Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the dream destinations for many trekkers around the world. It is one of the most demanding trekking trails in Nepal and also one of the most searched itineraries on Google as well, specially designed for first-time trekkers or beginners. Now the question comes as to why is it so demanding and why people dream of being at the Everest Base Camp.
Mt. Everest is one of the highest mountains in the world, it lies in the Everest region, a region where heaven becomes a myth and the Himalayas the reality.
Out of the 14 highest mountains in the world, 4 are in the Everest region which is Mt. Everest at 8,848.86m, Mt. Lhotse at 8,516m, Makalu at 8,481m, and Cho Oyu at 8,201m, along this, two national parks which are situated in the highest elevation are Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu Barun National Park all this comes in the Everest region.
Among them, Sagarmatha National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its natural and environmental significance.
Apart from all these, the region is the home to some of the endangered flora and fauna, it is the home of the Sherpa community, a community that lives at the highest altitude. They follow their own culture and customs, mostly relevant to Tibet, and thus Buddhism is their religion.
The journey to Everest begins from Lukla after a short flight from the capital city Kathmandu, landing at the elevation of 2840 meters is itself challenging, untouched by any means of modernism, the Everest region carries beautiful colors of nature and culture.
Passing through the jungle, suspension bridges, and snow-melted rivers, into the Namche Bazaar, the capital town of the high Himalayas will spellbind every visitor. Visiting the monastery in the Tengboche, the praying flags hanging throughout the trail, and whirling the praying wheel will create a spiritual feeling within us.
No matter what religion you follow, the region will bless you with its natural power which symbolizes its unpolluted touch by any modern means.
The ritual ceremonies going throughout the monastery will pacify our mind and soul, every day the chanting of Buddhist mantras and the sound of the ritual instruments can be heard throughout the trail, purifying with the means of air it travels.
This helps to purify the region itself. People are very friendly and helpful, they live in the philosophy of ‘karma’, which makes them believe in the good deeds of the worldly life to be counted in the next life. Their ritual practice and hospitality will always make you create a positive touch throughout life.
This Everest Base Camp for Beginners 16-Day Trek itinerary will help any trekkers complete the entire trail to Everest Base Camp in a more relaxing way. This will help first-time trekkers to the high altitude and thus has been designed to cope with the high altitude, with a reserved day at the end, making sure that you might need it during the trek in case.
Normally the descending trail from the Everest Base Camp back to Lukla follows the same, however, we have designed to take a possible shift as far as possible to help explore the newness of the trail.
Highlights of the Trek:
Everest Base Camp Trek for beginners carries beauty in itself, starting from Lukla airport till you depart through the airport into Kathmandu will be a journey into the Himalayas. This trek starts from a moderate hike to strenuous climbing uphill. However, the hike is majestic; every step will bring the feeling of positivism.
A feeling which can’t be explained, the air that we breathe in has a magnificent power to purify our inner soul. The praying flags, praying wheels, the chanting mantras can be seen and heard everywhere.
The Dudh Koshi River and Imja River Valley of the high Himalayas will further lead you towards the conserved part of the Khumbu region. The soothing musical sound of the river and the creeping sound of the Himalayan birds will make you get rid of all your materialistic desires.
On reaching the Namche Bazaar, the capital town of the Himalayas, one can enjoy the majestic views of the massif Himalayas which include, Thamserku, Lhoste, Kusum Kanguru, Ama Dablam, Kongde, and Mt. Everest.
Hiking to the Everest View Hotel 3880 Meters to acclimatize and for the magnificent view of the mighty Himalayas will boost your energy to head further. It will energize you to trek further uphill, and heading towards Tengboche will make you encounter the highest-situated monastery in the Khumbu region.
The daily ritual ceremonies being performed by the monks inside the monastery can be seen and experienced directly, and visitors are always welcomed inside the monastery.
Passing by different vegetation at the lower altitude will take you toward the bare snow-capped Mountains where the clear skyline will let you view far away into the horizon.
The Khumbu glacier, the welcoming Himalayas into the Gorakchep the highest settlement in the entire region will be a mesmerizing view. Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp will be an opportunity to explore the surrounding areas and also to have a direct view of the expedition group settling into their camp for the right day to summit.
Further, there is no word to express the view from Kala Patthar the highest elevation vintage of the entire trek, the majestic surrounding Himalayas and the first rays of the sun falling upon the snow-covered Himalayas including Mt. Everest will be a spellbound touch of the Himalayan paradise.
Apart from nature and the Himalayas, the trek is filled with different vegetation, flora, and fauna. One can encounter the wildlife of the Himalayas including snow leopards, Himalayan Thar, Yak, red pandas, and different Himalayan birds.
This region is so blessed with nature and its environment is so pure and untouched by the modern world, that your wish will be to settle ever. The culture, history, religion, and customs of the Sherpa community will be a new experience for every traveler, which can’t be experienced elsewhere.
Finally, descending downhill you take a domestic flight from Lukla airport to Kathmandu or if you want to shorten the number of days, you can take a helicopter flight from Gorakshep, flying over the Himalayas, passing the Imja valley, Khumbu Icefall, Tengboche, Namche Bazaar, and to Lukla for air-fuel and finally into the Kathmandu airport. This helicopter flight will provide a majestic view of the high Himalayas into the hills of Kathmandu and finally the Kathmandu valley.
Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty
Everest base camp trek for beginners starts from a moderate hike to a strenuous trek. The trek itself starts upon arriving at Lukla 2840m/9318ft to Gorakshep 5140m/16864ft, these are the overnight villages where trekkers will spend a night.
Apart from these Everest Base Camp 5364m/17598 and Kala Patthar 5545m/18192ft will be your hiking place, where you will not stop overnight, it is a day tour destination, so nothing to worry about at a high altitude.
It is an easy-going trek, where experience beforehand is not required because trekkers will be hiking all through the well-maintained trail acclimatizing themselves. The important point to be noted in the Everest Base Camp Trek is the altitude because you will be trekking at a high elevation where the level of oxygen will be lower than at the normal altitude below 4000 meters. As the elevation gets higher, you feel tired of hiking uphill, to get rid of your tiredness you need to acclimatize.
Now for that, you need to be physically (ok) and mentally prepared for the trek. How will this be possible? Might be your question, the best way to complete the Everest Base Camp Trek is to go slow and acclimatize yourself.
You need to be mentally prepared so that your body is physically strong enough to hike 5-6 hours per day or 8-10 km per day. If this is done then, we assure you nothing can stop you from completing the entire trek to Everest Base Camp.
Apart from the fitness level of your body, food, and water also play a vital role, having well-cooked local fresh food instead of pizza and burgers or non-veg items which normally are carried into the Himalayas from Kathmandu will help you.
Making a habit of drinking a sufficient amount of water before/during the trek, will work as a blessing during the entire trek. Stop following the rush schedule, and don’t skip the overnight camp of the given itinerary to make it a short day trek if you are the first time at such an altitude.
If you are the first time at this elevation, follow the instructions of your well-experienced guide because they are the only ones who can help you to complete the entire trek.
If all these instructions are followed your age and locality of the nation will not be a burden to complete the Everest Base Camp trek, only the thing that matters is the physical and mental outcome with strong determination.
Best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest is for every season except during June and July which are the monsoon season and till Namche Bazaar you will experience rainfall and the vista of the Himalayas will not be enchanting.
Normally autumn and spring are regarded as the best times for the Everest trek. Autumn in Nepal lasts from September to November and Spring from February to May. This is the time when the expedition group heads towards Everest to summit. So, you will be able to see all the camps in the Base Camp of Mount Everest.
During this season the sky is clear with the majestic view of the Himalayas all around, the temperature will be normal in the Himalayas, different biodiversity can be experienced and there will be a regular flight to and from Lukla.
Apart from these daily activities, the local lifestyle of the Sherpa community will be a blessing to observe, along with the expedition group.
