Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek| 20 days Itinerary

Jiri - Shivalaya - Bhandar - Sete - Junbesi - Nunthala - Bupsa - Phakding - Namche Bazaar - Tengboche - Dingboche - Lobuche - Gorak Shep - Everest Base Camp (EBC)
 

To hike to Everest Base Camp (EBC) from Jiri, you'll embark on a scenic and adventurous journey through the heart of the Himalayas.

The trek from Jiri to EBC covers approximately 190 kilometres (about 118 miles) and takes you through diverse landscapes and traditional Sherpa villages. Depending on your speed and acclimatization needs, it typically takes 17 to 20 days to complete.

Your journey starts with a bus ride from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Jiri, which lasts about 8 to 10 hours, depending on road conditions. You'll begin your trek from Jiri, passing through places like Shivalaya, Bhandar, Sete, and Junbesi.

The trail continues through the Solu-Khumbu region, crossing the Dudh Koshi River and ascending to Namche Bazaar, an essential acclimatization stop. After Namche, the trek leads you through Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep before reaching Everest Base Camp. Each segment of the trek offers breathtaking views and the opportunity to experience local culture.

The trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp covers approximately 196 kilometers (122 miles) one way. Starting from Jiri, you embark on a multi-day journey via various terrains and altitudes, eventually leading to the base camp of the world's highest peak.

The route involves a combination of road travel and trekking, with the total distance encompassing the entire journey to Everest Base Camp and back, making it about 204 kilometers (126 miles) round trip. This extensive trek involves traversing diverse landscapes, including lush forests, traditional villages, and rugged mountain trails.

Everest View Treks also provides a Short Everest Base Camp Trek for people who have a limited number of days for Nepal Travel.

Many people consider the journey from Jiri to the base camp to be demanding, and they should be in good physical condition when attempting the hike. The challenges associated with traversing great distances include altitude and variation in the landscape. It takes about eight days for Jiri to trek through the hills, which range from forest green to steep mountains.

Large daily vertical fluctuations are a big plus in making the trek more challenging as you go from lower altitudes right up to the base camp of the world's tallest peak at 5,364 meters or 17,598 feet. A specific consideration is the ability to deal with severe altitude sickness as the trek advances through higher levels of elevation.

Rest days are well scheduled to allow the body to adjust to high altitudes before engaging in strenuous activities, as observed in the segmented itinerary. This trek also involves climbing several inclined rough terrains, crossing suspension bridges and confronting various inconducive climate conditions, which make it more challenging.

Besides, daily trekking hours may take from 5 to 8 hours while, at times, it requires good physical and psychological shaping and strength. The trek is a cinematic view and a worthy experience, but it should be done by those who are fit enough and have climbed at least before.

Due to its demanding nature, the trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp requires a high level of physical fitness. Covering around 196 kilometers (122 miles) one-way, it involves long days of trekking through diverse terrain, with daily walking hours ranging from 5 to 8 hours.

It would help if you focused on building cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and overall stamina through regular exercise and strength training to handle the strenuous conditions.
Altitude acclimatization is also crucial, as the trek ascends to high elevations with thin air.

Prior trekking experience and high-altitude training can help your body adjust and lower the risk of altitude sickness. Overall, being physically prepared and accustomed to long, challenging hikes will significantly enhance your ability to complete this epic journey.

During the trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp, accommodation varies widely based on the location and level of comfort you prefer. Here's a detailed look at the types of accommodations you can expect:

1. Jiri and Bhandara

Jiri: In Jiri, you'll find basic guesthouses and lodges. These accommodations offer superficial rooms with basic amenities like a bed, a table, and a chair. Bathrooms are often shared, and hot water may not be available.

Bhandara: Similarly, guesthouses and lodges provide basic amenities in Bhandara. Rooms typically have beds with blankets, but the level of comfort could be more superficial. Shared bathrooms are common, and there might be limited hot water facilities.

2. Trekking Route (Bhandara to Phakding)

Sete to Junbesi: The guesthouses and lodges along this stretch are basic but functional. Rooms are usually small, with basic beds and blankets. Bathrooms are shared, and hot water is often not available. These lodges provide meals and sometimes offer wifi for an additional cost.

Nunthala to Bupsa: Accommodations in these areas are similar to those in Sete and Junbesi. Rooms are basic, with shared bathrooms. The lodges provide simple meals, and hot water is generally only available sometimes. Wifi may be offered in some lodges.

