Lukla Airport is notorious. Flights cancel. Weather closes the runway for days at a time during shoulder seasons. If you have a fixed departure from Kathmandu and cannot afford to lose three days waiting for a flight, this itinerary removes that risk entirely on the way in. You drive from Kathmandu to Salleri — the original approach route walked by Sir Edmund Hillary himself — and begin your trek from there. You reach Base Camp the same way, through the same Sherpa villages, to the same summit of Kala Patthar. On the way back, you fly from Lukla. By that point, your return window is flexible, and a delay of a day or two is manageable. This is the EBC trek for the careful planner.
Comfortable with the Lukla flight? See our classic 15-day Everest Base Camp trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek by Road: Overview and Bupsa Route
This trek is a popular route for trekkers to experience the majestic beauty of the Himalayas. Before the Lukla Airport was built, this trek was the only way to reach the Everest region. The route takes you through picturesque landscapes, quaint villages, and Buddhist monasteries. For trekkers who are looking for an alternative to the 15-day Everest Base Camp Trek, this can become the best choice.
Another reason to choose Everest Base Camp by road is usually due to the Lukla Flight. The first thing is Everest is one of the busiest trekking trails in the world. Due to that, there are flights from Manthali only during the peak season of Autumn and Spring. So, in the morning itself, you will have to rush to the Manthali Airport. From there still, it will not be so sure whether the flight would fly or not. This is why we always recommend that travelers have the second mindset ready.
We still are able to manage the road travel up to Bupsa which is the classic route to Everest Base Camp. Moreover, you will benefit from the Everest Base Camp by driving and trekking more than any other trekkers as in the similar cost to Everest Base Camp Trek or for seniors, you are going through many more villages. This way you will have more stories to tell and more exploration of the Everest Region.
The trek starts from Bupsa, a small village in the Solukhumbu district. You can reach up to Bupsa directly on a shared jeep managed by our trekking company. From Bupsa you need to keep on walking up to Lukla from where the main trail begins.
After reaching Lukla, trekkers can move to the gateway to Everest - Namche Bazaar.
The route from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp offers many breathtaking views. Along the way, you'll pass through famous landmarks such as Tengboche Monastery, Dingboche, and Gorakshep. These places hold significant cultural and historical value. They are an excellent way to learn about the region's heritage.
Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norge Sherpa were the first to successfully summit Mount Everest. Their legacy lives on through these landmarks.
Also, Check Alternatives to EBC Trek in the Everest Region.
Best time to hike Everest Base Camp from Bupsa
The best time to do an Everest Base Camp trekking via Bupsa is from March to May or mid-September to mid-December. These times are better because they don't have a lot of snow or heavy rain. During winter, there's too much snow, and in the summer, there's too much rain. So it's best to avoid these seasons.
If you go in the spring or fall, you'll have better weather and a more enjoyable trekking experience.
