Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek - 18 Days

Your adventure begins with an arrival in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal at Tribhuvan International Airport. Traditionally rich. The city is featured by UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath Stupa, also called Monkey Temple, sharing stories about the history and spiritual orientation of Nepal. You could also walk down the Thamel area, one of the most exciting streets in the city and lined with unique shops and outlets for trekking gear. Upon arrival, you are introduced to your trekking team and get a briefing on the journey ahead.

Use this day to adjust to Nepal’s culture and altitude in preparation for the trek. Enjoy a welcome dinner with such Nepali specialties as dal bhat (lentils and rice). The vibrant city life and visits to peace-filled temples set the stage for a phenomenal trek. Overnight in a comfortable hotel preparing for the long adventure ahead.

With an almost 8-hour drive, today’s beautiful journey goes from Kathmandu to Jiri and then to Bhandar on winding roads of lush hills and valleys. Jiri is known as the ‘Gateway to Everest.’ Then, you will start your journey, passing through other small villages like Charikot and Dolakha, where you will experience the classic Tamang and Sherpa cultures.

The road may seem long but the views are breathtaking as the river Sunkoshi flows and dense forests surround the road.

Overnight stay in Bhandar.

On the second day of the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek, the journey proceeds with a descent and moves across beautiful forests and terraced farmland to the river Likhu Khola. There, a suspension footbridge leads you along the ascent to the village of Kenja, a more traditional settlement generally surrounded by crop fields. Here, you can catch a glimpse of mountains in the distance or observe everyday life in the Himalayan foothills while you walk around.

From Kenja, a steep elevation ascent takes you to Sete, a charming settlement snuggled within rhododendron woods.

Overnight stay at Sete.

After Sete, the trail begins to rise to the Lamjura La Pass (3530 m), by far the highest point across Jiri and Namche. In the spring, this section is filled with beautiful blooming rhododendrons; it is undoubtedly one of the most scenic parts of the trek. From over the pass, the Dudh Kosi Valley and surrounding Himalayan range can be seen. 

The trail goes down to Junbesi from the pass, a small village famous among the Sherpas for its traditional hospitality. Here, you will find a monastery and opportunities to learn a bit more about Sherpa culture.

The path leaves Junbesi and descends to the Junbesi Khola before climbing to Taksindo La Pass at an altitude of 3071 meters. At first, you will see Mount Everest and other summits like Thamserku and Kantega as part of the views. The path leads you through traditional Sherpa villages and mani walls, which showcase a glimpse into the region’s spiritual heritage lined with prayer flags.

Once across the pass, the trail goes steeply down through forests, over terraced hillsides, and down to Nunthala, a small village on the banks of the Dudh Koshi River. Nunthala is one of the finest spots for a stopover, with some cozy teahouses and the opportunity to meet the locals.

On the sixth day of the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek, you will follow a trail downwards along the tributary of the Dudh Koshi River. This journey passes several other picturesque settlements like Jubing and Khari Khola renowned for their terraced fields and lodges.

You will then climb upwards from Khari Khola to Bupsa, a charming hillside village. The rest of the trail is filled with a lot of wildlife sightings, including some Himalayan birds and a few monkeys as well. The panorama of valleys found around and the very calm atmosphere at the place make Bupsa an ideal place to spend a night.

Today, you will follow the hidden travel paths and then reach another pass Khari La, which gives the view of snow capped peaks at the top of the route.  You will walk through the busy village of Surke as a whole bunch of trekkers from Lukla start joining the route.

With a gentle climb, you will soon reach Chheplung, which is the main junction of the route leading directly to the Everest Base Camp. At Chheplung, you can find many tea houses to stay overnight.

The eighth day of the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek brings you through the Dudh Koshi River, which passes through Monjo, the opening to Sagarmatha National Park. A mighty river, lush forests, and a suspension bridge at Hillary Bridge mark the trek’s major attractions. This phase of the trek gives you glimpses of Everest with other peaks such as Ama Dablam.

