How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Everest and Return?

A typical Everest expedition requires 60–70 days (2–2.5 months) from arrival in Kathmandu to departure. The timeline breaks down as follows:

1. Trek to Base Camp (≈17 days)

• Fly to Lukla (2,860 m)
• 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC, 5,364 m) with acclimatization stops
• Several days at EBC for further acclimatization

2. Acclimatization Rotations (≈35 days)

• Multiple carries/rotations up the Khumbu Icefall to Camp 1 (6,065 m), Camp 2 (6,400 m), Camp 3 (7,162 m), and South Col / Camp 4 (7,950 m)
• Progressively longer stays at higher camps to stimulate red blood cell production
• Rest periods at EBC between rotations

3. Summit Push & Descent to Base Camp (≈11–19 days)

• Wait for a stable weather window (often 3–5 days of low wind)
• Summit day: Depart Camp 4 ~11 PM–midnight; reach summit (8,848 m) by dawn; descend to Camp 4 or Camp 2 same day
• Continue down to Camp 2, Camp 1, and EBC over 2–4 days

4. Trek Out to Lukla (≈5–7 days)

• Retrace steps down the Khumbu Valley to Lukla
• Flight to Kathmandu

Total: 60–70 days. Weather delays, illness, or logistics can extend this. Speed ascents with pre-acclimatization (e.g., hypoxic tents) can shorten it to ~40 days, but carry higher risk.