It may sound like a cliché but we don’t mind repeating it! Yes, Mount Everest is more than a mountain and the trip to Everest Base Camp is more than just a trek. Reaching to the base of this world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (8848 m) is the dream of every adventurer. Many Himalayan adventure seekers have already ticked it off in their bucket list and many are yet to do so. As, this trip is one of the most talked about and sought after adventures, travelers and would-be travelers are well versed about the facts related to Everest Base Camp. However, many are not fully aware about all the routes and corresponding time required to reach the Base Camp.

There are actually two base camps on Mount Everest, on the South and North sides of the mountains. South Base Camp which is situated  in Nepal at an altitude of 5364 m, while North Base Camp is situated in Tibet, China at an altitude of 5,150 m. Most of the Base Camp trekking or Everest expeditions are operated on the Nepal side, i.e the South face of the Everest. In fact, when people say Everest Base Camp Trek, they normally mean Base Camp trekking on the Nepal side of the mountain. However, there are many ways to reach the Base Camp from both sides.

Everest Base Camp from Nepal

Everest Base Camp from Nepal is a popular trekking trail and easier to access than other routes. This trail gives you a chance to challenge yourself, discover the majesty of mountains, walk among the Himalayan giants and explore the highland cultures.

1. Classic Everest Base Camp Trek : 8 days of trekking from Lukla to EBC

This is the most popular route to reach the Base Camp. It is a spectacular high altitude trek that starts at Lukla, the gateway of Everest region and winds through the floral and faunal richness of Sagarmatha National Park. You gradually hike through some of the beautiful places of Khumbu region such as Phakding, Namche Bazar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche and return the same way.

2. Alternate treks: 13 – 22 days

As Everest Base Camp route from Lukla is popular and most favored one, the trail and accommodation gets crowded during the peak seasons i.e. spring and autumn. So, if you want to avoid the crowd, then you can consider alternative trekking routes.

• The route from Jiri is also a well-known Everest Base Camp trekking route. This is the same route used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa to reach Lukla for the Everest summit before airport was built in Lukla during 1960s. This trail adds several days in the itinerary as you have to trek around 6 days from Jiri to reach Lukla/Phakding from where you join the main Everest Base Camp trail.
• You can reach Everest Base Camp through the trail of Three Passes Trek as well. One of the most challenging and thrilling trek in Everest region, Three Passes Trek offers an amazingly scenic circular route that includes crossing of challenging Renjo la, Cho la and Kongma la passes connecting to Lobuche to advance towards Everest Base Camp. The order of the Passes can be any depending on where you start from. The duration of this hard trek is quite lengthy (at least about 17/18 days) and only the trekkers who seek for more challenging adventure choose this trail.
• Gokyo Lake trek can also be a better alternative to reach Everest Base Camp as this trek skirts the Base Camp and continues to the beautiful Gokyo Lake, one of the world’s highest freshwater systems. The views during this trek worth cherishing for the rest of your life.

3. By Helicopter

Everest Heli Tour: Duration – Half a day

Heli Tour is the easiest way for the travelers who wish to reach the lap of this stunning mountain but have very limited time. It is also a luxurious way to reach the Kala Patthar (5545 m) and Everest Base Camp without trekking. The tour makes you marvel at the panoramic aerial views of astonishing mountains, tranquil valleys, quaint villages, glittering snow peaks, Khumbu glacier and many more. It not only gives you thrill and makes your adrenaline rush but also offers you the next level of experience. Everest Heli tour starts from Kathmandu or Lukla and stops midway for breakfast with wonderful view.

Everest Base Camp from Tibet

Everest Base Camp on the northern side of Everest lies in Tibet. An easier way to get to the Base Camp is by car or tour vehicle. You can travel from Lhasa to Base Camp along the highways having well paved roads. This is one of the fastest and luxurious ways to reach the Base Camp and visit the various attractions of Tibetan plateau. Some travelers also prefer trekking from Tingri over driving from Lhasa.

