Everest Base Camp Trek
Duration: 14 Days +
One of the most incredible treks you could ever do. After and amazing flight through the foothills of the Himalayas, and a pant filling landing in one of the most spectacular airports in the world. You will start your trek in Lukla ( or Jiri f you are hardcore, add 5 days) There are plenty of shops and cafes to chill out in Lukla but it is best to get trekking straight away and spend time here on your way back |
DAY 1
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- DAY 5
NAMCHE-TENGBOCHE (3860m): 5 hours
On your way to Tengboche, immediatley coming out of Namche are the first amazing views of the Everest, Lhoste, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. On the way you may pass an elderly man who collects donations for keeping the trail clean and tidy. Usually sat at a table with a book to fill in your name, not sure how much work he does but we did have a god chat with him!
The route has a steep descent to the Dudh Kosi river and then climbs up zigzagging through rhododendron bushes. Many expletives are often involved in this climb but eventually you will arrive, standing beside (leaning on) the amazing Tengboche Monastery surrounded by the mighty Himalayas!
Day 6 (4310m) Tengboche-Pheriche or Dingboche
Perched on a hill, Surrounded buy huge icy peaks, is Tengboche. It contains a large important monastery, a few tea houses and a bakery.
Perched on a hill, Surrounded buy huge icy peaks, is Tengboche. It contains a large important monastery, a few tea houses and a bakery.
- Day 7 Periche/Dingboche ACCLIMITISATION DAY
Spend the day walking around the village, Periche & Dingboche are neighboring villages separated by a valley wall. There is internet access in Dingboche, albeit two pc's plugged into an indoor fuming petrol generator with dodgy connections and letterless keyboards but you should be able to send a couple of words to people at home. The valley wall makes a great aclimatisation side trek up, Hike High Sleep low! so whether you are staying in either Pheriche or Dingboche usually the same acclimatisation walk will bring u up the parting valley wall. Amazing scenery making for some great photos.

- Day 8
Pheriche/Dingboche - Lobuche (4920m) 4 hrs
Lobuche is a small little village, new tea houses popping up at the moment, you will be hungry and in need of a hot lemon tea here, then off to bed. There is a satellite phone available for hire here if you want to ring home. Water prices and food take are getting as high as the altitude here. Which is fair enough considering where you are and how it got here!

- Day 9
Lobuche - Everest Base Camp (5400 m) / Gorak Shep ( 5140m)
Today you will leave Lobuche, arriving at Gorak Shep. A Relatively easy walk considering, you will arrive at Gorak Shep about 3hrs later A brief stop here for some soup then head on to Base Camp and return to Gorek Shep for the night. The walk covers a lot of loose glacial moraine, lots of slidy loose gravel and big boulders so watch your step and footing, easy to twist an ankle here. You might get held up in the many Yak trains coming to and from expeditions at Base Camp, fun to see but keep your distance and camera flashes off. The Yaks have big point horns that are better seen than felt!

- Day 10
Waking at 4ish am you will rise up, headlamp on, and make your way for the summit of Kala Patthar, a dark tipped mountain beside Gorak Shep. The summit offers really breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayas. If for some reason you find yourself having to choose between either Base camp or Kala Pattar, just know that the views from this summit are absolutely spectacular, whereas you cannot see a whole lot from EBC. The ascent can be a little steep, so take your time, slow and steady and drink plenty of water. You should have plenty of time to reach the summit for sunrise. A truly awe inspiring moment
As you approach the final stretch to the summit you will have to clamber over some large rocks and boulders and HORAAAY! We are at the top, take a well deserved sit down and admire the view. The sky lightens, the mountain tips start to glow,
keep your eyes on Everest's summit to behold the view you came for
keep your eyes on Everest's summit to behold the view you came for
What a view...relax..take your time..bask in your awesomness and take many photos. Soon you will have to descend down the mountain back to Garak Shep get your gear and head on to Lobuche. Take your time walking back down, last thing you want is any mishaps up here.
Descending back down towards Namche can be done much quicker than ascending, you will feel fitter and stronger each meter you walk down, and you will be down in no time, you can vary the route back, through different villages, or even to the Gokyo lakes adding couples of days to your trip. Truly an amazing experience and definitely SHOULD be on anyone's bucketlist
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