The EBC Trek may be challenging because of the altitude, but it is on many trekking lovers' bucket lists. Trekking to the highest mountain of the world is the closest thing one can do to reach a great height. This 14-days trek requires a lot of physical and mental preparation.
For those seeking to experience an extreme trek, the Everest Base Camp trek is the most sought-after destination. To make the journey even more fantastic, we highly recommend combining Gokyo Lakes in the itinerary. There are many routes to reach the top of the world. Your travel agency determines the route based on how many days you wish to spend on the EBC trek. A variety of routes are available, but not all are feasible or safe.
You will experience a diversity of wildlife, nature, and culture on this trek. Take this trek as an opportunity to be away from chaos and dive into the natural beauty as you pass through alpine forests and rocky plains. Most of the people you meet during the Everest Base Camp trekking are Sherpas, Rais, Limbus, etc, who are humble & kind. Learn more about the famous Namche Bazaar and the locals in this blog.
Hiker Heading to Everest Base Camp
In the Everest region, you will see a reflection of Tibetan culture among the people. Views of different mountains like Everest, Lhoste, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Island Peak, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and many others will leave you breathless.
There are three ways of doing an Everest trek. You can book a package with a travel agency, do it independently but hire a porter, or do it alone without any help from a porter. For the lifetime and hassle experience, we recommend trekking with a local company. With a travel agency, you will have less to worry about permits, food, accommodations, and safety.
Before you dive deep into the blog, we want to tell you about one of our blogs called Mount Everest Base Camp Trekking in Nepal- Complete Details. It’s a well-written blog covering some of the most interesting things about the EBC Trek. The reading is quick and offers great value.
Table of Contents
Choose the best season and month for the trek:
Spring and Autumn are the two-season that are the safest months for trekking in the Himalayas. The Spring season is the most suitable time for the Everest Base Camp trek because of the excellent weather. The months of March, April, and May fall during the spring season.
The days during these months at the base camp Everest are warm and the weather is clear. Out of March, April, and May, the month of April is the finest in terms of weather. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold.
There is less probability of unexpected rain, which makes trekking easier. The Spring season is also the best month nature wise as you will get to see the beautiful rhododendron blooming and the pine forest becomes vibrant.
Autumn season:
The Autumn season is the second-best season for trekking to basecamp Everest. The rainfall slowly stops, and the weather becomes more clear. In September, there is still little rainfall. From October, the weather becomes stable. The month of November has the most comfortable weather in the autumn season as it is the driest month, and the weather is pleasant.
You might be wondering, why are other seasons not appropriate for the Everest Base Camp trek? Read below for more information.
Lukla Airport- is one of the extreme Airports and your flight is always based on good weather conditions.
Monsoon/summer season:
The month of June to August is best to avoid for the EBC trek because the weather up there in these two months is unpredictable. You are already trekking at the highest altitude, and you would not want any unpredictable situations at that height where solutions to weather challenges are less. Due to rainfall in June, the trail gets slippery. The trail in July becomes muddier and is the off-season to travel in the Himalayas.
Everst winter trekking:
It gets extremely cold in December, which is the beginning month for cold, and the temperature can go down to as low as -15 degrees Celsius in December. In January, the temperature goes further down to -2O degrees. So, Everest trekking is not feasible for first-timers in the winter season.
At the same time, many trekkers prefer to do the EBC trek in winter as well because the crowd is less. There is more space for you to enjoy yourself, and this season provides the best view of Mt. Everest with heavy snowfall.
Choose the right and the best gears for the trek:
Trekking becomes easier if you start by choosing the right gear for yourself. Don't pack unnecessary stuff and make your backpack heavy. Make your luggage as light as possible, so that you can walk comfortably. The backpack needs to be resistant to water, lockable, and durable. If you trek in spring/autumn, you can pack windproof jackets and some warm pieces in case of adverse climatic conditions.
To protect yourself from sun & wind, pack a cap and sunglasses, which not only protect you from direct sunlight but also strong winds. Your trekking boots should be waterproof. Do not wear new trekking boots because you will get blisters. It will take you time to adjust to the new boots, so break-in your trekking boots before the beginning of the journey. Don't forget the trekking pole if you want to give less pressure on your knees.
We understand you may have many questions regarding the mount Everest base camp trek. Therefore, we have written a blog entirely dedicated to all the frequently asked questions related to this trek. It’s called Frequently Asked Questions Everest Base Camp Trek. Do read it.
Stay hydrated:
If you do not stay hydrated during the trek, you will become the victim of altitude sickness. Since you will be losing minerals through sweats, you need to make sure that you drink at least 2 liters of water in a day. You can drink juice or vitamins with your water. Not drinking enough water means that you will have muscle pain, weakness, and headaches. So, stay hydrated to have a comfortable and stress-free trek.
Food is important for your successful Trip
Choose the best trekking agency or a guide
Choosing an experienced trekking agency that has the best trekking guide is important if you want to make the best out of your trekking trip in the Khumbu region. A guide will determine the nature of the trip you will have. If you choose the best guide, your trek will be informative, and the journey will be furthermore immersive.
He will help in the most extreme situations because they are trained in such a way by the trekking agencies and institutions. For your information, we, Scenic Nepal Treks are one of the leading trekking companies in Nepal with extensive expertise, guaranteed departures, and the best price.
