About Everest Base Camp Trip
16 days Everest base camp trek is most probably on the bucket list of most of the trekkers who seek adventure, thrill and a fun-filled yet notable accomplishment in life. 16 days Everest base camp tour is one of the topmost trekking tours for which climbers from all around the globe visit Nepal. Since the days of early expeditions itself, Mount Everest (8,848m) has had a lure of its own, drawing climbers to scale it and trekkers to gaze on its icy faces. The major highlight of the trek is undoubtedly the Everest Base Camp which not only gives you an up-close view of the world's tallest mountain, Everest but also gives you a magnificent view of the other three highest peaks of the world that is Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,481m) and Cho Oyu(8,201m), giving you a chance to view in total 4 out of 10 highest peaks in the world.
16 EBC trekking holidays to the Sherpa land is renowned for its exceptional view of the serene mountain range breathtaking landscapes, unique culture, historic monastery and an awe-inspiring sensation throughout the journey. This is a pleasant trek to the Mount Everest base camp that offers you an experience of a great challenge, achievement, and thrills of being so close to the world's highest peak in the world. The journey to the base camp begins with a scenic flight to Lukla. For those looking for an adrenaline rush in this trip, you get to experience an almost-death thrill in your first flight itself since Lukla is famous for it has one of the narrowest runways in the world. This trek introduces you to the world-famous viewpoints, breathtaking sunrise and an adventure that goes beyond the horizons into a natural paradise that will undoubtedly stir your emotions.
Everest Base Camp hiking tour of 16 days commences in the vibrant city of Kathmandu which has an ancient nudge to itself, where you will discover hundreds of historical monuments and world heritage sites. Half an hour of thrilling flight over the mountains will take you to our next destination, Lukla. Lukla is adorned with a tiny airstrip from where your adventure journey to the Base Camp really begins. The trail sets you off to the homelands of the Sherpa people who are rich in their hospitality, traditions, and culture. The monasteries in the area are enchanting and very appealing to the eyes since it is set amongst the most beautiful mountains in Nepal. The route stumbles upon the popular Kalapattar (also known as black rock 5,545m), standing over which you get an outstanding view of the Himalayan giants which literally numbs your senses with breathless admiration that beholds the eye, and makes up for the lung-bursting climb that you just took up there. This also includes fantastic views of the southwest face of the massive, Mount Everest.
16 days Everest base camp expedition is overall a smooth trip, however, the altitude might take its toll, hence we recommend the trekkers to be more careful while pacing and also acclimatize as much as possible for the trip to be safe and fun-filled. Bookings are open for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 with a handsome cost discount.
Everest base camp trek altitude profile essentials
The rise in altitude is one of the most challenging parts of EBC Trekking. Gaining steady elevation makes the trip difficult, even more so than trekking past the rocky terrain. In comparison to other trekking journeys of the same length, EBC Trek presents a higher reach in altitude. That is why considering the occurrence of AMS is a serious condition during the trip and proper time should be given to acclimatizing.
The EBC Trek usually starts with a short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, situated at an altitude of 3,000 meters. From there, the path follows along the rivers and includes settlements that steadily gain elevation, with the highest point of the trek being at the vantage point of Kalapatthar- located at an altitude of 5,500 meters. The Everest Base Camp itself is located at an altitude of 5,400 meters. Kalapatthar presents breath-taking panoramic views of the entire Mount Everest massif. Acclimatization is usually done in Namche Bazaar, situated at an altitude of 3,440 meters. The second acclimatization time is done in the village of Dingboche, situated at an altitude of 4,360 meters. The highest point for an overnight stay during the trip is at Gorekshep, at an elevation of 5,170 meters.
One of the major points for acclimatization is to adjust the body to a high elevation. While in Namche, trekkers tend to usually visit sites like the Syangboche airstrip located above the town, and the Everest View Hotel located a few kilometres from Namche. Other notable overnight stops along the EBC Route in synchrony include the villages of Lukla to Phakding (2,652 meters), Monjo (2,840 meters), Kyangjuma (3,570 meters), Tengboche (3,860 meters), Pheriche (4,280 meters), Dhugla (4,600 meters) and Lobuche (4,940 meters).
