Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp: All Possible Routes Explained

Everest Base Camp is one of the best adventures of all time; there’s no second opinion on that. But when it comes to traveling from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, there are different routes to trek through.

Before flights became a possibility to reach the Everest region, people took long trekking routes through Jiri. However, with the establishment of Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, commuting to the foothills of the mighty mountain became a little easier.

While the flights did allow every kind of traveler to witness the beauty of Everest, there are still some old-school adventurers who seek out the traditional trail. Let’s get through the blog to figure out all possible routes to travel from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp.

Standard Route from Kathmandu to EBC

Most of your journey from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp follows this standard route, which is a combination of flight and trekking on the trail. You will first board a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Luka that takes about 25-30 minutes. Before you land at the adventurous Lukla airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, you can enjoy the stunning scenery of tall snow-capped peaks, rich rhododendron forests on the hills, and the hilly settlements.

There’s an alternative flight route to reach Lukla that operates during the rush hours of peak climbing seasons. If you are visiting in the months of April, May, October, and November, then you will have to first take drive to Ramechhap Airport from Kathmandu. Then only you can board the flight for starting your Everest Journey. It will be a shorter flight taking just 10-15 minutes to reach as the air distance through this airport if short and more direct.

After getting off at the Lukla airport, you will continue the remaining journey to Everest Base Camp. Passing through Sherpa villages, spiritual monasteries, and suspension bridges, we will take a walk uphill and downhill on rough terrains. On returning from the base camp also we will descend down through the same trail and then board the flight back to Kathmandu.

Trek Itinerary

The standard Everest Base Camp trek is a 15 day adventure that culminates at the Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar View point. Here’s what the itinerary looks like:

Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla & Trek to Phakding

Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Day 3: Acclimatization Day

Day 4: Trek to Tengboche

Day 5: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche

Day 6: Acclimatization Day

Day 7: Trek to Lobuche

Day 8: Trek to Gorakshep, Reach Everest Base Camp and Return

Day 9: Hike from Kalapathar and trek down to Pheriche

Day 10: Trek to Namche Bazaar

Day 11: Trek to Lukla

Day 12: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu

Pros

• Stunning scenery and iconic views of the peaks of Khumbu region
• Immersion into the culture of Sherpa Villages
• A chance to experience the local lifestyle of high Himalayas.
• Well-established trekking routes and tea houses.
• A feeling of achievement

Cons

• Risks of getting altitude sickness if you don’t acclimatize properly before gaining elevation
• Delays in flights due to bad weather that delays the trip
• Crowds of people during peak seasons
• Repetitive route of return.

Traditional Trekking Route

The first summiteers, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary, who started the trend of mountain climbing and Everest expedition took this traditional route. Back in the days, adventure travel wasn’t a thing until these two expedites successfully climbed Everest and made it open for anyone who wanted to witness the royalty of Everest.

It is comparatively a longer route that comprises mostly of off-beaten trails which can be challenging to beginners. Starting with a bus ride to Jiri, the starting point of trek, this journey takes you through many smaller Sherpa settlements of Solukhumbu region. You will have to trek for at least 5 to 7 days extra in comparison to the standard route.

Traditional route to Everest Base Camp

Since you have to trek a number of days just to reach Namche Bazaar, this classical route becomes longer. Despite being longer, there are multiple perks of this longer trekking route as the elevation gain is more gradual and it offers ample to time to acclimatize. This trekking trail is a good chance to retrace the footsteps of the history makers, the first summiteers of Everest.

Pros

• Offers a more cultural experience of the local lifestyle of trekkers
• Gives you a chance to witness diverse landscapes including the Hills and Himalayas.
• Lower chance of getting altitude sickness as you ascent gradually with proper acclimatization
• Prevents you from uncertainty of the Lukla flight
• Offers solitude of the trek as most people do not prefer this trek

Cons

• Can be physically demanding as you have to trek for longer duration.
• Not suitable for trekking with family.
• Require a longer time

Luxury Heli Route

Witnessing the top of Mount Everest is no more a difficult task as you have an option to take on a heli route. You can traverse through all the major highlights of the Everest region easily on a luxurious heli ride. You can either take the one day Everest Heli-sightseeing tour or opt for a heli return after trekking to the base camp with a luxury Everest Heli Trek.

Everest Heli Trek

The Luxury Everest Heli trek is more of a fit option for trekkers who want the crude experience of the trekking trail but do not want to tire or bore themselves on return. This 10 day long adventure is a fusion of luxury and standard Everest trek packages. Since you will return with a Heli-ride, it gives rest to your etched muscles while rewarding you with panoramic views of the mountain ranges which feels like a great accomplishment.

Pros

• Raw experience of the EBC trek
• Chance to encounter the Sherpa lifestyle and hospitality
• Offers the luxury of heli ride instead of trekking downhill on tired feet
• Fit for people with busy schedules
• Ample time for photography

Cons

• Can be a little costlier
• Deprives you of the crude experience in return
• Risk of delays due to bad weather

Heli Sightseeing Tour

For someone seeking the utmost luxury excursion of the Everest region and all its highlights, the heli sightseeing tour is best way to explore.  This trip lets you hover over the snow-capped peaks of the Everest region and fly over the iconic highlights of the area. It begins with a Heli ride to Lukla airport that takes about 45 minutes.

After a short break at the airport for refueling, the flight continues to explore Everest Base Camp. If the winds and weather favor, the pilot will take you very close to the peak for soaking the view of top of the world. The most a heli can go is to the Base Camp II and then the ride will continue towards Khumbu Icefall, the most treacherous section of the EBC trek.

You will have a pit stop of about 15 mins at Kalapathar or Gokyo lake to experience the winds of Everest on your bare face. The beauty will truly take away your breath and make you wanna stay longer amid the mountains. This tour also includes a stop at Everest View Hotel for enjoying the breakfast with a view.

You can enjoy a delightful breakfast with mesmerizing sight of the south face of Sagarmatha.

Choose the Route that Suits You

It is pretty evident that the journey to the foothills of the top of the world has different routes, all offering unique experiences. Whether you want a peaceful longer route or want to touch the Everest just in a day, all of it is possible with diverse trekking routes.

If you are planning to trek to Everest this season, choose the trail that best suits your physical capability and budget plan. And don’t forget, indifferent to the routes, the experience of the Everest is always going to be memorable.

Embark on your adventure!