How hard is it to trek to Everest Base Camp without Lukla flight?

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is a challenging but rewarding experience. The trail is uneven, with snow-capped mountains in the background. While many trek enthusiasts worldwide have successfully completed this trek, there are challenges to be aware of. Unpredictable weather conditions and high altitudes can make the trek more demanding. Proper planning, preparation, and packing are crucial. With the right precautions and alertness, anyone can complete this iconic trek.

Why trek Everest Base Camp without a flight?

Trekking to Everest Base Camp without taking a flight to Lukla offers several advantages. Lukla flights can be frequently canceled due to bad weather, disrupting your original plans. Additionally, this trek allows you to explore the lower part of the Everest region, which features untouched landscapes and cultural settlements. You'll have the opportunity to experience the local way of life and enjoy a unique perspective of the Khumbu region.

What are the transportation options for traveling to the Everest Base Camp trek without taking a Lukla flight?

For the Everest Base Camp trek without flying to Lukla, you'll travel by road. The journey begins with an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu to Salleri, which includes a mix of well-paved and gravel roads. You'll be provided with a comfortable 4-wheel jeep for this part of the journey. From Salleri, there's another 6-hour drive to Thandanda, where you'll use local jeeps on a rough road. From Thandanda, the trekking trail starts and takes you through beautiful landscapes and Sherpa and Rai communities. This road and trekking combination allows you to explore unexplored parts of the Khumbu region.

How many trekkers are needed for the Everest Base Camp trek without a Lukla flight?

The Everest Base Camp trek can be organized for any number of trekkers, from one person to a hundred. However, a group of around four people is ideal as it allows for cost-sharing, especially when it comes to transportation by jeep from Kathmandu to the trek's starting point and back.

How do I obtain permits for the Everest Base Camp trek?

You can obtain permits for the Everest Base Camp trek directly at the designated checkpoint along the trail. There are two types of permits required: The Everest National Park permit, which costs Nepali rupees 3,000 for foreigners, and another permit known as the TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) or local permit, which costs rupees 2,000 per person. Indian nationals are charged only 1,500 rupees for these permits. You'll need to provide your passport details when obtaining these permits. Our guide will handle this work for you.

Everest Base Camp Trekking without Lukla flight | Everest Base Camp Trekking Without going to flight

The main trekking trail of Khumbu region was not touched with ground transportation before. Now there are various route which touch with gravel road and trekking through this route is still not popular. One of the short and comfortable driving route to Everest region is via Salleri. 15 days trekking and driving ,1 days rest in Kathmandu after long days trekking makes this plan total 16 days. Including your arrival in Kathmandu and departure day from Kathmandu makes total program 18 days. 6 days of trekking and driving is in unexplored low land region of Khumbu where you can expect tourist standard basic accommodations and locally prepared foods. Salleri, Nunthala, Chutok, Paiya and to Phakding. Cost of Lukla flight covers your transportation from Kathmandu to Salleri and 6 more days trekking on the region.

Driving and Trekking to Everest Base Camp

8 hours driving road to Salleri from Kathmandu is mixed of well paved and gravel. We will provide you comfortable 4wheel jeep. Another driving for 6 hour is from Salleri to Thandanda which we take local jeep and driving road is entirely rough. Unique trekking trail from last point of jeep station to Phakding can expect beautiful landscape with drop of Himalayan views. Typical Sherpa and Rai communities are well settled in this region. Exploring their simple life style, their daily works and their unique cultures are feels different than regular trekking route of Everest. It also help to make your body fit in acclimatization before reaching Phakding and Namche which are trekking towns more than 2600 miters altitude. Two days of acclimatization (Namche and Dingboche) helps to fill power in your body reaching easily Everest Base Camp (5364m) and climb Kalapathar (5,545m). Trekking return same way back to Phakding than to Thandanda. Drive back to Kathmandu again same way by comfortable jeep. You will not reach Lukla airport. Trekking program finished without flying Lukla.

Accommodation and Foods

Professional trekking guide from Nepal highland treks look after every arrangement on the way trekking. Tourist standard local guest house accommodation on twin sharing will be provided throughout trekking days. You may have to share room with other peoples for a night in Gorakhshep (Near Everest Base Camp) depend on situation.. Hygienic foods from every lodges and restaurant are provided. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are including in the package during trekking. Every tea houses have their foods items mentioned in menu. Deluxe accommodations are also availalbe in main local towns like in Phakding, Namche and in Dibuche. If you want to choose your package in deluxe hotels on the way trekking, that also can be provided with the best cost. This is to make Everest Base Camp Trek in luxury way.

