What are the best things to do during the Everest Base Camp trek, explorer? We’ve got your back! In this article, we’ve included everything you need to know about the EBC trek. And we’re not only talking about the fantastic views of Everest here. The Mount Everest Base Camp trek is packed with so much that you may not have imagined. No exaggeration at all! From the beginning to the end of your journey, you will immerse yourself in the beauty of every element, big and small.
Hiking to Everest Base Camp is not only about walking to the world’s tallest mountain base camp. You will find yourself amongst traditional and authentic tea houses and local culture, and experience the best flight when you fly to Lukla. There’s more in store for you, dear adventurer. In this trek guide, you will gain a brief insight into what you can expect along the EBC trail and why, despite the higher altitudes, which may not seem to offer much for exploration, there is still much to discover.
12 Things To Do During Everest Base Camp Trek
Embarking on the Everest Base Camp trek allows you to experience the Himalayas in a way you’ve never experienced before. Over time, the mountains have become increasingly welcoming to visitors. Even if you’ve never trekked anywhere, EBC gives you the best elements for a new explorer to explore from the start of the trek to when you complete it. The following are some of the significant things to do during the Everest Base Camp trek to make the most out of your journey:
Explore Lukla Airport
You can explore Lukla airport not just by taking a flight to Lukla, landing there, and starting your trek soon after. The airport is located in the most rural part of Nepal, making it an exciting destination for exploration. Although it is known as the world’s most dangerous airport, it has become safer in recent years due to improvements in airline services and ongoing enhancements to the location.
Visit Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche monastery is the best location to visit in the Khumbu region. It is a landmark for Buddhism and the Sherpa and Tibetan cultures in the area. When you visit Tengboche, you can make offerings. You will find many pilgrims, including outsiders drawn to the monastery for its religious significance, as well as trekkers who have chosen to incorporate it into their journeys.
Go to the Sherpa Museum
As mentioned above, the Sherpa Museum is another location you must visit to learn about the mountains. You can visit this museum along the way to your destination. The hectic trek to Everest Base Camp will surely refresh your mind and body. To date, the Sherpa achievers have made their place inside the Sherpa Museum, a fascinating location.
Observe and Spin Prayer Wheels
Rotating around holy locations and spinning prayer wheels is one of the most straightforward yet most enjoyable and exciting experiences you can have during the EBC trek. You can relax and rejoice in the beauty of the Himalayas while spinning the prayer wheels. Additionally, there are numerous locations along the pathways to Everest Base Camp where you can find prayer wheels, as Buddhism is the predominant religion in the Khumbu region.
Visit Namche Cafe
Namche Bazaar is the hub for restaurants and bars in the Khumbu region. You won’t find as many amenities and luxuries in the Everest region as in Namche Bazaar, the most significant marketplace. If you’re a bar enthusiast, you should not miss out on visiting an Irish bar called Cafe Danphe. If you haven’t realized it already, a fascinating fact about this cafe is that it is one of the few cafes located at the highest altitude in the world.
Put Your Country’s Flag In EBC
In the middle stage of the trip, after reaching base camp, you can put your country’s flag on the grounds of the Everest Base Camp. Mind you, you won’t be the only trekker who will do it. Please find an empty spot suitable to hold your country’s flag. You will honor your country while respecting the land you’re on. It will for sure be a win-win!
Receive Certificate of Trek Completion
Once you have completed your trek, you will receive a certificate of completion from our trekking agency. It can be exciting to receive this from your tour operator after achieving one of the biggest successes of your life. This certificate will also serve as a fabulous and wholesome keepsake to share with your friends and family. The certificate includes the date you reached Everest Base Camp, your name, and a letter of appreciation.
Visit Yak Farm
The Syangboche Airport is located at the highest elevation of the Everest region. You will find a yak farm here. Few places offer as amazing a sight of herds of yaks as Syangboche. Additionally, if you’re looking to explore the airport, you can. Trekkers cannot expect to land here after a flight, as the airport is not open for commercial purposes.
Stay at Hotel Everest View
Hotel Everest View is the highest hotel in the Khumbu region. It is possible to trek up to this hotel. However, many trekkers or visitors tend to visit this location by helicopter. You will also be safe from altitude sickness if you go there by helicopter. Adventurers can avoid days on the trail by opting for a helicopter ride to the EBC. If you’re trekking there, staying in the hotel will be possible, and you can experience the best sunset as soon as you wake up against the tallest mountain in the world.
Visit Khumbu Icefall and Khumbu Glacier
The Khumbu Icefall and the Khumbu Glacier are among the world’s most treacherous and extensive icefalls and glaciers. You will come by the location on your way to Everest Base Camp. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, this is the adventure you’d never regret in your life. It would not be entirely wrong to say that the Everest Base Camp trail is all the more exciting because of the icefall and the glacier’s snowy, icy pathways.
