Everest Base Camp Trek

Weather / Climate during Everest Base Camp Trek

The weather and climate on the Everest Base Camp trek can vary greatly depending on the season and altitude. Everest Base Camp trekking can opt at any time of the year, however, Spring and Autumn's seasons are considered the best. The temperature during the season ranges from 15°C to 20°C during the day and 0°C to -10°C at night. The skies are clear, and the mountain views are stunning.

Likewise, the Monsoon season gives you muddy, slippery roads, and the views are almost always covered with clouds. So, it is better to avoid the trek during the rainy season. The weather is dry and clear and the temperature also ranges similarly to Spring or Autumn season.

Meanwhile, the normal temperature during the winter season usually ranges from -5°C to 5°C during the day and -20°C to -10°C at night. This is the coldest time of the year in the Everest region with very cold temperatures and occasional snowfall.

Alterations in weather are always expected. There are downpours sometimes during a perfect sunny day too. So you have to be ready with raincoats and warm clothes.

Everest Base Camp Trek Accommodation

Accommodation during the 14 days of Everest Base Camp can vary from the basic teahouses to more luxurious lodges depending upon your comfort and budget.

Teahouses are basic lodges that offer budget accommodation along the entire trekking route. It is usually a twin-sharing room with a simple bed, a communal bathroom, and a common dining area. There might not be hot water facilities in every room. Such teahouses are available in every village of the Everest region and quite easy to get the rooms except in the peak season.

The next option is guesthouses which are slightly more comfortable than the teahouses compared with private rooms and attached bathrooms. They do offer common dining areas and some basic amenities such as electricity, hot water, wardrobe, etc. Guesthouses are more expensive than teahouses and offer more privacy and comfort.

A luxurious option is the luxury lodges where trekkers are offered luxurious accommodation with amenities like hot shows, western-style toilets, more comfy beds, and heating systems with satellite TV or internet access in the room.

The concept of choosing accommodation depends on the season as well as the location of the accommodation during the trek. During the peak seasons, it is always recommended to book accommodation in advance to ensure availability or stay in the rooms when available, which is why it is better to be prepared for basic facilities and pack appropriately for the trek to the Everest Base Camp.

Food during Everest Base Camp Trek

During the Everest Base Camp Trek, the food options will vary depending on the teahouses or lodge that you stay at. Also, it depends upon the location where you are staying. However, most teahouses along the trekking route to Everest Base Camp offer a variety of food options ranging from traditional Nepali authentic cuisines to continental dishes. Some popular Nepali dishes are dal bhat (rice with lentil soups), vegetable curry, momos (dumplings), Thukpa (noodle soup), Chowmein (stir-fried noodles), etc. There are breakfast options such as porridge, toast, eggs, and pancakes with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate that help you warm up during the cold mornings. It is always important to take note that the food options get limited as you go up higher and higher in the trekking route of Everest Base Camp. The reason is the difficulty of transportation and availability of fresh vegetables, meat, or any other ingredients. That is why, it is recommended to avoid meat food items during the trek.

To Hire Guides and Porters or not on Everest Base Camp Trek

Assistance is always a boon. Trekking alone is sometimes risky as the place is unknown and the communication barrier might be a halt while trekking to Everest Base Camp. Trekking guides are well-experienced, English-speaking, and can handle critical situations. Most of the locals running restaurants, lodges, guest houses, and tea houses along the porters know English very well but sometimes a misunderstanding can create an issue. Hiring trekking guides and porters actually help in the trekking experience and dealing with any problems. It is just you have to bear their expenses and the insurance once you employ them. A porter can carry 25 kgs maximum for two persons. Never forget that trekking guides are the best navigators for you if you are not familiar with the area. Sometimes, they do find the best routes and avoid getting lost. A guide always can help ensure your safety by providing information on the trekking trail, weather conditions, and potential risks. They are perfectly fit and trained to handle any kind of emergency situation in the mountains.

Fitness for Everest Base Camp Trek

The Everest Base Camp trek is a challenging trek that requires a good level of fitness and preparation. As the trekkers will be hiking to higher elevations, often over rough and steep terrain, it is recommended to stay in shape with daily exercise and maintain your stamina to be able to cope with long days of hiking. Basic startup to build your fitness gradually which will be at least 3-4 months before the trekking. Cardiovascular exercises such as running, cycling, or swimming can help build up endurance and stamina. Exercises like lunges, squats, and step-ups help you build the strength of your leg muscles which is quite important for trekking. Hiking by carrying a backpack with gear and supplies during the trek is also important. Always keep in mind, a healthy and balanced diet is the source of energy. Plenty of fruits, and vegetables, and avoiding processed and high-fat foods are to be the focus along the trekking. And if you have any pre-existing health conditions or concerns, always consult the doctor before starting any new exercise or trek.

Tips before starting Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek is a challenging as well as intriguing trek in the beautiful Khumbu valley. One has to be physically and mentally prepared before initiating this trek to Everest Base Camp like it's a meditation, not an expedition. It is not that hard compared to climbing Everest to the summit but it's not even easy at all. Some bits of advice when followed may make the Everest Base Camp Trek comparatively easier and comfy.??

1. Always train well enough to make yourself physically fit. Running is one of the best exercises to increase your stamina to cover an average distance of 8 km every day at a normal pace. Running on an open road is just better and start at least 30 to 40 days before going trekking

2. Another important factor is Avoid Smoking and consumption of alcohol. These two things decrease your potential to acclimatize. Smoking reduces oxygen intake in the blood which ultimately results in poor breathing and makes it difficult in the mountains. Alcohol causes dehydration as it interferes with the ability to retain water in the body. A piece of information is that alcohol stays in the bloodstream for about 1 month so it is better to stop smoking and alcohol intake at least 1 month before starting the trek to Everest Base Camp.

