Everest base camp trek goes through the Khumbu region’s rawness. The total duration of the trek is 15 days, starting from the most approached point of the Everest region, Lukla. Likewise, this trek has
a terrific combination of adventurous trails and stunning landscapes.
The experience proudly greets you with an up-close view of the highest mountain, Everest, and other peaks like Mt.Lhotse, Mt. Choyu, Mt.Makalu, etc. So get up and take this experience of trekking with the majestic Himalayas as soon as you can through the Everest base camp trek.
What is the difficulty level of the Everest base camp trek?
The Everest Base Camp trek is considered moderately difficult. It involves long days of walking and steep ascents and descents.
The highest altitude on the trek is 5,545 meters (18,192 feet) at Kala Patthar, which can be challenging for some trekkers.
Altitude sickness is also a big concern for trekkers, as our body needs time to acclimate to the high altitude.
Therefore, taking proper rest days and following a slow and steady pace while ascending is important.
The trek’s weather conditions are also challenging, with temperatures dropping significantly at higher altitudes and the possibility of snow and rain.
Trekkers need to be well-prepared with proper gear and items of clothing. Overall, the Everest Base Camp trek requires good physical fitness and mental determination. It is achievable with proper preparation and guidance from experienced trekking guides.
Is the Everest Base Camp Trek beginner-friendly?
Despite being a challenging and one of the longest treks, it is indeed beginner-friendly. However, this does not mean that you can just sit and hop on the trek and expect to do it easily. Beginners need a few weeks of hiking and indulgence in physical activities like yoga and exercise.
So, if your definition of a beginner-friendly trek means just hopping on the trail and completing the trek, then the Everest base camp trek is not the one.
What is the elevation of the Everest Base camp trek?
The starting elevation of the Everest Base Camp trek is 2800 m (9186.352 feet) at Lukla. Moving forward from Lukla it slowly increases and gets to the highest altitude of the entire trek at Kala Patthar which is 5545 m (18,192 feet).
Physical condition and experience required for the trek
Talking about your body now, one can not have any fatal injuries and illnesses related to the lungs, heart, and limbs. Trekkers need to have good core strength for prolonged walking. And about altitude sickness, you need to train your breathing and lungs through short walks and hikes.
In conclusion, one needs to have good health and good physical strength to complete the Everest base camp trek.
Group trek/ private trek, or a solo trek
Solo trekking in the Mountain region of Nepal is not allowed since April 1st, 2023. However, the Everest region is an exception.
Therefore, you can still trek to Everest alone. It is still recommended to do so with a guide or a team of hikers.
If you want to trek
Everest Base Camp on a budget and save money, then is the best solution.
Communication during the Everest base camp trek
The most common way to communicate while on the Everest Base Camp trek is through Wi-Fi or telephone services provided by the teahouses. In areas with good telecommunication services, you can use your cell phone with a SIM card from Nepal’s telecommunication service. Likewise, in case of an emergency, you can also use the guide’s cell phone.
Note:
Make sure to check beforehand if there are any extra fees for using the teahouse Wi-Fi services.
Accommodation on the Everest Base Camp trek
There is ample accommodation in the Everest region. The most common forms of accommodation are teahouses and lodges. One gets basic or luxury accommodation based on how much you are willing to pay.
Even the basic accommodation is very warm, comfortable, and well-facilitated. Usually, the rooms have two twin beds and a shared bathroom.
Food during the trek
The staple and most served food in the Everest Base Camp trek is Dal Bhat (lentils and rice ). Since the Himalayas are inhabited by the Sherpas, one can enjoy sherpa food like Shyakpa/Shakpa, Thukpa, Thenduk, etc. Tibetan bread, eggs (scrambled, omelets, and boiled), milk, bread butter and jam, cereals, Nepali pancakes, tea, coffee, etc., are the most common teahouse breakfast. For lunch and dinner, the options are soup, macaroni, roti ( tortilla), noodles, momo, etc.
And while accommodating the luxurious hotels, the food options are limitless go for Western, Nepali whatever you want. $25 to $ 30 (max) covers expenses for 3 heavy meals per day.
Electricity/battery recharge and water resources
All the hotels and teahouses have electricity. But in teahouses (some) charge a small amount on an hourly basis to let you charge your cameras, phones, etc. So, for the ones that do not need to be recharged that frequently, it is better to set them before in the hotel at Kathmandu/ Pokhara. For other devices like cell phones, we suggest carrying power banks and portable solar chargers.
While you are in teahouses and hotels, you get drinking water. And on the trail, there are many natural water resources. Fill them in your water bottle, put in purifying tablets, and voila! Ready to drink. One can always buy a packed water bottle.
Trek safety and altitude sickness
The Everest base camp trek takes you to an altitude of 5400+ m, so anyone, even people with good health and many years of experience in trekking, can feel nauseous and short of breath. Therefore, make sure to do everything to avoid altitude sickness by acclimatizing and checking for symptoms every now and then. Even while trekking at a lower altitude, we provide you with all the safety instructions.
Note: If anyone suffers from mountain sickness, the trek should be paused until they are back to health.
Nepal tourist Visa
Foreigners (excluding Indian citizens) need a tourist visa to enter Nepal for the trek. They can either get the visa from the Nepali diplomatic mission or embassy in their own country or get it at Tribhuvan International Airport upon arrival, provided they meet the criteria.
As getting a tourist visa in Nepal can be too much of a hassle for foreigners, it is better to get one from their nation’s Embassy.
Nepal also provides a Gratis Visa. Gratis Visa is a type of visa that is issued for free in case you fall under the category set by Nepal.
Nepal provides gratis visas to people who fall under the categories mentioned below:
- SAARC citizens ( Afghans not included)
- Children below 10 years ( US not included)
- Indian citizens and Chinese citizens
- Nepalese with foreign citizenship
- China, Brazil, and Thailand officials
So, if you are eligible to get a Gratis Visa, make sure to seize the opportunity to save some extra cash.
