Are you planning a hike to Everest Base Camp or further? But You have no ideas how to find the best itineraries of the Everest region. The Five alternative trekking routes connect to Everest Base Camp, each with its set-up attractions. To help you choose the best trek, we’ve compiled five best itineraries covering each of the five routes.
We’ve tried to remove all of the uncertainty in this post, so you can now plan and pick your best itinerary for trekking to the Everest region, which might be the Everest Base Camp Trek or the Everest Three Passes Trek, and so on.
All these treks are fascinating and provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences for trekkers of varying abilities and experience levels.
Table of contents
Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp Trek is a dream destination for global trekkers to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The vistas of Mount Everest and the other eight-thousanders are stunning and unequaled on this adventure.
Your trek begins in Nepal at Lukla and continues up to Kala Patthar, 18193 feet above South Everest Base Camp. In addition, this trek will give you an adrenaline rush and a sense of accomplishment you won’t get anywhere else.
The gigantic Everest serves as the cherry on top of this expedition, which includes challenging terrain, incredibly high mountains, and beautiful views.

“Because it is higher in altitude than most other Himalayan Treks and needs a certain level of physical condition and mental preparedness, trekking to Everest Base Camp is known as the “Mother of All Himalayan Treks.”
Days | Day-by-day itinerary | Altitude in Meters | Distance |
1. | Fly into Lukla then trek to Phakding or Manju | 2650 | 3-4h00 |
2. | Trek to Namche Bazaar | 3440 | 6h00 |
3. | Acclimatization day! | ||
4. | Trek to Tengboche Monastery | 3850 | 5h30 |
5. | Tengboche to Dingboche | 4380 | 5h00 |
6. | Acclimatization & rest day! | ||
7. | Trek to Lobuche | 4890 | 6h00 |
8. | Lobuche to Gorakshep then hike to Kala Patthar 5545 meters | 5100 | 7h00 |
9. | Visit EBC (5364 meters), then trek back to Pangboche | 3900 | 7h30 |
10. | Trek to Namche | 3440 | 6h30 |
11. | Namche to Lukla | 2850 | 7h00 |
12. | Fly out to Kathmandu |
Gokyo Lakes via EBC Trek
The Gokyo Lakes Trek is a spectacular alternative to the Everest Base Camp Trek. The route starts in Lukla and follows the classic EBC Trek to Namche Bazaar for the first three days.
Then, it leads northwest to the magnificent Gokyo Lakes, passing through the Dole and Machhermo. The trail then ascends to Gokyo Ri (5,483 meters) and traverses Cho La Pass (5,420 meters) before arriving at Lobuche, the starting point for the famous Everest base camp trek.

It adds two to three days to the Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lakes, but it allows one to avoid the crowds on the famous Everest Base Camp route.
Days | Day-by-day itinerary | Altitude in Meters | Distance |
1. | Fly into Lukla then trek to Phakding or Manju | 2650 | 3-4h00 |
2. | Trek to Namche Bazaar | 3440 | 6h00 |
3. | Acclimatization day! | ||
4. | Trek to Dole | 420 | 6h00 |
5. | Tengboche to Machhermo | 4480 | 4h00 |
6. | Trek to Gokyo Lakes | 4790 | 5h00 |
7. | Acclimatization & rest day! | 5090 | 6h00 |
8. | Trek to Dragnak | 4700 | 3h00 |
9. | Dragnak to Dzongla via Cho – La Pass (5370 Meters) | 4830 | 7h30 |
10. | Trek to Lobuche | 4900 | 5h30 |
11. | Lobuche to Gorakshep then hike to Kalapatthar (5545 Meters) | 5100 | 7h00 |
12. | Trek to Pangboche after visiting EBC | 3900 | 7h30 |
13. | Pangboche to Namche Bazaar | 3400 | 6h30 |
14. | Trek to Lukla | 2850 | 7h00 |
15. | Fly out to KTM |
Island peak Climbing via Everest Base Camp
First, you will trek to the Everest Base Camp and its surroundings when embarking on your journey on Island Peak. Then, after exploring the Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar, you detour to Lobuche or Dingboche.
Island Peak is a true challenge at an elevation of 6,189 meters. It is not for novice climbers, but Island Peak Climbing is said to be suitable for beginners. Many climbers are preparing for Island Peak before climbing Mount Everest.
You can walk from here to Island Peak Base Camp (5,120 m) for a hike/ascension up to Island Peaks Summit. The summit generally takes two days from the base camp. So, Island Peak Climbing via Everest Base Camp takes 18-20 days.
Read this Island Peak Expedition guide for a better experience if you plan to climb Island Peak.
Days | Day-by-day itinerary | Altitude in Meters | Distance |
1. | Fly into Lukla, & trek to Phakding or Manju | 2650 | 3-4h00 |
2. | Trek to Namche Bazaar | 3440 | 6h00 |
3. | Acclimatization day! | ||
4. | Trek to Tengboche Monastery | 3850 | 5h30 |
5. | Tengboche to Dingboche | 4380 | 5h00 |
6. | Acclimatization & rest day! | ||
7. | Dingboche to Lobuche | 4890 | 6h00 |
8. | Trek to Gorakshep then hike to Kala Patthar 5545 meters | 5100 | 7h00 |
9. | Visit EBC (5364 meters), then trek back to Lobuche | 4900 | 6h30 |
10. | Trek to Chhukung via Kongma- La Pass (5535 Meters) | 4430 | 9h30 |
11. | Rest day! Climb Chhukung Ri | 4430 | 4h00 |
12. | Trek to Island Base Camp | 4970 | 4h00 |
13. | Island Peak Base Camp to High Camp | 5600 | 5h00 |
14. | Summit Island Peak 6189 Meters, then back to Base camp | 8h00 | |
15. | Contingency day | ||
16. | Trek to Pangboche | 3900 | 6h00 |
17. | Pangboche to Namche | 3400 | 6h30 |
18. | Trek to Lukla | 2850 | 7h00 |
19. | Fly out to Kathmandu |
Everest Three Passes Trek
The Everest Three Passes Trek is more demanding than the Everest Base Camp Trek because it involves three high passes. However, Everest Three Passes Trek begins like the Everest Base Camp Trek, with a trip to Namche Bazaar.
Then the route heads west, passing through Thame and the isolated Nangpa Valley. Finally, the trail goes through the Dudh Koshi Valley since you approach Renjo – La. The Renjo – La is supposed to be the first pass of the Three Passes Trek.
Before descending to Gokyo Lakes and its valley, you will be rewarded with an awe-inspiring vista of Mount Everest.
After that, the trail heads east to Chola Pass, which connects the Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp. From here, the trail descends to Dzongla and gradually climbs up to join the Everest Base Camp Trek route before Lobuche.
It offers an awe-inspiring view of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks when you hike up to the iconic Kala Pathar viewpoint.

