Phaplu To Everest Base Camp Trek – 18 days
  • Duration
    18 Days
  • Max. Altitude
    5644m
  • Trip Grade
    Strenuous
  • Activity
    Trekking, Discovery, Tours
  • Group Size
    12 People Max

Phaplu To Everest Base Camp Trek – 18 days

The ultimate adventure of Everest Case Camp Trek offers stunning mountain panoramas, if you enjoy hiking, this is one of the most inspiring places in the world to do it.

Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek in the Khumbu area of Nepal is a less crowded alternative trekking trail to the foot of the highest mountain in the world Mt. Everest. The 18-day trip across the Sherpa homeland of Dudh Koshi and the Imja River Valley offers spectacular views of the eight-thousander Himalayas. It is an exciting experience of traversing at high altitudes across the lush terrain of Sagarmatha National Park.

The altered trekking trail begins from Phaplu in eastern Nepal and then proceeds on Bupsa, meeting the classic Jiri Everest Base Camp trail. From there, it joins with the well-known Everest Base Camp trail at Phakding. Passing through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep, you get a glimpse of Sherpa culture and traditions. You hike to Everest Base Camp (EBC), the ultimate destination, and then to Kala Patthar for a breathtaking wide-angle view of the Himalayas. The scenic route leads down to Pheriche village, Namche, and then Lukla.

This trek is well worth it if you want to connect with nature, learn about ethnic Sherpa traditions and culture, and enjoy up-close views of the high Himalayas. This moderate to difficult trek is designed for those who have the time and budget to spend and trek the Himalayas for once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences.

How difficult is Phaplu to Everest Base Camp?

The Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trip is a moderate-grade trek. This trek is moderate, but there are some difficult parts. The sloppy and rugged terrains may be new and tiring for some trekkers.

Trekking in this region will be a lot easier if you keep to your own pace, enjoy nature, and pack wisely. The weather from Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek is not very harsh nor does extreme weather change. You will see many guest houses along the trail, so make sure you will get enough rest and good dining.

Itinerary

1

Arrive in Kathmandu

Welcome to the Himalayas! Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to the hotel by private tourist vehicle. Rest and recovery day from jetlag. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

  • Accommodation
    Optinal
  • Meal
    No meals
  • Max. Altitude
    1400m
  • Time
    Rest day
2

Drive from Drive Kathmandu to Phaplu

It is an early morning drive towards Phaplu town in the northeast. It is a long drive through green valleys, alongside rivers, and surrounded by mountains. After passing Dhulikhel, you will have left the Kathmandu valley. The journey continues to Bhimkhori and Birpani from there. You’ll stop for lunch in between, then continue to Ghurmi, where the rocky trail leads north to Okhaldhunga. From there to Pattale, the most of the road is blacktopped.

Following a zigzag route alongside the Solu river, you will arrive in the Solukhumbu district at Phaplu. You can also take a flight to Phaplu, which has its own airport. Greenery abounds in this lovely town. Take a break after a long and tiring drive. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Dinner
  • Time
    (266 km) 7 - 8 hours
3

Trek to Nunthala

The trek will begin tody. You’ll be heading to Nunthala village, which is situated further into the Khumbu region. The first section of the trek takes you to Tak-Sindo La pass. It is decorated with Buddhist peace flags and is a viewpoint to see Thamshekhu, Kusum Kanguru, Mera Peak and Kangtega Peak. Take a short break Taksindu gompa, a religious shrine for the locals. You will pass through the Sherpa community after following a rugged trail. A forested trail leads from there to Nunthala.

Nunthala is a unique village in the region’s east. Along the streets, you will see a lot of mules, yaks, and horses. The village is linked to the commercial route because it is the last village in the district’s north. You will see animals and locals transporting supplies back and forth. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    2330m
  • Time
    6 hours
4

Trek to Bupsa

After breakfast, start packing your belongings, then head downwards through the Dudh Koshi River, sourced by Ngozumpa Glacier. You’ll trek through a rocky, muddy, and unstable trail after crossing a long suspension bridge. Then, after a steep ascent, you’ll arrive at a beautiful Jubing village inhabited by the Rai community.

From there, climb stone stairs into Kari Khola, passing through terraced fields and forests. After lunch, take a quick stroll around a local Gompa situated on a ridge. The views of the valley from the ridge are spectacular. Continue your journey via stone houses, countryside, millet fields, and into Bupsa.

