Everest Base Camp trek is a bucket-list trek for mountain enthusiasts all over the world. This 15 days trekking takes you to once in a lifetime experience of living in the isolated parts of the Himalayas surrounded by astounding views of the mountains. This trek starting and ending from the hustle-bustle of Kathmandu city takes you up to 5555 meters at the top of Kalapatthar.
The Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary is designed to take you through many unique villages and scenic valleys full of natural vistas. The Everest Base Camp lies inside the Sagarmatha National Park, home to many mountains higher than 8000 meters, different species of plants and animals and indigenous people like Sherpas. This strenuous trek expects you to have prior preparation or experience of trekking in a mountainous region. When taken this in regard, and with the combined effort of your experienced guides and your persistence, Everest Base Camp trekking can be one of the best experiences of your life.
Highlights of Everest Base Camp trek
Kathmandu-Lukla Flight
The trek to Everest Base Camp starts with the plane flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Almost 35 minutes of the flight will be full of scenic views of the landscapes. As soon as you depart from Kathmandu airport, you will get the top view of the Kathmandu valley and its surrounding hills and forests. Which is followed by the view of hills covered with lush forests, rivers, waterfalls and picturesque village. As you approach Lukla, the view of the snow-capped mountains and the landscapes of the Khumbu region looks amazing. The plane lands at Tenzing Hillary Airport which is considered to be one of the thrilling airports in the world due to its short runway.
The Sherpas, tradition, and culture
Everest Base Camp trek enables you to get a closer insight into the life of isolated indigenous people living in villages far from modern life. Sherpa people famous for their courage and mountain climbing capabilities are also great at hospitality. This trek is also a chance to witness the rich Tibetan Buddhism followed by Sherpas. Along the trail, you will mani walls, Chortens, Kanis, etc. decorated by prayer flags and prayer wheels.
Sagarmatha National Park
Most of the part of the Everest Base Camp trail lies inside the Sagarmatha National Park. The park is filled with thousands of species of flora specific to the Himalayan region and diverse fauna. Sagarmatha National Park is home to various exotic animals like Musk deer, Himalayan giant Thar and Snow Leopard. If you get lucky, you can see one or more of these exotic animals along the trail. Most of the trail is covered with rhododendron, oak and pine forest and you may see blooming flowers depending on the season.
Tengboche Monastery, Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar
The main highlight of the trip is standing at the foot of the world's highest mountain, Mt. Everest.
Reaching the Everest Base Camp, you get the best view of mountains like Lhotse and Nuptse. But, to catch awesome views of Everest, you have to trek up to the top of Kalapatthar. Everest and adjacent peaks look amazing during sunrise and sunset from there. Another mountain viewpoint you reach during the early days of Everest Base Camp trekking is Tengboche Monastery. This monastery is also best to place to learn about Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan architecture and tradition of people living in the Himalayas.
Glorious views of the Himalayas and the Landscape
The trail that leads you to the Everest Base Camp is equally rewarding as reaching the destination itself. The Himalayan landscape filled with traditional houses, farms, rivers, waterfalls, rhododendron and pine forests makes your journey memorable. Ever since you start your journey from Lukla, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the mountains. The views get better as you trek toward your destination. Tengboche and Kala Patthar are the best viewpoints to behold the landscapes of this region. You can expect to see the mountains such as Everest, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Lobuche, etc.
Regular route to Everest Base Camp
Lukla - Phakding - Namche - Tengboche - Dingboche - Lobuche - Gorekshep - Pheriche - Namche - Lukla - Kathmadnu
The regular Everest Base Camp trek starts from Lukla. You will walk towards Phakding first and trek to Namche the next day. You will take acclimatization rest at Namche and resume trekking to Tengboche and Dingboche after that. At Dingboche, you will take your second acclimatization rest and continue the trek the next day. You will then trek to Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Gorak Shep will be your last station. You will trek to Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar and return to Gorak Shep.
You can follow the same route to return back or take a slightly different route. If you take a different route, you will descend to Pheriche from Gorak Shep and stay at Pheriche. The next day, you will trek to Namche via Phortse. It normally takes 15 days to complete this trip.
Best time to do Everest Base Camp trek
September - November, March-May
Autumn and Spring seasons are considered to be the best time for Everest Base Camp trek. In these seasons weather becomes calm and favorable for the trekkings. During the day, you can complete the trek easily with just shorts and t-shirts on. You may need a down jacket while trekking at high altitudes and/or fleece during the evenings and early mornings. The temperature is average so you don’t have to endure the extreme cold during the trek. The humidity is also low in these seasons with less probability of rainfall.
Even though winter days are cold and windy in the Everest region, you can pursue the trek if you feel like you can bear the low temperature. Because the view of the landscapes is best in this season. Summer trekking is also possible if you prepare for the rainy days keeping yourself and your belongings waterproof.
The difficulty of Everest Base Camp trek
Everest Base Camp trek falls in strenuous grade. Strenuous treks demand a high level of strength and physical fitness. You will have to stay at an altitude more than 5000 m for a few days. The trek can be completed in almost 15 days. It becomes more difficult as the altitude increases.
However, you can pull off the trek if you prepare yourself well before the trip. You are expected to do some cardio exercises, hiking, kayaking, etc. one month prior to the trip. You can also get involved in weight training to develop muscle strength.
Weather and temperature along the trail
Weather conditions in the Everest region depend upon the seasons. In summer the weather is unpredictable. The rainfall might occur almost at any time of the day. The temperature drops low during rainfall and might be hot the other time.
Spring and Autumn are when the weather conditions are stable and calm. Nights might get a bit chilly but the temperature is bearable. The days are warm most of the time.
