Alternative trekking Route to Everest Base Camp Trek

What is the best alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp Trek? There are numerous trekking routes for the world’s most popular trek, the Everest Base Camp Trek. This is a dream trek for trekkers globally, and having knowledge of all the routes involved in this trek can always be beneficial to make your trekking journey even more memorable. Leaving aside the common routes, there are several alternative trekking routes to Everest Base Camp Trek as well. This blog is your one-stop source of information regarding all the alternative trekking routes to Everest Base Camp Trek one could think of.

The Everest Base Camp trek is an adventure not many can dare to conquer. If you’ve decided to take on this thrilling adventure, it is advisable that you have knowledge of basically everything involved in the trek. One should be aware of the costs involved, itineraries, packages, destinations, accommodations, food and drinks, and last but not least, the trekking routes involved in the Everest Base Camp trek.

Alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp can be a lifesaver. Sometimes, during the best trekking season, the most common routes to the Everest Base Camp can be packed with trekkers, possibly making your trekking experience dull. In cases such as these, you can select different packages we offer at Access Nepal, with some of the best alternate trekking route to Everest Base Camp, making your travel experience worth your time and effort.

Best Alternative Trekking Route to Everest Base Camp Trek

There are several alternative trekking route to the Everest Base Camp trek. You can follow the common trail to the base camp of the world’s tallest peak or follow an alternative, not-so-common route to modify your travel experience and give it a unique taste. Here are some of the alternative trekking route, including the most common one for you to get the information you require for the Everest Base Camp trek.

Everest Base Camp Trek by Road

The Everest base Camp Trek by Road 16-Day journey takes you on a drive from Kathmandu to Thamdanda on a Private Jeep and not the common direct flight to Lukla. Along the way, you will pass through beautiful villages like Salleri, Phaplu, Kharikhola, and Bupsa. This route through the road involves heavy trekking as you will be covering the distance to most places by walking. Also, the route to Everest Base Camp trek by road is much safer and it gives your body the adequate time needed for proper altitude acclimatization along the way.

With the Everest Base Camp trek by road route, you get the added benefit of getting to explore the beauties of the Everest region more closely with enough time on your hands. You get to experience viewing some of the world’s tallest mountains, visit historic monasteries, and learn about the local culture. The highlight of this trek is the scenic jeep drive from Kathmandu to Thamdanda, exploring the beautiful Sherpa villages along the way and offering trekkers a different trekking route option by not taking the popular Lukla flight from Kathmandu.

The Everest Base Camp trek by road is one of the best alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp trek one can take to get an in-depth trekking experience of the Everest region.

Classic Everest Base Camp Trek

Our Classic Everest Base Camp Trek 15-Day package offers trekkers around the world a unique travel and trekking experience to the Everest Base Camp. While there are several other packages for the famous Everest Base Camp trekking, the Classic Everest Base Camp Trek package at Access Nepal is a premium package designed to give trekkers a different taste of the Himalayas in a luxurious style.

Instead of the common plane flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and the return, the Classic Everest Base Camp trek includes a short helicopter ride, giving it a more premium feeling. If you love to travel luxuriously and comfortably, this is the perfect trek for you. With added comfort in accommodation and dining options, it provides the trekkers with a more warming trekking experience.

Following your arrival in Kathmandu, the Classic Everest Base Camp Trek allows visitors an extra sightseeing day in the Kathmandu Valley. You will then be traveling to Lukla via a Heli Ride on a twin-sharing basis. This can be one of the great alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp trek to follow for a more premium-style travel experience.

Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek

The Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek 18-Day is a package best suited for people wanting to experience the beauty of the Gokyo Valley and Gokyo Lakes while also conquering the Everest Base Camp. This trek takes you through a unique route toward the Everest Base Camp. The route is much less crowded than the popular Everest Base Camp trail and hence why a great option for trekkers looking for alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp trek.

The unique Gokyo to Everest Base Camp trek route follows a different path after the trek to Namche Bazaar and acclimatization. Instead of the common trek toward the Tengboche and Dingboche route, here you will trek to Phortse, en route toward the Gokyo Valley. This trail is much less crowded and a lot more peaceful as compared to the classic Everest Base Camp trail.

Alternative trekking route to Everest Base Camp Trek Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek

After the trek to Phortse, you will continue to the village of Macchermo and then reach the beautiful Gokyo Valley. Famous for its mesmerizing Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri, the valley is a must-visit site for anyone looking for a different, and peaceful path to Everest Base Camp. On the next day, you will trek to Dragnag and finally, following this trek, you will trek toward Dzongla via Cho La Pass, a high-altitude pass that connects the route to the Everest Base Camp.

The Gokyo to Everest Base Camp trek is one of the best alternative trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp trek possible. This route not only offers a much quiet and peaceful journey but you also get to enjoy the hidden gem of a beauty, the Gokyo Valley, and its serene Lakes along the way, making this particular route one of the best alternate trekking route to Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp to Gokyo Trek

The Everest Base Camp to Gokyo Trek 19-Day is another alternate journey one can take to experience the Everest Base Camp trekking on another level. Similar to the Gokyo to Everest Base Camp trek, this follows the classic Everest Base Camp route but then, after conquering the Base Camp, you trek toward the beautiful Gokyo Valley.

After you complete your trek to Everest Base Camp, you then trek back to Pheriche and continue on your journey trekking to the beautiful villages of Phortse and Macchermo and head toward the hidden gem of the Khumbu region, Gokyo Valley.