Surke to Phakding: As you approach Phakding, the quality of guesthouses improves slightly. Rooms are basic but may have more comfort compared to earlier stages. Shared bathrooms are still common, but some lodges may offer hot showers for an extra charge.

3. Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Phakding: Guesthouses in Phakding are basic but clean. Rooms typically have simple beds and shared bathrooms. Some lodges offer hot showers and wifi for an additional fee.

Namche Bazaar: Compared to lower altitudes, Namche Bazaar offers better accommodations. Guesthouses and lodges offer comfortable rooms with beds, blankets, and private or shared bathrooms. Hot showers are available in some lodges, and you may find wifi and other amenities like charging facilities and a more extensive menu.

4. Tengboche to Dingboche

Tengboche: Guesthouses in Tengboche are basic but provide a higher level of convenience compared to lower altitudes. Rooms have beds with blankets, and bathrooms are usually shared. Some lodges offer hot showers and wifi, though these amenities might be limited.

Dingboche: In Dingboche, accommodations are similar to those in Tengboche but generally offer a bit more comfort. Rooms are basic, with shared or private bathrooms available. Hot showers are provided in some lodges, and wifi might be available at an extra cost.

5. Lobuche to Gorak Shep

Lobuche: Lodges in Lobuche offer basic accommodations with simple beds and shared bathrooms. The facilities are modest, and hot water may not be available. Meals are essential but sufficient for the trek.

Gorak Shep: Due to the high altitude, the accommodations at Gorak Shep are very basic. Rooms are small and simple, with shared bathrooms. Hot water is usually not available, and the lodges focus on providing essential meals. Due to the remote location, wifi is generally not available.

6. Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp: There are no permanent lodges at Everest Base Camp. Instead, trekkers stay in temporary tents or camping facilities set up by trekking agencies. These are basic and designed to protect against the harsh weather conditions.

The facilities are rudimentary, and there are no showers or modern amenities. The trekking staff prepares meals, which are essential but nutritious.

The kind of food you will get in the trek from Jiri to EBC changes gradually with the elevation of the trek. Regarding meals, Jiri and Bhandara offer simple food; guesthouses set in Jiri and other parts of Nepal cook Nepalese food, including beans, lentils, meat, curry, vegetables, and rice, and simple Nepalese noodle soup; other meals, including sandwiches and different types of soup, may be available in some of the guesthouses.

Eating is essential in Sete, Junbesi, Nunthala, and Bupsa, with only dal bhat, momo (steamed or fried dumplings), and noodle soup. Basic meals are available at the lodges, though options are few, and passion water may only be available sometimes. Again, the food variety is slightly limited, although, by the time one gets to Phakding, there are some Western foods in addition to the typical Nepali foods.

Namche Bazaar is where the food type is more interesting than the previous places, and the quality is better as well. Here, you get a more comprehensive range of meals, be it Italian pizza, pasta, burgers or Nepali dishes. Namche's new varieties of lodges and guest houses offer more luxurious standards and various cuisines ranging from vegetarian diets.

As you progress from Tengboche to Dingboche, food is similar to that of Namche, although the altitude limits the choices here. Food is usually plain but enough to sustain the hiker since most treks are done to have meals out in the mountains. Yet again, in Lobuche and Gorak Shep, the variety of food tends to become very limited because of the conditions and experiences they undergo, and they are left with only dal bhat, noodle soup or something like that.

Food is simple and limited throughout the trekking area. It is prepared by trekking staff in temporary restaurants or dining halls. They aim to provide food that replenishes energy for combating the harsh terrain. The food choice is generally limited by elevation; however, it is always healthy and has concentrated energy to help during trekking activities.

During trekking from Jiri to EBC, one sometimes has to trek for days without the ability to use wifi and electricity, depending on the trekking plan. There may be a few guest houses in the valleys of Jiri and Phakding that have basic electricity for charging gadgets; however, you will not get wifi as a rule, and if it is available, it will only be intermittent.

This makes electricity more predictable in higher areas, such as the sections between Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, where the lodges run electrical power mainly from solar energy or small generators. Here, wifi is offered, but it is usually prolonged and costly because the APs are used to provide connectivity through satellite Internet.

Lobuche and Gorak Shep are some remote places that have shortages where electricity is available only at certain times of the day, for instance, for a few hours only. Actually, Internet via wifi in such high-altitude areas is almost impossible, or if it is provided, it is very slow and costly.

Communication and charging at the Everest Base Camp would be limited, electricity and wifi in the entire region would be limited, and trekkers would essentially require the trekking staff to sort for them.

There is the recommendation to expect weak or no signals and the readiness of power banks and chargers to hold the battery capacity of their respective gadgets.

