Everest Base Camp Trek

EBC Base Camp trek

Nepal is home to the mighty Himalayas, with eight of the world’s ten highest mountains in the world, including the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Standing on the summit of the highest point of the world is certainly something every adventurer would dream of, but then, is not within everyone’s reach, many limited by budget, but primarily by their physical self to actually make it to the top, simply because human beings, or any living being are not built to function at that altitude. The summit of Everest is certainly not for everyone, but making a trek to the Base Camp of Everest at 5,346m (17,594 ft) is also something one should have on the list. Many may ask why EBC, but well, because there is only one Everest. The trek to EBC however is not all just about the base camp but a once in a lifetime experience, an opportunity to explore the Himalayan landscape, treading along the very path once taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Surrounded by the glorious high Himalayas, you will realize your little existence in nature, change your perspective about life as you experience the harsh realities of the Himalayas.

Trip Summary

Detail Itinerary

DAY 1 - KATHMANDU: ARRIVAL DAY Altitude: 1,350m/4,428ft Welcome to Kathmandu, the capital and cultural hub of Nepal! We’ll be waiting with a warm greeting and easy transfer to your hotel. Plan on an evening briefing on last-minute specifics about your trek and an early lights-out: you have a big day ahead.

DAY 2 - KATHMANDU TO LUKLA FLIGHT AND PHAKDING

Altitude: 2,800m/9184ft (Lukla) & 2,652m/8,698ft (Phakding). Walking Distance: 8km (3-4 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. Flight time: 35 min

The flight to Lukla itself is an adventure in itself. After the short 35 minutes morning flight to Lukla, start your trek with an easy walk through Chaurikharka village and descent towards Dudhkoshi Ghat (2,530m/8,300ft). The trail follows the bank of the Dudhkoshi River until Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft), where we will be staying for the night to acclimatize. Enjoy your free time in Phakding, a popular stopping point.

DAY 3 - PHAKDING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR

Altitude: 3,440m/11,283ft Walking Distance: 10-12km (5-6 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. We’ll have breakfast in Phakding before gearing up for the trek to Namche Bazaar, the biggest Sherpa village in Nepal. Our trail takes us first over the Dudhkoshi River via a long suspension bridge, and then through a beautiful pine forest to Monjo, about two hours away. Soon thereafter, we will approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park for a brief permit check and then descend to Dudh Kosi River (spotting Mani stones along the way!) en route to Jorsale. Lunch will be served here, and then it’s uphill to Namche. Our path along the riverbank is flanked by two crossings, one of which is the Hillary Suspension Bridge. It’s a tough climb up the hill to our resting place, but you’ll be rewarded in Namche Bazaar with your first glimpse of Everest in its majesty.

DAY 4 - NAMCHE BAZAAR: REST AND ACCLIMATIZATION DAY

Altitude: 3,440m/11,283ft At this point, we take a well-deserved break! Today will be spent resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the lofty altitude. There’s an recommended 2-hour hike to Everest View Point, an uphill walk that will help speed acclimatization. Otherwise, spend the day exploring Namche Bazaar. Check out the Sherpa museum for an overview of the Sherpa culture and history of mountaineering. On Saturdays, the Hatt Bazaar is open for trading and an intimate look at the locals’ marketplace. It is part of the larger Namche Bazaar, a shopping hub filled with all manner of trekking and mountaineering clothing and equipment.

DAY 5 - NAMCHE BAZAAR TO TENGBOCHE

Altitude: 3,870m/12,684ft Walking Distance: 10km (6 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. Breakfast in Namche Bazaar fuels us for another day of trekking towards Everest Base Camp today! Breathtaking views of the Himalayas - Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kwangde - are some of the highlights not be missed. A short drop takes us to the riverside, then it’s across the river upwards through the forest pass. Brace your legs for a continual uphill trek at this point, alternating between a gradual grade and some seriously steep ground! Our destination, Tengboche, is known as one of the most beautiful places in the Everest region. Its views, which include Ama Dablam, are legendary. We’ll stop in on the Tengboche monastery, which is one of the largest in Khumbu. Nourish your spirit with a guided tour of the monastery grounds, followed by chanting and prayer with the resident Buddhist monks.

