Trekking to Everest Base Camp is an unforgettable journey. Hike via the mighty Himalayas, go to the monasteries, spin the prayer wheels, and make reminiscences that may final a lifetime.
We get a variety of questions on what it takes to plan after which trek to Everest Base Camp. So, I made a decision to place collectively a publish with our solutions to your hottest questions. If we missed one thing, don’t hesitate to ask us within the remark part beneath.
Questions About How one can Trek to Everest Base Camp
How Lengthy Does it Take?
How Far will You Stroll?
What’s it Prefer to Fly to Lukla?
What about Altitude Illness?
When is the Finest Time To Go?
How A lot Time will You Want in Nepal?
Ought to You Rent a Information and Porter?
Inquiries to Ask the Trekking Corporations
How A lot Will it Value?
How A lot Money Ought to You Carry on the Trek?
How do You Keep Wholesome?
How Match Do You Have to Be?
Can Youngsters Hike to Everest Base Camp?
#1 How Lengthy Does It Take?
On common, it takes between 11 and 14 days to trek spherical journey to Everest Base Camp. Most individuals will do it in 12 days: 8 days to hike from Lukla to Everest Base Camp after which 4 days to trek again to Lukla.
We did it in 11 days, just because we felt so nice on the hike again to Lukla that we mixed two trekking days into one. It took us 8 days to trek from Lukla to Gorak Shep after which simply three days to trek again to Lukla.
To learn our day-to-day itinerary, don’t miss our article Trekking to Everest Base Camp. Examine what it’s like to remain within the teahouses, hike the paths day after day, and what it seems like on the larger elevations.
You’ll be able to shorten the journey by hiring a helicopter to fly you from base camp again to Lukla, however this provides an additional expense to your journey. Plus, our favourite a part of the trek was climbing again to Lukla. All of the arduous work was finished, we had been strolling downhill, and that is once we actually received to benefit from the beautiful surroundings.
Trekking again to Lukla. This picture was taken between Lobuche and Pheriche.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If in case you have suffered altitude illness prior to now, or have considerations about getting altitude illness on this trek, contemplate including a number of days on the trek from Lukla to Gorak Shep. An additional day or two may very well be the distinction between a profitable trek or an early journey again to Kathmandu.
#2 How Far Will You Stroll?
Your complete trek is 130 km (80 miles) spherical journey. That is the gap from Lukla to Everest Base Camp after which again to Lukla. Nonetheless, there are a number of acclimatization days added to the itinerary. On today, you’ll stroll roughly 3 – 8 km, relying on the schedule.
The larger story is the elevation achieve. Lukla is at 2,860 meters (9,383 toes). Everest Base Camp sits at 5,380 meters (17,600 toes). That’s a hefty improve in elevation. The nearer you get to Everest Base Camp, the tougher the trek turns into. When you stand up over 4270 meters (14,000 toes), strolling on flat floor feels surprisingly tough and small hills start to really feel extra like mountains.
This was our first expertise trekking at excessive altitude and we knew to count on the shortness of breath and fatigue, however it nonetheless shocked us simply how tough it may be climbing to hike at these larger elevations. As soon as in Gorak Shep, I do not forget that I’d even really feel out of breath simply rolling over in my sleeping bag.
Entrance to the Tengboche Monastery
#3 What’s it Like Flying into Lukla?
Google “world’s most harmful airport” and the Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal, persistently makes it onto the record. The geography of the airport’s location mixed with components reminiscent of a really quick runway and restricted electrical energy make this airport one of many world’s most harmful.
Lukla Airport
Flying into and out of Lukla could be a nerve-wracking, terrifying expertise for some individuals and a thrill trip for others.
Word: As of late 2019, flights between Kathmandu to Lukla have been lowered, and I heard possibly even cancelled, attributable to congestion and runway upkeep at Tribhuvan Worldwide Airport. Moderately than flying from Kathmandu, airways are busing individuals to Ramechhap airport, which is a 4 hour drive from Kathmandu. From right here, you fly to Lukla. Flight instances are very quick (lasting solely 12 minutes) and fewer prone to be cancelled or delayed attributable to unfavorable climate situations. When reserving your trek with a tour firm, affirm your flight particulars between Kathmandu and Lukla.
For a full account of our expertise, plus a video of the touchdown and take-off, don’t miss our article about what it’s prefer to fly to Lukla.
#4 What About Altitude Illness?
Altitude illness is an actual chance on this trek. Altitude illness usually happens at elevations over 2,400 meters (7,900 toes), though for most individuals, it often takes a lot larger elevations to trigger signs.
The signs of altitude illness are shortness of breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Altitude illness is a life-threatening situation that may result in cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, and dying. The remedy for altitude illness is quick descent to a decrease altitude.
The most important threat for creating altitude illness growing your elevation too quickly. Ideally, you wish to improve your elevation not more than 300 meters (1,000 toes) per day. On this trek, we did have a rise of 800 meters in at some point, once we trekked from Phakding to Namche Bazaar on day 2. Nonetheless, the next day was an acclimatization day to assist us modify to this new altitude earlier than pushing on.
