Lukla to Everest Base Camp
By Peter Potterfield, Executive summary by darmansjah
Round-Trip: 70 miles, 16 days
When to Go: Pre-monsoon (March or April) gives you the rhododendrons in
bloom and lots of climber action, but post-monsoon (November) gives you drier
weather. Go with guide services that use local Sherpa guides, cooks, and
porters—it’s part of the experience.
Arguably the greatest of all
high-mountain journeys, this stroll through Nepal’s Khumbu district lets you
see three of the highest peaks on Earth (Everest, Lhotse, and Lhotse Sar) in
one glance—and dozens more Himalayan giants along the way. A favorite is the view
from Thyangboche, called by renowned mountain explorer W.H. Tillman the
“greatest view in the world.” But it’s the deep immersion in the Sherpas’
Buddhist culture that will bring you back for the friendly villages, the
monasteries, and the polyglot scene of world travelers who come for the
high-octane pilgrimage to Everest.
Insider Tip: Go slow on the way up. Healthy hikers could cover 35 miles
in two days, but the need to acclimatize means you’ll take ten days on the trek
in to Everest, but only three on the trek out. The enforced downtime allows you
to savor the experience—and the culture of people who live there.
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