Diversity of Flora and Fauna
Apart from the world's highest mountains, Everest trekking is serene also because of its diverse flora and fauna.
The lush pine, oak, and juniper forests make the hike from Lukla to Namche and Tengboche serene. On top, the animated rhododendron forest embellishes the outlook elegantly.
The lush vegetation of the Everest region is home to exotic animals like red panda, blue sheep, various mammals, and rare snow leopards.
The alluring waterfalls, rushing streams, lakes, and glaciers alleviate the aesthetic of the landscape. Further, the Yak herdings and pasture lands are entertaining.
Respect ethnic Sherpa culture and values
As an Everest Base Camp trekker, always keep in mind, "Give Respect. Take Respect". Whether a tea house owner or a porter, the innocent Sherpa works hard to put a smile on your face throughout the trek.
Everest region is home to world-renowned Sherpa tribes. The prominent religion of the Sherpa community is Buddhism which celebrates Buddhist and Hindu festivals. The ancient traditions, preserved values, and cosmopolitan lifestyle of Sherpa people also entertain the Everest Base Camp trek and helicopter return.
Hiking all day long is why you trek to Everest. But, some trekkers knowingly and unknowingly disrespect the cultures of the Sherpa people.
The pivotal issue, the cultural difference between a traveller and the local community, sometimes creates conflicts. As a traveller, you may want to enjoy the campfire and BBQ on the Everest base camp trek. But the fact is, you're not allowed to BBQ and kill any animals like chickens inside the Sagarmatha National Park. Most trekkers don't have an idea about this, and as a result, a conflict happens.
There are many preserved locations, artistic objects, and monasteries that no one can photograph without permission. To capture local faces, trekkers also try to portray the porters, hard-working Sherpas carrying logs, and more. But, these actions make them feel like you disrespected them. Taking photographs without any consent is equal to disrespecting the locals.
Meals
Commercially, Everest trekking has skyrocketed, and thus, you can find foods of your choice, mostly at low-altitude places.
If you're looking for a solo Everest base camp trek and helicopter return from Kala Patthar, your spending determines the meals you'll eat.
But with travel agents like Sublime Trails, we'll manage the best-available nutritious and hygienic meals.
The breakfast menu includes porridge with honey, toast with butter and jam, soups, and cooked vegetables. Most tea houses in Lukla and Namche offer fresh fruits, but the price becomes high due to expensive logistics.
For lunch and dinner, the meal items are almost identical. These two main meals of the day are the best energy supplements to replenish energy loss from long day hikes. Spaghetti, Sopus, dumplings, Tibetan bread and Tenduk, Thukpa, fries, and meat items are regular meals. But, the staple diet, Nepali Dal Bhat, is the ultimate source of energy. It includes cooked vegetables, lentil soups, rice, and pickles.
Eating tips; Always prioritise Soups, lukewarm drinks, and plenty of water. To avoid dehydration, try avoiding caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages. And most importantly, avoid consuming meat products throughout this trip. The imported meats often contaminate and cause diarrhoea and food poisoning.
Accommodation
Luxurious accommodation in Everest base camp trek and helicopter return flight is available in Lukla, Phakding, and Namche. With a tour agency, you'll get comfortable accommodations and facilities throughout this trek. Also, if requested, we'll offer you the Everest Base Camp luxury lodge trek.
The most favoured, tea house-based accommodation is best throughout Everest base camp trek and helicopter return. In the recent decade, accommodations services have improved a lot.
The trekking and expedition season brings a voluminous crowd to the Everest region. Thus, at these times, you'll have to accommodate in twin sharing rooms. You'll get attached bathrooms at Lukla, Namche, and may get such above Tengboche.
The beds will be comfortable for overnight sleep. Don't expect heated blankets and rooms. You can carry multi-layered sleeping bags for warmth overnight. But, you can get warm at the central oven in the dining hall before curling up in bed.
Internet, hot showers, hot water, electricity, and solar power are available at most tea houses. But, you have to pay the additional cost for these extra services.
Trek Difficulty
With proper acclimatisation and the right guidance, the Everest Base Camp trek becomes a comfortable trek. On top, the helicopter return from Kala Patthar gives the luxurious Everest experience. On average, this trek is a moderate grade trek, adding luxury and minimising some days of strenuous hikes.
We recommend our clients join the Everest base camp trek and helicopter return in Autumn 2022 to maintain decent physical fitness. Trekkers with previous high-altitude trekking experience would be best.
The hikes on the serene trail to Phakding, Monjo, and Namche are comfortable. The decent trails through lush forests, along the shore of Dudh Koshi, and crossing several suspension bridges makes the hike delightful.
