EVEREST BASE CAMP DISTANCES FROM KATHMANDU

Everest base camp distance from Kathmandu, allows to plan for all wide trekkers and adventurers. Knowing and gathering information before planning and booking Himalayan destinations is always good.

Everest base camp is located in Nepal Far North Mid-East around the Mahalangur Himalayan ranges, in the district of Solu-Khumbu. As well as at the Sagarmatha zone at an air distance of approx. 200 to 300 km (125 to 187 miles). Mt. Everest and base camp is approximately 27.9881° N Latitude and 86.9250° Longitude, around North East from Kathmandu. The walk to Everest Base Camp from Lukla town, the starting and ending point is 65 km/40. 5 Miles.

The trek to Everest base camp from Lukla the starting and ending point takes 5 to 6 days. Trekkers need immense precaution to avoid high altitude sickness or HAS, which is normal for trekkers around high elevations. The walk starts from Lukla, located above 2,860 m to reach Phakding at 2,610 m
for the first overnight stops. Then gradually the altitude gains reaching Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters high. Normally all trekkers spend extra overnights at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization, before heading towards higher ground. Then the adventure takes you higher until you reach Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m. By then almost all trekkers will be well acclimatized and accustomed to the altitude and high terrains.

TO REACH EVEREST BASE CAMP FROM KATHMANDU:

To reach Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu with several options, a long drive, as far as the motorable ends past the outskirts of Ramechap and Solu areas. Then start walking past the hill villages and farm areas to reach the main trail to Namche Bazaar. Shortest and fastest means to the high Khumbu region and towards the Everest base camp. Take a swift panoramic flight from Kathmandu to
land at Lukla’s Tenzing & Hillary Airport.

The same way, for the return trip to Kathmandu after completing the trek to Everest base camp. The flight to Lukla takes only 30 or 35 minutes from Kathmandu and vice-versa. During short scenic flights on a Dornier, Twin Otter, or similar aircraft, these smaller planes are made for mountainous regions. These smaller planes are STOL aircraft, built for short take-off and landing purposes. The most suitable aircraft for the Himalayan regions like Nepal with the world’s highest mountain ranges like Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Lhotse.

Includes Mt. Makalu, Cho Oyu and Dhaulagiri with Manaslu and Annapurna Himalayan ranges. Lukla’s airport is named in tribute to the first conqueror of Mt. Everest on 29 th May 1953. Late Tenzing & Hillary, the route from Lukla where trekkers will follow the footsteps of these legendary mountaineers.

EVEREST BASE CAMP TREKKING FLIGHT DIVERSION FROM RAMECHAP AIRPORT.

The mass flow of visitors in Nepal is for trekking and various adventures around the Himalayas. Everest base camp is the most visited adventure destination for wide-world trekkers and mountaineers. During the high and peak seasons of spring, autumn/ fall, the flight to Lukla gets very busy.
Flight to Lukla is the most popular in Nepal, due to the large influx of trekkers to Everest base camp. The Nepal Government Civil Aviation sometimes diverts the Lukla flight from another airport at Manthali town, in Ramechap district.

This is due to air traffic at Kathmandu airport, as the airport shares both domestic and international airlines. To make the easy flow of air traffic, during the high seasons of March to May. Including October and November. The flight operates from Manthali Airport at Ramechap which is about 132 km or 82 miles from Kathmandu. The drive takes about 4-5 hours to reach on time for the early morning flight to Lukla. Manthali Town Airport at Ramechap is at an altitude of 474 m or 1,555 ft. high, of sub-tropical climate.

The flight to Lukla diversion differs flight time, it is 5 minutes shorter than flying from Kathmandu. Ramechap is located further east of Kathmandu if the flight from Lukla lands at Ramechap. Passengers will get transferred to a vehicle driving back to Kathmandu or vice versa. The air distance from Ramechap airport at Manthali Town to Lukla is approx. 73 km/46 miles. Whereas, from Kathmandu, the flight distance is 135 km or 84 miles away.

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO REACH LUKLA FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK:

Everest base camp trek to experience via various routes and transportation. In the early days covering the distances from Kathmandu to the nearest location en route to Everest base camp. Trekkers had to travel on a local or private bus, car, or coach. To cover the distances of 186 km or 116 miles to Jiri Town from Kathmandu on Arniko Highway. The motor road has extended further towards the
lower Solu-Khumbu district and beyond close en route to Lukla. A little further from Lukla town the walking trails join the Jiri, Salleri, and Lukla routes. The total distances of approx. 367 km /228 miles to drive from Kathmandu to the end of a motorable road. The best on overland journeys driving the off-
road dirt track is on a 4WD Jeep or similar vehicle.

