Reaching the base camp of the world’s highest mountain is an extraordinary goal of travel enthusiasts. An epic Everest base camp trek has been the ultimate destination for almost all of us. Read this Everest Base Camp Trek Complete Guide for planning this trekking route.
In recent years, Nepal has been listed as one of the world’s hottest travel destinations due to its unique culture and nature like the tallest mountains, the world’s deepest gorge, glaciers, hills, waterfalls, terrace fields, and a wide range of flora and fauna. Every year thousands of travelers visit Nepal and join on Everest Base Camp Trek to traverse the mystical corners of the Khumbu region, witness the most appealing views of the Himalayas like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama-doblum, Thamserku, and experience the rich Sherpa culture and their lifestyle.
During the Everest Base Camp Trek, you will not only engage and learn the local culture but you will be thankful for this wonderful scenery, snow-capped mountains views, dense forests, and picturesque valleys from beginning to the end of the venture.
Likewise, this trek offers most of the world’s popular mountains like Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Thamserku (6,623 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,855m), Mt. Pumori (7,161m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Mt. Makalu (8,481 m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Island Peak (6,189 m), Mt. Kongde (6,187 m), and many more that decorate places like heaven, so it is also called a paradise of trekkers.
However, if you looking into this trek and do not know anything about it then you have come to the right place, in this blog, you will learn a complete guide to Everest base camp trek,
Best time to go on Everest Base Camp Trek
Before you plan for such an adventurous and unpredictable journey like Everest, you should all know and be aware of weather facts like when is the right or the best time to trek to go on Everest Base Camp.
Nepal has four seasons like many other countries in the world: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring but 2 seasons are the best seasons among them foe trekking in Nepal including Everest base camp. The best seasons are autumn and spring. Autumn season is one of the best seasons for trekking in Nepal which includes September to November it is the post-monsoon and the perfect time of the year for travel to Nepal in any proposal of climbing or Annapurna base camp trek in the Himalayas. Likewise, the second-best season of the year is Pre-monsoon (March and April), it’s usually cloudy by mid-afternoon for some time and the mountains are less snowy, but its Everest season- this is the crowded mountaineering time of the year, Everest is more like a town by setting up hundreds of different camps for the climbing or expeditions team so Base Camp and the trails are buzzing with the world’s climbing elite. Lower down, similar, the lower area of the region is blown flowers everywhere. The climate is perfect for climbing and trekking,
Everest base camp trekking route map
A typical Everest Base camp trekking route map
Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty
The Everest Base Camp Trek is a non-technical trek that does not require any technical expertise or mountaineering skills as it is basically a long hike at altitude and one can all do this trek with a little bit of self courage, and determinations who are willing to walk 3-6 hours a day with a normal daypack. The trek is normally 10-12 days including some days for the acclimatization before getting to the higher altitude of the region.
The total hike for this trek is about 130 km, roughly every day you will be stepping-off less than 15 km and normal hiking hours are 5-6 hours a day including the lunch and snack break unless you don’t want to! The distance you cover does not require super fitness; the altitude does however make it quite tough, this trek initially begins at the altitude of 2800 m and constantly gains the altitude further to reach base camp at 5365m and Kalapathar (5555m) the highest point of the trek. In terms of the weather and altitudes can be difficulties but the route is just normal if you are at the good season for this hike
Food on Everest Base Camp Trek
During the trek, we have a pretty wide selection of the food items on the tea houses menus which are originated and prepared by the local community, the names of the most common meals of the region as given below.
Common Breakfast options – Tibetan Breads (a fried bread in oil, it’s also named by Gurung bread in Annapurna area), Chapati with Cheese (dry bread- a local wheat bread), Oatmeal, French toast with jam, honey, and peanut butter, Corn Flakes, Hashed brown, fried, Scrambles and boiled eggs, pancakes, porridge with milk, Muesli, Vegetable items and any kind of hot drinks are available except espresso, Americano. For the lunch and Dinner- Thukpa (noodle soup), Dahl and Bhat (Nepalese local meal), Momos ( dumplings), Tibetan / chapatti bread, Macroni, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, a verity of soups, steaks, potatoes items, Sandwiches, Pizza, rice with curry, spring rolls, burgers and Pizza, yak steak and desserts items.
Everest Base Camp Trek Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1:Arrival at Kathmandu and transferred to the Hotel
Day 2:Pre-trip meeting and sightseeing around Kathmandu
Day 3:Kathmandu to Lukla 35 min by air, trek to Phakding
Day 4:Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazzar
Day 5:Acclimatization in Namche Bazar
Day 6:Trek from Namche to Tengboche
Day 7:Trek to Dingboche (4,350m)
Day 8:Acclimatization in Dingboche; 4 and half hours
Day 9:Trek to Lobuche (4,910m)
Day 10:Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,365 meters) and back to Gorak Shep (5,180m)
Day 11:Hike up to Kala Patthar (5,545m) and trek down to Pheriche (4,120m)
Day 12:Trek to Namche (3,440m)
Day 13:Trek to Lukla (2,840m)
Day 14:Morning flight back to Kathmandu; 30 minutes
Insurance for the Everest Base Camp Trek
Having travel insurance is saving your life. However, travel insurance is very important on any high altitude trek in the Himalayas, the uncertain things like altitude sickness or any natural disaster can happen anytime, in this case, you may be relieved and don’t really need to be worried about the cash if you do not have it. The altitude sickness is a very common factor when you get high up in the mountain and it can be suffered by anyone, in this scenario, you will be rescued by a helicopter to save your life if it’s a case of emergency. Also, this must cover any seriously injured, sick, or lost due to the many reasons in the mountain. There are numbers of travel insurance companies but make sure you have a reliable one before you go on a trek to Everest base camp
Everest Base Camp Trek Packing List
There are many things to prepare before the EBC trek. Below is a list of gears for this trekking that you should carry on a trek,
- Thermal tops
- Fleece jacket or pullover
- Windcheater/waterproof shell jacket
- Down jacket
- Fleece/wool trousers
- Trekking pants
- Mittens/woolen gloves
- Hiking/warm socks
- Trekking boots with spare laces
- Pair of flip flop
- Gaiters
- Underwears
- Cotton trousers/t-shirts
- Sun hat/scarf/benni
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Sleeping bag
- Trekking poles
- Day bag
- Headlamp
- Plastic bags
- Small lock
- Reusable water bottles
- Water purification tablets
- Small wash towel
- Toiletries (wet tissue, quick-drying towel, toilet paper, moisturizers, lip balms, sunscreens, sanitary pads, hand sanitizer, nail clipper, small mirror, toothpaste & brush, etc)
- Basic first aid kit