Everest Base Camp Charity Trek 2026

Make 2026 the year you take on a truly iconic challenge and do it in honour of Reuben. Do Good Feel Good.

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime trek to Everest Base Camp, deep in the heart of the Himalayas. Timed around Reuben’s birthday, Reuben’s Birthday Basecamp is a powerful way to celebrate his life, and the life of many we have lost, while raising vital funds for Reuben’s Retreat.

This legendary journey takes you through the Khumbu Valley, past prayer flags, monasteries, suspension bridges, and traditional Sherpa villages, before standing together at the foot of the world’s highest mountain. Challenging, emotional, and incredibly rewarding, it’s a trek that stays with you long after you return home.

Whether you’re marking a milestone, seeking a meaningful adventure, or ticking off a bucket list dream, Reuben’s Birthday Basecamp could be your ONE IN A MILLION Bucket List challenge for 2026.

Date: September 2026
Price: £2,557 (including flights)
Suggested Sponsorship: £2,300 (an epic amount for an epic journey!)

Keep reading to find out more

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Exclusions
• International Flights
• Any visas required
• Services not mentioned in the itinerary
• Late check out at hotels
• Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
• Drinks with included lunches and dinners
• Tips for leaders, guide and driver
• Expenditure of personal nature
• Personal Insurance

Everest Base Camp Itinerary

Day 1: 10th September 2026
Destination: Kathmandu
Meals Included: Welcome Dinner at Mahotsav Restaurant or similar

Arrive in Kathmandu.
Namaste! Welcome to Kathmandu, the colourful capital of Nepal where ornately carved balconies mingle with beautiful shrines and temples.

Meet, greet, and transfer to your hotel.

Group briefing at the hotel after check-in. After your tour briefing, you can have dinner with some cultural dances. Enjoy your very first Nepalese food in one of the authentic Nepalese restaurants as a welcome dinner.

Airport transfer
• Included on a private group basis

Included
• Pre-trip briefing with your trek leader
• Welcome dinner

Accommodation
Hotel Moonlight or similar

Day 2: 11th September 2026
Destination: Phakding (2610 m)
Meals Included: Breakfast

Very early in the morning today, commence your drive to Ramechhap district because you will be taking a flight to Lukla from Ramechhap airport. The drive will take you around five hours.

Hop on a 20-minute flight to Lukla (2840 m) alongside the mighty Himalayas. You will land on the airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s.

After a safety talk, gear up and begin your trek to Phakding. You’ll descend towards the milky white waters of the Dudh Kosi River, where you will join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka. The walk is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat, it’s only a short walk to Phakding. Overall trekking time today is approximately 3 hours.

Special Information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 3 hours or 8.5 km, with an elevation gain of 770 m and a descent of 770 m.

Please note that in peak travel times domestic flights to/from Kathmandu may arrive/depart from Ramechhap (also
known as Manthali) Airport. The airport is located 130 km (a 4 to 5 hours’ drive) from Kathmandu

