The Everest Base Camp trek is a moderate trek without any technical elements. What makes it difficult is the altitude. The key is to take it slow and keep one foot in front of the other. Most days will be about 4-5 hours of trekking, but it could be longer depending on our speed. There will be sections where you will be challenged by altitude and fatigue. The secret is to train well ahead of time and pace yourself while we trek.
Everest Base Camp is 5,364 m / 17,598 ft. The highest point on our trek is Kala Patthar at 5,550 m / 18,208 ft.
Altitude sickness is always a concern at high altitudes. The most important way to prevent altitude sickness is to gain altitude slowly and follow a proper acclimatization schedule. Our guides have been trekking to Everest Base Camp for decades and they have a tremendous amount of experience with guiding tourists up this path.
We will plan for proper hydration and acclimatization techniques to minimize the risk of altitude sickness. There are many other things you can do to prepare as well. Check out some of the following articles to learn more about it:
We will stay in tea houses and lodges. These are usually simple rooms with two beds and very meager accommodations. Some have hot water (solar or electric), and others do not. It's possible that some of the lodges will not have enough hot water to accommodate all guests to have a hot shower. It's not uncommon to have to skip a day or two before you get an opportunity to shower again. We recommend bringing body cleansing towels that you can use when you don't have access to a warm shower.
The food is actually delicious! Our outfitter will provide us with more food than you can probably eat. We eat a lot of vegetables, beans, lentils, and other yummy regional dishes. We can accommodate any dietary restrictions. We usually have a mix of vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, and others within our group, and it's never a problem. The food has always been amazing on every trek I've done in Nepal.
In the hotels of Kathmandu and some of the nicer lodges, you will see normal "western" style toilets. In other lodges, you will only have a hold in the ground where you squat and go the way nature originally intended LOL. It's actually not that bad and many people say they prefer the Himalayan style toilet after they get used to it. Showers are also nice in the hotels and some lodges but the further up we go on the mountain, the more meager the accommodations will be. A warm shower may only consist of a bucket of warm water at some places. It's all part of the adventure and part of the experience!
Yes! Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you transfer your luggage to an assigned trekking duffel bag. This will be yours to keep after the trek. You'll want to pack light since one of our porters will carry everything you bring. We will provide a packing list as we get closer. Your suitcase and any other items you don't need for trekking can be left in a secure room at the hotel in Kathmandu and then recovered once we return. There are many items you can purchase in Kathmandu:
