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 searching itineraries on Google as well. Now the question comes why is it so demanding and why do people dream to be in 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 are Mt. Everest 8,848.86m, Mt. Lhotse 8,516m, Makalu 8,481m, and Cho Oyu 8,201m, along with this, two national parks which are situated in the highest elevation area in Everest region they are Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu Barun National Park. Among them, Sagarmatha National Park has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its natural and environmental significance.
Apart from all this beauty, the region is the home for much-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 custom, Buddhism being the 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, snow-melted rivers, into the Namche Bazaar, the capital town of the high Himalaya will spellbind every visitor. Visiting the monastery in the Tengboche, the praying flags hanging all throughout the trail, whirling the praying wheel will obviously create a spiritual feeling within us.
No matter what religion you follow, the region will bless you with its natural power which symbolized 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. 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 us create a positive touch throughout our life.
This Everest Base Camp Trek 16 Days itinerary will help any trekkers to complete the entire trail to Everest Base Camp in a more relaxing way with the diverse trails as far as possible. Normally the descending trail from the Everest Base Camp back to Lukla has followed the same trail but we prefer to make a possible sift while descending so that the views can be more enchanting and praiseworthy.
Highlights of the Trek:
Everest Base Camp Trek carries beauty in itself, starting from Lukla airport all the way till we depart through the airport into Kathmandu will be a paradise journey into the Himalayas; it starts from a moderate hike too strenuous climbing uphill. But the hike is majestic; every step will bring the feeling of positivism. A feeling which can’t be explained; the air which is breathed 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 us towards the conserved part of the Khumbu region. The soothing musical sound of the river, the creeping sound of the Himalayan birds will make us get rid of all our materialistic feeling. On reaching the Namche Bazaar, the capital town of the Himalayas, one can enjoy the majestic views of the massif Himalayas which includes, Thamserku, Lhoste, Kusum Kanguru, Ama Dablam, Kongde, and Mt. Everest.
These are some to be mention; hiking to the Everest View Hotel 3962 meter to acclimatize and for the magnificent view of the mighty Himalayas will boost our energy to head further. It will make to trek further uphill, heading towards Tengboche will make us encounter the highest monastery of the Khumbu region.
The daily ritual ceremonies being performed by the monks inside the monastery can be seen and experienced directly, visitors are always welcomed inside the monastery. Passing by different vegetation at the lower altitude will lead us towards the bare snow-capped Himalayas, where the clear skyline will let us view far away into the horizon.
The Khumbu glacier, the welcoming Himalayas into the Gorakchep the highest settlement of the entire region will be mesmerizing view. Hiking to the Mt. 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 leopard, Himalayan Thar, Yak, red pandas, and different Himalayan birds.
The region is so blessed with nature and its environment is so pure and untouched by the modern world, our wish will be to settle forever and ever. The culture, history, religion, and custom of the Sherpa community will be a new experience for every traveler, which can’t be experienced elsewhere.
Finally, we will 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 be with a majestic view of the high Himalayas into the hills of Kathmandu and of the Kathmandu valley.
Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty
Everest base camp trek starts from moderate hike to strenuous trek, the trek itself starts upon arriving at Lukla 2840m/9318ft to Gorakshep 5140m/16864ft, these are the overnight village where trekkers will spend a night. Apart from these Everest Base Camp 5364m/17598 and Kala Patthar 5545m/18192ft will be our hiking place, where we are not stopping overnight.
It is an easy-going trek, where experience forehand is not required because trekkers will be hiking all through the well-maintained trail. The important point to be noted in the Everest Base Camp Trek is the altitude because we will be trekking into the high elevation where the level of oxygen will be lower than in the normal altitude below 4000 meters. As the elevation gets higher, we feel tired to hike uphill, to get rid of our tiredness we need to be physically fit.
Now for that, we need to be physically and mentally prepared for the trek. How will this be possible? Might be your question, the best way to complete the EBC trek is “slow and steady always win the race”, for that before a month at least, we need to do physical exercise back home like jogging, cycling, swimming, hiking, etc. if we are physically fit then mentally, we will overcome with our worries of the altitude. We need to be mentally prepared that, our body is physically strong enough to hike 6-7 hours per day or 9-10 km per day. If this is done then, we assure you nothing can stop you from completing the entire trek of EBC.
Apart from the physical structure of our body, food and water also play a vital role, having well-cooked local fresh food instead of imported pizza and burger or non-veg items which normally are carried into the Himalayas from Kathmandu will also help us. Make a habit of drinking a sufficient amount of water before the trek, will work as a blessing in the entire trek. Stop following the rush schedule, don’t skip the overnight camp of the given itinerary to make it a short day trek, if you are first time at this elevation, follow the instruction of your well-experienced guide because they are the only one who can help you to complete the entire trek.
If all these instructions are followed your age and locality of the nation will not a burden to complete the EBC 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 December and January which will be the snowy month in the Himalayas above 4500 meters, heavy snow means difficulty, and fewer lodges and tea houses gets operated due to extreme cool. Normally autumn and spring are regarded as the best time for Everest trek. Autumn in Nepal lasts from September to November and Spring from February to May.
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 of the local life will be at its full bloom, expedition group will be heading for their summit, all these make these two seasons the best time to trek Everest with less snow in the trail to create obstacles.
