brief lunch before pressing onwards to Everest Base Camp. You’re sure to have a spring in your step as we follow the rocky path to reach our ultimate destination, with the winds of the highest mountain in the world blowing about our ears. When we arrive at base camp, it’s time to celebrate! You’ll have plenty of time to feast your eyes on the Himalayan panorama spreading out before us. Later, we’ll trek back to Gorak Shep to enjoy a triumphant meal, still basking in the glow of our success as we lay our heads to rest.

Don’t be surprised if you wake up this morning still brimming over with excitement in the wake of yesterday’s accomplishments. We’ll make the most of this momentum by ascending to the magnificent lookout point of Kala Patthar. This short early-morning trek will allow us to enjoy 360-degree views of Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Thamserku, and many other legendary Himalayan peaks and glaciers. From here, you can even get a better look at Everest than you did yesterday! Afterward, we’ll descend to Gorak Shep to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting off to retrace our steps all the way back to Pheriche. We’ve already hiked this part of the trail in the opposite direction, so this will be a comfortable and familiar route that will lead us to another cozy teahouse and another hot meal.

Our morning begins with a gentle descent through rhododendron woodlands as we make our way back to Namche Bazaar. We’ll trek for a couple of hours, reaching the Imja Khola river before stopping for lunch at Tengboche. Take this opportunity to get another look at the town’s beautiful monastery. While no photographs are allowed inside, the sights you’ll see will imprint themselves indelibly upon your memories. When we’re ready to start walking again, we’ll traverse green hills and windswept ridgelines to arrive at Namche Bazaar once again. You’ll have plenty of time this evening to enjoy some shopping before dinner; lots of interesting souvenirs and curios can be found here in Namche. We’ll spend our penultimate night on the Everest Base Camp Trek in another inviting teahouse.