DAY 6 - TENGBOCHE TO DINGBOCHE

Altitude: 4,400m/14,435ft Walking Distance: 11km (6 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. Our trek today kicks off with a walk through the rhododendron forest to Deboche followed by a bridge over the raging Imja Khol River. We’ll pass the valley wall and then traverse the plains to Pangboche village, the biggest settlement of Sherpas in the region. Enjoy a great opportunity to observe a typical Sherpa village and have lunch with the locals! The intrepid can brave a brief hike to the Pangboche monastery, one of the oldest in the area. Our afternoon trek will be a difficult one, as the landscape gives way to dry, deserted mountains and we hike towards Dingboche.

DAY 7 - DINGBOCHE: REST AND ACCLIMATIZATION DAY

Altitude: 4,400m/14,435ft This is your chance to rest up before the last leg of our adventure! Savor a full day of exploring Dingboche and the surrounding valleys of Chhukung and Imja, the latter of which links with Island Peak, the high passes of Amphu Laptsa, and Makalu Barun National Park. Taking an optional trek to the valleys will pay off in rewarding views, but taking it easy is the most important thing today. You’ll need your rest for the penultimate day of ascent tomorrow.

DAY 8 - DINGBOCHE TO LOBUCHE

Altitude: 4,900m/16,076ft Walking Distance: 11-12 km (6-7 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. From here on forth, the trek will move more gradually be more challenging, due to the higher altitude. We’ll pass Dungla, but not before a tough, steep walk to the top of a high hill. Here are the memorial stupas dedicated to the climbers and trekkers who lost their lives to Everest over the years. The next part of our adventure brings over craggy mountain terrain to Lobuche, a small settlement with amazing views of Mt. Lobuche, Mt. Pumari and the Nuptse. Prepare to snuggle up for a cold night, as we are now almost three miles above sea level and the evenings can be downright chilly!

DAY 9 - LOBUCHE TO GORAKSHEP AND EVEREST BASE CAMP, EBC TO GOREKSHEP

Altitude: 5180m/16,994ft (Gorekshep) & 5364m/17598 (EBC) Distance of walking: 15km (6-8 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. This is it! Our big day kicks off with an initial, relatively easy trek from Lobuche to Gorekshep. The subsequent, straight trail to Everest Base Camp is harder, involving rocky dunes and moraine, formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris. On the way to our destination, we’ll approach the famed Khumbu Glacier and icefall, located on the slopes of Everest. At the Base Camp, our goal, you’ll have the chance (during the spring climbing season) to meet climbers attempting to scale the mountain’s summit. Break out your cameras for unbelievable views of breathtaking beauty. As the afternoon sun starts to wane, we’ll head back to Gorekshep for some much-needed rest and relaxation after a grueling and busy day.

DAY 10 - GOREKSHEP TO KALAPATHAR AND PHERICHE

Altitude: 5,545m/18,192ft (Kalapathar) & 4,320m/14,173ft (Pheriche) Walking distance: 12-13km (5-6 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. We’ll wake before dawn today to trek towards Kalapathar (which means “black rock”) for a fiery, glorious sunrise over Mt. Everest. The day’s first light will illuminate your spectacular view of Nuptse Nup, Changtse and Lhotse.This may be, of the whole journey, your most opportune moment to snap amazing pictures of Everest and its neighboring peaks. Afterwards, it’s back to Gorekshep for breakfast and down in the direction of Pheriche, our nighttime stop. Our pace will be a lot brisker as we descend, and the walking is easier going this way.

DAY 11 - PHERICHE TO NAMCHE

Altitude: 3,440m/11,284ft Distance of walking: 13-15km (7-8 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. The walk from Pheriche back to Tengboche is mainly downhill, although it does, counter intuitively,require an hour scaling a hill. We’ll be in Namche by late afternoon and off to bed before our last day on the mountain.

DAY 12 - NAMCHE TO PHAKDING AND LUKLA

Altitude: 2,800m/9,184ft Walking Distance: 16km (6-7 hours) - All distances and time estimates are approximate. After breakfast, we trek toward the Hillary Suspension Bridge and then pass through several local villages. Our arrival in Lukla brings an evening in our last Tea House and, traditionally, a party with your trekking crew: you made it! Thanks to great teamwork and perseverance, you’ve accomplished a physical feat of which others only dream. This is your last night on the mountain, which can be bittersweet.

DAY 13 - LUKLA TO KATHMANDU

Altitude: 1350m/4428ft Flight time: 35 min In the morning, you’ll hop a brief flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, where your journey both began and ends. You’ll transfer to your hotel upon landing for some much-needed solo rest and reflection after your trek conquering the Himalayas. We’ll reunite in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the best Nepalese restaurants in town, where we’ll be eager to hear your feedback on the trip.

