Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek

The first day of our Salleri to Everest Base Camp trek itinerary comprises a nearly 10-hour drive from Kathmandu to Salleri. Usually, you travel via jeep and pass through historic towns, rivers, and scenic landscapes before ending the day at Salleri, the gateway to the Solukhumbu region.

The drive starts with a morning departure from your hotel. You exit Kathmandu Valley via Bhaktapur, drive to Sanga, and pause at Dhulikhel for breakfast. You will see the traditional Newari towns while passing through these places.  

Continuing on the BP Highway, you drive via a newly blacktopped road offering a smooth drive. Passing through Nepalthok and Khurkot, you arrive at Ghurmi. This stretch requires you to drive along forested hills, rivers, and valleys. The Sun Koshi River runs parallel to the highway in several places.

From here, you join the Mid-Hill Highway of Nepal, popularly known as Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga. The road becomes narrower and hillier from here onwards, and you may experience some rougher sections, too. As you climb to higher altitudes, dense pine and rhododendron forests are abundant.

You may stop for snacks and fuel at Okhaldhunga Bazaar and then drive through remote villages, river crossings, and waterfalls. Finally, you arrive at Salleri and stay at a lodge overnight. Salleri Bazaar is a central market of the area with teahouses, lodges, and colorful shops.

The second day of the trip involves another jeep drive through multiple sections of ascents and descents. Overall, you descend about 100m during the drive, yet the route is mostly a combination of ups and downs. The road is generally rough and gravelled after Salleri, so expect a bumpy ride through narrow roads and steep sections. 

After departing from Salleri, you drive towards Ringmo, from where you get to see views of Numbur Himal and the hills surrounding it. The drive also passes through Takshindo and Nunthala, a popular village along the route with basic lodging facilities.

Then head to Kharikhola from there, crossing suspension bridges over rivers, and then go further into the Khumbu region. Sparse hillside villages, pine and rhododendron forests, and terraced fields accompany you as you drive ahead. 

Following the paths adorned by waterfalls, stone houses, flags, and chortens, you finally arrive at Surke. This small village is the starting point for the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri for those looking to skip the flights to Lukla. It sits just below Lukla, along the Dudh Koshi River.

The actual trek begins today. The route from Surke offers a quieter, less crowded alternative to the busy trail that starts in Lukla. 

You begin the trek by ascending out of the Surke village along the terraced fields and forest. Then, you climb steep sections with stone steps that lead up to the Sherpa village of Chaurikharka. Like every other Sherpa settlement in the Everest region, this place is also adorned by mani walls, chortens and prayer wheels.

From there, you need to descend to Chheplung, which is the first quick stop for a tea break. The main trail from Lukla merges at this point, and thus, you head to Phakding with fellow trekkers arriving from Lukla. 

You continue the trail that goes northeast and cross several suspension bridges. The path is easy and also takes you to another rich Sherpa village called Ghat.

Finally, you arrive at Phakding after passing through more small Sherpa villages, monasteries, chortens, and mani walls. This village sits on the riverside and features plenty of teahouses and lodges. 

The fourth day’s trail follows the Dudh Koshi River and requires you to climb a steep path before reaching Namche Bazaar. It begins with the departure from Phakding, and the trail is made up of gentle ascents and descents. Suspension bridges add a thrilling element to today’s journey; you need to cross five of them.

You cross the first suspension bridge upon leaving Phakding and arrive at Benkar, a small village with waterfalls. There is a second bridge near Benkar. With beautiful views of Thamserku above, you make a gradual climb past terraced fields and chortens. Then you cross the third suspension bridge and arrive at Monjo. 

You step into the Sagarmatha National Park from this point. You need to stop here for verification of trek permits. Following a short rest, you descend to Jorsale, crossing the fourth suspension bridge of the day’s trek, and have your lunch.

Continue walking from here, going across the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers before climbing up to the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. This is the fifth and highest suspension bridge that marks the steep ascent to Namche Bazaar. 

The climb is through pine forests that lead to a police checkpoint at Mislung before you arrive at Namche Bazaar. On a clear day, you can see the views of Everest from here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one may be at risk for altitude sickness if the person is traveling to an elevation higher than 2,400m. Acclimatization is important for preventing altitude sickness in such cases. That is why, as you will be at an altitude of 3,440m at Namche, you must spare one day for rest and acclimatization. 

The related activities for the day include a short uphill walk to the Sherpa Culture Museum. You can watch exhibitions on Sherpa culture, mountaineering history, and local wildlife on display there. This is also a viewpoint offering vistas of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kongde Ri. 

In addition, the day requires you to trek to Hotel Everest View at an altitude of 3,880m. You can enjoy tea and coffee on its terrace, which also offers 360-degree views of the aforementioned peaks. The property is famous as being among the world’s highest-altitude luxury hotels.

Then, you descend to Khumjung and Khunde villages located at altitudes of 3,780m and 3,700m, respectively. You can visit the Khumjung Monastery, the Hillary School, and Khunde Hospital in these villages while passing through traditional Sherpa homes and stone-walled fields.