The eight day trek to Everest Base Camp is designed to offer you adequate time to acclimate to the growing altitude with out creating altitude illness. Even so, there’s a handful of people that will nonetheless develop altitude illness. To be able to lower the chance of creating altitude illness, you’ll be able to schedule additional acclimatization days into the trek to Everest Base Camp.
By the point we reached Dingboche, we had been all feeling the consequences of the altitude, as had been many different trekkers. All 4 of us suffered from gentle signs of fatigue and lack of urge for food. By the point we reached Gorak Shep, all of us had a light headache.
Tyler received altitude illness in the course of the ascent up Kala Patthar. Our information, Indra, instantly acknowledged the signs, put Tyler on his again, and inside minutes, ran again to Gorak Shep (with Tim clearing the path of different hikers alongside the best way). As soon as in Gorak Shep, Tyler’s signs disappeared and he instantly felt higher.
It’s not solely vital to be aware of the indicators and signs of altitude illness to maintain your self secure on the path, however that is an instance of why we advocate trekking with an skilled information. Indra acknowledged Tyler’s signs and took quick motion.
Learn Tyler’s account of altitude illness in his article How I Survived Altitude Illness
Everest Base Camp
#5 When is the Finest Time To Go?
There are two essential seasons to trek to Everest Base Camp, within the fall between October and November and once more within the spring between April and Could. The true climbing season to summit Everest takes place in April and Could, however the extra favorable trekking season is in the course of the fall months. That is when the skies are clear and the surroundings magnificent.
We scheduled our trek to begin on the finish of September, proper on the finish of the monsoon season. Late season rains delayed our flight to Lukla by at some point. Nonetheless, by beginning simply earlier than peak season, we had been capable of hike on uncrowded trails for a lot of the trek. By the point we made it again to Lukla, in early October, the crowds on the paths had been greater than double.
This picture was taken on the trek from Gorak Shep again to Lobuche
#6 How A lot Time Will You Want in Nepal?
If the one factor you wish to do in Nepal is to trek to Everest Base Camp, you want the variety of days for the trek plus a minimal of two days in Kathmandu on both aspect of the trek. For instance, in case you plan to do a 12 day trek, you will want a minimal of 16 days in Nepal.
Once you first arrive in Kathmandu, you want a bit little bit of time to regulate to the time change, meet your trekking firm, and work out any final minute particulars. This additionally provides you time in Kathmandu to go to some temples, buy groceries, and buy something you will want for the trek.
Give your self at the very least two days after the trek as contingency days. Flights to and from Lukla regularly get cancelled, which is able to add additional time onto the trek. It’s higher to have this additional time constructed into your itinerary. And if all the pieces goes to plan…superior! Kathmandu is such a cool metropolis and you’ll go sightseeing together with your additional time.
Namche Bazaar
#7 Ought to You Rent a Information and Porter?
Sure. We employed a information and a porter and it was a terrific choice.
99% of the time we do issues independently, which implies we skip the tour teams and work out how one can do issues on our personal (after which let you know how one can do the identical factor via our articles). However trekking to Everest is totally different.
If you happen to rent a tour firm, all the pieces is included. Your flights, your information, your porter, your meals, and your lodging alongside the best way. It’s so handy and takes away such an enormous problem out of the planning course of that it’s value the additional expense.
We used Nepal Social for our trek in 2014. Since that point, Nepal Social has fallen within the rankings on Journey Advisor and we weren’t thrilled with our expertise with them. Nonetheless, our information, Indra, was wonderful however he now not works for Nepal Social.
We do not need any particular suggestions for tour firms. Our recommendation could be to verify the evaluations on Journey Advisor. Choose a extremely rated firm that will get a variety of wonderful evaluations over a protracted time frame.
Tyler, Kara, and our information, Indra
#8 Inquiries to Ask the Trekking Corporations
Earlier than you rent a tour firm, listed below are some inquiries to ask that can assist you perceive what to anticipate.
Do they embody a tour of Kathmandu?
Do they supply a gear guidelines, verify over your gear, and/or provide help to buy something you would possibly want? Our trek was a part of our all over the world journey so we needed to buy winter gear in Kathmandu earlier than beginning our trek. We donated the winter gear to an orphanage as soon as we returned to Kathmandu.
Do they embody a information and a porter? We really feel that you will need to have each and for them to be two separate individuals. Let the porter go forward together with your gear (aside from what you’ve got in your day pack). And let your information deal with trekking with you, telling tales concerning the mountains and the villages, and maintaining a tally of how you’re doing (taking breaks, monitoring you for altitude illness, and so forth.).
What lodge do they use in Kathmandu? Then you’ll be able to look it up on Journey Advisor or Reserving.com so you already know what you’re getting.
What airline do they use to fly to Lukla? Do they fly from Kathmandu to Lukla or from Ramechhap to Lukla?
