Everest Base Camp Trek

Routes of Everest Base Camp Trek

Kathmandu – Lukla – Phakding – Namche Bazaar – Tengboche – Dingboche – Lobuche – Everest Base Camp – Gorakshep – Kala Patthar – Pheriche – Namche Bazaar- Lukla – Kathmandu

Your trip begins and ends in Kathmandu. You catch an early flight to Lukla from where you start your Everest Base Camp Trek journey. Viewing wonderful scenarios of peaks and greenery you arrive at Lukla.

Then from there, you trek towards Phakding where you stay for the night. The next day, you head towards Namche Bazaar, a beautiful Sherpa town. Your first acclimatization is held in this town.

After a relaxing day, you again begin your EBC trek by heading towards Tengboche. This small village is popular for its ancient Monastery, the largest gompa of the Khumbu region.

Waking up early, you explore the monastery and head towards Dingboche, where your second acclimatization is held. The next day you trek towards Lobuche from there.

From Lobuche, you head towards the highlight of this trip Everest Base Camp. The excitement of reaching the base of Mount Everest will overwhelm you. Viewing the marvelous peak and spending some time there, you trek towards Gorakshep.

Then the following day, you hike to Kala Patthar to view the beautiful sunrise and magnificent peaks. After enjoying the view, you trek down to Pheriche and stay the night.

From there, you head towards Namche Bazaar, stay the night then trek back to Lukla. You catch your flight back to Kathmandu from here. Your return ends the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Route Difficulty

When trekking to Everest Base Camp, trekkers usually wonder how difficult are its routes? Well, the route difficulty of the trek depends upon each individual.

The routes are suitable for both beginner and experienced trekkers. But the trails can be harsher for the new ones. As there are several ups, downs, twists, and turns.

You will also be walking for about 5 to 6 hours each day which can be tiring for newcomers. However, with proper preparation and planning, you can complete the trek with ease so, do not panic.

Various Difficulty Faced During the Trek

Other than route difficulties, you can face various other difficulties when trekking to Everest Base Camp. We have mentioned a few of the difficulty faced in Everest Base Camp Trek below:

Altitude Sickness

One of the common problems faced while traveling in high elevation is altitude sickness. This is mostly caused due to lack of oxygen in high places. The air gets thinner as you climb high in elevation.

Some common symptoms are nausea, headache, vomiting, breathing difficulty, sleeping difficulty, etc. if you notice any of the symptoms inform your guide or trek down to lower altitudes immediately.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation can be hard when traveling during peak seasons. As during this time the rooms are packed with travelers from around the world. Also, the price of rooms are high during these times.

So, do not travel in the hopes of finding room on the spot during peak time.

Weather and Temperature

Weather and temperature always play a major role in deciding how your trip turns out to be. The climatic conditions are unpredictable in the higher regions. So always be prepared beforehand for your trek.

It can be sunny one moment and windy in the next minute. The weather tends to change as you climb higher. It gets cold and windy in high places. However, the lower regions are warm and less windy.

No Atm Machine

There are no ATM machines available after Namche Bazaar in this trek. Also, sometimes the atm machine in Namche doesn’t work properly. So, always change your cash or take it before the trek begins.

Alternative Routes to Reach Everest Base Camp

Usually, people follow the standard Everest Base Camp route to complete their trek. But there are various alternative routes to reach the Base Camp. Mentioned below are some of the alternative routes:

Jiri to Everest Base Camp

Traveling through Jiri leads you through the Classic Everest Base Camp Trek route. This is the route that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa walked in. Taking this route, you will be following their footprints.

Before people used to begin their trek from Jiri as there were no flights available till Lukla. However, as the flights are available nowadays, most people begin their journey from Lukla. So, the trails of classic routes are quite isolated making it perfect for peace lovers.

Your trip will cost less as you will be driving to Jiri from Kathmandu and trek to Lukla from there. On this trail, you will be passing through several small settlements of Newar, Brahmins, Chhetri, etc.

This alternative route has days that are longer than the standard route. You will be trekking through rough routes, dense forests of flora, and fauna viewing beautiful scenarios.

On this trek, you get to see various snow-capped peaks such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, and many more. If you are lucky you might even spot various endangered animals such as Tar, Himalayan Black Bear, red panda, etc.

This fun-filled trek lasts about 20 days if you choose the classic Everest trek. For the next few weeks get ready to be lost in the beauty of nature while exploring the regions.

Tumlingtar to Everest Base Camp

Another way to begin your trek is from Tumlingtar. Choosing this path lets you explore two regions i.e. Makalu and Everest. This trek is full of exciting adventures and beautiful views of scenarios.

