The Everest Base Camp Trek Details is the best trekking destination in the world. The whole trekking area is covered by Khumbu valley experiences the ethnic settlement of the Sherpa people. Most of the people in the Everest region follow Tibetan Buddhism.
People provide well hospitality to all the guests from different countries; they are very friendly behavior to all the visitors who come to the Khumbu valley. This trek is fit for adventure lovers so you need to prepare well for hiking before planning the Everest Base Camp Trek. On your destination towards EBC trekking, you will find different cultures and traditions followed by locals.
The magnificent view of the Everest Mountain range heals trekkers’ minds and souls all over the world. When you will reach the base camp area you will feel that you are in the nucleolus part of paradise. On the way, visitors may catch up with the pheasant, Tibetan Snow Cock, musk deer, Himalayan goats, and several kinds of rhododendron and alpine forests as the Everest region is rich in flora and fauna.
As well as, the journey to the Everest Himalayan region set the combination of colossal mountains like Makalu, Everest, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Kongde Ri, Nuptse, Kusum Khangaru, Pumori Nuptse, Tawache, and many more. There are so many things to explore and experience besides trekking. So, if you are planning to Everest Base Camp Trek following outline article will support you to set the plan for Everest Base Camp.
General Information for Everest Base Camp Trek
- Beautiful scenery with moderate trekking.
- It is not tough trekking but it is better to do hiking at least for an hour before starting the trek.
- Well, accommodation will be available during the trek.
- Hot shower, battery charging, internet service, and meal facilities are available.
- Need to buy Pasang Lhamu rural municipality entry permit and Sagarmatha national park permit to enter in the Everest region.
- The ultimate altitude you will reach is the top of Kalapathar (5555m) and Everest Base Camp (5364m).
- Manthali airport at Ramechhap is the main possibility to get Lukla flight in the very peak season in spring (March-May) and autumn (September – November).
- Tenzing Hilary airport at Lukla is located at an altitude of 2,845m/9,334ft.
- Nepalese currencies are acceptable on the way during the trek.
- You can get ATM services only in Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
The following Section will highlight more information in detail about Everest Base Camp Trek
Best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek
It is a wise decision before you plan your trip to Everest Base Camp about a suitable time for hiking up to base camp. Time will play a vital role in the best scenery of the silver mountains of the Everest region, and also for convenient Everest Trekking. If you are doing EBC at the right time it will be more worthy. Everest Base Camp trekking can do anytime in the year although it may be tough in the winter season.
Similarly, people express their views about the beauty of the majestic Himalayan region regarding seasonal beauty. Furthermore, the coming section, it is highlighting visits to EBC in different seasons winter, spring, autumn, and summer. Among these seasons spring and autumn are the best time to visit Everest Base Camp Trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek during Spring Season (March, April, May)
Spring season is the best time to visit Everest Base Camp Trekking. This is the most recommended time to hike up to Everest Base Camp. March, April, and May bring a pleasant time to trek over Nepal after the chilly winter season in Nepal. It will be a moderate climate during this time as the days are sunny and warm however the night is chilly which is why warm clothes like down jackets are required.
Similarly, mountain flowers flourished in this time in the blossom of nature and ornamented mountains colorful. This the time for rhododendron and magnolia is blooming in the forest so, you will have full fun in nature. Apart from this spectacular mountain scenery is the fabulous experience in the trek, is an awesome experience.
Everest Base Camp Trek during Summer Season – June, July, and August
It is raining most o the time in the summer season. It is not the best time for trekking in the Nepal Mountains because of rain the trails get slippery and chances of floods and landslides. The flight to Lukla may also be impossible on time because of bad weather. Normally people do not recommend doing the EBC trek in the monsoon season due to bad weather and the possibility of flight cancellation and delay. But it will not be much rainfall in the mountain region and the scenery will not vivid as in the autumn and spring season. If you have a flexible schedule then you can optimize for this trek. It is because you will experience a different trail than it is in the other season.
In this timeless people do this Everest Base Camp trekking so it will be much peace and no more crowded at all, you have your own choice of accommodation in every tea house. On the other hand, during the summer season swiping all clouds around the Mountains make you feel you are in paradise. The rain will resist your way, so, if your flexible schedule then you can plan for this trip.
Everest Base Camp Trek during Autumn Season – September, October, and November
The Autumn season is the perfect time to hike up to Everest Base Camp. In this autumn season, a huge number of travelers travel to Nepal. If you are a fund of greenery and natural scenery then you must visit Nepal at this time. All the fields are full of rice, millet, and wheat plants. It is an awesome period to visit Nepal as the people of Nepal celebrate the different festivals at this time and you will have new cultural experiences including the local living lifestyle. All the silver snow-capped mountains are glistering on the horizon and it is such deep green scenery in the backdrop of low terrain. The weather gets neither cold nor hot, so we highly recommend you to visit Everest Base Camp although the trail is crowded because most of the trekkers target hiking towards EBC.
