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EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK IN NEPAL Thousands of people from all around the world visit Nepal to trek to famous Everest base camp. I still remember how I was excited last year to trek to Everest base camp. It was extremely fun and refreshing experience. Everest base camp refers to base camps located at each side of the world’s highest mountain Mt. Everest, the glory of Nepal. Among the two base camp, south base camp lies in Nepal at an altitude of 5364m and north base camp lies in China at an altitude of 5150m. Through the trekking to Everest base camp, you can obtain the majestic feeling of conquering the difficult journey. Due to the height of Mount Everest, people think it is also a difficult task to trek to Mount Everest base camp and thus spread the false rumour about being able to trek to Kilimanjaro first. However, in reality it is a lot easier to trek to this base camp rather than trekking to Kilimajaro. All we need to do is walk a slightly tilted route. Yes, sometimes we may have to walk more steep path, otherwise it is only walking and you do not need to walk all the time as we can sit and rest at different points. After reaching to Everest base camp, generally the summit of Kalar Patthar, a steep, rocky ridge near base camp, we are rewarded with the best view of the world’s highest peak you could hope to glimpse without climbing it.
ROUTE TO SOUTHERN BASE CAMP KATHMANDU TO LUKLA The Everest base camp trek can be completed in 12 to 15 days if we start from Kathmandu and end at Kathmandu while taking flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is highly recommended in the sense that there are no proper roads from Kathmandu to Lukla and as a result, the only method of transporting large and heavy goods is by plane.
Lukla Airport Lukla airport is considered as one of the dangerous airports in the world due to its location and structure of the runaway. The runaway is inclined at certain to slow down the airplane. This incline becomes decline while taking off providing high speed and risk. If the airplane not taken off at one attempt, then the airplane dives into the valley below. I was very nervous while reaching the Lukla as well as while leaving Lukla. At Lukla, our trek to Everest base camp starts.
LUKLA TO PHAKDING Trekking from Lukla to Phakding is the first day of Everest base camp trek. It is the easiest one among the different routes to Everest base camp. You trek all day and rest in teahouse at night which is a one or two star hotel.
PHAKDING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR
The trekking from Phakding to Namche bazaar is done along the Milk River and this part of trekking is considered as the most difficult one due to inclination and longer distance to reach destination It is recommended to continuously stop to catch our breath once in a while as there is a low percentage of oxygen as we ascend to higher altitude. It is also recommended to sleep less and trek more as you climb higher, in order to prevent altitude sickness. As you climb higher, you might get a slight headache and might feel a faint dizzy feeling in your head. So it is better to pack medicine before trekking and take rests while trekking. As you suffer from altitude sickness you might notice symptoms of altitude sickness as headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, or vomiting. I still remember feeling headache and constant dizziness last year.
NAMCHE TO TENGBOCHE
Namche bazar
After reaching Namche, you can have some rest as well as stroll around Namche bazaar. I had great fun strolling around the village, learning about the culture there and shopping a lot of goods. While hiking from Namche to Tengboche you cover a distance of 10.7km and height of 430 meters. While walking along the trail, you get to see several Buddhist stupas designed elegantly to depict the culture and art of the place. You also get to see people carrying food, meat , drinks, furniture, pans, clothing weighing a lot of pounds up the very steep, rocky trail and moving as fast as other people not carry any weight. You also get to take a look at wall decorated with yak dung in the form of discs in order to dry it and use it later for making a fire.
TENGBOCHE TO DINGBOCHE When trekking from Tengboche to Dingboche we have to climb about 540 meters and have to travel about a distance of 10.7 km. As you climb higher it gets chillier. With temperature constantly dropping, you may need to use extra clothes such as extra jackets, gloves, hats others. So it is recommended to pack extra clothes before trekking. As you climb higher it becomes more and more difficult like you are running in a race and you are out of breath. You might experience mild headaches while trekking and after reaching Dingboche. However it will be fine after you get acclimatized. Acclimatization may require you to make constant hiking. I remember roaming in Chhukhung village for accclimatization.
DINGBOCHE TO LUBOCHE There is an elevation gain of 530 meters and distance of 9.7 km while trekking from Dingboche to Luboche. While trekking you can enjoy snowy, rocky alluring Himalayas in the periphery. As you climb higher it becomes more difficult and tiresome but you should not lose patience and continue the trek to Everest base camp even at a snail’s pace. While trekking, constant low grade headache and fatigue is common.
