Everest Base Camp Trek without Lukla Flight 16 Days

Best Time to Everest Base Camp Trek without lukla flight

Spring (March to May) and fall (late September to November) are the optimum times to hike to Everest Base Camp. In the spring, the weather is stable, you can see well, and the trails are full of blossoming rhododendrons and other alpine plants. In the fall, the skies are clear, the air is cool, and the trails are dry, giving you great views of Everest and the peaks around it. These seasons are also the busiest months for hiking, so the trails and teahouses can be very busy.

While winter (December to February) offers seclusion, intense weather and snow can make the walk more difficult. Most people avoid the monsoon season (June to August) because of the heavy rain, landslides, and low visibility.

Elevation and Trekking Distance

The Everest Base Camp Trek starts from Thamdanda (around 2,300m) or Lukla (2,800m) and goes up to Kala Patthar, which is 5,550m high. The base camp for Everest is at 5,364 meters. Depending on where you start and how many side hikes you take, you’ll walk about 120 to 130 kilometers (75-80 miles) round trip. Daily elevation climbs are meant to let people get used to the new environment slowly. As trekkers move from lush lowlands to the high Himalayan highlands, they see major changes in the scenery, plants, and weather at each level.

Maximum/Minimum Walk Per Day

How much time you spend walking a day is determined by the altitude, terrain as well as your intentions. Trekking is usually done by most people with 5 to 7 hours a day, and a distance of 8 to 15 kilometers in a day. A brief day of walking can be an acclimatization walk or a slow descent that takes 3 to 4 hours. The additional time might be 8 or 10 hours of walking, such as the hike to EBC or Kala Patthar. It has days of rest and acclimatization to the elevated altitudes lest you exceed yourself.

Difficulty and Acclimatization

They say that EBC Trek is not extremely difficult. It does not require technical climbing skills, but the fact that it takes a long day, is very high, and is at high altitude presents physical and emotional challenges. The altitude is something one really needs to acclimatize to.

There are at least two rest days in the majority of itineraries (Namche Bazaar and Dingboche), to allow your body to adapt. To reduce the risk of developing the Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), you need to take things slow, drink a lot of water and sleep lower than your highest elevation of your hiking adventure. The right pace is required to make the trek safe and effective.

Can a Beginner Trek to Everest Base Camp?

Yes, beginners may do the Everest Base Camp Trek without Lukla Flight, providing they are physically fit, mentally prepared, and follow a well paced plan. Every year, many people who have never trekked before successfully finish the EBC course. It helps to have done some trekking before, but it’s not required. But beginners should exercise ahead of time and know the risks that come with being at a high altitude. For help, safety, and local expertise, it is highly advised that you hire a licensed guide and/or porter. The EBC journey might change your life if you plan ahead.

Preparation and Training

To trek to EBC, you need to be in good shape, have a lot of energy, and be mentally tough. You should start training 8 to 12 weeks before the expedition. Include things like trekking with a heavy backpack, jogging, climbing stairs, and working out your legs and core. The best way to get ready is to go hiking on the weekends at higher altitudes, if you can. Equally vital is preparing mentally, long days, uncertain weather, and limited amenities require patience and adaptability. Before you leave, wear your hiking boots for longer miles to break them in and keep from getting blisters.

Alternate Routes

There are a number of other ways to get to Everest Base Camp that are less busy or more adventurous. The Jiri to EBC route goes back to the original path that Hillary and Tenzing took, starting in Jiri and joining the main trail at Lukla. The Salleri/Phaplu overland route (as in your schedule) avoids Lukla flights and offers a greater cultural experience through Rai and Sherpa communities.  The Gokyo Lakes and Cho La Pass route adds alpine lakes and a high altitude pass. The Three Passes Trek is harder but has the best vistas and less people walking on it.

Altitude Sickness

Above 3,000m, altitude sickness, often known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a major risk. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, and trouble breathing are all signs. To lower their danger, hikers should go up slowly, take acclimatization days, drink plenty of water, and stay away from alcohol. You can use medicines like Diamox (Acetazolamide) to stop symptoms from getting worse or to treat mild ones. Severe cases necessitate immediate descent and probably evacuation.  It’s important to know the signs and respond quickly. Guides are trained to spot and deal with AMS, which makes them very useful.

Accommodation, Food, and Drink

Teahouses, which are basic guesthouses managed by local families, are where you can stay along the trail. The rooms are simple, with two beds and a common bathroom. They provide you blankets, but you need a warm sleeping bag. Meals include robust, high carb dishes such as dal bhat, noodles, fried rice, pasta, eggs, and momos (dumplings).  In addition to tea, teahouses often serve soups and instant coffee. You can buy bottled water, but it’s expensive at higher altitudes. It’s best to use purification pills, iodine drops, or a filter bottle to clean tap water. The cuisine is nourishing and surprisingly diversified given the distant environment.

Transportation

Most EBC treks begin with either a flight to Lukla or an overland jeep trip to Thamdanda/Salleri.  Flights are faster (30-40 minutes), but they can be delayed because of bad weather and Lukla’s hard to reach airstrip. The overland path takes longer (8-10 hours), but it’s safer and more beautiful because it goes up slowly.

The same route is used for return journeys. In Kathmandu, you can get around in private cars, taxis, or scheduled tourist buses. Most people who go trekking book all of their transportation through a trekking organization to make sure it is reliable and that everything is coordinated with the locals.

Communication, Gadgets Charging, and Internet/Wi-Fi

Most parts of the path have mobile phone coverage, especially with Ncell and NTC SIM cards. However, the signal may be weak or not available at higher altitudes. Wi-Fi is offered at several teahouses for a modest cost, especially in Namche and Dingboche, albeit it’s slow.  There aren’t many power outlets, and charging electronics usually costs money. Bring a power bank, solar charger, or extra batteries for cameras and phones.  To save energy, keep your gadgets warm and switch off features you don’t need. Offline GPS programs and maps that you download are quite helpful.

Permits for Everest Base Camp Trek

• TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) is used to keep track of and keep people safe. but not compulsory it.
• Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. This is because you will be going into a protected area.
• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. needed for areas where local government works.

People check these permits at several places along the trail. You may get them in Kathmandu or from a recognized trekking company. Bring both paper and digital copies with you on the walk.