Everest Base Camp Trek during the winter season – December, January, and February
Due to extremely cold weather, many people deny summiting the Everest Base Camp trek during the cold season in Nepal. But, this time trail gets not crowded, and can enjoy snowfall, and can catch up with the remarkable view of beautiful Mountains with your eyes and camera. Even though, the temperatures always get a minus degree so, don’t forget to make a good plan and organize all necessary trekking gear.
Itineraries for Everest Base Camp Trek
As per your wise decision to do the Everest Base Camp trek at the right time, another thing is to make a good plan for success to summit this trek. For these well-organized itineraries help you to complete the journey to EBC. There are different routes to start the EBC trek also you can check on the internet where you can find several trails on the maps as we have organized suitable itineraries for Everest Base Camp Trek. EBC trekking ends in 10 – 12 days including acclimatization days in different places. Let’s check the following itineraries
Well-organized trekking routes
For standard well-organized trekking route for Everest Base Camp begins at Kathmandu domestic airport as it is the most used itinerary for Everest Base Camp. Please visit our Everest Base Camp Page for detailed itineraries in your other choices of trekking routes. The trek can optimize as per the trekkers’ choices.
Day 01- Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02- Fly to Lukla and 3 hours trek to Phakding (2652m/86699ft) Hiking Distance – 8 km
Day 03 – Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11283ft) Hiking Distance – km, Duration: 6 hours
Day04- Acclimatization Day – Hike to Khumjung typical Sherpa village or Everest view hotel (3,962m/12995ft) Hiking Distance 4 km, Duration: 4 hours
Day 05 – Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,860m/12,660ft) Hiking Distance – 12 km, Duration: 6 hours
Day 06 – Trek to Dingboche (4,410m/144644ft) Hiking Distance 12 km, Duration: 5 hours
Day 07 – Acclimatization Day- Hiking to Chukung or Nagarjun Hill and return to Dingboche, Hiking Distance – 6 km Duration: 5 hours
Day 08 – Dingboche – Lobuche (4,910m/16,105ft) Hiking Distance – 12 km, Duration: 5 hours
Day 09 – Lobuche – Gorakshep (5,180m/16,990ft)- Everest Base Camp (5364m/17594ft)then back to Gorakshep, Hiking Distance 15 km, Duration:9 hours
Day 10 – Gorakshep to Kala Pathar (5,555m/11,283ft) and descent to Pheriche (4,210m/13810ft) Hiking Distance – 14 km, Duration: 7 hours
Day 11 – Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11283ft) Hiking Distance- 15 km, Duration 8 hours
Day 12 – Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,800m/9,184ft) Hiking Distance – 19 km, Duration: 8 hours
Day 13 Fly to Kathmandu
This is the most followed route by 95 percent of trekkers
The Alternative Trekking Routes for Everest Base Camp
This is the route used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa for their expedition to Mount Everest in 1973 AD. This route is starting from Jiri and will not take any flight to Lukla. This is also known as the Classic Everest Base Camp Trek. All the keen and long stay in Nepal trekkers use to follow this trek.
Essential Travel Documents for EBC Trekking
For Everest Base Camp Base Camp Trek you need to have several documents to entry in the Khumbu region. It is high altitude trekking so you must bring travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover your rescue in case you need to rescue by helicopter and some other accidents. While you are purchasing travel insurance you need to make sure that travel insurance covers 6,000m height and emergency medical services. Apart from travel insurance, you need to have the original passport with at least 6 months validity, you also require a Nepal authentic Tourist Visa issued by the government of Nepal. Finally, you need to require a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, and a Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance fee. Nepal tourism board also provides a Sagarmatha National Park permit and also you can get it from the National Park office in Monjo. And, Pasang Lhamu entrance tickets can buy in Lukla. For Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance fee is USD 20 (NPR2000) and the Sagarmatha National Park Permit fee is USD 30 (NPR 3000)
Trekking Gears and Packing Lists for EBC
For safe and successful trekking you must use trekking gear which makes your adventure journey complete. So, the appropriate trekking gears are more significant for Everest Base Camp Trek. So, the following trekking equipment lists help you to good preparation for Everest Base Camp Trekking.
Duffel Bag: we provide you with a duffle bag for your trekking use but you need to have another suitcase or duffle bag for non-trekking items left in the hotel in Kathmandu.
