Everest Base Camp Trek Elevation by Day
The Everest Base Camp Trek's elevation profile is the day-by-day altitude gain from Lukla to Kala Patthar, shown here in both meters and feet alongside a difficulty comparison across all 11 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 14-day itinerary’s overnight elevation against both scales at once: meters on the left axis, feet on the right. Every itinerary on this site follows a similar shape, a steady 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 two plateaus are not a pacing accident. They are the single biggest reason most trekkers reach Base Camp without serious altitude symptoms, and skipping either one is the most common way an itinerary goes wrong.
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 | 5,364 m | 17,598 ft |
| 11 | Kala Patthar | 5,644 m | 18,517 ft |
Why the profile is not a straight line
Above 3,000 m, the golden rule for preventing altitude sickness caps net elevation gain at 300-500 m per day. Every itinerary on this site builds in two mandatory 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 rather than pushing straight up. 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 every route shown here reaches roughly the same maximum height. Duration, pacing, and technical terrain matter just as much. Here is how all 11 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 (6 itineraries)
The largest group: Classic 14-Day, Short 12-Day, Luxury 14-Day, By Road 18-Day, Gokyo Lakes 17-Day, and Jiri Route 21-Day. All six reach Kala Patthar (5,644 m) on foot in both directions, with two mandatory 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 6,189 m climb with crampons, an ice axe, and a fixed rope after reaching Base Camp. Both require prior high-altitude experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
The two flat sections, at Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) and Dingboche (4,410 m), are mandatory acclimatisation days. The itinerary spends two nights at the same elevation while climbing higher and returning to sleep lower during the day, following the 'climb high, sleep low' principle rather than continuing to ascend.