DAY 14 - KATHMANDU: DEPARTURE DAY

Altitude: 1,350m/4,428ft

Commercials

Additional 9% tax is applicable on the above rate.

Book you seat at just Rs 5000 and rest in subsequent EMI

EMI Facilities are also available

Additional 9% tax is applicable on the above rate

Inclusions and Exclusions

Hote water showers are also charged extra, and is not included in the package.

Please note that one Jar of Hot Drinking Water will cost upto Nrs. 1000 (INR 625) in the trekking route and is not included in the package

General Information & Travel Tip

Passport and Nepal visa information

All foreign tourists travelling to Nepal will need a valid passport and a Nepali tourist visa. Your passport should have at least 6 months validity left on it, beyond your expected departure date. You can obtain a Nepali tourist visa from the local embassy or consulate or on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport (or other major arrival points in Nepal). To enter Nepal you'll need a valid passport, 2 passport size photos and a completed visa application form. A Nepal visa is usually valid for 3-6 months. *Indian nationals do not require a visa.

Nepal travel tips – Costs

Cash Machines

The mainstream banks in Kathmandu and Pokhara all have a cash machine where you can fill your wallet 24 hours a day using your normal bankcard or Master card / Visa. Smaller banks such as the Himalaya Bank also have cash machines, though we would recommend only using these machines during bank opening hours so as not to run the risk of losing your card if the system crashes( on rare occasions)

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are generally accepted in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Standard Chartered Bank and several smaller banks such as Nabil Bank and the Himalayan Bank will give an advance in rupees on your Master card or Visa. It's wise to carry some US dollars and rupees in small denomination notes in the smaller towns where you can't use your credit card.

Travelers’ Cheques

You can purchase Travelers’ Cheques at 1% or 2% commission. Both American and European Travelers’ Cheques are widely accepted at most of the major banks in the smaller towns. The good thing about Travelers’ Cheques is that in the event of loss you will receive new cheques within 24 hours.

HEALTH tips for travelling in Nepal travel

Skin care

Take all cuts, scratches etc in the tropics seriously: keep a close eye on them, clean them with disinfectant and keep them covered with a plaster during the day. Don't scratch mosquito bites.

Always use a high factor sunscreen cream on exposed skin, even in the rainy season. The sun is super strong particularly at high altitudes, even if it's cloudy.

You can avoid attracting biting insects by not wearing brightly coloured or black clothing, strong perfume or deodorant or aftershave. If you’re prone to skin irritations, wear cotton or linen clothing. You can help avoid prickly heat by using talcum powder on your body after your morning shower.

Wash or disinfect your hands after using the toilet and don't bite your nails.

During the dry season, in the wooded areas, there’s a slight chance that a tick may land on you. Check your body for these bugs in the morning and evening; especially behind the knees and in the genital area. Should you find one, don't try to just pull it out but use tick pincers (obtainable from chemists) or seek medical attention. If, after being in the woods, you find a bloody circular skin wound slowly increasing in size, seek professional medical attention

Sunstroke

Sunstroke can be prevented by drinking water, wearing a hat and sunglasses. Always keep a bottle of water with you, especially if you're off the beaten track and unlikely to come across drinking water. If you suspect sunstroke (feeling light-headed, headaches), you can prevent it from getting worse by drinking water and if possible find somewhere in the shade to sit and stay there until you feel well enough. 

Health upon return

If upon your return (and this can occur months later), you experience influenza, stomach problems, or experience some other unusual symptoms, contact your GP and let them know where and when you were last in Nepal and what you did there.

Insurance

Nepal is the very watershed of Asia. Squeezed between India and Tibet, it stretches from rich subtropical forest to soaring Himalayan peaks: from Jungly tiger habitat to the precipitous hunting grounds of the snow leopard. Nepal’s cultural landscape is every bit as diverse as its physical one. With the change in altitude the climate varies and as a foreigner sometimes you might not adjust suddenly to this new climate. Especially those going for trekking or other adventure activities at high altitude must be alert with their own health issue. If you are using any medicine, carry enough or copy of the medical prescription. If you are going on with medication, carry doctors no objection letter for travelling abroad.

To ensure you enjoy your full during the tour and trek, and to avoid the huge expenses that might occur due to illness and emergency evacuation, you are highly recommended to get insured for injury, emergency evacuation by helicopter, sickness, loss of documents etc. Kindly carry the copy of insurance if you are insured.

