Overview

Everest Base Camp Trek is an absolute quintessence of trekking in Nepal or even other treks in the world. Many of the trekkers want to win over this trek, but they are lagging in terms of important pieces of information regarding this trek. Don’t worry, Greater Himalaya brings to you a complete guide on “Everest Base Camp Trek” to help you figure this amazing trek so that you can take this trek you have been lingering upon for quite a time.

Across the Globe, one of the attributes about Nepal that makes people familiar with Nepal’s presence is Mt. Everest and other top mountains belonging here. Not only this much, but people also travel from oceans apart to explore these majestic mountain roofs. Everest Base Camp is the base of the world's jewel – Mt. Everest, from which you can have an amazing outlook of Mt. Everest and its neighboring peak. Everest Base Camp trek is a high-altitude trek that takes people to the base of Mount Everest passing just as beautiful landscapes and diversity.

The EBC trek rewards you with the best views of Himalayan mountains like Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Makalu (8,481 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,855m), Mt. Pumori (7,161m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Mt. Thamserku (6,623 m), Island Peak (6,189 m), Mt. Kongde (6,187 m), etc. These alluring Himalayas decorate the trekking trails of this trek enticing adventurers to onset on this trek as soon as possible.

The once in a lifetime experience is what is waiting for you through this trek. The trekking trail of this classic trek is teeming with diverse landscapes of alpine meadows, luxuriant green grasslands, close-up view of gorgeous rhododendron forest, pine woods etcetera. Moreover, the fauna you will encounter during this trek is diverse. From rare snow leopard, elusive red panda to other more available animals like Himalayan bear, sheep, yak’s etcetera, EBC trek encompasses it all.

Difficulty of EBC Trek

Here’s the common query of almost every trekker out there- How difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek? How tough can it get? Don’t worry. Greater Himalaya here will clear your queries. So, trekking to Everest Base Camp is definitely not rocket science. Trekkers needn’t be a technical climber or mountaineer or professional athlete to go through with this trek. But, the uphill and downhill, the tricky trails, high altitude, and the chances of Altitude Sickness, steep trails all accumulate to label this trek of moderate-difficult category.

Starting from Lukla, the round-trip distance you need to cover during the Everest Base Camp trek is 130 Km. Adjusting this distance for a 12-16 days itinerary, you might be trekking for an average of 6 or 7 hours during this trek. Having some previous trekking experience definitely helps this trek making it slightly easy for you. Nevertheless, with a proper trekking guide and trekking agency like ours, even novice trekkers can go through this trek if they have maintained fitness.

We highly recommend you to do some exercise prior to the classic EBC trek so that ascending and descending along uneven terrains for a duration of more or less 12 days won’t be a nightmare ruining this trek. We also advise you to not miss the acclimatization days, that way altitude sickness won’t be much of a serious issue.

Altitude Sickness

Also referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), Altitude Sickness is a derogatory effect on Health that occurs at High Altitude as a result of immediate exposure to low oxygen amounts there. Altitude Sickness can even be fatal if it is not given urgent attention and care. We present to you some symptoms indicating AMS. We recommend you to be ultra-careful and look out for the symptoms so that you can apply prevention cues before it gets serious or fatal.

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness/ AMS

Sleep Deprivation/ Difficulty in sleeping
Rapid heartbeat
Nausea and Dizziness
Minor respiratory complications
Headache
Loss of energy and tiredness
Vomiting
Appetite loss

Prevention against Altitude Sickness/ AMS

Drink water adequately so that you are hydrated along the trek.
Gain the elevation slowly acclimatizing with the increasing altitude.
Eat High-calorie food- Carry protein and carb bars
Avoid alcohol, cigars, and other tranquilizing medications.
Try to be calm throughout the trek rather than pushing yourself.
Have a regular dose of rest.
Tag along with some pain relievers.

Best Season

With respect to the 4 seasons of Nepal, the environment, safety, and weather of Everest Base Camp Trek differs. We provide you with highpoints as well as low points of EBC trek during different seasons in Nepal. You can decide for yourself which suits you the best for you. If you ask us, the best time for EBC trekking is the spring season and autumn season.

Summer:

The rainfall during this season results in slippery trekking routes or wet trails.
Humid surrounding thus cloudy sky and hence poor view
Tag along with trekking boots with a strong clasp, if you go trekking this season.

Spring:

Dry and safe trails hence one of the best times of year
Sunshine and great views are the next pros.
Thriving rhododendron and other flowers passing their fragrance to trekkers.
No harsh weather conditions making your trek further enjoyable and easy.
The trekking trails might be crowded and the tea houses or lodges might be occupied.

Winter:

Tremendously cold as temperature might drop up to -15 degrees centigrade.
Some trails and even Lodges and teahouses might be closed.
Very vivid views of mountains and Himalayas.
Biting cold so few people opt for this season as a result trekking trail is silent with almost no crowd.

Autumn:

Peak season to go for EBC trek safety and views wise.
Radiant views of the Himalayas making your worth every penny and physical hardships.
Temperature is analogous to that of Spring and predictable climatic conditions.
Crowded trekking routes and occupied rest houses so book early.

Note - Pack for EBC trek depending on the time you decide to go for a trek.

EBC Trek Preparations and Training

We highly recommend you to practice a bit for this trek rather than taking It lightly. You need not be a professional for this trek, but if your health and fitness is not up to the mark, this trek is going to be way more challenging for you. Following are some training and things that you should follow for this trek.

Do exercise and physical activities so that hiking is something your body is familiar with.
Try to increase your strength by various forms of exercise like push-ups, walking on uneven surfaces, squats, etc.
Various cardio exercises like running, swimming, cycling for your legs and arms.
Try to go on short hikes first.
Have your body examined and checked so that you can know from a professional, whether you are fit enough for such a challenging trek at high altitudes.

Equipment and Gears required:

Trekking poles
Trekking boots with a nice grip
Woolen and normal gloves
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Toiletries (towels, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet papers, moisturizers, lip balms, and others as you see fit for you)
Woolen and normal hat
Flipflops
Extra pairs of socks and underwear
Headlights
Water purification tablets
Woolen trekking thermals, jackets, and trousers.
Sleeping bag
First aid kit
Extra batteries, camera, books as you see fit
Plastic bags

You can pack other things depending on the time and season you opt for the EBC trek. Contact us for authentic details about this.

Outline Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at TIA Kathmandu

Day 02: Kathmandu to Lukla flight (2840m) and trek to Phakding (2610m)

Day 03: Phakding to Namche Bazaar trek (3440m)

Day 04: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar (Exploration)

Day 05: Namche to Tengboche Trek (3860m)

Day 06: Tengboche to Dingboche Trek (4410m)

Day 07: Acclimatization at Dingboche

Day 08: Dingboche to Lobuche trek (4910m)

Day 09: Lobuche to Gorakshep hike (5140m) and soar up to Everest Base Camp (5364m)

Day 10: Gorakshep to Kala Patthar to Pheriche trek (4240m)

Day 11: Pheriche to Namche Bazzar trek (3440m)

Day 12: Namche Bazzar to Lukla trek (2840m)

Day 13: Lukla to Kathmandu flight back

Day 14: Depart to your destination

Itinerary

Arrival: Kathmandu > Departure: Kathmandu

Day 1: Arrival at TIA Kathmandu

Your EBC trek will instigate as you are picked up from the location complied by you and the trekking agency. We will escort you to the star hotel where you will stay over the night.

Day 2: Kathmandu to Lukla flight (2840 m) and trek to Phakding (2610m)

Through a scenic flight of about 30 minutes, we reach Lukla at an altitude of 2840 meters. This airport located in the Khumbu region is one of the highest positioned airport altitudes wise. We will fly enjoying the mountains beneath us to reach Lukla. We start trekking to Phakding. We will pass monasteries, forests, carved stones to finally reach Phakding at the altitude of 2610 meters.

Day 3: Phakding to Namche Bazaar trek (3440m)

The trekking trail requires us to pass through beautiful villages, streams, and waterfalls. After trekking for more or less 6 hours, we finally arrive at Namche Bazar at the height of 3440 meters. The trekking route takes us to Monjo via Dudh Koshi. We enter Sagarmatha National Park- a UNESCO world heritage site as we get the first glimpse of Mt. Everest while ascending up. We will enter the Sherpa Village in Namche Bazar where we stay for 2 consecutive nights.

Day 04: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar (Exploration)

The fourth day of the trek will be an acclimatization day in which we will explore the beautiful Namche Bazar as our body acclimatizes with the weather and climate of increasing altitude. We will also see the wonderful views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Thamserku, Kongde etcetera. Exploring Namche Bazar we will see various shops, internet bistros, government workplaces, and many more. We even climb to Khumjung town with Sherpa settlements. Here we can see Khumjung Hillary School, diverse vegetations, and traditional Sherpa Lifestyle.

Day 5: Namche to Tengboche Trek (3860m)

After early breakfast in the guesthouse at Namche Bazar, we will head towards Tengboche. Our trekking trail first takes us to Phunki and then to Tengboche taking 5 hours. Tengboche village homes the biggest monastery in the Everest region called Tengboche Monastery. We will see many Buddhist pilgrims in this monastery practicing archaic customs and traditions.

