Everest Base Camp Trek By Road Trip - 15 Days

The drive from Kathmandu to Salleri (or Phaplu) takes 8 to 9 hours and is both beautiful and difficult. It goes from the busy city of Nepal to the peaceful foothills of the Lower Everest region. The path goes through river valleys, terraced farmlands, and traditional villages. It starts at 1,400 meters in Kathmandu and ends at 2,413 meters in Salleri. It goes up slowly. The journey goes from paved highways to small, rough mountain trails, so you need a strong 4x4 car. As you go, you'll see bits of rural Nepali life, such as farmers working in the fields, busy market towns like Okhaldhunga, and views of the Himalayas in the distance.

Salleri (or Phaplu, which is close by) is a quieter option than the aircraft to Lukla. Trekkers can gradually adjust to the altitude while also experiencing the authentic culture of the Solu-Khumbu. The town itself is a center for the local Sherpa community. It has monasteries, tea houses, and views of Numbur Himal and other peaks. This drive not only starts your experience in a local way (avoiding lukla flight which is much expences) that is good for the environment, but it also gets you used to the pace of life in the Himalayas long before the trek officially starts.

The day starts with a jeep trip from our starting place, Salleri, to Thamdanda (2,300 m/7,546 ft). The drive takes 5 to 6 hours along rough, winding mountain roads. This trip takes you through terraced slopes, quaint villages, and gorgeous river valleys, giving you a real look at rural Nepal. The drive itself is an adventure—bumpy but exciting—and the sights of the Lower Himalayas get better and better as you go higher.

The trek to Paiya

The trek from Thamdanda to Paiya (2,730 m/8,956 ft) is a short but steep ascent that takes an hour and gains 400 meters (1,410 ft) in elevation. The path goes up through peaceful forests of rhododendron and pine, with views of terraced fields and distant summits every now and then. This short trip sets the tone for the next few days. It shows you the rhythm of trekking in the Himalayas: working hard to go up hills and getting great views and quieter, more ancient pathways. Paiya is a little village on the side of a mountain that has simple teahouses and a quiet ambiance. It's the perfect first stop on your trip to the Solu-Khumbu region.

This jeep-and-trek combination skips the trip to Lukla, which lets you become used to the area and culture of the Everest foothills more slowly and deeply.

The hike from Paiya to Phakding is a lovely, varied day of hiking that leads you to the main trail to Everest Base Camp. The track is a classic Himalayan rollercoaster with steep, forested descents into river valleys and climbs over hills. This makes the 5–6-hour hike more challenging than the altitude data suggest, even though the net elevation change is small. The trail goes through beautiful rhododendron and pine forests, small past waterfalls and traditional towns like Churkhe. It is a tranquil and real experience away from the more popular trails.

Crossing the Suspension Bridge over the Dudh Koshi River is one of the best parts of this section. It is a symbolic entrance to the heart of the Khumbu region. The track joins the busy main path that goes to Lukla from here. You'll notice a change in energy as you see more hikers and yaks. The last part of the hike to Phakding (2,610 m/8,562 ft) is easy and follows the strong, milky waters of the Dudh Koshi. Getting to Phakding, a lively community with shops and resorts, is an amazing adventure. You have successfully finished the classic approach hike, and now you are ready for the famed climb to Namche Bazaar the next day.

After breakfast, you will continue trekking along the Dudh Koshi River, enjoying the majestic views of the trail and crossing many suspension bridges, including the Hillary Bridge, where you can experience new recreational activities such as bungee jumping.

On the Everest Bungee, you don't just jump; you fall into the Himalayas. The sport is 3,600 meters above sea level and hangs over a wild mountain river. This makes it one of the highest bungee adventure spots in the world. It seems like time slows down when you step off. As you look around, snow-capped peaks rush by, and the wind howls in your ears. For a brief yet exhilarating moment, you experience a sense of weightlessness between the sky and the rock. It energizes you, but you feel like you're losing it in the mountains' serene beauty.

As you move forward, you will enter the Sagarmatha National Park checkpost, where your permits are registered, and then ascend through the dense forests. You will see the first sight of Mt. Everest. Trekking further, you will arrive at Namche Bazar, the gateway of Everest.

