10 Reasons To Choose Everest Base Camp
Walking with the highest mountain in the world in the backdrop shall be the feeling throughout the trail, Everest Base Camp (EBC) is one of the most trekked trails in the country.
The EBC trek is known to be the grand journey that takes trekkers from the low lying hills of Nepal to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain peak.
Looking for the reasons to choose Everest base camp trek? The first and foremost reason is the charm of Mt. Everest and the moment of being there at the lap of the roof of the world.
The trip to Everest base camp is going to be an exploration and adventure for your lifetime.
The trek generally takes two weeks to complete but this depends upon the route one follows. Arriving at the Lukla airport and commencing the journey shall not take more than two weeks.
However, depending upon the route, the trek might take as long as a month to complete it.
Apart from arriving via plane, other options could be trekking through the trails of Jiri to arrive at Namche. Another option could be walking through the snowy trails of Rolwaling valley.
Commencing the trail from Lukla, the trek shall be completed in two weeks if the following itinerary is to be followed.
Day 1: Kathmandu to Lukla to Phakding
Lukla is at an altitude of 2800 meters and the flight from Kathmandu is almost thirty minutes. The thirty minutes flight over the lush mountains is a serene view one will be allured by. It is better to be with the potters if you have a lot of baggage to take care of. Else, cutting the potter's price would be legitimate as well.
Phakding is at an altitude of 2652 meters and approximately 4 hours walk from Lukla. Acclimatization is the thing one should be serious about while traveling in the Himalayas. So the first day should be at Phakding for acclimatization purposes.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazar
Namche Bazaar is the hub of the Everest region. At an altitude of 3440 meters, Namche has abundant hotels to choose from. The facilities provided are appreciable. It would take almost 10 hours to arrive at Namche.
Day 3: Acclimatization at Namche
After walking for more than 10 hours the previous day, it seems necessary to take a rest for a while. Also for acclimatization, the rest is recommended. Here you can see around the museum and monasteries.
Day 4: Namche to Tengboche
Tengboche is at an altitude of 3870 meters and takes almost 6-8 hours to cover the distance between Namche to Tengboche. The jaw-dropping views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, etc.
treat the eyes. The Tengboche monastery is the biggest monastery in the Khumbu region.
Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche
As the trail ascends, we will arrive at Dingboche which is at an altitude of 4400 meters. The distance between Tengboche to Dingboche is almost 12 kilometers and will take us almost 6-8 hours. When in time, the trail is covered with beautiful rhododendron forests. Pangboche Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the area.
Day 6: Rest and acclimatization at Dingboche
The previous day sees some hard treks and a rest day at Dingboche is a must. Dingboche offers a lot of serenity to cherish. And engaging yourself within the valleys of Imja and Chhukung should not be boring even a little bit.
Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche
The trek goes further uphill when we leave Dingboche. Arriving at Lobuche, we will be at an altitude of 4900 meters.
The vegetation has scarce by now and only shrubs and herbs are seen. Dingboche to Lobuche is almost 12 kilometers and takes 6-8 hours to complete the journey. The environment is chilly up here and the trails are through the moraines. The mountains are alluring and the nights can be very cold.
Day 8: Lobuche to Gorakshep to EBC to Gorakshep
The day is very busy as we have to visit the Everest Base Camp and come back to Gorakshep. Starting from Lobuche, we arrive at Gorakshep which is situated at an altitude of 5180 meters. Further up the mountains, we will arrive at Everest Base Camp which is at an altitude of 5364 meters. The view today will be breathtaking starting from early in the morning.
Day 9: Gorakshep to Kalapathar to Pheriche
Kalapathar is at an altitude of 5545 meters and offers the most spectacular view of the mighty Everest. Kalapathar is the highest point in the journey if you are not planning to go further than the base camp. Further, we will descend to Pheriche which is situated at an altitude of 4320 meters. It will be a 6-8 hour long trek this day.
Day 10: Pheriche to Namche
After arriving at Pheriche, the trail follows back to Namche. The distance is almost 15 kilometers but as the trek is down the hill, it shall not take more than 8 hours. Namche is at the altitude of 3440 meters and the journey is accompanied by lustrous mountains.
Day 11: Namche to Phakding to Lukla
The trek sees a familiar trail walking alongside the mighty mountains. It’s not always the natural beauty but sometimes it’s the culture as well. We can enjoy the Sherpa culture today.
Day 12: Lukla to Kathmandu
The thirty minutes flight flies over the lush mountains back to where the journey was commenced. It won’t be a good feeling bidding good-byes to those lush mountains but the ecstasy of being there shall be unmatched.
The itinerary has halfway explained to how exciting and full of thrill this expedition is. However, here are a few additional reasons why one should do the Everest base camp trek,
Initiation of the EBC trek
As mentioned earlier, the EBC trek is commenced via the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Known to be a little adventure itself, the flight to Lukla is sure to stay in the minds of all those who do it, as the flight offers a spectacular view of splendid mountains.
The Lukla Airport situated atop a cliff is something fascinating to watch, The view from the flight presents beautiful sceneries of the change in topography as we enter into the Himalayan foothills.
The Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park is one of the major highlights of the EBC trek. The national park covering an area of 1148 square kilometers is preserved along the trail to EBC with steep terrains. The national park is mostly covered with pine and rhododendron forest where we can encounter varieties of endangered wildlife such as Himalayan Monal, Musk Deer and mountain goat.
The winding landscape of the park shelters to many endangered species of animals and many other creatures. The birch and bamboo forest of the park provide tranquility to this Himalayan surrounding to trek through.
The beautiful scenery that the park protects depicts a magnificent journey that adds more worth to this trekking adventure.
Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is a popular mountain town that provides a gorgeous view of the mountain peaks like the Kongdi Ri, the Thamserku and of course the roof of the world, Mount Everest. The town is quite famous for being trekker’s hub, and it’s amazing atmosphere provides an outer-worldly aura of Himalayan peacefulness.
As the trek begins from Namche Bazaar, it is the place where most trekkers stay for acclimatization. It is a beautiful destination that plays an important role in the growth of the tourism sector of the Khumbu region.
The Sherpa Culture
The Khumbu region of Nepal is an excessively condensed Sherpa haven. The mythical Sherpa culture of the Everest is a subject of much awe and inspiration for most people around the world. As such, the Everest Base Camp Trek introduces a perfect opportunity to enjoy the legendary culture and tradition of the Sherpa people nearby.
Sherpa people are known worldwide for their almost extraordinary mountaineering skills. They are welcoming and friendly people adding a touch of exoticness to the trekking journey. Most trekkers always have a Sherpa guide while sightseeing in this region.
2. The Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche is the boundary site of the “The Sacred Sites Trail Project” of the Sagarmatha National Park which attracts a large number of tourists for trekking and mountaineering.
It is a circular trail that covers about 10 monasteries in a clockwise direction before terminating at the Tengboche Monastery. All the trekkers and climbers go to the monastery to pray and seek to get blessings from the Buddhist monks before proceeding further up.
3. Kalaapathar
Kalapathar is a peak standing at an elevation of 5545m and it is the best place for a 360-degree view of the Everest Himalaya range.
This is the place where you will witness the best view of Mount Everest as well. And it doesn’t require any climbing gear and talent to climb it.
Where dreams come true, apart from entire amusement and erudition, reaching the base camp will be the best of the trip and something to remember all your life. This trek will give you the experience of your lifetime, and you will learn how to trek like a boss!