Acclimatization

This trek’s itinerary is planned with a high degree of awareness of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Going up at higher altitudes too fast causes a medical condition serious enough to result in death. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen will be in the air. For example, at an altitude above of 5000m, there is 50% less oxygen than at sea level. Therefore, our body needs many days to adapt to an environment with less oxygen. During this trip, we take rest in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche which will help us acclimatize to the high altitude.

During any point of the trek, if anyone experiences a AMS, you have to please inform your guide or your trekking partners at an early stage to allow us to immediately take care of you. Incase of emergency, our experienced guides will arrange for your rescue (travel insurance) or arrange for your to go down at a lower altitude as that is the only good remedy to AMS.

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

Mount Everest Base Camp Trek is a moderate trek suitable for passionate walkers who have the ability to walk at least 6-7 hours a day with a light rucksack. In some days we might even need to walk for 7 to 8 hours. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in the lower altitudes; however, if we are in excellent health with average physical fitness, have a positive attitude and strong determination, we can accomplish the trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly is good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Himalayan Glacier before booking the trek. We also recommend that you consult your doctor(s) before the trip.

Best Time to Travel

Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are the best months for this trip. Although this trip can be taken during winter, the cold temperature might not be suitable for everyone

Essentials

• Extra layers, gloves, wind breaker and poncho
• Warm don jacket, light as possible
• Breathable Fleece full sleeves
• Stretchable inners
• Neck protection
• Trekking socks
• Good pair of hiking boots
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm with Sunscreen
• Water Bottles or Camel Back
• Sunglasses
• Waterproof bags to protect electronics or paperwork
• Headlamp with extra batteries

Additional things you can carry

• Sleeping bag (atleast -10)
• Broad brimmed hat or bandana (for sun protection)
• Iodine Water Tablets (personal preference)
• Favorite Snacks
• Camera with extra batteries and memory cards
• Duct tape or moleskin for blisters
• Toilet Paper
• Trekking Poles (optional)
• Thermos (optional for hot beverages)

Bookings & Cancellations Policy

• All bookings must be made well in advance so that all arrangements like Hotel reservations, Transport, Logistics arrangements etc. can be made. Once you finalize a package and book with us, we will make a provisional booking of Hotel rooms and send you a confirmation along with an invoice.
• We ask for 50% Advance Deposit, which has to be paid within 3 to 5 working days of the date of package confirmation and Balance 50% before 30 days of the Tour start date.
• As soon as the payments are received, a receipt will be send to you. Once all services are confirmed a Client Services Confirmation voucher will be mailed to you.
• Cancellations must be made in writing and will be effective on the date of receipt in our offices.
• The following cancellation charges will apply: (shown as percentage of total package price)

1. More than 6 weeks before arrival - 40%
2. Between 41– 20 days before departure - 75%
3. 19 days or less before arrival – 100%

• All re-payments for cancellations will be made within 4 weeks from the effective date) 

Tour once commenced will strictly go as per the itinerary finalized. In case of events and circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to change all or parts of the contents of the itinerary for safety and wellbeing of our esteemed guests.

Please note that no rooms have been blocked and the same would be done on your confirmation, subject to room availability.

Share our Green Awareness

Please observe the following:

Do's

Use of Polythene and Plastics is unhealthy for the environment.

• Carry away all non-degradable litter- empty bottles, tins, polythene bags etc. and throw them in municipal dustbins only, so that they can be disposed properly.
• Observe the sanctity of holy sites. In case of any offerings contact the staff of the temple committee only.
• Respect local traditions. When taking photographs, respect privacy ask prior permission and use restraint.
• In case temporary toilets are set up near camp sites, after defecation, cover with mud or sand. Ensure that the spot is at least 30mts. from a water source.

Don'ts

• Taking away of cuttings, seeds and roots is illegal. Allow the flora and fauna to flourish in their natural environment.
• Avoid using pollutants, such as detergents, in streams or springs.
• Do not use wood as fuel to cook food at the camp site and do not destroy the forest wealth of the Himalayas, which are our heritage.
• Do not leave burnings cigarettes or make open fires in the forest.
• Do not tempt local children by offering them foodstuff or sweets.
• Do not listen to Radios, Tape Recorders or any other electronic entertainment equipment at high volume to avoid noise pollution.
• Be careful in making relations, while traveling by Bus or Trains. 

We at Walk to Himalayas strongly endorse the principles of Eco-Tourism. We seek to protect the environment and to minimize pollution while we send our clients on trips. We also believe that local communities should gain some benefit from our visit and we have a policy of local services wherever we can.