Everest Base Camp is located at a height of 5350 m on the moving Khumbu glacier. With every step of your journey to the base of the world’s highest mountain, plenty of discoveries and photo opportunities await. Take in the breathtaking views of giant snow-capped peaks, discover the unique Sherpa culture in villages like Namche Bazaar, visit the world-famous Buddhist monastery of Tengboche, cross thrilling suspension bridges and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Sagarmatha National Park.
Everest Base Camp trek will present you captivating beauty of the Himalayan scenery, beautiful rivers, streams, picturesque villages, dense forests of rhododendron, fir, and conifer along with panoramic views of Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Thamserku (6,623 m), Lobuche East (6,119 m), Lobuche West (4,940 m), Taboche Peak (6,501 m), Kangtega (6,782 m), Khumbutse (6,665 m), Pumori (7,161 m) and numerous other mountains.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is probably the most famous trek in Nepal. Everest Base Camp trek takes you to the trails crossed by Tenzing Sherpa, Edmund Hilary and numerous mountain climbers who set out to climb the tallest peak of the world when they climbed Everest. Hence trekking to the Everest Base Camp has a lot of legends, fantasies, stories, sheer energy and a feeling of fulfillment.
Along these lines it is nothing unexpected that Everest Base Camp trek is among the most sought trekking goal among trekkers around the world. This trek consists of reaching the Everest Base Camp, but crossing Kongma La Pass, Cho La Pass and Renjo La Pass.
Awesome sights of Everest, a nice trail, marvelous tea houses to reside in an almost uninterrupted sight of some of the huge peaks in the entire world will keep your mind thinking throughout the EBC trek. You will trek or hike, in an average of 14 days. You will be walking between 5 to 6 hours a day until you reach the Everest Base Camp which is located at 5,364 meters above sea level.
The EBC trek is considered to be a moderate trek. The trails are technically not too difficult, but they can be steep, rocky, sometimes snowy and long. In other words, a good level of fitness is required, although you don’t have to be an experienced mountaineer to complete your mission. Prepare yourself with regular exercise and some good long hikes before your departure, so you can tackle the challenge with confidence.
Sir Edmund Hillary once stated, it is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. You will get an opportunity to forget the daily hustle of your life and immerse yourself in the wonders of this Himalayan region and make life long memories. The divine beauty and irresistible aroma of this region will help you find inner peace and your inner self.
Stand amongst the giants of the Himalayas. Revel in undisrupted views of mountains and ice. The Khumbu region in Nepal offers this experience. Located in the eastern part of Nepal, the Khumbu region is home to the Sherpa people and the world’s highest mountain. Mount Everest is located in the Sagarmatha National Park.
Every year thousands of trekkers make their way to Everest Base Camp. The more adventurous souls come in May, attempting the summit. Not as famous is the Makalu Barun National Park. It boasts Mera Peak, the highest trekking peak in Nepal. It is less crowded, but with equally stunning views. The trail takes you down into the bamboo forests, all the way to glacier summit at 6470 meters above sea level.
At the top is a view of Everest, Lhotse and other famous mountains of the Himalayas. The names and shapes of the mountains may all blend together in memory. But the one thing that will always stand out is the genuine nature of the Sherpa people. It gives life to the Khumbu region. Their strength is as awe-inspiring as the mountains that surround them.
The Khumbu region envelopes you in the Buddhist culture. It takes your breath away in the most literal .As the earth warms and mountain glaciers melt, we have to accept that everything is passing.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport and reach the hotel. You can rest for the day. In the evening, you can explore the colorful streets of Thamel.
Day 2: Kathmandu
In the morning after having breakfast, you can visit the Pashupatinath Temple. From here, you can visit Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in Nepal. Later, you can drive to Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple and then head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square.
While it is not mandatory to take a guide on this trek, it is highly recommended for several reasons. First of all, with a guided trek, you can plan your adventure worry-free.
Just connect to your local organizer who can answer all your questions in advance. Let them take care of your domestic flights (including flight delays), your accommodation and your permits while all there is left for you to do is enjoy your holiday. Most importantly, an experienced guide will lead you the way, introduce you to the country’s culture and keep you safe during this unforgettable adventure.
Day 3: Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding
One of the most important parts of the Everest Base Camp trek is undoubtedly the half-hour flight between Kathmandu and Lukla Airport. The flight takes about 40 minutes and costs between 150 and 165 USD. Normally the route starts from Lukla, a town that is 2,640 meters high. The mini Everest trek takes about seven days to complete that starts from Kathmandu to Lukla after a 35 minutes flight.