Namche Bazaar is the high Himalayas' and Everest's trade hub. This stepped-down settlement is located in a natural circle and receives the first light that shines over Kongde Ri. From the teahouses, you can smell the fresh-baked Sherpa bread. You might hear the quiet singing of monks from a monastery on a hill in the morning, along with the chatter of hikers getting ready to hit the trail. Namche is more than just a stop. It's where cold and warm meet, business and culture mix, and strangers become part of a mountain story.
You can enjoy walking through the surrounding markets, visit Hillary School, explore Sherpa settlements, and see a yak farm. Hike up to the Everest View Hotel, where you can enjoy a mesmerizing view of Mt. Everest. 

The Everest View Hotel sits at an altitude of 3,880 meters (12,729 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest-placed luxury hotels in the world. It looks out over Khumjung like a watchful eye. It doesn't feel like a building; it's more like a platform with a view of the sky. In the morning, the soft crackle of frost under your feet gets you up. The panoramic windows let in a lot of light that makes Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest look beautiful. Inside, only the soft clink of teacups can be heard. Every drink feels like a toast to the mountains.

(Note: According to your choices, we have multiple options of hikes during the acclimatization day, such as visiting the Sherpa Culture museum, Yeti Sculpture, and Everest View Hotel.)

The trail leading to Tengboche begins once you have had the opportunity to acclimatize in Namche Bazaar. The trek takes you through a rhododendron and pine tree forest. You will also cross the Dudh Koshi River again and walk along the trails of the Imja Khola. You will reach Tengboche. This is the home to the ancient Tengboche Monastery. Tengboche is a sherpa village on the way to Everest Base Camp, located at 3,855 meters above sea level. Take in the magnificent views of the mountains as you prepare to spend the night here.

Tengboche Monastery is the spiritual and cultural center of the Khumbu. As the largest Buddhist monastery in the area, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of Himalayan giants like Ama Dablam, Everest, and Nuptse. Founded in the early 20th century, it remains a vital place of worship, meditation, and learning for Sherpa communities. Visitors can observe morning prayers, explore intricate murals and statues, and, during autumn, witness the vibrant Mani Rimdu festival—a celebration of masked dances and sacred rituals.

The trip from Tengboche to Dingboche is a simple and beautiful change from the forested valleys to the dry, high-altitude landscapes that are typical of the upper Khumbu region. This 11-kilometer trek takes about 5–6 hours and involves a steady climb of 490 meters that will test your lungs. The trail has some of the best close-up mountain views of the whole trek, but the air gets thinner at over 4,000 meters, so you have to go slowly and carefully.

The day starts with a steep drop from Tengboche through rhododendron forests to the Imja Khola river, where the oldest monastery in the Khumbu is located. The trail starts to go up steadily after you cross the river. As you enter a rocky valley with strong winds, the thick green trees slowly give way to scrub juniper and dwarf rhododendron bushes. The views are truly breathtaking. To the south, the huge peaks of Ama Dablam rise above the skyline in front of you. Lhotse and the icy wall of Lhotse Shar come into view. The last hike to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300 ft) is through a wide, terraced valley with stone walls around it to keep the barley crops safe from the strong wind. Getting to this remote and beautiful village, which is surrounded by tall mountains, means you've made it to the high Himalayan desert. It's also a very important stop to get used to the altitude before continuing on to Everest Base Camp.

In Dingboche (4,410m / 14,468ft), a rest day is more than just a day off; it's a crucial strategic break for your body to adjust to the altitude.  The oxygen level at this height is only about 60% of what it is at sea level. If you don't acclimatize properly, your chances of getting Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) go up a lot as you climb higher toward Lobuche and Gorak Shep.  This day is crucial for keeping you safe, healthy, and acclimated. 