When you reach Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa town in the area, you’ll find a bustling market with bakeries and a rich culture all around it. Namche is the base for trekkers and has anything from equipment shops to cultural museums. Enjoy a little rest here.

It is best to see Namche and the surroundings as you spend the first day adapting to the altitude. This day also brings a short hike to the Sagarmatha National Park Museum where there can be knowledge about local wildlife, Sherpa culture, and Everest expeditions. Another option is walking onto the Everest View Hotel, where sensational views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam can be enjoyed.

This day is really important for acclimatization, for adjusting to the thin air, by walking along the busy streets of Namche.

From Namche Bazaar, the narrow trail climbs steeply along a ridge with beautiful views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. The path continues through the forests of rhododendron trees. Musk deer and colorful pheasants are often seen along the way. Then, the course leads all the way down to the river at Phunki Tenga.

An uphill trek from Phunki Tenga takes you to Tengboche, whose pride is the famous Tengboche Monastery. Besides the monastery, you will be greeted with stunning views of Everest and most of the surrounding mountains.

Today, trekking down through the forests brings you to the banks of the Imja Khola River before climbing towards Pangboche. Then, the scenery turns into a dramatic scene as the view of Ama Dablam dominates the landscape.

Moving uphill, vegetation gives you a breathtaking scene as you approach Dingboche. This is a settlement known for some of its most beautiful fields surrounded by stone walls, and it is one of the best places where acclimatization can be done.

The twelfth day of the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek brings you up to the Khumbu Glacier moraine for Lobuche. The trail goes uphill to Dughla, and after the Dughla, it steepens again, and you have to cross a ridge litters up with memorials for Everest climbers who died. Another continuation along the glacier will lead you to Lobuche, a small settlement surrounded by massive mountains. 

The stunning views of Nuptse and Pumori serve to prepare you for the final push toward Everest Base Camp.

The day starts with a few hours of trekking to Gorak Shep, a little village lying among the moraine. After a short rest, you will continue on the rocky trail along the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp. It is a rough terrain but worth its value due to the closeness of towering peaks and the “infamous” Khumbu Icefall.

Standing in the lap of Everest Base Camp is something big. From here, you can have breathtaking views of Mt. Everest itself, along with Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and many others. After exploring the base camp, you will come down to Gorak Shep and rest for the night.

The most beautiful views experienced during the entire trek are from the early morning hike to Kala Patthar. We will start our hike early in the morning to see the golden light of sunrise illuminating Everest, Nuptse, and a spattering of other peaks. This viewpoint is perfect for photography geeks as one can have a 360-degree view of the whole Mahalangur range.

After the descent to Gorak Shep, the route heads back to Pheriche. This village at a lower altitude relieves and enriches oxygen for such a day of challenging effort coupled with splendid views made memorable in this trek.

On the fifteenth day of the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek, we will make our way back to Namche Bazaar. The trail passes through Pangboche and Tengboche and enables one to visit favorite spots again or catch any photos that may have been captured.

Upon your arrival in Namche Bazaar, you can explore busy streets and homely teahouses. Overnight stay at a hotel in Namche Bazaar.

Today, the descent towards Lukla hits the road. As you hike downhill, you will pass several Sherpa settlements like Monjo and Phakding. You will be walking along the rhododendron forests, crossing suspension bridges following the Dudh Koshi River.

When you find yourself in Lukla, relax and relish the taste of having climbed. You will stay overnight at a lodge in Lukla and prepare for the flight back to Kathmandu.

Once our journey from Jiri to Everest Base Camp is completed, we will fly back to Kathmandu on a 30 minutes flight. As we reach Kathmandu, you can either stroll around the busy streets of Thamel or just rest at your hotel.

On your final day, you will say goodbye to Nepal and the Mountain Treks Nepal Team. Our representative will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport from where you will onboard a flight to your home country.