Do you want to pick a sight of the beautiful spectacle of the Himalayas with the accompaniment of Buddhist Monasteries and Sherpa Culture? If Yes, Everest Base Camp is just the right place to venture for you.
Everest Base Camp is one of the most visited regions in the Himalayas. The trek starts and finishes at Lukla, an airstrip to the south of the region better known as the ‘Gateway to Everest.’
The trek takes off from Lukla. You will get started on a morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The trek follows the Dudh Kosi valley route to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazar. From Namche, you trek along a high path from where you have the first good view of Everest.
After that, you will visit several monasteries to reach the Khumbu Glacier. You reach your destination Everest Base Camp at the foot of the Khumbu ice falls.
10 Amazing Facts about Everest Base Camp Trek
1. The BBC has named Everest Base Camp one of the “50 places you should see before you die.”
Everest Base Camp lies at the base of the world’s roof- Mt. Everest. Travelers want to embark on this trek to feel majestic, close to the world’s tallest mountain.
Everest Base Camp is a playground of the tumbling glaciers and 8000 meters giants. Hence, it is a beautiful destination for trekkers willing to take up the high-altitude challenge.
With this spectacular blend of Himalayan adventure and experience of varied cultures on the way, Everest Base Camp Trek is ample for trekkers and adventurers.
On your way, you will encounter a diverse culture and hospitality. Along with the sceneries and beautiful spectacle of the Himalayas, monasteries, and historical museums.
The region is a beautiful assortment of scenic, geographic, and historical significance. This is why BBC has named Everest Base Camp trek as one of the “50 places you should visit before you die”.
If you want to take lessons from lifestyle and diversity, Everest Base Camp is the right place for you.
2. You get all of these refinements of beautiful Sherpa culture.
Starting from Lukla, the Base Camp trek extends from the side of the Dudh Koshi River, which is terrifyingly beautiful. Walking up the hill, Namche Bazaar is the biggest town of all Sherpa settlements.
Namche Bazaar is often known as the “gateway to the Himalayas.” The town itself has a lot of cafes, lodges, and restaurants. On Saturdays, a weekly market beautifies the village. You will love to see the centerfold of the Tibetan market and Chinese articles in the sales there.
As you head towards the Base Camp, you constantly encounter monasteries, pleasant Sherpa villages, and museums. Sherpa people are best known for their extraordinary mountaineering skills. They are also incredibly welcoming and friendly people, making your journey a total bliss.
You will get to encounter Sherpas willing to carry your heavy gear. You will find them scarily fit and feel amazed about how they can set everything up for you before you arrive.
Sherpas are also the most hospitable, easy, and forthgoing people. They will be a very good company for you as well.
If you get the chance, chat with your guide and porters, as their stories and culture are fascinating.
3. You should not be the fittest person.
Everest Base Camp marks itself as a moderate trek. For instance, the good news is you do not require any prior trek experience to embark on this trail. People of all demographics can come from this venture.
Your biggest concern is acclimating to a higher altitude, and this is not proven to have any links to how fit you are. Hence, it is not a prerequisite that you have to walk fast. The slower you go, the more comfortable you are to enjoy the bits you see on the way.
Therefore, it is not essential whether or not you’ve ever hit the gym or have that maximum stamina. If you can manage 3-6 hours a day up and down the hill carrying a light pack, you can smash it there.
4. You will get to catch sight of ancient Rongbuk and Tengboche Monastery.
Rongbuk Monastery, the highest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the world, lies near the base of the north face of Mount Everest.
It is a sacred place for pilgrims. Everest resembles a giant pyramid standing majestically among the tower when you observe it from Rongbuk.
Of the several monasteries you come across, Tengboche is the most impressive. Located in the village of Tengboche, the monastery has giant peak views, including Lhotse, Everest, and Nuptse, in the backdrop.
Also, the monastery hosts the delightful Mani Rimdu Festival each year on the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. This corresponds to the months of October-November, coincidentally during the best trekking season in Nepal.
This is a festival of religious rites, songs, dances, and enactments of legends. Plus, it characterizes vibrant colors and noise that take center stage in the monastery. You won’t regret watching this exotic festive even though you’re not much of a culture lover.
You can also catch a view of Sir Edmund Hillary School and Thami Monastery nearby.
5. Food and Accommodation on the way will never fail to impress you.
Tea houses around Everest Base Camp are ecstatic and assuring. They are highly social and friendly affairs that bring everyone together after a glorious day of hiking.
The fatigue and stress of the entire day will fade away quickly as long as you stop in the tea shops. The tea has a distinct organic taste which will soothe your mind and helps relax your bones.
The food is authentic- staple Nepali food- Dal Bhat with seasonal vegetables. And the families that run the teahouses are always welcoming and hospitable.
Food is often cooked in the same room you eat. And most trekkers will stay in the dining room in the evening drinking, carving the stories of the delight set forth by the trek.
Also, the way these tea vendors treat their customers and get along with them so well is legendary.