Spend the night there and start walking the next day, or start the trek that same day. Most people walk to Phakding (3 hours) or Monjo and shorten the day of the climb to Namche.
You also get exposure to Nepali culture via food, language and especially by interacting with your guide. Guides from the Sherpa community take a lot of pride in their capabilities and many of them have a family tradition of guiding summiteers. They relish lentils and rice coined as dal-bhat power! Simple life of mountain people with no complication of city life and their ever smiling face makes you ponder what true happiness is.
Day 4: Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is a city with lodges for all pockets, bars where you can have a coffee and a piece of cake, shops with anything you need for trekking, places to listen to music and drink until late at night. You would also face some typical ethical dilemmas. Consider this for instance. You are carrying 6 antibiotic tablets for yourself as a precautionary measure.
A fellow trekker gets ill in the initial phase of the trek itself and looks to you for help. You know you are susceptible to cold and there is no availability of medicines ahead, and without medicine your condition will only aggravate. Would you part away with your medicine? Would you share someone else’s backpack weight or your water, whose importance you will definitely realise during the trek?
Such situations help you appreciate critical leadership skills like empathy and pragmatism.
Day 5: Acclimatization day
As the final destination on the Everest view trek is located at a very high altitude you need to spend a few days in the beginning while trekking and acclimatizing in this destination. In the Everest view trek, you will get an opportunity to see the best view in the Everest region from Syangboche.
You can see the Everest from the Everest View hotel which is a luxurious hotel situated on the way. You can even go to some local villages for sightseeing from this destination and get an opportunity to view Everest from the distance. In the same place, the people and community will help the tourists to get information about the old days as well as help to understand the ethnic group of people.
Sherpa's are also known as the strongest mountain people. It is because the place is being dominated by these people from many years ago. You can learn and explore places of sherpa culture and also get a special opportunity to get acquainted and attached with sherpa people living in this region.
This is ultimately a trekking activity which combines with the natural beauty and the vegetation of the culture in this region. The wonderful beauty of the Khumjung and a memorable meeting with the various legendary people like Sherpa will moreover make the trip very meaningful.
These people are really experts to climb the mountain and without those Sherpa's climbing to Mount Everest is almost impossible. These people are also known as the experts for genetic reasons as Sherpa's can easily adjust to such type of altitude.
Day 6: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
You will reach the maximum altitude places up to Tengboche Monastery where there is the best German bakery in the same destination.
After that, you have to spend several days passing through the various homelands and villages of Sherpa people. You can see the close-up view of different Himalayan ranges like Ama Dablam and Mount Everest which are considered as one of the most glorious mountains in Nepal along with different Buddhist monasteries.
This challenge definitely has its rewards in terms of breath-taking views. You get to see five of the top ten highest peaks, the largest glacier of the Himalayan region, lakes with crystal clear (blue/green) water which can be attributed to the sacredness with which Nepali people hold them.
From morning to evening lakes take on different colour which has a transfixing effect. Sunset views with peak tops carrying yellowish luminance, it all gets embedded in your consciousness permanently. On an average, in every 2 days the scenery changes completely, from lush green forests to walking along the river bed to zones of arid plains to glaciers and finally to the most magnificent peaks of the world.
This endlessly changing horizon is a stark contrast to our daily monotonous lives. It ignites multiple flames of joy within you. You will a variety of beautiful bird species, hopping alongside you and humming all the way.
Day 7: Dingboche
Go to Pangboche to do the acclimatization at the Ama Dablam Base Camp. The road to Dingboche does not have much scenery. You will find a lot of suspension bridges, as you start towards Dingboche (4,910 m). This trail will go through villages like Pangboche. On the way, you will see several monasteries, and mani stones. Upon reaching Dingboche, you can see beautiful views of snow-capped Ama Dablam and other mountains.
As you gradually reach higher altitudes, it is important to take it nice and easy. Find your pace, don’t rush (and don’t let others rush you). That way, you can truly enjoy every moment and acclimatize slowly to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Don’t forget to drink a lot of water, and try the infamous garlic soup which is said to have great health benefits.
Day 8: Lobuche
Start the trek from Dingboche. You will notice a change in surroundings from lush forests to sparsely-dotted shrubs with snowy areas along the way. The trail passes through Thukla Pass after which you can reach Lobuche (4,900 m), a beautiful village located at the bottom of Mt. Lobuche. The only route in or out is via a narrow walking track, in places involving a scramble.
Ascend a hill between Dingboche and Pheriche, Nangkartshang, which exceeds 5000 meters before going to Chukhung. The Chukhung Ri is a rocky peak and is located between two glaciers, the Lhotse and the Nupse. You can see the Cho Oyu, the Pumori, the infinite wall of the Lhotse and the Makalu. The Lhotse Face has earned a reputation with Everest expeditions for being an endurance test.