It is an exciting drive to enjoy and observe the in-depth of Nepal's rural farm life and activities. After reaching the end of a motorable road, start the trek towards the trail. The Lukla and lower Solu routes join close ahead of Phakding Village. Then on the main trail to Everest Base Camp, at the end of trekking, fly from Lukla to Kathmandu. On completing the Everest base camp treks with a wonderful
experience of exciting drives and trekking.

The best option is taking a short flight to Lukla Town Tenzing & Hillary Airport, most people describe. The world’s most dangerous airport due to uphill short runways with small parking spaces for aircraft. It is a unique airport and runway, if it was that dangerous. Then why do thousands of visitors fly to Lukla in the best seasons of the year?

CONCLUSION:

Everest Base Camp distance from Kathmandu seems far away but with accessible by transportation of smaller aircraft. One can enjoy the scenic short flight with incredible views of the Himalayas, on 30 minutes exciting flight both ways. The distance from Kathmandu seems like an illusion, as you complete the trek from Lukla to Everest base camp.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

• How hard is Everest Base Camp Trekking?

Depending upon your physical fitness and your previous trekking or outdoor experience, it is not that hard our itinerary day trekking on the route is flexible with enough days for acclimatization and rest days before heading to a higher elevation, as long you are physically fit and in sound health, one can do this trek which is from moderate to adventurous grading.

•  How long is the Everest Trek?

There are various ways one can choose the trek to the Everest area, the shortest way of reaching Everest Base Camp is by a short 30-minute scenic flight to Lukla 2,820 meters high, the gateway to the Everest area. The other longer route is by Jiri, the classic way to the old early trail before the Lukla airstrip was constructed. Most trekkers used this way taking at least 10 days to reach Namche Bazaar and more days towards Everest Base Camp.

The other route is via Arun Valley taking a flight to Tumlingtar town in mid-east Nepal, from here trekking to Namche Bazaar takes at least 11 days. Encounter Nepal has varied trekking around the Everest region from short 8 days to 12 days or more, the other adventurous route is by Rolwaling Valley crossing over the high Tashi Labtsa pass of over 5,565 meters high to reach the Khumbu of
Everest region.

If you are really into pure hard adventure, there is a route from Makalu and Barun Valley area which is a tough pass crossing high Sherpani Col at 5,840 m and another high pass of Amphu Labtsa at 5,640 m.

What to expect during the trek to the Everest area?

From Lukla onwards completely dominated by the Tibetan sect of Buddhism where you can find the walk going through the Mani (Prayer) Wall, Prayer Wheels, and interesting monasteries along the route, Everest and Khumbu area home of the local people “The High Landers of Himalaya” here you can observe the old Buddhist culture, religion, and customs, on the trail heading high uphill climb and downhill walk crossing several suspension bridges, walking into serene pine and rhododendron forested area chances seeing some wildlife like Himalayan Thar, Musk Deer,  Mountain antelopes and many species of birdlife with Nepal National Bird the “Danphe” (Lophouporus), scenic mountain views and landscapes with high altitude climate from alpine to arctic temperatures.

• How is the walk from Jiri, the old classic route to Everest?

The walk from Jiri starting from above 2,500 meters leads to many downhill and uphill walks through many mid-hill villages where you can observe the local culture, walk through beautiful forested areas of rhododendron, pines, and fir trees with awesome views of high snow-capped mountains of Gaurishankar, Melung Tse, and of Khumbu Himal including Everest some area during the trek.

•  Is it better to walk from Jiri to Everest base camp?

Walking in the footsteps of the legendary mountaineers Tenzing and Sir Edmund Hillary. In the early days, mountaineers and trekkers walked from Jiri to Everest Base Camp. It takes longer than a week to reach Namche Bazaar, from Lukla it is only 2 days. On the trek from Jiri, one will experience more of Nepal country and farm life, customs, and cultures.

•  How many routes to reach Everest base camp?

There are various routes to Everest and the Khumbu area, the shortest is the flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. The other old classic route is from Jiri, which can be trekked from Arun Valley, eastern Nepal. The other route is the highly adventurous route over Sherpani Col from the Makalu area. It leads to extremely high passes over Sherpani and West Col with Amphu Labtsa pass of above 5,500 to 6,000 meters. The other route is from Rolwaling Valley crossing high Tashi Labtsa pass at above 5,600 meters to reach west of Khumbu.