Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners

The Everest Base Camp Trek sounds challenging to everyone. It is an activity to reach the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest. Therefore, many people don’t dare to do this trek without accumulating enough trekking experience. However, a proper planning can easily help you successfully complete this classical trekking trip. Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners blog will help you get all the needed information.

After you have read this blog, you will be able to know about the difficulty level, lodging facilities, meals and drinking water availability, permits, physical requirements, mental requirements, best season, acclimatization techniques and a confidence booster! Come out of your comfort zone and explore the mighty Everest region of Nepal. A human body is extremely adaptive and you shouldn’t underestimate your body. Upon reading this blog, contact our travel planners and discuss your plans. The travel planners of Nepal High Trek will definitely knit a perfect Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners Itinerary.

Book the Everest Base Camp Trek with a Trekking Agency in Nepal

The first thing you must do if you are a beginner is hire a guide or buying a trekking package. The Everest Base Camp Trek is a classical trekking trip that requires at least 13 to 14 days. If you hire a trekking guide from a trekking agency based in Nepal then you will not have any troubles in finding lodges, meals, and trail. For beginners, you should always trek in this monumental trekking trail with the help of a trekking guide. It will be easy for beginners if there is someone to guide about weather conditions, trail conditions, and arrangement of lodging & food.

How Difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

The trail condition is perfect and there are not many steep uphill and downhill sections in the Everest Base Camp Trek route. In comparison to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the Everest Base Camp Trek is relatively easier in terms of walking in the trail. The major concern is the altitude. Trekkers have to reach up to 5545 m from sea level. They have to stay 4 nights in the altitude beyond 4000 m. This is the major factor that makes the trek moderately difficult otherwise the trail is for everyone!

When is the best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners?

The Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners need to be planned meticulously. Therefore, finding the right time to do this trek will decide on your fate of successfully completing the trekking trip. The best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek is during months of spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October, November) season. Personally, I would recommend first time trekkers to trek in this trekking route during months of autumn. During this time of the year, the sky is clear, air is more dense, and Nepal celebrates its biggest festivals.

Availability of Lodges & Restaurants in EBC Trek Route

The EBC Trek route is one of the oldest and commercialized trekking trail. Therefore, trekkers can easily find various choices of lodges and restaurants. There are many luxurious lodging establishments as well as basic tea houses. You don’t need to worry about lodging while doing the trek. In places like Lobuche and Gorakshep, there are limited tea houses. So, make sure that you have pre-book rooms.

Meals are available in almost every tea houses. You can find individual restaurants too. Almost every restaurants in this trekking trail have similar menu. The food items include cuisines from across the globe to local dishes. The most popular and healthy food for Beginners is Dal Bhat. This is the typical Nepali dish that offers both protein, carbohydrate, and water for you to adapt quickly in high altitude places.

Acclimatization in Everest Trek

Acclimatization is a key factor for a successful trekking up in the mountains. As you trek higher the air density decreases. Therefore, you may get altitude sickness. The major reason behind trekkers suffering from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) is due to lack of acclimatization activities. In addition, some people overestimate their body conditions. Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners require at least two acclimatization stops.

In fact, two acclimatization activities are included in the classical itinerary of the Everest Base Camp Trek. The first acclimatization is at Namche Bazaar. Trekkers trek to 3880 m high the Everest View Hotel and return back to Namche Bazaar (3400 m) to spend a night. They stay 2 nights in Namche Bazaar. The second one is at Dingboche where trekkers trek up to 5100 m and sleep at an altitude of 4400 m. For beginners, it is strictly advised that you don’t skip the acclimatization activity.

What is the total distance of Everest Base Camp Trek route?

The overall distance of the Everest Base Camp Trek route is 130 kilometers. However, the Lukla to Everest Base Camp distance is 65 kilometers. It takes 12 to 14 days to complete this trekking.

How to reach Lukla for EBC Trek?

The only means to reach Lukla for EBC Trek is by flight. You can fly to Lukla the trail head of the Everest Base Camp Trek either by plane or by helicopter. The cost of helicopter flight is higher than the cost of plane flight to Lukla. Nowadays, people have started to reach Lukla via road trip up to Salleri and then trekking to Lukla. This requires additional 3 days in the original EBC Trek itinerary. During peak season, flight takes place from Ramechhap Airport but in other season flight takes place from Kathmandu airport.

Physical and Mental Preparation

Make sure that you are mentally prepared for this trek. You must have strong mental stability to cope with sudden change in weather conditions, lodging availability, and unfamiliar terrain. The trail is well organized but you will have to walk over rugged terrain too over the moraines and glaciers in high altitude places. Therefore, prepare your body well. Physical fitness is key. Start your physical preparation routine at least one month before the trek. Build your cardio-vascular stamina. In order to build this you must perform cardio exercises at least 2 hours daily for about a month. It includes activities like running, walking, swimming, and cycling. Avoid eating unhealthy and greasy foods. Be prepared that you will have to walk continuously for about 6 to 7 hours daily for more than 8 to 9 days in an unfamiliar environment

Travel Insurance

Get travel insurance before the trek. You must buy a travel insurance plan in your home country from a reputed and reliable agency. Your insurance plan must include emergency helicopter rescue, accidents, delays, medical expenses, and miscellaneous. It is mandatory for all the trekkers to do trekking in Nepal. Upon arrival in Kathmandu give a copy of your travel insurance to your trekking agency. In case of emergency, they can use it to rescue you.

Permits

You need two permits to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. They are Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry permit. It costs NPR 3000. The second permit is the entry permit of Sagarmatha National Park. The cost of the park entry is also NPR 3000.

Facilities in EBC Trek route

Apart from quality lodging and meals, the trekking trail is fully equipped with lots of facilities. You can get a signal of mobile network throughout the trail. Yes, you can surf internet either by using lodge wifi or by using mobile data. There are provisions of hot showers, bars, coffee shops, bakeries, souvenir shops. In fact, you can find ATM machine at Namche Bazaar. If you have not done enough shopping for the trek, you can buy up in the mountains too. Therefore, in terms of trekking amenities, Everest Base Camp Trek is probably the number one trekking route of Nepal.

Trekking Gear and Bag Packing List

The weather is normally warmer in day time and cold in night time. Therefore, wear down jackets and sweat pants. T-shirt and light wind shield jacket would do while trekking. Wear comfortable hiking boot. Inside a backpack keep clothes that you need for 12 days according to your requirements. Don’t over pack. A porter carries 18 kilograms at most. If you are carrying your own backpack then pack light.

What happens if I get sick during the Everest Base Camp Trek?

As a beginner, it is the most common question. Don’t worry! The 11 days Everest Base Camp Trek has good communication network. Every tea house can arrange a helicopter or a mule to carry you. If the condition is worse and need immediate rescue then a helicopter flight will take you down to Kathmandu. There are emergency medical health posts in the route. In case of minor injuries and sickness you can get emergency health advice in the trek route.

Don’t worry about whether you can complete the Everest Base Camp Trek or not! Besides the Mount Everest base camp trekking you can to find the popular treks to Gokyo Lake, Three High Passes and Everest View Trek too. Choose your best and favor. The best way to do any kind of adventure stuffs for the first time you need a heart to begin with. Once you have decided there are many ways where you can get help. Lace up your boots and embark on your first trek to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest.