Embarking on the journey of the most famous trekking destination in Nepal –the Everest Base Camp presents you with breathtaking mountain views, unique culture, and wilderness to ensure you a lifetime experience
Engage yourself in lush green landscapes, overcome thrilling itineraries, and embrace the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the breathtaking Himalayas.
Luxury Encounter of the Highest Mountains in the World
The EBC trek successfully presents the world’s seven wonders, Mount Everest’s highest mountain (8,848m /29,035ft).
Three of the 14, 8000er mountains—Mount Makalu, Mount Cho Oyu, and Mount Lhotse—can be seen as you start on your trip.
Other 7000er mountains like Mount Nuptse and Mount Pumori along with 6000er mountains, Mount Ama Dablam and Mount Thamserku provide you paramount trekking experience
During the peak season, you can embark on this trek to experience many scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, glaciers, the famous Khumbu icefall, and challenging passes.
With its unique Sherpa culture and monasteries, special flora and wildlife, alpine rhododendron panorama hills, and breathtaking mountain landscapes, the Everest Base Camp Trek extends a warm welcome to trekkers, hikers, climbers, and expeditioners.
Here is the comprehensive guide on the top 5 side treks and detours that you can experience while embarking on the Everest Base Camp trek.
Famous Hidden Passes and Valleys in EBC Trek
The 80-mile (130km) breathtaking Everest Base Camp (5,364m/17,598ft) trekking duration is usually around 12-14 days.
Based on your flexible itinerary the majestic Khumbu region and the EBC trek provides you with diverse captivating destinations.
The Everest Khumbu trek’s main highlighted destinations are Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Gokyo Lake, and three high passes.
The trekkers’ junction point, Lukla (2,860m/ 9,383 ft), is located in a beautiful, remote, and majestic hidden valley in the Khumbu region with a surreal breathtaking view as you begin and end your trek.
Acclimatization stops like authentic Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,286 ft), the gateway to the Everest Base Camp trek, and traditional Dinboche (4,410 m/ 14,470 ft) – the ultimate Sherpa village provides you with awe-inspiring scenery.
During the best peak season trekking via Renjo La (5,360 m/ 17,585 ft) pass, Cho La (5,420 m / 17,782 ft) pass, and Kongma La (5,535 m/ 18,159 ft) pass grants us a chance to experience many incredible panoramic mountains.
In addition, you will experience unpredictable weather, iconic raw landscapes, picturesque Himalayan ranges, unique wilderness, and breathtaking views under a clear and blameless blue sky.
As you embark on an exciting mountain trek witness the highest and largest mountain range, hidden valleys, and hidden passes along with experiencing a new trekking perspective.
Top 5 Side Treks and Detours in EBC Trail
The Everest Base Camp trek has been a dream to many and surprisingly, a reality to few.
With its majestic landscapes and snow-capped mountains as tall as the heavens, the region has cast a spell upon the world’s spectators, visitors, and trekkers.
But alongside the main trek and routes, there are several attractive side treks that you will surely enjoy as you embark on the journey.
All the side treks are famous but underexplored areas that perfectly sync with breathtaking nature filled with the teachings of Lord Buddha.
There is no exact count of the overall side treks on the beautiful EBC trail.
In this blog, we will be providing you with the top 5 best side treks and detours that will be helpful for you to enhance your experience and enrich your view of life in the mountains.
Gokyo Lake Trek
Alternative to the traditional route, the Gokyo Lake trek helps trekkers to immerse in a spiritual journey with an awe-inspiring bluest lake and spectacular views of not only Mount Everest but several other peaks and mountains.
You have several options on how you embark on this trail but mostly on this trek you follow the traditional route to camp and take a detour on the return trip to visit Gokyo Lake- the hidden beauty amidst the rugged lap of majestic mountains.
It is a refreshing sweet dessert after the heavy main course of Everest. Now the question may arise, why is it so famous? what are its significant features?
The Gokyo Lake trail creates a fresh territory for you or on your return you don’t have to follow the same accommodation stops as before. You can experience other new stops like Khumjung, Thaknak, etc.
But is it all? is Gokyo Lake just a diversion with some beauty? Not at all!
The trekking trail rewards you with breathtaking mountain scenarios and high-altitude mountain lakes with some challenging passes.
You cross Cho La Pass, ascend to Gokyo Peak, and witness the rest of the serene Gokyo lakes, Ngozumpa glaciers- the Himalayas longest glacier shimmering around along with the most spectacular sight of Mount Everest.
It is more peaceful, serene, and quieter which allows you to experience peace of mind away from people’s hassles, and ensures you get to witness the most beautiful mountain landscapes.
EBC and Three Passes Trek
To put it simply and understandably, this trek is an extension of the Gokyo Lake trek.
On this 17-21-day trip, you will embark on the most scenic trek in the world via Renjo L pass, Cho La pass, and Kongma La pass along with spectacular sights of Kala Patthar, Gokyo Ri, and Chukung Ri.
The challenging trek is recommended for seasonal high-altitude trekkers and adventure seekers who enjoy testing their strength and endurance.