The most important rule for getting used to high altitudes is "climb high, sleep low."  This means you should go on a short, slow hike up to a higher elevation during the day and then sleep in Dingboche, which is at a lower elevation.  This process increases the production of red blood cells in your body, which helps carry more oxygen.  The acclimatization hike that most people love and find most rewarding is to the top of Nangkartshang Peak (also known as Dingboche Ri). From the top, you can see all around you, including Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Ama Dablam, and the Imja Valley.  In addition to the hike, the day is also for drinking a lot of water and resting. This gives your muscles a chance to recover while your body makes this important internal change to get ready for the challenges ahead.

The trek from Dingboche (4,410m) to Lobuche (4,940m) is challenging but amazing. It takes you deeper into the high Himalayas, where the air gets thinner and the landscape gets more stark. The trek is 11 kilometers long and has a steep rise of 580 meters over 5–6 hours. You need to go at a slow, steady pace to handle the altitude. The trail goes up slowly through the dry, windy valley, giving you breathtaking views of tall peaks like Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and the Tawoche wall. The climb past Thukla (Dughla) is a sad highlight because the trail suddenly gets steeper and goes by a memorial site for climbers who died on Everest. This is a powerful reminder of how dangerous and revered the mountain is. Along the way of the route, you will see the pyramid research center where they study glacial change, weather patterns and high-altitude physiology. After crossing a glacial moraine, you'll see a memorial area with stone tributes to climbers who lost their lives in the Everest region. 
The path rises higher from Thukla onto the Khumbu Glacier's lateral moraine, revealing a strange, rocky landscape with glacial streams and icy views. The last part of the trip to Lobuche is a slow climb along the glacier, with the peaks of Lobuche East (6,119m) and Khumbutse (6,665m) standing out in the sky. Getting to Lobuche, a small group of lodges at almost 5,000 meters, feels like entering a high-altitude outpost for adventurers. The village is an important acclimatization stop before going to Gorak Shep or Everest Base Camp. The thinner air and colder temperatures make it clear that you have arrived in the world of mountaineers.

Today is the big day you have been waiting for, where our trek to Everest Base Camp begins from Lobuche. We will walk alongside the massive Khumbu Glacier to reach Gorak Shep, a small village surrounded by stunning mountain peaks.
After dropping off our bags in Gorak Shep, we will start the final and most exciting part of our trek to Everest Base Camp. This is the moment you have been working toward. As you stand at the base of the world's highest mountain, take your time to enjoy the incredible views and think about the wonderful journey that brought you here.

At EBC, you'll spend some time taking in the sights and sounds of the area, watching the bright camps of climbers getting ready to try to reach the top (during climbing season), and admiring the stunning vista of the mountains around you, especially the towering Khumbu Icefall. Everest Base Camp is a great place to see the three tallest mountains in the Himalayas: Everest, Nuptse, and Pumori. The high seracs and moving crevasses are both majestic and humbling. As you go on the glacier in the high air, prayer flags disseminate good energy. At the foot of the world's tallest peak, one-of-a-kind things happen.

You will go back to Gorak Shep (5,185 m/17,011 ft) after we reach our aim. This descent will be hard, but it will be very important for our acclimatization, following the "climb high, sleep low" idea. In Gorak Shep, you'll be able to relax and recover while thinking about how amazing it was that we climbed to Everest Base Camp.  You will get ready for the hike up Kala Patthar tomorrow early this evening.

This challenging but very rewarding day includes the famous hike to the top of Kala Patthar (5,545m) and a long descent to Pheriche (4,240m), which takes about 7–8 hours and covers about 15 kilometers. The trek starts before dawn from Gorak Shep, and the trekkers climb steeply to the top of Kala Patthar in the cold, thin air to see the sunrise over Mount Everest. This is an amazing view that includes the whole Khumbu Glacier, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Pumori. This climb is challenging, but it gives you the best view of Everest's summit without any climbing gear.

After breakfast in Gorak Shep, the trail goes down to Lobuche and then splits off toward the wider, windswept valley of Pheriche. The trail goes down a lot—1,305 meters in total—along the side moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and through Thukla (Dughla), where there are moving memorials to climbers who have died. The descent is easier on the lungs, but it's hard on the knees and joints because it goes down many rocks. Getting to Pheriche is a big relief and a great sense of accomplishment. The lower altitude means thicker air, and the village has friendly teahouses, making it a great place to rest and think after one of the most beautiful and memorable days on the Everest trail.