Included
• Drive to Ramechhap (approximately 5 hours)
• Flight to Lukla (20 minutes)
• Guided trek to Phakding (approximately 3 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 3: 12th September 2026
Destination: Namche (3440 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Trek around 7 hours to Namche Bazaar, where you’ll spend a couple of days acclimatizing to the altitude. Here, you’ll also get your first look at Everest itself – yeah, no big deal! From Phakding, cross the river and head up the valley, following in the footsteps of the porters loaded with supplies for Namche Bazaar. The trail, lined with blue pine forest, follows the river valley and is especially spectacular in spring when the rhododendron flowers are bright
in bloom. Cross the Dudh Kosi River at Benkar and look way up above 6000 metres/19,700 feet to see the peaks of snow-capped Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku. Press on to Monjo, a good place to break for lunch. From here the walk starts to get a little tougher, with a steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. Enter the national park, cross the river through the village of Jorsale, and then continue upstream. Cross another spectacular suspension bridge and begin
the ascent to Namche Bazaar. Get your camera out as now there will be your first glimpse of the peaks of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Taweche. Namche will be your last chance to check your equipment and hire any additional gear for the high altitudes from Dingboche onwards. Namche Bazaar is also the last chance for a hot shower, to enjoy the local nightlife or take to the pool hall and video parlours.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 7 hours or 10 km, with an elevation gain of 1090 m and a descent of 335 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Namche (approximately 7 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 4: 13th September 2026
Destination: Namche (3440 m)
Meals Included: N/A
You’ll stay at Namche Bazaar for another night so that you can properly acclimatise to the altitude. One of the best ways to do this is to take a strenuous walk up to a high altitude then come back down to sleep. Your optional (but recommended) walk today will take you to see views from the Tenzing Norgay Memorial and Sagarmatha National Park Museum above the village. If the conditions are right, this stunning vista includes a panorama of the Khumbu
peaks and great views of Everest. The national park museum is also home to interesting displays about Sherpa lifestyle and culture, and the local flora and fauna. Then, continue your hike to higher elevations with a visit to Sagarmatha Next, who support local communities to create and implement a sustainable waste handling system in the region. Return to town and enjoy a free rest of your day. Namche gained its importance during the period when Tibetan salt was traded for the lowland grains of Nepal. There’s still a roaring trade in the village centre, so be sure to use this chance to stock up on any extra supplies you might need.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 3.5 hours or 5 km, with an elevation gain of 465 m and a descent of
465 m.

Included
• Acclimatization at Namche
• Sagarmatha Next visit

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 5: 14th September 2026
Destination: Phortse Gaun (3810 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Not many groups stop in Phortse – a traditional Sherpa village that offers an insight into their life and culture – so today will be something special. Leave Namche and weave your way above the valley, then take the less-travelled fork in the road just after Sanasa. Most travellers follow the same path to and from Base Camp, while you’ll make more of a loop to see more of the national park. Climb for some epic views of the valley below, and then stop for a
mini acclimatisation lunch at around 4000 m. After lunch, make your way downhill to cross the Dudh Koshi again, then make a final uphill push to your teahouse in Phortse. The dramatic mountain views, peace and quiet of this village make this one of the highlights of the trek. Here you’ll be almost completely above the treeline, so the sunsets make for perfect pictures.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 7 hours or 10 km, with an elevation gain of 970 m and a descent of 550 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Phortse Gaun (approximately 7 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 6: 15th September 2026
Destination: Dingboche (4410 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Climb above the tree line and trek approximately eight hours covering the distance of 12 kms to Dingboche. Here you’ll find a beautiful patchwork of small fields enclosed by stone walls. These walls protect crops of barley and potatoes from the cold winds. The scenery is once again spectacular and although Everest will be hidden behind the Lhotse-Nuptse Ridge, the huge peaks that tower above the eastern end of the valley are more than worthy. If the weather’s right, then there will be gorgeous sunsets illuminating the peaks – Ama Dablam, the south face of Lhotse to the north, and Island Peak in the centre of the valley.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 8 hours or 14 km, with an elevation gain of 920 m and a descent of 410 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Dingboche (approximately 8 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 7: 16th September 2026
Destination: Dingboche (4410 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Today is another acclimatization day, and you’ll stay in Dingboche for another night. There are a few different trails that you can hike, with day hikes to Ama Dablam base camp, Nagarjun Hill or Chukkhung. Ama Dablam is a peak that dominates the route towards Everest Base Camp, and it’s an opportunity to get off the main trail and explore a quieter area in the Khumbu below one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Nagarjun Hill (5100 metres/16,730 feet) offers amazing views of Makalu, Island Peak and Ama Dablam. The Chukkhung (4750 metres/15,580 feet) walk might be a short one, but it’s the views of surrounding peaks and snowy terrain that’ll have you short of breath.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 3 hours or 4 km, with an elevation gain of 425 m and a descent of 425 m.