To begin your journey, you will be flying to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu. Then following the isolated trails through various hills and terrains join the traditional Everest base camp trek route.

On this trek, you will be seeing many magnificent peaks such as Ama Dablam, Makalu, Everest, etc. Also, passing through two national parks i.e Sagarmatha and Makalu-Barun National Park.

While passing these national parks, you might spot various endangered animals. Like red panda, golden jackal, Indian leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, wild boar, etc. Also, you will be needing entry permits to walk through these parks.

People from various ethnicities have made their home in these trails. Walking through Sherpa and Rai villages you descend to villages of Chettri and Brahmin. This journey gives you an opportunity to know more about the lifestyle of these people. And experience their warm hospitality provided by them.

Crossing several rivers, forests and walking past ancient monasteries you stay nights in the culturally rich villages. You will be visiting several popular villages like Namche Bazaar, Arun Valley, Tengboche, etc.

Three passes and EBC Trek

If you are looking for ways to stay longer in the Everest region. Then the Three Passes and Everest Base Camp Trek is the one for you. This trek is full of beautiful wonders of nature.

On this trek, you will be reaching the three high passes of the Everest region while following the traditional route. Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La are the names of these passes. These passes lie above 5000 m altitude making the trek more thrilling for trekkers.

Following the trail lets you circuit around the whole Everest region. This trail is quite popular among trekkers. But still, the routes are not much crowded compared to other trails. Thus, making this route the best for trekkers who love walking in silence.

You will be viewing several magnificent peaks like Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Island Peak, and many more. Also, while traveling through the Sagarmatha national park you might see various endangered animals.

Walking through forests of rhododendron while enjoying the scenarios is quite a trip. The trails are quite challenging but with proper preparation and planning you can complete it with ease.

When traveling to 5000 m elevation altitude sickness is common, so be well prepared for it. But the views of the beautiful peaks will mesmerize you from the top.

Gokyo Lakes and EBC Trek

This trek is one of the best alternative routes. These routes are quite popular making it crowded throughout the year. Most trekkers choose to travel through these routes to reach the base camp.

This trek is the combination of two popular treks of the Everest region i.e. Gokyo Lake and Everest Base Camp. You get to visit two famous destinations in one trek.

Each day takes you on an interesting journey in the Himalayas. You will be viewing various peaks such as Nuptse, Pumori, Makalu, Everest, and Cho Oyu. And pass through dense forests of juniper, fir, pines, oaks, and rhododendron.

You will be first visiting the Hidden Gokyo Valley and the Gokyo Lakes. Then crossing one of the high passes (Cho La Pass) head towards Base Camp then Kala Patthar.

Reaching Kala Patthar you get to see the beautiful view of sunrise from there. This viewpoint is popular for its excellent view of mountains and landscapes as well.

This trek lasts more than 2 weeks in the Everest region. But these weeks will be the most memorable ones for you. Staying in traditional villages, experiencing warm hospitality, and many more.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

You are short on time but have a desire to visit the Everest region. Then choosing the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour is the best alternative option for you.

Nowadays, the Everest Helicopter tour has gained popularity among travelers. Most travelers due to limited time don’t have time to trek till EBC. So, this option was made available for most travelers like them.

Usually, the trekking takes about 7 to 11 days in this region. But with the helicopter option, you can reach the base camp and return within a few hours. It lasts about 2 to 3 hours at most.

On this flight, you get to see the scenic view of peaks, landscapes, valleys, and lush green forest from above. The peaks are mesmerizingly beautiful from out the window.

You will catch your flight from the Tribhuvan airport and head towards Lukla. It lands for about 15 to 25 minutes for fueling. Then from there, they fly you to the Kalapatthar.

Landing time is about 10 to 15 minutes due to altitude problems. After a wonderful time, you fly to Everest View Hotel for a delicious breakfast. Then head back to Kathmandu from there.

Useful Tips

Carry water bottle

The Himalayas are still underdeveloped so you won’t find shops in every nook. Thus for time like that carrying your personal bottle will come in handy. You can find bottled water but they will be quite expensive in these trails. So, always carry a bottle and fill them before beginning the trek.

Carry Extra Cash

The estimated budget might not be enough during treks. So, it is better to carry extra cash than be sorry later. As you climb higher the price of goods and services also rises. So, the budget can sometimes go over.

Physical Exercises

Being mentally and physically fit is the first priority of the trek. So, for that, you need to do some physical exercises such as running, swimming, long walks, etc. These exercises can be done along with your daily schedule so you do not need to hit the gym or hire a trainer.