During winter, the days are cold and windy and nights are even colder. The temperature level drops to below freezing point. There might even occur episodes of snowfall and snow blizzard in the high altitude region.
Accommodation during the trek
During the Everest Base Camp trek, you will have two types of accommodation. During your days in Kathmandu, you will stay at a 3-star hotel and during the trek, you will stay at tea houses. These tea houses are run by local people and provide you with minimalistic but proper services and clean beds. The room will be private rooms with a twin triple sharing basis.
Food and water during the trek
Your hotel in Kathmandu provides you breakfast while for other meals, you are recommended to try other restaurants in the city providing amazing multi-cuisine food.
Tea houses along the trail provide food rich in carbohydrates and protein. As the trekking takes you to higher places, there will be fewer food options to choose from. For three meals, there is food like noodles, pasta, rice, vegetables, Dal Bhat, eggs, etc. At Lukla and Namche, you can find additional food like bakery items, pizzas, and beverages.
Three meals, breakfast, dinner, and lunch are included in the package while you have to carry extra snacks you need like chocolates and energy bars. You can also buy some snacks on tea houses which may cost you more. Tea house where you have your meal lets you fill your water bottles while you can refill your bottles with tap water and use the water purification pill.
Trek durations
Among the 15 days of trekking, you will spend two days in Kathmandu, and two days acclimatizing in Namche and Dingboche. During the trekking days, you will walk for an average of 5-6 hours a day. Some days require you to walk as little as 3 hours while some days you need to walk for about 8 hours. The terrain of Everest Base Camp trekking trail varies from beginning till the end. Some routes are flat and even and you can cover up to 4 kilometers in an hour. But, some uphill climbing in rocky trail slows you a lot and you can only cover less distance in the same time. The trail gets tough as you approach the Base Camp.
Trek starting time and ending time
Usually, trekking starts at 8 am after your breakfast at 7 am and you will continue walking till lunchtime at about 1 pm. After resting for some time, you will again continue your trek until you reach your destination of the day. While trekking, make sure that you are walking slowly but steadily. Walking fast drains your energy and makes is hard to complete expected distance while also keeping you at risk of injuries.
Commonly Asked Questions by Trekkers
Can I take shower during the Everest Base Camp trek?
Yes, you can take a shower during the Everest Base Camp Trek. The tea houses you will be staying in will provide you with the facility. You can take a hot shower and you have to pay an extra price for that. The price gets expensive as the altitude increases.
How much weight can one porter carry?
On average, a porter can carry up to 30 kg. But once you have to share the porter with another trekker, he will carry up to 15 kg luggage per person. If you have to carry more than 15 kg, you can either carry the extra weight by yourself or pay an extra charge.
Can I use the internet during the Everest Base Camp trek?
Yes, you can use the internet most of the time during Everest Base Camp trek. The easiest way to access the internet is by using mobile data provided by Nepal Telecom and Ncell. It will be fast enough to make video calls, etc. However, the network might not be available in some remote places.
Another option is using Everest Trek Internet access with an extra charge, which will work all the way to Everest Base Camp.
Does cell phone work on the way to Everest Base Camp?
Yes, the cell phone works in most of the areas. You can use SIM cards of Ncell and Ntc to make calls. The network might not be available in some places but there will be no problem for communication. You can charge your cell phone at tea houses but they take extra charge for that service. In peak seasons, you might even have to stay in queue to charge your phone and batteries.
How can I prevent altitude sickness?
You will have to take proper acclimatization rest to prevent altitude sickness. Don’t rush to get to the destination and take your trek slow and steady. It is necessary to stay hydrated during the trek. You should avoid alcoholic beverages as they cause dehydration. If your body shows any signs of altitude sickness, you should stop going further or descend back. Take Diamox or equivalent medicine with you but you need to consult your doctor before taking the medicine.
Why Everest base camp trek with Sublime Trails
The high trip success rate
While traveling with Sublime Trails, you can rest assured about a lot of things. We have a high success rate because we take every measure necessary to make a trip successful. We offer you the perfect trip based on your experience, physical strength, and preparation.
Proper acclimatization
Acclimatization is very crucial when you are trekking in regions where you rapidly gain altitude. During Everest Base Camp trek, you will acclimatize twice after crossing 3000 meters and 4000 meters at Namche and Dingboche respectively.
Safety instruction is provided at the best level
Since the time you decide the trek, we will be there to let you know all the dos and don'ts of the Everest Base Camp trek. Before and during the trek, you should take the instruction of experts seriously and you will complete the trek with no problem at all.
Great guides with experience
During the trek, you might want to do lots of new things for adrenaline. Aventure is a key point for trekking in the Everest region but, only our expert can know when it's just an adventurous and when it’s dangerous. You guide with decades of experience are your eyes on the mountains.
Authorized and licensed guides
All the guides are authorized and licensed by the government. So, you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble and trust your guides and their suggestions. They make decisions that are best for you.
Sidewalks after reaching daily destinations
We take you to the sidewalks after checking into the guest house and tea houses. This lets you explore the village and amazing places near your station. Our guide can take you to major places around the location to let you explore the local lifestyle and many more.
Local Operator
Sublime Trails is owned by local operators, which means there will be no third-party agents once you book your packages with us. Our Company is founded and run by Nepalese people who are experts in the field of travel. The local guides will work at their best to give you in-depth experiences of local cultures and lifestyles and make your trip memorable.
Guaranteed departure
Once you book your trip with Sublime Trails making sure everything regarding the trip, we give you guarantee that your trip will be conducted on the promised day without any additional costs except mentioned
If you want to see Everest but you do not have enough time or can't walk for long days, we have Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. The helicopter will land at different places to explore the Everest region.
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