Things to Know Before Everest Base Camp Trek 

Everest Base Camp Trek is the journey to the foothill of the tallest mountain in the world (Mt Everest). You trek for almost 12/13 days to get to the Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar. This is one of the most beautiful trekking trails of Nepal with overwhelmingly beautiful views of the Himalayas, landscapes green forests and glaciers. At every step, you are rewarded with beautiful sceneries. However, this trekking is considered as challenging as you have to climb through rocky trails in high altitude and low temperature for so many days. So there are a few things you need to consider or get prepared for before setting off for the trek.

You are expected to know the following things before planning the trek:

1.Kathmandu Lukla Flight

Kathmandu to Lukla plane flight is the first step to your trekking journey. During this flight, you will get the wonderful aerial view of the Himalayas, landscapes, green forests, rivers and waterfalls. However, the Tenzing Hillary Airport of Lukla is considered as one of the most dangerous airports because of its short runway. So this flight is known to be one of the most adventurous flight.

2.Best Season for Trekking

Normally, the spring and autumn seasons are more appropriate to have our trekking. In these seasons the weather is less likely to get worse. The humidity is low and the probability of raining is also quite low. And at these seasons the temperature of the atmosphere does not get extreme which makes us easier to trek.

At winter the temperature level drops to the extreme level making it difficult to walk at higher altitudes. And during summer the trail becomes slippery and walking on it might be risky. So these seasons are less appropriate. Everest base camp itinerary is one of the best chosen trek during best season.

Even though the autumn and spring are the best seasons for Everest Base Camp Trekking, we still can conduct our journey at other seasons as well. We plan the trekking according to the weather forecast of  Meteorological Forecasting Division prioritizing your safety.

The trail might become a bit crowded as too many people go for trekking in peak seasons. You can decide the season you want to go for trekking according to your preference.

3. Food and accommodation

Most of the time you will be staying at Teahouses run by Sherpas during your  Everest Base Camp Trekking Journey. They may lack in Luxury as there are no road accesses making it difficult to bring goods. However, you will get basic services with locally made foods prepared to be best for your trekking. You get the chance to explore local traditional foods during this trekking. You need to adopt the habit of having vegetarian food as killing animals is not allowed in Sagarmatha National Park.

4. Trekking Gears  and essentials

Trekking Gears and essentials are the most valuable and important things through out the trek. You should always carry your needs and accessories that helps you when trekking. Things like water bottle, shoe, watch, first aid, and many material should be carried.

5. Route permit

For Everest Base Camp trekking, you need to have TIMS card and entry permit of Sagarmatha National Park. You can get them from Nepal Tourism Board or the Entrance of the Park itself. If you are having guided trek you will get the help to get permits from those agencies.

trekking

6. Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is mainly caused when the body cannot adapt to the low levels of oxygen and atmospheric pressure in the high altitude mountains. The amount of oxygen starts to decrease from an altitude of 3000m. There is a different level of altitude sicknesses that need to be taken care of differently. It is highly possible to get altitude sickness while having trekking to the Everest Base Camp.

Here are a few things we can do to prevent:

– Appropriate training before starting the trek (hiking, cycling, swimming, gym etc.)

– Staying hydrated during the trek

– Having appropriate diet during the trek

– Carrying medication such as Diamox or prescribed medicine

– Staying clean

– Taking acclimatization rest during the trek

– Descend back if your body shows any signs of altitude sickness

7. Insurance

Travel insurance is one of those things to consider before planning the trekking. As the Everest base camp trekking is considered a difficult one. There is always the possibility of injuries and accidents. However, one of the main reason to have insurance is altitude sickness. As you have to travel at high altitudes (over 3000m) it might have some effect in your body that result in altitude sickness. Sometimes the condition may get so worse that you need evacuations with the help of a helicopter. It can cost thousands of dollars. So it is always safe to get insured. Besides that, you might have accidents, cuts and brushes making you unable to trek further. So it is always safer to get yourself insured.

8.Expenses

During your Everest Base Camp Trekking, things become more expensive the higher you go. As the road access is not available to the high altitudes, mules, yaks and porters carry goods up in the mountains. Some things need to be carried by Helicopters. So things become expensive as the altitude increases.