Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri

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At a Glance
  • DestinationNepal
  • Duration19 days
  • Trip DifficultyModerate
  • ActivitiesTrekking
  • AccommodationHotel/Lodges
  • MealsB.L.D
  • Max. Elevation5545m.
  • Group SizeMin. 2 Pax
  • Best TimeMarch - May and Sept - Dec

Message Regarding flight to/from Lukla

During the peak seasons for the Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri (March to May and September to November), all the Lukla flights will be operated from the Manthali Airport due to congestion at Tribhuvan Airport.

Trip Overview

Do you want to walk on a less crowded trail to Everest Base Camp? Well, you can check out our Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri. It is an alternative route to the base of the world's highest mountain. The journey provides a more authentic experience of the local culture than the more popular Lukla route.

Our trek begins with an initial alternate route via Phaplu. This route adds a touch of exclusivity to your trekking experience. As you traverse the picturesque landscapes, you'll have the chance to witness the untamed beauty of the Everest region. You'll pass through remote villages, lush forests, and cascading rivers.

As the trek progresses, the trail eventually merges with the regular route at Phakding. From here, you'll continue your journey toward the Everest Base Camp. While the Salleri route may involve slightly more trekking days than the traditional Lukla route, the rewards are well worth it.

Highlights

  • Start your journey with a long drive to Ringmo. And Catch a glimpse of the countryside of Nepal.
  • Make a visit to the Takshindo Monastery and get an opportunity to interact with the monks.
  • Set foot on Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Encounter endangered wildlife and various species of birds in Khumbu.
  • Unwind and stroll around the allies of the bustling town, Namche Bazar.
  • Explore the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region, the Tengboche Monastery.
  • Celebrate the victory of reaching the base of the world’s highest mountain- Mt Everest.
  • Hike up to Kala Pathar, the highest viewpoint in the Khumbu region.
  • Enjoy the beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas from Kala Pathar.
  • End your journey by catching a scenic flight from Lukla to Kathmandu.

Route Summary

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcome by one of your staff and then escorted to the hotel in Kathmandu. After briefly discussing the next day’s plan, you’ll have the rest of the evening to yourself. After preparing and ensuring to pack all the equipment required for the trek, you’ll initiate the journey with a long drive to Ringmo. After arriving, you’ll walk for 30-min to reach Takhindo, where you’ll stay for the night. Moving forward, you’ll pass through small villages like Khari khola, Puiyan, and Phakding before reaching the largest town in the Khumbu region- Namche Bazar.

In Namche Bazar, you’ll stay one more day for acclimatization. On this day, you’ll let your body adjust to the high altitude and hike to the Everest view hotel. Continuing your trek, you’ll again pass through small sherpa settlements such as Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche before reaching the last stop at the foothill of the world’s highest mountain, Gorakshep. In Dingboche, you’ll stay there for another night to acclimate your body.

After reaching the base camp of Mt Everest, you’ll return to Gorakshep for an overnight stay. Thereafter, you’ll hike up to Kala Pathar for a close-up view of Mt. Everest. Now, retracing your steps, you’ll return to Namche Bazar through Pheriche. And finally, you’ll walk on a steeply downward trail and reach Lukla. Lastly, bidding farewell to the Himalayas, you’ll end your trek by catching a 30-min flight back to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu, you’ll have a reserved day to relax and shop for souvenirs for your friends and family before flying back home.

When is the best time to explore?

The Everest Base Camp via Salleri definitely offers a different experience than the standard EBC trek. Now, you may be wondering whether the best time to embark on this journey and the standard EBC trek is the same or not.

Let us clear this out for you.

The best season for the trek is indeed Spring and Autumn. The weather is mild during these times, which allows you to enjoy the trek in a wholesome way. Embarking on this journey during spring and autumn gives you two different experiences. In spring, the full bloom of Rhododendrons will add color and vibrancy to your trek. And in autumn, the breezy wind will add serenity to your hike.

Having said that, the journey is accessible all year round. You can also get on this journey during the monsoon and winter seasons. It will surely be a unique experience for you.

Difficulty Level

Talking about the difficulty level, it is considered a moderate-leveled trek. It is a great choice for trekkers who want to push themselves a bit but don't want to take on something too tough.

Starting the journey with a long drive along the bumpy roads. You can expect daily walks of 5-7 hours with some steep ascents and descents, but the gradual ascent allows for better acclimatization and reduces the risk of altitude sickness compared to other routes.

While the trek does require a good level of physical fitness, it's easy enough for most people. With proper preparation and planning, you can easily tackle this moderate-level trek and come away with memories that will last a lifetime.

So why not take on the challenge and embark on an Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri? The rewards are well worth the effort!

Alternative Treks

Are you finished looking at the Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri? Do you want more options to explore? Well, we have some for you.

The standard 16-Day Everest Base Camp Trek via Lukla is the first option to delve into. The journey takes you through the popular route of the Everest Base Camp. Initiating the journey with a scenic flight to Lukla will surely be one of the highlights of the trip.

The second one is the Everest Base Camp by Road. It is an 17-Day journey that takes you to the foothill of Mt Everest by road. The trek offers an opportunity to explore the untouched area of the lower Khumbu region.

