Classic Jiri Everest Base Camp Trek 18 Days

Classic Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek Highlights

Choosing this trek, you will be following the footprints of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.
You will get a chance to control your budget since you will be driving to Jiri from Kathmandu and then trek to Lukla.
You will enjoy the pleasant trails from Jiri which passes through different ethnic settlements of Brahmins, Chhetris, and Newar people.
On this trek, you will be enjoying longer days in the trekking trail. So, you will have many fun-filled experiences on the route.
You can get enough time to spend on the extended pastures, yak farms, and glaciers en route to the Everest Base Camp.

Classic Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek at Glance

Durations days	20 days
Max. elevation	5,643 m / 18513 ft (Kala Patthar)
Trek Start/Finish	Bhandara/Lukla
Difficulty	challenging
Accommodation	Teahouse

Classic Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek Map

The trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp begins by taking road transport from Kathmandu to Jiri (approximately 8 hours) from where the trail begins. Known as the ‘Classic Everest Trek’ this trek is great for people with plenty time and also enables trekkers to acclimatize well to the altitude before climbing to the beautiful Everest viewpoint at Kalapatthar, which, at around 5,500m is the highest point of the trek.

You need to be prepared to walk between 5 to 7 hours each day but there is plenty of time given to enjoy the views and take photographs. At the end of the trek, it is a short flight from Lukla Airport back to Kathmandu.

While trekking through breathtaking scenery it’s impossible not to think about the mountaineers of old who forged not only the way up Everest but the trekking trails which are now world famous.

As a further reminder, prayer flags and mani stones are scattered along the trails, placed by the local peoples, trekkers and mountaineers alike as an offering to the mountain, which is locally known as Sagarmatha (Goddess of the Sky) in Nepali, and Chomolungma (Mother Goddess of the Universe) in Tibetan.

The names Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa are familiar to everyone for their astonishing feat of being the first people to summit Everest. This fact alone has ensured that trekking to Everest Base Camp is high on the bucket list of serious trekkers and those who want to enjoy the rich environment of the mountains and mountain peoples of this region.

The scenery on this trek is varied – from alpine forests, Sherpa villages, and yak pastures to glaciers, glacier-fed rivers crossed by amazing suspension bridges, and the bustling market town of Namche Bazaar.

One of the highlights for many trekkers on this route is a visit to the famous Tengboche Monastery, which unfortunately suffered considerable damage during the April 2015 earthquake.

But such is the power of this region that even this deadly natural disaster has a twist: just a few hours after the earthquake, the sons of both Sir Edmund and Tenzing Norgay literally came face to face with each other while seeking shelter. Both of them were, unknown to each other, guiding trekking groups near EBC when the earthquake hit.

This unique, spiritual power that Everest seems to have is something that also draws people from all walks of life to this area, along with the stunning mountain views, spectacular and sometimes challenging terrain, and the beauty of the Sagarmatha National Park, home of the allusive snow leopard and red panda. Not for nothing has this area been included in the Sacred Himalayan Landscape initiative by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

And let’s not forget the magnificent mountain itself. In order to reach Everest Base Camp, the trail runs alongside the Khumbu Glacier, offering spectacular views of the Khumbu icefall and the route to the South Col. The aptly named Everest View Point at Kalapatthar offers trekkers the best views of Mount Everest, as well as Mount Pumori and Ama Dablam.

Outline Itinerary

INCLUDES AND EXCLUDES

Faqs

Days	Itinerary	Altitude	Time
Day 1	Arrival in Kathmandu	1400 m / 4593 ft
Day 2	Kathmandu to Bhandara (Drive)	2190 m / 7185 ft	8-10 hr
Day 3	Bhandara to Sete	2575 m / 8448 ft	6-7 hr
Day 4	Sete to Jun Beshi	2670 m / 8759 ft	6-7 hr
Day 5	Jun Beshi to Nunthala	2220 m / 7283 ft	6 hr
Day 6	Nunthala to Bupsa	2360 m / 7742 ft	5-6 hr
Day 7	Bupsa to Surke	2290 m / 7513 ft	5-6 hr
Day 8	Surke to Phakding	2652 m / 8700 ft	4-5 hr
Day 9	Phakding to Namche Bazaar	3440 m / 11286 ft	5-6 hr
Day 10	Acclimatization Day	3700 m / 12139 ft	5 hr
Day 11	Namche Bazaar to Tengboche	3870 m / 12696 ft	5-6 hr
Day 12	Tengboche to Dingboche	4360 m / 14304 ft	5-6 hr
Day 13	Dingboche to Thukla	4600 m / 15091 ft	3-4 hr
Day 14	Thukla to Lobuche	4940m / 16207 ft	3-4 hr
Day 15	Lobuche to Gorakshep (Day trip to EBC)	5368m / 17611 ft	7-8 hr
Day 16	Gorakshep to Pheriche (Morning trip to Kalapatthar)	5545m / 18192 ft	7-8 hr
Day 17	Pheriche to Namche Bazaar	3440m / 11286 ft	5-6 hr
Day 18	Namche Bazaar to Lukla	2860m / 9383 ft	7-8 hr
Day 19	Lukla to Kathmandu (Flight)	1400 m / 4593 ft	40 min
Day 20	Departure

