A fairly glorious mountain hike to Everest Base Camp has several entries for long and short itineraries. You can choose the route plans based on your time, budget, stamina, and interest for a trekking trip to Everest Base Camp. Not only are the entry options here, but you can also see all the needed information about hiking to Everest Base Camp here on this post.
There are Driving Routes to Everest Base Camp.
The Classic Route to Everest Base Camp starts with Jiri driving on a bus from Kathmandu. Hundreds of trekkers used to go the Jiri trekking route to Everest Base Camp every day a few years ago when there was no airport to fly into Lukla from Kathmandu. Trekkers should have at least 3 weeks to complete this classic Trekking itinerary to Everest Base Camp.
On the classic route to Everest Base Camp, people need to drive to Jiri on a bus, van, or private transport, which takes around 6-7 hours from Kathmandu. You spend a night in Jiri, Trek to Bhandar, Sette, Junbesi, Nunthala, Kharikhola, and Paiya, and meet the main Lukla to Everest Base Camp Trekking Trail.
The classic Trekking Route to Everest Base Camp joins the regular Kala Patthar Everest Base Camp Trekking route in Chaurikharka after walking around a week from Jiri. You can either trek back the same way after visiting the Base Camp to Jiri and Salleri, then drive back, or fly out from Lukla. It depends on your time and interest.
The Trekking Route from Salleri to Everest Base Camp is a new walking Route to Everest. It is even a newer trail than trekking from Lukla because I just started driving the road a few years ago. It is a shorter route than the Classic Everest Trekking Route.
You drive to Salleri from Kathmandu on a Jeep for about 7-8 hours, spend a night in Salleri or Phaplu, and start walking towards the Base Camp, passing Nunthala, Kharikhola, and Paiya, then meet the main regular Base Camp trail in Chaurikharka. It is also about a three-week Everest Base Camp hiking journey from Kathmandu if you fly out from Lukla after exploring the Everest Region.
Things to Know About Lukla Everest Base Camp
Lukla airport
You might be interested in knowing more about the trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp trip details because it is the most popular hiking route to Everest Base Camp. It is a 12-day hike itinerary to the Base Camp, starting with a plane flight to Lukla, a trek to the Base Camp, and flying back on a plane to Kathmandu from Lukla at the end. Twelve days is a regular hiking plan, but it can be shorter by cutting one rest day or a few days longer according to your physical fitness. A 2-day acclimatization rest day is suggested for a successful Trekking trip to Everest Base Camp.
A Trekking Tour to Everest Base Camp can finish in 8 or 9 days, following the same hiking route up to Base Camp and flight back on a Helicopter. Here, you can see a detailed 12-day Trekking itinerary in this post. Flying out from Gorakshep to Kathmandu after visiting Base Camp and Kala Patthar is a short Everest Base Camp Trek. Detailed information about the Helicopter Return Everest Base Camp Trekking package is here. So, let's check out the Regular Everest Base Camp Trekking plan here.
Lukla-Everest Base Camp Trekking Itinerary
Upon landing at Lukla airport after a half-hour flight on a small aircraft from Kathmandu, the journey to Everest Base Camp begins. You will Trek to Phakding on this day, which takes around 3 hours to descend the trails.
The Trekking Itinerary of the Base Bamp goes to Namche Bazar on the second day, entering the Sagarmatha National Park. This natural UNESCO heritage site begins in Monjo, where you will issue the national park entry permit. You spend an extra day in Namche doing an acclimatization hike for the altitude practice.
After that, the trek goes to Tengboche Hill, Dingboche village, Lobuche town, and Gorakshep before attempting the Base Camp hike. Visiting Kala Patthar is one of the best hill station hikes before returning to Lukla from Everest Base Camp. Check out the outline Itinerary for hiking to Everest Base Camp here.
- Fly to Lukla (2,840m) and trek to Phakding (2,610 m) in 3 hours.
- Trekking to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 6-7 hrs
- Exploration day in Namche Bazaar and hike to Everest View Hotel (3,880m): 4 hrs.
- Trekking to Tengboche Hill (3,860m) 5 hrs
- Trekking to Dingboche (4,410m) 5 hrs
- Acclimatization rest day in Dingboche and hike to Nangkar-Tsang hill (5,083m): 4 hrs.
