Everest Base Camp Trek by Road - 16 days

Please send us your arrival details so that our representative can pick you up and escort you to your hotel. You can use the overland route to arrive in Kathmandu or you can fly directly to Tribhuvan International Airport from any of the international flying hubs that shares air connectivity with Nepal. If you're flying in, you will encounter our representative at the airport's arrival terminal. He will be standing with a placard with your name or Third Rock Adventures displayed on it. If you arrive by road, please mention your pickup point so that our guide can reach you upon your arrival and drive you to your hotel.

Once you arrive at your hotel, you can check in and enjoy a short rest. Later, you will have the opportunity to meet your trekking guide, who will provide you with information about your trek. If you need to purchase or hire any gear or equipment, you can ask your guide to assist you. He will help you find the best shops and deals. You should also get some local currency to spend on the trail, as card payments are not accepted on the trail. Complete your packing for your Everest Base Camp trek before retiring for the night, as you will be leaving early tomorrow.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Wake up early in the morning and board the vehicle bound for Salleri. The road to Salleri takes you across a winding and mountainous road filled with picturesque views of hillside villages, paddy fields, waterfalls, and rivers. After crossing a large iron bridge, you will enter Okhaldungha, a district of Koshi Province. After a long ride, Salleri will be reached after driving past the middle-hill villages of Rai and Sherpa communities. A clean and beautiful town, Salleri, lies close to the Phaplu Airport, the second busiest airport after Lukla Airport in this mountainous region. You will stay overnight at a local guesthouse run by a Sherpa family.

Overnight in Salleri.

After breakfast, you will pack your bag and board a jeep heading to Surke, the trailhead of your Everest Base Camp Trek by Road trip. The road to Salleri is an off-road, and the drive is going to be a bumpy one. However, you will be rewarded with awesome views of snow-clad mountains and lush pine forests en route. Before the road was built, trekkers used to walk through this trail from Jiri. Jiri and Shivalay were the actual trailheads of the old EBC trekking route. Early Everest pioneers like Edmund Hillary, Bill Tillman, and Jimmy Roberts walked via this same route to Everest Base Camp.

After reaching Surke, you will begin your Everest Base Camp Trek by road and walk towards Phakding. The hike is not easy, and you will pass by difficult sections on the trail. There will be river crossings via suspension bridges, and you will share the trail with mule and yak trains transporting essential food items to teahouses along the route. You will walk past the villages of Chauri Kharka and Ghat, dotted with Buddhist chortens, mani stones, and prayer wheels. Enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery as you make your way to Phakding. Located beside the Dudh Koshi or Mily River, Phakding is a popular stopover point for trekkers walking along the EBC route. On reaching this picturesque Sherpa village, you will head to a teahouse and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Phakding.

After a restful night at Phakding, you will leave this picturesque settlement and continue your hike towards Namche Bazaar. It is a tough walk filled with steep ascents and crossings over gently swaying suspension bridges. But the trail is scenic and filled with breathtaking views that are rewarding enough for the exhausting hike. En route, you will walk past waterfalls and dense forests of pine and rhododendron. You will stop for lunch at one of the Sherpa villages on the way. At Monjo, your entry permit for the Sagarmatha National Park will be checked. En route, you will also come across beautiful mani walls inscribed with Buddhist mantras, prayer flags, chortens, and prayer wheels.

Making a steep ascent past a rhododendron forest, you will cross the Hillary Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the Solu Khumbu Region. After crossing the bridge, you will arrive at a viewpoint from where you can enjoy the first view of Mount Everest. Later, continue on your journey, and after walking for a while, you will reach Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpas.

Namche, a large town carved on the side of a mountain, looks incredible. A staircase lined with water-powered prayer wheels and fountains leads to the center of the settlement. It is a lively town filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, and teahouses. Make your way to the teahouse, where a room has been booked for you, and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Today is your first acclimatization day of your trip. For a high-altitude trek like the EBC Trek, acclimatization days are important. Trekkers need to adjust their bodies to the thin air at high altitude before heading to higher elevations.

