Everest base camp is one of the most searched keywords on google; because it’s the lap of the world’s tallest point Mt, Everest. People will search this place to do an amazing Everest Base Camp Trek. This trek is considered one of the best travel destinations in the world by many travel magazines. Such as Lonely planet, trip adviser, and many more. And interestingly Everest region is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Sagarmatha National Park.
Everest Base Camp is located on two sides – in Nepal side and the China side. Although the popular one is on the Nepal side and each year thousands of trekkers and mountain climbers reach there. For trekking propose to the base camp and expedition propose to Mt.Everest, Lothse, and Nuptse. As like those world’s mountain peaks, many other smaller peaks are also climbed by beginner climbers.
And all the adventure lovers will first be at the Everest Base Camp, to acclimate. To be in the base camp of Mt. Everest is a dream of millions of people in the world. The recorded persons who first climbed and be at the Everest Base Camp were the Tenzing Norge Sherpa and Sir Admon Hillary. Since then there are thousands of people who climbed Mt. Everest and sleep at the base camp.
The first youngest person to summit the top of the world was Mr. Sambhu Tamang and the oldest person to summit Everest was Yuichiro Miura. After that each year thousands of trekkers and climbers go there to set different types of records. And the Kami Rita Sherpa is the one who climbed Everest 26 times and continues to climb the mountains.
Why Everest Base Camp Trek is so popular in the world?
Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most renowned trekking trails in the world and it is located in Solukhumbu Nepal. There are various reasons why Everest Base Camp Trek is so popular in the world. It can be different as your like and dislike choices to define the fact. As a trekking guide, I have some points which made Everest Base Camp Trek a world-class trek in Nepal.
The breathtaking mountain view
Are you walking into the Khumbu and not having a great mountain view is a joke. Because upper Solu is a paradise of the mountain peaks and Everest Base Camp is in the Upper part of the Solukhumbu. You will see the first glimpse of the mountain peaks while flying to Lukla and along the way to base camp. Although, the first sight of Everest will come while trekking to Namche from Lukla and Phakding.
Mountain peaks such as Everest, and Lhotse Nuptse, are in a row, and other peaks Thamserku, Amadablam, and Pumari are the prime attraction of the Everest region. To see these mountains people will make a journey to Everest Base Camp and these mountains’ view makes Everest Base Camp Trek so popular in the world. Also, the dramatic landscapes in the surrounding areas of Everest make a trip there wonderful.
Sherpa culture and tradition
Nepal is very rich in culture and tradition along with beautiful nature. The culture and tradition are different in the different locations. Therefore in the Khumbu region, there are Sherpa culture and traditions are the top things to see. This traditional culture is the reason trekkers will love to see and makes Everest Base Camp Trek so popular.
When you travel there as a trekker you will witness the real daily lifestyle of the Sherpa Community. As the universal surname, the Sherpa people are the lion of the Mountain. Seeing their daily routine will give you the fundamental knowledge of the life of these strongest mountain people. Observing their culture and tradition is one of the first reasons to do the Everest Base Camp Trek.
A scary flight to Lukla
Lukla airport is known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world; in terms of the short and sloppy runway on the bank of the Himalayas. To do Everest Base Camp Trek the first step is to fly to Lukla, it’s a scary dream to fly there. Yet, it’s a fantasy for adventure enthusiasts.
The 30 minutes flight will end with lots of things coming to your mind. You will remember each and everyone nearby you, pray the God which you never do and hold your breath unknowingly till the tiny plan lands off in Lukla and Kathmandu. So that a scary flight to Lukla will make your journey to Everest Base Camp very interesting.
Ancient monasteries and Buddhist shrine
The Himalayan region in Nepal is the Buddhist homeland; which means most of the historical Buddhist shrines are in the Himalayas of Nepal. In the Everest region, there are also several Buddhist sites such as Monasteries, Mani Walls, Stone Mani Walls, Stupas, and many more.
While you hike to the Everest Base Camp; you will encounter several monasteries, stupas, and Mani walls. Those historical and beautiful monuments are the real signature of the Khumbu region. Monasteries like Tengboche, Pangboche, Namche, and Khumjung are the main enticement. In the Himalayas of Nepal, there is one monastery in each village and one family member should go to the monastery to learn the Buddhist religion.
Diverse Landscapes
When you land at Tenzing Hillary Airport Lukla, you will feel you are somewhere in the hilly region. While moving forward to Phakding for the first day you will walk on the bank of the Bhote Koshi river. Similarly, on the way continue to Namche Bazar, gigantic stones, pine trees, and the middle of the two massive hills and snowy tops in the same part.
After Namche Bazar, the trees find different, close to the snowy mountain peaks. And when you cross the Pangboche then you will be more close to the white mountains and mostly surrounded by the mighty pinnacles. When you reach Thukla then you will predominantly walk on the glaciers and huge scenery of the Himalayas including Everest, Nuptse, Pumari, etc.
So that the journey to Everest Base Camp will follow the very diverse landscape; starting with greenery encircling and ending with dry, treeless, and icy surroundings. To feel the diversity of the landscapes you should do Everest Base Camp Trek once in your lifetime.