Look out for the below things while finding a local trekking company in Nepal for you:
Trekking experience
Customer review
Policy transparency
Price & trip safety
Sustainable trips
Contributions toward the local community
Decide in advance whether you will carry your bag or let porters carry your bag:
If you decide in advance whether you will carry your backpack or let a porter carry it, it will be easier because you can budget for the porter in advance. Consider your walking pace and terrain while you decide.
If you feel like carrying a trekking bag, then it will reduce your pace and add up pressure on your body. If you think that you may not be able to walk on rugged trekking routes of the Everest region while carrying weight, it is always best to give your trekking bag to the porter. Instead, you can carry a day bag for taking in and out necessities like water, sunscreen, energy bars, and other stuff.
There is a limitation to the weight. The porters can carry a maximum of 10 kgs weight per trekker. One porter usually carries up to 20 kg in a group. Solo trekkers can increase the weight and double pay the porter as well.
Yaks are the prime means of transportation- Everest Base camp Trek
Eat hygienic food only:
Eat healthy and hygienic food during the Everest Base Camp trekking because you have to maintain your diet. You will get all sorts of food during the basecamp Everest trek, but avoiding food that will affect the digestive process is best. Avoid eating non-veg meals because they are high in protein value, and can lead to an upset stomach.
As you cross Namche Bazaar, you will not find meat because it is a place inhabited by Buddhists, and they do not allow killing animals. You can find chicken meat in the upper part, but it is unhealthy. The meat is frozen and gets transported from Kathmandu via the Lukla flight.
Among all the teas and coffee options, black is always recommended. Drinking purified water can also contribute to your hygiene. Instead of buying expensive bottled water every time while trekking, you can use a reusable water bottle and refill it in the lodges. Do not drink water straight from the tap because it might upset your stomach. Don't hurt your health to save a few extra dollars. Carry water purification tablets.
Be physically and mentally ready before the trek:
Trekking in the Everest region is not easy because it needs prior preparation. You have to be physically and mentally ready for it. The trekking route is rough, so it is best to have prior hiking experience on a similar trail.
Make sure you have minimum fitness training. Likewise hiking and aerobic training is fine for EBC trek. Hiking, swimming, cycling, etc will help you prepare for high altitude as well as build stamina & sustain your breathing rhythm.
Mental fitness is equally important. It will be easier to complete the trek if the person enjoys it. Sometimes you might feel like giving up during the trek to EBC because of limited facilities. In those moments your mental state is important for you to be able to continue the trek. Prepare yourself to cross multiple suspension bridges, dense forests, remote villages, and glacial paths.
Good Shoes for Your trek to Everest Base Camp
Get a night of good sleep:
To be able to trek the next day just fine, you need to get enough sleep. You might not get enough sleep because of the altitude, time difference, weather, and extreme cold. But do not take any sleeping pills or tablets and try to sleep as naturally as possible.
If you take sleeping pills, detecting acute mountain sickness at the right time might be difficult. You will have a fresh mind in the morning when you sleep naturally, and you can walk without hesitation & complaints.
Be aware of altitude sickness:
If you are traveling anywhere above 2,000 meters, you should understand you are likely to get altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can get extreme if not controlled on time and may with air evacuation in the worst scenario.
You can check with your trekking agency if they have prepared medications for altitude sickness, or you can prepare them yourself before the trip on the doctor's recommendation and consider your health.
Maintain a slow pace:
It is good that you walk slow and steady because it will help to keep your heart rate stable. Take a short rest and catch your breath as much as possible. When you are walking at a high altitude, the only way to reach from one point to another point is to walk slowly. If you walk fast, you will drain your energy soon. The right attitude is to maintain the pace and stick with the group. Walk slowly and enjoy the view.
Hiker heading down from Everest Base Camp
Your backup - travel insurance:
You never know what will happen when you trek at a high altitude in the Himalayas. Until now you may have got the idea that the Everest region has no hospital apart from a few small health posts, and the Himalayas is full of surprises, whether it be good or bad. Make sure that you have purchased good travel insurance that covers high altitude evacuation and medical bills. Your travel insurance can be helpful if an emergency evacuation is needed.
Manage Garbage:
At the end of the trek, leave only your footprints and not any garbage. Manage your garbage properly. Respect nature and do not throw anything on the trail. Make sure you throw away your garbage at the nearest lodge or teahouse while trekking.
While these tips might seem small, they are some of the most important ones to make your Everest Base Camp trek wholesome and enjoyable. These are some of the best tips for a successful Everest Base Camp Trek. It's the little things that matter when you're on an EBC trek.
If you ignore these small details, this might create a big barrier to your journey. These small tips will help you tackle the biggest problems like altitude sickness. Follow the above-mentioned tips and guarantee yourself a safe & comfortable Everest Base Camp trekking.
Along with these tips, we would like to be your partner and guide on your journey to the EBC trek. If you are planning to trek to base camp Everest, make sure you remember us because we provide all the assistance that makes treks with us comfortable, easy, and at the same time, the most cherishable trip of our guest's lifetime.
For more information about the EBC Trek, you can contact us. Or, directly book our 14 days adventurous trek for the upcoming season here.
I’m Dipendra, an Adventure Specialist and the founder of Scenic Nepal Treks, with over a decade of experience in mountain travel and tourism.
I have had the privilege of leading hiking groups from around the world to the breathtaking Himalayas, including iconic treks to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, and many others. Join me on my adventures by following me on Facebook and Instagram!