Expand/Close

FAQs

Is it safe to drink the water in Everest

No. You cannot drink the water from the tap or streams in Everest. Mineral water is available on the trail. It is expensive to buy (perhaps 10 times more than in Kathmandu). You can use a water purifier or SteriPen.

Am I likely to get altitude sickness on my trek?

Be aware. Elevation on this trek will exceed 3,500m. The possibilities of getting altitude sickness generally start at this elevation. But in order to avoid this, as much as possible, we have designed the itinerary in such a way that it will give you enough time to acclimatize.

Am I at risk and how can I avoid altitude sickness?

There is no knowing who will suffer from altitude sickness. It does not follow that the younger and fitter people will not get altitude sickness where the older and less fit will. It is not related to (general) fitness or age. Talk to your doctor at home. There are prescription medications which help avoid the onset of altitude sickness. But above all, go slowly, listen to your body, be aware of any changes, and listen to your guide if he feels you are showing symptoms (which you might not notice).

What happens if there is need for emergency evacuation while I am trekking?

We will collect your travel insurance policies and details before the trek so that in case of an emergency we can coordinate with your insurance company and the helicopter providers for evacuation.

What about simple medical treatment on the trek?

First aid. On every trek we will carry a first aid kit. We also recommend you carry your own. Here is a checklist recommended by Karen Anderson of things you should bring. Vaccinations are not compulsory in Nepal but to be on the safe side we recommend you comply, where possible, with this list provided by again by Karen Anderson (medical doctor in New Zealand and friend and client of Magical Nepal).

Do I need to buy travel insurance before I come to Nepal?

Yes. Magical Nepal only provides insurance for our own staff. We recommend you buy insurance in your country. Note: Insurance should cover you for the altitudes you are trekking at (not all do). We recommend World Nomads.

Will I need to bring my own sleeping bag or not?

Yes, bring your own or you can rent it or buy it in Kathmandu. Renting a sleeping bag in Kathmandu will cost you $1 or $2 per day. To buy a new sleeping bag in Kathmandu expect to pay around $150 to $200 for one of medium quality.

Will I need to use crampons on this trek?

No. The trails are well marked. Unless you go in mid-winter you will not need crampons. Instead of crampons, carry micro spikes which are not technical, lightweight to carry, cheaper and fit any shoe size.

What happens if I forget to bring something with me from home?

If you forget something it might be extremely hard to find here. Please check here for an exhaustive packing list for (general) trekking in Nepal. If you are not a frequent hiker, you can rent most of the trekking gear in Nepal when you arrive.

Will we be using tents and mattresses on the trek?

No. There are teahouses along the trek. We will not need tents or mattresses.

Where can I leave stuff in Kathmandu when I am trekking?

Anything you don’t want to take on the trek with you can be stored at your hotel or in our office. We suggest you ensure your bag is lockable.

Who will be my guide?

We use local guides. On each trek our guides have been to the relevant areas numerous times. All are experienced, knowledgeable, flexible and authorized licensed guides with the Government of Nepal.

Will I need a porter for my trek?

Preferable. If you use a porter it has double benefit: you can fully enjoy your trek without carrying a heavy bag, and its improves the income of the local community.

How much can a porter carry?

20kg. On average a porter can carry 22kg including their own backpack. So, they can carry up to 18kg of your gear and equipment. We provide backpacks for porters.

Are your staff insured in case of accidents etc.?

Yes. At Magical Nepal we make sure all our staff are well insured.

I hear incidents when porters do not have proper shoes etc. Is this true?

At Magical Nepal we ensure all our guides and porters have proper gear, are well equipped and protected. This is for their own wellbeing and for the wellbeing of our clients.