All you need to know about Everest base camp trek

Introduction:

The views across Mt Everest are said to be amongst the best anywhere. The sunshine up here is dazzling and there’s no cloud to be seen, which we take as a good omen. You need to follow the Khumbu Glacier until you reach Gorakshep. This small settlement was the location of an earlier base camp for Mt Everest in the early 1950s. It sits on the border of the frozen lake bed and marks the beginning of the gruelling ascent up to Kala Patthar. The views across Mt Everest and the Himalayas are worth every drop of sweat, every ache and tear.

Panoramic beauty of the Mt Everest base camp trek:

The scenic beauty of this trek is wonderful and breathtaking which includes lush green grasslands and snow capped areas all over the trek with numerous hills and waterfalls.There are also many flowers and alpine trees through the trek.The hike of this trail will take through the dense pine forest with the sparkling rivers offering unique sights and experiences. The dense forest is covered with silver birch oak and alpine trees with the sound of chirping birds. 

Perfect season to visit Mt Everest base camp trek:

The best season for Everest Base Camp Trek is February to May  and October to December. This is when the skies are most clear and the nights aren’t too cold. This trail is at its busiest, especially in the Spring when the climbing season is on. The winter offers amazing snowy scenery but it can be extremely cold. And the summer months are wet because of the monsoon but the trail is really Lush and green and at the end of September is probably a perfect window to do base camp because of the clear skies and less crowd.The views across Mt Everest and the Himalayas are worth every drop of sweat, every ache and tear..There are also many flowers and alpine trees through the trek.The hike of this trail will take through the dense pine forest with the sparkling rivers offering unique sights and experiences. The dense forest is covered with silver birch oak and alpine trees with the sound of chirping birds. 

Full guide of Mt Everest trek:

Day1: Lukla to Phakding

Lukla to Phakding(Lukla has 2860 m altitude and Phakding has 2610 m altitude). From Lukla to Phakding it is a short hike and it will take approximately 3 hours to complete. After you reach Phakding you can stay there and spend the night as there are many homestays and tea houses present. You can spend the rest of the day enjoying the views and walking around. 

Day2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar 

Phakding to Namche Bazaar (Phakding has 2610 m of altitude and Namche Bazaar has 3440 m of altitude). The way through Namche Bazaar from Phakding is a tough way of approximately 800 m of elevation.  The first half of the day is going to be relatively flat but then after having lunch you can do about 600 m. You will again need to cross a bridge.  Next you will be able to see some markings there which are Buddhist Mantras carbed by Tibetan monks and you are supposed to go around them clockwise and never anticlockwise. These were covered like 600 years ago and it looks amazing. After that you can ascend to a really steep staircase up ahead and that is 600 m. After that you need to cross the Everest bridge. The climate there will be all windy and the views from the Everest bridge is just so wonderful. Namche bazaar is a very cool place and it’s mostly like a little town up there at 3400 m and has pretty stunning views as well. There’s cows wandering around. There’s a volleyball court and it’s surrounded by these insane mountains. 

Day3:Namche Bazaar Acclimatisation Day. 

The acclimatisation day is a short day hike up to around 3800 m of elevation just to get used to altitudes and then come back down to namche bazaar again. From the viewpoint you are able to see Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Ama Dablam and also you can see the statue of Tenzing Norgay who was the first sherpa who climbed Mt Everest. Apparently at over 2500 you start to look out for the signs of altitude sickness which is headaches, breathlessness, nausea things like that. 

Day4:Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. 

During this day you need to wear the buffs as the ground is really dusty and it causes problems with chest infections and throat infections if you breathe too much of it. There you can see yaks and they can only survive at altitudes over 3000 m, if they come below 3000 m they would die so you only see them up there. 

Day5:Tengboche to Dingboche. 

On the fifth day you need to cross around 4000 m of elevation which would be really exciting but you need to be careful as people start to feel more of the effects of altitude sickness. Unlike any other places Tengboche is a seasonal settlement so the monks who stay in this Monastery here are only permanent residents. Everyone else is only here for the trekking season. On the way through Dingboche you will be passing through the only other permanent settlement here in the base camp which is also amazing. 

Day6:Dingboche Acclimatisation Day

Day7:Dingboche to Lobuche

Day8:Lobuche to Mt Everest base camp

You can trek by your own or you can take guides too. The guides will guide you about everything from oxygen tests to what to eat and what not to. Doing a solo trek is also less expensive but it is risky too and you need to do more research into permits and accommodation. The trail itself from Luckler, the base camp, isn’t too challenging. There are steep inclines in some areas but a lot of it is gradual having said that you will be hiking from six to seven hours a day for the majority of the days. 

Tidings of Mt Everest base camp trek:

You can trek by your own or you can take guides too. The guides will guide you about everything from oxygen tests to what to eat and what not to. Doing a solo trek is also less expensive but it is risky too and you need to do more research into permits and accommodation. The trail itself from Luckler, the base camp, isn’t too challenging. There are steep inclines in some areas but a lot of it is gradual having said that you will be hiking from six to seven hours a day for the majority of the days. So it is important to be relatively fit to be able to do the trek comfortably. You can start to feel the effects of altitude after 2500 m which is just under the height of Luckler so it is important to keep an eye out for AMS symptoms which can lead to more severe illnesses if they get worse. If you have a guide make sure to tell them if you have the following symptoms: headaches, sickness, dizziness, and loss of appetite.

Consequences of Mt Everest base camp trek:

The main conformity throughout the base camp is the tree houses. They are basic but comfortable. Nepal is a cash country especially the mountains so make sure you carry enough cash. You should be prepared to adventure in any climate because the weather does not remain constant. It’s tough to train for the altitude but there are things you can do on the trek to help you avoid the AMS like drinking at least four litres of water a day, taking the hike super slow and steady and keeping yourself eating and full of energy. The dense forest is covered with silver birch oak and alpine trees with the sound of chirping birds. 

Conclusion:

Lastly you will be a slow crawl to 5644 m across uneven and rocky terrain . Kala Patthar is the highest point you can climb here without a permit. The dense forest is covered with silver birch oak and alpine trees with the sound of chirping birds. After crossing the forest you will move to Kala Patthar. During winters these green grasslands get transformed into breathtaking snow covered grasslands and this place is best for monsoon. The trail itself from Luckler, the base camp, isn’t too challenging. There are steep inclines in some areas but a lot of it is gradual having said that you will be hiking from six to seven hours a day for the majority of the days. 

It is a campsite that is placed on the patch of the mountain which is surrounded by many trees, free and open, vast and spacious. It truly offers a charming camping experience .