Everest Base Camp Trek: Leave Your Footprint at the World’s Tallest Base Camp

Best Time to Trek

The best time to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is during the spring and winter season. However, the global climate change has shifted the ideal time consideration for the trek. Nowadays, you may not get favorable weather conditions during September month. Instead, August from Monsoon season can be ideal too. March to May of spring season is by far the best time to do the trek. Even during winter season (December – February), you can do the trek especially in early weeks of December. Skies are clear in this season but you may not be able to complete the trek beyond Dingboche due to snow blizzard. Monsoon season is okay to trek in the Everest region but Lukla flight uncertainties may increase the hassle to you.

Trek Difficulty & Fitness Level

The difficulty level of the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is moderate. Lesser number of steep uphill and downhill sections are easy to walk but altitude plays crucial role. Trekkers may find it hard to trek in the places beyond Dingboche due to higher elevation. Lower oxygen level places are hard to walk and trekkers may feel more exhausted. Therefore, you must have good cardio – vascular abilities to do the trek.

Good physical fitness level is required for the trek. Make sure to build up the stamina level to be able to walk for about 6 to 7 hours in an average for weeks. Similarly, you should also be able to tackle higher elevation places and manage exhaustion. Exercises like running, swimming, cycling, and walking are best to improve stamina level.

Altitude & Acclimatization

The journey of the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is an ultimate high – altitude walking activity. The risks of altitude sickness are high. Major incidents happen in the Everest Base Camp Trek route are related to altitude. Therefore, you can’t ignore this fact. The best way to tackle the issues of altitude sickness is by doing acclimatization activities. Generally, a classic Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary has two acclimatization activities. They are in Namche Bazaar and in Dingboche Village. Trekkers trek to the Everest View Hotel (3880 m) and hike the Nagarshan Hill (5100 m) as part of acclimatization process. In fact, these acclimatization activities help you to adjust to the demands of higher elevation places.

Altitude Sickness Prevention

There are many ways to prevent altitude sickness during the Everest Base Camp Trek. Acclimatization activities are in the itinerary and that help trekkers to prevent it. Similarly, you should also heed instructions of your trekking guide. Maintain uniform pace throughout the trek. Under pacing and over pacing can be exhausting and it may increase chance of altitude sickness. Always drink water in at least 20 to 30 minutes on the trek. Stay hydrated. Eat soupy foods and don’t go hungry. You may not get good appetite in the higher elevation places but you must not stay empty belly. Try eating foods that help you regain energy. Try chocolate bars and stay positive throughout the trek.

Emergency Evacuation

Despite lots of precautionary activities, you may end up in the emergency situation. Therefore, you should know about the procedure to follow during emergencies. If you are in discomfort or if you are suffering from altitude sickness, then you must descend quickly. The option to descend is either by walking yourselves or by the help of mule or porter. In severe cases, you may have to choose emergency helicopter rescue option. During the situation, the agency will coordinate with hospital, helicopter company, and insurance company. Therefore, you must leave the copy of your insurance plan to our office before the trek.

Maximum Elevation

The highest point in the Everest Base Camp Trek journey is the height of the Kalapathar Hill. The top is at an altitude of 5545 m above sea level. Some trekkers may choose to avoid Kalapathar Hill hike due to exhaustion. We highly recommend you to do the hike for the best sunrise experiences. Furthermore, the hill top is also an ideal place to witness mountains from the Mahalangur Himalayan range including Everest. In fact, the best view of Mount Everest is seen from Kalapathar hill. If not Kalapathar, then the highest elevation is the Everest Base Camp (5364 m). However, the maximum elevation for overnight during the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is in Gorakshep (5100 m).  

Weather & Temperature

The nighttime temperature in the Everest Base Camp Trek route falls down to minus 10 degrees to minus 15 degrees Celsius in the higher elevation places like Lobuche and Gorakshep. Lower elevation places may experience around minus 5 degrees Celsius to 2 – 5 degrees Celsius. Well, winter temperature may drop significantly. Usually, the weather is clear during spring and autumn season. Therefore, these seasons are also ideal times to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal.

Trek Permits

Two permits are required to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park entry permit costing NRs. 3000 to foreigners and NRs. 1500 to SAARC nationals is the one. Another permit is the local Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit that costs NRs. 3000. Recently, the rate of the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit changed from NRs. 2000 to NRs. 3000.

Required Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is mandatory for the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Make sure that your travel insurance covers emergency helicopter rescue, accidents, medical expenses, flight delays, and flights cancellations. Leave the copy of the insurance plan to our trek office in Kathmandu. We will activate the plan if needed by coordinating with the insurance company, helicopter company, and hospital. Note down that you must get the insurance from legitimate international agency rather than the local Nepalese travel insurance agency. Staff insurance is done by the Nepal High Trek.  

