Everest Base Camp trekking from Sallari is an alternative trekking route in the Everest region. This is a comparatively cheaper way to explore the Himalayas and avoid a one-way flight to Lukla. The EBC trip from Salleri is suitable for those trekkers who have longer holidays but are seeking budget travel. It is an adventure experience with less-crowded trekking routes on Everest. There is a regular flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu, but on this trip, we recommend you drive by jeep or bus from Kathmandu to Salleri for your new experience. The bus ride from Kathmandu to Salleri is quite lengthy, taking you through a beautiful landscape that includes banded river banks and diverse ethnic groups living there. Often, the road crosses highland overpasses with beautiful mountain scenery, including Mt. Everest.
The Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek route joins the trail of the Jiri to EBC trek at Ringmu. Then follows part of the Mt. Everest Base Camp Trekking Route, where Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa lifted the footprint during their epic journey to the top of the world in 1953. So, this is a test of the classic Everest Base Camp trip as well. There are various reasons to start an EBC trip from Salleri. First, this trip is ideal for trekkers without prior high-altitude trekking experience, as it starts from Salleri at an elevation of 2390, providing ample time to reach their destination. Most of the people who start the trip from Lukla are often suffering from altitude sickness. Second, some people would like to avoid flying to Lukla, whereas Lukla (Hillary) airport is known as a “World Dangerous Airport,” and the airfare is very expensive.
Thirdly, because this is a less-frequented trekking trail, almost the entire trail remains virgin; the culture on this route remains untouched by modernization; and staying at a local tea house offers generous and warm hospitality. This makes your travels unforgettable. The Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek provides support to the underprivileged locals, enhancing their daily lives and benefiting schoolchildren. The meals at Salleri to Chaourikharka provided fresh picking from their farm, so this is an ideal trip to support sustainable eco-tourism.
The Everest Base Camp Trek starts from Kathmandu to Salleri through the BP Koirala Highway to the Khurkot and Khurkot Ghurmi Madhya Pahadi Highway, 266.9 km by jeep or bus, about a 9- to 10-hour drive. Now the road has blacked out, so it is better to drive than before. This is a long scenic drive through the villages, hills, riverbank, and scenic mountain view. The road passes through Pattale village, situated at an elevation of 2840 m, which is renowned for its beauty and is now a popular destination for homestay trips. Pattale village is popular day by day among domestic tourists as well as international tourists; this is considered one of the best viewpoints to see Mt. Everest (8,848.86 m), “Top of the World," Makalu (8,463 m), Gaurishankar (7135 m), and many more with less effort. Then, trek through the Rai and Sherpa villages: Ringmu, Taksindu, Munthala (Manidingma), Kharikhola, Bupsa, Paiya (Chutokj), Surke, and Chaorikharak (2,694 m) and get on the main trail of Mt. Everest at Chheplung. Solukhumbu is the name of the district, and Salleri is the headquarters of Solukhumbu, below the Lukla, called Solu, and above the Lukla, known as Khumbu.
Now, you will meet a crowd of trekkers who fly to Lukla from Kathmandu. Often, traffic jams occur due to the movement of Yaks, Dzomo, or Jhopke, porters, and trekkers crossing the suspension bridge. The vegetation is changing from temperate vegetation to alpine vegetation while entering Sagarmatha National Park at Manjo. On the trail beyond the Namche Bazaar, we will follow the Mt. Everest Base Camp main trail with splendid mountain scenery, through the Sherpa villages of Panbuche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep, and finally get to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,360 m) and the most popular viewpoint, Kalapathar (5,555 m). Except for the cold, the sunset view from Kalapathar is outstanding, especially Mt. Everest (8,848.86 m). Mt. Everest is at a stone-throwing distance from the viewpoint. Observing the Khumbu icefall and Khumbu glacier is another attraction of the trek.
Nowadays, you can drive further above the Phaplu; if you have a short time and still would like to do the Everest Base Camp Trek, you can drive Kathmandu to Thamdanda (near Bupsa) to escape the adventurous flight to Luka and save some money. It takes a 5 to 6-hour off-road drive to get to Thamdanda (note: Salleri to Andher takes 2 ½ to 3 hours to drive), and a walk to Puiyan takes 40 minutes to 1 hour. The local government of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has scheduled the construction of a road connecting Salleri and Chaurikharka in the coming years, as per the master plan. There are Jeep services available from Kathmandu to Lukla (Thamdanda) for the Everest Base Camp Trek. The survey has finished building roads in Salleri, Phaplu, Kharikhola, Surke, and Chaurikharka.
The trail descends through the unique Sherpa culture and then returns to Lukla for the journey home, having gained a tremendous deal of experience in the Himalayas. To customize the 13-day Salleri to Everest Base Camp Trek to your preferences and schedule, Nepal Mother House Treks is pleased to collaborate with competent local guides and porters. You can schedule an EBC trek from Salleri and Phaplu at any time of year, though spring (mid-March to May) and fall (mid-September to November) are the best times to visit.
