Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek – 19 Days

Have your morning meal at Bhandara and pack your backpack for another destination. The trek begins with a steady descent through terraced fields and forests toward the Likhu Khola Valley. After two to three hours of downhill walking, we’ll get to Kinja (1,630 m). It is a stunning village lying on the riverside where we’ll stop to have lunch. From Kinja, the route shifts as the pathway climbs uphill, first slowly and then more steeply.

The path winds through dense forests of rhododendrons, magnolias, and pines. After several hours of continuous ascent, the route finally reaches Sete. There, we’ll check into our lodge and freshen up. At around 7:00-8:00 AM, we’ll have our dinner at the same lodge and go to sleep early.

Day four starts with a warm cup of tea and a hearty breakfast at Sete. Afterward, we’ll be ready to continue our Jiri to EBC trek journey. The trek starts with a steep rise through dense forests of oak, magnolia, pine, and rhododendron. Similarly, the trek passes through the small villages of Goyam and Lamjura. As the trek continues, we make our climb towards Lamjura La Pass (3,530 m), the highest point between Jiri and Namche Bazaar.

From the pass, the path descends through alpine meadows, conifer groves, and a Sherpa village, eventually showcasing first distant views of Everest, Lhotse, and Thamserku. The Sete to Junbesi section of the trek is quite challenging due to the long distance and the challenging sections. After a long and tiring day, we’ll spend our night at either Apple Garden Hotel or Sherpa Guide Lodge.

Junbesi, located at an elevation of 2,680 m above sea level, serves as our first acclimatization stop on the classic Everest Base Camp Trek from Jiri. The primary reason for including an acclimatization day here is to allow you to adjust to the changed temperature and feel comfortable for the high-altitude treks ahead. The risk of altitude sickness becomes a concern as we reach above 2,500 m, so Junbesi is ideal for staying an extra day and allowing our bodies to adjust to the changed temperature.

Trekkers often use the day to explore the village, as Junbesi is one of the most beautiful villages in the Solu-Khumbu region. We can also go for a hike to Thubten Chholing Monastery, a religious center in the area founded in the 1960s by Trulsik Rinpoche.

In addition, Phugmochhe (3,000 m) is a popular side trip on the acclimatization day at Junbesi. Phugmoche is a ridge-top viewpoint that provides panoramic vistas of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Thamserku on clear days. After a day hike and visit, we’ll return to our accommodation point at Junbesi and spend another night there.

With the fresh energy of Junbesi’s acclimatization, we’ll continue our way to reach the Everest Base Camp. The trek begins with a crossing of the Junbesi Khola via a wooden bridge, followed by a gradual climb through pine forests and terraced fields. After a constant ascent, the pathway reaches a ridge near Phurteng (approximately 3,100 m), where we can enjoy our first full view of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks, including Lhotse, Makalu, and Thamserku.

From Phurteng, the pathway continues through Sherpa settlements and small chortens, which slowly descend through rugged mountains towards Ringmo village. The village is famous for its apple orchards and delicious apple-based products, where we’ll stop to have lunch and rest. After leaving Ringmo, the trail takes us to the Taksindu La Pass (3,071 m). At the top, there is a beautiful monastery, Taksindu Monastery, an important spiritual site for local Sherpas, and it is worth a short visit.

The final part of the trek involves a steep descent through forests of rhododendron and pine. Similarly, we pass small streams and rural hamlets before reaching Nunthala (2,200 m). The day’s overnight and dinner are at the Shangrila Guest House.

We leave Nunthala and make our way towards Bupsa on the seventh day. The initial phase of the walk takes us downhill to terraced fields, forests, and small Rai and Sherpa villages that lead us to the Dudh Koshi River. Then, we’ll cross a long suspension bridge over the roaring river, which is indeed a thrilling moment. From the river, the pathway begins a long and demanding ascent.

The path passes Jubing (1,680 m), a large Rai village, and Khari Khola (2,050 m), a Sherpa village. At Khari Khola, we’ll stop for a while to have lunch. From Khari Khola, the route becomes steeper as it winds upward toward Bupsa. The climb is tough, but the views of forested slopes and distant ridgelines will motivate us. As we get to Bupsa, we’ll settle into Everest Guest House or a similar category for our night stay and dinner.

After having breakfast at Bupsa, we’ll leave the village and continue our way to the next destination. Leaving Bupsa, we’ll walk through a narrow forested section with rhododendron and oak forests, accompanied by birdsong. Continuing the trek, the path leads to Kharte, a small settlement where trekkers often stop for tea or snacks before continuing upward toward Khari La Pass (2,880 m). Views of rolling valleys and high ridges, along with Khumbu peaks, are astonishing from the pass.

After the pass, the trail descends through forests and villages and takes us to Puiyan, a Sherpa village with several teahouses. The final walk, a gentle descent, takes us to our final destination, Chaurikharka. There, we’ll settle in the Kusum Khang View lodge or similar category accommodation for an overnight stay.

The ninth day of the trek connects us with Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Khumbu region. We will leave Chaurikharka early after breakfast, traveling through cultivated fields and small villages until we reach Chheplung. The village officially joins the main Everest trail used by trekkers flying into Lukla. From there, the path follows the Dudh Koshi River, crossing suspension bridges and passing through settlements like Ghat and Phakding.

As we continue, we’ll reach Monjo village, where we enter the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by checking in with our permit. After checking in, we’ll make our final walk towards Namche Bazaar, which includes passing through the village of Jhorsalle and the iconic Hillary Suspension Bridge. After a long day of trekking, we’ll reach Namche Bazaar, where we’ll settle in Khumbu Lodge or a similar category lodging point for the day’s stay.

From the tenth day, the itinerary follows the same route as a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The tenth day is our acclimatization day, on which we’ll go for a day hike to nearby viewpoints. On the eleventh day, we’ll make our way to Tengboche village, a home to the largest monastery. Another day takes us to Dingboche village, where we’ll spend the next day acclimatizing. Day fourteenth takes us to the final location before reaching the ultimate destination, Lobuche. The fifteenth day marks the most-awaited and remarkable day, which brings us to Everest Base Camp, the base of Mount Everest.

After Everest Base Camp, we’ll go for a hike to the highest point of the EBC journey, Kala Patthar. The same day, we’ll then make our descent to Pheriche. Continuing the descent of the classic Everest Base Camp, we will spend our night at Namche Bazaar on the seventeenth day. The trekking adventure from Jiri to EBC ends with a trek down to Lukla from Namche on the eighteenth day. The trek from Jiri to Everest concludes on the nineteenth day with a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu.

For a detailed itinerary description, please go through the Everest Base Camp trek package, which includes information on the trail, views, meals, accommodations, and other relevant details.