The hike from Pheriche (4,371m / 14,340ft) to Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,286ft) is one of the longest and most important days of descent on the Everest Base Camp trail. This 6-7 hour trip takes you from the stark, high-altitude world of the Khumbu to the more comfortable and lively energy of the Sherpa capital. It covers a lot of ground and loses about 930 meters (over 3,050 feet) of elevation. The trail is mostly downhill, but it is known for being lengthy because of the many short, steep climbs that break up the descent and test your knees and your strength one last time.
The day starts with a slow descent down the wide Pheriche valley, where it meets the main trail at Pangboche. From here, you go back down through the Deboche forests, past the peaceful Tengboche Monastery, and then start the long, steep descent to the river confluence at Phunki Tenga (3,250m). This is where the hardest part of the day starts: the famous hour-long climb up the switchbacks to Kyangjuma or Sanasa. This steep part, which comes late in the day, is a challenge but a final reminder of how uncomfortable it is to walk in the Himalayas. The last stretch from Sanasa to Namche is a welcome, mostly flat path along the mountainside that gives you the last breathtaking views of Kongde Ri and Thamserku. When you get back to the busy streets of Namche Bazaar, it feels like you're back in civilization. The cafes, stores, and thick air are a luxurious and well-deserved reward after the long trip from the high mountains.

The hike from Namche Bazaar to Chheplung is short but steep, dropping 780 meters (2,559 ft) in approximately 1–2 hours. This path goes back over a part of the famous trail that goes down through pine-scented woodlands and across high suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. The air gets heavier and warmer as you go down, and the busy activity of Namche disappears into the calm, forested peace of the valley level.

Chheplung (2,660 m/8,727 ft) is a small village that trekkers commonly utilize as a place to rest or stay overnight at the start or end of their route. It is located close to the major trail to Lukla and has a tranquil ambiance with views of the mountains around it and the sound of the river all the time. This part is short, but the rough, downhill route makes it challenging to walk on; therefore, it's best to use trekking poles to protect your knees. This hike is commonly part of a longer day of travel, either leaving for Lukla or getting used to the lower altitude by staying overnight.

This part of the trip is the last stretch of trekking and a picturesque drive. It marks the end of the wild paths in the Everest region and the beginning of the road-connected city of Phaplu. The day starts with a hike from Surke or Thamdanda down through terraced fields, lush forests, and ancient villages like Chaurikharka or Jubing, where the Rai and Sherpa cultures are still very much alive. The track itself may have some gentle ups and downs, and the sounds of the Dudh Koshi River are commonly heard along the way.

After 2–3 hours of hiking, we'll meet our car at a set place, usually Thamdanda or a similar wayside settlement, and then drive for 3–4 hours to Phaplu (2,413 m/7,915 ft). The jeep ride goes over rough, twisting mountain roads that are bumpy but offer great views of terraced hillsides, river basins, and the Himalayan mountains in the distance. Phaplu is a small town with a short airstrip and modest services. It is the main way to go to the Solu-Khumbu region. The tranquil setting, with pine forests all around and views of peaks like Numbur Himal, makes it a good spot to think about the journey. It's also a good place to halt if you're going overland to Kathmandu or flying from Phaplu's small runway.

On the last day of our trek, we'll take a lengthy but beautiful 10–12 hour drive from Phaplu (2,413 m/7,915 ft) to Kathmandu (1,400 m/4,593 ft). You'll go down about 1,000 meters in elevation as you go from the peaceful Himalayan foothills to the busy capital of Nepal. The trip takes you through river valleys, terraced farms, and traditional communities on rough, winding roads. This is our last chance to see rural life in the Solu-Khumbu region. We  will drive through busy market towns like Okhaldhunga and Dhulikhel. We will also see snow-capped peaks in the distance that gradually give way to green hills and urban expansion.

The drive is challenging, with bumpy parts and traffic delays, but it gives you time to think about the trip, from the high passes of the Everest region to the warm culture of the Sherpa and Rai people.

upon arriving at Kathmandu, we will drop you at the hotel of your choice.