14 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

Magnificent 14-Day Everest Base Camp Trek: We invite you to explore the majestic Khumbu region. There are many things to explore during your Everest Base Camp Trek, from the ancient monasteries to gumbas to different types of Sherpa villages. So here are some underrated places you will explore during your Everest Base Camp Trek.

Things to Explore During the Everest Base Camp Trek

1, Lukla Airport

Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It is beautiful and is the starting point for treks to Everest Base Camp. When you arrive, it feels like you’re floating in the clouds. This is also where famous climbers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa began their adventure. Unforgettable Lukla village leads to Everest Base Camp. When the trekkers board the flight from Kathmandu to land in Lukla, they will get a bird’s-eye view of the mountains, another major attraction.

2, Sherpa Culture

During your expedition to the Everest Base Camp Trek, you will reach different villages where the Sherpa people have lived for a long time. These Sherpa people have been spreading their culture, which they received from the ancient Tibetan people who came to the region from Tibet. Many Sherpa monasteries, Ghumbas, festivals, rituals, dances, and other aspects of Sherpa culture explain the Sherpa culture.

3, Thado Koshigaon

One of the small villages that not many trekkers share about is Thado Koshigaon. After reaching Lukla, you will start trekking toward Phakding, but between the two places, you will get to the small village of Thado Koshigaon, where the trekkers stop for lunch. From this village, Phakding is just a few hours of trek ahead.

4, Phakding Village

Phakding is one of the famous remote villages in the Khumbu region. It is the first stop from Lukla, where trekkers typically stay overnight in a teahouse. Trekkers and travelers heading to Mt. Everest often start their journey from Lukla, the main stopover, before reaching Phakding. Phakding is one of the villages listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beauty and the charm of Sherpa culture.

5, Jorsalle Village

Jorsale village is a lovely spot situated north of Monjo and south of Namche Bazaar, directly adjacent to the Dudh Koshi River, which originates from the Khumbu glacier. The village offers stunning views of tall, snow-capped mountains and the fast-flowing waters of the river. Jorsale is a remote village in the top portion of the Khumbu region, where the routes to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes are separated. In this village, the trekkers can have meals and rest since they have teahouses and lodges, but due to their remote location, they don’t have large-scale hotels and restaurants.

5, Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar is the most crucial settlement trekkers will reach during their expedition to Everest Base Camp. The trekkers will reach Namche Bazaar within four to five days of the trek. It is the capital city of Sherpa and the primary gateway to Mount Everest. Namche is the primary destination for acclimatization since it is more developed than Bazaar and other Sherpa villages.

7, Tengboche Village

Tengboche Village is one of the underrated villages trekkers reach during their expeditions to the Everest Base Camp. The trekkers pass through Namche Bazaar till they reach the Tengboche Village, where they will climb the majestic Tengboche Monastery. While climbing the Tengboche monastery, you will see some of the highest mountains in the region, from Everest to Ama Dablam.

8, Gorakshep

Gorakshep is another small village on the Everest Base Camp Trek, and it is the last stop trekkers will visit. The town is situated at a very high elevation, at 5,164 meters (16,942 ft). No one lives there all the time. It has some lodges where visitors can stay. Many people come to the village on their way to the Everest base camp. The lodges are simple and have fewer nice things than places like Namche Bazaar.

9, Kala Patthar Viewpoint

Kala Patthar is the iconic point of the Everest Base Camp Trek. At 5545 m, it is the highest elevation the trekkers will reach during their expedition. Here, stunning panoramic mountains and sunrise and sunset views are visible. Kala Patthar is also known in other countries as the Black Rock due to the enormous black rocks that line its ridges.

1o, A Typical Day on the Everest Base Camp Trek

Every Morning

• 5 AM—6 AM: The day starts early in the teahouse where you stayed. Wake up between 5 AM and 6 AM. Enjoy a tasty local breakfast while taking in the beautiful view of the mountains.
• 7 AM—8 AM: After breakfast, you must prepare for the trek early. Pack essential items and wear layers of warm clothing. Separately pack snacks, water bottles, and other valuable items.
• 8 AM to 12 or 1 PM: Start trekking around 8 or 9 AM. This first part lasts about 4 to 5 hours. You’ll cover more distance while you are still fresh. After hiking for 4-5 hours, you will stop for lunch.