- Trekking to Lobuche (4,910m) 5-6 hrs
- Trekking to Gorakshep (5,180m) 3 hours and hiking to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) 5 hours both ways
- Hiking to Kala Patthar (5,550 m) takes 2 hrs, and trekking to Pheriche (4,210 m) takes 5 hrs.
- Trekking to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 7 hrs
- Trekking to Lukla (2,840m) 6-7 hrs
- Fly out to Kathmandu (1,350m) in 35 minutes.
The provided outline itinerary for Trekking to Everest Base Camp is to be known day by day. Find the Everest Base Camp Trekking detailed Itinerary here for more information, which might make it easier to find the condition of the trails, time, and difficulties.
Similarly, you can see more information about the 9-day Trekking Itinerary for Hiking to Everest Base Camp and details for the shorter Base Camp Trekking here if you don't have enough time for proper hiking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp.
Essential Things to Know About the EBC Trek
Choosing the right time to visit Everest Base Camp is the most Important Thing. You will surely enjoy the trip if you trek at the right time and season. Now that you know about choosing a suitable Trekking season for Everest Base Camp, But when is the best time for the Everest Base Camp Trek?
The autumn and spring are the best times to Trek from Kathmandu. September, October, and November in autumn and March, April, and May in spring are the main trekking seasons to hike to Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu. Usually, the first two weeks of September and the last two weeks of May should have some rainy days.
December in winter offers one of the best views of the Himalayas and less traffic. It will be cold compared to autumn and spring, but not as cold as January and February. January and February offer clear visibility, but summer is not a good time for the Everest trip.
Know About Everest Base Camp Trekking Highlights
There are many natural and cultural attractions during the Everest Base Camp Trek. These beautiful Highlights attract thousands of visitors to these Trekking trails every high Trekking season. Seeing the world's highest mountain, Everest, and reaching its base camp is a leading attraction for trekkers. The region has oodles of allure that can be seen and felt while Trekking to Everest Base Camp. You can see some trip Highlights from Everest Base Camp here.
- Astonishing, adventurous, scenic flight to Lukla
- Magnificent mountain views of Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Gauri Shankar, Everest massifs, and Mt. Makalu
- Unblocked mountain and valley views from vantage viewpoints such as Kala Pathar, Everest View Hotel, Tengboche Hill, and Nangkar-Tshang Hill
- Traditional Sherpa villages with well-carved, colorful buildings
- Meet the legendary Sherpa people in the mountains; see their lifestyle, daily activities, living, culture, and religion.
- Ancient historic Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and other religious shrines
- Attractive river valleys like Dudhkoshi, Imja, and Khumbu
- A famous Khumbu glacier and icefall
- Trekking through a natural UNESCO world heritage site
- Green hills, waterfalls, vegetation, and wildlife from the National Park
The above-listed lines of the attractions are for the basic to know. For detailed information, visit this link for the highlights that will amaze you while Trekking to Everest Base Camp.
Tips for a Successful Trip to Everest Base Camp
Whatever people do, they look for a positive result. Likewise, you might be looking for tips to help you have a successful trip to Everest Base Camp. First of all, you will manage time for a long time for Everest Adventure mountain trips with physical training and more. It may be very far from Nepal, so you need to spend a lot on the flight to Nepal. Of course, you want a successful trip and want to make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Is it an easy walk to Everest Base Camp? It is not a picture of a cake! There are several difficulties, but it is not impossible. You can have a successful trek by following some helpful tips. Safety measures are the main factor, but you should follow other things too while Trekking to Everest Base Camp. There are certain things to follow and respect during Trekking to the Base Camp.
Packing well, not Trekking alone during the offseason, Not disturbing wildlife, not swimming in rivers and glacial ponds, and not using a drone camera on the trek Respect culture, beware of altitude, and some other things you should follow to succeed in the Everest Base Camp Trekking trip Check out the best tips for a successful Trekking trip to Everest Base Camp.
Indian and Other South Asian Trekkers Should Know
Itinerary, guide/porter cost, food, and lodge costs are the same as for other trekkers from Europe, America, and all Asian countries, as well as for people from the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) nations. But permit costs and domestic flight tickets are cheaper for trekkers from India and SAARC. So, the trekking cost for Everest Base Camp will be less for those trekkers.
Deducting the cost from the Lukla flight and national park permit doesn't make a huge difference. South Asian trekkers also need a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry ticket, which costs the same for all trekkers worldwide.
