Everest Base Camp

[Frolic Adventure]

Everest base camp trek is one of the most popular and incredible trekking in Nepal. There are thousands of trekkers who visit every year to the base camp. Everest base camp is moderate trekking so it is fit for all kind of the trekkers.

How to Get in

Everest base camp trek starts from Lukla after flying from Kathmandu about a half an hour scenic flight in a small plane then trek to Phakding. The most attractive village Namche Bazaar is laying in the hill with a stunning view of the Himalaya. After having one extra day for the acclimatization here, the trail leads to Everest base camp via Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep before stepping to the base camp.

Kalapatthar is a hill to see the Everest Himalayan range after the base camp. To reach the top of the Kalapatthar, it takes about 2 hours and back for about 1 hour. The trek starts turning back from Gorakshep after having the great view from Kalapatthar.

Getting the guide and porter

There are hundreds of the trekking agencies in Kathmandu to organize the trek to the Everest base camp. You may contact directly to them through the google or can trek individually. Trekking individually may be lots of pressure to organize everything in the mountain for the trekkers so it is better having guide and porter for this trek. You also can hire a guide or porter from Lukla but they usually may not informative as the guide from Kathmandu.

Lodge and Food

Everest base camp trek is a well-managed trekking trail so you don't need to worry about lodges and the foods. Lodges are with private rooms with the bathroom in or inside the building and then there is foods menu with the verity of the food items. The autumn and the spring are the best time for this trek. Still, the trekkers can do EBC trek during the winter but it is freezing cold over there. I don't recommend Everest base camp trek from June to Mid September.

Attractions

Sherpa culture, lifestyle, traditional buildings, old monasteries, Buddhist monuments, wildlife, Yaks, Glaciers, beautiful valleys, Everest Himalayan range, rivers, waterfalls, and much more attractions are here to see. Everest base camp trek lies in eastern Nepal in Sagarmatha national park. Sagarmatha national park is one of the natural world heritage sites of UNESCO.

What to bring?

You need to have warm trekking gears for this trekking which you can find on different sites that what to bring with you for the trek. The packing list depends on the season and climate that when you are hiking to the base camp.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the Everest base camp trek depends on the service you want. Full organized trek, only guide and porter hiring, or other as your demand. Staying in the luxury lodges is more expensive but there are not luxury lodges all the way to the base camp. Private and individual trekkers cost expensive than the group trekkers but private and the family trekking is more flexible and no rush. Normally 700 USD to 1250 USD costs per person for this trek.

Permits

Before the new constitution of Nepal, You need to have a TIMS card from Kathmandu and issue the national park permit in Jorsalle but now You don't need the TIMS from Kathmandu. You need to have an entry ticket from Pasang Lhamu village municipality in Lukla and take the national park permit from Jorsalle.

Altitude Problem

There will be a chance to have an altitude sick to the trekkers. You land directly to the height of 2856 m. above the sea level and trek higher. When you reach to Namche, you can start taking the altitude pill Diamox 250mg every 12 hours to prevent the altitude problem. You need to keep warm, sleep well and drink at least 3-litres water every day. Walking slowly is the smartest way not to suffer from the altitude problem.

How Many Days does it take?

Normally it takes 12 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu with 2 spare days for the acclimatization days. Some people do this trek in eleven days too. If you like to spend more days in mountain and slow walker have another one or two days for this trek and if you are real adventure trekkers and visited already to the higher elevations, the fastest is 10 days for the Everest base camp trek.