For acclimatization, you will take a hike to Hotel Everest View that sits right above Namche Bazaar. After leaving town, you will climb a steep slope to a viewpoint where you will see a statue of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first men to climb Mount Everest. From here, you will be able to enjoy panoramic views of mountains (Kongde Ri, Thamserku, Khumbila, Kantega) and Namche Bazaar. Later, continue your hike and walk past the grassy meadows of Shyangboche. Observing yaks grazing on the pastures, you will ascend a gradual incline covered with pine trees and reach the Hotel Everest View, one of the highest (elevation-wise) luxury hotels in the world.

From the hotel's deck, you can savor mesmerizing views of Ama Dablam, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Tahmserku, Kantega, Khumbila, Kongde, and a host of other mountains. Click pictures and capture the sublime views of the mountains before descending to Namche.

 If you like, you can also take a detour and visit the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Kunde, which lie nearby. In Khumjung, you can visit the first school established by Sir Edmund Hillary in the early sixties and a Buddhist monastery where a scalp of a Yeti is kept. Kunde has the first health facility ever built in the Khumbu region.

You can take a stroll around Namche Bazaar and visit the Sherpa Culture Museum to get an insight into the traditional lifestyle and customs of the Sherpas.

Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Leaving Namche, you will follow the trail to Tengboche, a picturesque Sherpa settlement that is home to the largest and most important Buddhist gompa in the Khumbu Region. Mount Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Mount Everest can be seen rearing majestically from the trail. You will take an uphill ascent out of Namche and follow an even path built on the side of a hill. The right side of the trail is exposed, and you can enjoy unimpeded views of rolling hills and valleys and the great snowcapped mountains rearing directly in front of the trail. 

On the way, you will stop for lunch or refreshment at Kyanjuma, a beautiful settlement offering heartwarming views of the snowcapped mountains. Later, you will continue your journey and reach an intersection at Sanasa. The left path leads to Gokyo, while the lower trail takes you to Everest Base Camp. You will take the lower path and continue your journey. After a steep descent through a dense forest, you will reach the riverside stop of Phunki Tenga, a place with a couple of teahouses. You can rest here briefly before making the steep ascent to Tengboche. It is a tiring climb. Climb slowly on the stone staircase, taking time to enjoy the abundant greenery. This part of the trail is a favorite haunt of wild animals found in the Himalayas (Red Panda, Himalayan Black bear, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer), and you may come across some of these creatures while making your way towards the Sherpa village.

After a tiring ascent, you will finally reach Tengboche. The majestic building of Tengboche Gompa looms over the settlement and dominates the landscape of the village. The village is sparsely populated, and there are only a few houses and teahouses clustered around the monastery. On reaching the village, you will check into a teahouse where your guide has booked a room for you. After resting for a while, you can explore the village and visit the monastery. Please follow the rules set by the monastery for visitors while visiting the monastery.

Overnight in Tengboche.

If it's a clear morning, you can wake up early and enjoy the sunrise over Ama Dablam. Later, have your breakfast and begin your day's trek. The path descends through a dense rhododendron forest before reaching the village of Debuche and the fast-flowing Imja River. Walk alongside the river and cross a suspension bridge to get to the other side. Walk on a trail carved on the side of a ridge and make a gradual ascent to Pangboche,   one of the oldest settlements in the Khumbu Region. 

As you move higher, you will observe the treeline disappearing and stubby grasses and shrubs covering the landscape. The mountains appear closer, and you can view the glaciers sliding down the snowy mountains. You will arrive at your destination Dingboche after a gradual ascent. The settlement lies at an elevation of 4410m, and you will spend two nights here acclimatizing and resting before heading to Lobuche and Everest Base Camp, which lies above 5000 meters. 

Overnight in Dingboche.

Wake up early in the morning and hike to a hill known as Nagarjoon or Nangkartshang. The hill lies behind the settlement, and you need to follow a zigzag and steep trail to reach the vantage point. While no technical climbing is needed to climb this hill, the path is steep and filled with loose rocks and gravel, which makes the ascent difficult. 