Trekking Permit Cost for Everest Base Camp
Until the published date of this post, trekkers to Everest Base Camp need to issue two different Trekking Permits for the Everest Base Camp tour. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit and Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit are required for the Everest Base Camp. Trekker's Information Management System (TIMS) card was not necessary until now. But the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) will implement the TIMS card soon, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
When the TIMS card is issued for Everest Base Camp Trekking, it can be obtained from the NTB office in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, for individual trekkers. If you book your trip through an agency, the Trekking company will manage this ticket. It costs 2000 NPR for a Trekker. Similarly, it costs 1,000 NPR for South Asian Trekkers.
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality tickets can be issued in Lukla. This rural municipality has an office at the end of town where you can get this Entry Permit. The cost of this entry ticket is 2000 NPR for all trekkers.
The following required ticket is the Sagarmatha National Park Permit. You can get this Entry Permit in Monjo on the way to Namche Bazaar on the second day of the Everest base camp journey. It costs 3000 NPR per person for all trekkers except those from South Asian countries. The Sagarmatha National Park Permit fee is 1500 NPR for trekkers from South Asian nations.
Everest Base Camp Individually
Knowing how easy and difficult the Everest Base Camp Trek is for individuals is exemplary. Is it safe to Trek alone or without a guide to Everest Base Camp? The answer is mostly yes, but it depends on the condition of the situation and the season.
There will be lots of trekkers during the high Trekking Season. An individual trekker can follow and Trek with other group trekkers along the way to the Everest Base Camp trail. If you are thinking of hiking on your own without a guide and porter, following the other group trekkers, don't stay every moment with the same Trekking group until the Base Camp. You are better off changing the group you Trek with and staying in the lodges. Be sure if they are happy to stay with you always in the mountains or not.
There won't be any problems with individual trekkers if everything runs smoothly. Trekking in the high mountain region is complex, and one might suffer from altitude sickness sometimes. Also, booking a flight ticket to Lukla and arranging accommodation in some mountainous areas can be difficult.
Things will not go wrong walking alone during high hiking season. But if you are trying to trek by yourself in the offseason, it is not a good idea. There won't be many trekkers on the trail, and if you have any problems, no one will know about your difficult situation.
Booking a Trek with a Local or Overseas Company
Is booking a Trekking tour to Everest Base Camp with a Local Company Compulsory? The answer is yes; you must use a Local Trekking Company to reach Everest Base Camp. Book your trip online, find any agency after arrival in Kathmandu, or book with overseas companies. Finally, using a Local Trekking Company for Everest Base Camp is Compulsory.
Why choose a Local Trekking Company for Everest Base Camp? You will get a cheaper Trekking trip if you Book with a Nepal-based Local Trekking Agency. If you Book your trip with a home-based Overseas Company, they need their commission and send a limited amount to the Local Agency in Nepal, where they have a deal to operate their groups. You can save that commission amount and get a better price for a trip to Everest Base Camp with a Local Company.
The other thing is information about the Everest Base Camp Trek. All the Overseas Companies are selling packages collected from different Local Agencies. You may not get a lot of information on the package page. You need to search the internet through several blog posts, which can take a long time. All the blog posts might not have the correct information. If you Book your Trekking Tour with a Local Company, you can ask any questions anytime and get the exact information.
A trip with a Nepal-based Local Company is very safe, and it is easy. You can Book your trip online with a secure payment.
Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight
The primary mode of transport for the Everest Base Camp journey is a Flight to Lukla. A small aircraft from Kathmandu Airport flies every morning. It needs to have clear visibility to operate the Flight. The Flight can often be canceled due to unfavorable weather and trekkers stuck in Kathmandu or Lukla. The bad weather can sometimes last a week or a few days longer.
What happens if the weather keeps getting worse for many days? If it happens, you can't fly on a plane and must start the Trek flying on a helicopter. It costs an extra amount to top up the regular Flight Ticket. Dornier and twin-otter planes operate the Flights with little weight, so pack only essential Trekking gear to minimize the weight limitation.
15kg, including hand luggage, are allowed with one ticket. You can pay 100–200 NPR per kg for overload, but the bag and you might sometimes be on a different plane due to overload. If the Flight you fly on reaches Lukla and the next one can't make a Flight, you and your Trekking Equipment can be in different places. So, try to pack only the necessary things for the Trek. You can minimize weight by not carrying lots of books and laptops and buying things for daily use while Trekking to Everest Base Camp.