High Altitude
Can you imagine sleeping at the elevation of 5160m? Be at the 5550m above sea level and take photos at the 5364m at the base camp of the world’s highest peak? OMG sleeping at the Gorekahep at the height of 5160m is a nightmare. It will make us why you are doing this and it will feel even in Lobuche at the elevation of 4900m.
Climbing to Everest base camp as a lifetime journey to the Himalayas once is not that easy. However, the feeling after reaching there is completely different because you will forget all the pain, suffering, and shortness of breath. The panoramic scenery from the top of the Kalapattar is stunning but, climbing there will be unforgettable. Because of the lack of air, difficult to move your feet and many things together.
Spectacular mountain vistas, diverse landscapes, scary flight to Lukla, diversity of Sherpa culture; high altitude, and high passes are the fascinating things to make Everest Base Camp Trek so popular. Nevertheless, other many things are the things that make this journey a lifelong journey for everyone.
The worst time to visit Everest Base Camp
Nepal has four different seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Among these four seasons, the worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek is Summer and Winter. So that if you want to have an amazing trip to Everest Base Camp then spring and autumn are the best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek. Here are some facts that make the Summer and Winter seasons the worst time to visit Everest base camp.
The summer season – is June, July, and August.
During the summer season in Nepal, there will be a lot of rain, and everywhere wetland. Not the good mountain and surrounding views because of the clouds in the sky. And not that fun to walk in the wetlands in the mountains. Especially in the Everest region very difficult to fly in Lukla if there are clouds and visibility to land and take off.
Advantages of the summer season are greenery everywhere even in Labuche and EBC. And fewer crowds during the trek so if you don’t like huge mass while walking in the mountain then this is the best time for you to make a journey to Everest Base Camp.
The winter season – September, October, and November
Winter means cold, do you think how cold in the mountains during the winter? Indeed it is extremely cold in the Himalayas, everything will be frozen, and icy walking trails after 4000m above sea level. The first disadvantage of the winter season to doing Everest Base Camp Trek is cold. Similarly, snowy and icy trails are the second cons of doing trek during winter.
And the advantages of the winter season are the less tourist, amazing views, and blue atmosphere. And the temperature during the daytime is fine to walk with an amazing glimpse of the mountains. If you like snow, icy trails, blue sky, and fewer people during the trek then this is the perfect time to make a trip to Everest Base Camp.
Needed trekking permit for Everest Base Camp Trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek is inside the Sagarmatha National Park and to do the trek to this national park requires a national park entree permit. This permit will cost USD 34 and this can obtain from the Nepal Tourism Board Kathmandu. And along the way to Namche Bazar at the Manju village at the National Park Office.
Also, need the TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System). To issue this permit, the individual trekkers need to buy at the Nepal Tourism Board and also can buy along the way to Namche. And organized group trekkers the trekking company will manage everything. It cost USD 20 per person.
The last permit needs to do Everest Base Camp Trek is a local government tax. You have to pay it along the way to Namche. And it cost 2000 rupees per trekker.
There are some frequently asked questions about making a journey to Everest Base Camp.
How much does it cost to fly Lukla?
The flight ticket to Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu is more expensive than the flight to Kathmandu – Thailand – Kathmandu. It cost the US $ 185 for one way, which means for both ways it cost the US $ 370. And if the weather is not clear and one needs to fly by Helicopter then it cost the US $500 minimum for one person and one way.
What is the elevation of Lukla Airport?
Lukla Airport is the gateway of the Everest region treks. So that the elevation of Lukla Airport is 2850m above sea level. However, on day one, you will sleep at 2650m above sea level at the Phakding.
Is a trekking guide mandatory?
A trekking guide is a person, who will lead you to the destinations easily in the mountains. Having a guide will make your journey easier because he/she will manage everything that you need. But trekking to Everest Base Camp doesn’t essential to have a guide. So that trekking guide is not mandatory but as a trekking guide, I will recommend having an experienced guide with you.
What kind of accommodation is available there?
Well, the Everest region has a well-developed infrastructure that can find in each village. There are good quality guest houses with attached bathroom rooms available. Even in some hotels, there are electronic beds that can find, only need to pay extra money. You can have the gas shower almost everywhere in the guest houses. Rooms are mostly on a twin or three-sharing basis.
How much is that cost for food per day?
Does it depend on how much you want to spend? The normal cost breakdown for a day’s food is breakfast of 5-7 dollars including tea and coffee, lunch again the same amount $5-7 and similarly, the cost for dinner 6-8 dollars. And in the evening having a small pot of tea/coffee will cost 6-8 dollars. So that the total amount will be around 20 to 25 dollars in a day is enough. But if you want to have a cold and hard drink then those are the extra cost for you.
What is the highest point to be during EBC Trek?
As you know the elevation of EBC is 5364m above sea level. But this is not the highest point during Everest Base Camp Trek. If you climb to the Kalapattar this will be the highest point you will reach during this trek. The elevation of this stone peak is 5550m above sea level. And you will sleep at the 5160m above sea level at the Gorekshep.
How big is Namche Bazar?
Namche Bazar is the wander of the Everest region and it’s the main market in the upper part of Khumbu. Here you can find luxurious hotels with the best coffee in the whole area. And the hospital, restaurants, cafes, trekking equipment stores, and banks. Everything you can get in there. So that is a quite big place in this area.
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