Finally, you go to the Everest base camp of the Three Passes Trek. The Everest Base Camp is the most iconic place for trekking to Everest Base Camp.
The trail turns to the east from Lobuche along the Khumbu glacier then it goes to a steep climb to Khongma – La, the final pass of the trek. The trail then gradually descends to Chhukung before hiking to Chhukung Ri.
Thus, the Everest Three Passes Trek allows the discovery of all the valleys of the Everest region and high passes.
“Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before.”
Dalai Lama
Everest Three Passes Trek Itinerary
You’ll still get spectacular vistas of the neighboring peaks that you wouldn’t get on the classic EBC Trek. Likewise, trekking through the entire valley of the Everest region and returning to Lukla completes the circuits of the Everest Three Passes Trek.
But the below-given itinerary is anti-clockwise, beginning from the Kongma – La pass, which is the trek’s highest pass. So you may do this clockwise and anti-clockwise trek, starting from Renjo – La Pass or Khongma – La Pass.
Days | Day-by-day itinerary | Altitude in Meters | Distance |
1. | Flight to Lukla then trek to Phakding | 2650 | 4h00 |
2. | Phakding to Namche Bazaar | 3440 | 6h00 |
3. | Acclimatization day! | ||
4. | Namche Bazaar to Tengboche Monastery | 3850 | 5h30 |
5. | Tengboche to Dingboche | 4380 | 5h00 |
6. | Acclimatization & rest day! | ||
7. | Trek to Chhukung | 4430 | 4h00 |
8. | Rest day! Climb Chhukung Ri | 4h00 | |
9. | Trek to Chhukung via Kongma- La Pass (5535 Meters) | 4430 | 9h30 |
10. | Rest day! Climb Chhukung Ri | 4430 | 4h00 |
11. | Trek to Lobuche via Kongma- La Pass (5535 Meters) | 4900 | 9h30 |
12. | Lobuche to Gorakshep then hike to Kala Patthar 5545 meters | 5100 | 4h00 |
13. | Visit EBC (5364 meters), then trek back to Lobuche | 4900 | 5h00 |
14. | Lobuche to Dzongla | 4830 | 4h00 |
15. | Trek to Dragnak via Cho – La Pass (5370 Meters) | 4700 | 8h00 |
16. | Trek to Gokyo Lakes | 4790 | 4h00 |
17. | Rest day! | ||
18. | Trek to Renjo Lake via Renjo – La Pass (5435 Meters) | 4790 | 7h00 |
19. | Renjo Lake to Thame | 3800 | 6h30 |
20. | Trek to Namche | 3400 | 6h30 |
21. | Namche to Lukla | 2850 | 7h00 |
22. | Fly out to Kathmandu |
Jiri or Salleri to Everest Base camp
An alternative to flying into Lukla from Kathmandu is the Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek. This option begins with an 8-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Jiri, whereas Jiri is the starting point for the trek.
This route adds 5-6 days to the trip while traversing the lower Khumbu region. First, you’ll pass via Lukla on your trailhead to Everest Base Camp, which follows the same trail as the classic Everest Base Camp Trek.
It features a magnificent but long hiking trip and extensive exposure to Tibetan and Sherpas cultures. Additionally, the trek goes through more forests and streams because the trail begins at a relatively low elevation of 1800 meters.
Day | Itinerary | Altitude | Distance |
1. | Kathmandu to Jiri by bus | 1910 | 8-9h00 drive |
2. | Jiri to Deurali | 2700 | 6h00 |
3. | Trek to Sete | 2520 | 6h30 |
4. | Sete to Jun Bensi | 2565 | 7h00 |
5. | Jun Besnsi to Nun Thala | 2345 | 7h00 |
6. | Trek to Bupsa | 2360 | 6h00 |
7. | Bupsa to Surke | 2290 | 6h30 |
8. | Trek to Phakding/Monju, then continue to Everest Base Camp Trail | 2730 | 5h30 |
Likewise, the route via Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek is another option if you wish for a shorter walking distance to get to Lukla and beyond.
Customize Your Holiday?
Tailor your holiday with help from a local travel specialist that matches your requirements.
To wrap up!
Now, you have all the best possible itineraries connected to the Everest Base camp. Furthermore, it clears up all confusion in selecting the best routes for trekking to Everest Base camp. So again, If you plan to trailhead among the above-listed itineraries, this guide to Everest Base camp will help you with better ideas for preparation.
Look and enjoy this virtual trek by Google on their Street View program in the Everest region from a few years ago.
Book your next trek to Everest Base Camp according to your needs and preferences. Himalayan Exploration is here to assist you if you need any customization on your plan or route.
Comments