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Everest Base Camp Trek

Off beaten trekking style filled with adventure, the Everest Base Camp trek is a mystical trek into the base of the highest peak in the world. Unveiling the mystery and amalgamating with the ethnic inhabitants adorning the Everest region, the trail will follow off beaten paths. Using the available transportation and accommodation, we will be traveling through demanding terrains filled with adventure.

Balaram Thapa 1 Stories

Thursday December 29, 2016 , 9 min Read

Trek Grade

The trek grade of the Everest Base Camp trek has been specified as hard. A proper fitness level and stamina, along with previous trekking experience, has been deemed necessary for a trekker to advance along with this trekking trail. The trekking days are long and challenging, often with the need to cover higher altitudes through difficult and demanding terrains. Acclimatization with the altitude is a must and hence a good physical fitness level is required to embark on this journey.

Trekking Details

The trek is a 12-day journey with average 6-8 hours walk per day. The trails are often clear but might be intersected with some demanding stone steps on some sections. A huge number of ascents of 1000 m altitude might need to be done. The maximum altitude to be reached is at the height of 5545 m. This is a hard trek.

Flight Delay considerations

Lukla is home to beautiful mountain peaks as well as adverse weather conditions. This might mean that your flights from/to Kathmandu might not operate at times. An additional day can be added at the end of the itinerary in order to cater to this situation. A persistent bad weather might also lead the trek to start at a later time than specified.

On the continuous adverse weather conditions in the Everest region, there might be a possibility to completely cancel eh trek. In such cases, an alternative trek to another beautiful region of Nepal might be carried out. There are cases when the fixed winged planes are unable to fly to the Lukla region, but helicopter flights will be available. In such cases, the price to the paid is approximately 500 to 600 dollars per person. This amount needs to be covered by the clients themselves if they are willing to travel to Lukla under any circumstances. A significant delay towards the end of the trek will not be neglected and we will be responsible for managing the first fixed-wing flight back to Kathmandu.

If helicopters become available, N will be willing to pay for the helicopter flights in a case to case basis. If there is continuous persistent weather, Makalu Travels will also re-book the international flights for the flight inclusive tourists. Land Only basis clients will have to re-book their international flights by themselves and will have to pay for the associated costs.

The walking distances are given in an approximate figure and it actually depends upon the speed and the stamina of the group. Lunch stops have not been considered as a part of this approximation. Different GPS measuring devices can give different readings, which depends on the barometric pressures at the time. The measurements given in the itinerary is to help you understand the distances you will have to cover and the terrains you will have to encounter along the way.

Altitude Warning

The Everest Base Camp trek includes ascents of over 1000 meters on several occasions and constitutes the passage through the altitude crossing 3500m for one or more times. This poses a genuine risk of being affected by the Acute Mountain Sickness, which left untreated can be life threatening. Mild symptoms of altitude sickness like shortness of breath and headaches are expected, however, our leaders are trained to understand the severe symptoms. If a client is in need of immediate care, arrangements of rapid descent will be made possible.

It is, however, to be noted that the ascent rate put forward by this trip meets all the internal altitude safety measures. Days will be allocated for acclimatization with the altitude. There might, however, be a lot of medical conditions that might make acclimatization of your body difficult. If you are worried about such pre-existing medical conditions and heart-related issues, it is advisory to consult a doctor before carrying out this trip.

Diamox (acetazolamide) has been found to be an effective drug which can aid in acclimatization. Clients should consult a doctor about this drug, the prescription available and its side effects. While the interest of the leader is to make all of you achieve your goals, there might be additional delays in the ascent, based on the medical condition of the group members. The onset of AMS might also cause delays and changes in the trip plan.

If you are on a Travel Insurance, it is advisable to make sure that the policy covers the maximum altitude that you have to reach in the trip. It is also advisory that your policy covers the need of a helicopter during emergency medical conditions.

Overview

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a once in a lifetime experience, that takes you to the heart of the Khumbu region of Nepal. The chance to travel into the depths of the Khumbu region, and touch the highest peak in the world, is certainly an absolute adventure worth embarking upon.

The mighty Everest is called Sagarmatha in the Nepali dialect and Sherpas call it Chomolungma, meaning Goddess Mother of the World. Scaled by thousands every year, the Everest and its entire surrounding mystique are certainly worth trekking into. The Everest Base Camp Trek, which has been specified as a hard trek, tests your patience and stamina and showers you with extreme beauty and thrilling adventure. Upon starting from the busy city of Lukla, the trek offers exotic views of the Everest Range along with the passage through exciting flora and fauna that adorn the trail.

certainly is challenging physically, but emotionally overpowering. The satisfaction of having uncovered the mystique of the mystical Everest Region and the satisfaction of witnessing the spectacle of the highest peak in the world from down below is unparalleled to any. The itinerary has been created so as to acclimatize with the altitude and phase out the possibility of Acute Mountain Sickness. Proper acclimatization and a good physique are the keys to success in this trek.

