It is feasible to hike to Lukla from Kathmandu, or at the at least, take a Jeep for a day to get to the towns of Jiri or Phaplu, from which you can climb to Lukla. However, this is a far less usual method of travel.
Because it was the first method used by early mountaineers to reach Lukla before the airport was built in the 1960s, the journey from Jiri is known as the “Pioneers’ Route.
” Three days are needed to hike from Phaplu to Lukla, compared to five days from Jiri. Nowadays, few people travel these trails, but those who do tend to like the slower approach to the Everest region and getting to see the subtle changes in the local scenery and culture.
In Nepal, walking is undoubtedly an option to flying or taking a bus. Compared to flying to Lukla, it takes around 7 more days to walk in from Jiri (which is not along the main trail, thus no need to go there).
possibly one day fewer of walking out. The bus ticket is practically free, making this the most affordable choice.
How to Get to Lukla without Flying?
In order to reach Lukla, there are a number of hiking routes.
Route 1:
The traditional hiking way to Everest Base Camp is to drive from Kathmandu to Jiri/Bhandara and then hike there. Along this trail, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa had begun their historic ascent to the summit of the world.
Route 2:
Drive the BP Highway from Kathmandu to Salleri for 8 to 9 hours on a black-topped road, then take the road from Kathmandu to Lukla through Andheri, Kharikhola, and Bupsa. From there, you can walk for a day in Lukla. Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek is the name of the journey.
Route 3:
Drive all the way to Dharan and Tumlingtar, then embark on the 6- to 7-day Aruna Valley Trek, which takes you through authentic rural Nepal.
Everest Base Camp via Road 18 Days Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Drive Kathmandu to Salleri
Altitude: 2362 m | Drive: 98/10 (Depends in road/traffic situation) | Overnight at Salleri
Day 03: Drive Salleri to Thame Danda (2326 m) and Trek to Paiya.
Altitude: 2,730 | Drive: 9/10 (Depends in road/traffic situation) | Trek: 2hrs | Overnight at Paiya
Day 04: Trek from Paiya to Phakding
Altitude: 2,620 m | Trek: 5-6 hrs | Meal: BLD
DAY 05: Trek to Namche
Altitude: 3440 m | Trek: 5/6 hrs | Meal: BLD
DAY 06: Hike to Khumjung and Acclimatization in Khumjung
Altitude: 3,790 m| Trek: 1 hr | Meal: BLD
DAY 07: Trek Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Altitude: 3860 m | Trek: 5/6 hrs | Meal: BLD
DAY 08: Trek to Dingboche
Altitude: 4410 m | Trek: 5/6 hrs. | Meal: BLD
DAY 09: Rest day for acclimatization
Altitude: 4410 m | Hike to Nangkartshang Peak – Altitude: 5,083 m | Trek: 4 hours. | Meal: BLD
DAY 10: Trek to Lobuche
Altitude: 4910 m | Trek: 5/6 hrs | Meal: BLD
DAY 11: Trek to Everest Base Camp
Altitude: 5357m, back to Gorakshep – Altitude: 5140 m | Trek: 6/7 hrs. | Meal: BLD
DAY 12: Hike Up to Kala Patthar (5,555 m) Early in the Morning and then Trek Down to Pheriche
Altitude:4,200 m | Trek: 7 hours | Meal: BLD
DAY 13: Trek to Tengboche
Altitude: 3,860 m | Trek: 3 hours. | Meal: BLD
DAY 14: Trek to Namche
Altitude: 3440 m | Trek: 5/6 hrs. | Meal: BLD
DAY 15: Trek to Chaurikharka
Altitude: 2,694m | Trek: 6/7 hrs | Meal: BLD
Day 16: Trek to Thamdanda | Drive to Salleri
Meal: BLD
Day 17: Drive Salleri to Kathmandu
Meal: BL
Day 18: Departure
Meal: B
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How to reach Lukla by bus from kathmandu?
From KTM to Lukla, there are no buses. Buses are available to Salleri/Phaplu and Jiri/Shivalaya. There is no need to travel to Lukla itself; a few days’ hike will take you to a location close by.
Buses from Kathmandu to Jiri and Shivalaya take a little over nine hours and cost between 600 and 700 Nepali rupees each. Depending on the bus, some may travel on to Bhandar, while others will have more recent information. From there, the main EBC trek is around six days away.
There is a public jeep that travels to Salleri;.The journey to the main trail from there will probably take three days.
A TIMS card and a national park admission ticket are both necessary for this trek. If you don’t have a guide or porter, the TIMS card will cost you about 600 NPR, or about 300 NPR if you do (plus a possible charge by the agency).
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Can you drive to Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu?
Do you have any doubts about making the trip from Kathmandu to the base camp of Mount Everest by car? Ask again: Is it possible to drive to Everest Base Camp? As the Everest Express Highway/Tourism Highway, the route from Salleri to Lukla has been neatly constricting.
The road will cease between Lukla and Chaurikhara in response to locals’ demands and the advice of tourism industry leaders. As a result, if you were planning to drive from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, it would not be feasible because the route ends at Lukla.
However, the Everest Base Camp Trek by Road can be a life-changing adventure. Recently, it was possible to travel from Kathmandu to the Solukhumbu villages of Salleri and Kharikhola and Bupsa.
Note: Due to Weather uncertainty and traffic at the TIA, all the flights to Lukla will be operated from Ramechhap Airport.
It is about 4 hours’ drive from Kathmandu. Below is the updated byroad route to reach Ramechhap and additional fare for the vehicle to use:
Car– $37 per person with maximum 4 passengers
Jeep– $50 per person with maximum 5 passengers
Van– $17 per person with maximum 14 passengers PS: Price are subject to change if the seat capacity is not met.
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How much does a Jeep ride from Kathmandu to Lukla or Thamboda cost?
Regular Jeep transportation is offered between Kathmandu and Thamdanda. After a 14 to 15-hour picturesque trip from Kathmandu, with daily jeep departures early in the morning, one arrives in Thamdanda.
From Kathmandu to Thamdanda, a Jeep costs between $40 and $50 per passenger.Make it private if you already have a group of 5 to 7 people. A private Jeep will cost between USD 450 and USD 500 to travel to Thamdanda.
You must change to a different Jeep from Solu to Salleri, operated by the same operator, since there is no direct Jeep from Kathmandu to Thamdanda. Therefore, you are not need to look for another Jeep on your own. The Sumo Jeep departs from Chabahil Chowk in Kathmandu around 4 or 5 in the morning and arrives in Thamdanda at 8 or 9 in the evening.
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Taking a Helicopter to Get to Lukla from Kathmandu
If money is not an issue, traveling to Lukla by helicopter is an incredible experience. You will leave from the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport and get to Lukla in less than an hour.
The hilly, agricultural scenery of Kathmandu rises to higher altitudes in the cooler, less fertile mountain ranges as you travel. Take a thrilling helicopter trip and take in the Everest region’s aerial splendor. Helicopter trip from Kathmandu to Lukla takes about 45 minutes.
The cost of renting a helicopter ranged from US $2200 to US $3000. You can split the expense of renting a helicopter with your other passengers; it can hold up to five persons.
The majority of passengers taking a helicopter from Lukla to Everest Base Camp do so in order to take a sightseeing flight and return to Kathmandu the same day.