Bupsa is a small Sherpa settlement. There will be many other travelers who have stopped for the night because it is a well-known spot on the Jiri to Everest Base Camp trek. Upon arriving at your teahouse, rest for a while before visiting the nearby monastery to learn about the Sherpa culture and traditions. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    2070m
  • Time
    5 - 6 hours
5

Trek to Surke

After breakfast, make an early start for Surke. The first half of the trek will be uphill, as you’ll be trekking alongside mules carrying heavy basic supplies. The trail then brings you to Kari La, an elevation of 2800m, from where you can see the entire valley. The planes carrying supplies and passengers can be seen flying towards Lukla. After a few ups and downs in the trail, you will arrive at Paiya. From there, follow a downhill hike until you reach Surke.

Surke is well-known for its fertile land perfect for agriculture. The ground is wet, and the weather is cool. The town is built beneath the Lukla airport. Enjoy local cuisine and beverages served by locals. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    2290m
  • Time
    6 - 7 hours
6

Trek to Phakding

We leave Surke and hike towards Phakding along the Dudh Koshi River’s trails. We begin ascending to Chaurikharka, a large scattered village. Then passing by various Buddhist monuments, peace flags, and Chortens along the way, we arrive in Phakding for the overnight. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    2652m
  • Time
    4 - 5 hours
7

Trek to Namche Bazaar

Trekking alongside the Dudh Koshi River, we cross several suspension bridges en route to Namche Bazaar. As the trail enters a National Park, it ascend steeply to Namche Bazaar, also known as the Gateway to Everest. Namche Bazaar is a Sherpa town with full restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, a bakery, etc. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    3440m
  • Time
    5 - 6 hours
8

Discover Namche Bazaar / Acclimatization day

We take a day off from hiking for acclimatize. We can either rest or take a short enjoyable hike to Khunde and Khumjung villages. Khumjung is a Sherpa settlement in a beautiful valley with an ancient monastery displaying the skull of Yeti and a breathtaking view of Everest (8848m) and other high peaks.

We also visit the Sherpa village of Khunde, which is located at the base of KhumbiYul la (5761m), a sacred mountain of the Sherpa people. We return to Namche for the night. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    3440m
  • Time
    Rest day
9

Trek to Tengboche Monastery

We trek through the dense forest, accompanied by a spectacular view of the mountains in the backdrop. Before reaching Tengboche, the trail ascends via the jungle trail and a stone gate built by Lama.

Tengboche is a lovely village that housing the historic Tengboche monastery, which is the most sacred monastery to the Sherpas of the Khumbu region.

Tengboche monastery also offers an impressive view of the high Himalayas, including Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8414m), and Cho Oyu (8188m). Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    3867m
  • Time
    5 hours
10

Trek to Dingboche village

Leaving Tengboche behind, we start our journey to Dingboche village. We trek through rhododendron forest to Deboche, then cross the Imja River bridge.

We also come across many villages like Pangboche, Milingo and Somare before reaching Dingboche. An ascent along the Imja River takes us to Dingboche, where we will spend the night. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    4410m
  • Time
    5 hours
11

Acclimatization at Dingboche and optional hike

After breakfast, we will ascend to Nagarjuna (5100m), a hill right above Dingboche on the Chhukung valley sides. We will hike for about 3 – 4 hours to Nangkartshang Peak, which is situated just above Dingboche and offers incredible views of the surrounding Himalayas. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Time
    Rest day
12

Trek to Lobuche

We continue our journey to Lobuche. We pass Pheriche, enjoying the views of Taboche (6367m), Ama Dablam (6856m), and Nuptse (7861m) in the background.