Ultimately, you descend back to Namche and explore the area for the remainder of the day before heading to the lodge for rest and preparation for the next day’s trek.

The trek from Namche to Tengboche is a mix of easy and difficult trail sections. The start is easy as you climb out of Namche and arrive at Kyanjuma. It is a good rest stop that features teahouses. Then the route follows a steep descent through pine forests up to Phunki Tenga, a flat section near the river crossing. It is another rest point where you would want to pause before the upcoming climb to Tengboche. 

The ascent is the toughest section of the day, featuring steep switchbacks. The walk indeed is tiring, yet the well-built paths make the journey easier. 

As you near the top of your destination, you might also get glimpses of Ama Dablam. Once you enter the Tengboche area, the trail gradually flattens and takes you to a beautiful open meadow. 

One of the highlights of the place is the Tengboche Monastery, regarded as the largest in the Khumbu region. Not to forget are the spectacular views of snow-capped mountains that offer a good photo opportunity too. 

Meanwhile, before opting to rest at your designated lodge for the night, you might want to offer prayers at the monastery and explore the serene atmosphere there.

Today’s trek is moderate as you tread past a well-built and not technically difficult trail. You won’t need to climb steep trails like Namche to Tengboche. Yet it is not easy either, as the beginning requires you to go through a steep trail while descending to Debuche. You can see a nunnery along with a few teahouses here.

The descent, however, does not stop here, and you continue to hike downhill through pine forests and then cross the suspension bridge over Imja Khola. Now the course of the trek changes from here as you need to climb to Pangboche village, which is at an altitude of 3,930m. While the nature of the route keeps changing, what remains constant is the view of Ama Dablam. 

Pangboche, often used as a stop for tea and a brief rest, is famous for the region’s oldest monastery, the Pangboche Monastery. You continue ascending from here as you pass through the villages of Shomare and Orsho. Enjoy the views of alpine terrain and vegetation while watching for blue sheep, eagles, and other mountain wildlife. 

Now, you pass the junction and choose the right side of the path that splits from Pheriche. A gradual uphill walk from there, after crossing a wooden bridge, finally brings you to Dingboche, your destination for the day.

Rest and relax at the lodge, looking forward to the next day in Dingboche.

You have climbed about 960m since your first acclimatization at Namche. Therefore, the eighth day of the trek demands another acclimatization break.

What to do on this day? First hike to Nangkartshang Peak with a maximum elevation of 5,083m. It is a moderate trek with steep elevation gain. The hike begins with a gradual climb followed by a sharp ascent towards the top. From the top, you can see fantastic views of Island Peak, Makalu, Lhotse and Ama Dablam along with the lakesides of Imja Valley.

Despite the elevation gain of over 600m during this hike, you need to take it as the acclimatization principle follows the rule of ‘climb low, sleep high’. This is a way to train your body to get used to thin air. Therefore, you descend to Dingboche from the peak.

You can spend the remaining time exploring the area that is also known as the ‘summer valley’ of the region, for its warmer and sunnier weather. Bakeries and small internet cafes are some places to enjoy a drink and relax. After that, you can rest for the day while getting ready for the next day’s ascent.

After an early breakfast, you step out of Dingboche through the trail that features an easy uphill section. Walking through open alpine meadows for about 2 hours, you arrive at Dughla, also known as Thukla. It is a small settlement with few teahouses at the base of a moraine.

You can have your lunch at this stop and then climb to Thukla Pass. The route to the pass that is above Dughla is steep and zigzag. It becomes rocky, especially on the climb to the Thukla Memorial area. Here, you can see memorial cairns of climbers like Rob Hall and Scott Fisher, among others, who lost their lives on Everest. You may also see Taboche and Cholatse from this point.

The trek continues from here with a gradual incline over rocky terrain before arriving at Lobuche. You need to pass through yak pastures and glacial steps as well.

Finally, you arrive at Lobuche, a small settlement with stone lodges and teahouses. The view of Nuptse is best from here, along with a clear view of Khumbu Glacier located below it. 

You arrive at your destination, the Everest Base Camp, on the tenth day of the trek. To accomplish the goal of touching the foothills of Everest, you should start early. Following a breakfast at Lobuche, head for a gradual incline along a rocky and uneven path. 

There are some short, steep inclines as well. Passing through them along with glacial debris and boulders, you reach Gorakshep. It is a seasonal settlement on a sandy basin. Towering mountains surround it.

The first leg of the trek ends here as you check into a teahouse and have your meal of the day. The next leg is the ascent to Base Camp. Leaving extra gear at the teahouse, you head to your ultimate goal. 

The trail does not have steep climbs. Instead, you need to go through ups and downs constantly, which can make you tired. Cairns, poles, moraines, and loose rocks are the features of this trail. As you go higher, you start seeing views of Khumbu Icefall, glacial ponds, icy formations, and crevasses.

Once at the Everest Base Camp, you can get closer views of the Icefall along with Nuptse and Pumori peaks. You must have heard that you won’t see the peak of Everest from here, and the sight is for the next day to enjoy.

