Everest Base Camp Trek via Salleri (Without Lukla Flight)

The Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri is an excellent alternative to the standard Everest Base Camp trek package that starts with the 30-minute Lukla flight.

First, you can skip these nerve-racking Lukla flights, and second, you do not have to worry about the weather. From Kathmandu to Salleri, you will drive, and the road is open throughout the year.

The road is well-made, around 80%, and you will enjoy off-road driving 20% of the way. Our skilled driver and sturdy jeep will make the ride safe and as comfortable as possible.

Starting the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri also lets you explore the Solu region. It is the lower part of the Everest region that travelers miss because of the direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.

The trails are peaceful, so you will have nature and scenery to yourself. Enjoy lush scenery, waterfalls, rivers, and streams before ascending to Namche Bazaar.

You will follow the standard route to Everest Base Camp from Namche Bazaar onwards. The mountain views begin to open up as you ascend.

You will see Mt. Everest, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Cho Oyu, Mt. Cholatse, and many other peaks.

Likewise, you will spend more time with locals and have many memorable interactions. Visit ancient monasteries and explore old stupas and chortens along the way.

In the upper part of the region, alpine meadows, glaciers, moraines, and rocky terrain will be your views.

Reaching Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar will be an incredible achievement, and your journey will stay close to your heart forever!

Major Highlights

• Embark on the Everest Base Camp trek without Lukla flight
• Enjoy a scenic ride from Kathmandu to Salleri
• No need to stress about travel delays because of the weather
• Explore the lower part of the Everest region (Solu), which is untouched
• Enjoy peaceful trails at the start and end of the trek
• Trek through rhododendron forests and cross many hanging bridges on the way
• Explore famous villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche
• Witness stunning mountain vistas and diverse landscapes
• Experience the unique mountain lifestyle and see the lives of Sherpas and other mountain communities closely
• Get closest to the tallest mountain in the world and hike to Kala Patthar
• Explore alpine meadows and glacier moraines at the upper part of the trail

Why do the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri?

The Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri is not the most preferred way to do this trek. So, this route remains unknown to the majority of the trekkers.

Even though the Salleri route may not be the top choice for trekkers who want to do the Everest Base Camp trek, this trek offers many perks that are not available on the standard route.

No tension of flight delays:

The weather must stay stable for flights to operate in and out of Lukla Airport. Even a slight disturbance in weather and visibility can lead to a delay or, worse, cancellation.

Sometimes, the flights get delayed or canceled, even during the peak trekking seasons if the weather is not favorable. So, trekkers frequently opt for helicopter flights to stay on their schedule.

During the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri, you do not have to worry about any of these. Weather changes will not affect your Kathmandu-Salleri drive.

No stressful Lukla flight:

When we talk about the Everest Base Camp trek, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Luka flight. Lukla flight is the quickest way to travel from Kathmandu to the EBC trailhead.

However, the airport's elevation, small runway, and compact airplanes make flying here quite exhilarating and nerve-racking. Not all travelers are fans of this flight, so the Salleri route allows them to skip it.

Better acclimatization opportunity:

While traveling from Kathmandu to Salleri, you will gain altitude gradually, which is not the case when taking the Kathmandu-Lukla flight. The gradual ascent provides you ample time to acclimate and avoid altitude sickness.

You are more likely to be well adjusted to the elevation by the time you reach Namche Bazaar. In addition to that, we also have two acclimatization days in our Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri itinerary.

Budget-friendly:

No Lukla flight reduces the Everest Base Camp trek cost by USD 150 to USD 100. It is not a huge discount, but you are saving some money. Likewise, you can expect an additional group discount if you trek in a group.

Enjoy peaceful trails:

Very few trekkers start and end the trek from Salleri. So, the trails remain pristine. If you do not want to share the trail with other trekkers, the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri is the best option. You will enjoy tranquil walking toward the beginning and end of the trek.

Explore both Solu and Khumbu regions:

The Everest region is known as SoluKhumbu in Nepali. Solu is the lower part of the region, whereas Khumbu is the upper part. During the standard EBC trek, trekkers only explore the Khumbu region.

However, on the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri, you will also explore the Solu region, which includes villages like Phaplu, Taksindu, Khari Khola, Paiya, etc. Additionally, you will also explore much more vegetation and witness lush scenery. 

Salleri route- Everest Base Camp trek without Lukla flight itinerary

The Everest Base Camp trek without Lukla flight starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Salleri. The road goes through small towns offering beautiful views of lush hills and rivers.

You will spend a night in Salleri and the next day, drive to Surke and trek to Phakding. Salleri to Surke, the road is not good. So, it will be a short offroad drive. From Surke, you will hike for around three hours to reach Phakding village.

The trail goes through lush forested hills and uneven cliffsides. Leaving Phakding village, you will ascend to Namche Bazaar. Now, you are on the standard EBC route, so you can see many fellow trekkers.

Phakding to Namche Bazaar, the trail goes through rhododendrons and pine forests and passes by small villages. You will cross the long Tenzing Hillary Suspension Bridge on the way. The trail gets steep towards the end of Namche Bazaar.

You will have one more day in Namche Bazaar. It will be your first acclimatization day. Hike to the Hotel Everest View early in the morning and spend the remaining day exploring Namche Bazaar and resting.

