In the first week, the trail passes through beautifully terraced farmlands, forests and classic middle-hill countryside. It offers simple amenities and ample time to acclimatize while encountering the culture, customs and life style of the friendly and hospitable Hindu and Buddhist communities.
The Everest Base Camp trek via Jiri trail begins at an altitude of 1800 m and crosses numerous ridges: dropping low to rivers at around 1500 m and ascending passes over 3000 m. Rest and acclimatization days are taken at Junbesi (2680 m, visit the Thubten Chholing Monastery) and at Namche Bazaar (3440 m, the business hub of the Khumbu region).
Beyond Namche, the ‘up and down’ trail continues to rise while night-time temperatures drops and you move deeper into the mountains. Beyond Tengboche (with its large monastery, rhododendrons and great scenery) the villages become smaller– and the going tougher yet more dramatic. Vegetation now becomes more stunted and eventually gives way to rock, ice and pure breathtaking glacial landscapes.
A final acclimatization day is taken at Dingboche. Then slow walks up to Lobuche, Gorak Shep and along the “tracks” to Base Camp. After a second night at Gorak Shep, an early morning trek up Kala Patthar should offer stupendous views that include the peaks of Pumori, Everest and the South Col, Nuptse and Lhotse, set amongst numerous other ranges.
The down-journey to Namche retraces the up-route more quickly and from there it is a day’s walk to Lukla for an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.
Good boots, warm-waterproof clothing, a good sleeping bag, day pack, camera, sunscreen and a hat are essential items for your trek to the Himalayas. Our Classic Jiri to Everest trek package includes meals, accommodation and safe drinking water. The main trekking seasons are Spring (March - May) and Autumn (September, October) but we offer this trek during all four seasons.