Midday

• 12 PM to 1 PM: Take an hour to rest for lunch. Your guide will take you to a teahouse to enjoy local dishes, such as Dal and Bhat, as well as Western options like pizza and burgers.
• 1 PM to 4 PM: After lunch, it’s time for the afternoon trek, which lasts about 4-5 hours. Go at a slower pace since you may feel tired. You will see local villages, enjoy the scenery, and explore ancient temples and monasteries. As evening approaches, you’ll notice the changing light on the mountains.

Evening

• 4 PM to 5 PM: Aim to reach the teahouse before sunset. It’s easier to navigate in good light.
• 5 PM to 7 PM: After arriving at the village, unpack your luggage in your room. Relax by the fire with a hot cup of tea or coffee and connect with the locals. You can also check for internet access to contact your loved ones, explore, or visit nearby temples and monasteries.
• 7 PM to 8 PM: It’s time for dinner. You’ll likely eat local dishes, but some teahouses offer Western food. Enjoy dinner with your group; sharing stories and socializing is a great way to spend time together.
• 8 PM to 10 PM: After dinner, head to bed early. You have another challenging day of trekking ahead. Say goodnight to your crew, and sleep well.

Everest Base Camp (EBC) is 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) above sea level. Many climbers fly by helicopter to the EBC, but most prefer to trek from Lukla. Altitude gain is the vertical distance you climb from your starting point to the top of a mountain. In the case of the EBC Trek, you begin in Lukla, which is 2,860 meters (9,383 feet) above sea level. This means the total altitude gain during the trek to Everest Base Camp is 2,504 meters (8,215 feet).

The Everest Base Camp Trek is considered a moderate alpine-level trek. This mainstream trekking adventure in the eastern Himalayas can be regarded as one of the milder forms of adventure, with no technical sections that the trekkers need to overcome, nor is the journey physically strenuous and challenging. The actual success rate of the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek with My Everest Trip is 95% to 98%. Trekkers who have been well-prepared for this classic Himalayan journey have been able to complete the exhilarating trekking route with a Life-Changing Experience easily.

However, “Path to Everest” directly focuses on the journey to the legendary Base Camp. This iconic trekking prospect in the Himalayas remains a remote and high-altitude adventure, and several factors must be considered if you plan to traverse this mainstream route.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is one of the most prominent challenges of any high-altitude journey. After ascending to an altitude of 2,500 meters, if you don’t acclimate properly to the new altitude, there is a risk of altitude sickness. During your 14-Day Everest Base Camp Trek, you will start your trekking adventure from Lukla (2,800 meters); you will then gradually start ascending on the high-altitude route across the alpine zone (above 4,000 meters) and trans-Himalayan zone (above 5,000 meters).

You will reach the highest elevation point of this trek at Kalapatthar (5,545 meters); thus, the overall altitude gain from the starting point will be about 2,745 meters (9,005 feet). Therefore, you must be very careful about the risks and symptoms of altitude sickness and follow appropriate precautionary methods to keep yourself safe.

Trekking Distance

You will need to walk an overall trekking distance of 130 km (80 miles) in your 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek, including the trek to base camp and the return trek to Lukla. On average, you will have to trek for 6 to 7 hours every trekking day. You must traverse the route’s rugged, remote, and rocky trails, which gradually take you to higher altitudes. Trekking for long hours, where you also have to carry your backpack, can be a physically demanding endeavor, and you need to be prepared for it.

Acclimatization Period

The acclimatization period is a crucial factor in any high-altitude journey, as it significantly determines the comfort level and well-being of the trekkers. If your trekking package includes an adequate acclimatization period, allowing you to adapt to the new altitudes, the journey will not feel physically taxing. With enough rest and acclimatization procedures, the risk of altitude sickness and other sicknesses during your exploration is also significantly reduced. For the high-altitude journey, travelers are not recommended to ascend to a significant altitude of over 500 meters in a single day.