From Namche Bazaar, ascend to Kyagjuma and descend to Phunig Thenga. The trail then takes you to Tengboche village. Here, you will visit the biggest monastery in the Khumbu region. Moving ahead, you will hike to Dingboche village.

On this route, the trail descends through lush forests to Deboche and crosses a bridge before ascending to Pangboche village. From Pangboche, pass by a few more settlements and terraced fields to reach Dingboche village.

From Dingboche village onwards, you will hike to Lobuche village. The trail traverses a glacier area and ascends to Dughla. From here, you will trek past Memorial Chortens and hike to Lobuche village. After Lobuche, the next destination is Gorak Shep.

It is the last village before Everest Base Camp. The terrain is steep and rocky. High altitude makes hiking challenging. You will hike to Everest Base Camp on the same day you will reach Gorak Shep and hike to Kala Patthar the next day.

It will be phenomenal moments reaching both these destinations. After Kala Patthar, you will descend to Lobuche village, following the same trail. From Lobuche, follow a different route to Pheriche and descend to Namche Bazaar.

The trail then retraces the route back to Monjo and descends to Chaurikharka. A final short hike will take you back to Surke, where the trek ends, and you will drive back to Kathmandu via Salleri. 

Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri difficulty

The Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri demands good fitness because you have to walk 6 hours on average daily. The trail is not flat. You will ascend and descend throughout the way, which requires decent stamina and strength.

As per the Himalayan standards, it is a moderate trek. The trek is not technically challenging, but physical and mental demands are high. Therefore, the fitter you are, the better you will enjoy the journey.

With rugged terrain, you also have to deal with high altitude. Walking above 2,500 meters is tough because of the low oxygen levels. You will ascend to 5,545 meters.

As the elevation increases, it becomes tough to hike. But with determination and willpower, you will be able to push yourself. Overall, the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri is challenging, especially for beginner trekkers.

Does this mean beginner trekkers cannot do this trek? No. Beginner trekkers can trek to EBC via Salleri, but decent fitness is required.

Trek preparation

To prepare for the trek, you can do the following things:

Physical fitness:

Walk, exercise, and go on day hikes around your city. Get physically active and move around a lot. You can go to the gym to strengthen your legs, shoulders, and core.

We highly recommend combining cardio with your workout plan. Swimming, cycling, running, and jogging are some of the best ways to improve your stamina and endurance.

Mental preparation:

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is not easy, whether you do it via Lukla flight or Salleri. Mountains are not the same as the city.

Services are less. You must adjust to a simple mountain lifestyle, eat clean food, no stable network, no digital world, and no distractions.

You will be present in every moment. The journey will become very challenging if you are not mentally ready to accept it. How to prepare mentally for the EBC trek?

Research about the trek. The more knowledgeable you are, the better you will pack and your trek experience will be.

Is the Everest Base Camp trek without Lukla flight suitable for you?

The Everest Base Camp trek without Lukla flight is suitable for travelers who do not want to fly in and out of Lukla. Likewise, it is a 16 days trip in Nepal, so you must be available for this duration.

All ages of trekkers can do this trek with or without previous trek experience. This Everest Base Camp trek package is also perfect for those seeking something different.

• If you have a fear of flying or are not sure about the Lukla flight, do the EBC trek via Salleri.
• Without the Lukla flight, the Everest Base Camp trek itinerary was extended by two days. So, make sure you are available.
• Starting the trek from Salleri provides you with better acclimatization opportunities because there is no drastic gain in elevation.
• Start and end the journey with a peaceful walk because there is no crowd between Salleri and Phakding.
• Compared to the standard EBC trek, the Salleri route is less expensive because of no Lukla flight.

Guide and porter during the trek

Our Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri package includes local guides and porters based on the group size. The expenses of the guide and porters are included in our package cost, but tips are noted.

So, trekkers are recommended to tip them at the end of the trek. You can tip based on your satisfaction level. A general suggestion is to tip 15% to 20% of the package cost.

Note that it is not a fixed number. You can tip more or less. You might wonder what it is like to trek with a guide and porter and if necessary.

Trekking with a guide and porter makes the journey hassle-free. You do not have to worry about anything.

They will take care of accommodations, help you get the best services, suggest the best lunch places, and, most importantly, guarantee your well-being in the mountains.

In addition, you will have literally two best people to travel with you and motivate you not to give up. You will learn a lot about the locals and the region. 

Why do the Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri with us?

Base Camp Trip provides the best trek service and price in Nepal. You can travel freely with us. Our professional team manages the trek's logistics and ensures everything is arranged on time.

Likewise, we take our guests' needs and wishes into account while arranging accommodation and transportation. All the services will be provided as per our Everest Base Camp trek via Salleri package.

You can do a private trek with us to customize the itinerary and services. Traveling in the Himalayas with us is fun and safe. Our friendly guide and porter will ensure your safety and comfort in the mountains.

They will introduce you to the region and the locals. You will hear a lot of stories and myths from them. Likewise, they will be your biggest motivators and keep you entertained.

With our guide and porter, the journey becomes meaningful and heartwarming. Likewise, we provide complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off services, a free duffel bag to use during the trek, 24/7 support, etc.