But whatever you see here is a lot for you to explore — from the views of different mountain ranges to prayer flags, marker stones, and expedition tents of multiple hues.

Rest here, hydrate sufficiently, and take photos to your heart’s content before walking down to Gorakshep, where you spend the night.

Kalapatthar, located at an altitude of 5,545m, is the highest elevation you reach during the trek. This is a viewpoint that offers the best views of the Everest summit and a beautiful sunrise above it.

As the objective is to make it to Kalapatthar to see the sunrise, you need to start early. Go steep uphill from Gorakshep in the cold morning. The path is sandy and rocky. It also requires you to pass through switchbacks up a ridge. The final section makes you navigate over large stones before reaching its summit. 

Upon reaching there, you feel the hard work has paid off, thanks to the unparalleled close-up view of the summit of Everest. You would want to capture the golden rays of the sun rising over Everest as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, and Ama Dablam, forever. Take out your camera and make the most of each moment there.

After photos and rest, walk down to Gorakshep for breakfast, and then retrace your steps to Lobuche. Once again, you walk down past the Thukla Pass memorial. After Thukla, you, however, head to Pheriche, leaving the trail that goes to Dingboche. 

Traversing through rocky and dusty paths and grassy flats, you arrive at Pheriche. After spending a night over 5,000m in Gorakshep, Pheriche turns out to be a warm relief. You feel the temperature is warmer and the air is rich in oxygen here. 

Located opposite Dingboche, the small settlement of Pheriche is known for the aid post (for altitude-related issues) of the Himalayan Rescue Association. 

An early breakfast in Pheriche is followed by a downhill hike to Namche Bazaar. Retracing your path, you walk down to Namche. Expect the trek to last about 7 to 8 hours. 

Starting with a gradual descent, you rejoin the main trail near Pangboche and also pass through the ancient Pangboche Monastery. 

The trek continues down to Debuche as you walk along the rhododendron forest before crossing the suspension bridge over Imja Khola.  It follows a brief climb to Tengboche and a deep descent to Phunki Tenga. 

You need to cross the river once again before climbing to Kyangjuma. Then you walk towards Namche. Upon your arrival at Namche, you rest at the lodge. 

You need to start early, as the twelfth day requires trekking for long hours. The descent can be difficult, and you may need to use trekking poles for steep descents, especially into Phunki Tenga. 

Going down may be easier than climbing up, yet it is still demanding. So, do not forget to stay hydrated and to take frequent breaks to ensure a smooth trek.

Today, you depart from Namche Bazaar following your breakfast. The trek begins with a descent through steep stone steps along the pine and rhododendron forests. 

Crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, you follow the main trek trail past the villages of Monjo and Benkar. Mani walls and waterfalls are some of the highlights along the route. 

Once again, you are at Phakding, where you spent your night when starting the trek. The return journey doesn’t let you stay here. Instead, you will walk past Ghat village and reach Chheplung. 

It is the point from which the trail branches off to Surke and Lukla. You head to Surke, which requires a descent unlike the ascent required for Lukla. This route is best for those who want to avoid Lukla completely and continue their road journey.

 After walking for about 6 to 7 hours, you are at Surke, a small and quiet village where you will stay for the night. This segment of the Salleri to Everest Base Camp trekking route completes your mountain walk and takes you to your return journey via road.

You need not walk today, as it is a drive from Surke to Salleri. It offers relief to your tired body from trekking.

Following breakfast, the jeep carrying you descends to Chaurikharka, Paiya, and then to Kharikhola via a rough track. The road is steep and narrow in this section. 

The drive then takes an uphill route from Kharikhola and passes through hillside terraces. Then you arrive at Nunthala, passing through the small settlements of Ringmo and Jubing. You need to drive on the road that winds through forests and farmlands in this section. 

The road continues to be dusty and bumpy as you drive to Salleri. Climbing further, you arrive at Salleri, the rest stop for the day. 

During this drive, you might get irritated by the rough roads. Yet the quieter and off-beaten path, as compared to Lukla, adds to your travel experience. Not to forget the stunning views of valleys, hillsides, and snow peaks. 

During this return trip, you get the last chance to admire the rugged terrain that you conquered during the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri.

You stay at a Lodge in Salleri as you look forward to the smoother drive to Kathmandu the next day. 

Bidding goodbye to your two-week-long Salleri to Everest Base Camp trek, you return to Kathmandu on the fifteenth day. As you are traveling by road, the departures are pretty early. That is also because the drive duration is long, and you want to arrive in Kathmandu on time. 

From Salleri, your ride takes you to Okhaldhunga, then heads to Ghurmi and Khurkot before reaching Kathmandu. The roads are well-paved and offer a smooth ride as compared to the previous day’s road travel. 

Driving through beautiful hills, rivers, and terraced farms, you arrive at a warmer elevation in Kathmandu. You are then dropped off at your hotel, where you can rest and rejuvenate while celebrating the milestone of your adventure journey.