Small group trek and best season

We provide you opportunity to join our small group trekking or you can choose your private trekking with our regular guide and porter. Joining in our small group trek may reduce trekking cost by sharing transportation The best season for Everest Base Camp trekking is from March to May and September to November. Trekkers also can make this plan during Mani Rimdu Festival in Everest region. EBC trekking itinerary can customized and also have option to add Gokyo valley, Chhukung valley and also can include trekking peak climbing (Island Peak, Lobuche Peak) which are suitable for beginners climbers.

Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trekking without Lukla flight

Round cap to protect from sun during sunny day
Warm head cover cap
Muff to cover mouth from heavy wind and cold
2 pairs warm inner thermal and trouser
1 pair warm outer trouser
1 pair wind proof warm outer trouser
One pair light and warm jacket or sweeter
One pair down jacket
One pair wind proof jacket
2 pairs light shocks
2 pair warm shocks
1 pair light shoe or sandal
1 pair warm water proof trekking shoes
2 pairs light trouser or half paint for walking during day and hot temperature
3 to 4 pairs of light t-shirt
Warm glove
Rain coat (cover body and backpack)
20 litter polar bag for trekking, carrying yourself (Trekking bag pack)
Duffel bag, (Nepal Highland Treks provide you in Kathmandu) for porter
Down Sleeping bag with its Inner (You can take from Nepal Highland Treks in returnable)

Other accessories

Head lamp with enough battery
Camera and its battery
Battery charger
Trekking sticks
Phone and charger
lip care
Sun cream
Toilet papers
Hand wash lotion
Thoth brush add paste
Washing shop and bath shampoo
Quick dry towel
Note: You can buy above mentioned trekking equipment in Kathmandu Nepal also.

Booking procedure and payment

To book this trip, we need your passport copy by email and trip confirmation amount of USD 150 per person. You can pay us trip confirmation amount by bank transfer, by the online credit card system. Rest of the payment can made after your arrival in Kathmandu. Paying by credit card, bank transfer or cash.

What is the accommodation facility in the Everest Base Camp Trek region?

Entire EBC trekking is facilitated with local hotels which are neat and clean tourist standard accommodation. There is the same category of tea houses in the entire region. Namche, Phakding, and Lukla also have deluxe types of hotels. Hotels are till EBC (Gorakhshep). Rooms are twin sharing based in our service. Near at EBC Gorakhshep and in Lobuche room can be shared for 3/4 peoples at the time of trekkers flow during the main trekking season.

Nepal Visa

Visa for Nepal can be obtain on arrival. USD 50 per person for a month multiple visa. As your trekking itinerary is 20 days, you should take minimum 30 days visa. You also can apply Nepal visa online which will avoid long queue to take visa on arrival in Nepal airport. Do visit link for your online visa. https://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa. Make sure online application is only valid for 15 days. So fill online Nepali visa form just before 15 days counting your arrival in Nepal.

Client Reviews

Everest base camp trek from Salleri to Surke by jeep, (no flight into Lukla)
The whole trek from the beginning at Salleri, up to Base Camp and back to Lukla has been a great experience. I arranged the trek with Hemanta at Nepal Highland Treks, and he was extremely helpful and informative at every stage, making the whole booking process very easy. He informed us of everything we needed to do before the trek, and everything was very well arranged and coordinated once we reached Nepal, from our time in Kathmandu and for the entire 14 day trek, including accommodation, food, transportation, guide and porters. The trek itself was amazing, with our guide Ranjit (Hari), who really looked after us at every stage of the trek, from ensuring accommodation and food was provided to a great standard, and resolving any issues that arose. He provided us with great information whilst trekking on the mountains, people, culture and history, making it a great learning experience. We opted to take an adhoc helicopter flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu instead of driving back by jeep, and he arranged that for us last minute. Nothing was too much trouble. Thanks Ranjit for making our trek a fantastic memorable experience for us all!!???????????????? Our Porters, Bibechan, Abash and Sukra were brilliant, and really helped make it a great trek for us, thanks to you all. I can really recommend this company as they have been professional at every stage, ensuring that we had the best experiences and time.????????????????
M
Mark PotterUnited Kingdom,April 03, 2023