12 Mar 2023 10 min to read
Is anyone planning to trek Everest via Roadways? Yes, it is possible to trek Everest via roadways due to the ongoing infrastructural development of roads & highways. The jeep ride from Kathmandu to Bupsa which is the Gateway to Everest is the best choice. This Everest Trek via Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep ride assures you of full adventure in the lap of Mother Nature.
Bupsa is a small beautiful village in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. This village lies at an elevation of 2350m. Hence, trekkers get proper acclimatization while trekking via the Bupsa route. Bupsa is approx. 260 km far from the capital Kathmandu. The new alternative route to trek to Everest enjoying a jeep ride which is the shortest as compared to other available road routes.
Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep ride is smooth for 90% of the journey as the roads are well-paved. The rest 10% of the road is rough, bumpy, and full of ups and downs. But, the jeep ride may be exciting as it is a completely new experience for travelers. The best part of the jeep ride is the awesome views of beautiful landscapes, green hills, natural rivers, small villages, tiny settlements, and snow-covered mountains.
Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep ride is suitable for all budget travelers. Also, to those travelers seeking adventure and a new way of exploring. The Everest Base Camp trek is every avid trekker’s dream. The airways cost to Everest is expensive. But, this new route opens a great opportunity for avid trekkers as well as normal travelers to get to the Everest Base Camp at least once in their lifetime.
Benefits of choosing Bupsa Route
There are many benefits of choosing Bupsa route for your Everest Trek via Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep ride. Some are mentioned below:
- Adventurous new route
- Least explored and less crowded
- Reasonable Price compared to airways
- Explore the natural beauty of the region
- Expect a smooth ride as 90% of the road is well-paved
- Picturesque views of green hills, terraced fields, villages, landscapes, & snowy mountains
- Ample time for acclimatization
- Return via the same route after trekking
- Best alternative when Lukla’s flights are canceled for 2-3 days
Itinerary Structure
Days: Program Schedule
01& 02: Arrival & Trek Preparation Day and Kathmandu Sightseeing
03: Jeep ride from Kathmandu to Bupsa (2350m) 12-14 hours
04: Trek to Chheplung (2709m) 5-6 hours
05: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m) 6-7 hours
06: Acclimatization day in Namche
07: Trek to Tengboche (3860m) 6-7 hours
08 & 09: Trek to Dingboche (4410m) 5-6 hours, next day: Acclimatization
10: Trek to Lobuche (4910m) 5-6 hours
11: Trek to Gorakshep (5164m), trek to Everest Base Camp (5364m) & back to Gorakshep 5-6 hours
12: Trek to Kalapatthar (5644.5m), back to Pheriche (4371m) 5-7 hours
13 to 15: Trek back to Lukla
16: Fly back to Kathmandu
17: Final Departure
Alternatively,
Days 13 to 16: Trek back to Cheplung
Day 17: Drive back to Kathmandu in a Jeep
Day 18: Rest or final departure
Travel Info for the Everest trek via Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep Ride
Accommodation
Teahouses or lodges with basic facilities are the means of accommodation during the Everest Trek via Kathmandu Bupsa Jeep ride. These teahouses are comfortable and must pay additional costs for the facilities like Wi-Fi, laundry, hot bucket water, and charging devices. It is a good idea to book ahead during peak season for your convenience. In the higher regions, it is most likely to share rooms. Washrooms are also outside the teahouse or lodge.
Food
This Everest trek via Bupsa offers the opportunity to try local dishes such as dal bhat, which is a traditional Nepali meal consisting of rice and lentil soup. Sherpa stew which is a type of soup is the highlight of this trek. A special Sherpa dish that helps travelers to keep their bodies warm at high altitudes.
Other food options like noodles, soup, bread, eggs, and hot drinks are also there. You can also try intercontinental cuisine, some delicious bakery items, and coffee at your personal expense at Namche.
Water
Drinking water is easily available throughout the region. You can fill water from taps or pay an extra charge to fill the boiled water in the teahouse. Always carry a water filter or purification tablets to ensure that you have a reliable source of safe drinking water.
Communication
Everest Link’s Wi-Fi card is a source of internet providers throughout the Everest region. The networks are stable mostly in the lower regions. Mobile networks are also stable in the lower regions. But, in the higher regions both mobile and internet connectivity networks are unstable. You can also purchase the local Sim card for calling and use a data pack to use the internet.
Transport
The means of transport for the Everest trek via Bupsa is a private or public vehicle. The trek journey starts from Kathmandu to Bupsa in a private or shared jeep. From Bupsa, the trek begins. We follow the same route to return and drive back to Kathmandu via jeep.
Trek Route
Bupsa-Chheplung-Namche-Tengboche-Dingboche-Lobuche-Gorakshep-Everest Base Camp-Gorakshep-Kalapatthar-Pheriche-Tengboche-Namche-Lukla-Chheplung-Bupsa
Alternative route,
Bupsa-Chheplung-Namche-Tengboche-Dingboche-Lobuche-Gorakshep-Everest Base Camp-Gorakshep-Kalapatthar-Pheriche-Tengboche-Monjo-Lukla-Kathmandu (fly)
Travel Insurance
If you’re planning a trip to the Everest region of Nepal, it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance to protect yourself against unexpected events or emergencies that may occur during your trip.
