Solu Phaplu Salleri Everest Base Camp Trek 18 days

We start to drive from Kathmandu to Salleri in a local Jeep, it is about 10 hours drive. We can book jeep for comfortable keen travelers. If taking ground transfer; we can view the panoramas of Riverside, jungle, wonderful landscape and the scattered villages during the ride. We cross the bridge at Sunkoshi River and continue through Okhaldhunga. On the way, we can see the incredible peaks as Dudhkunda (Numpur Himal), Everest and others.Then it is a continual drive up and up, which takes us to the district of Solukhumbu-Salleri. Overnight at Lodge.

Today we trek to Takshindo, we start our foothill journey after the hot breakfast. It goes through the countryside road, which is wide and after our entire hike today is easy and comfortable. The view of Numpur Himal is awesome and the local scenarios accompany it. The trekkers, who fly to Phaplu from Kathmandu for 25 minutes, have also the same route for trekking. We cross small streams and hill gorges. From Fera, we walk through the jungle of Pine till we get to Ringmo. We walk furthermore 2 hours to reach Taksindo. We enjoy the first day trek and take a rest. Overnight at Lodge.

From the hill of Takshindo, the picturesque scenarios of Salleri can be explored. The monasteries of the village represent mystical touch with Tibetan Buddhism. From another ridge, the views of Lukla, Nunthala valley astound us. Then we descend through the pine and oak forest, pass the Nunthala village and continue trek down, cross the Dudhkoshi River and get up to Jubing. After about 2 hours ascend, we reach to Kharikhola. It will take about Overnight at Lodge.

We have a pass or two, dense forest and majorly an uphill trek in this section of the trail. Initially the trek passes through the settlement of Bupsa, after the view of Khumbila mountain and explores the forest mostly dominated by monkeys before we reach to Kharte. Further on the trail we have uphill climb to the Khari La Pass (3145m). We have views of Gyanchung Kang and Khubila mountain from this pass. We shall carefully descend on rather slippery trail on the way to Puiyan after crossing a small stream. We may further ascend through the ups and downs and cross another Chutok La Pass (2945m), traverse through the Dudh Koshi canyon and end this section of the trek at Surke.

Puiyan or Surke to Phakding The trek past this section of our trail shall be mostly of alpine vegetation though we shall have ups and downs in the trail. We continue besides the river through forests as we pass the route leading to Lukla airport and continue on to reach to the settlement of Chheplung where we meet the main trail to Everest that comes down from Lukla. We have more trekkers from this point onwards as we move along the trail with the view of snow-clad mountains, gompas and prayer wheels and interaction with the trekkers and locals we meet on the way. After the settlement of Dukhdinma, we continue straight on to the stoppage place of Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

The trek for this section of our trail begins with traverse through pine forest and a short climb to skip a narrow gorge before we cross small stream and erach to the settlement of Monjo, the gateway to the Sagarmatha National Park. After obtaining the permit and getting necessary information from the office of the national park we head for the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. Beginning with a slight climb to Jorsale, the trail passes a waterfall. We cross the river again and continue along the trail gaining the height steadily reaching the last bridge of the day, and one of the highest of the trail and reach to the confluence of Dudh Koshi River and Imja River. Further on, we have a one and half hour steep climb to the lively and vibrant settlement of Namche Bazaar (3440m). All day, we pass villages interspersed with magnificent forest – rhododendron, magnolia trees and giant firs, and . Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Today it is scheduled rest and acclimatization day in the itinerary. Much popular for cultural richness and blend of traditional and modern lifestyle, Namche Bazaar is also popular among the trekkers and mountaineers for acclimatization. Acclimatization is most important before proceeding to a higher elevation. You can set off on a short day hike to thame, khunde or Khumjung or relax and explore the Sherpa culture of Namche. These hikes to the satellite settlements of Thame and the twin settlements of Khunde and Khumjung are a rich experience. The trekkers get to explore the monastery at Khumjung, famed for the preserved skull of Yeti. The hospital and school built by Sir Edmund Hillary at Khumjung, hike to the Everest View Hotel for the magnificent view of the Everest and adjoining ranges are highlighted hikes in this region. Museum of Sherpa Culture at Namche and the abundance of souvenir shops, teahouses and places of entertainment makes the acclimatization an enriching experience. Overnight in Namche.