Included
• Acclimatization at Dingboche

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 8: 17th September 2026
Destination: Lobuche (4910 m)
Meals Included: N/A

From Dingboche, ascend the small ridge behind the village above the Pheriche valley. From the stupa at the top, Taweche and Cholatse (6440m) make for a striking scene; they seem to lean forwards from across the valley in the west. To the north, Lobuje Peak (6119m) and the snowfields of the Cho La are the kings of the skyline. The walking will now be flat on wide-open fields but remember that there’s no rush – take your time and ensure you’re well hydrated. Late in the morning you will cross the Khumbu Khola at Dughla and take a light lunch at the foot of the huge terminal moraines of the Khumbu Glacier flowing off Everest. In the afternoon, there will be a solid and quite steep climb on a rocky trail to the top of the moraines. On the crest of the ridge, you’ll pass a line of memorial cairns (stacks of stones), built in memory of the Sherpas and climbers who have died on various Everest expeditions over the last fifty or so years. From here the view is downright spectacular once again, with Pumori (7145m), Lingtren (6697m), Khumbutse (6623m), and across the border in Tibet, Changtse (7550m), surrounding you. Then follow the valley stream to the lodge at Lobuche, arriving early afternoon.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 5.5 hours or 8 km, with an elevation gain of 660 m and a descent of 85 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Lobuche (approximately 5.5 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 9: 18th September 2026
Destination: Gorak Shep (5140 m) – Everest Base Camp (5364 m)
Meals Included: N/A

This is it people, the BIG day of Everest Base Camp. First, you’ll trek to Gorak Shep (where you’ll start the round trip to Base Camp). From Lobuche, follow the broad valley that runs parallel to Khumbu Glacier, with a gradual ascent enabling you to build the slow, steady rhythm required when walking at high altitude. When you reach the moraines of Changri Nup Glacier, you will make a series of small ascents and descents over a rocky trail lined with cairns that eventually leads to the surprising glacial sands of Gorak Shep (5160 metres/16,930 feet) – reached after about three hours of walking. Now’s the time to grab a quick bite, gear up appropriately, and then head off towards Everest Base Camp. The trek to the base camp can be achieved in around three hours, and if trekking in the popular climbing period of March to May, you will almost certainly encounter yaks and porters supplying food and equipment to expeditions here. From Everest Base Camp you will not get views of Mount Everest, but you are able to see glorious glaciers, lakes, caves, and the notorious Everest Ice Fall that flows from the Western Cwm. It’s regarded as technically the hardest and most dangerous section of the mountain. Then you’ll return from Base Camp to Gorak Shep.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 9 hours or 8 km, with an elevation gain of 500 m and a descent of 270 m.

Your teahouse in Gorak Shep is situated at 5180 m (16,995 ft). Due to its remote location and high elevation, all materials must be carried up to this altitude (or back down) by foot or by yak as there are no roads. While the views of Everest and the surrounding Himalayas are spectacular, the amenities are understandably basic.

Included
• Guided trek to Gorak Shep – Everest Base Camp – Gorak Shep (approximately 9 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 10: 19th September 2026
Destination: Kala Patthar (5545 m) – Pheriche (4240 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Wake early for the trek to Kala Patthar, where you’ll experience sensational sunrise views from this amazing vantage point. Don’t be surprised if you get a little tear in your eye when you soak up the views of Everest. Embrace that emotion and spend as long as you like here to savour this extra special moment. To get there from the lodge the ascent is quite steep, so start very slowly and try to ascend at a steady rhythmic pace. Kala Patar is the rocky hilltop below Pumori. It’s a tough walk because of the altitude, but the view from the top will surpass your wildest imagination. It will probably take a good hour and a half to reach the summit from Gorak Shep, although lower viewpoints can provide views that are almost as good. Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam, Taweche, Kantega and Everest – they’re all here. About three kilometres away and some 200 metres below, the area of the Everest Base Camp can be seen in a bowl at the bottom of the Khumbu Ice Fall. Then it’s all downhill from here – the descent to Gorak Shep is easy, then you’ll cross the Khumbu Khola and head down the valley below Cholatse to Pheriche. Cross the Khumbu Khola River and ascend a short steep trail to the top of a small ridge for great views of Imja Valley, Ama Dablam and Kantega. Descend to the small settlement at Pheriche for the night.