Trip to Mount Everest Base Camp best time to go
Everest Base Camp trekking is probably one of the most sought-after treks in Nepal. What many trekkers wonder is, what is the best season for the Everest Base Camp hike 16 days then? As Alpine Eco Trek organizes this amazing trek in Nepal for many years, we have listed out the best times to trek to Everest Base Camp. Autumn means late September to the end of December and during the spring season, late March to mid-May would be the best season to head out for the Everest Base Camp trek for 16 days.
Trek to Everest Base Camp during the autumn season
During the autumn season, the weather will be a bit colder, but the views are incredible and besides the spring season this will be the best time to visit Everest Base Camp. While you’re out trekking the skies will be clear and the surrounding white-topped Himalayas make for a perfectly picturesque scene. With warm days and cold nights, the stay in the teahouses becomes more comfortable, and the higher we go the better views become. Do you want more info about the autumn trekking season in Nepal? Do not hesitate and contact our Alpine Eco Team.
Hiking to Base Camp of Everest during the spring season
Although warmer than the autumn season, trekking to Everest Base Camp during the spring season is absolutely perfect if you’re looking for a great trekking experience in Nepal. With more accessible paths and warm trekking days, spring is the peak season for Mt. Everest summiteers. Trekking to Everest Base Camp can also be done during other seasons, but we are not so happy to recommend it, as due to unpredictable weather most flights to and from Lukla airport will be delayed and sometimes even cancelled, resulting in a bad experience during your trek in Nepal.
Everest Base Camp physical fitness guidelines
As stated, the Everest Base Camp hiking tour is a moderate trekking trip. For this, you will need to prepare your body before the journey. Doing cardio exercises boost the body's stamina and help in the overall performance of trekking endurance. Despite being achievable, the EBC Trek still presents certain challenges, like long hours of trekking and the rise in the elevation above 3,000 meters. The Khumbu, which is where the EBC Trek takes place, presents trekkers with alpine, mainly uphill hikes on rocky terrains.
Moreover, you also need to be able to hike through back-to-back days. That is why building up endurance is necessary. For physical preparation before trekking, you can practice cardio exercises, starting at 30-minute durations at the beginning and then gradually increasing your work-out time. This will help in building the muscles and also increase your stamina and boost your endurance capacity.
Likewise, the EBC Trek also presents the arduous task of trekking up elevations that present low oxygen amounts in the atmosphere. High altitude makes breathing slightly harder than normal and can result in getting worn out faster. Thus, it is also important to keep that in mind while preparing for the trip. Getting used to exercising at low oxygen-level conditions can also adjust your body for the trekking trip. Doing so can alter your body to take in more oxygen than normal per breath, which is useful while trekking in the mountains.
This is one of the physical characteristics of the ethnic Sherpa people who live in the mountains. Their high-altitude environment has made their bodies alter and adjust to the environmental conditions.
Accommodation during Everest base camp trekking days
In Kathmandu:
As we start off this incredible trek, we’ll spend the first days in Kathmandu. As the capital of Nepal and known as a cultural hub this amazing city is filled with sightseeing places, old temples, and palaces. Alpine Eco Trek wants you to experience only the best of Nepal and provides also a guided sightseeing tour around Kathmandu. During your overnight stay, we use the standard hotel, located in Thamel, also known as Backpackers Alley. This area is filled with trekking shops, restaurants, and interesting handicraft shops. We book you on BB bases so you get to enjoy a delicious breakfast in the peace garden of a standard hotel, and for dinner, you get to explore around and have something from the local restaurants. We do recommend the Nepalese momo or dumpling, a favourite in all of Nepal.
During the Trek:
Leaving Kathmandu behind and heading into the Everest region of Nepal, means leaving all luxury behind. During the actual trek, we will be staying in the various tea or guesthouses available and of course, this doesn’t mean luxury resorts. Staying in the local villages during the trek is charming in its own way. Being away from busy roads and urban city life, the peacefulness of our accommodation during the trek is soothing and something to look forward to. Alpine Eco Trek believes strongly in sustainable tourism and makes use of as many local options as possible to further help develop this stunning region in Nepal. As we go on the Everest Base Camp trek breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Breakfast and dinner will be served in the local guesthouses and lunch is usually packed for an on-the-way picnic. The guest houses are charming in their own way with incredible Himalayan views. The rooms are clean but we do recommend bringing your own sleeping bag as hygiene is important.