Nangkartshang is one of the best walkable hills from where you can enjoy great views of the Khumbu mountains—Makalu, Lhotse, Cholatse, Imja Tse or Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Taboche, Kantega, and Cho Oyu. While most trekkers hike only to the stone chorten, some adventurous trekkers decide to climb all the way to the summit. The views are incredible from both the lower and the higher viewpoints. 

After your hike, you can return to the village and spend time at one of the cafes or bakeries. Dingboche has a number of good coffee shops and bakeries selling freshly brewed coffee and delectable baked goodies.  

Overnight in Dingboche. 

Leaving Dingboche, you will proceed towards Lobuche. The trail is a mix of gradual up and down and flat sections on dirt and sometimes loose grit and rocks. The decreasing level of oxygen also makes the trek difficult. You will walk past stunning landscapes filled with giant glaciers, snow-covered mountains, and glacial rivers. You will trek up to the village of Thukla and cross the famous Thukla Pass Memorial, where stone memorials have been built for mountaineers and trekkers who died on Mount Everest. It is a heartbreaking sight and a chilling reminder of how these beautiful mountains can be treacherous and life-threatening.

After crossing the path, you will walk along a rock-strewn trail surrounded by grand views of Lobuche East and West, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Mount Everest. Upon arriving at  Lobuche,, follow your guide to a teahouse and enjoy a cozy evening by the warmth of the woodstove.

Overnight in Lobuche. 

From Lobuche, you will make your way towards Gorak Shep, the highest sleeping point of your trip. The trail goes alongside the Khumbu Glacier, and there are dramatic views of Mount Everest and other mountains en route. While there are not many steep ascents, the path is filled with glacial moraine and loose dirt and stones. After walking for a couple of hours, you will reach Gorak Shep. Like Lobuche, Gorak Shep is just a cluster of teahouses and is not a proper village. Built on a dried lake bed, the soil is sandy at Gorak Shep.  

You will drop your luggage at a teahouse where your room has been booked and continue your hike to Everest Base Camp after reaching Gorak Shep. Enjoy the dramatic views of the Khumbu Glacier and the moon-like craters filled with greenish water, huge boulders, and an arid landscape as you walk towards your final destination, Everest Base Camp.  

While it will be extremely cold and physically taxing to walk on thin air, the excitement of reaching the foot of Mount Everest will motivate you to go ahead. Walk slowly and take deep breaths, stopping at intervals to rest and drink water. After about two or three hours of starting your hike from Gorak Shep, you will finally reach the Everest Base Camp. Rejoice with your guide and other team members (if you are trekking in a group) on reaching your goal. Take pictures and selfies and record this momentous occasion.  

If you still have the energy, you can walk further to the camp of the Mount Everest Expedition groups, which lies further ahead, close to the Khumbu Icefall. During climbing season, the camp turns into a small tented city with colorful tents of expedition groups dotting the foot of Mount Everest. Later, head back to Gorak Shep and take a well-deserved rest.  

Overnight in Gorak Shep. 

You will wake up before daybreak and head towards Kala Patthar, the best vantage point to view Mount Everest. The hike takes you uphill to a dark mound of earth that sits right behind Gorak Shep. The climb is a tough one due to the steep uphill. Go slowly, taking ample time to catch your breath. Getting to the viewpoint will take approximately two or one and a half hours. On reaching the vantage point, you can enjoy an amazing panorama of Pumori, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Kantega, Lingtren, Khumbutse, and a host of other mountains.

The Khumbu Icefall, Western Cwm, and Mount Everest look stunning from the vantage point. After spending time taking pictures and taking in the 360-degree views of the world's highest mountains, you will descend to Gorak Shep. Have your breakfast, pack your bags, and continue your descent to Pheriche. You will take the same path and traverse Lobuche, Thukla Pass, and the village of Thukla. The route to Pheriche takes you on a downhill trail filled with dramatic views of windswept valleys and snow-clad mountains. Pheriche lies nestled in a flat valley above the Imja River. Proceed to a teahouse where you can finally unwind and rest your tired leg muscles.  

Overnight in Pheriche. 

Leaving Pheriche, you will make your way towards Namche Bazaar. You will walk past the same villages you walked through a couple of days ago—Somare, Pangboche, Debuche, Tengboche, etc.  