Special information
For the optional trek from Gorak Shep to Kala Pattar, your trekking time will be approximately 3 hours or 4 km, with an elevation gain and loss of 440 m.
For the trek from Gorak Shep to Pheriche, your trekking time will be approximately 6 hours or 12 km, with an elevation gain of 70 m and an elevation loss of 950 m.

Included
• Guided Kala Patthar hike (approximately 3 hours) for sunrise
• Guided trek to Pheriche (approximately 6 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 11: 20th September 2026
Destination: Tengboche (3860 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Descend through the small settlements at Orsho and Shomare before passing through Lower Pangboche. Here you’ll reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River, then ascend back to Tengboche to visit the monastery. According to legend, Lama Sange Dorjee, who came from Tibet’s Rongphu Monastery, founded Tengboche Monastery in the 17th century. Tengboche was destroyed by an earthquake in 1933, rebuilt and again badly damaged by a fire in 1989. Construction of the present monastery was completed in 1992. Spend a bit of time visiting the monastery.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 4 hours or 10 km, with an elevation gain of 310 m and an elevation loss of 700 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Tengboche (approximately 4 – 5 hours)
• Tengboche Monastery visit

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 12: 21st September 2026
Destination: Chumo (2860 m)
Meals Included: N/A

Descend steeply through beautiful forest of juniper, rhododendron and fir. Cross the Dudh Kosi River and ascend to Trashinga. From here the trail contours high above the valley through Shanasa and on to Namche Bazaar, before descending steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi River. You’ll follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Chumo, where you’ll stop for the night.

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 8 hours or 15 km, with an elevation gain of 665 m and an elevation loss of 1740 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Chumo (approximately 8 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 13: 22nd September 2026
Destination: Lukla (2840 m)
Meals Included: N/A

You’ve done it, your last day of trekking! Set off on the last, steady 5 – 6 hours of the trek. Descend steeply down to the large suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi River. You’ll follow the trail through Jorsale and back to Monjo. Walk via Benkar through blue pine and rhododendron forest, with great views of Kusum Kangaru, through Phakding, then it’s only a short walk in the valley before making the final climb up to the airstrip at Lukla, where you’ll say goodbye to your Sherpa crew. Get together with the rest of your group and pool your tips if you haven’t already. Celebrate with a hot shower, a sleep, or with a few drinks with your group. You earned it!

Special information
Your trekking time today will be approximately 6 hours or 12 km, with an elevation gain of 725 m and an elevation loss of 640 m.

Included
• Guided trek to Lukla (approximately 5 – 6 hours)

Accommodation
Local Tea House

Day 14: 23rd September 2026
Destination: Kathmandu
Meals Included: Farewell dinner

Weather permitting, you’ll take a short early morning flight from Lukla to Ramechhap this morning (approximately 20 minutes). From Ramechhap, board your vehicle for the drive to Kathmandu. Return to your accommodation and relax your weary legs.

In the evening, gather and walk nearby restaurant for farewell dinner. Enjoy your meal with memories and beers reliving the trek and our extraordinary achievements.

Special Information
Please note that in peak travel times domestic flights to/from Kathmandu may arrive/depart from Ramechhap (also known as Manthali) Airport.

Included
• Flight from Lukla to Ramechhap (20 minutes)
• Drive back to Kathmandu (approximately 5 hours)
• Farewell dinner (If in case flight cancelled then the dinner would be postponed for next day)

Accommodation
Hotel Moonlight or similar

Day 15: 24th September 2026
Destination: Kathmandu (free day / buffer day)
Meals Included: Breakfast

The day is free for you to enjoy a well-deserved rest after the trek of a lifetime. This is also a buffer day should the trek be affected by weather – as weather in mountains can be unpredictable.

Included
• N/A

Optional
• Kathmandu Valley sightseeing (we can arrange the day tour on request)

Accommodation
Hotel Moonlight or similar

Day 16: 25th September 2026
Destination: Kathmandu – Departure
Meals Included: Breakfast

Say ‘dhanyabad’ for memories that’ll last a lifetime. There are no activities planned for the final day. You would be dropped to the airport as per your flight time for the final departure.

Airport transfer
• Included on a private group basis

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