Everest Base Camp is truly a worthwhile trekking destination with multiple trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp and is a lifetime travel destination that must be bucket-listed by every traveller who wants to explore nature to seek its wonders.
Despite being a strenuous trek, Everest Base Camp can be a relaxing and time-managed trek, as one prefers. The route to Everest Base Camp, to some point, remains the same, and further, one can choose which to follow and where to divert the route to explore more of the Everest Region.
Everest is the second most popular region in Nepal with diverse trekking route that takes one to the base camp of numerous mountains, trekking and expedition peaks. The route to Everest Base Camp can be diverted to numerous high passes and the lakes of the Everest Region.
Further, trekkers will always have an option to descend via the same route or to skip the following alternative route to descend. The best part to Everest base camp trekking route is also with the possibility to take a helicopter back after successful summit of the Base Camp. This shortens the number of days and also helps one to skip the same route descent.
Everest Base Camp lies in the Everest Region, a region limited in connecting with other regions of the country due to its high elevation and tough terrain. However, the trail can be skipped or diverted to the other areas of the Everest Region.
This blog intends to make our travellers know the facts about the different trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp. We believe this information will help travellers to be prepared with multiple options and the best possible route one can take, managing the time and following the foothills of the Himalayas.
Knowing numerous trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp will help trekkers to be prepared with an alternative option. This helps one to shorten the number of days for the trek and also to extend the other routes and descend back.
Henceforth, Everest Base Camp Trek can be done following multiple trekking routes that one can extend or shorten depending upon time frame or budget and also the interest one has in which route to take while exploring the Everest Base Camp. Thus, one can figure out that the shortest route to Everest Base Camp can take 7 DAYS, and the longest depends upon the route, the fitness level of an individual and also the possibility of exploring other areas of the region.
Below are some of the most popular trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp. Here, despite introducing multiple routes of the Everest Region, one will reach the Everest Base Camp in any of the routes they want to follow, unless you want to skip.
Classical Everest Base Camp Trek
Classical Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the oldest trekking routes to Everest Base Camp that follows the age-old route, skipping the shortest flight distance and instead taking the road drive to some point near LUKLA.
The classical route has been shortened due to the construction of the road to some extent, and this minimises the cost of the trek and also allows travellers to explore more of the rural part of the Everest Region, where the villages and farming activities are still the best highlights.
The Classical Route to Everest Base Camp is 14 Days; however, having a couple of reserve days will be a suggested idea to tackle any sort of extension if the road drive gets disrupted due to rain or landslide, which sometimes happens during the monsoon.
The Classical Route to Everest Base Camp follows the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and his team of caravan that went to summit Mount Everest on May 29, 1953 and was the only trail until the Lukla airport was opened in 1971.
Regular Everest Base Camp Trek
The Regular Everest Base Camp Trek Route is one of the most popular and most followed trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp. The regular Everest Base Camp Trek Route follows the connected flight option from Kathmandu to Lukla and back to skip the long route drive that would have maximised the number of days.
The regular Everest Base Camp Trek Route is of 12 Days in a comfortable way that covers the same way climb after landing Lukla airport, and the route follows almost the same way descend after summiting Everest Base Camp, and then a Flight connects to Kathmandu.
Despite all this, the Everest Base Camp Route if followed, can be followed in multiple ways when the question of the number of days occurs. Here, the shortest way to complete Everest Base Camp via the regular route will be in 9 DAYS.
However, for senior citizens and first-time trekkers, the number of days can be customised depending on one's fitness level and time frame.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return is one of the premium ways of hiking to Everest Base Camp. The best part of the Everest Base Camp Trek in the 21st century is the option for a helicopter ride back to Lukla or Kathmandu from the highest point at Gorakshep after the successful summit of the Everest Base Camp.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Heli Return follows the regular trail to the base camp of Mount Everest; however, here trekkers will skip the same way and descend back to Lukla and instead take a helicopter ride back to Kathmandu/Lukla from Gorakshep on the same day.
If followed the Helicopter return option during the Everest Base Camp, then it will take 9 days in a comfortable way and 7 DAYS without acclimatisation.