Meals during Everest Base Camp hiking
As stated before during the trek itself we serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With a Nepali staple dish of delicious rice, lentil soup, and vegetables on the main menu, it’s also possible to order something a la carte in the local guesthouses. We do recommend staying away from any meat dishes as we are in the Himalayas and meat preservation facilities are less than in bigger cities.
Wonder if you can get gluten-free meals? Well during the trek there are no such options but you can always prepare some items and pack them with you during your trek towards Everest Base Camp. You can also inform our Alpine Eco Trek travel team of any diet to take into account during your trek, this way we can make the necessary preparations.
Trekking to Everest Base Camp duration
In general, the Everest Base Camp Trek takes about 13 days. Most of the trekking journeys are also incorporated with a pre and post-night stay in Kathmandu. The duration of the EBC Trek is incorporated with ample acclimatization time. The trek is done at a slow and comfortable pace as this allows your body to adjust to the gradually rising elevation. It is advised to not rush the trip as it can lead to Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS occurs when your body does not adjust to the gain in elevation and can cause symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, loss of appetite and others. If left untreated, AMS can also sometimes be fatal.
To avoid AMS, one can take medications like Diamox. Most trekkers opt to take the medication from the very beginning of the trip itself, from Kathmandu. Other factors to consider are getting properly acclimatized, maintaining a comfortable pace, being hydrated and resting if the symptoms occur. Because of this, having travel insurance is mandatory while trekking in Nepal. It is also important to have a travel insurance policy that covers helicopter rescue and emergency evacuation in the mountains while trekking.
During the trip, you can also hire porters to carry your bag-packs. This makes trekking a lot easier. Taking this into consideration, it is also advised to pack light and to only pack the necessary things you will need during the trip. The maximum amount a porter is capable of carrying is about 5 to 6 kg of weight per person. Similarly, the daily duration of trekking from one destination to the next is about 5 to 6 hours of trekking. The gain in elevation is much harder than the descent. That is why the initial trek to the base camp requires more stamina and longer duration than the descent back down the valley.
The average cost of Everest base camp
The overall cost of an all-around EBC Trek includes the cost of permits, TIMS, guide, porter, accommodation, meals, and other miscellaneous things. The cost ranges from USD 1000 to USD 1500 per foreigner for an average trek of 10 to 16 days. Of course, this is an extrapolation of the trip, and the cost varies from one travel agency to the next, as well as solo travel.
When travelling with us, the cost generally excludes travel insurance, visa fees, trekking equipment, and other personal expenses. Besides this, we include the cost of our package deals. As for meals and accommodation, the EBC Trek presents the option of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. For drinking water, you have two options- either buy bottled drinking water in the mountain or use your own water purifying method, like tablets. Using one's purification method is a lot cheaper and cost-effective than constantly buying bottled drinking water in the mountains. The mineral water cost from USD 1 to USD 4 per bottle along the journey. The higher the elevation, the costlier things become.
Warm Tea and coffee usually cost USD 2 to USD 4. A beer bottle costs USD 5 to USD 10. In the same manner, tipping the guide and the porter isn't mandatory, but it is appreciated. There are no specific amounts for tipping, but it depends upon your satisfaction with their work.
What should you pack for Mount Everest Base Camp?
As a non-technical trek, advanced gear or equipment is absolutely not required to trek to Everest Base Camp. Alpine Eco does recommend good condition standard trekking equipment such as; comfortable trekking boots, down jacket, water bottle, some warmer clothes for higher elevations, a sleeping bag, and trekking sticks are not necessary but can make your trek more comfortable. Most of the gear can be rented or bought in Thamel, the starting point in Kathmandu of the Everest Base Camp tour. Do you need more info about what type of equipment you should bring? Don’t hesitate to visit our packing list page.