What contingency plans do they make if there may be dangerous climate and your flight is cancelled? How does this influence your itinerary and are there any additional bills, reminiscent of an additional evening keep in Kathmandu, because of this?
Do they e book you onto a helicopter if the airline flights between Kathmandu and Lukla are grounded? And does that value additional?
What bills are coated in the course of the trek, reminiscent of lodging, meals, and so forth? And what bills do they assume you need to plan on masking your self?
What are your lodging in the course of the trek, teahouses, tenting, and so forth.?
A typical teahouse
#9 How A lot Will It Value?
If you happen to rent a tour firm to rearrange your information, your porter, your flights, and your meals and lodging on the trek, it will probably value anyplace from $1,200 to $4,000+ per particular person.
So, why such a wide range in value? The variety of days of your trek, your dates of journey, and your mode of transportation to and from Lukla have the largest influence on value.
After all, the longer the trek the costlier it is going to be.
Most individuals fly to Lukla by airplane however you may as well journey by helicopter. Touring by helicopter is costlier however our information instructed us that helicopters can nonetheless fly to Lukla if flights have been cancelled attributable to dangerous climate (however is that this actually nonetheless a good suggestion?). And in case you select to fly again to Lukla by way of helicopter somewhat than stroll, that may improve your value.
We paid a complete of $3680 (for the 4 of us) in 2014. Since Tyler and Kara had been children, we paid a lowered value for them, which accounts for our low per particular person fee. We didn’t obtain a reduction for working this weblog.
Some tour firms will provide extra skilled guides, flights on a extra respected airline, and barely nicer teahouse lodging. You’ll have to analysis the businesses and select the one that’s proper in your finances and your wants.
It’s value spending the cash for a porter. I couldn’t think about trekking at a excessive elevation with something apart from a day pack on my again.
One other view alongside the trek again to Lukla
#10 How A lot Money Ought to You Carry on the Trek?
When you get previous Lukla, there are not any ATM’s on the trek. Whereas in Kathmandu, take out cash for purchases alongside the trek. Here’s a record of what you will want money for:
- Bottled water
- Bathroom Paper
- Showers
- WiFi and Cell Cellphone Charging
- Ideas in your guider and porter
- Additional gear and souvenirs
Plan on bringing a minimal of $100 USD per particular person on the trek. We spent simply over $400 for the gadgets within the record, though suggestions had been an enormous chunk of what we spent.
#11 How Do You Keep Wholesome on the Trek?
Our largest piece of recommendation is to go vegetarian. Our information, Indra, warned us to not eat the yak cheese, as that appears to trigger diarrhea in a variety of trekkers. Additionally, meat is just not refrigerated (you’ll odor the porters carrying it as you hike alongside them…it doesn’t odor good). We ate principally dal bhat, fried rice, vegetable curry, and Tibetan bread.
Dal Bhat
Porters on the path. Discover the meat!
Carry alongside some snacks as a result of the meals does get to be monotonous.
Solely drink bottled water or deal with the faucet water with a Steri-Pen or water filtration gadget.
Forgo the alcohol. That dehydrates you and will increase your threat for altitude illness.
In our expertise, the loos had been disgusting by the point we reached Dingboche. In a teahouse, one hallway of rooms shares one rest room with a bathroom that doesn’t flush (in our expertise). It doesn’t take a lot creativeness to image what this will get to be like. I started utilizing the squat potties within the porter and information’s part of the teahouse as a result of these had been a lot cleaner.
Hand sanitizer is value its weight in gold when you begin residing in these situations.
#12 How Match do You Have to Be?
On most days, you may be climbing between 5 and eight miles. The each day distances are very doable and there can be a number of days while you stroll lower than this.
It’s not the size of the hikes that makes this difficult, it’s the elevation. Having a very good stage of health will make this a lot simpler for you and it’ll provide help to deal with the elevation modifications higher.
It’s best to be capable of simply stroll 8 to 10 miles a day, a number of days in a row, whereas sporting a backpack.
There are not any technical sections on the hike. It’s only a graded climbing path with no rock scrambling, no mountain climbing, and no particular expertise wanted. Only a sense of journey and a variety of perseverance.
#13 Can Youngsters Hike to Everest Base Camp?
Sure, children can do that. I’ve learn that youngsters as younger as 5 years previous have finished this trek.
Tyler and Kara had been 11 and 10 years previous once they did this trek. The truth is, Kara turned 10 simply 3 weeks earlier than our trek.
READ MORE: Mountaineering to Everest Base Camp with Youngsters
Did we miss one thing? If you happen to nonetheless have questions, ask us beneath!
Extra Details about Nepal
- EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK: Everest Base Camp Trek in 18 Superb Photographs
- LUKLA: Flying to Lukla, Nepal: What It’s Actually Like
- KATHMANDU: That is Kathmandu, Nepal…A Photojourney
- POKHARA: Do Roosters Crow within the Rain? Our Story from Pokhara, Nepal
Planning a visit to Nepal? Learn all of our articles in our Nepal Journey Information.
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