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 view point at Kalapatthar, which, at around 5,500m is the highest point of the trek. Trekkers 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 Sagamartha (Goddess of the Sky) in Nepali, and Chomolungma (Mother Goddess of the Universe) in Tibetan.
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 view point at Kalapatthar, :which, at around 5,500m is the highest point of the trek. Trekkers 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.
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.
| Days | Itinerary | Altitude | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu to Bhandara (Drive) | 2190 m | 8-10 hr |
| Day 2 | Bhandara to Sete | 2575 m | 6-7 hr |
| Day 3 | Sete to Jun Beshi | 2670 m | 6-7 hr |
| Day 4 | Jun Beshi to Nunthala | 2220 m | 6 hr |
| Day 5 | Nunthala to Bupsa | 2360 m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 6 | Bupsa to Surke | 2290 m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 7 | Surke to Phakding | 2652 m | 4-5 hr |
| Day 8 | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | 3440 m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 9 | Acclimatization Day | 3700 m | 5 hr |
| Day 10 | Namche Bazaar to Tengboche | 3870 m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 11 | Tengboche to Dingboche | 4360 m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 12 | Dingboche to Thukla | 4600 m | 3-4 hr |
| Day 13 | Thukla to Lobuche | 4940m | 3-4 hr |
| Day 14 | Lobuche to Gorakshep (Day trip to EBC) | 5368m | 7-8 hr |
| Day 15 | Gorakshep to Pheriche (Morning trip to Kalapatthar) | 5545m | 7-8 hr |
| Day 16 | Pheriche to Namche Bazaar | 3440m | 5-6 hr |
| Day 17 | Namche Bazaar to Lukla | 2860m | 7-8 hr |
| Day 18 | Lukla to Kathmandu (Flight) | 1380m | 40 min |
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