Planning Everest Base Camp Trek requires some determination and passion. It is not every day that we feel being in the great height, walking for hours amidst the lone Himalayan trail, and enjoying the basic accommodation and food to be our best holiday in the foreign country.
Everest Base Camp Trek is that one trek that an avid trekker and rookies or the people who find happiness in doing exciting things opt for. There is no label for those who opt for the Everest Base Camp trek. Everybody at least once in their life wants to be on the lap of the highest mountain in the world. For some, Everest Base Camp Trek is the dream, and for some, it's a passion.
So we have brought this blog for the people who have the Everest Base Camp trek on their to-do list. In this blog, we are highlighting how to prepare for the Everest Base Camp Trek and, most of all, how to plan Everest Base Camp Trek. The journey to Everest base is mesmerizing and enlightening.
So without any delay, let's find out all the details about planning Everest Base Camp Trek.
Different routes to Everest Base Camp Trek
Firstly, before planning for the trek, you should know various ways to reach Everest Base Camp. Some routes are more straightforward compared to some other courses. In this blog, we will be highlighting all the passages to Everest Base Camp.
Standard Route
The standard route is the most preferred. It comes with 14 days or 16-day itinerary. The itinerary was designed by the experts and incorporated all the glorious detail of the trek. The 14-day itinerary is Short Everest Base Camp Trek which excludes the sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and extra leisure day after the hike. Meanwhile, our 16 days Everest Base Camp trek includes a sightseeing tour and a leisure day after the walk. The first itinerary is for those who are confined by limited time. Thus, we recommend that people think of a 14-day itinerary when the weather favors because the weather is unpredictable in the Everest region.
You can go along with any of the routes as per your preference.
Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake
Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Lake is quite adventurous than the above one. The trail is off the beaten and comparatively less crowded than the standard route. In this route, you will explore Gokyo Ri, Gokyo Lake, and Ngozumpa glacier, one of the world's largest glaciers. All in all, this is a beautiful journey who wants a bit more thrill in their trek. You can find more information about the expedition and the itinerary at this link.
Everest Three Pass trek
The Everest High Passes Trek lets you cross three famous mountain passes of the Everest trek. These passes are Kongma La (5335m), Chola pass (5420m), and Renjo La (5340m). These all passes are above 5000 meters so crossing these passes itself is an achievement. It is a most energizing excursion that offers you incredible mountains and ice sheets. In this trek, you will stroll along the cold path of high passes and indulge yourself in the refreshing beauty of the Himalayas.
Everest Base Camp Heli Trek
Everest Base Camp Heli Trek is another surprising way of doing Everest Base Camp Trek. In this trek, one can enjoy the thrill of trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal and experience a helicopter ride. Nepal Hiking Team organizes two different types of trek packages. The itinerary is almost the same as the standard route; however, it includes a helicopter ride missing from the typical trek itinerary. In our 11 days, Everest Base Camp Heli Trek directly brings you to Kathmandu from Gorakshep. And Another is of 12 days EBC Shuttle Heli Trek package which will fly you out from Gorakshep to Lukla, and from there, you can take a plane back to Kathmandu. Please go through the itinerary given below:
You can go along with any of the itineraries.
So these are some of the routes and ways to reach Everest Base Camp. You can choose any of the courses you like.
After deciding which route you are taking, you must select the best time to do the Everest Base Camp trek. In general, Everest Base Camp Trek is doable throughout the year. However, knowing which season offers the best views and the experience is very important. In our below section, we are discussing what trekkers can expect in different seasons.
Spring Season
Spring Season invites a large number of tourists every year to Nepal. The Spring season in Nepal falls from March to May. It has the best weather and offers pretty fantastic mountain views. Moreover, the main highlight of trekking in this season is that flowers come to life. Forest are greener than ever. Hence, nature is fantastic during this time of the year.
Summer/Monsoon season
Summer/Monsoon season falls from June to August. The weather is hot and wet. Monsoon rain clams the warm sunny weather. However, monsoon rain can also be the reason for flight delays and cancellations. The Hilly and Terai regions face heavy monsoon, and the Himalayan areas do not face much precipitation.
Therefore, Everest Base Camp Trek is possible in the summer/monsoon season. Nonetheless, we would suggest trekkers two keep extra a day or two leisurely so avoid the mishap of missing the international flight. Besides lush nature, the trail is less crowded, so you will get to enjoy the path to yourself.
Autumn Season
The Autumn season tumbles from September to November. This is another time of the year that welcomes a large number of tourists in Nepal. At this time of the year, days are warm, and nights are cool with crisp air. Moreover, the best part of trekking in Nepal is the crystal clear mountain views during the autumn season. The only defect of trekking this time of the year is that the trail will be too crowded. So if you are not a people person, you can try during the late monsoon season or early spring season.
Winter Season
The Winter season in Nepal falls from December to February. Not many people travel during this time due to extreme cold weather. But the mountain views during this time are truly breathtaking. We do not recommend trekking this time of the year to the keen people with trekking or cold weather. However, if you are okay with cold weather, we will surely recommend trekking this time of the year but with proper trekking clothing and, if possible, with a flexible schedule.
Now that we have discussed which time is best for you to do the EBC trek. In this section, we are going to discuss how challenging is Everest Base Camp trek is.
Before discussing the challenge of the walk to Everest base camp, we want to share that we have records of successful stories of people in their early seventies completing the trek. It is not like we do not have unsuccessful stories, we do have them, but we don't consider them unsuccessful. For us, everybody who at least tries is successful because there are people who hesitate even to take the first step.
Everest Base Camp trek is a pleasant journey with a moderate difficulty level, which can be tackled with proper training and physical exercise. Beginners, as well as experienced trekkers, can do this trek. So many people with no prior trekking experience can also opt for this trek. To complete the trek efficiently, we recommend trekkers do some physical exercise and cardio exercises. Also, if possible, walking now and then or even hiking once a month will help build up the stamina for the EBC trek.
Any trek in the Everest region is different than the trek in other trekking regions of Nepal. EBC trek starts from 2800 meters above sea level, a great height for the first day. So it is essential not to rush the trek and stay hydrated. While on tour, make sure to drink plenty of water, drink soups, and, if possible, avoid eating meats. Sometimes it is difficult to digest meat at a high altitude. Hence, keep in mind that trekking in Nepal is about patience and endurance. Rushing the trek will only result in mountain sickness, which can lead to an emergency.
Now that we have discovered it, the EBC trek is a moderate type of trek. The last thing left to discuss is the budget or the trip cost.
Cost/Budget for the EBC Trek
The trip cost of the EBC trek differs as per the travel agency. The price can range from USD 1200 to 1600 depending upon the services provided at the given cost. So before purchasing the EBC trek through any travel agencies, make sure you know what is included in the given cost. We have varieties of EBC trek that come at different prices. There are standard packages that are more budget-friendly, and there are luxury trekking packages too. It all depends upon you and what price you want to make.
You can travel independently as well to make the trip cost more feasible. Trekking alone has its perks as well as a disadvantage too. The perks of trekking alone are that you get to lead your trek however you want, but it has more flaws than perks. In solo trekking, you have to find your trail, reserve your accommodation, and tend to yourself if something inevitable happens.
All in all, budgeting is essential whether you are trekking alone or purchasing an organized package. Nonetheless, knowing what you are getting in the money you are paying is equally crucial. So budget your trip carefully and wisely.
So we have covered all the essential aspects that are important to remember before planning the EBC trek. If there are any other questions, you can check our frequently asked questions about the EBC trek or our complete Everest Base Camp Trek guidebook. We hope you are successful in planning your next adventure!
