Traverse on foot to Catch the Glimpse of Mt. Everest
For the adventure seekers, Everest Base Camp trekking has been always at the top of the checklist. As the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest has its own charm. Mostly the trekkers take around 10-15 days to reach the base camp depending on the pace. Reaching the base camp is also dependent on how well one acclimatizes with extreme weather conditions. With every changing season, the Himalayas appear different to the spectators. This route is a kind of trial for every international adventure seekers. Since 1953 after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summited the peak it has been the dreamland for every traveler.
Mostly you can reach the EBC in three different ways. As it is located in a pristine location, safety comes firstly in the mind. Firstly one can go for a packaged tour with a registered agency. If one is traveling through the agency, then the latter takes all the initiatives to arrange all the necessary things. You can trek alone with the assistance of a guide. Lastly, you can do it completely along if you are confident enough to traverse. Mostly the trekkers book the EBC tour through any registered agency for hassle-free trekking. In comparison with the other two options it is quite expensive. The most feasible option is to hire porter or guide from Kathmandu and go for a solo trek.
This trekking trail lies on one of the best regions of Nepal. The rigorous walking through the rhododendron forests, green hills, glacial lake, cascading waterfalls, beautiful rivers and the first view of the Everest from Kala Patthar will be a breathtaking experience. In this trekking trail, one has to walk across Sagarmatha National Park, listed as the world heritage site by UNESCO. This park offers shelter to many endangered species. On the route, you will be encountering few amazing wildlife creatures. The trekking brings out unique cultural practices to the adventure lovers. On the trail, many trekkers love to stay in the tea house lodges to know more about the ethnic cultural practices of the country. Sherpa is the largest community located in this region. While trekking, one can easily explore their traditional lifestyle. The warm hospitality of the people is another added value for the trekkers.
Nepal is the country located in the foothills of the Himalayas. One has to be mentally and physically strong enough to complete the trek. It is the highest mountain peak in the world so one has to endure hardships before taking this arduous trip. For 12 days one has to trek for a minimum of 4-8hours at a stretch. One has to carry own backpack on his own. With porters, the trekking becomes easier.
Mostly it is advisable to avoid monsoon season for its bad weather conditions. As the region is located in the landslide-prone areas, therefore, one can face bad topographical conditions. The guides suggest trekking either before or after the monsoon.
In Pre Monsoon months (Feb-May) mostly the trekkers will get dry weather. The weather will be comparatively cold. But this time one will face a huge crowd. While in the post-monsoon months (Sep-Nov) the weather will be comparatively cloudy. The weather will be very cold. It is the best time to hike Gokyo Lake for its serene spectacular view. Mostly the trekkers who want to enjoy solitude in the trekking trail they love to hike during the winter months (Dec-Feb). In these months the temperature falls down to -30oC. There are passes which remain closed due to snowfall. If you really aim to trek on this particular time then you must carry proper hiking gear.
Flight duration: 30 minutes
Lukla is a small village located at an elevation of 2843m with a comparatively narrow runway of 527m. This short duration flight will be a pleasure to your eyes. You will be flying across the snow-covered mountains. You will really enjoy the window side view of the mountains.
Altitude: Lukla-2843m, Phakding-2660m
You will be starting for your trekking from today onwards. You will be trekking across the normal plain terrains today between the villages. The first one you will be trekking across the villages located in Lukla. On the way you will find out beautiful monasteries, small tea house lodges and chortens to enjoy visually. For Phakding you will have to trek in inclined rocky edges for at least 2 hours.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Altitude: Phakding-2660m, Namche Bazaar-3440m
Today it will be a long day as you will be trekking on ascending plane. After a continuous 5hrs of trekking across an inclined plane it will be quite difficult to manage. Today you will be trekking across Sagarmatha National Park. Inside the park, you will be enjoying the beautiful sight of endangered species. Here you will be crossing the suspended bridges to enter the EBC route. This place will be a visual pleasure for you to enjoy. The mountainous town covered with colorful prayer flags will be an amazing experience to explore. Before entering the path of the EBC trek, it is the largest market place to buy necessary items. From here one can catch the glimpse of golden mountains during the sunset.
Day 3: Acclimatization day
This day is quite important for high altitude trekking purpose. One has to be both mentally and physically strong enough to complete the trek. At the time the trekkers lose hope in completing the trekking for its adverse weather conditions. Due to high altitude at Namche Bazaar, the trekkers prefer to acclimatize themselves in this particular location. From here one can carry trekking gears.
Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Altitude: Namche Bazaar-3440m, Tengboche-3870m
Today, if you are fortunate enough then, can catch the glimpse of Mt. Everest from your trekking trail. You will feel the energy radiating from this location. You will feel like being a small entity in front of such grandeur mountain. Your desire to climb up the peak becomes stronger with such a beautiful sight. The majestic glimpse of the mountains will make your spirits high to summit the peak. So today you will be trekking high for another 400m but the route will be very tiring. Firstly you will be trekking upwards for 20-30mnts. Then for the next 2hrs, you will be trekking flat on the plain. Then again you will be trekking downwards for 40mnts. In the midst, you will complete your lunch. To reach Tengboche one has to trek for another 2hrs uphill. On this route, you will be visiting the largest monastery located in the Khumbu region. The Buddhists believe to rotate these prayer wheels for bringing good fortune. On your way to EBC, you can also turn these wheels to pray for accomplishing your trek. From the top of the monastery, you will catch amazing panoramic views of the mountains surrounding you.
Day 5: Tengboche to Pheriche
Altitude: Tengboche-3870m, Pheriche-4200m
Today you will be trekking across the rhododendron forests. A gradual inclined climb for 5hrs will be an amazing experience. Monsoons are avoidable because in these forests leeches are quite common. Therefore it is better to travel during winter.
Day 6: Acclimatization Day
On this itinerary, two days are kept separately for acclimatization purpose. One is kept around 3000+m and the other one is at 5000+m altitudes. With the passage of days, you will be trekking across higher altitudes. Just to make the body acclimatize with such conditions these days are kept separately. On the acclimatization, one should roam around the local areas to make the body adaptable with the extreme weather conditions.
Day 7: Pheriche to Lobuche
Altitude: 聽Pheriche-4200m, Lobuche-4930m
Today you will be trekking across some beautiful landscapes. The mountains are beautiful in own ways but looking at the green meadows and surrounded by mountains all sides will be an amazing experience. The grazing of yaks and the beautiful meadows are the perfect combination to enjoy natural beauty. From the top of the hill, you will get an amazing view of the mountains along with the meadows. On your way, you will be crossing a suspended bridge located near Thukla. From there you will be again taking the long inclined hike to reach Lobuche Pass. On the way, you will be enjoying the beautiful colored prayer flags.
Day 8: Lobuche to Gorakshep
Altitude: Lobuche-4930m, Gorakshep-5130m
Today you will be trekking towards Gorakshep. This week will be quite difficult for the trekkers as one will be trekking from Lobuche to Gorakshep. From there to EBC and gradually back to Gorakshep will be quite a difficult trek. You will be getting clearer views of the mountains from this region. Khumbu Glacier is also visible from this part of the trail.
Altitude: Gorakshep-5130m, EBC-5340m
聽On this trekking trail, Gorakshep is believed to be the last one. EBC lies on the route of Khumbu Glacier. Today you will be trekking for at least 2hrs uphill. So those who want to step on to this beautiful arena of the landscape, they will definitely take back memories with them. The amazing view of Khumbu Glacier will be quite enthralling for you. If you are traveling during cloudy weather then it will be quite difficult for you to catch the glimpse of Mt. Everest even from EBC camp. One needs to climb high till Kalapatthar to get a proper panoramic view of the mountains.
Day 10: Trek to Kala Patthar
Altitude: Gorakshep-5130m, Kala Patthar-5555m
Today you will have to start early in the morning. It will be a rigorous day today as you are not quite aware of the unpredictable weather conditions. Therefore with deep layered of clouds, you will never get a proper view of Mt. Everest. Kala Patthar is a small mountain that allows a proper panoramic view of the mountains around.
Day 11: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar
If it is a clear sky from there one can catch beautiful lofty sight of mountains till Tengboche. Mostly the trekkers love to celebrate this small success after reaching Namche Bazaar. As it is an exhausting trek, therefore, one has to be calm and compose till the end of the trekking.
Day 12: Namche Bazaar to Lukla
So you will be retracing back following descendant routes across the hills and mountainous terrains.
Day 13: Flight to Kathmandu
You have reached the last stretch of your travel. Therefore it will be flying back to the capital city from Lukla.
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Start the trekking preparation at least 6 months prior to the journey
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Keep yourself healthy in adverse conditions
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Try to balance extreme weather conditions
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If you have any medical issues then try to resolve it
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Altitude sickness is another important issue to deal with
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Headaches and fatigue are quite often during the trekking trail
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Difficult sleeping
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As water is quite expensive in mountains carry chlorine pills to sterilize聽聽聽聽 water
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 UV protected sunscreen and sunglass
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Necessary medicines
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Warm clothes with inner warmer
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Waterproof jackets and trousers
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gloves (both normal and outer insulated ones)
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Socks (2-3 pairs extra)