Everest Base Camp Trek

Useful Info

The Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp

Autumn or spring is the Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp. These seasons usually have clear days with almost no rainfall, although some rainy days might occur until mid-September or late May.

Autumn comes right after the monsoon, so the haze clears with the summer rain and allows clear visibility. The environment is clean, and the views are glossy. It is a prime trekking season, and thousands of adventure travelers travel to Nepal.

Spring is the second-most popular hiking season at Everest Base Camp and the main expedition period for climbers. The blooming flowers make the Everest Trail attractive in the spring, and it is warmer to visit the base camp than in autumn.

It is still possible to Trek to Everest Base Camp in the winter. The weather will be nice and clear, but the temperature will be freezing. The trail will be less crowded, so if you prefer to trek in a quiet environment, this season is best for you. Although the summer is not a good time to go to Everest Base Camp, It brings lots of monsoon rain and poor visibility. The Trekking trail can also be slippery with a wet floor, so hiking to EBC during the summer might be unsafe.

Things to Pack for Everest Base Camp

It is the most important topic about the Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Visiting the mountain region will always be cold, so you must Pack warm trekking gear for Everest Trekking. The warm clothing usually will be heavy, so there is something to care about, and that is concern about the weight limitation for the Luka flight. That is why you should try to take light, warm, and quality hiking gear to minimize overload on the flight.

Bodywear necessary for the hike includes a few pairs of Trekking trousers, long and short sleeves, a down jacket, a fleece jacket, thermal layers, a warm hat, a sun hat, and gloves. See this for detailed information about the trekking Gear to pack before a Trek to Everest Base Camp.

Accommodation, Food, and Drinks on the Everest Base Camp Route

There are plenty of guesthouses along the Everest Trekking Route, so you do not need to carry camping tents for the tour. The lodges have twin-sharing Accommodations with a quilt and pillow on the bed.

The bed will be clean with a comfortable mattress in the Everest Region, but it may not be the same as in the hotel in Kathmandu. The Accommodations mostly lack a toilet inside, but you can also get an attached bathroom on the base camp route. There are also cozy lodges for luxury trekkers in most camps during the trip. You can easily find your space for the night except in Tengboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. These places have limited guesthouses and few accommodations. So, you need to book rooms in advance in these places.

The guesthouses have a menu with Nepalese and Western meal items. So, you do not always have to stick with the local food, but you can try the traditional meal if you would like. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are hygienic and cooked by a trained person. You might be bored seeing the same items everywhere on the menu along the way to Everest.

At this high elevation, you need to drink a lot of water. You can buy bottled mineral water or regular water. If you drink tap water, you must use purification tablets or sterilizers. Check out this information about the accommodations.

Internet, Phone, and Battery Charging on the Everest Base Camp Route

There is a good phone and Internet connection on the Everest Trekking Route. The guesthouses and shops sell the internet top-up card provided by Everest Link. You can also use the mobile SIM card for phone calls and 4G internet. We suggest buying an NCELL or NTC prepaid card with data in Kathmandu before going to Everest Base Camp.

There is no electricity after Tengboche, so we charge the lights using solar energy. For the first three days, you might get free Battery Charging in the lower region, but they charge you after Tengboche. Bringing a power bank with a large MAH capacity is a good idea.

Permit Cost for Everest Base Camp

The Trekking itinerary for Everest Base Camp remains inside the Sagarmatha National Park, a natural UNESCO world heritage site in Nepal. The national park protects wildlife, vegetation, cultural and religious monuments, and forests. Visitors must have a Trekking Permit to control activities inside the park.

All Everest trekkers except those from SAARC countries pay 3,000 NPR for the permit. Hikers from India must pay 1,500 NPR for the Base Camp Trek Permit. Nepali visitors must also obtain a Trekking Permit to enter the park. The permit costs 100 Nepali rupees for the internal trekker.

Besides the national park entry ticket, you must issue a Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit for the Everest Trip. This ticket Costs 3,000 NPR for all travelers but does not charge Nepali trekkers. You also need a Trekkers Management System Card (TIMS) now, provided by the Nepal Tourism Board, which Costs 2000 NPR for other nations and 1000 NPR for the SAARC nations. Check out the permit here:

Altitude Sickness on the Everest Trek

The most harrowing aspect of the Trek is Altitude Sickness, which can occur after ascending 3,000m above sea level. The Lukla airport is already high enough for people from sea level, so you will not visit the base camp directly from Lukla. Gradually ascending takes a few days, and the Altitude effect starts after the Namche Bazaar.

Mountain Sickness affects the brain and lungs. It is not sudden, and early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties, and even restlessness. Although it is severe, it will cause little harm if handled carefully.

