Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek

Your second day in Nepal is all about exploring the splendid sights of the historic city of Kathmandu. After your breakfast, you shall witness the artistry and culture surrounding the UNESCO world heritage sites such as Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. These heritage sights are among the few places you would get a chance to live the history and culture of for the day. Boudhanath is the oldest stupa in the country which holds a major significance to the Buddhist population and Nepal in general due to the gigantic prestige it holds for the country and its religious harmony. Pashupatinath is the holiest temple of Hindus all around the world. A temple is a sacred place where Shiva the destroyer is preached.

We put our food forward to the path today which shall lead us closer to the completion of our quest to touch the grounds of the highest and ever-glorious mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. Going through some picturesque scenery along the Sunkoshi river valley you shall witness the sheer beauty of the lush green forests of Nepal. After boarding the ride for 10 hours and of course keeping the fun alive you shall reach the first milestone destination of our journey, Salleri, which is 1800m above sea level. You will stay the night there at the local lodge.

You open your eyes to your 4th day in the country with one of the most splendid glimpses of the mountain ranges that the Himalayas’ got to offer. As you have your breakfast at the beautiful village of Salleri you can’t help but take in the calmness of the vicinity. This is the first day of your trek but that sure doesn’t mean that there should be any hindrance to the adventurous trek you’ve embarked upon. As we commence our walk along the beaten paths we pass a small town called Phaplu. The trail then takes you through several Gurung and Rai communities that shower you with friendly gestures and plain hospitable acts. Rice traces, Alpine forests, monasteries, and the flaring colorful flags just enrich your life to the fullest and sure would make up for the 7 hours walk that you take to reach Nunthala.

As you wake up 2190m above sea level there is obviously lesser oxygen but the crisp view and the picture-perfect vicinity would make you feel more alive. In your quest to the highest mountain, you shall move towards the small village of Paiya to stay the night. In your 7 hours walk to reach this cultural village you shall experience a serene glimpse of some of the mountains that are in close proximity to Mt. Everest.

The next day is when the ascend gets the real adventurous feel. While coming across people coming back from the trek to Everest you will surely feel quite eager to touch the footsteps of the highest peak. The beaten pathways get way busier with trekkers, porters, and pack animals as we continue on with our walking. As you pass by the scenic view for a good 6-7 hours you shall reach your destination of Phakding where you will stay the night.

The trail along the banks of Dudh Koshi river takes you to our first stop Tok Tok, where the sublime summit of Tsamserku projects itself with sheer beauty. Then a little climb shall lead you to the small village of Chommoa which has very fertile land despite being located in the rocky and sandy Himalayan region. Swaying Barley, Maize, wheat, and vegetables will greet your way as you pass by. After a while of the walk, you will then enter the Sagarmatha National Park and ascend to the area of Jorsale(2830 m) where you rest a while before climbing some more. Accompanied by animal packs and trekkers along the way, you must climb a while before you take a shy of relief in the view of Mt. Everest with Mt. Nupste(7879m) on the right.

The next day you are free to explore the surroundings of the Namche Bazaar but there will be no significant trek this day. As we are almost at our destination there is a lot of recharge through relaxation that needs to be taken into consideration to embark on it. With the view of the highest mountain at your side, the day shall surely be a blissful one.

After breakfast, you commence your trek with the pine trees and panoramic views of the variety of mountain ranges. You make your way through a small settlement Sanasa after walking a while, then a short descent will take you towards Phunki Thanga(3250m). An upwards climb then will take you to the Tengboche monastery situated at 3870m. The magnificent peaks like Kwangde, Tawachee, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse Ama Dablam, Kantega, and Thamserku provide a glimpse to you as you spend your time here.

The tenth day of your trek starts with breakfast in the beautiful vistas of the Tengboche village. The trail follows a downward slope for about 4 hours taking you to your destination of Dingboche which is located 4360m above sea level. This village is also a gateway to trekkers heading towards Makalu mountain and Hinku valley.

A splendid view of valleys like Tawachee and Cholatse shall greet you while passing the trail leading you toward Mt. Everest. Khumbu glacier is your next stop as you walk down the beaten path. As we walk 4 hours towards the memorial area we reach the panoramic village of Lobuche. As the small settlement lies at an altitude of 4940m the nights are bound to be much colder from this point on.

As you have your breakfast and undertake your day’s trek you first come across a nearby glacier. The rocky and windy terrain shall be passed in order to reach Gorakshep. The region also provides picturesque views of Mt. Pumori for you to indulge in while walking. We would have lunch there. You should be extra cautious and follow the Sherpa’s instructions as he leads you toward your major destination of Everest Base camp. As a matter of fact, the paths to the destination are rather unconventional and change every year due to the moving glaciers. You pass by many rocky dunes, moraine, and streams to step on the base camp of Mt. Everest. The base camp located at an altitude of 5364m sure is a hard one to explore but totally worth it. You shall then spend some time there to appreciate the sheer majesty of the base of the peak before returning to Gorakshep for the night.

A 2-hour climb is waiting for you in the morning which will lead you to the 360 degrees viewpoint of Kalapathar. This is the moment when some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas present themselves to you can’t help but feel totally and utterly alive by their snowy landmasses. The highly cherishable view is something that would just ooze away from the difficulties and hardships you have encountered so far in your journey. Peaks like Pumari (7,145m), Lingtren (6,695m), Khumbutse (6,623m), Changtse (7,550m), Nupse (7879m), and even Everest itself shall leave no stone unturned to make you feel completely awestruck. After enjoying the serene views you have your breakfast at Gorakshep. Then we will trek down to one of Imja Valley’s villages, Pheriche.

As you slowly descend towards Namche Bazar you come across a pine forest that also features a plethora of Rhododendron flowers which would just take your breath away. You cross the bridge over Dudh Koshi while on your way and this daunting experience shall surely be stapled into your memory for a lifetime. You go through Sanasa and head to Namche Bazaar to stay the night.

The last day of your trek wakes you up at the gateway town of Namche Bazar with some of the crispest views. After breakfast, we will commence our descent toward Lukla. While crossing the beaten path you come across some of the most scenic beauty the area has to offer in form of mountains, villages, and lush greenery. You would spend the night in Lukla indulging in a fun time with the crew as well as the locals.

Generally, the flight to Kathmandu takes off in the morning given the fact that fierce wind strikes out the possibility of flight afternoon. Although this may be the case for most of the days if there is a bad weather situation the flights will be canceled for safety reasons. If you board the flight you shall land in Kathmandu in 45 minutes. You would be transported to your hotel and you are free for the rest of the day. Explore the city or get some shopping done before heading out.