This option, with the Everest Base Camp Trek with Heli Return, has four advantages:
- It is one of the shortest ways to follow the regular Everest Base Camp Trek route
- It skips the same trail and descends back to Lukla
- It is time saving and affordable option
- It provides an opportunity to explore the Khumbu Glacier and the stunning Himalayan vista from Bird’s-eye.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lake
Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lake is another perfect trekking route in the Everest Region that combines the Everest Base Camp with the Gokyo and Cho La Pass route. This route takes you to the panoramic views point at Cho La Pass, Gokyo Ri and one of the famous Gokyo Lakes of the Everest Region.
Everest Base Camp with Gokyo and Cho La Pass Trek Routes make a circuit and meet the trail at Namche Bazaar. This helps one to skip the same route descent after the Everest Base Camp, providing the majestic views and also exploring further areas of the Everest Region.
Everest Base Camp with Gokyo and Cho La Pass can be done in 14 DAYS. The fastest way of 12 days is also a popular option for fit trekkers; however, additional days of acclimatisation will be helpful for the first time trekkers.
Everest Base Camp with Three Pass Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek with Three Pass Trek is one of the most popular and exciting trekking routes of the entire Everest Region. This route is a challenging high altitude route and takes trekkers to the 3 highest passes and the 2 RI’s of a popular destination, providing dynamic and never-before-seen views from such an altitude.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Three Pass covers all the important must-see places of the Everest Region. Those include Kongma La Pass, Cho La Pass, Renjo La Pass and the climb to Chukuum Ri and Gokyo Ri and include Gokyo Lake, the one major destination.
This three-pass trek includes Everest Base Camp after crossing the first pass at Kong Ma La and then diverts towards Cho La Pass and Gokyo, and finally descends to Thame Via Renjola Pass. Thame is one of the most popular Sherpa villages of the entire Everest region that has produced the highest Everest Summiteers in history.
The shortest version of the Everest Base Camp Trek with Three Pass will be 13 days. However, the best way to follow this is to keep a reserve day, and a comfortable Three Pass Trek with Everest Base Camp 17-Day Itinerary will be the best option.
Everest Base Camp and Ama Dablam Base Camp Combo Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek and Ama Dablam Base Camp Combo Trek will be another perfect trekking route of the Everest Region. This trek route of the Everest Region covers the two most popular base camps of the Everest Region, and those include Mount Ama Dablam Base Camp and, finally, the Everest Base Camp.
The Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek and Everest Base Camp Combo Trek Route will be an easy-going trail that starts with the Ama Dablam Base Camp and then proceeds towards Everest Base Camp. This will help one to acclimatise and also to explore the majestic base camp of Mount Ama Dablam together in a short time frame.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak
Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak Climbing will be a mesmerising experience for those who want to take challenge and enjoy the adventurous journey to Island Peak together. This route will take trekkers to the Island Peak for the expedition and then diverts towards Kong Ma La Pass and then towards Everest Base Camp.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak will add the Kong Ma La Pass to descend to Lobuche and finally to Everest Base Camp.
How many days will the Everest Base Camp Trek take? When we only focus on the base camp of Mount Everest, skipping the alternative option to drive the trail:
Trekking only to Everest Base Camp starts from 7 DAYS to 17 DAYS ++ depending upon the route one follows and also how one wants to complete the trek. Here, trekkers will have multiple options: to take a helicopter ride, to skip the same way descend or to trek with acclimatisation or to trek at a slow pace, customising the itinerary with acclimatisation.
If you are planning for the Everest Base Camp (Only) without joining the other routes, then the shortest way to trek to Everest Base Camp will be 7 DAYS, which includes one way trek and the other way by helicopter.
Further, if you want to continue the Everest Base Camp Trek with both way hike, then the shortest way will be to follow the 9 DAYS Program.
Finally, if you want to follow the regular trail to the Everest Base Camp, then it is better to go with the 12 DAYS option, where 2 days are used as acclimatisation days while ascending. This gives you flexibility and time for your body to cope with the high altitude air.
However, if you want to follow the regular day-to-day itinerary but want to skip the acclimatisation days, then the Everest Base Camp Trek can be easily done in 10 DAYS. For details and best routes, talk with our expert and plan for your adventurous journey to Everest Base Camp.
