Everest Base Camp Elevation by Day
Everest Base Camp sits at 5,364 m (17,598 ft). This page shows how the trek climbs there stage by stage, from Lukla (2,860 m) to Kala Patthar (5,644 m), in both metres and feet, with a difficulty comparison across all 17 itinerary variations.
Start
2,860 m / 9,383 ft
Highest Point
5,644 m / 18,517 ft
Net Gain
2,784 m / 9,134 ft
The Elevation Profile
This chart plots the classic route stage by stage against both scales at once: metres on the left axis, feet on the right. Most stages are overnight stops, while Base Camp and Kala Patthar are day hikes from Gorak Shep. Every multi-day itinerary that reaches Base Camp follows a similar shape, a climb from Lukla (2,860 m / 9,383 ft) broken by two flat acclimatisation plateaus before the final push to Kala Patthar (5,644 m / 18,517 ft). The plateaus are there on purpose: they follow the biggest jumps in sleeping elevation, and skipping either one removes the route's main protection against altitude illness.
Day-by-Day Elevation Table
| Day | Stop | Elevation (m) | Elevation (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukla | 2,860 m | 9,383 ft |
| 2 | Phakding | 2,610 m | 8,563 ft |
| 3 | Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | 11,286 ft |
| 4 | Namche (acclimatisation) | 3,440 m | 11,286 ft |
| 5 | Tengboche | 3,860 m | 12,664 ft |
| 6 | Dingboche | 4,410 m | 14,469 ft |
| 7 | Dingboche (acclimatisation) | 4,410 m | 14,469 ft |
| 8 | Lobuche | 4,940 m | 16,207 ft |
| 9 | Gorak Shep | 5,164 m | 16,942 ft |
| 10 | Everest Base Camp (day hike) | 5,364 m | 17,598 ft |
| 11 | Kala Patthar (day hike) | 5,644 m | 18,517 ft |
Numbers here count trail stages from Lukla, not itinerary days. On the Classic 14-Day, Lukla and Phakding fall on Day 2, Gorak Shep and Base Camp on Day 9, and Kala Patthar on Day 10.
Why the profile is not a straight line
Above 3,000 m, the Wilderness Medical Society advises raising sleeping elevation by no more than 500 m per night, with a rest day every 3-4 days. Every multi-day itinerary that reaches Base Camp builds in at least two acclimatisation nights, at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft) and Dingboche (4,410 m / 14,469 ft), where trekkers climb higher during the day and return to sleep at the same elevation, which offsets stages that exceed the limit, such as Phakding to Namche Bazaar at +830 m. Those two nights are the flat sections in the chart above. Read the full altitude sickness guide for the Lake Louise self-assessment score and prevention steps.
Difficulty by Itinerary
Elevation alone does not set an itinerary's difficulty, since most routes shown here top out at the same high point, Kala Patthar. Duration, pacing, and technical terrain matter just as much. Here is how all 17 itineraries compare.
Moderate (3 itineraries)
Covers the Panorama 9-Day (tops out at 3,880 m at Everest View Hotel, never reaching Base Camp) and the two helicopter-assisted options, the Heli Return 10-Day and the 1-Day Helicopter Tour, both of which still reach 5,644 m but cut the sustained multi-day walking that drives fatigue on the standard route.
Strenuous (12 itineraries)
The largest group: Classic 14-Day, Short 12-Day, Luxury 14-Day, LGBTQ+ 14-Day, Family 15-Day, Women's 15-Day, Stargazing 15-Day, Seniors 16-Day, Yoga 16-Day, Gokyo Lakes 17-Day, By Road 18-Day, and Jiri Route 21-Day. All twelve reach Kala Patthar (5,644 m) on foot, with at least two acclimatisation days built in at Namche (3,440 m) and Dingboche (4,410 m).
Very Strenuous (2 itineraries)
The Three High Passes 20-Day crosses Kongma La (5,535 m), Cho La (5,420 m), and Renjo La (5,360 m) in one loop, and the Island Peak 18-Day adds a technical 6,165 m climb with crampons, an ice axe, and a fixed rope after reaching Base Camp. Both require prior high-altitude experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everest Base Camp in Nepal (South Base Camp) sits at 5,364 m (17,598 ft) on the Khumbu Glacier, about 3,485 m below Everest's 8,849 m (29,032 ft) summit. The exact height of the camp shifts slightly year to year because it sits on moving glacier ice; 5,364 m is the figure most widely used for the trekkers' marker.