Everest Base Camp Trek by Road: 18 Days (No Lukla Flight)

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (1,400 m), followed by a pre-trek briefing covering permits, packing, and the trek's acclimatisation schedule. A licensed guide reviews the day-by-day route and checks personal gear against the recommended packing list. Overnight in Kathmandu.

A roughly 270 km, 8-12 hour drive via the BP Highway from Kathmandu (1,400 m) to Salleri (2,360 m), the district headquarters of Solukhumbu and the largest town reachable by standard road vehicle. Drive time depends heavily on road conditions past Khurkot; spring and autumn trips run toward the shorter end of the range.

A 35 km, 4-5 hour off-road 4WD jeep transfer from Salleri (2,360 m) to Surke (approximately 2,350 m), the usual road-end for this route. Surke sits in a side valley roughly 45-60 minutes on foot below Lukla itself, so the jeep now closes almost the entire gap that used to require an extra trekking day from Thamdanda. Road conditions vary by season and should be confirmed shortly before departure.

A short 45-60 minute uphill walk from Surke (approximately 2,350 m) climbs to Lukla (2,860 m), Tenzing-Hillary Airport's home village, where this route rejoins the classic EBC trail. From Lukla, the trail descends gently through Chaurikharka along the Dudh Koshi river to Phakding (2,610 m), passing the trek's first prayer wheels and mani walls.

From Phakding (2,610 m) the trail follows the Dudh Koshi river, across several suspension bridges to the Sagarmatha National Park checkpoint at Monjo, then on past Jorsale to the high Hillary Suspension Bridge. A steep switchback climb through pine forest gains 830 m to reach Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), the Khumbu's main trading hub and the first mandatory two-night acclimatisation stop.

Acclimatisation day in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) following the golden "climb high, sleep low" rule. The morning hike climbs to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) at Syangboche, offering the first distant view of Everest's summit pyramid alongside Ama Dablam and Thamserku, before descending through Khumjung village, home to the Khumjung monastery. Return to Namche for the second acclimatisation night.

From Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) the trail climbs to Kyangjuma and Sanasa before dropping to cross the Dudh Koshi again, then climbs steadily through rhododendron forest to Tengboche (3,860 m), home to the largest and most significant monastery in the Khumbu. On clear afternoons, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam are all visible from the monastery courtyard.

The trail descends from Tengboche (3,860 m) through Deboche's rhododendron and birch forest, crosses the Imja Khola, and climbs steadily past Pangboche, home to the oldest monastery in the Khumbu, into the drier, high-altitude landscape approaching Dingboche (4,410 m), a farming village walled with stone enclosures for barley and buckwheat.

Second mandatory acclimatisation day, this time at Dingboche (4,410 m). The recommended hike climbs Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 m) above the village for panoramic views of Makalu, Ama Dablam, and the Dingboche valley, then returns to sleep at 4,410 m: the climb-high, sleep-low pattern, which prepares the body for the 530 m gain in sleeping altitude to Lobuche.

From Dingboche (4,410 m) the trail climbs past Dughla (4,620 m) and the Chupki Lhara memorial site, stone cairns honouring climbers who died on Everest, before a steady climb along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche (4,940 m), the last village before the final push to Base Camp.

The 4.3 km walk from Lobuche (4,940 m) to Gorak Shep (5,164 m) takes 2-4 hours along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, gaining roughly 220 m net. After dropping bags at the lodge, the trail crosses 3.5 km of rocky glacial moraine with the Khumbu Glacier on the right and the icefall rising directly above. At Everest Base Camp (5,364 m), Nuptse's west ridge blocks the sightline to Everest's summit; that view belongs to Kala Patthar, 280 m higher. Return to Gorak Shep for the night.

★ Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)

Rise at 04:30. The 1.5 km, 480 m climb to Kala Patthar (5,644 m) takes 90-120 minutes on loose rock. At sunrise, Everest's south face aligns with Nuptse and Changtse across the eastern horizon, the clearest view of Everest's summit from any trekking point on the route. Descent covers 1,400 m in net elevation to Pheriche, the longest single-day descent on the trek.

★ Kala Patthar (5,644 m)

A long descending day from Pheriche (4,240 m) back through Tengboche and Kyangjuma to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), retracing the acclimatisation route in reverse. Improved oxygen availability below 4,000 m makes this a noticeably easier walking day despite the 20 km distance.

Retrace the trail from Namche Bazaar (3,440 m) down through Phakding and Lukla (2,860 m), then descend the short 45-60 minute side trail to Surke (approximately 2,350 m), the road-end, ready for the return jeep transfer.

A long return transfer: 4WD jeep from Surke (approximately 2,350 m) back to Salleri (2,360 m), 4-5 hours, then a further drive via the BP Highway to Kathmandu (1,400 m), 8-12 hours. The full transfer runs 12-16 hours combined and is typically broken into two vehicle changes.

A free day in Kathmandu (1,400 m) to recover from the 12-16 hour transfer from Surke, and the first of two buffer days if the road ran late. Time permitting, visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, or Thamel.

The second Kathmandu buffer day, held in reserve because landslides and mud can hold up the unpaved Salleri-Surke road on the return; otherwise free for final shopping and packing.

International departure from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, or onward travel in Nepal.