When looking for travel insurance for the Everest region, it’s important to find a policy that covers high-altitude trekking and mountaineering activities. Specifically, look for a policy that does cover all essential activities. Consider the following things while purchasing travel insurance for the Everest region:
- Coverage for medical emergencies
- Coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions due to an unforeseen event
- Coverage for lost or stolen belongings
- Coverage for high-altitude trekking and mountaineering activities
- Coverage for emergency evacuations
Best time to visit Bupsa for Everest Trek
The best time to visit Bupsa for the Everest trek is generally from Spring (March to May), and Autumn (September to November) seasons. Clear, bright, and stable weather favors trekking during these seasons.
The winter and rainy seasons are riskier to trek due to the slippery trails and unstable weather. And most importantly roads are full of mud or snow making it hard to ride. It is possible to trek but you must plan properly and prepare accordingly before starting this trek.
How to get to Bupsa from Kathmandu?
Take a private or shared jeep from Kathmandu to Bupsa. From Bupsa, the trek begins traversing several beautiful villages of the Everest region.
How much does it cost from Kathmandu to Bupsa Jeep ride?
It costs USD 375 if you travel via private jeep. The maximum number of people in the jeep is 8. But, if you wish to travel via public shared jeep, it costs USD 50 per person. Since it is a public-sharing jeep, expect the jeep ride to be compact and adjust on your own. The maximum number of people in a sharing jeep is 9-10.
Required Permits & its Cost for Everest Trek
The compulsory permits for Everest Trek are:
i. Khumbu Rural Municipality permit costs:
- Foreigners- NPR 2000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
ii. Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) permit costs:
- Foreigners- NPR 3000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1500/person
iii. Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) permit costs:
- Foreigners- NPR 2000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
- Diplomats/Foreign Officials & their families- NPR 500/person
How long does it take to issue the Everest trek permit?
It only takes a few hours to issue the Everest trek permit. Trekkers must submit all the required documents to the travel agency.
Where to issue the permit for the Everest trek via Bupsa?
For the Everest trek via Bupsa, we require Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit, Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) Permit, and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Permit. You can issue an SNP & TIMS permits from Tourist Service Centre, Exhibition Road, Kathmandu. You can also issue SNP Permit from Monjo in the Everest region.
For Khumbu Permit, you must issue the permit at Lukla as it is imposed by the local government. Since all permits are taken care of by the travel agency, trekkers needn’t worry much.
Just submit the following documents to the travel agency to issue the permits.
- Passport photocopy with 6 months validity
- 4 Passport size photos
- Nepali Visa with the arrival stamp
- Travel Insurance papers (all essential things must cover)
- Flight tickets photocopy
- Agreement Letter to trekking company and Immigration Head
Everest Trek Difficulty via Bupsa
The Everest trek via Bupsa is moderately difficult. Firstly, the jeep ride from Kathmandu to Bupsa is a fun and roller-coaster ride. 10% of the road to reach Bupsa is rough and bumpy. When the trekking journey starts, long trek durations, several ascend, and descend, unpredictable weather, and high elevations make the trek difficult for the trekkers. But, the trek is possible to complete so no need to worry.
Trekkers must be physically and mentally fit. So, we recommend you participate in short hikes at high altitudes before starting the trek. Take necessary health check-ups and eat a healthy diet. Do some physical training exercises and yoga or meditation for sound mental health.
Porter Luggage limitation
The luggage limitation is a maximum of 15 kg per trekker. One porter carries the luggage of two trekkers. The luggage limitation is planned considering the health of the porters.
Acclimatization Rest
Acclimatization rest is very essential to prevent altitude sickness and adapt to the surrounding environment. The highest elevation of the Everest trek via Bupsa is Kalapatthar which is at 5644.5m. During this trek, Namche (3440m) and Dingboche (4410m) are our acclimatization rest spots. So, take proper rest and spend the day exploring nearby places.
Altitude Sickness & its Symptoms
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a common condition that can occur when you travel to high altitudes, typically above 2,400 meters (8,000 feet). It is caused by reduced air pressure and lowered oxygen levels at high altitudes, which can affect the way your body functions. Altitude sickness is natural in the Himalayan regions.
Symptoms of altitude sickness can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite or nausea
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
Preventive Guidelines
There are several preventive guidelines you can follow to reduce the risk of developing altitude sickness when trekking at high altitudes:
- Acclimatize gradually for adjusting to the surroundings
- Stretch the body and do some warm-ups before the trek
- Ascend slowly to give the body time to acclimatize
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent Dehydration and urinate frequently to help the body function properly
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and salty foods
- Avoid strenuous activity
- Get plenty of rest to allow the body time to recover and adjust to the lower oxygen levels
- Make sure to get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to rest
- Use an oxygen cylinder if necessary in case of difficulty
- Immediately consult with a guide and seek medical attention if necessary
Equipment checklist
- Essential Documents: Passport, Travel Permits, Visa Photocopy, Passport size photos
- Food: Light snacks, Energy bars, and drink mix
- Shoes: Camp shoes, Pair of hiking boots, Rubber sandals
- Clothes: Windcheater jacket, Thermals, Insulating Down Jacket, Fleece, Long sleeve shirts, Gloves, Towels, Inner garments, Trekking pants, Trousers, Shorts, Socks, Raincoat, Balaclava, Bandana, Gaiters
- Accessories: Sunglasses, Hats/Caps, Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Water bottles, Pocket Knife, Solar chargers, Batteries, Head Lamps, Torch, Umbrella, Sewing kit, Water Purifying solution kits, reusable bags to deposit waste, separate clean/dirty clothes
- Equipment: Warm Sleeping bags, Map, Trekking poles, Duffel bag
Note: Customize the equipment checklist as necessary. Buy or rent in Kathmandu option is also there.
Updated on: March 30, 2023
