Everest Base Camp Trek by Road

Everest Base Camp Trek by road (without flight) is possible via Salleri, Phaplu. The Salleri to Everest Base Camp trek is a unique and challenging route that offers an alternative experience to the more common Lukla to Everest Base Camp trek. Salleri and Phaplu (2.5 km from Salleri) have recently been connected to Kathmandu by a blacktop road, and the road to Thamdanda (Tham Danda) just beyond Bupsa is under construction.

It is also possible to drive from Salleri to Thamdanda except during the monsoon season. The Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri without flights to and from Lukla usually takes about 18–22 days and passes through beautiful landscapes, forests, Buddhist monasteries and traditional Sherpa villages.

If you don't want to fly to Lukla and back, the right option is to do the Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri and return the same way. With the “drive-in” and “drive-out” Everest Base Camp Trek, you don't have to worry about flight cancellations and flights to and from the dangerous airport in small planes.

The trail offers a more gradual acclimatization and starts at a lower altitude in Salleri, Phaplu or Thamdanda. Phaplu to Thamdanda road is under construction but nowadays accessible by 4WD jeeps. It is always better to use a local jeep which knows the road conditions well. The trek from Salleri, Phaplu or Thamdanda to Everest Base Camp provides an opportunity to explore the most fascinating Solu and Khumbu trekking areas together, therefore this trek route is also called Solukhumbu trekking.

There are daily public bus and jeep services from Kathmandu to Salleri and Phaplu (266 km), which take about 8 hours. Some trekkers prefer to travel directly from Kathmandu to Tamdanda in a single day, which is about a 14-hour drive. We advise against choosing this option as it is a strenuous, long journey. From Phaplu, you have the option to either hike or take a local jeep to Thamdanda to shorten your trekking days. The drive from Salleri, Phaplu to Thamdanda (2780 m) takes about 5 hours by local jeep, which can be shared or private depending on the service booked. After reaching Thamdanda, you will start your trek to Paiya (2,730 m) on the same day, which takes about 2 hours.

The next day, you trek to Phakding through a few descents and more ascents. The trek passes through beautiful villages like Surke, Chaurikharka and Chheplung. It is the meeting point of the Everest Trail, which leads from Lukla to Everest Base Camp. From Chheplung, the trail leads gently downhill through rhododendron forests, past several traditional Sherpa villages and slightly uphill to Ghat. The trail from Ghat to Phakding (2,610 m) is mostly flat and easy to walk.

The trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar begins with an easy hike along the Dudh Kosi upstream, past the villages of Monjo and Jorsale. After about an hour of mostly flat terrain from Jorsale, the trail begins to ascend and the view of the surrounding mountains opens up. The ascent is gradual at first, but it becomes steeper as you get closer to Namche Bazaar. Finally, you reach Namche Bazaar, the main trekking hub in the Khumbu Valley. Namche Bazaar is a bustling town with a variety of stores, restaurants, and teahouses. It is a great place to rest and acclimatize to the altitude before continuing the trek to Everest Base Camp.

From Namche Bazaar, the trail climbs through the villages of Tengboche, Deboche, Shamare, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep (5,140 m). The trail passes through breathtaking mountain scenery, including towering peaks, glaciers, and forests. The final destination of the trek is Everest Base Camp, located at an altitude of 5,364 meters.

Everest Base Camp is a remote and barren place, but standing at the foot of the world's highest mountain is an unforgettable experience. To get a better view of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains, you have to climb Kala Patthar, which lies at an altitude of 5,545 meters. The climb to Kala Patthar is steep and challenging, but well worth it for the view.

After enjoying the view from Kala Patthar, trek back along the same path you took from Thamdanda. The trail descends through a steep and rocky terrain, so it is important to be careful and take your time. The views from the trail are stunning, and you will get to see Everest and the surrounding mountains from a different perspective.

After Thamdanda, take a local jeep to Phaplu, Salleri. Stop there and take a private jeep, a shared jeep or a bus to Kathmandu the next day. After a long trek and a long drive, you need a good rest in Kathmandu.