You can prevent Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) by strolling, drinking plenty of fluid, keeping warm, eating and sleeping well, and hiking for acclimatization. After 3,000m—250mg every twelve hours, you can take the altitude pill. You need to drink more water after taking the altitude pill than usual. The medication makes you dehydrated.

An important note: Do not go further to higher elevations if the early symptoms occur. It is better to have one extra rest day at the same place or descend to a lower elevation as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions by the Base Camp Trekkers

It is better to have some essential information before planning a Trek to Everest Base Camp. Here, we have tried to resolve some needy answers to frequent questions about Base Camp Trekking.

What happens if the Lukla flight is canceled?

The Lukla airport is in the mountains, so the weather is unstable. The flight can be canceled at any time. Sometimes, it delays for a few hours and then operates the flight. But due to the bad weather, there will be no flights for a few days. You can wait for the flight if you have enough time or need to use a helicopter for the tight holiday. Check this out for detailed information.

What is the weight limitation for the Lukla flight?

You can take 15 kg for the Lukla flight, including hand luggage. If you exceed this limit, the airline will charge you an amount for the overload.

How hard is it to trek to Everest Base Camp?

It is a moderate-level trekking trip in Nepal. More than 90% of trekkers can do it, but some may feel uneasy at the higher elevation. According to the hiking path, it is not that difficult, but the altitude makes it slightly hard to walk.

Do I need climbing training for the EBC Trek?

No, you don’t need climbing training for Everest Base Camp. It prevents altitude sickness if you have visited areas above 3,000 meters in the Himalayan regions before this Trek. You can do physical training and day hiking to prepare for the Everest trip.

How long do I need to walk on the base camp Trek daily?

Most trekking camps are short because of the high altitude. You have one long day, about a 7-hour walk from Phakding to Namche Bazaar on the second day. You will walk 4-5 hours each day after Namche until Lobuche. The final day to go to Base Camp from Lobuche takes around eight hours. After Kalapatthar, you trek back to Lukla in three days, so these camps are long.

Can I go solo to Everest Base Camp?

You cannot trek to Everest Base Camp alone because of a mandatory guide rule from the Nepal Tourism Board. The guide helps a lot if you have difficulties arranging accommodation and other things, and provides lots of information.

How safe is it to go to Everest Base Camp?

It is safe to visit Everest Base Camp. However, it would be best to care about the altitude effect and some uncertain accidents along the way on Everest. There are yak, Jokpe (a hybrid of a cow and a yak), and mules for the supply of things. You encounter them on narrow surfaces sometimes. Because of insufficient space, the load might push you to the cliff if you stand on the unsafe side.

You need to be careful while taking a photo. We suggest you check around to see if it is a safe zone or not to stand and move back. Likewise, wild animals and yaks will be moving above the trekking trail. The stones can roll down from animal movement, so check well while walking on the Trekking Path.

An important suggestion is not to hesitate to discuss altitude sickness with your guide if you experience any earlier symptoms.

How many days does it take to reach Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu?

It depends on which route you would like to start the Trek. If you begin your trip from Lukla by taking a flight, it takes eight days to reach the Base Camp, with two rest days for acclimatization in Namche and Dingboche. Likewise, Starting from Jiri, it takes 13–14 days and 10–11 days from Salleri to reach Everest Base Camp.

What are the transportation options for starting a trek to Everest Base Camp?

The most usual form of transportation is a flight to Lukla to start a trek to Everest Base Camp. Alternatively, you can drive to Jiri and Salleri by bus or jeep to begin a journey to Everest.

Can I drive directly to Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu?

No, there is no motorway to the Base Camp. But you can drive to the North Base Camp in Tibet. You can reach the base camp within an hour on a helicopter flight. The Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour is the quickest way for people on a short vacation in Nepal to visit the base camp and explore the region.

What is the highest elevation that I can reach on this Trek?

Kalapatthar (5,545m) is the highest elevation the base camp trip takes you to. Everest Base Camp (5,364m) is your highest elevation if you miss this hill.

Can children and the elderly Trek to Everest Base Camp?

The children and older people can Trek to Everest Base Camp.

Where can I leave the things I don’t need to take on the Trek?

You can leave the things in the hotel in Kathmandu that you do not need for the Trek. They keep your stuff safely in their storeroom. You will get a baggage tag, which you don’t have to lose. You will get it back after the trip by showing the baggage tag provided by the hotel.

Do I have to bring a tent and food for the Base Camp Trek?

No, there are guesthouses everywhere on the Everest Trail. You can choose lunch, dinner, and breakfast from a food menu in the lodges where you stay on the Trek.

Is there a place to sleep at the Base Camp?

No, there is no lodge at the Base Camp. You must hire Gorakshep for a night to sleep at the Base Camp.

Hopefully, you have some information about the Trek to Everest Base Camp. If not, contact us for more details.

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