We will also see mind-blowing views of Mt. Everest and other popular snowcapped peaks like Mt. Everest, Nuptse etcetera. At 3 p.m. we will see a religious function in the area. We will rest ourselves in a guest house or tea house in Tengboche for the night.

Day 6: Tengboche to Dingboche Trek (4410m)

Ascending through the beautiful forest we will arrive at Pangboche. The view of Ama Dablam from here is simply staggering. We continue trekking uphill to arrive at Dingboche at the height of 4410 meters. On the sixth day of the trek, we will trek for about 5 hours, after which we will spend our night in Dingboche.

Day 7: Acclimatization at Dingboche

We explore Dingboche village as our body acclimatizes to the high altitude. We will explore Dingboche village and even trek to close passes. We can trek an additional 640 meters to reach the Nangkartshang crest from which we can see astounding views of Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. We will spend this night in Dingboche as well.

Day 8: Dingboche to Lobuche trek (4910m)

We will have our breakfast in the lodge and then head towards our destination. We will trek via the Thukla river. We will take a lunch break at Thulka and continue climbing uphill for 45 minutes finally taking us to Lobuche at 4910 meters. During our walk, we will be rewarded with the radiant Mt. Nuptse, Lobuche peak, Taboche Peak, and several others. We will stay the night in a guest house or homestay or tea house in Lobuche after a long day of trekking for 5 hours.

Day 09: Lobuche to Gorakshep hike (5140m) and soar up to Everest Base Camp (5364m)

We trek for 3.5 hours on a steep route to arrive at Gorakshep at an altitude of 5140 meters. Our trekking trail is made exciting by the view of Kala Patthar and Khumbu glacier. This glacier is the biggest one in Nepal.

After having lunch at Gorakshep, we will continue our strenuous trek. We will conquer high rises, pass moraine and streams to finally arrive at Everest Base camp at 5364 meters. Imagine the astounding views from up here!! This ephemeral moment is worth every hardship you will pass through during the trek.

Take photos, seize the moment, and be prepared to be astounded by the beauty of Everest. We return back to Gorakshep where we will spend the night.

Day 10: Gorakshep to Kala Patthar to Pheriche trek (4240m)

Very early in the morning, we reach Kala Patthar at a height of 5643 meters. We will get 360-degree views from this felicitous viewpoint of the paradise we are in. We capture this moment, take pictures, and prepare to get back.

The trekking members who trek to EBC today will begin the day even earlier as EBC ascending requires more time than ascending to arrive at Kalapatthar. Both the gatherings will have dinner together as they trek down to Pheriche for the night stay.

Day 11: Pheriche to Namche Bazar trek (3440m)

Passing the beautiful rhododendron forest and juniper trees, we descend down. we might encounter different fowls and mountain goats walking down our trekking trail. We will see the views of the mountains once again while we are trekking downhill. Finally, after passing the woodland, we arrive at Namche Bazar where we will stay for tonight.

Day 12: Namche Bazar to Lukla trek (2840m)

We descend on very steep trails, enjoying the beautiful landscapes on the periphery. We will walk along the Dudh Koshi River and its rivulets. We arrive at Lukla crossing rough terrains. We will rest in Lukla resting the physical labor accumulated since quite someday.

Day 13: Lukla to Kathmandu flight back

We will return back to Kathmandu via a scenic flight from Lukla. After arriving at our hotel in Kathmandu, we will do activities (roaming in Thamel, visiting Pashupatinath aiming the evening fire worship commonly called aarati, or simply resting) that we had agreed on as a part of the trekking package.

Day 14: Depart to your destination

The final day of your Everest Base Camp Trek package ends as we escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport or any other agreed location in our private vehicle.

Accommodation

Greater Himalaya will take care of your stay during Kathmandu or during the treks. You will stay in a 3-star category hotel or settlement in Kathmandu for 2 nights (during the starting of the trek and one at the end). Amidst the trek, you will be staying in lodges or guest houses arranged for you by the trekking agency. The quality of the lodges, hotels or night stays depends upon your trekking package. Generally, the rooms on the lodges are on a twin-sharing basis. However, you can get a single room if you are willing to pay double the price. Your room will be accommodated with a bed, blanket, and pillows.

The meals that you will be served during the trek will be diverse. You can go to the continental as well as the local cuisines. The options that you will find in the food menus are Sandwich, Pizza, Pasta, Eggs, meat, pastries, noodles etcetera. Various hot soups will also be available to make you warm and cozy in the cold proximity of Mt. Everest. We will provide you 3 meals during each trek that comprises Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Apart from that, we will have all the trekking permits handled for you. Find more about this by contacting us.

FAQ'S

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Reviews

Sanjib

Nepal

very good trip

Test P

USA

some good comments