TRAVEL
The 3 Ways to Reach Everest Base Camp
Overview
Everest Base Camp is one of the most serene places on earth. Surrounded by the tallest Himalayan peaks, you will be in absolute awe of nature in the Base Camp. You don’t have to be an expert mountaineer to experience the natural landscape of the Everest region.
Trekking to the base camp of the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest (8848m) is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Trekkers from all around the world flock over the region to complete this incredible adventure. This exciting trek offers you magnificent views of Mt. Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Makalu (8,481m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), and other snow-capped mountains.
Moreover, there are various trekking routes to reach the Everest Base Camp (EBC). The classic trek route from Lukla to EBC can get quite crowded at peak seasons. You can’t avoid the crowd at the last stretch towards EBC but there are certain alternative remote trails in the beginning.
You can also take a helicopter ride that reduces the itinerary and the difficulty of the trek. Hence, various alternative routes will provide you a new perspective of the Everest region. But what are the various ways to reach EBC? You might wonder. Read on to know more about the 3 ways to reach Everest Base Camp and other relevant information in detail.
The 3 Ways to Reach Everest Base Camp
1. Luxury Trek
Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek is one of the best routes to the highest mountain base camp in the world. This luxurious trek is comfortable and takes you to the base camp of Mt. Everest (8848m) in a short time.
The trip will start with a scenic adventurous flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The trek journey then starts from Lukla as you trek to Phakding before arriving at Namche Bazaar. We acclimatize at Namche Bazaar for a day then continue our trek from Namche to Tengboche (3,860m). There we can visit the famous Tengboche monastery and experience the spiritual atmosphere.
We then make our way from Tengboche to Dingboche which lies at an altitude of 4410m. We acclimatize for the second time at Dingboche. We then trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940m) via Duglha (4,600 m). The trek then extends from Lobuche to Gorak Shep. We will hike to Base Camp (5,335 m) and return to Gorak Shep (5,164m).
After trekking from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5,643 meters), we fly back to Lukla on an adventurous helicopter ride. The 30 min Helicopter return ride from Kala Patthar to Lukla is the highlight of the trek. Finally, we fly back from Lukla to Kathmandu via a mountain flight observing the aerial views of the Everest region for one last time.
The trails of this incredible trek pass through the fantastic landscapes. You will also get to observe the majestic views of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest (8,848 meters), Mt Lhotse (8,516 meters), Mt. Amadablam (6,856 meters), Mt. Nuptse (7,855 meters), and others.
Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to May) are the ideal time for EBC Luxury Trek. You can also explore the rich and unique Sherpas culture and heritage. There are local Buddhist monasteries along the trail that provide an insight into the religion and lifestyle of the mountain people.
You will stay at the 4-star deluxe accommodation of Yeti Mountain Home in Lukla, Phakding, and Namche. Besides that, you will also stay in cozy and comfortable teahouses and lodges en route to the Base Camp. This luxurious trek also includes full-body ayurvedic massages, fine dining, spa treatment, hot showers, Wi-Fi, and other facilities.
This spectacular trek is ideal for those trekkers who have a busy schedule or who do not want to trek for a long duration. Overall, this EBC luxury trek is an incredible adventure and one of the best ways to reach Everest Base Camp.
2. The Standard Route
The Standard EBC trek route is one of the most popular trekking routes in the world. Thousands of trekkers flock through the region to take this standard route to Everest Base Camp. After taking an adventurous flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, we start our trekking journey to Phakding (2800m).
After trekking for 3-4 hrs we arrive at Phakding. The following day we trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3438 m). We acclimatize at Namche Bazaar for the day. There are various acclimatization points in Namche Bazaar. We then trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3870 m).
From Tengboche, we trek to Dingboche (4360 m) and then from Dingboche to Lobuche (4940 m). The trail from Lobuche – Gorak Shep – EBC (5360 m) – Gorak Shep is quite challenging and takes around 7-8 hrs to complete. The trail then leads us from Gorak Shep to Kala Pathar (5555 m) from where we trek back to Pheriche.
We trek back to Namche Bazaar (3438 m) from Pheriche on a 6-7 hrs trek. We take the same trail that we took earlier and trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2800 m). Finally, we take an adventurous flight from Lukla – Kathmandu (1400 m) experiencing the scenic mountain vista. You can explore historical places in Kathmandu valley for a few hours.
3. From Gokyo valley
The trek route from Gokyo valley is another exciting way to reach Everest Base Camp. In this trek we take the route via Gokyo valley to arrive at the EBC. The route is similar to the standard route as we arrive at Lukla from an adventurous mountain flight.
We then trek from Lukla to Phakding (2,840 m). The trail then takes us from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,445 m). The trek then stops at Namche for acclimatization. The route diverges from the standard route as we trek from Namche to Dole (4,038 m). From Dole, we trek to the settlement of Machermo (4,470 m).
We will finally arrive at Gokyo (4,800 m) after 3-4 hrs trek from Machermo. Gokyo is our next acclimatization point. We then trek from Gokyo Ri to Thaknak (5,367 m). The trail then takes us from Thaknak to Dzongla (5,420 m) via Cho La Pass on a challenging 7-8 hrs trek.
We will then trek from Dzongla to Gorak Shep (5,170 m). From Gorak Shep, we trek to the famous EBC (5,335 m) and then return to Gorak Shep. The trek then turns towards Periche and then to Namche Bazaar. We then trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla from where we fly back to Kathmandu.
The Final Say
The Everest Base Camp trek is one of the most loved treks in the world. While the standard route is quite popular among trekkers, there are various alternative routes as well. You can also take the EBC luxury trek which reduces the trek itinerary and difficulty by a significant amount.
Safety note: you must be aware of high altitude sickness above the altitude of 3000m.
Moreover, the alternative route through the Gokyo valley is also quite exciting. The remote trails will take you away from the crowded atmosphere of the region. Proper packing and preparation is essential for this high altitude trek. Trekkers must carry basic hiking gears like hiking boots, hiking clothes, sleeping bags, and others during their trek.
We hope you learned everything you need to know about the 3 ways to reach Everest Base Camp. Hence, you can choose any one of these routes for your trekking adventure.
Addison is a student of the Aust Abbottabad University of Science and Technology. He started his graduation in 2016 and graduated in 2020. I’m a professional article and blog writer, has written dozens of content on different topics and worked with professionals all over the globe. Feel free to contact me for any assistance. [email protected]
