Unidentified nepalese people on the way to Everest base camp. 2016. The way from Namche Bazar to Tengboche village.

What are the different Everest Base Camp trek routes?

Jun 25, 2024
Reading time: 6 minutes

You can trek to and from Everest Base Camp via a handful of different routes. You can also catch a helicopter ride back from base camp. We describe the different Everest Base Camp trek routes we offer at Follow Alice to help you decide which is for you!

Everest Base Camp trek
What are the different Everest Base Camp routes?

The Everest Base Camp trek is a truly exhilarating and once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are various routes you can trek there and back, and you can even opt to fly back after reaching base camp.

Here's an outline of each of the four different Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek routes offered by us at Follow Alice. We discuss the pros of each to help you decide which suits you best in terms of duration, difficulty, cost, variety of scenery and more!

1. Classic EBC trek

Follow Alice classic EBC trek map

 

The traditional or classic Everest Base Camp trek route involves hiking a trail that is 53 km (33 mile) from the airport town of Lukla to Everest Base Camp. You then retrace your steps on the return journey. So the total trek distance is 106 km (66 miles). This is the shortest EBC trek you can do.

At Follow Alice, we include two small deviations on the return route in order to show you more diversified scenery and let you overnight in some different, quieter villages. You can see these detours on the map above.

The classic EBC trek package that we offer has you on the trail for 11 days. We say "on the trail for 11 days" and not "trek for 11 days", as we're including an important rest and acclimatisation day in the middle of the ascent. (Though you can opt to do a rewarding roundtrip hike on that day if you're feeling up to it!) The whole trip with us, however, lasts 14 days, as it includes your travel to and from Kathmandu.

We recommend this version of the trek for those with limited time and budget for the adventure but who still want to challenge themselves to complete the full roundtrip EBC trek. In other words, the three main advantages of this EBC variation are:

  • It's by far the most affordable option.
  • It's the shortest roundtrip route on offer.
  • Boasting rights to having completed the full EBC trek are up for grabs!

But for those with even less free time in their calendar, or who might find an 11-day trek too taxing, we recommend hiking the classic route to base camp but then catching a helicopter ride back ...

2. EBC trek with a helicopter return

Map EBC with helicopter

 

Excitingly, you have the option of trekking to Everest Base Camp along the classic route and then hopping into a helicopter for a breathtaking ride back to Lukla (the starting point of the trek route).

This option has two main advantages:

  • It's the shortest and therefore easiest EBC trek possible, so it's a good option for less seasoned trekkers.
  • You get to see Mt Everest, other famous peaks, renowned glaciers and the incredible scenery from the truly memorable vantage point of up in the sky!

Please read Everest Base Camp trek and helicopter return for a detailed description of the route you would trek. You can also check out our EBC trek and helicopter return package for a breakdown of the trip itinerary. You'll notice that this option is quite a bit more expensive – this is because helicopter rides through the Himalayas don't come cheap!

Finally, note that you're on the trail for just eight days with this EBC itinerary. This includes an important acclimatisation day.

3. EBC and Gokyo Lakes trek

Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes - Map

 

One of the most popular variations of the classic EBC trek (and for good reasons!) is the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes trek. On this trek you follow the traditional route to base camp, but then make a big detour on the return journey to visit the exceptionally beautiful Gokyo Lakes.

There are a few pros to doing the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes trek:

  • Firstly, it creates a loop in the trail, meaning for most of your return hike you walk through fresh territory. There’s so much cultural and natural richness in Khumbu, we feel it would be a pity to tramp the same path when you can divert just a little and enjoy more of it. 
  • Secondly, this route offers a bigger challenge and, as a result, rewards you with some incredible scenery you miss on the classic EBC trek. Most notably, you cross Cho Pass, summit Gokyo Peak (5,357 m), see the magnificent Ngozumpa Glacier, and visit the pristine Gokyo Lakes.
  • Finally, this return route is quieter than the main one, allowing you to experience an even more remote and traditional part of the Himalayas.

Note that you're on the trail for 13 days with this EBC variation, which includes important acclimatisation and rest days. Please read Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes trek route for a detailed day-by-day description of the route.

4. EBC and Three Passes trek

EBC Three Passes Trek Map

 

The famous Everest Base Camp and Three Passes route can be thought of as an extension of the EBC and Gokyo Lakes trek route – the trail you trek to Everest Base Camp is just longer and harder, as it includes two mountain pass crossings.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, this EBC trek variation is the hardest of all on offer, and so we recommend it for seasoned high-altitude trekkers looking for a supersized Himalayan adventure!

The advantages of the EBC and Three Passes trek route are:

  • For those keen to up the challenge, this route is the most challenging on offer. You must cross three mountain passes well above the 5,000 m marker and navigate tricky sections of trail where there's snow, loose rocks, boulders and scree.
  • You spend over a fortnight doing a big loop through Sagarmatha National Park on this trek – one that includes the bustling, traditional section of the EBC trail as well as some of the wildest, quietest and most traditional corners of the region. This means you get to see and experience much more of this beautiful part of the Himalayas than most trekkers.
  • This route offers the very best scenery and views of all the different Everest Base Camp trek routes!

You're on the trail for 15 days on this variation of the EBC trek. This includes two acclimatisation days. However, there are fantastic day hikes that you can do on each day, so they don't need to be idle days if you don't want them to be.

For a detailed day-by-day description of the route, please read Everest Base Camp and Three Passes trek route.

 

 

A note about acclimatisation ...

Proper acclimatisation is an important aspect of any high-altitude trek.

Altitude can start to be a problem from anywhere above 3,000 m. As we discuss in detail in Altitude gain on the EBC trek, you climb to well above 5,000 m on this famous trail, no matter which variation you trek.

You need to include at least one acclimatisation day on the classic EBC trek. Two is even better, especially on the longer treks. Acclimatisation days are included in all of our proposed itineraries.

And that’s it, folks! If you’d like to know anything further about one or more of the Everest Base Camp routes, or about the trek in general, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you. Or if you’re ready to take the plunge, book your spot on an Everest Base Camp trek now!