LOBUCHE TO GORAK SHEP TO EVEREST BASE CAMP After reaching the Lobuche, you can now trek to Gorak shep and then to Everest Base camp. You can enjoy breathtaking scenery tall, rocky, snowy, majestic mountains. It is estimated that after we reach Gorak shep, we can get air with only 51% oxygen. After you reach Gorak shep, you can then reach Everest base camp in 3 hours. When I reached
Everest base camp, I was so proud of my accomplishment. The feeling that I felt that time was pleasurable, unique and unforgettable.
Everest Base Camp Even after you reach the base camp you still need to climb a mountain located nearby also known as Kala Patthar from where we can get the best views of Everest. I still remember getting up at 3:00 am and preparing my things to climb up Kala Patthar in order to watch the sunrise over Mt Everest. You should be cautious while climbing Kala Patthar as you might experience altitude sickness. If you experience it then you should remember that the cure for altitude sickness is rapid descent.
RETURNING TO KATHMANDU After enjoying the ethereal view of Mt. Everest now you can return from Everest base camp to Namche bazaar, then to Lukla and then can return to Kathmandu by flight.
BEST TIME TO TREK
There are basically two best times for trekking pre-monsoon (February, March, April and May) and post monsoon (late September, October, November and December according to the studies and experience. Among these months, January and February are two months when the climate is very cold and trekking is extra challenging. May and April are considered to be the best months to trek Everest base camp as the climate is warmest during these months. However it maybe cloudier in these months and may even snow. Thus it cannot be guaranteed whether it will snow or not. Take myself as an example, given April is the best month for trekking, when I went during this month last year I experienced snowfall. Likewise the months such as September, October and November are the best months for clear sky and to get the best scenic views of the mountains.
TRIP ATTRACTION 1. FLIGHT TO LUKLA Though flight to Lukla is scary, but to compensate it is equally entertaining as you enjoy beautiful views of mountain peaks from top.
2. SHERPA VILLAGES There are lots of sherpa villages which show great hospitality as well make you feel like home.
3. SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK
Sagarmatha national park You can also visit Sagarmatha national park located at the region. It encompasses unique and rare flora and fauna. It inhabits endangered species like Himalayan Thar, Musk Deer, Lophophorus (the national bird of Nepal), snow leopard, red panda and so on. Similarly you can also find beautiful environment surrounded by flowers like rhododendron, birch, blue pines and others.
4. SPECTACULAR VIEW FROM KALA PATTHAR Most of the people visit Everest base camp with one additional purpose which is to see ethereal sunrise and sunset as well as to see Mt. Everest from up close.
5. MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES There are also museums and libraries. Museums depict the lifestyle, culture and tradition of sherpa community of Nepal through sculpture and portrays. So it is a great place to learn about Sherpa community.
6. FURTHER ADVENTUROUS PEAK CLIMBING Though there is no need for climbing for trekking to base camp but if you are extremely adventurous then you can climb different mountains present in the region.
THINGS TO PREPARE FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK
Everest Base Camp Trek As we are ready to trek to Everest base camp, there are few things required to be prepared beforehand to be comfortable during the trek.
Hiking Clothes: During hiking, you have to walk all day. Thus it is natural to sweat. So it is natural that you pack hiking clothes to wear.
Non hiking Clothing: After hiking you may want to take a shower and wear some comfortable which is definitely not hiking clothes. So, pack some warm, comfortable clothes to wear at other times and also when you go for a stroll.
Medicines and aids : It is highly recommended that you some medicines for headache, nausea, altitude sickness and band aids in case you have an accident.
Money: You should take enough money when you go to trek. As the saying goes, “Cash is King”, you should carry sufficient money which will help you in your need. I still remember paying trice the money for food, twice for teahouse.
Sleeping Bag: It is advisable to take sleeping bags which will help you in case the temperature during night fall drastically.,
Snacks: Trekking is tiresome. So you better pack delicious snacks to reward yourself for hard work as well as for replenishing your energy.
Large Backpack: Large backpack help you carry lots of goods that you want to take during trekking as well as bring lots of goods as a souvenir.