Travel, Teach, Live in Asia
The Everest Base Camp Trek starts in Jiri or Lukla. Buses leave Kathmandu for Jiri (cost about 4 dollars) between 5.30 am to 8 am and take around 10 hours. There is an express bus that leaves the Kathmandu Bus Station for Jiri at 6 am (cost about 4.5 dollars). Make sure you guard your luggage well on such bus trips.
To start the trek from Lukla (shorter trip), either fly from Kathmandu in domestic airlines, like Yeti air to Lukla airport or walk from Jiri to Chablung, the nearest place on the trail from Lukla. The trail from Jiri to Chablung requires 7 days to complete. If you are flying in to Lukla, walk past Chablung to Phakding for the overnight accommodation.
Day 1: Jiri to Shivalya (If you start the trek from Jiri)
The trekking starts from Jiri with a climb to the ridge at an altitude of 2370 meters and a descent to Shivalaya at 1750 meters.
Day 2: Shivalya to Bhandar
To go to Shivalaya from Bhandar, you should trek to Sangbadanda (2150 meters), Kosaribas (2500 meters) and then to Deorali (a pass at an altitude of 2705 meters). You could either stop over at one of the hotels on the pass or descend to Bhandar (2150 meters).
Day 3: Bhandar to Sete
The trek passes to Likhu Khola and crosses the river at 1490 meters and passes to Kenja (1570 meters) from where the long ascent to Lamjura Bhanjyang (3530 meters) begins. The initial part of the climb is steep and then it passes over Sete (an abandoned gompa) at an altitude of 2575 meters.
Day 4: Sete to Junbesi
From Sete you will pass Goyom (3300 meters) and reach the Lamjura Bhanjyang (pass) at an altitude of 3530 meters. Then from the top of the pass you can descend to Tragdobuk (2860 meters), which has a monastery and some hotels. Then you reach the sherpa village of Junbesi.
Day 5: Junbesi to Nuntala
The trail climbs to Khartung and then to Salung, at an altitude of 2980 meters. The trail descends to the Ringmo Khola from Salung. A short climb from Ringmo will take you to Trakshindo La at 3071 meters. The trail then drops down to Nuntala, where there are numerous hotels offering a variety of facilities and standards.
Day 6: Nuntala to Bupsa
The trail first descends to Dudh Koshi River and crosses to follow the eastern bank of the river. Then the route climbs gradually to Jubing (1680 meters), Khari Khola (2070 meters). If you are early, then you could reach Bupsa, at an altitude of 2300 meters. There are several hotels on top of the ridge and a few other hotels at Kharte, 20 minutes walk beyond Bupsa up the trail to the north.
Day 7: Bupsa to Chablung
The trail climbs gradually from Bupsa until it reaches a ridge at 2840 meters overlooking Puiyan (Chitok). The trail is very narrow as it makes its way down to Puiyan, in a side canyon of the Dudh Koshi river. Climb to a ridge at an altitude of 2750 meters and from the ridge descend to Surkhe (Buwa) at an altitude of 2290. Just below the Surkhe is the turnoff to Lukla with the airstrip. If you are flying in to Lukla, you will walk along this turnoff and will be making overnight stay at Pkakding which is away from Chablung on the trail.
The trail continues to climb through Mushe (Nangbug), Chaunrikharka (Dungde), at an altitude of 2630 meters and to Chablung (Lomdza).
Day 8: Chablung to Namche Bazaar
From Chablung, the trail passes along the side of the Dudh Koshi Valley and then descends to Ghat (Lhawa), at an altitude of 2530 meters. The trail then climbs up to Phakding (2800 meters), where there are around 30 lodges. From here, the trail crosses the Dudh Koshi River on a bridge and leads you along to Benkar (2700 meters). The trail climbs to Chomoa after crossing Dudh Koshi River on a suspension bridge. From here, Monjo (2800 meters) is a short climb. From Monjo, Jorsale is a short distance away and then the trail crosses back to the east side of the river before climbing to the high suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. Namche Bazzar, at an altitude of 3480 meters is a steady climb from here.
Namche Bazaar is the center of activity in the Solukhumbu region. It has shops, police station, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, money changers, a bank and internet services.
Day 9: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
In order to acclimatize, you could complete a day walk to a higher altitude from Namche Bazaar. You could also consider the day long walk to Thimi.
Day 10: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
There is a direct route from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. However, the slightly longer route from Namche Bazaar via Khumjung and Khunde is more interesting. You could start the route via the Khumjung and Khunde by climbing up to Shyangboche airstrip. You then continue to Khumjung (3790 meters) and then rejoin the direct trail to Tengboche. The trail descends to the Dudh Koshi (3250 meters). From Dudhkoshi, a steep ascent brings you to Tengboche (3870 meters).
Day 11: Tengboche to Pheriche
From Tengboche, descend to Devuche, cross the Imja Khola and climb the stones depicting the Tibetan Buddhist chants to Pangboche, at an altitude of 3860 meters. The monastery at Pangboche is worth visiting and you can stop at the village for the lunch.
Then the trail climbs to Pheriche, at an altitude of 4240 meters. At Pheriche, there is Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) trekkers’ aid post where you can receive medical assistance. There are number of hotels and restaurants for accommodation and food.
Day 12: Acclimatization at Pheriche
Spend the day in Pheriche for acclimatization. We advise you to walk to higher grounds and return to Pheriche for the night. Dingboche and Chhukung (4730 meters) are probable destinations.
Day 13: Pheriche to Duglha
The trail from Pheriche climbs to Phalang Karpo (4340 meters) and then to Duglha (4620 meters). The HRA doctors advise you to make an overnight stop in Duglha to acclimatize yourself.
Day 14: Duglha to Lobuje
The trail then goes directly up the Khumbu Glacier which takes an hour to reach from Duglha. Once in the Khumbu Glacier, turn left into the memorial area after which you will reach the village of Lobuje (4930 meters).
Day 15: Lobuje to Gorak Shep
The trek climbs to Gorak Shep, at an altitude of 5160 meters, from Lobuje. You can arrive in Gorak Shep in a couple of hours which leaves enough time to visit Kala Patthar (5545 meters) on the same day or you could visit that on the next morning. Kala Patthar provides the best views of the Mt. Everest without climbing the mountain.
Day 16 - 21: Gorak Shep to Lukla to Kathmandu
From Gorak Shep, you can trek to the Everest Base Camp which takes around six hours for the round trip. There are not much exciting views to be seen from the base camp. If you want to have best views of the mountains, you might want to go to Kala Patthar (5545 meters). Then you could climb down to Lobuje after trekking to either the Base Camp or the Kala Patthar.
From Lobuje, you could make an overnight stay in Dingboche, instead of Pheriche where you stayed earlier. There are several lodges in the summer village of Dingboche, at an altitude of 4410 meters. From Dingboche, you could reach Lukla in three days by stopping over Tengboche, and Namche Bazaar.
Reconfirm your tickets on the airlines’ offices, if you had already booked the flights else get a ticket to Kathmandu. Then you could fly out to Kathmandu from Lukla.