It is the part where one begins the use of oxygen or the climb. It is not as dangerous as the Khumbu Icefall. After crossing the sandy areas arrive at the base camp of Imja Tse, better known as Island Peak. Cross the Kongma La Pass (5535 m) and the Khumbu Glacier to get to Lobuche. From Lobuche, you will get to see breathtaking views of Khumbutse, Mt. Lingtern, and Mt. Pumori.
Day 9: Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp
Set off for Gorakshep, the last village on the way to Everest Base Camp. Start the trek early in the morning. From Lobuche, head towards Gorakshep (5,180 m). This trail from here goes along Khumbu glacier moraines. After reaching base camp (5,380 m), you can see wonderful views of the Khumbu Icefall, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Kongde, Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Pumori, Island Peak, Mt. Cho Oyu, and numerous other mountains. After spending some time at the Everest Base Camp, trek back to Gorak Shep.
Once you have reached your goal at 5,400 meters, you can either do a short hike to Kala Patthar for a panoramic sunrise view of Mount Everest, or go directly to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the mountain. Now is the time to capture the moment with stunning photos.
So make sure you’ve got your phone or camera charged (bring a power bank or spare batteries and don’t forget, in cold, batteries discharge faster, so wrap them in your clothes to keep them warm).
Day 10: Kalapathar and Pheriche
See the sunrise from Kala Pathar. Early morning start hiking for Kala Patthar (5,545 m). Go on short excursion to the Kala Patthar viewpoint early in the morning to see a gorgeous sunrise. Also, from Kala Patthar, you can see a view 360-degree view of Mt. Everest and its surrounding mountains. Upon reaching Cholatse, a small lake, there are stunning views of the Ama Dablam. Many people go to Dzongla directly. The climb up to Cho La Pass is not very pronounced.
After soaking beautiful views, then come back to Gorakshep. After the hard descent, you have to save a small hill and follow the descent, this time with a less steep slope and bordering a river, until you reach Dragnac. Although the Ngozumpa glacier is almost twice as wide as the Khumbu glacier, it is easier to cross. See the Gokyo Ri. From the top you can see two lakes of a color that you would never have imagined, the Gokyo lake being the protagonist.
Descend along the river that descends from the Gokyo lake and, after 2 hours of walking, long descents and climb some hill, arrive at Machermo. Go down the hill and you can choose to continue through Khumjung or along the mountain. If you go through Khumjung the journey is shorter, but with a much steeper descent. After your journey descend to Pheriche (4,320 m).
Day 11: Namche Bazaar
After following the same route along Imja Khola River, you can reach Tengboche village. From here, head towards Phungki Thanka. After, passing through Kyangjuma, you can reach Namche Bazar (3,435 m).
Day 12: Phakding and Lukla
Retrace the same path same village as before and drop down to Phakding village. From here, after ascending through dense forests, bridges and rivers you can reach Lukla (2,850 m).
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu
From Lukla an early morning flight will take you back to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, drive to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the nearby Thamel market and do some shopping.
Day 14: Final Departure
This is your last day in Kathmandu. Reach the airport as per your flight time.
How is the weather in Everest Base Camp?
In areas below 4,000 meters, during the walk and with the sun you will find yourself sweating. During the night it will be cold regardless of the height at which you are. In addition to inner thermal clothing, it is recommended to bring 2 jackets, a fleece lining which you can use in mild temperatures and a jacket for intense cold or the last days at Everest base camp.
Which season is the best to climb Everest Base Camp?
The high season is October-December and March-May. If you go in March-May you will have the opportunity to live with many people who are going to try to reach the top of Everest. The best time to visit EBC is spring (March to April) and autumn (end of September to November), and the whole trip takes around 15 to 20 days, depending on your schedule.
What equipment do I need to climb Everest Base Camp?
You really need to wear good hiking shoes, especially that you have already worn them for a while so that they have molded to your foot and avoid blisters. The rest of the equipment can be bought or rented in Kathmandu. It is much cheaper and convenient than buying it from home and hanging around with it.
Is it difficult to climb up to Everest Base Camp? The only thing that will make it a bit strenuous is the lack of oxygen as you go up. The last quarter of the trip, which is approximately 2 days before reaching Base Camp, becomes a little more complicated. Nothing that cannot be done with great care but keep in mind that it is definitely not a walk in the park.
How much does Everest Base Camp trek cost? An all-inclusive package departing from Kathmandu with a duration of 14 days will cost between 1,200 and 1,500 USD per person.