Down Jacket: You need to take a warm down jacket to prevent your body from extreme cold.
Day Pack: Not more than 25 kg
Sleeping Bag: You need to take a sleeping bag that is needed at night for sleeping.
HEAD
- Hat
- Cap
- UV-protected sunglasses
FEET
- Lightweight thinner socks inside
- Warm and thick hiking socks
- Trekking shoes with spare laces
- Extra light shoes or slippers
- Gaiters
HANDS
- During the day lightweight gloves as per weather conditions
- In the morning and night heavyweight gloves
- Waterproof shell outer
LOWER BODY
- Underbody clothes
- Trekking Shorts
- Trousers
- Thermal bottoms of the expedition
- Warm wool or fleece pants (seasonal)
- Waterproof Shell pants (breathable fabric)
UPPER BODY
- T-shirts
- Expedition-weight thermal cloth
- Pullover or fleece jacket (Depending on weather)
- Waterproof shell jacket (preferably breathable fabric)
- Fleece wind–stopper jacket recommend as per your need
ACCESSORIES
- Zero-degree F sleeping bag
- Headlight
- Trekking bags or Duffle bags
- First Aid Kits
- Plastic bags to put the dry item inside
- 25 liters day pack
- Trekking sticks
- Thermos bottle for hot water
- Bottles of water
- Toilet papers
- Small wash towels
- Sanitary pad for women trekkers
- Earplugs ( use while people snoring or sound disturbance at night because no one knows the member snoring in the group)
TOILETRIES
- Toothbrush and paste
- Soaps
- Nail cutter
- Mirror
PERSONAL HYGIENE
- Tissue paper/ toilet roll
- Wet tissue
- Sanitizer or antibacterial hand wash
EXTRA/LUXURIES
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Trail map/guidebook
- Reading book
- Pen and journal
- Notebooks and pencils
- Cards or travel games etc.
Note: Most of the trekking equipment is also available in Kathmandu and Namche Bazaar for rent.
ACCOMMODATION
Tea houses are the mode of accommodation during the Everest Base Camp Trekking. The Everest Base Camp Trekking is facilitating well manages tea houses. So, you worry about the lack of staying places will swipe away from the mind and get delicious meals after a fatigue day. There are several types of luxury houses, simple and basic tea houses and you can stay as per your budget and choices. Luxurious tea houses can get in Namche Bazaar, Phakding, and Lukla mostly. And other places have neat and clean simple tea houses in the Everest region.
In Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar tea houses provide rooms with an attached bathroom with hot running water. You can get these facilities in both luxury and simple tea houses. Later after Namche Bazaar, you will not get an attached bathroom with running water although they provide gas showers and somewhere need to use a bucket shower as well. As the altitude gets higher the number of tea houses is less and rooms are in sharing a base with other trekkers. However, rooms will have 2/3 beds but in the peak season also needs to sleep in the dining in this period, huge numbers of trekkers go hiking in the Everest Base Camp and the other Himalayas.
Restroom on Everest Base Camp Trek
There are two types of toilets are available in the Everest Base Camp trekking area. One is a western type flushing toilet and the other one is the traditional squat-down type. For the traditional type of toilet, there will be a bucket of water and a dipper then you need to pour water and the western type toilet has a flushing system. But because of the cold, the water may get ice so in western type toilets may not get flush so we suggest you to better check.
Hot Shower and Laundry Facilities
In Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar you will get hot/cold running water with the attached room but after Namche Bazaar it will not that difficult to your shower. But, after Namche Bazaar you need to use a bucket or gas shower and you may need to wait your turn it will cost NPR 200-500 depending upon the place. Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar have laundry facilities in other places you need to hand wash your clothes on your way to further trekking.
Water Facility during Trek
One can get several kinds of water such as mineral water, boiling water, and direct water from the stream we do not suggest you purchase mineral water due to environmental pollution. And, it is nicer to use boiling water in your thermos bottle. It costs NPR 200 to 400 in different places but if you have water purification lights or medicine you can use any tap or spring water. But it is not good to use direct water from the tap and other spring water may cause diarrhea or catch a cold.
Foods during EBC Trekking
Different varieties of cuisines are available in the Everest Base Camp Trek. There are food café and pubs also available on the trail to EBC. You have an opportunity to try several kinds of local foods, like Nepali traditional foods, Sherpa bread, and Sherpa Stew which is a soup hot delicious dish use in the Everest region. People have different choices of their own choice for veg and non-veg meals provided along the trek. And, somewhere vegan and gluten are not familiar so, we request you to specify your foods. You also need to explain the foods that your type needs to request so they will prepare meals as per your preference.