Accommodation

The trail of the Everest Base Camp Trek is trekked by trekkers, climbers, and locals. It is one of the commercial trails of Nepal. Therefore, you can find different options of lodging facilities in the trail. Low budget porter houses are also abundant in the trail. These lodging facilities are best for porters and helpers of the trekking team. Similarly, you can also find basic tea houses to luxury mountain lodges in the trail. In our standard Everest Base Camp Trekking package, you get standard tea house accommodation. Don’t expect attached bathrooms but our trekking guide can ask for one if you need as per availability. Luxury mountain lodges are available until Dingboche Village. Therefore, you can also choose to book the luxury Everest Base Camp Trekking package if you want.

Meals During the Trek

Similar to the accommodation facilities, meals during the Everest Base Camp Trek are also full of options. Trekkers can choose from menu and items include cuisines from Nepal, China, India, and Continental areas. Almost all tea houses serve the similar menu but the price may vary. Higher elevation places’ tea houses may charge more than the tea houses from lower elevation areas.

Drinking Water

Bottled mineral water is easily available in the Everest Base Camp Trek route. The cost of the bottle water is very high but it is available. However, it is not wise to use the bottled mineral water from the environmental point of view. It is better to get the hot drinking water from tea house. Make sure that you have thermal water bottle that holds warm water for long time. If not, you can also choose to use spring water by using the water purifying tablet.

Transportation & Domestic Flights

The major means of transportation to the trail head of the Everest Base Camp Trek is by flight. In Kathmandu, you will be picked up in our private vehicle according to group sizes from car and jeep to bus. Lukla flight may not happen from Kathmandu during peak seasons. You may have to travel to Manthali Ramechhap for regular flight to Lukla or from Lukla. In order to do more flights and to utilize short best weather window, flights take place from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap during peak season.

There is an option of jeep drive to Surke via Phaplu as an alternative to the Lukla flights. However, it takes around two days to reach Surke from Kathmandu. At first, you have to drive to Phaplu which takes around 6 to 7 hours from Kathmandu. The road from Phaplu to Surke is off road and it is still under construction. Therefore, you have to take another 6 to 7 hours drive from Phaplu to Surke. From Surke, you can reach Lukla in an hour but you can choose to trek to Phakding instead of taking the Lukla route.

Baggage Allowance

Lukla flight carries maximum 15 kilograms including hand bags. If you are using the road transportation, then you can take as much as you like. Please remember that a porter carries not more than 25 kilograms. A porter is assigned to two trekkers. Therefore, keep your baggage to at most 12 – 13 kilograms.  

Guides & Porters

Your trekking guide will accompany you from Kathmandu in most of the cases. However, porter – guide case can be different. You may have to fly to Lukla alone and you will meet your guide in Lukla airport. Porters and Sherpa Guide will be in Lukla airport. Upon your landing, these people will handle your baggage. Local crew members are stationed in Lukla and we have our separate private team of local Sherpa and porters to help you with the trekking activities.

Communication & Internet

Nowadays, you can use either NCELL or NTC SIM card to use internet services except in few places. It is wise to get both sims as in some places one works and in some places another works. Besides the NTC & NCELL sims, you can also use the tea house WIFI internet. Higher elevation places may charge you for internet services.

Electricity & Charging

Until Namche Bazaar, you get free charging services. Beyond this place, you may have to pay extra for battery charging of your electronic gadgets. Therefore, we advise you to carry portable solar chargers or high - capacity power bank. If not, you can pay in tea house and charge it in the dining area.

ATMs & Cash Availability

You can find ATMs in Lukla and Namche Bazaar. Cash withdrawal services are available but you can’t heavily rely on these services. Internet issues and technical issues may occur. Therefore, plan in Kathmandu about how much money do you need to bring during the trek. Tea houses can also give you cash by using their POS machine but they may charge you 3 % to 8 % of processing fee.

Currency & Payment

The majority of international currencies work in the Everest Base Camp Trek route. However, US dollars and Nepalese currencies are in use most of the time. If you are tipping your local guide or porter, then it is good to give them Nepalese currency so that they don’t have to pay for exchange commission fees later on.

Cultural Etiquette

Don’t take pictures of the locals without their permission. Please don’t give chocolates or stationery items to kids during the trek. If you have wish to do so, make sure to tell your trekking guide. He or she will take permission and allow you to donate. Namaskar or Namaste is the formal greeting in Nepal. Respect the local culture and environment. Do not enter monasteries with your shoes on and you can’t be loud in these places.

Customization Options

Nepal High Trek offers customization options to all trekkers. If the proposed customization request is out of harm and safe, we always respect it and do as require. Our prices are flexible and affordable according to the services included in the package. In the case that you wish to upgrade the facilities and services; we can change the package upon discussions. We are open to our clients about safety, services, and overall trekking experiences. At the end of the trek, your travel investment must be returned to you in the form of hassle free trek operations full of magnificent memories from Khumbu Nepal.