The uphill climb of Tengboche, Dingboche, and hike on the rugged terrain of Pheriche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep is moderate to arduous. The three-hour trek to Kala Patthar from Gorak Shep in the early morning might become chilly.
The luxury helicopter flyout to Kathmandu gives the unmatched Everest viewing experience. On top, it lets you escape a tiring 3 days return hike to Lukla before taking a flight to Kathmandu.
Safety and Security in Everest base camp trek and helicopter return
Sublime Trails guarantee your utmost safety and security throughout this trek. We'll take care of proper meals, comfortable overnights, first aid treatments, and helicopter evacuation if needed.
An only experienced guide can lead the team without vital issues. So, to lead the team, Sublime Trails offers experienced Everest trek guides with nearly a decade of experience. Also, their expertise in first aid and mountain medicines ensures your complete health safety.
Since this trip is a helicopter return, the helicopter flight must be 100% safe and comfortable. For this, we employ top airline companies who provide Everest base camp helicopter tours throughout the year. With such a flight comes the most experienced pilots. Hence, the luxurious helicopter flight comes with safety.
Other issues like theft and robbery are almost negligible in Everest base camp trek and helicopter return. The Sherpa people consider trekkers as their guests. So, they'll never intend to harm you. Other than that, trekkers, guides, porters, and tea house owners are the only people en route. You'll be with your team and backpacks throughout this trek.
Altitude Sickness in Everest Base Camp trek and helicopter return
Every trekker's concern, altitude sickness, is unavoidable at heights over 4,000 metres. But proper care, acclimatisation, and drinking plenty of water reduce the chance of getting altitude sickness.
The thinning air above 3,500 metres reduces the oxygen in the air. Trekkers, while hiking, require more oxygen. On top, dehydration kicks in and you sweat more in the drier regions. So, the deficient oxygen develops symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and vertigo.
For most, altitude sickness symptoms appear minor. But for some, these symptoms develop into a serious issue. In most situations, seriously ill trekkers often need helicopter evacuations to lower altitudes.
But, you can reduce the chance of developing altitude sickness.
Report to your Everest base camp trek and helicopter return trip guide about the issues if you feel difficulties hiking. They'll give you proper medicines to soothe the symptoms. Tell your tour guide to call emergency helicopter evacuation if the situation worsens. But, for this, you must have travel insurance. There must be some reliable source to compensate for the helicopter evacuation cost.
Travel Insurance
Travelling to high altitudes like Everest base camp trek routes requires travel insurance. Why? Well, in extreme emergencies, you'll need a helicopter evacuation. The exorbitant cost of such evacuation is unbearable for you, a couple of thousand dollars. Hence, decent travel insurance compensates for every health expense you suffer, including the evacuations.
There's no denying the fact that high altitude sickness has resulted in significant issues in trekkers. But those who have insurance also gain many benefits from insurance compensation.
Sublime Trails only purchases the insurance of Everest Base camp trek with helicopter return guides and porters. We encourage everyone joining our team this Autumn 2022 to buy travel insurance.
Everest Base Camp trek guides and porters safety
Trek guides and porters are a crucial asset for every trekking in Nepal, and Sublime Trails values them with utmost priority. The health and safety of guides and porters are equally pivotal to making every Everest region trekking successful.
We provide the best accommodation, meals, transportation, and health safety to our trek crews. Also, we purchase their insurance for every trekking that even covers the emergency evacuations. We also arrange semi-annual health checkups for Everest trek guides to ensure their best health.
On top, we discourage our trek guides from consuming alcohol and smoking throughout this trek. With good health and safety, our guides can lead you successfully to Everest base camp and return safely.
Baggage weight limit for Everest trekking porters and Kathmandu to Lukla flight
As the standard set by the Tourism Board, a porter can only carry at most 15 kg, but two trekkers can share a porter with a weight equivalent to 30kg or less.
Any baggage above 30kg combined requires another porter, which will add cost. Hence, while packing the backpacks, only carry the gears and items you need.
Airline companies operating Kathmandu Lukla flights allow 10kg baggage and 5kg hand carry. For average trekkers, 15kg baggage is more than enough. But, if your baggage weight crosses the weight limit, you'll have to pay additional costs per airline policy.
Backpack and essential gears for Everest base camp trek and helicopter return
For a brief overview, here are the most essential trekking gears you must have before joining this trip.
Wearables,
- Sweatshirts, fleeces, sleeves
- windproof and waterproof jackets
- Hat, scarf, and caps
- Poncho for unexpected rain
- Trousers, tracks, and waterproof pants
- Decent trekking boots
- 4 to 5 pairs of extra socks
- Down jackets and sleeping bags
Skin care products
- lip balm, sunscreen, lotions
- Moisturisers
Please read our backpack for the Everest base camp trek with helicopter return blog for the apt gears to carry for this trek.
