Everest Base Camp Trek from Salleri is the best choice to avoid expensive and stressful Lukla flights that is even often delayed by a day or more. Moreover, the route is less crowded for a peaceful walk and starting your trek from lower altitude makes you fitter and betters acclimatize before heading to high altitude.
Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek - 15 Days
Duration
15 Days
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Maximum Altitude
5545m
Group Size
Min 2 Person
Activities
Trekking
Starts
Kathmandu
Ends
Kathmandu
Best Time
Sept, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr & May
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 or Phaplu?
9 Top reasons to start the 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 to 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 calmer and quieter than the upper Khumbu, which is often crowded. 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 or even a bit further to Phaplu; the road to Salleri from Kathmandu is pretty good and black on top. Connecting drive to Khari Khola - Surke from Phaplu is possible in the dry season, though the road is very challenging and bumpy, 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)
Kathmandu to Phaplu flight costs USD 179 per adult, available only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Flight to Lukla USD 216 (Lukla flights are diverted from Manthali in peak seasons)
Key Highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek from Phaplu:
- 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
Itinerary
Expand allThis is our standard itinerary. It can be customized or slightly changed if required considering your pace and trekking habit that cause a change of day-to-day plan.
Route Map
Altitude Chart
Still Confuse?
Download brochure or customize your trip.
Cost Details
Includes
- A registered and friendly local trekking guide.
- An assistant guide if the number is trekkers more than 6 pax.
- A porter between two trekkers to carry your main pack (weight limit 20 kg)
- Meals: 14 breakfasts, 15 lunches, and 14 dinners during the trekking.
- Lodge accommodation during the trek on a twin/double sharing basis.
- Kathmandu-Phaplu by Publuc shared jeep.
- Lukla - Manthali by flight and airport taxes.
- All necessary trekking permits for the Everest Base Camp trek from Phaplu.
- Guide and porter fees and all their expenses.
- Office service charges and government taxes and VAT, etc
- Insurance and trekking gear for guide and porter.
Excludes
- Transfers, meals and accommodation in Kathmandu.
- Meals in trekking other than breakfasts.
- Guided sightseeing and monuments entrance fees in Kathmandu
- Bar bills and beverages such as coke, fanta, and mineral water
- Hot shower, hot water, wifi and battery charge during trekking.
- Personal travel insurance, internet, phone calls, laundry.
- Rescue operation charge in case of emergency.
- Any expenses which arise due to a change of itinerary because of landslides, political trouble, natural calamities, flight delays, etc.
- Tipping your guide and porters.
Dates & Availability
Select Departure Dates
Nov 2025
Dec 2025
Check our published date! If it doesn’t match, we are happy to customize your tour perfectly to suit your interests and needs. Contact us for creating a unique travel experience for you
Essential Information
The Nepal Government Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has announced an issue for the flight operation to Lukla. Most of the flights to Lukla will divert from Manthali at Ramechhap until further notice to avoid the serious traffic congestion in Kathmandu airport. The airport in Ramechhap is located 130 km from Kathmandu (approximately 4 hours drive).
As an alternative, helicopter arrangements can be made on a 5-person sharing basis with the addition of USD 500 for one-way flights per person to change your airplane flights to the helicopter. We will try to coordinate and figure out groups at the airport for this arrangement, but we cannot promise it. The drive to Ramechhap and flight to Lukla are almost always guaranteed unless the flight is canceled due to bad weather.
Travelers are requested to inform us on the preferred alternatives for the flights to/from Lukla affected due to possible delays or disruptions.
Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek - 15 Days FAQs
Salleri is located in the Solukhumbu District of the Eastern Region of Nepal. It is roughly 285 KM east of Kathmandu which serves as the administrative headquarters for the district and is considered a gateway for treks to the Everest region.
From Salleri, Lukla is 3 Days walking distance, now you can drive to Surkhe – the place just below the Lukla Airport. Only a 4WD drive possible in dry season.
No, Salleri and Phaplu are not the same place, but they are very close, with Phaplu being just a short distance from Salleri Bazaar. Both serve as a starting point for alternative, road-based Everest Base Camp Treks from Kathmandu, offering a longer, more culturally immersive experience and better acclimatization compared to the standard flight to Lukla.
Yes, local jeeps are available from Salleri to Surke (close to Lukla); the road ends at Surke just below Lukla Airport. The drive from Salleri to Surke is approximately 6 hours on a rough, mostly unpaved road and takes you to the trailhead. You will then need to trek for about an hour from Surke to Lukla, but the trail detours at Chhuplung, so you don’t have to go to Lukla.
The Kathmandu to Salleri road in the monsoon season is challenging due to increased rainfall, causing muddy, slippery, and rough terrain, which can lead to longer travel times of 10-12 hours or more and a higher risk of landslides and road closures. The paved section of the road is from Kathmandu to Okhaldhunga, but the road from Okhaldhunga to Salleri and onwards to Surke is largely unpaved and particularly affected by heavy rains. It is recommended to postpone the journey if possible, but if you must travel, be prepared for delays, considering contact Wilderness Excursion for more detail.
Yes, Wilderness Excursion can arrange a local porter for your. He /she carries 25 km maximum load limit and can be shared by to trekkers.
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