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m)

Today, we will be arriving in Kathmandu from our respective locations. After being transferred to the hotel we have the chance to either relish the wonderful Nepali cuisine or explore the nightlife of the throbbing Kathmandu city.

Day 2: Sightseeing around Kathmandu

Kathmandu has been declared as a heritage city, with several UNESCO certified World Heritage sites worth visiting. This day, we will be sightseeing around the Kathmandu and the Patan Durbar Sqaure. After this, we will prepare for the upcoming adventure.

Day 3: Kathmandu-Lukla-Phakding (1300m-2840m-2610m)

Today marks the beginning of this exhilarating trek. A scenic flight of about 25-30 minutes will take us to the airstrip of Lukla (2840m). From here, we start off your trek and reach Phakding(2610m) in about three hours.

Day 4: Phakding- Namche (3440m)

Namche Bazaar (3440m) is the entry path to the Everest trekking region. Phakding to Namche trek takes about 7 hours of walking through beautiful rhododendron forests and the roaring Bhote Koshi.

Day 5: Acclimatization at Namche

Acclimatization is necessary to eliminate the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness. We can hike to the Everest View Hotel and then to the villages of Kunde and Khumjung.

Day 6: Namche- Tengboche (3867m)

With superb mountain views greeting you all along, it is time to pass through Phunki Thangkha into the village of Tengboche (3867m). Tengboche is home to the famous Tyangboche monastery which offers exclusive sunrise and sunset views with glimpses of the mighty snow-capped peaks all around. Approximately 6 hours of the walk is required.

Day 7: Tengboche- Dingboche (4110m)

This day requires a 7 hour walking time approximately. We will pass through the Khumbu Valley and then after crossing the Imja Khola, into the Imja Valley in order to reach the settlement of Dingboche (4110m). Dingboche is a summer settlement.

Day 8: Acclimatization at Dingboche

To eliminate the possibility of AMS, we acclimatize on Dingboche by climbing up the Nangkartshang peak. The peak offers exclusive views of Ama Dablam, Chalotse, Makalu, and Lhotse.

Day 9: Dingboche- Lobuche (4110m)

This day comes to an end in the tiny hamlet with a few numbers of teahouses, in Lobuche (4110m). the trail firstly starts off steeply out of Dingboche, through Dugla, Chukpi Lari and finally to Lobuche amidst the glistening views of the sunset over Nuptse. The trek takes approximately 6 hours.

Day 10: Lobuche- Everest Base Camp (4260m) -Gorakshep (5184m)

Today is the day we had been waiting for. We will finally be reaching the Base Camp of the mighty Everest (4260m). an undulating path through the Khumbu Glacier and Gorak Shep will take us to the Everest Base Camp. After witnessing the close-up views of the Khumbu Icefall, we return back to Gorakshep to spend the night. This day is a long one with approximately 10-12 hours of walk.

Day 11: Gorakshep- Kalapattar (5545m) - Periche (4280m)

Today, we will climb Kalapattar from Gorakshep to witness the extraordinary views of the Everest and the Khumbu Glacier. After descending down from this “Black Rock” we will continue down to a lower altitude to Pheriche. Approximately 10 to 11 hours of the walk will be required today.

Day 12: Pheriche- Leushayasa (3790m)

Today, crossing a small bridge will bring us back to the main Imja Khola Valley. From here we will retrace our path back to the settlement of Pangboche and to the village of Devoche. From here, we will walk to Tengboche and move forward to finally end our day and spend the night in Leushayasa (3790m). Approximately 8 hours of walk.

Day 13: Leushayasa (3790m) - Monzo (2840m)

Though an undulating path, we pass through Namche Bazaar by witnessing the beautiful trail high above the roaring Dudh Koshi. From here, we descend further downwards to Monzo where we spend the night. Approximately 5 hours of walking time.

Day 14: Monzo-Lukla (2840m)

We will retrace our steps back to Chaunrikhara and climb into the airstrip in Lukla. Approximately 5 hours of walking time will be required.

Day 15: Lukla- Kathmandu (1300m)

We will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu which takes about 25 minutes. Upon return, we can spend the rest of the day relaxing in our hotel and relishing the exquisite Nepali cuisine.

Day 16: Departure

Today, with hearts delighted over the experience of the past two weeks and our bodies ready for another adventure in Nepal, we depart back to our homelands.