Everest region trekking has several itineraries that can be discovered by a trekker during his journey. Not all itineraries are the same since the distance, time taken, and the routes of the journeys entirely depend on the end destination. From routes to timelines, you have to keep in mind everything and opt for one that is going to keep you invested and increase the likelihood of you succeeding in the end journey. The trekkers can’t succeed in their journey through the Everest region since different treks require different expertise and skills. Hence, this mandates making a wise choice of where to start, which trails you want to take, and how long you are willing to trek.
Make sure to read till the end of this article to learn about the Everest region trekking itinerary and the sample routes and timelines for different trekking adventures!
Everest base camp trek itinerary – Most sought destination
The Everest base camp trek among all the other trekking journeys you can make in the Everest region is the most common one. Not everyone can climb Mount Everest whenever they are trekking in the Everest region. To make things easier for ambitious trekkers, Everest base camp plays a crucial role in helping them complete a rather difficult journey with half the effort it takes to climb the actual mountain.
The following is the Everest base camp trek itinerary that takes a trekker around 14 days to complete in general:
Arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu
You will first arrive at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. You will be picked up by a representative from your trekking agency straight from the airport and then be driven to your hotel. You can take a rest and get over your jet lag in your hotel. Trekkers will have dinner and lunch here and prepare for their journey that starts the very next day.
Kathmandu to Lukla flight
Trekkers will then drive to Manthali airport and proceed towards their flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. This day is going to be marked as an adventure itself since there are simply too many elements about even the way that you can enjoy during your flight. Transitioning from Kathmandu to Lukla, you will see the changes as you move from the busiest city in Nepal to one of the most rural parts of Nepal that had long remained isolated. You will spend a night at a hotel or a teahouse in Lukla.
Phakding to Namche Bazaar trek
Your morning will proceed from Lukla, and you will start your journey to Phakding. It is only a matter of a few hours as you move from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. You can explore lots of natural as well as cultural aspects of the rural villages and landscapes falling between the trails. When you reach Namche Bazaar, you can finally rest and take in the beauty of one of the most amazing rural marketplaces in the Everest region. It is also one of the most developed parts of your Everest region journey. You will spend a night at a hotel or a guesthouse in Namche Bazaar. Additionally, it is easy to find amazing food from different cuisines here.
Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
This is finally your time to explore the marketplace of the Khumbu region without having to go all rough on yourself. Acclimatization is mandatory to maintain your body’s oxygen levels. You can also rest properly while going through the market of Namche Bazaar during this day. There won’t be hectic activities on this day, though you can hike to nearby locations. Again, one is to spend a night here before proceeding towards trekking the next day.
Namche Bazaar to Tengboche trek
Starting from Namche Bazaar, you can start your journey to Tengboche village, which is also the home to the largest monastery in the region, Tengboche monastery after you have your breakfast at the earliest hour of the day. There will be lots of transitions in the surroundings as you move from the marketplace to the monastery and village of Tengboche. You can roam around the monastery and visit the museum there as well. Trekkers can enjoy their lunch at Phungmi Thanga or Kyangjuma. Tengboche’s tea houses will be the perfect partner for one to have dinner and stay the night.
Tengboche trek to Dingboche
From Tengboche, you will start your journey to the neighboring village of Dingboche. The trek is not going to be very tiring since by this time you will become used to the high-altitude journey. You can enjoy your lunch at Pangboche as you go around exploring one location to another. One will surely enjoy the views of different mountains as they proceed towards a teahouse in Dingboche for a restful sleep after dinner.
Acclimatization at Dingboche
You will spend the day exploring Dingboche or simply resting at the teahouse for acclimatization. The location is popular for a good night’s sleep for trekkers.
Dingboche to Lobuche trek
Lobuche brings you closer to the destination. You will spend several hours after breakfast moving from Dingboche to Lobuche. Trekkers will spend a night at Lobuche. Moreover, you can discover the most beautiful mountains and sceneries of the mountains here.
Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Everest base camp
From Lobuche, you will move towards the last village of the Everest region, Gorakshep. And from there you will finally go to your main destination, Everest base camp. You can enjoy your time taking pictures and doing the most to celebrate your success there. Trekkers should be back to Gorak shep for dinner and sleep before the day ends.
Gorak Shep to Kala patthar hike and then to Pangboche
Trekkers will then proceed from Gorak Shep to Kalapathhar. This trek is going to give you the best possible experience since Kalapathar is the location with the highest altitude. From there, you will be moving towards Pangboche. The village is going to be one of a kind, best suitable for the journey. You will spend a night there.
Pangboche to Namche Bazaar trek
Just as before, you will move from Pangboche to Namche Bazaar. You will have your lunch at Tengboche and move towards Namche Bazaar. One can choose to rest or roam around, though there won’t be as much time for it.
Namche to Lukla
This is almost the end of your Everest base camp treks and you will then proceed towards Lukla. In Lukla, you are going to come through some of the most surprising and interesting aspects from the rural lifestyle to the nature of how even a place as isolated can be the gateway to tourism in Nepal. You will spend a night here.
Lukla to Kathmandu
From Lukla, you will finally proceed towards your way back home via Kathmandu. Trekkers can either take a ride through the roadways or simply choose to fly to the capital city. Upon returning to Kathmandu, you will spend a night here. If time permits, you can also explore the city.
Final departure from Kathmandu
You can finally fly back home from the international airport in Kathmandu. This day will mark your final one in Nepal.
Is there a shorter route to Everest base camp?
Yes, there most certainly is a shorter route to the Everest base camp which won’t take you more than 10 days to complete. However, it is always better for you to take your time and stretch your trek to 14 days because you want to explore as many locations as you can in the Everest region and be able to acclimatize just as adequately. Taking the shorter route also depends on how expert you are on trekking. If you are a beginner, then you should choose the longer route. If not, you can go with the shorter route while keeping yourself in charge of the risks and difficulties that may come your way.
How long does the Everest circuit trek take?
For those wondering, another amazing trek that you can go to when you are in the Everest region is the Everest circuit trek. This trek has been labeled a tad bit easier than the Everest base camp since it takes longer and will take you through easier routes. However, this does not necessarily mean that you don’t need adequate training and mental preparation for it.
The itinerary for the Everest circuit trek is almost the same as the one you take for the Everest base camp. However, two more locations are added to your journey, including the trek to Dole and Gokyo lakes. This is going to take two or three more days than your Everest base camp trek. Since the time taken for the trek is longer than the former, some trekkers may not consider this journey easier, or at least the same. Likewise, you will also be Dzongle from Thangnak to Cho la pass. This may not be included in your journey to the Everest base camp.
One of the main reasons why this journey takes longer is because it offers more for exploring the trekkers. Plus, it is taking a round of the entire Everest region. Lastly, the days taken for the journey, on average, is 20 days.
Conclusion
The trekkers can be the judge as to which route they want to take for different trekking adventures. Likewise, the routes are different and your choice must not only depend on your wishes of moving around the trail but also on the expertise that you hold as a trekker.
