Facts about Everest Base Camp Trek

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As some of our friends just started their journey on Everest Base Camp Trek, would like to share some facts on this Trekking Program. Hope to share impressions of our friends after they are back home.
Wishing safe and successful journey for the Team in Nepal!
Destination to Everest base camp is one of the biggest dreams that every trekker has. As the highest base camp trek of the world, thousands of trekkers trek to the Everest base camp annually. Here are some facts about the Everest base camp trek you might wonder to know about:

  1. Everest Base camp is in the lap of world highest mountain Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan 8848 m).
  2. Everest base camp is at an altitude of 5,364 m above the sea level.
  3. Edmund Hilary used the route from Jiri to Namche Bazar during his expedition in 1953.
  4. Namche bazar is also called capital of the Sherpa people. Sherpa are also called the king of the Himalaya.
  5. Everest Base camp trek usually starts from the Lukla airport. Which is one of the most extreme adventurous airports in the world.
  6. Weather of base camp is not constant and changes as per hour.
  7. During the base camp trek you can view the Mt. Everest (highest mountain in the world) from its closest point.
  8. Best season for trekking is ‘October to December’ and ‘March to May’.
  9. You can enjoy the high speed internet at the Everest base camp.
  10. Everest Base camp is inside the Sagarmatha national park which is in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
  11. Every year more than 1 hundred thousand trekkers trek to the Everest base camp.
  12. Typically, the trek to Everest Base Camp takes 12 days to complete on a 130 km round-trip. It takes eight days to get to Base Camp and four days to get back down, broken down overall into nine days of long trekking and three short trekking acclimatization days.
  13. During the trek, trekkers can visit the oldest monastery, built in 1916 by lama Gulu.
  14. Sagarmatha national park is the home of a 118 species of birds including the rare birds like Himalayan Monal, Red-Billed cough, Blood pheasant and yellow billed chough. There are also the lots of the rare mammals found in Sagarmatha national park like Red Panda, Musk Deer, and Snow leopard, Himalayan black Deer, Himalayan Thar, Langur Monkeys, Martens and Himalaya wolves.
  15. Without a doubt the most difficult and underestimated aspect of the EBC trek is the altitude. ... The trek then steadily climbs as the path winds its way up to Base Camp. The view point from Kala Pathar on your return journey is the highest point standing at 5,554 meters. The key to high altitude trekking is to go slow.
  16. From base camp, you can largely see Nuptse, and the Khumbu Ice Falls. The summit of Everest is actually hidden from view. As others have mentioned, the best view of the Everest summit in the area of base camp is from Kala Patthar near Gorek Shep.
  17. Prices range per person from $1,200 all the way to $5,000 for an average 12 - 15 day trek. Prices generally include: permits, round trip flights from Kathmandu to Lukla, accommodation, meals. Prices won't include: travel insurance, visa fees, trekking equipment.
  18. The first big decision you need to make is whether you will do the Everest Base Camp trek on your own or as part of a guided group. An independent Everest Base Camp trek will be cheaper, no doubt, but you'll also be left to handle all of your accommodations, trekking permits, domestic flights, and logistics yourself.
  19. Some at least must like the element of danger! For the Everest Base Camp Trek, it's an entirely different story. Because trekkers are not going into the danger zones where real climbing is required, and they stay below the most dangerous altitudes - there's little risk involved.
  20. The temperature at night at the Everest Base Camp will be around -20 to -30 degrees Celsius. But the temperature at the valley will be moderate, there will be no problem if you choose to stay in tents at the Base Camp.
  21. There are three permits you need to have while trekking to Everest Base Camp. One of them is the permit for trekking inside the premises of Sagarmatha National Park. ... However, this permit is only needed if you are going to Everest Base Camp from Jiri. The cost of all of these permits is different.
  22. Do not forget to get yourself an appropriate insurance package! Insurance is an absolute must for any traveler tackling the Everest Base Camp Trek as even small injuries, such as a sprained ankle, can create a logistical nightmare that proves to be quite costly. Even the nightmare of lost baggage is amplified on Everest as you may find that vital pieces of trekking equipment need to be replaced instead of a few pairs of underwear that you might lose on your typical holiday.
  23. Food & water become more expensive with increase in the altitude! You might spend 8 to 15 USD on your food on a daily basis, while 1.5 liters of water might cost you around 3 USD at Gorakshep!
  24. Mountain sickness is probable during the trek! Acclimatization, physical & mental preparedness is VITAL!
  25. English speaking guides and porters are available! Consult with your local mountaineers who have been on the Trek for an experience exchange!

Photo credit: Ani Avagyan (Armenian Outdoor Adventures)

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