Complete guide to Everest Base Camp Trek

2020-03-12

Trekking in the Everest Base Camp

Why Go to Everest Base Camp?

One of the most popular trekking destinations in the world is Everest Base camp trek. It has been a dream for many people to catch a glimpse and be at the footsteps of the Everest. Everest has been calling out climbers and trekkers since it was first summited by Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay in May 29, 1953. This trek is considered to be the most astounding and adventurous walking journey in this world. Well no wonder as you will be amidst the great Himalayan ranges where the views are just absolutely breathtaking, and you will get to experience the love of the local hospitality, exploration of different biodiversity and lot more.

Every mountain lover is familiar with the great Mount Everest. Everest base camp trek is a mecca for mountain and adventure lover as from the beginning to the end of the trek you will be blessed with unrivalled natural views of forested hills, sharp cliffs, beautiful local village, high glaciers and Himalayas. Some of the towns which are very popular for trekkers are: Tengboche, Dingboche, Namche Bazaar, Gorakshep. You will get an amazing experience spending time with them and learning about their beliefs, their work, way of life, culture, Sherpa traditions and more. The trail consists of lots of  icons of Buddhism faith as  beautiful color strings of prayer flags, whitewashed stupas, chortens. Do remember to visit some of the most famous monasteries and gompas in Nepal as Tengboche Monastery.

While you are on this trek, do not just rush to get the best view at the base camp of the Everest, cause if you do so you will be missing a lot of very beautiful sceneries along the way. The best thing about this trek is you will get to enjoy the views and experience the rich local culture from the beginning to the end, which is why, have an open mind to whatever new experience in terms of landscapes, culture, beliefs and others, to fully enjoy the trek.

When to go?

You can enjoy this trek almost any time during the year. As the region is filled with great mountains, weather patterns do change in different seasons.

• We recommend you to do this trek in October and November (autumn) as the skies are crystal clear, Himalayas are shining clear and bright and temperature is comfortable for trekking.
• The temperature is moderate and atmosphere is dry during March-May (spring) the climate is comfortable for trekking. During this season the forest comes alive with blossoming rhododendrons, and lots of beautiful flowers.
• It is possible to trek the khumbu region all year round but at times during the winter season (October to May) there are chances of storm which covers the area with lots of snow, so it would be lot better to check weather conditions locally during this seasons while attempting the high-altitude passes. Do check this link to learn more about weather conditions in Nepal. For more do click Here.

Accomodation

Trekkers need not be bothered about finding a good accommodation during this trek. As the trek is highly popular, and lots of travelers visit the region, there is very good facility of lodges, restaurants, tea houses. You can find a nice place to stay just walking for an hour on the trail. Majority of the lodges are stone houses with nice facilities for the guest with comfortable and warm beds, attached bathroom and more. The standard of the hotel depends upon the rates of the hotel.

Altitude

Base camp of the world’s highest mountain is at the height of 5,364 metres. The trek is done at an high altitude, so you need to be prepared mentally as well as physically to trek. The trek begins from lukla, which is at the height of 2860 m, you will be exposed to higher altitude as you trek further in coming days. You will be gaining elevation height of 400-800 m per day in average which is a huge difference in altitude. The highest altitude during this trek would be at kalapatthar which is at the elevation of 5,545 m.

The density of air decreases, which means the oxygen level decreases as we reach higher altitude. This is the reason most people suffer from altitude sickness, and it does not depend on any age, gender, fitness level. Travelers need to be very alert and aware about symptoms of altitude sickness, as carelessness of it can result in extremely dangerous situation. You should follow the acclimatization days which will help you to adjust to the high altitude environment, and continue your trek further. Problems with many travelers is they rush there way towards the base camp by not allowing enough time for acclimatization,and ending up facing altitude sickness and not achieving their targets.

Distance of the Everest Base Camp Trek

The total distance of the Everest Base Camp Trek from Lukla to everest base camp and return is 130 km.  This trek can be done in around 12-16 days. The number of days for this trek depends on how much days you use for acclimatization and the trekking routes you go through. The trails also has rocky and you have to climb steep hills and snowy terrain which can slow down your pace, but the whole trip is combination of flat, rocky, snowy and forested terrains with mesmerizing views making you forget about the hardship. This trek is usually not that strenuous but it depends mainly on your fitness, and acclimatization level.

Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek

Before packing your bags, do keep in mind to remember to checklist the most crucial things for your trip, and also remember to leave the things which are not that necessary, because it would only act as a burden. You can learn more about packing necessary things from Here.

Fitness Level

Everest base camp trek should not be taken lightly regarding the physical and mental endurance of a traveler. This trek can be done more easily if you allow your body to take required acclimatization days and have moderate fitness level. There are ways you can get prepared for the trek.

You can start by building up your endurance level by doing any sort of physical exercises as running, jogging, cycling, yoga, and others. Strength training can also be very helpful to make your muscles strong, as you would need to walk for few hours. You can also indulge in home-based exercises such as pull ups, push ups, and others. Mixing your exercises as from strength training to cardio exercises would be very helpful. Going for a few short hikes is one of the best options as it will help you to be used to the hiking hills, increase your endurance and enjoy the nature.

One thing to keep in mind though you can be physically fit as much as you want but if you are not prepared mentally you will find it hard to trek. To prepare yourself mentally, you can practice meditation to calm your mind and other purposes, be aware that you are going to walk for quite a few hours which will also involve stiff climbs in rocky terrains, know that you are going to be exposed to a absolute new environment and have an open mind when you face them.

Learn more: Here

Experienced licensed Guide and Porter

Hiring a experienced licensed guide and a porter is highly recommended as they will be just the perfect companion to trek in the high Himalayas. Although you are fit and there are lots of lodges and facilities for people, but people need to keep in mind that they are trekking in high altitude and a completely different environment for 12-16 days so in those situation a guide would be a great support and the most crucial companion for your journey.

Porter would help you to carry your excess weight which would help you to trek more easily and enjoy nature without much hardship. A experienced guide is also very knowledgeable as he understands the local lifestyle, the environment of the nature, knowledge of biodiversity, flora and fauna, weather conditions, specialty of the places, bonus short trips and more. Sometimes many unusual situations as bad weather, natural disasters, strikes, health sickness or others may occur, and at that moment you can rely upon only a guide. Travelers will get to experience a lot of amazing stuffs with an experienced guide in just one trip.

You can hire a guide from Kathmandu either a freelance guide, or from licensed trekking company, or there are also Sherpa guides at lukla waiting at the airport or get in contact with a guide from a hotel.

Conclusion

One of the most crucial tips for this trek is to have self motivation and passion for traveling in the nature, and not to rush things to get the best view at the base camp, because you might be missing a lot if you do so, so remember to take your time enjoying the moments on the trails itself, looking back at the views once in a while, spending time with the locals, and more.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you are planning to trek The Everest Base Camp, or other regions which includes Annapurna, Langtang, Mustang, Manaslu or off the beaten trails. We would be more than glad to help you to manage your trip or consult you with required information's. You can also contact us directly on: WhatsApp, Viber at 9851058702 (Hari)