03. ABOUT EBC TREK - ROUTE AND MOUNTAINS

 “Let the path wake up our minds”

- Anonymous

In this section, I will talk about EBC Trek route, day by day with elevation profile and mountains along the way.

EBC TREK ROUTE SUMMARY

Lukla > Phakding > Namche Bazaar > Milinggo (Debouche) > Dingboche > Lobuche > Gorakshep > EBC summit > Gorakshep > Pangboche (via Pheriche) > Namche > Lukla;

Total Distance: 120 KM to 130 KM (including acclimatization days activities)

Net Ascend (Lukla to EBC): 2,504 Mts

Total Ascend (Lukla to EBC to Lukla): 7,900 Mts 

One of the most interesting facts about EBC Trek is Net ascend vs Total ascend. While the Net Ascend is ~2500 Mts, total ascend is more than 3X which means there are lots of ups and downs which makes this trek one of the hardest in the world. 

EBC TREK ROUTE: DAY BY DAY

Pic: Day wise view of EBC Trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and back to Lukla; 

Day 1: 

Arrival in Kathmandu 

 

Day 2: 

Kathmandu to Ramechap to Lukla flight 

[TREK START]: Lukla Flight to Phakding

 

Trek distance: 8.5 KM 

 

Day 3: 

Phakding to Namche Bazaar 

 

Trek distance: 11.2 KM 

 

Day 4: 

Namche Bazaar: Rest And Acclimatization Day (Trek to Hotel Everest View) 

 

Trek distance: 2.5 KM 

 

Day 5: 

Namche Bazaar to Milinggo

 

Trek distance: 11.5 KM 

 

Day 6: 

Milinggo to Dingboche 

 

Trek distance: 9.2 KM 

 

Day 7: 

Dingboche: Rest And Acclimatization Day (Summit to Nangkartshang Peak) 

 

Trek distance: 5.6 KM 

 

Day 8: 

Dingboche to Lobuche

 

Trek distance: 11.1 KM 

 

Day 9: 

Lobuche to Gorakshep

 

Trek distance: 7.9 KM 

 

EBC to Gorakshep 

 

Trek distance: 3.6 KM 

 

Day 10: 

Gorakshep to Kalapathar 

 

Trek distance: 2 KM 

 

Gorakshep to Pangboche (via Pheriche)  

 

Trek distance: 17.6 KM 

 

Day 11:

Pangboche to Namche 

 

Trek distance: 13.2 KM 

 

Day 12: 

Namche to Lukla [TREK END] 

 

Trek distance: 18.4 KM 

 

Day 13: 

Lukla to Ramechhap to Kathmandu 

 

 

Day 14: 

Kathmandu Departure 

EBC TREK ROUTE: ELEVATION VIEW

Pic: Elevation view of EBC Trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp with all the stops; 

As you can see in the elevation route view, the entire EBC Trek follows the river route. Between Lukla to Tengboche - Dudh Koshi river, between Tengboche to Dingboche - Imja Khola which merges in Dudh Koshi at Tengboche, Dingboche to EBC is Lobujya River which originates from melting of Khumbhu glacier and merges with Imja Khola near Dingboche. 

EBC TREK ROUTE: ELEVATION PROFILE

EBC TREK ROUTE: MOUNTAINS VIEW

Pic: Aerial view of Trek from Namche Bazar (Picture of picture taken at Lukla Hotel)

Pic: Aerial view of Mountains from Lobuche (Picture of picture taken at Lukla Hotel)

Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek offers an incredible opportunity to experience the grandeur of the Himalayan mountain range and its majestic peaks. The trekking route takes you through a variety of landscapes and terrains, giving you the chance to witness these mighty peaks from different perspectives. As you can see in the day wise map (above), there are several mountain peaks which are in close proximity of the Trek Route and you can have a very clear view of these peaks along the trek. Here's a summary of the major peaks along the EBC Trek:

Pic: View of Thamserku and Kantenga 

Thamserku (6608 M): As the first major peak along the trek, Thamserku provides an awe-inspiring introduction to the Himalayas.

Kantenga(6685 M): Continuing along the trail, Kantenga offers trekkers an impressive display of mountain grandeur.

Pic: View of Ama Dablam from Nangkartshang Peak 

Mount Ama Dablam (6856 M): Known as the twin mountain due to its distinctive double-peak structure, Ama Dablam is a highlight of the trek. The up-close views from Dingboche and Nangkartshang Peak showcase its iconic shape.

Island Peak (6189 M) and Makalu (8481 M): The view from Nangkartshang Peak offers a clear perspective of these impressive peaks.

Nuptse (7879 M), Lhotse (8618 M), and Mt. Everest (8848 M): As trekkers approach Everest Base Camp, the towering presence of Nuptse, Lhotse, and finally, the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest, becomes more pronounced. These peaks dominate the landscape and provide a sense of achievement as you get closer to your destination.

Pic: View of Mt Everest (Center), Lohtse (right) and Nuptse (Left) from Namche Bazar

Lobuche (6119 M) and Taboche (6495 M): As you take a half left turn from Dingboche towards Lobuche, the view changes dramatically. It is one of the most scenic parts of the trek where Ama Dablam (6856 M) is behind you, Taboche (6495 M) and Lobuche (6119 M) mountains up and close on the left side and Nuptse (7879 M) and Mt Everest (8848 M) on the front right.

Pic: Taboche mountain near Thukla pass

View from Kala Patthar: The highlight of the trek, Kala Patthar offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Pumo Ri (7165 M), Cho Oyu (8188 M), and Khumbutse (6665 M). The sunrise view from here is particularly enchanting.

Pic: Pumo RI from Kala Patthar

Overall, the EBC Trek offers trekkers the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas, while being surrounded by some of the world's most iconic mountain peaks. The changing landscapes  and close-up views make this journey truly an unforgettable experience.