Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek

Overview

The Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek starts at Phaplu, though the standard Everest Base Camp Trek begins at Lukla. It is the best idea for those who don’t want to take an adventurous Lukla flight but still have a dream to experience Everest Base Camp once in a lifetime. So we have good news for those wanting to drive and trek off the beaten path to Everest Base Camp from Salleri and Phaplu, south of Lukla. There are daily flights to Phaplu, and a daily local 4WD jeep is available from Kathmandu just in case your flight is delayed or you are considering trip costs. The Salleri to Everest Base Camp trekking route itself is challenging at times; there are no altitude problems, but the steep up-and-down segments will leave you with burning thighs and shaking knees! In particular, the stretch from Kharikhola to Lukla (the last 2 days or so) is relentless in its ascent from the valley and does not offer much in the way of views or attractions. Before Kharikhola, however, you are constantly rewarded as the trail winds through rice terraces, farmland, and small villages dotted with stupas and monasteries.

Why Everest Base Camp from Salleri?

9 Top reasons to start Everest Base Camp Trek from Salleri/Phaplu

• You don't have to take a flight to the Lukla/Everest Base Camp trek without flying into Lukla.
• It makes you much physically fitter and stronger and makes you ready to hike Everest Base Camp
• Better acclimatized before reaching Base Camp, less risk of altitude sickness.
• It has warm weather, hilly and green scenery, and fewer trekkers on the way, so it is calm.
• Local village experiences, organic food, and vegetables are served in teahouses.
• Covers the trail of the Classic Jiri Everest Base Camp trekking route
• Alternate route to Lukla Everest base camp trekking
• short and economical entrance to the nearest road to the Everest Region
• Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and Kalapattar (5,55 m)

One of the best aspects of taking this route to Everest Base Camp is that it makes you physically fitter and keeps you well acclimatized before heading to Everest Base Camp without taking a Lukla flight. Many trekkers are hit by altitude sickness when they begin the trek straight from Lukla. This route also provides chances to observe the fascinating rural daily life in each village you pass through. Families grow their vegetables and livestock and run the teahouses. Anything else they need is transported from other villages by mule or human muscle. Another great thing is that this route is less trekked, so this trail is calm and quieter than upper Khumbu, which is crowded often. As this trail is newly introduced, very few trekkers have explored this route, which is newly proposed. Trek to Everest Base Camp via Salleri offers you a fresh route, and you do not have to fly to Lukla; rather, the drive by a private vehicle takes you to Salleri, which is also the district headquarters of the Solukhumbu. It is incredible to trek on this unusual trail to Everest Base Camp.

Choices in reaching Lukla from Kathmandu.

Yet there is no road access to Lukla; possibly soon, within a few years, the state government will build the road. But there is comparatively good road access to Salleri; the road to Salleri from Kathmandu is pretty good and black on top. The dirt road further to Ringmo and Nunthala village is accessible as of our last trekking update, but jeeps are not always readily available.

• Ride the local bus to Jiri or Shivalaya (10-11 hours) or even to Kinja now in the dry season and walk for 4 to 5 days.
• Rent a private jeep or catch an early-morning public jeep/bus to Salleri or Phaplu (10 to 12 hours) and trek for 3 to 4 days. 
• Fly to Phaplu (2,413 m), then trek 3-4 days to Lukla.
• Flying to Lukla is by far the easiest, quickest, and possibly cheapest way to go when you take into account the extra money you’ll spend while trekking.

Foreigner’s transportation cost to Salleri / Phaplu from Kathmandu

The local bus, USD 20 per head, leaves at 5:00 AM
Local sharing jeep USD 25 per head  leaves at 5:00 AM
Private Jeep Hire USD 285 (Good space for 7 people)
Flight costs USD 158/flight/head, available only on Monday and Friday. 
Flight to Lukla USD 216 (Lukla flights are diverted from Manthali in peak seasons) 

Key Highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek from Salleri:

• Hiking to the world's most popular viewpoint, Kala Patthar Viewpoint,
• Exploring the 360-degree panoramic views of the highest mountains like
• Reach the base camp of Mount Everest, where hundreds of climbers first camp.
• Follow the Tenzin Norgey and Edmund Hillary trail without flying into Lukla.
• Buddhist monuments such as monasteries and chhortens along the route
• Flora and fauna in Sagaramatha National Park