Internet and Electricity Services for Charging Battery
These days, people in the world can stay without the internet as it is becoming a part of their life that connects them with their family, relatives, and friends at any time. So, the internet service is available in the Everest Base Camp Trek. You can use the internet using by Everest Link recharge card. It has two schemes 20 GB and 30 GB valid for thirty days. It costs NPR 2000 for 20 GB and NPR 3000 for 30 GB. Also, you can use the internet via a local sim card and WIFI available at the tea house.
Electricity in Everest Base Camp trekking is available in every tea house; you can charge your battery or back up there. It is also better to take a power bank of your own so that you can use it every time as per your needs. Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar have enough electric power from the Local River so plenty of electric power can be used. However, other places besides Namche, Lukla, and Phakding have limited sources of electricity but you can charge your electric types of equipment and they will charge you NPR 200 – 500 as per the places. That is why it is a reasonable suggestion to take a solar battery if you have one. Furthermore, we would like to advise you to bring Universal Travel Adepter. Similarly, two round pin sockets are used in Nepal. So, please take the travel adopter of your own.
How difficult Everest Base Camp Trek is?
Hiking over 5000m is not a joke. There are several difficult factors faced in the EBC trek. It makes me tired of walking for many hours and days. People need to walk up and down so trekkers may have joint problems in the knee and ankle. The trails are also narrow and rocky even somewhere need to walk through losing rocky trails. So, while trekking cares about your feet whether it is the right place, care about the slippery track.
The most difficult part of this trek is hiking to EBC via Gorakshep and returning to Gorakshep takes more hours and losing more stamina. Similarly, another part of the difficulty of this trek is in the day to hike Kalapathar from Gorakshep and the same day descent to Pheriche. The trail is steeply up to the top of the Kalapathar walking in the rugged and rocky trail. Besides that, the trail is not that difficult but, you will encounter mules, Jopke, and Yak carrying heavy loads need to let them their way first.
Another interesting fact about the Everest Base Camp trek is porters from local who have carrying heavy loads then you must respect them. Finally, it is a moderate trekking trail over Everest Base Camp but you need to precautions by Yak, Mules, and Jopke, sometimes they are the danger and may push you to fall.
Does Everest Base Camp Trek Need Training or Well Preparation?
It is applicable if you have basic hiking training for Everest Base Camp Trekking. You can start exercise that makes your body flexible and also grows your cardiovascular capability. Similarly, running, jogging, swimming cycling set your habit to walking and increase your endurance power. Finally, we suggest you have well preparation for Everest Base Camp Trekking physically and mentally.
Health and Safety Purpose
Altitude sickness is the main concerning thing hiking doing the trek at a high altitude than another minor sickness. All trekkers need to be aware of this problem. Some minor things that occurred in the EBC trek can be handled like stomach, minor injuries, fatigue, and diarrhea with precaution and by first aid. On the way to Everest Base Camp Trek, you need to have acclimatization for the adjustment to altitude. Apart from altitude sickness Snow blindness and sunburn and blisters may occur.
Furthermore, to protect your body from all kinds of problems you need to keep medicine with you and also take UV protection sunglass and suntan cream or lotion. Please follow the guide’s directions if you are following the guidelines for your trekking to EBC. You can buy medicine for altitude sickness from the pharmacy. Take elastic bandages to protect your joint.
Management of Garbage and Waste
There are several garbage bins to put rubbish in different places. That is why you can collect your waste things until you find dustbins. You can also through the nearest garbage center. All kinds of rubbish take with you and put it inside the rubbish bin. Be environmentally friendly and respect nature.
Flight from Lukla to Manthali Airport at Ramechhap
Because of heavy air traffic flight Lukla flights take off at Manthali airport at Ramechhap, especially during peak seasons like “SPRING and AUTUMN”. This management was implemented by the government to avoid air traffic congestion at Tribhuwan International Airport. Spring and autumn are the busiest seasons for trekking so; the airport gets full of people and occurred air traffic in Kathmandu airport.
Trek with trekking agencies or without Trekking Agencies
It is the toughest decision to take if you are on the first time in Nepal and doing budget traveling. Whether taking a guide for a trip or without a guide doing the trek. If you are a novice trekker join trekking agencies. You will get all information about trekking trails and locals including all mountains surrounding.
There are several guides to help you to do trekking with agencies or without agencies. Also, see guides on the internet as well. But if you are taking a guide who does not have experience we are sure they will misguide you and miss leading your destination which makes your trekking meaningless. So it is the best idea to follow the trekking agency who can offer you a well-organized trip.
To sum up, we hope this information will help you to well plan and preparation for your Everest Base Camp Trek.
NAMASTE