Everest Base Camp Trek by Helicopter

Trekking to the Everest Base Camp by helicopter can be a great alternative trekking option, especially if you’re someone looking for a luxurious and comforting trek. These rides offer much more beautiful views of the mountain ranges, lakes, and glaciers and can be a great option to avoid crowded parts of the trek. At Access Nepal we provide trekkers with options for trekking via Helicopter rides to enhance their experience.

Deluxe Everest Heli Trek

Our Deluxe Everest Heli Trek 11-Day is a premium package suited for trekkers looking for a luxurious trek without compromising on the experience of trekking to the Everest Base Camp. On this package, we follow the traditional trekking route and reach the Everest Base Camp but instead of trekking back, you return via a Helicopter flight. The helicopter flight back also takes you through the scenic and magical Gokyo Valley and Lakes.

On the Deluxe Everest Heli Trek, we follow the following Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

Day 2: Helicopter Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, then trek to Phakding

Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar

Day 4: Namche Acclimatization and Rest Day

Day 5: Trek to Tengboche

Day 6: Trek to Dingboche

Day 7: Acclimatization Day at Dingboche

Day 8: Trek to Lobuche

Day 9: Trek to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp, then back to Gorakshep

Day 10: Trek to Kala Patthar and back to Gorakshep, Return flight from Gorakshep via Helicopter to Kathmandu

Day 11: Departure

Everest Base Camp Route from Lukla

Everest Base Camp Route from Lukla is one of the most-used routes for Everest Base Camp trekking. After you land in Lukla via your flight from Kathmandu, your trekking journey begins in Lukla. Lukla is famous for being one of the world’s most dangerous airports and trekkers around the world look forward to enjoying this thrilling experience at least once in their lives.

After you land in Lukla, the trek begins toward Phakding. You will reach the village of Phakding on the same day you’ve landed in Lukla. The trail is straightforward, heading out of Lukla and following the Dudh Koshi River downhill. After reaching Phakding, you will continue your trek to Everest Base Camp the next day and reach the famous Namche Bazaar.

After Namche Bazaar (also known as “Gateway to Everest”), you will trek to Tengboche and continue to Dingboche the following days. There will be various acclimatization stops along your journey to the Everest Base Camp for your safety and ease of travel. The trek continues to the village of Lobuche, then on the next day we trek to Gorakshep and to the Everest Base Camp, finally completing your dream trek.

Although there are several other means and alternative trekking routes to Everest Base Camp trek, the route from Lukla is the most used trail for trekkers globally.

Lukla to Everest Base Camp Distance

The total trekking distance from Lukla to Everest Base Camp is approximately 65 km (40 miles) one way, and for a round trip, it is about 130 km (80 miles). The trek typically takes about 8 to 12 days, including various acclimatization stops along the way for a safe travel to the base camp of the world’s highest mountain. The trail is filled with beautiful mountains along the way and blooming Rhododendron forests. The route heavily involves rocky terrain, stone staircases, high-altitude suspension bridges, and glacier lakes for you to experience on your way to the Everest Base Camp.

The Everest Base Camp trek distance covers all the trekking routes of steep ascents and descents along the way, with slippery trails as well, making the trekking journey challenging and adventurous for adventure seekers out there.

Alternative Trekking Routes to Everest Base Camp Trek via Ramechhap/Manthali Airport

Another one of many alternative trekking routes to Everest Base Camp trek involves an early long drive to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport for a flight to Lukla. During the busy trekking seasons like Spring (March to May), and Autumn (October and November), there are very low chances that you get direct flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. So, instead, the early morning drive to Ramechhap airport and boarding the plane from over there to Lukla can be one of the alternative trekking routes to the Everest Base Camp trek.

Why board the flight via Ramechhap(Manthali) Airport?

Boarding the flight through Manthali Airport can be quite beneficial and a wise choice. As most trekkers prefer to board the flight from Kathmandu, there is a very low chance of your flight being delayed at Manthali Airport. You can easily get tickets to Lukla through Manthali Airport without any hassle. This alternate route can be a time-saver and a much more cost-efficient route.

If you are looking to book the flight from Kathmandu, we highly advise you to book with us at least 3 to 6 months prior to avoid flight delay issues, and potential cancellations.

Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

With all of these alternative routes to the Everest Base Camp trek, there comes the question of cost. Your trek’s budget plays a critical role in your overall trekking experience. All the alternative routes include alternative costs as well. A helicopter tour can cost more than a trek-by-road package option. Similarly, the cost entirely depends on your personal needs and preferences on your trek to Everest Base Camp.

Our most-selling package, the Everest Base Camp Trek 14-day starts at the cost of USD 1390 per person. This cost includes all the essential charges such as accommodation, food and drinks, permit fees, guide cost, and domestic flight tickets. And you can enjoy discounts with the more people you bring in on this trekking adventure. Early booking can also play a critical factor in getting flight tickets early and enjoying additional early booking discounts.

We currently have our bookings open for the years 2025, and 2026 with various trekking packages and routes as an option for trekkers around the world. All of the packages offered by our team at Access Nepal are carefully crafted, considering all the aspects such as preferences, luxury, routes, and more to give more people the best possible trekking experience at the Everest Base Camp. So hurry up and book your adventure to the Everest Base Camp with Access Nepal.