14-Day Everest Base Camp Trek follows the classical route starting at Lukla in the south and heading north to Namche Bazaar thereafter forking to the north-east towards Dingboche. This route was used in 1953 by the British Everest expedition team led by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa during their first ascent to Mt. Everest. It is a short and efficient route and the most popular amongst trekkers. EBC via Gokyo and Cho La Pass follows the same route up to Namche Bazaar from where the trail forks northwards towards Dole, Machermo, Gokyo and Thaknak before crossing the Cho La Pass to rejoin the classic route of the Everest Base Camp Trek near Duglha. While the 14-day EBC trek route is less challenging and a scenic one, it gets crowded during the peak seasons. In comparison, the route via Gokyo and Cho La Pass is more challenging and on off-the-beaten-path.