Climb Kalapathhar
You’re in for an adventure of a lifetime if you climb Kalapathhar. While Everest Base Camp is incredibly impressive as an adventurous destination, visiting Kalapathar can enhance your journey. This location will give you the feeling that you’ve made the most fantastic trip of your lifetime. In recent years, reaching Everest Base Camp has not been the only goal for many trekkers, as the thrill of reaching Kalapathhar is also a significant draw.
Relish in Authentic Cuisine
Enjoy some of the best and most authentic cuisines during the Everest Base Camp trek. The food items you can relish include a combination of Tibetan, Western, and Nepalese cuisine. There will be healthy and authentic options for trekkers, including rice, pulse soup, vegetable and meat curries, pickles, Tibetan bread, and various soups. You can also enjoy a variety of food items at either landmark, including pasta, pizza, momos, chow mein, thukpa, bread and butter, eggs, and more.
History of Everest Base Camp Trek
The history of the Everest Base Camp trek dates back to the 1950s when Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hilary first climbed Mount Everest. There was an extreme lack of facilities for the mountaineers to start their expeditions back then. Unlike today, the idea that you can only go on the Everest Base Camp tour without climbing Mount Everest has not been formed.
Along with laying the foundation for mountaineers and trekkers to easily find gear and equipment at what is now considered the EBC, Edmund Hillary paid the locals around US$2,650 to build the Lukla Airport. Ever since, mountaineers from all over the world and less experienced trekkers have come to the Everest region every year to explore at least the base camp and Mt Everest as closely as possible.
Landmarks in the Everest Base Camp Trek
There are plenty of landmarks for an explorer to explore during the Everest Base Camp trek. Some such locations are as follows:
Kalapathhar
Kalapathhar is 5,644 m, the highest point of your EBC trek. The landmark is named Kala and Pathhar, which translates to “black rock” due to its dark, rocky features. You can get the perfect view of the mountain when you’re here, and can climb up to this location after reaching the base camp of Mount Everest. Moreover, it is considered one of the most adventurous parts of the trek.
Sagarmatha National Park Museum
The Sagarmatha National Park Museum was introduced to trekkers and locals in the Khumbu region to inform everyone about the achievements in mountaineering history. This museum features information on its most significant figures and mountaineering wins. If you’re a mountain enthusiast looking to learn as much as possible about exploring the Himalayas, there is no reason to miss this location.
Gorak Shep (Gorakshep)
Gorak Shep is the last village of your trek itinerary in EBC. There is no camping site in the Everest Base Camp. Hence, Gorak Shep is the only location near your final destination on the Everest Base Camp trek itinerary. Trekkers can return to the village once they complete the trek. You can also choose to take a rest day when you are here. Adventurers usually stop in Gorak Shep before climbing to Everest Base Camp to acclimate and avoid altitude sickness.
Dingboche Viewpoint
Dingboche viewpoint is one of the best locations to spend an acclimatization day. We say this not only because you can rest and acclimatize here, but also because of the scenery and the authentic rural traditions observed in this village. There are no roads in this village. The landscape is rural, and every element is as remote as possible. This is the beauty of the town. You can see age-old agriculture practices, farming, and the rearing of yaks here. Trekkers will also find lots of mules along the way.
Tengboche Monastery
The Tengboche Monastery is the most sacred landmark on the EBC trek. Many pilgrims pass this location day in and day out. It also has a fascinating history: it was destroyed many times but rebuilt more robust than before each disaster. You will find the monastery in the village of Tengboche, along the main trek.
Planning Tips For The Everest Base Camp Trek
Trekkers have to be mindful of the following tips during their Everest Base Camp trek:
- Visit during the best seasons: Be sure to visit the location during spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasant and the trails are in optimal condition.
- Physical and mental preparation: Train your body and mind enough to support you in completing the Everest Base Camp journey.
- Follow a proper itinerary: Don’t forget to follow an appropriate one, as getting lost or stranded midway can be stressful and delay your journey overall.
- Be respectful: Trekkers must be careful about their conduct throughout the trek. Being disrespectful will lead to unwanted consequences beyond the control of fellow trekkers and the tour operator.
- Promote eco-friendly trekking: Avoid littering and harming any natural elements in Khumbu, and strive to promote eco-friendly treks.
- Acclimatize: To prevent altitude sickness, always be considerate about acclimatization. As soon as you see any symptoms of altitude sickness, it is recommended that you temporarily stop your journey and acclimate where you are.
- Hire porters and guides: Trekkers should hire them on the EBC trek for added comfort, convenience, and a better chance of success.
Conclusion
Before you jump an elevation of 5,364 m above sea level, you’ve got to know what you will be getting yourself into (and we mean this in the best possible sense). Because there is more than just one best thing to do during the Everest Base Camp trek, rest assured, from the time you land at Tribhuvan International Airport to the time you go back to Kathmandu, you can expect only the best of service when you rely on My Everest Trip. Happy journey ahead!