You will find that you get far more than you bargained for on this classic route. Follow the guidelines and you should ascend in sensible and manageable altitude stages all the way to Gorak Shep on the 8th day of trekking (including 2 acclimatisation days) after which you can head for Base Camp and Kala Patthar before returning to Lukla.
In between is some of the most awe inspiring mountain scenery on the planet not to mention rural life in the Sherpa hills. You will get to know your local Guide and Porters and you will quickly see just how simple and harsh their lives are. And please remember, despite what they say, they are as susceptible to altitude sickness as you are. Don't be fooled by their brave faces, if you think that they are suffering, tell someone who can do something about it.
Watch for the small tea house stop at Dughla. Straight after that you will climb up the front end of the Khumbu glacier. Most don't even realise it!
Make sure that you stay overnight at Gorak Shep BEFORE you head for Base Camp; to pass through it (from Lobouche) to get to Base Camp and then return to Gorak Shep is not a good idea! Some do that but it makes for a very long day indeed and tends to leave many people too tired to tackle Kala Patthar the next day. The altitude here is over 5000m and whilst you may not be suffering from altitude sickness per se, you will highly likely be feeling the effects that altitude has on your body. You will also be tired from the accumulative effects of 8 days trekking and also the conditions do get more basic as you get closer to Gorak Shep. Many underestimate it.
This is a great trek, make no mistake about that and it has so many highlights; you lose count. Acclimatise well, take your time, be prepared to experience basic conditions for a few days and enjoy.
Written by
Terry Crosby.
By Carol Nader for The Sydney Morning Herald First Published September 19, 2009 For eight days, we have done little more than walk. I haven't showered in a week, the altitude is making me feel nauseous and walking through the snow since 6am has made me… Read more...
Written by press. Continue reading on smh.com.au
You should do this trek for the scenery and the Sherpa culture. The scenery is electric because you’re surrounded by the worlds highest peaks. The atmosphere of the Sherpa capital and the people and their yaks is warm and colourful. This is a 14 day … Read more...
Written by
Steve Berry.
Without doubt Everest base camp trek is one of most popular trek in Nepal as well as in world. You will not only get legendary Sherpa hospitality but scenery & tranquility is equally rewarding. Every person should journey where legend is live, where everything is greater & taller in this earth. Of course, every person should do this trek before die.
For many Everest will always be thought of as “The Big Adventure”, but with it becoming a bit too busy, as in the slopes are littered with debris and bodies and the expense of it you may get more out of a trek to Everest Base Camp. If it is the views and culture (both climbing and local) rather than the altitude that excites you then Base Camp, located spectacularly beside Khumbu Glacier has the same approach and many of the views as Everest but without the final slog. Pass through the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar, the traditional village of Tengboche which has an exquisite monastery, below Ama Dablam and summit Kalar Patar (which at 5545m is not to be sniffed at.) for views of the whole Everest valley.
Fly in to Kathmandu with the rest of the adventurers and experience the busy streets for yourself (it’s pretty crazy) and see the beautiful Buddhist stupa shrines. One of the highlights is flying in one of the tiny planes over the mountains to begin the trek at Lukla where most treks start. It’s like a preview to the walk and the relief of the terrain is gob smacking. It doesn’t take much walking before you can see Everest peaking out and up behind other mountains at several points along the route, sometimes from half way up a big old mountain you’re struggling to get up, which gives you some perspective on how big things are here, you may even be glad you’re only going to Base Camp. This is a challenging but achievable experience and I found that I was tired but relaxed at the end of the day while some people we met in paries attempting Everest were so obsessed about possible weather conditions and altitude acclimatisation for the big day that they were missing out on what they passed on the way there.
If you’re camping you get more of a feel of an adventure but you don’t have to, some companies arrange accommodation in tea houses. Lots of companies will take you there now all inclusive, my only thoughts on that would be to think about the kind of people you want to have the experience with, this is one of those once in a lifetime things so if you want to spend time doing your own thing (we held a little prayer ceremony for example) you need to make sure you can fit it in.
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