3. A balanced Diet is essential and more significant when you are in the mountains. The mountains are difficult to access at any time like in towns which is why fresh food items are somewhat difficult but the teahouses and lodges serving food make sure of freshness and maintain hygiene. Eating well and eating in light amounts help you maintain your body in good health and good shape as well. Avoid any fatty or oily foods and do not take excessive salt. Encourage your hydration level and as much as possible, take vegetables and fruits. Avoid meat products as it is quite difficult to digest. Eggs are good to include in daily breakfast.

4. Prepare with a first aid kit. The guide always has a first aid kit with essential medicines which might be required in the mountains but it is always advisable to take medicines of your own and also better to take with the consultation of a doctor. Acetazolamide is one of the essential medicines which might be needed to prevent Altitude sickness but please follow the instructions of the doctor.

5. Always keep yourself warm. Hypothermia is a condition where the body temperature is less than the normal temperature which ranges from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C). Woolen clothes with mittens/gloves and socks, scarves, hats or caps, or head gears to maintain the warmth of the body.

Packing for Everest Base Camp Trek

Always be prepared as the temperature is freezing cold (sub-zero) as you go up towards the Base camp. Lightweight clothes, essential items, and required documents should be carried along with the Trekking. A duffle bag will be a better option for packing all the necessary items like clothes, shoes, socks, toiletries, chargers, binoculars, cameras, etc. Passports and other essential documents are safe to keep in a belt bag or personal backpack. Basic medicines and a first aid kit are also useful.

• Trekking pants (Avoid jeans or pants)
• Full sleeves shirts
• Windcheater and raincoats
• Down jackets, fleece jackets
• Cotton and woolen socks
• Woolen gloves or mittens, waterproof
• Hat or cap or beanies
• Trekking shoes
• Sunglasses
• Trekking poles
• Toilet paper rolls, wet and dry tissues
• Sanitary pads or tampons (for female trekkers)
• Sanitizer
• Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal cream or foot powder
• Moisturizer – Vaseline lotion or petroleum jelly recommended
• Sleeping bags
• Documents such as Passport, Medical and Travel Insurance, Permits, etc.

Permits for Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the popular tourist hubs. Permits to explore the region are a must. There are several permits and a bunch of paperwork to clear to get those permits to trek in the Everest region. Initially, TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management Systems) was only required but this is now optional. There are three other essential permits for Everest Base Camp Trek which were made compulsory after the new decentralized system. Those permits are for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural area, Sagarmatha National Park, and the Gaurishankar Conservation area. To remind of, the permit for the Gaurishankar Conservation area is only required if you are taking the classical route through Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek.

Carrying all the primary identification proofs like passport, Identity card, Visa, etc. is just as they are regularly checked at the checkpoints and sometimes you have to fill up some forms for identification purposes. In conclusion, there are two main permits required for the Everest Base Camp trek:

1.     Sagarmatha National Park Permit: The Sagarmatha National Park is a protected area where Mount Everest is located. Every trekker must obtain a Sagarmatha National Park Permit which costs around NPR 3,000 (approximately USD 30) per person. You can obtain this permit in Kathmandu or in Monjo, the entry point to the national park.

2.     TIMS Card: TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) is a database created by the Nepal Tourism Board to keep track of trekkers' information and ensure their safety. All trekkers, including those going to Everest Base Camp, need to obtain a TIMS card which costs around NPR 2,000 (approximately USD 20) per person. You can obtain a TIMS card in Kathmandu or at the trekking permit counter in Monjo.

Do not worry, Step on Himalaya will take care of the permit process. You just have to make sure to carry your permits during the entire trek as these permits are checked at various points along the trekking route to Everest Base Camp.

Insurances while on Everest Base Camp Trek

Medical Insurance is a must for travelers. Wherever you go, it is always beneficial. God forbid you mustn't feel ill during the trip but if ever you will, medical insurance means a lot at that time of crisis. Medical insurance is always crucial for any trekker as the Everest Base Camp trek involves high altitude and can be physically demanding. Emergency Evacuation will be required by helicopter due to a lack of proper land transportation in the mountains. Read the Insurance policy in detail before buying it. Make sure your insurance covers medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation in case of an emergency. Also check if the insurance covers the loss of equipment or gear, trip cancellation, or delays during the trekking to Everest Base Camp. Always remember to keep a copy of your insurance policy with you during the trek and make sure to inform your insurance provider of your travel plans.

Prevention of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)

The basic definition of Altitude Mountain Sickness is the condition caused by rapid exposure to a low amount of oxygen at high elevations. The usual symptoms of AMS are headache, vomiting, fatigue, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, and dizziness. It is very common during the Everest Base Camp Trekking as some of the trekkers do not wait for acclimatization and try to attain higher elevations quickly. This gives the negative effect of the inability to breathe adequately as the amount of oxygen gets less as you go up high. One must climb slower and if any symptoms are seen, you must wait until you be able to walk further without any health issues. This is the key to preventing AMS and advisable not to climb more than 300-500 meters per day once you are above 3000 meters. Acclimatization for a day or two is a must during trekking to Everest Base Camp. The stop-by for acclimatization for Everest Trekking is mostly Namche and Dingboche. Hydration is a must. Stay hydrated. Carry a water bottle with you. Eating a balanced diet as well with small frequent meals instead of heavy meals. Do carry some medications such as acetazolamide, which is the best medicine to prevent AMS, but should be taken with a doctor's guidance. Enough rest and adequate sleep. Keep yourself warm to avoid hypothermia. Do not ignore and push yourself for further trekking if you have any of the symptoms of AMS. Always know your body limits.

Go through the Complete List of Equipment and Gears during Everest Base Camp Trekking.

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