These passes are abundant with thrilling adventure because of their rough terrain, high altitude passes, and challenging rugged landscape.
It is no exaggeration to say this is the hardest variation of the trek since it includes two mountain pass crossings.
Despite the difficulties, it is a quite popular destination in the world. Trekkers want to challenge their will and there are lots of dangers involved but the memories, the journey, and the lore of the three passes you trade to your family and friends will be legendary.
The trails are tricky, there’s snow, rocks, boulders, rugged terrains, etc. You will trek through UNESCO listed, Sagarmatha National Park, the wildest and quietest cores of the region.
Even though you will embark on the trail which is very dangerous and challenging, it standardizes the beauty of every trail of EBC.
The Everest three-pass trek is a blend of the EBC trek and another side trek.
Starting at Dingboche, you won’t be hiking to Lobuche, instead, you take a roundabout to the village, the area of Chuking and Kong Ma La.
That’s the first of three high passes. After that the next trip occurs at Kala Patthar where you’d reach Dzonglha along the way covers the villages of Gokyo and Lungden, and passes like Cho La and Renjo La.
Arun Valley Trek
This typical trail portrays a small settlement in the eastern part of Nepal and makes its way around Arun Valley covering several villages like Hile, Seduwa, Num, Dhobane Phedi, Gurase etc along the route.
The trek stretched up to Makalu Base Camp (4,800m/15,748ft) offers you more than 650 species of birds, over 800 species of butterflies, and endangered species like red panda, Himalayan Thar, and Musk Deer.
The Arun Valley trek is a beautiful trekking destination that offers trekkers scenic mountains like Mount Everest, Mount Makalu, Mount Lhotse, Mount Baruntse, Mount Nuptse, Mount Amadablam, Mount Thamserku and so on.
The green and beauty of the eastern part of Nepal along with aerial views of the Everest region is a fascinating treat to your eyes.
The wonderful Arun Valley trek joins the EBC trek at Lukla, as a trekker you have a variety of options that include either choosing Arun Valley as a separate trek and flying back to Kathmandu or embarking into Lukla and trekking the EBC trek.
Arun Valley, situated at the lap of Barun National Park, is covered with lush green forest and connected with one of the freshwater rivers of Nepal “The Arun River”.
Ama Dablam Base Camp:
Adding a day or two to your itinerary of the EBC trek could allow you to make the Ama Dablan Trek possible. Since the base camp is in tranquil surroundings, you will find some dreamy fleeting feeling there.
The trek starts from Lukla and from there, you will follow northwards gradually and reach Namche Bazaar. On continuing further northward direction from Namche, you will reach Tengboche and gradually Ama Dablan Base Camp (4,600m/15,091ft).
You can witness the paramount view of snow-capped mountain landscapes all around the trails.
Due to its surroundings and likeability trekkers enjoy spending a few days there.
After trekking Ama Dablan Base Camp, you can either return to Lukla and then to Kathmandu marking an end to the Himalayan adventure or you can gradually ascend to the EBC.
The Ama Dablan trek overall offers a unique insight into Sherpa culture, verdant landscapes, endangered wilderness, natural freshness, majestic mountains, and lifetime challenges with the remarkable mountain journey.
Thame Valley and Thame Monastery
Nestled at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,740ft), west of Namche Bazaar, Thame offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan landscapes.
Thame Valley site presents you with unique natural beauty, wilderness, and cultural heritage culminating in perfect harmony with its serene environment.
Located in the Khumbu region of Nepal (northeast of Kathmandu) it’s a wonderful experience to trek through Thame valley and Thame monastery.
You are introduced to the stunning scenic- beauty of snow-capped peaks; the cultural encounter of Sherpa villages and insights into their ways of life and traditions.
The “Thame monastery” which is of cultural significance to locals due to its historic and spiritual beliefs is a sight to be bewildered at. Truly, Thame Valley has it all packaged.
The spring season offers the best weather in the Thame Valley.
Thame is situated at around 3800m. During the trek, you will gradually ascend allowing for acclimatization.
The Thame monastery is believed to have been founded around the 17th century. This monastery holds massive significance in Tibetan Buddhism.
While visiting the monastery, you must maintain noble silence and respect the tradition.
If you are trekking solo or even in a group communicating with locals is crucial since they can offer you unwritten facts, significant knowledge, folklore, and deeper insights into the monastery’s history.
The trek offers an enriching and enlightening experience for trekkers and tourists.
In the heart of the Himalayas, you can feel the heat of your heart synchronizing with the culture mixed with excitement, harmony, and joy.
Conclusion
There are a lot of side detours that you want to enjoy during the trek. Naturally, Nepal’s geography is very dense visiting these places once is not enough. You can witness as many destinations as you want to trek in a single region.
Every side trek and detour along the EBC trail presents a paramount experience, awe-inspiringly unique culture, and panoramic mountain landscapes.
Embrace yourselves as you want to capture every bit of mountains, beautiful curves, awe-inspiring corners, and terrain this majestic trail