ATM access is very limited on the trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp, which could be improved. In the initial stages, such as Jiri and Bhandara, there are no ATMs available.

However, as you reach higher altitudes like Namche Bazaar, you will find ATMs where you can withdraw cash. Namche Bazaar is the primary hub for financial transactions, and ATMs here are usually operational.

However, it's a good idea to carry extra cash and check the machine's functionality before heading further. Beyond Namche Bazaar, especially in remote areas like Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep, there are no ATMs, so it's crucial to plan and withdraw sufficient cash before continuing your trek.

The cost of trekking from Jiri to Everest Base Camp varies depending on several factors, including the season, choice of services, and personal preferences. For permits, you'll need a Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit card, costing around $10-$20, and a Sagarmatha National Park entry fee of approximately $30-$50.

Transportation includes a bus ride from Kathmandu to Jiri, which costs between $15 and $30, and a jeep or local bus from Jiri to Bhandara, which costs about $10-$20. The return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu generally costs $180-$250.

Accommodation prices vary with altitude and location. In lower areas such as Jiri and Phakding, expect to pay $10-$20 per night, while in higher altitudes like Namche Bazaar, rates range from $20-$40 per night.

At Everest Base Camp, where accommodation is more basic, costs can be $30-$50 per night. Meals are another expense; in lower altitudes, they cost $5-$10 per meal, rising to $10-$20 in Namche Bazaar and $20-$30 at Everest Base Camp due to the remote location.

Hiring a trekking guide costs around $20-$30 daily, while a porter charges $15-$25 daily. Other expenses include tips for guides and porters (typically $50-$100), personal gear rentals like sleeping bags and trekking poles, and any extra costs for side trips or services.

Overall, a Jiri to Everest Base Camp trek can cost between $1,500 and $3,000 per person, depending on the level of service and personal choices. Budgeting additional funds to cover unforeseen expenses and personal needs is wise.

Clothing
•    Moisture-wicking T-shirts
•    Thermal long-sleeve shirts
•    Thermal leggings or long underwear
•    Fleece jacket or pullover
•    Down jacket or insulated jacket
•    Waterproof and windproof jacket
•    Waterproof pants
•    Lightweight trekking pants
•    Convertible pants (zip-off to shorts)
•    Warm hat or beanie
•    Sun hat or cap
•    Warm gloves or mittens
•    Lightweight gloves (for sun protection)
•    Trekking boots (waterproof and broken-in)
•    Lightweight trekking shoes or sandals
•    Warm socks (wool or synthetic)
•    Liner socks (for moisture management)
•    Buff or neck gaiter
•    Bandana or headscarf

Gear and Equipment
•    Trekking backpack (40-60 liters)
•    Daypack (for day hikes)
•    Sleeping bag (suitable for -10°C or 14°F)
•    Sleeping pad or inflatable mattress
•    Adjustable trekking poles
•    Water bottles or hydration reservoir
•    Water purification tablets or filter
•    Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries)
•    UV-protection sunglasses
•    Sunscreen (high SPF)
•    Lip balm with SPF

Personal Items
•    Basic first aid kit (bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers)
•    Toothbrush and toothpaste
•    Biodegradable soap
•    Wet wipes or hand sanitizer
•    Toilet paper and trowel (for trekking in remote areas)
•    High-energy snacks (nuts, bars, dried fruit)
•    Camera (optional)
•    Smartphone (with power bank)
•    Power bank or portable charger
•    Passport and copies
•    Trekking permits
•    Insurance details
•    Cash (in small denominations)
•    Credit/debit cards (for use in Namche Bazaar)

Miscellaneous
•    Binoculars (optional for wildlife viewing)
•    Notebook and pen (optional for journaling)
•    Plastic bags (for keeping dirty or wet items separate)
•    Repair kit (for gear maintenance, optional)

To trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp, you will need to obtain specific permits to ensure a smooth and legal journey. The primary permits required are the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance permit.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

The Sagarmatha National Park entry permit is essential for accessing the park, which includes Everest Base Camp and its surrounding areas. The cost for this permit is approximately NPR 3,390 (around $30) for foreign nationals, while SAARC nationals pay about NPR 1,695 (around $15) per entry. This permit can be obtained at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or at the park's entrance in Monjo.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit

In addition to the national park permit, trekkers must also secure the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance permit, which costs around $20 per person. This permit is required for all trekkers entering the Khumbu region. It can be obtained in Lukla upon arrival or at the Sagarmatha National Park office in Monjo if starting from Jiri.