People are friendly and forthcoming to talk to you. They are also happy to share their personal stories. They feel proud to dispense things you would want to know about their culture.
Note: It is always a good idea to carry a sleeping bag to beat the chilling cold at night on the mountainside.
6. Sagarmatha National Park
Most of the Everest trekking is within the boundary of Sagarmatha National Park. It is a world heritage site that is home to a variety of Himalayan flora and fauna. The glamorous landscape of the park adds more texture to your journey.
Sagarmatha National Park is an exceptional area with dramatic mountains, glaciers, and deep valleys. And dominated by Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 m). The presence of the Sherpas, with their unique culture, adds further interest to this site.
Its habitats are birch, juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo, and rhododendron. At the same time, at least 118 species of birds are home to this place. There are also musk deer, snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, and red panda.
The area represents a significant stage of the Earth’s evolutionary history. Plus, it is one of the most geologically interesting regions in the world. So, it is a big place of study and research for many academicians and anthropologists.
You will get to see these geologically young mountains and glaciers in the region. This is bound to create awe-inspiring landscapes and scenery dominated by the high peaks and corresponding valleys.
This park contains the world’s highest ecologically characteristic flora and fauna, additionally with a perfect blend of rich Sherpa culture. Therefore, the Sherpa culture and ecosystem are the major highlights of Sagarmatha National Park.
You will love it for sure!
7. There is wifi on Sale.
Most people nowadays expect to have wifi everywhere they go. And that includes the highest mountain range in the world too. Telecom companies in Nepal have spotted an expanding market and are cashing in big time on the luxury of internet connections high in the mountains.
You will find passwords to connect to a wifi network sold on a “scratchy” in every teahouse. The 250 Mb of data gets more and more expensive the higher you go. This will be enough for a couple of emails and to update your Facebook status, but nothing more.
When paying around $5-10 for data, make sure your phone doesn’t start downloading updates in the background, thus using it all.
8. The pleasant sight of Kalapathar
The ascent of Kala Patthar begins at Gorak Shep (5,164 m / 16,942 ft), the vantage point for Everest views. A five- to ten-minute over boulders takes one to the top from this place marked with Prayer flags.
Kalapathar is the most accessible point to view Mount Everest. Hence, getting a dramatic close-up view of Mount Everest is the most popular.
Not only can you see the peak, but you also get great views of the Khumbu Icefall far below. This is also what makes Kalapathar a significant place for travel.
It is often popular and trending because it is one of the highest points easily reached without mountaineering expertise. You don’t have to worry much about not having prior experience in mountaineering and fitness.
A much better time to go to Kala Pathar is in the afternoon. If you can (and the weather allows), wait for the sunset there: the light on the mountains is amazing. You can check Weather and Climate to have an idea of EBC weather.
Sometimes, the clouds come up from the valley in the afternoon and mask the view, so it is not always an option. If you only have one day to go up to Kala Patthar, go in the late morning. It won’t be too cold, the light will be OK, and the clouds won’t have come up from the valley yet.
The Sunrise and Sunset are more often pleasant sights to watch from Kalapathar.
9. There are plenty more Mountains and wonderful spectacles on the way.
Throughout the trek, you’ll catch glances at some of the giant peaks of our Earth. It includes Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, and, of course, Everest. You would yearn to see the glorious panorama of the Himalayas over and over again throughout your life.
Do not miss this one. On your way to Nagarjuna Hill, you will catch a marvelous panorama of Lobuche East (6119m), Lobuche West (6145m), Kangtega (6685m), Taboche Peak (6367m), and Thamserku.
You can spot the stunning sights of Mount Makalu, the world’s fifth tallest peak, on a clear day if you are lucky. The view of the Pheriche Valley from here is also majestic. Returning to Dingboche is much more beautiful.
After all, you can observe all of these excitable ranges of Himalayan sites. Some mountain expeditions are optional, and you can take them if you wish.
10. The destination Everest Base Camp itself and the triumphant feeling that comes with it
After trekking for over a week, reaching your destination is an incredibly gratifying experience. Your experiences and hardships accumulated throughout the journey will make you feel more triumphant. You feel like you have accomplished something.
After all, that is the usual feeling that sears around after reaching the place one is destined to reach.
Although you can’t see the peak of Everest, the feeling of awe is no less as you stand at the base of the world’s tallest mountain. Its sheer size and majesty will hold you entirely captivated.
If you trek in the springtime, you might even meet some mountaineers attempting to climb the mountain. Also, who knows, you might want to embark on being a mountaineer yourself.
If, in case, you feel weak and don’t have enough courage to complete your trek, helicopter rescue service is also available.
Conclusion
Everest Base Camp comes with all these excitable travel ranges with so many potential destinations. If you are thinking about embarking into one of these expeditions, why not go for it?
Do you wish to witness the best views of Mount Everest very closely from its base camp and Kala Patthar but do not have enough time to trek there? You can opt for the Everest Base Camp Heli Tour. In this heli tour, you will explore the Everest region easily in less time.
You will find it more exciting than you thought it would be.