Remoteness

Even if this is a mainstream base camp adventure, the Himalayan region is one of the country’s most remote and underdeveloped areas. The infrastructural and technological development of the area is at a bare minimum. Although you will enjoy moderate to luxurious amenities in the lower area, they are pretty basic at the higher altitudes. As you ascend to a higher elevation point of the trek, the trails are more rugged, teahouses are in a few numbers, services and amenities are limited, and basic facilities like internet and electricity are not adequately available. Thus, you will have to be prepared for the remoteness factors of the trip, which will go beyond your comfort zone.

Is EBC Trek Challenging?

Everest Base Camp Trek is a popular destination in Nepal, but trekkers often believe it is not as challenging as other treks in the country. In this country, countless high-altitude remote treks, like Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna Circuit, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo treks, etc., are more complex than the EBC trek.

However, the Everest Base Camp Trek is still an altitude trek and poses some challenges even for veteran trekkers. If you are a beginner, you must prepare for the EBC trek. Factors such as high altitude, long duration treks, rugged terrain, changes in weather, risk of altitude sickness, remote areas, and a lack of infrastructure make the EBC trek even more challenging.

Food and Accommodation During the Everest Base Camp Trek

Foods

Food is a basic necessity for people, and it becomes even more critical when trekking in high-altitude remote areas like the Everest Base Camp Trek. On these treks, the trekkers will have meals three times a day: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. So, I’d like to look at your food options during your trek.

• You will enjoy breakfast delicacies such as chapati, Roti, Eggs, Tea, sandwiches, and bread.
• For Lunch and Dinner: Different Types of Delicacies from local Nepali Dal Bhat, Dhindo, Pizzas, Burgers, and Dumplings. Etc.

Accommodation

The trails to Everest Base Camp have many lodges and tea houses. This means you won’t need to sleep in tents. Along the route, you can find basic but comfortable accommodations. These places provide rooms where tired trekkers can rest and recover. The rooms usually have a bed, a mattress, a blanket, and a pillow.

For added comfort, we recommend bringing a good sleeping bag. Regarding accommodation on the high-altitude trek, you will stay in either teahouses or lodges, which are less modern or have high-standard facilities. In those teahouses, you will get small, expansive rooms with twin beds, which you must share with other trekkers, and attached bathrooms and sinks.

Internet Facilities During EBC Trek

Everest Link offers Wi-Fi cards to stay connected with friends and family during the EBC Trek. You can easily find these cards at various stops along the trail, and the connection is smooth and reliable. There are two free hotspots on the trek: Lukla and Namche Bazaar. You can also use a SIM card with a data package anywhere.

This connection works well for video calls, sending messages, and uploading files. If you are homesick and want to stay connected with your family and friends back home, ensure you have a local SIM card to purchase a regional plan, a local time zone, and set your location. This will provide cheap internet; the connection is decent until a certain altitude.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Different Seasons

Spring Season (March, April, and May)

The spring season is one of Nepal’s most popular seasons for trekking and exploration. This season’s incredible natural beauty makes exploring the mystical Himalayan region a magical experience. This peak season also offers stable climatic conditions, easy-grade dry trekking trails, and clear visibility to take in tranquil Himalayan vistas. The entire landscape of the lower trekking region during this season is lush and vibrant.

Bright rhododendrons and other wildflowers add colorful vibrance to the trekking region, making every day-to-day trek a spectacular experience. The temperature of the Everest region during this natural peak season is approximately 20°C during the daytime. On warmer days, the temperature of the trekking region can spike up to 25°C. Still, the temperatures can fall to 15°C in the alpine and tundra zones at night.

Monsoon Season (June, July, and August)

The monsoon season is considered one of Nepal’s most challenging seasons for Himalayan trekking adventures. This season is the peak of the summer, and the continuous rainfall can affect the itinerary plans and the spirit of exploration. Similarly, due to the heavy rain, the flights during this season can be postponed and canceled, so you will need to plan with a few extra contingency days so you don’t have to rush your excursion.