The trail takes you across the Imja River and past a rugged and barren landscape. As you go downhill, you will find greenery again, and it gets easier to breathe. The oxygen level increases, and you will find it easier to breathe. The lush greenery is a welcome change as you hike across the lush rhododendron and pine forests of Debuche, Tengboche, and Phunki Tenga. The uphills and downhills can be knee-crushing and drain your energy. But once you reach Sanasa, the trail flattens and you can walk leisurely on the even trail. After a long hike, you will finally descend to the Sherpa capital of Namche. Check into a teahouse, take a warm shower, and enjoy a delicious meal.

Overnight in Namche Bazaar. 

From Namche, you will retrace your steps and head down to Lukla via Jorsalle, Monjo, Toktok, and Phakding. Enjoy the stunning Himalayan scenery while walking along this scenic route. Once you arrive at Lukla, head to a teahouse and relax.  

Overnight in Lukla.    

Get a good view of the famous Tenzing Hillary Airport, or one of the most extreme airports in the world, before leaving Lukla. The trail leading to Surke descends to the Dudh Koshi River. After crossing it using a metal bridge you can continue on an up-and-down trail. For the most part, you will walk on a dirt trail that leads you downhill. After walking for an hour or two, you will reach the village of Surke. From Surke, you will board a jeep and drive towards Salleri. The ride is bumpy as the newly constructed road is built on the side of the mountain. After an adventurous drive, you will finally reach the town of Salleri. Take a well-earned rest after checking in at a local guesthouse.  

Overnight in Salleri. 

Following a sumptuous breakfast, you will pack your bags and head to the jeep station from where you will board a jeep heading towards Kathmandu. After crossing Okhaldungha, you will ride alongside the Sunkoshi River. Enjoy the natural landscape as the route traverses the BP Highway. After a long ride, you will finally reach Kathmandu. Your guide will drop you at your hotel where you can enjoy a long and luxurious shower and a good rest.  

Overnight in Kathmandu. 

Your Everest Base Camp Trek by Road has finally drawn to a close, and it's time to bid your final goodbyes. After you have said your goodbyes, you will be driven to the international airport at least three hours before your flight departs. If you feel the need to extend your vacation and visit more places in Nepal, please do let us know. We have itineraries covering the whole of Nepal as well as the neighboring Himalayan destinations of Bhutan and Tibet. 

Why choose the Everest Base Camp Trek by Road?

The Everest Base Camp Trek by Road is special for several reasons. However, the most important points that make this trek a must-do are ;

• Cost Effective —Traveling by road to Surke, the trailhead of the Everest Base Camp Trek, cuts down the cost of your trip. If you take the standard route and begin your trip with a regular flight to Lukla, you will have to pay a lot more. But then this itinerary skips the Lukla flights and thus allows you to save a hefty sum, which would otherwise be wasted on Lukla flights. 
• No tension about flight delays and cancellations — You won't have to stress about having your Lukla flight canceled or delayed due to bad weather and thus have your precious time get wasted. With this itinerary, it’s possible to stick to your schedule and finish your trek on time.
• More days to acclimatize —As you spend a night in Salleri and start your trek from Surke(which lies below Lukla), you will have ample time to acclimatize properly before reaching Namche Bazaar. Your body will be better prepared to head to high altitude and combat mountain sickness, thus making your trek safer and less risky (healthwise). 
• Diverse Landscape and Culture —This trek will allow you to experience the lush greenery of the middle hills before leading you to the alpine meadows and mountain desert at high altitude. You will also get to travel past Rai villages in Okhaldhunga and the lower Sherpa settlements of Solu Khumbu. You get the opportunity to experience the Tibetan Buddhist culture while walking past gompas, or monasteries; mani stones; and stupas, or chortens. The entire Khumbu landscape is adorned with symbols and representations of Buddhist spiritualism, and you will find prayer flags, prayer wheels, mani walls, and stupas along the EBC route. 
• Rewarding Experience —As you spend more time on the trail, you will get ample opportunities to interact with locals and savor the pristine natural views for which the Khumbu Region is known. You will get to see a lot more places and meet more people, thus making your trekking experience an enriching one.