The trail is relatively flat and easy in the earlier trek with the view of the tallest Everest and other mountains including Ama Dablam, Lhotse Sar, Taboche, Kang Taiga and others besides the wild lives of pheasant, musk deer, Himalayan Thar in the forests as we are led up to the Kyangjuma. In the winding path that leads us ahead we descend deep into the valley of Dudh Koshi at the settlement of Phunke Tenga intermittently through the stone steps and bridge over the torrential river. This settlement has a couple of teahouses and an army post surrounded by forests. Moving ahead in the trail we have a tough climb through the pine forests before reaching to Tengboche. A settlement with largest Buddhist monastery in Khumbu region and the marvelous view of several mountains, Tengboche is a cultural hotspot of the region. Overnight in Tengboche.

We begin this section of the trek with a short, steep and mudy descent to Deboche through a forest of birches, conifers and rhododendrons. Marvelous views of the mountains including Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse are visible from Deboche. After this picturesque scenario we move past the long prayer Mani walls till the narrow bridge over Imja River and along the trail to the settlement of Somare where we have close up view of Ama Dablam Mountain. We move further along the Imja River through a short walk on relatively flat section before we branch off towards the Dingboche from the trail leading to Pheriche. Then the route enters alpine meadows above the tree line before reaching Dingboche at 4240m. This settlement of Dingboche is a beautiful and small village with houses made by stone walls, cultivation of barley, buckwheat and potatoes, occupational animal husbandry and the celebration of cultural and traditional values. Overnight in Dingboche.

The trek on this sections starts with passing the prayers stupa along the gradual path and view of the mountains including Mt. Tawache, Ama Dablam, Kongma Tse and the Nuptse besides overlooking the beautiful Pheriche village. Crossing the wooden bridge at Thugla and marveling the view of Pumori we trek the steep landscape to the terminal moraine of Khumbu glacier. Atop the ridge of Chupki Lhara we find the array of stone with prayer flags to remember the mountaineers deceased on a mission to climb the Everest. We further move along into the vicinity of Everest with the view of several great peaks right in front of us while the Khumbu glacier remain hidden due to the lateral moraine. Overnight in Lobuche.

An important day in the entire itinerary where we shall have the breathtaking view of the Everest from the Kala Patthar and reach to the lap of the Everest at the Everest Base Camp before which we ascend to the Gorak Shep. We start with the trek past the Italian Research Centre and along the Khumbu Glacier and climbing steeply up to the top of the Gorak Shep through the stream of Changri glacier we have the view of Kalapatthar. We proceed towards the Everest Base Camp along the new moraine route. The feeling of being close to the tallest mountain of the planet is a euphoric feel. We then return from the lap of the tallest mountain and have overnight stay at the Gorak Shep. Overnight in Gorak Shep.

The next day we start early and ascend to the Kala Patthar to have the breathtaking view of sunrise over the snowcapped mountains. Preparation for ascend to the Kala Patthar requires preparation the previous day. We have a steady ascent to the summit of the Kala Patthar with several stoppages in between to catch our breath and take scenic pictures. We further ascent to the rocky outcrop near to the summit marked by prayer flags for unbelievable Himalayan panorama. After capturing the moments we descend to the Gorak Shep and gradually descend to the settlement of Pheriche. Overnight in Pheriche.

After breakfast, we begin a long walk down to Namche Bazaar via Pangboche and Phunki Tenga. The views of the Himalayas and forest are wonderful. Overnight at Lodge.

Namche Bazaar to Lukla. 5-6 hours. From Namche bazaar, we continue to trek down to Lukla, the last trekking day of the trip. With the view of the waterfall and Sherpa villages, we cross the Phakding and reach to Lukla. Overnight at Lodge

Breakfast and trek downhill and uphill through jungle to Bupsa.

Brekfast and trek for 6-7 hours uphill and downhill trek to Nunthala or further up to Taksindu.

Breakfast and trek for 6-7 hours to Salleri.

Breakfast and drive either by jeep or bus drive to Kathmandu sharing with other people that takes 8-9 hours drive.