The monsoon season is the high point of the summer season in Nepal; the temperatures of the Everest region during this season can range between 23°C and 25 25°C. During the peak, the maximum temperature threshold can reach 30°C to 32°C. However, it is still colder in the alpine zone and above, so the temperatures are milder and can drop to as low as -5°C.

Autumn Seasons (September, October, and November)

The autumn season in Nepal is considered the number one season for trekking and Himalayan expeditions. It’s at the top even among the high seasons because it accommodates travelers with its pleasant temperatures and most stable climatic conditions throughout the year. Autumn has a shallow precipitation rate, which means the possibility of the occasional light rainfall can make the trekking experience unpleasant is close to nil.

During this harvest season, the Himalayan country celebrates some of the most spectacular festivals, including Dashain, Tihar, Mani Rimdu, Indra Jatra, Pachali Bhairab, and Sita Bibaha Panchami. The autumn season has the most suitable temperatures, and during your trekking adventure this season, you will neither feel too cold nor too hot. The temperature in the trekking region during autumn averages around 17°C only, and on the warmer days, the temperatures can rise to 20°C, but not too hot.

Winter Season (December, January, and February)

Spring is nature’s peak season, and autumn is the high point of nature’s foliage, but when is the Himalayan region at its peak? Yes, the majestic Himalayan region reaches its pinnacle during the winter, transforming the entire landscape into a winter wonderland. Of course, even navigating your way across the treacherous trekking trails covered with blankets of snow can be a physically demanding task, not to mention the careful considerations for staying warm and the complex acclimatization process due to freezing climatic conditions.

Winter season isn’t definitely for travelers looking for a pleasant trekking experience. The Everest Base Camp Trek during winter is a challenging endeavor where the weather conditions and other difficulty factors of the trip are at their peak, leaving the pleasures of the high seasons behind at their optimum. So, suppose you want to explore the winter wonderland that covers the entire foothills of the Himalayas. In that case, you must carry extra heavy gear and layers, put in more physical effort, and carefully monitor your health conditions to keep yourself safe during this iconic Himalayan adventure.

The coldest period in the Himalayas is winter, with freezing climatic conditions. The temperatures in the lower Everest regions generally average around 10°C and can rise to 16°C on warm days. However, as you ascend to higher altitudes, the temperatures gradually drop to -20°C and lower at the alpine zones.

After considering the overall difficulty factors of this classical Himalayan adventure, if you are concerned about whether this trip might suit you, you have nothing to worry about. Although you must be on the lookout for several difficulty factors in the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek, you must understand that these demanding aspects are present in every high-altitude journey. However, the overall difficulty factors in the EBC Trek are milder. With a good amount of physical preparation, you can easily overcome about 80% of the demanding aspects of the trip.

My Everest Trip’s success rate on this classical Himalayan trail is about 95% to 98%; our trekking adventures are designed to enjoy slow-paced walking. So, you don’t have to rush with your exploration and can take your time to soak in the mystical ambiance of the Himalayas. Similarly, we also plan enough rest days at strategic acclimatization destinations, so your body has enough time to adapt to the new altitude before pushing further. This will also significantly reduce the risk of altitude sickness and other health issues resulting from insufficient rest.

As this is a fully guided expedition, we take care of your itinerary plan during the trekking part. From the logistics details to food, accommodation, and health monitoring, you can leave everything to us and enjoy the exhilarating adventure. In case you are wondering about the age restrictions, there aren’t any official age restrictions for this Himalayan journey. Every trekking enthusiast who is reasonably fit and in good health can take part in this excursion. A two-year-old kid from Scotland just recently made history as the youngest person ever to complete the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Your thrilling Himalayan journey will take you across some of the major highlights of the Everest region. At the same time, you will also cross some of the protected and restricted areas in the region while following your exhilarating trails. So, you must have the following permits to participate in this world’s most iconic base camp adventure.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

You’ll need to issue the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit to enter Sagarmatha National Park. With the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, you can enter the conserved national park of the Everest region, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Cost: This permit costs about US$ 30 and will be checked at the entrance point in Monjo.
• Place to Issue: You can get the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit from the tourism board office designated in Kathmandu.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality

Similarly, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit allows you to enter the restricted municipality of the mainstream region,

• Cost of Permit: US$20 per person.
• Place to Collect: You can collect the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit from Lukla.

