Explore Worldwide has announced the addition of a new 22-day Everest Base Camp tour to its collection.
Travellers can walk through forested foothills and the stunning Khumbu Valley, cross bridges and glacial rivers, and pass through remote communities on this bucket-list trek. They can also visit Namche Bazaar, a bustling Tibetan market that is home to the Sherpa community, hike to the summit of Kala Patthar for views of Everest and the surrounding 8,000m+ peaks, and sample warm Nepali food in cosy mountain huts along the way.
The tour was carefully and deliberately created to avoid any domestic flights and is one of the very few on the market to take the long, scenic route. As well as prioritising customer safety (few Nepali airlines comply with international safety standards), the trip has the added benefits of a lower carbon footprint and an immersive itinerary that takes visitors closer to the mountain scenery that Nepal is so famous for, and the communities that live there.
Explore Worldwide product manager, Chris Ellis, said: “I’m thrilled to be introducing this classic bucket list trek, with an Explore twist – no domestic flights! It’s now possible to travel from Kathmandu and Salleri in the Lower Khumbu Valley by 4WD, allowing visitors to walk through the stunningly beautiful and barely visited lower valleys before joining the Everest Base Camp trail proper.”
Travellers can now also enjoy a well-deserved optional sports massage en route, courtesy of the Lehara Foundation, an Explore Foundation-funded charity.
The 22-day Everest Base Camp tour includes 17 days of walking and two days of acclimatisation, and costs from $5,602 per person. It includes 21 nights’ accommodation with breakfast and most other meals, local transport, and an Explore tour leader throughout.