Mount Everest Base Camp

Welcome to the Rooftop of the World

Everest base camp in Nepal offers you one of the most adventurous and exciting hiking trips in the world. It offers you a chance to try and reach the highest peak in the world, 8,848 meters. The Nepal route is popular for its safety guarantee. The base camp is 5,380 meters high. You can fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, 2,860 meters, before hiking to the base camp which takes six days to give room for acclimatization. To reach Base camp with your supplies, you will need the help of the Sherpas or porters and their animals, mostly Yaks.

Hiking necessity list

You will need to buy a permit before the climb. The cost depends on both route and season of your climb. There is also a bond payment to facilitate garbage collection from the mountain area. Ensure your luggage is light yet containing all the necessary materials. Recall to pack hiking boots considering you will have to walk about 5 to 6 hours daily (and light shoes to put on in the evenings); UV sunblock, camera and powerful binoculars; clothing for trekking in heat and humidity as well as for the very cold moments; water disinfection drops; a light weight sleeping bag; and a first aid kit with fabric bandaids as only them can stick to sweaty feet.

Hiking trip

There are no roads to Khumbu area where Everest is located. Trekking from Lukla to Everest base camp will take you about 8 to 10 days. From Lukla airport you will pass through villages, all with accommodation and dining facilities. The first day will have you travel 6 miles in 6 hours. The next day will see you reach Namche trekking through the Sagarmatha Park where you have to pay 1,000 rupees as a non-resident visitor.

The ascent is steep to Namche, 3,440 meters, with no lodges a long the way thus you have to carry enough drinks. Once there, it is advisable you take a day or two for acclimatization. There is a bazaar hence your stay is reasonably made comfortable. While there, you can take excursions to the nearest villages offering local culture and mountain sceneries. On leaving Namche, you pass though Kenjuma and Sanasa villages where you can buy souvenirs especially if you will take a different descent route. You can finally spend the night at Tengboche, 3,870 meters, where you will find the air to be thinner.

You will then pass several villages including deboche where there is a must-see nunnery and Pangboche where the monastery is. On reaching Periche, take a day or so to acclimatize. It is from here that you head to Lobuche. Here, the lodges are normally full you might sleep in the lobby or share a room with a stranger. Henceforth to Gorak Shep, 5,160 meters, the trek is good taking only 3 hours. It is from here that you visit the Everest base camp from where you have the most exquisite scenery of Mount Everest and its surrounding mountains. The view is more magnificent if you climb the nearby Kala Patthar hill, 5,643 meters.

Health and safety

Despite the Khumbu area being generally safe, it is prudent to have your most important valuables closely guarded. The Yak people are normally social but could be very temperamental. When giving them way, always stand on the upper side of the path. Combat altitude sickness by descending to lower altitude immediately you suffer severe headaches, dizziness or palpitations. Altitude sickness can be fatal. Avoid drinking untreated water. There are medical clinics with qualified medics in major villages hence there should be no worry. There is also a solely emergency rescue center manned by volunteers.

As you decide on your next adventure tour, try this trek up the highest mountain in the world. It is a lifetime feat. Whether an amateur or a veteran, just know your skills, strength and perseverance have never been tried if you have never taken the trek to the Everest base camp.