We continue our trek by crossing the Khumbu Glacier stream, which takes us to Dughla before reaching at Lobuche. Then we cross Thokla Pass (4830m) and ascend alongside Khumbu Glacier moraines to arrive in Lobuche. Overnight at lodge.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    4928m
  • Time
    5 hours
13

Trek to Everest Base Camp then back to Gorak-shep

After a short ascent through meadows, you can see the Khumbu glacier. Straight ahead is Kala-Patthar, one of the best vantage points for seeing Mt. Everest’s entire south face and the surrounding peaks. We’ll arrive at Gorek-shep after a few hours and continue our trek to Everest Base Camp.

is not much altitude gain, but there are a lot of ups and downs, which, combined with the altitude, this can be a tiring hike – but the journey is worthwhile. After about 3 hours of hiking, you will reach the base camp and have a stunning view of the Khumbu glacier and icefall, from where the Everest expedition begins. Then we’ll return to Gorakshep. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    5180m
  • Time
    7 hours
14

Hike up to Kala Patthar (5645m) and trek back to Pheriche (4250m) 6 hours

We’ll hike to Kala Patthar 5545m early in the morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest 8848m, Mt. Lhotse 8516m, Mt. Makalu 8481m, Mt. Cho Oyu 8201m, and other surrounding peaks.

After spending some time in Kala-patthar, we return to Gorakshep and then take the route that passes via Lobuche to reach Dingboche village, which offers an amazing view of Ama Dablam. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    5644m
  • Time
    6 hours
15

Trek to Namche

As the route descends, the trek becomes easier and faster. Following the same trail with stone walls all around, we arrive at Phunke Tenga, passing through Pangboche, Deboche, and Tengboche. Heading south and crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, this trek continues to the Khyangjuma, also known as the three ways to Gokyo Valley, Khumjung village, and Namche Bazaar.

From here, you can see peaks including Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Tawache, and Lhotse. Pheasants, Himalayan Griffons, Musk deer, and wild goats are among the wildlife that are found in the rhododendron forest. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    3780m
  • Time
    5 hours
16

Trek down to Lukla (2840m) 6 hours

We return to Lukla via Phakding, enjoying the same incredible views as well as the surrounding Sherpa valleys. On this day, we will walk around Lukla and reconfirm the flight ticket. We celebrate and have dinner with the crew members in the final moments of our Everest Base Camp Trek. Overnight at guesthouse.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    2840m
  • Time
    6 hours
17

Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu

Today you’ll take your lovely flight back to Kathmandu. Saying farewell to the beautiful Himalayas once more. Finally, you will arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.

  • Accommodation
    Lodge
  • Meal
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Max. Altitude
    1400m
  • Time
    30 mins
18

Free day / Fly to home

Today, you can either stay in Kathmandu and have a free day, or you can depart for your respective countries.

It’s time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu by enjoying breakfast in a café, going for a city walk, and/or shopping for souvenirs.

A representative will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport to catch your flight home. It’s best to arrive at the airport at least two and a half hours before your flight.

  • Accommodation
    Optional
  • Meal
    Optional
  • Max. Altitude
    1400m
  • Time
    Free day

What to Expect

What's Included

  • Airport transfers pick-up and drop-off.
  • Airfare both ways Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu (390 p.p.)
  • Airfare both ways Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu.
  • Transportation from Kathmandu to Phaplu by jeep.
  • Everest National Park and municipality entry permits.
  • Three meals a day (breakfasts, lunch, dinner) during the trek.
  • Tea/Coffee three times a day.
  • Fresh fruit every evening after the dinner.
  • All accommodations during the trek.
  • Transportations, accommodation, wage, food, insurance, equipment for the guide/porter.
  • English speaking native Sherpa trek guide.
  • All necessary paper works and entry permits.
  • Porter to carry your luggage during the trek (1 porter for 2 trekkers).
  • Magical Summits duffel bag.
  • Hiking pole for the trek, if needed.
  • Trek map.
  • Farewell dinner at typical Nepali restaurant after the trip completion in Kathmandu.

What's Excluded

  • International airfares and Nepal visa.
  • Any personal medical or evacuation expenses incur.
  • International Travel insurance which included rescue.
  • Tips for the guide and porter (tipping is expected).
  • Any others expenses which are not mentioned on the ‘Price Includes’ section.

FAQs

1. Will somebody come to pick me up at the airport?

Yes, our airport representative will be there to greet you at the airport. S/he will be displaying Magical Summits signboard outside the airport terminal. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

2. How difficult is the trek to Everest Base Camp?

3. What type of shape do I need to be?

4. How much extra money do I need?

5. What is the best time to visit Everest Base Camp?

US$ 1785 per pax

Travel With

Magical Summits

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At Magical Summits, we pride ourselves in making that extra effort to give all of our clients our personal touch, crafting each holiday to suits your needs, desires, and budget, to create unforgettable vacation experiences. Ready? Let's go!

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