What is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp – 13 days?
The best times to undertake 13 days Everest Base Camp hiking tour in Nepal are during the spring and autumn seasons. Spring begins from mid-March and continues until the end of May, whereas, autumn begins in mid-September and continues until the third week of November. These two seasons guarantee the best weather, accessibility, and uninterrupted scenery of the mountains.
Trekkers can undertake Everest Base Camp trekking – 13 days anytime in a year, but the seasons of winter and monsoon often encounter rainfall, snowfall, and wet or slippery trail. Few sections of the Everest Base Camp trail are prone to landslides and leeches during the monsoon. During winter, the average temperature in Everest Base Camp drops to 4°C during the day and -17°C during the night.
How difficult is it to walk to Everest Base Camp for 13 days tour?
Trekking in the Everest Region comes with many difficulties or complexities such as high altitude, rugged terrain, thin air, harsh weather conditions, and fatigue. Some of the most common difficulties are:
01) AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness is one of the most common difficulties of trekking in this region. The entire trail lies above 2,500 meters, with the highest altitude being 5,545 meters at Kala Patthar. Accessing the high-altitude regions often comes with difficulty in breathing, lack of oxygen, and fatigue.
02) Wi-Fi, phone connectivity, and power are other major difficulties during the trek. Wi-Fi doesn't come cheap, nor does charging electrical appliances. Due to limited power supply in higher altitudes, teahouses charge extra for Wi-Fi and charging phones or cameras.
03) Giardia infection, although rare, can occur during the trek. The lack of sanitation measures such as drinking clean water, cleaning hands with soap or disinfectant, well-cooked meat, etc. can often invite Giardia. It may cause diarrhea and sometimes vomiting.
What type of accommodations do I get during the 13 - day Everest Base Camp expedition?
Everest Base Camp trail offers the nicest accommodation options ranging from budget teahouses to luxury lodges. All these accommodations are well-maintained and comfortable. Each room in a teahouse consists of at least two single beds. One can book a group room with multiple beds as well.
The amenities provided in the teahouse depend on the price and quality. Teahouses in the lower Everest valley may offer fully equipped rooms with electricity, an electric blanket, a western toilet, Wi-Fi, and a hot shower, whereas, those situated at a higher altitude may only offer basic services.
Extra amenities such as a hot shower, electrical charging, and Wi-Fi incur an additional cost.
01) Hot Shower may cost $1-$3
02) Charging electronic devices may cost $2-$3 per hour
03) Using Wi-Fi may cost $3-$5 per hour
The cost and availability of accommodation depending on the season. During peak seasons such as spring and autumn, teahouses can run out of rooms. If not booked beforehand, one may end up sharing a room with others or spend the night in the kitchen hall. During off-seasons such as monsoon and winter, teahouses offer a wide range of rooms at a lower price.
What type of food and drinks are available during 13 days of EBC hiking?
A balanced and fulfilling diet is important, especially during arduous treks such as Everest Trek. This trek offers three meals a day. These meals range from Tibetan, Nepalese, Continental, and Indian cuisines.
The same teahouse where you lodge will offer breakfast which may include:
Toasted Bread
Pancake
Eggs
Porridge/Tsampa porridge
Muesli with hot milk
Coffee/Tea/Juice
Fruits
Stop for lunch at any of the teahouses around 12 pm or 1 pm. The lunch items include:
Rice and lentils
Noodles
Thukpa/Sherpa Stew
Momo (Dumplings)
Garlic Soup is a natural way of preventing altitude sickness.
Trekkers usually have dinner at the same teahouse where they spend overnight. The mealtime spans between 6 pm and 8 pm. The dinner items include:
Rice and lentils
Tibetan bread
Sherpa stew/other soups
Thenduk
Noodles/Spaghetti
Veg/Non-veg curry
Pizza
Dumplings
As the trail rises in altitude, the meal options on the menu begin to lessen.
How about guide and staff arrangements?
We make the guide and staff arrangements. The cost incurred to hire a guide and porter includes in the trip package. In the case of individual trekkers looking to hire guides or porters, the price may vary.
Hiring a licensed, language-versed, and experienced guide associated with us may cost $30-$40 per day.
Trek guides act as local liaisons and help book rooms and meals in advance. They help to navigate the trail, interpret languages, provide information on local landmarks, and assess health for any signs of sickness. They help to evacuate trekkers in times of need by informing and assisting rescue parties.
How about hiring a Porter?
Hiring a porter during the 13 days ebc tour becomes essential. They carry large loads of luggage, gear, and other items throughout the trail. The cost to hire a porter includes in the trekking package. In the case of individual trekkers looking to hire a porter, the price may vary.
Hiring a porter at the Everest Region may cost $20-$25 per day while hiring a guide cum porter may cost $30-$35 per day. Hiring a guide cum porter may help save costs.
We ensure that the porters hired for the trek hail from local villages. This ensures local employment. The porters are well accustomed to the local terrain and weather condition. They carry a load ranging from 15kg to 20kg and speak Basic English.
Teahouses are well-equipped with extra rooms designed to accommodate porters.
Is there acclimatization during the 13 Days EBC hiking?
13 days EBC trek offers two full days of acclimatization, one at Namche Bazaar (3485m), and another at Pheriche (4240m). Along with it, the walk duration each day is short to allow enough time for rest and recuperation.
Acclimatization in the high-altitude treks such as Everest Base Camp Trek is essential. Many trekkers suffer from altitude sickness or AMS once they have climbed at or above Namche Bazaar (3445m).
Amateur and aged trekkers are more prone to fatigue and altitude sickness. Hence they are to take enough breaks in-between the journey. They must maintain a balanced diet and enough intake of fluid throughout the journey.
This trek itinerary allows enough rest along the trek. An average trek of 5hrs a day and an altitude gain of no more than 600 meters ensures enough time for acclimatization. The spare time can be generously used to explore the surroundings.
Is physical fitness and experience needed?
A trekker must be in great physical and mental condition to undertake the 13-day EBC expedition. Although required, the experience of high-altitude trekking isn’t mandatory.
Everest trail comprises high-altitude regions above 2,500 meters and often encounters steep climbs ranging up to 400-600 meters in altitude. The trail climbs almost 2,780 meters in altitude within five days. Although frequent acclimatization and rest days are in hand, the trekker must be able to tackle the long duration of treks each day.
To better prepare for the trek, one can train for endurance, strength, and altitude. For altitude training, the trekker can gradually increase the altitude each day. While training for altitude, one mustn’t climb over 1,000 meters in a day. Maintaining a balanced diet and fluid intake during the trek ensures proper acclimatization.
How to avoid high altitude sickness during the 13 days of EBC hiking holidays?
Altitude sickness or AMS is one of the major difficulties of the 13 Days EBC hiking. Out of every four trekkers, one contracts altitude sickness or the symptoms of altitude sickness.
The trek immediately begins at Lukla (2800m) upon leaving Kathmandu (1300m) with a difference of 1,500 meters. The average difference in altitude each night is about 300 meters. The trek materializes in Kala Patthar at an altitude of 5,545 meters. There is a high chance that a trekker can get altitude sickness.
Taking Diamox, an anti-AMS pill, before embarking on the trek may help to prevent altitude sickness. Some of the other important ways to prevent altitude sickness are as follows:
Ascend slow – A slow ascent helps to adjust the body to the level of oxygen.
Proper Acclimatization – Two days of full rest or acclimatization
Avoid alcohol and cigarette
Drink enough fluid –Take enough water, soups, tea, and coffee, etc.
Eat well – Maintain a balanced diet, and eat enough.
How about environmental concerns?
The pristine region of Everest is prone to many environmental concerns. According to a recent study, the glaciers in the Everest Region are melting at a progressive rate due to global warming.
Other than global warming, pollution is the largest environmental concern. The Sherpas collected over 32,000 pounds of garbage from Mount Everest in the year 2018.
Every climber must sign and adhere to a garbage disposal permit, where they must bring back all the waste made during the Everest expedition. Likewise, trekkers going to Everest Base Camp must limit their waste output and disposal of waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
The locals follow strict guidelines about the use of local resources like fuel and fodder. The local unions and Sagarmatha National Park collectively have reduced the waste output to a minimum.
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel Insurance is mandatory for every tourist looking to visit Nepal. The trekkers must get appropriate travel insurance before undertaking the 13 days Everest Base Camp Tour from the Nepal side The travel insurance obtained for specific adventure activities such as trekking or climbing should cover emergency evacuation and medical support. Get insurance worth at least USD 100,000.
Trekking in the Everest Region comes with great risks. As a precautionary measure, trekkers must get travel insurance that specifically covers any immediate evacuation through a helicopter. Helicopter rescue can be the only way out of dangerous mountains, and they come in handy during the dire time of medical emergencies, altitude sicknesses such as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), or disappearances.
It is crucial to choose travel insurance that covers the entire duration of the activity, along with providing related medical attention. After the rescue, the trekker recuperates in the nearest hospital. The travel insurance covers any occurring hospital bill, including treatment, stay, and reports.
The 13 days Everest Base Camp climbing tour is one of the most sought-after trekking experiences in the world. Over 40,000 tourists visit Sagarmatha National Park every year and most of the trek to Everest Base Camp.
Some of the most special features of the 13 EBC trekking holiday are as follows:
-- Sagarmatha National Park is the first Himalayan National Park to earn the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the Khumbu glacier, Imja glacier, Ngozumpa glacier, and Nangpa glacier. The area encompassing 1,148km2 is home to 118 species of birds and many wildlife, including Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, and Snow Leopard.
-- Everest Region is home to two of the highest peaks in the world, Mount Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8516m).
-- Everest Region is also home to the Himalayan Sherpa tribe. Over 7,000 Sherpa people inhabit different parts of the Everest Region.
-- The 13 days of EBC trekking offers magnificent sceneries of tall, snow-capped peaks such as Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Lobuche Peak. Khumjung Monastery is home to the remains of the Yeti scalp preserved inside a glass box.
What happens if our flight is delayed in Kathmandu and Lukla?
Lukla Airport (also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport), located on an enormous valley is bounded by high mountains. Due to this reason, the arrival and the taking off from Lukla are technical and difficult most of the time. The weather here is unpredictable and changes every next hour which causes flight delays or cancellations.
Twin Otter and Dornier planes are the only primary methods of transportation to Lukla from Kathmandu of the airway at Lukla. The service provided here is fairly dependable. However, if the flights get canceled or delayed due to mountain weather conditions, we will help you charter a helicopter and make sure that you are on schedule for your trip and international flight connections. The additional charges roughly required are USD2,400 to USD2,800 per helicopter (USD 4,50 to USD 2,800 for each individual) would be pertinent to you for the helicopter charter. The helicopter will be taking 4 to 5 trekkers at a time and the expense can be shared among the riders. The cost must be paid by a rider, which can later be submitted for reimbursement through the travel insurance company. We can assist you with important documents for a claim. Payment for the helicopter must be done by the rider before or during the ride.
US dollars cash or Visas (Visa Cards, Master Cards, and American Express) are accepted for helicopter transport. Any card payment requires a 4 percent bank charge, which goes straightforwardly to the bank.
The helicopter will be able to fly if the visibility is 1500 meters or greater, whereas the Twin Otter and Dornier planes can fly if the visibility is 5000 meters or greater, according to Nepalese Civil Aviation rules. If a situation, in which the weather is extreme and the visibility is lesser than 1,500 meters arises, then the helicopters will also not be able to fly either. In such cases, we will reschedule your trip for the following day depending on the availability and condition of the weather. If this situation continues for a long time, then you will be provided with alternative trek options.
How can I book 13 days Everest Base Camp walking tour?
Well, you can fill up an online booking on our website or send us your passport copy along with a 20 percent down payment of the total price for advance flight tickets and hotel booking and permit processing, the rest we will do from our side.
Do I need to stay in Katmandu?
Kathmandu valley, one of the historical cities as well as the capital of Nepal, at least, you need to spend two nights in Kathmandu before and after your trip. In our program, we are providing you with standard accommodation in Kathmandu on a bed and breakfast basis.
Do you also offer Tailor-made Departures?
Yes, we do offer Tailor-made Departures, if our holiday packages are not perfect or the group departure dates are not convenient as per your travel plan.
Do I have a pre-departure meeting?
Yes, at first, our staff will receive you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel and our tour leader will brief you regarding the trip. The briefing will cover the itinerary and introduce your trek Leader.
Can I charge camera batteries along the trek?
Yes, in most of the places, you can charge batteries along the trek (per hour USD 2-3 for charging).