Whichever trekking package you choose, we will arrange it for you and make sure you have the best experience in the Himalayas.

Detail Itinerary

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You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Our airport representative will be there waiting for you at the airport to welcome you and will provide you with further details of the program. Since you have no plans on the first day of your arrival, check into your hotel, get your bearings and enjoy the time.

This day is reserved for the final preparations for the trek. You will be focusing on checking your gears and packing necessary equipment. You may leave all unnecessary belongings at the hotel and re-pack only the necessary items for the trip.

Overnight stay at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast included.

We drive from Kathmandu to Ringmo via Phaplu and commence a short hike to Takshindo. The drive to Ringmo is quite beautiful, and you can get fleeting glimpses of the countryside life of Nepal. Leaving behind the bustling city, the drive goes through gorgeous rural settings, winding along hills and farms.

Phaplu is a small town with an airstrip that is surrounded by verdant green hills. Upon arriving at Ringmo, you will follow a gentle trekking track that leads towards Takshindo, all the while enjoying the mountainous landscapes. Along the way, you can see many Sherpa and Rai people going about their day working on the mountain farms. You can also see the old Cheese Factory at Takshindo.

Since the people rely on their domesticated mountain goats and yaks, the cheese factory manufactures dairy and cheese made from the mountain livestock. It is healthy and quite delicious as well! Overnight stay at the guesthouse. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

In the morning, we will visit the local lively area of Takshindo and also pay a visit to the Takshindo Monastery. Then, we will begin our trek descending alongside the Dudh Koshi River from where the trail then ascends through several Sherpa villages, terraced fields, and forests to Khari Khola. The natural setting of the Himalayan terrain, accompanied by the gushing river, presents quite a relaxing trek. The journey is also a great way to learn about the Sherpa Buddhism culture that is so prevalent in the mountains.

The Lamas of the Takshindo Monastery teach young monks and Buddhist disciples about the culture.  The intricately decorated murals of the monastery and the camphor-lit atmosphere are quite exotic and you can also offer your prayers for a safe and successful journey.

Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We start the day with a climb towards Puiyan from Khari Khola. Trekking through small Sherpa villages and a forest inhabited by monkeys, we will pass through a narrow canyon before arriving at Puiyan. The giant hills that surround the trekking trail are cultivated to terrace farms that are brim with vegetation and agriculture. Small stone houses with colorful plastic or tin roofs line the villages and are often complimented with the traditional Buddhist prayer flags hung against bamboo poles.  The giant mountain peaks tower over the villages like colossal serrations and are quite haunting to look at. While trekking, you can also see the Sherpa women working on the farms in their traditional Sherpa attires. Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Continuing the climb from Puiyan, we will make our way to a ridge at 2800 meters, before a gradual ascent to the final ridge from where we descend to Surke, following the trail towards Phakding. The trekking trail is considerably flatter and meanders along the contours of the valley through thick scented mossy forests. You will trek on the trail cut deep into the steep rocky side of the valley where you can come across mule caravans making their way alongside you. At the end, the trekking trail joins back onto the Dudh Koshi River Valley and you can see amazing views of the ebbing river below as you stand high above on the steep side of the impenetrable valley. Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

After breakfast at Phakding, we will pass through several villages before reaching the village of Jorsale and going through the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. The woodlands of the park area habitat to many endangered species of animals, like the Snow Leopard and the Himalayan Thar. During the journey, we can view a stunning backdrop of the Himalayas against the lush woods of pine and cedar. After the strenuous climb up the elevation, we will reach Namche Bazaar. Immediately west of Namche lies the Kongde RI Himal at 6,187 meters and to the east is the Thamserku Peak at 6,623 meters. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

This day is specially sanctioned for acclimatization. We will spend the day enjoying the sights around Namche Bazaar. After breakfast, we will take a trip to the Syangboche Airport, a lonesome airstrip located at the highest altitude in the world at 3700m above Namche. The views of the Himalayan town and the Peaks from the airstrip are quite spectacular. We shall then continue on to Everest View Hotel where the spectacular view of Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse as well as many Himalayan peaks can be seen. The Everest View Hotel boasts of views of Mount Everest from all of its windows. Back at Namche, we can also visit the Everest Photo Gallery and the Sherpa Culture Museum along our excursion. We shall then bring an end to our day by returning to our accommodation at Namche. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We will take an easy trail that leads to the Dudh Koshi Valley at Pungki Thanka, the jaunt hailing a simply resplendent view of Mount Everest. We will then proceed to make our way to the right coast of the Dudh Koshi Valley to get to the Tengboche Monastery located at the stature of 3860m. The monastery is a hamlet from where the sight of Mount Ama Dablam, Mount Everest, and numerous other peaks are beautiful to look at. The Tengboche Monastery is also regarded as the spiritual hub of the Khumbu region and is the largest monastery in the area. Where Namche is considered the commercial hub of the Khumbu, the Tengboche Monastery is the region's spiritual center. It is also called the Dawa Choling Gompa and during spring- the hill slopes of the monastery are beautifully decorated with rhododendrons. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Wayfaring across the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola, we shall move further to Dingboche, ascending to Pangboche along the way. Finally, we will climb up to the heavenly little Sherpa settlement of Dingboche. It is a popular “Summer Valley” encompassing of graceful views of the Lhotse, the Ama Dablam and the Island Peak. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

At Dingboche, we will have another acclimatization day. We can hike to Nagerjun- located at the height of 5100m. Nagerjun, lying just above Dingboche, is set on a hill on the edges of the Chhukung valley. While hiking, we will notice the trail turning steeper making the walk quite strenuous. Walking for approximately 3-4 hours, we will reach Nagerjun which bestows good panorama of Lobuche East (6119m), Lobuche West (6145m), Kangtega (6685m), Taboche Peak (6367m), Thamserku (6608m), and Ama Dablam (6856m). If you are lucky, you can also observe stunning sights of Makalu, the world’s fifth tallest peak on a clear day. The view of the Pheriche Valley from here is also splendid. Capturing unforgettable sights, we will walk back to Dingboche. After finishing our lunch, we can just take a rejuvenating sunbath and relax. Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We will make our way to Dhungla from Dingboche, where we shall come across the Trekkers Aid Post situated at Pheriche (4210m), run by the Western Volunteer Doctors and assisted by The Himalayan Rescue Association. The aid post helps in the treatment of trekkers in the area. Crossing Chupki Lhara after passing the rock-strewn oblique with the sight of magisterial mountains, we shall walk down to the Khumbu Glacier moraine. The views of the mountain peaks like Khumbutse, Mahalangur Himal, Lingtren and the Pumori from the moraine are very beautiful. Mount Nuptse also looms up ahead once we cross the glacier pass. We shall then check into our guesthouse at Lobuche for the night. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

This is an anticipated day of the trekking trip and we will begin by starting the walk slow to avoid altitude sickness. The sight of the world’s highest glacier, the Khumbu Glacier accompanies us to our right. Walking for about 2-3 hours from Lobuche, we will get to Gorekshep (5181m/16994ft), a tranquil location dotted with some lodges. From here, we will proceed to make our hike all the way to the top of the edge, finally arriving at the Everest Base Camp. Here, the sight of the Khumbu Icefall and the view of the Khumbutse and Lingtren mountains are quite heavenly. After spending some time at the base camp enjoying the sights and the environment, we shall return to Gorekshep. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Today, early in the morning we will hike up to Kalapatthar, located at the elevation of 5545m. Kalapatthar is a famous vantage that presents panoramic views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, Chagatse, Lhotse and the Pumori quite beautifully. Trek to Kalapatthar is done early in the morning so as to witness the sunrise amidst the Everest massif. We will then proceed to return to Gorekshep and walk down to Pheriche. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

With an easy trekking along the Imja River, we will make our way to Tengboche from where we will move down to Phungki Thanka. We shall also pass the Kyangjuma on our hike back to Namche. Overnight at Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Walking on a trail moving steeply downward, we will cross suspension bridges decorated with the prayer flags above the gushing Dudh Koshi River. The views of the open plains, pine and rhododendron forests, as well as snow-covered peaks, will enchant you. As we reach Lukla, we can just relax. In the evening, we may celebrate the victory of accomplishing the trek. Overnight at guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

The mountains will bid you adieu for the last time as you fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla, which will take about 30 minutes. After landing in the Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to the Hotel where you shall stay overnight. Breakfast included.

On this day, you can proceed to relax and can have another tour of the city or go shopping at the hub of “all things-tourist” at Thamel. Overnight at hotel, breakfast included.

The airport representative from Nepal Hiking Team will transport you to Kathmandu international airport around 3 hours before your scheduled flight from where you will depart. Breakfast included.

Cost Includes

  • All ground transports in private vehicles, including airport transfers
  • Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu.
  • Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tours including tour guide, entry fee, and private vehicle
  • Full board meals with tea/coffee (Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner) during the trek
  • Best available lodges for accommodation during the trek, we provide you attached bathroom with a hot shower at Lukla, Phakding, and Namche.
  • One highly experienced, helpful, and friendly guide and porters (1 Porter for 2 hikers), including their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and insurance.
  • Airfare from Lukla – Kathmandu, including departure taxes
  • Duffle bag for the trekking
  • Down jacket and sleeping bag during the trek
  • Nepal Hiking Team T-shirt, trekking map, and trip achievement certificate
  • All trek permits
  • Government taxes and office service charge

Cost Excludes

  • Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the itinerary.'
  • Travel Insurance
  • International airfare
  • Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying US$ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying US$ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
  • Cold drinks Inc. Coke, water, Fanta, etc.
  • Snacks and other personal expenses
  • Hot showers during the trek except for Phakding, Namche, and Lukla
  • WIFI internet during the trek
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Tips and gratuities for trekking staff and drivers

Cost and Date

Start Dates refer to your arrival date in Nepal. End Dates correspond to your return date from Nepal.

The Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri set departure dates are tailored for the group joining option. If the 19 days Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri departure dates don’t fit your schedule, we can include alternative dates that better suit your needs.

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