1. By car: Duration – 2 days from Lhasa

Many visitors who visit the Base Camp on north side usually get there by car. It is a two-day drive from Lhasa. However most travelers stop along the way in the locations such as Gyantse, Shigatse or Shekar (new Tingri) and Rongbuk that makes this tour longer and more exciting. There are very good roads which make the journey comfortable for almost everyone. The landscape that you can see is breath taking! If you wish, you can drive all the way up to Everest Base Camp but many of the travelers prefer to walk the last mile which is a bit off road. One needs to be acclimatized properly prior to this journey because of the timeframe. Remember Lhasa itself is at an altitude of 3,656 m! And you will gain about 2000m + altitude within 2 days.

2. By Trek from Tingri: Duration – 5 days

Trek from Tingri to Everest Base Camp gives you an amazing experience of Tibetan plateau, small village communities and nomadic herders. This trip takes you to Lungtang which takes around five hours from Tingri and heads due south, by crossing the Tingri plain and on to the Ra-chu valley and so on. This trail is not commonly used and only attempted by the experienced well-acclimatized trekkers.

Island Peak 6173m, a stunning mountain in the Everest region could be climbed in just one day.  Challenges to conquer the peak best suits the novice climbers however, skilled mountaineers can enjoy to the fullest during the expedition of Island Peak.  The trial to Island Peak cross passes culturally unique Sherpa hamlets and lush vegetation to barren yet, dramatically contrast snowy and rocky landscapes dominated by towering peaks. Proper acclimatization during the trek to Island Peak and caring guidance by veteran Sherpa climbers makes you feel very special throughout the trek. On reaching the summit of Island Peak which is one of the vantage points for the close-up view of high peaks of the Everest region, climber excitement simply goes to the highest limit.

Autumn 2013, Mr. Clement Irbil and Mr. Rasmus Hansen from Denmark successfully made to the summit of Island Peak. Earlier to this, they conquered Pokhalde Peak . The climbers from our exclusive country partner Kipling Travel shared their experiences of the trek and Island Peak Expedition.

Standing on the top of Island Peak,!WOW!, the memory that would remain forever. We would rate our host 5 stars for providing us an incredible holiday in the mountains of Everest Region.

The trip to Nepal began perfectly. The city staffs of the company were professional, helpful, flexible and smooth. The hospitality we experienced was amazing. Hotel rooms and food were great.

The guide and the staffs during the trek were exceptionally good, highly experienced and helpful. We would specially thank our guides Temba Sherpa and Lhakpa. The expedition to Island Peak became easier and more interesting with their wonderful support.

Everest, the world’s crown is the Nepalese pride. Myriads of adventure seekers throng to this adventurous shrine every year with the strong desire of closely viewing the mighty Everest towering beyond the sky in the Khumbu region of Nepal.

Besides, the trek also highlights electrifying flight to the world’s one of the high altitude airports, Lukla 2900m. The cultural encounters in the frequent highland settlements of indigenous Sherpas, the biodiversity of floras, faunas, Himalayan wild animals and colorful birds at Sagarmatha National Park, the pleasant walk along the lush vegetation of rhododendron, firs, pines and oak forest, the panoramic views of towering Himalayan giants including Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Lobuche and many more, the visit to sacred highland monasteries including the one at Tengboche 3846m, Kalapattar 5545m, the highest cabinet meeting point and the walk on the glacier to Everest Base Camp 5357m are the major highlights of the trek.

Everest Base Camp Trek is an achievement and this autumn, the nine out of thirteen Danish trekkers through our exclusive country partner Kipling Travel achieved it. Mr. Jakob Lapp who was also a group leader of said few lines on the trek after its completion.

The fantastic mountain views throughout the trek and the pleasant people living in the region were very nice. Mountains and the people of the mountains in Everest Region are very hard to forget. Both were equally amazing.

Staffs of Explore Himalaya were professionals. We had two rescue operations which were performed so swiftly that everyone was amazed. Ram, our guide did a very good job. Thanks to him and Explore Himalaya, we had a great holiday.

The entry fee to Sagarmatha National Park has been hiked from 22nd June. The new rate of entry fees are as follows:

Tourists from SAARC region : NRs 1,500 per head

Other tourists: Rs 3,000 per head

Nepalese:NRS 25 per head

While Nepalese nationals were exempted from paying the entry fee previously,  the new rule has even the Nepalese(tourists as well as guides and porters) paying the entry fee to enter the park. Trails of all  popular Everest treks leads  through the Sagarmatha National Park.

Sagarmatha National Park

Everest Treks