Know More about Lukla Flight

The Lukla flight is a crucial date for trekkers and tourists on their journey to the Khumbu region. Getting to Lukla is an adventure on its own, and the Lukla flight has a reputation for being extremely challenging and thrilling. After boarding a flight from Kathmandu, trekkers must wait 40 to 45 minutes to reach Lukla airport.  

As they approach the Lukla airport, they will be treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains, as well as the tiny landing strip, which is known for its hazardous takeoffs and landings. It is the sole airport for landing planes that carry cargo and passengers from all over Nepal. Lukla Airport is known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world, and the Adventure of a Lifetime. 

However, about 20 to 30 planes land in Lukla each day during peak season, and nearly all of the 30,000 trekkers who visit the area each year fly into Lukla. While it is riskier than a commercial airport, it is still safe. The last accident involving a passenger plane was in October 2008. Since then, airlines and aviation officials have enforced stricter rules about flight conditions. This has dramatically improved passenger safety, but people flying to Lukla may still feel nervous.

You can climb to the top of Mount Everest from two sides: the south side and the north side. There are two camps on either side of Mount Everest: South Base Camp and North Base Camp. The Southern side of the base camp is accessible through Nepal, whereas the Northern Camp of Mount Everest is accessible via Tibet.

South Base Camp

Mount Everest’s South Base Camp is the most common way to reach the tallest peak in Nepal. Trekking is the most common way to explore the world from the South Base Camp, whereas other options like the Overland Tour or the Helicopter Tour exist. Many trekkers prefer the South Base Camp side through Nepali land since it is more accessible and there is less security hassle on the border of Nepal and Tibet.

North Base Camp

The Everest North Base Camp side is accessible via Tibet and is about 500 miles from the village of Lhasa. It is easier to reach the North Base Camp than it is to get to the South due to the development of roads and settlements. The two- and four-wheeler vehicles can easily access the NBC. However, security is exceptionally tight at the border, and you need plenty of permits to reach the base camp from the northern side.

As the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek is a remote, high-altitude journey in the Himalayas, you must prepare for at least 3 to 8 weeks. Your physical preparation will significantly impact your comfort level during the actual trip and determine how easily you can manage the physical demands of the trip. You can adjust the training period and the exercises as needed; you can also consult with a professional trainer, experienced trekkers, or a trekking guide to design an effective training program.

Strength and Endurance Training

Your training should prioritize both strength and endurance, as you will need to prepare for the physical demands of the trip. You will have to trek carrying your luggage throughout the trip (luggage above the weight limit that your porter doesn’t take) and handle off-beaten and rugged trails of the Himalayas, which have several up-and-down sections.

Also, when you gradually ascend to an altitude with a lower oxygen saturation level, even the millennial task will feel physically draining. Therefore, you will need to consider these factors and tailor your training to meet the demands of the trek. Here are some examples of the strength and endurance exercises you use for your training program. Here are some of the strength training exercises.

• Squat
• Lunge
• Plank
• Push Up
• Gouty Bridge
• Dumbbell Row
• Bicep Curl
• Pull Up
• Overhead Press
• Leg Extension
• Wood Chop
• Step Up
• Deadlift
• Calf Raise

Cardiovascular Training Program

For the second part of the physical training, to make the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek an enjoyable experience, you can include cardiovascular and stamina exercises in your training program. These exercises will help you to extend your stamina reserve, and they will also improve your body’s capabilities to adapt to new altitudes as you gradually ascend to new elevation points in your EBC Trek, reaching the maximum point at Kalapatthar 5,644 meters (18,519 feet). Here are some cardiovascular exercises you can use to strengthen your cardio.

• Jogging
• Swimming
• Jumping Rope
• Dancing
• Kick Boxing
• Mountain Climber
• Rowing
• Cycling
• Aerobics
• Jumping Jack
• Burpees