Accommodation, Food, and Drink While Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Gorakshep - the last place to sleep on Everest Base Camp Trek
The well-managed Trekking Route of the Everest Base Camp trail has plenty of lodges for a night's stay in every place. You can get an attached bathroom and shared bathroom accommodations during the Trek. They are clean and comfortable enough, but not as clean as in the city. You can also have Luxury accommodations, but they are costly.
The lodges serve Food from a menu, so you can choose different foods on the Trek. But one thing is for sure: you will get almost the same food items everywhere. You can also try local Food if you would like to.
The lodge and grocery store sell bottles of water along the Trek. The cost of the drink goes up as you ascend in altitude. Drink tap water by filling it into your water bottle, but don't forget to use the purification method before drinking.
Battery Charging, Hot Showers, and Internet Service
The camera Battery and cell phone Battery go down quickly in cold temperatures. You can Charge the Batteries during the Trek, but it is not free. You will have electricity until the fourth night and solar power for the light and Battery Charging. You better bring a power bank to save money on Charging the Battery.
As for Battery Charging, a Hot shower is also not free. Most places have a proper Hot Shower using solar, electricity, and gas. But you might need a Hot Shower with hot water in a bucket.
You can use the internet every day along the Trek. There are two types of services for the internet: Everest Link top-up Wi-Fi cards or mobile data. NCELL and NTC provide the service in the region, but NCELL has a better signal. Upon arrival at the airport, you can buy a SIM card with the data package, which you can use during the trip.
Altitude Sickness and Prevention on the Trek
Altitude Sickness is the main problem during Trekking to Everest Base Camp. Altitude Sickness is caused by low oxygen levels in the air and high atmospheric pressure in high Himalayan lands. There are two types of Altitude sickness. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) HACE affects the brain with fluid, and HAPE affects the lung.
There will be early symptoms of the Altitude effect, so it will be easy to know if people suffer from it. Headache, vomiting, feeling like a drunk, feeling very tired while resting, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, tingling fingers, and a few others are the earlier symptoms of altitude sickness while Trekking at Everest Base Camp.
You can prevent Altitude Sickness and stay safe from it. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and liquids, eat well, sleep well, and stay warm. Stop thinking about the Altitude trouble; tell the guide about the problem. Have enough acclimatization rest days before visiting higher elevations, and start taking Diamox after 3500m to prevent Altitude Sickness.
If the situation worsens after an acclimatization rest day, it is better to descend as soon as possible to the lower elevation. Having travel insurance for Everest Base Camp is highly recommended. Buy an insurance policy that covers any emergency evacuation service up to 6,000 m of elevation.
Other Beautiful Treks in the Everest Region
Gokyo Valley Trek is an alternative to Everest Base Camp Trekking. It is a Trek with a similar time frame as Everest Base Camp. Compared to the Base Camp Trek, the Gokyo Valley Trek has fewer trekkers because most trekkers would like to visit the Base Camp of the highest mountain in the world. The Gokyo Valley Trek offers even better views than the Base Camp trail. Tranquil Gokyo lakes, the most prominent mountain glacier, and the view from Gokyo Ri are phenomenal.
The Everest 3 Passes Trek is the most adventurous lodge Trek in Nepal. The Everest 3 Passes Trek covers Kongma La, Cho La, and Renjo La hills. You can Trek separately, passing only Cho La or Renjo La, if you don't have enough time for the Everest 3 Passes Trek. The Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek via Cho La Pass is a popular Adventure Trek in the Everest Region. Visiting a hidden valley in Thame via Renjo La Pass is also a beautiful Trek in this region.
Everest Panorama Trek: The Everest View Trek, or Lukla to Tengboche Trek, is the shortest available Everest Trekking package. It is a one-week Trek from Kathmandu to Kathmandu and is recommended for non-adventurous trekkers, families, and people who do not have enough time for the Base Camp Trek.
The famous Trek itinerary to Everest Base Camp is 12 days, but you can make one day shorter or a few days longer according to your fitness. You can minimize or maximize the walking hours and elevation by providing an itinerary. You can do it in 8 or 9 days by flying out on a helicopter after visiting the Base Camp. You can still reach the Base Camp within a few hours from Kathmandu with a helicopter tour.