Altitudes in Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return
The gradual increase in altitude in Everest trekking takes you through diverse landscapes and climatic zones.
We'll first reach Lukla from a flight that sits at 2,850 metres. The highest altitude of this trek, Kala Patthar viewpoint, sits at 5,644 metres.
Phakding sits at 2,610 metres, Namche sits at 3,440 metres, Everest View Hotel at 3,880 metres, and Tengboche at 3,860 metres. Further, Dingboche, Chhukung, and Lobuche sit over 4,410 metres, 4,730 metres, and 4,949 metres.
Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp sit over 5,120 metres and 5,150 metres.
The helicopter return flight flies around 5,000 metres to give you the best viewing experience of the Everest region.
Flight delays and transportation
Sublime Trails offers complimentary airport pick-up and drop services to valued clients.
Kathmandu to Lukla flight is arduous due to intense topography. Hence, the flight takes place only on a clear weather day. But, the unpredictable weather at Lukla often fosters flight delays, a common headache for Everest trekkers.
Prepare yourself to cope with the flight delays and cancellations with one additional buffer day. If you have to meet the schedule, even in poor weather, the Kathmandu to Lukla helicopter flight takes place.
Besides rare occasions, on the days in Autumn and Spring, the flights are hardly obstructed by delays.
The flight to Lukla departs till mid-day and the whole day if the weather turns stable. From Lukla, you'll hike to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar before returning from the helicopter.
The guide will manage the reliable porters and yak for the logistics.
Weather and Temperature in Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return
The best Everest trekking experience comes with clear weather and a stable temperature. The rain-free days, vibrant landscapes, and serene mountains make the hike entertaining.
Weather and Temperature in Spring
Spring, a time for vibrant landscape, stable temperature, and clear weather, makes the Everest experience a top. The temperature is around 12 degrees in the daytime and -6 degrees during the night is bearable. Also, the gentle wind of 5mph clears the clouds and makes the viewing even alluring.
Weather and Temperature in Autumn
The post-monsoon landscape, lush vegetation, and unobstructed sightseeing in Autumn are another preferred time in the year for 10 days Everest base camp trek and helicopter return from Kala Patthar. The monsoon rain washes the dust and pollutants, making the viewing experience unmatched.
The daytime temperature averages around 13 degrees and the nighttime temperature averages around the freezing point.
Weather and Temperature in Winter
Experienced high-altitude trekkers prefer the Everest base camp trek with helicopter return. The snowfall almost makes the flight impossible to land at Lukla, but the helicopter flight becomes the best option for reaching Lukla.
The weather becomes clear in winter, with the snow-clad mountains in sight. Imagine being at Everest Base Camp and viewing Everest, filled with snow. A magical experience. But, those who can deal with extreme temperatures prefer this venture.
The daytime temperature only averages 4 degrees, and nighttime falls below -12 degrees. On top, the wind speed increases to 10mph. Not a good time for first-time trekkers!
Weather and Temperature in Summer
It's not that people don't trek to Everest in summer, but it's more arduous than other times in the year. Let's get why!
Summer days are hot, rainy, and slippery, making the hike arduous and risky. On top, the landslides at Phakding and other places put risk on hikers. Hence, the early and late summer are only viable for Everest trekking if you want to.
The poor weather in Summer is prone to 100% flight cancellation. In summer, the heavy rain till Lukla hinders the helicopter flight. The only choice you'll get is from Jiri, but the trail is landslide-prone. Hence, summer is not a time for Everest base camp trek with helicopter return.
The temperature of 17 degrees on the day makes the hike sweaty and tiring. Also, the 12 mph wind speed makes the trek onerous.
Tipping Culture to trek guides and porters
There's no fixed amount that you should tip to trek guides and porters, but everyone pays 20% of the trek cost to them as tips.
Everest base camp trek with helicopter return tour is 10 days long. Throughout these days, the trek guides and porters will stick with you in your highs and lows. They'll guarantee to make your trip successful. In the end, they deserve the tipping from you.
These people work as guides and porters during the trekking season, and it's their prominent income source. Your tip may not be sufficient, but it keeps the kitchen glowing in their homes.
Most trekkers also offer farewell dinner and drinks to guides and porters in Lukla. In the end, everyone carries a smile on their face.
Important Documents
If you're travelling to Nepal, Government-issued documents and some other legal documents should be with you.
For Everest base camp trek and helicopter return, you must purchase trek permits, an arrival visa, Kathmandu to Lukla flights, and much more.
Here's a list of items you should carry while touring in Nepal.
Passport, Citizenship
Covid 19 vaccination card
Proof of travel insurance
Passport sized photos for trek permits and visa process.
Contact details of person to contact on emergencies
Name tag for baggage
