Mount Everest
Mount Everest
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5.0
443 reviews
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Very good
33
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8
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3
Terrible
12
Eric M
1 contribution
June 2021
Very good experience. My brother fell off the edge, but I caught him and held him by the hand. Then i fell asleep and dreamt about the Lion King, then when I woke up my fried was gone. I looked over the edge and found him laying there as white as the snow around him, so I took him back to camp and warmed him up. He still hasn’t said anything to me since then. He has also gotten a lot of pet bugs. He likes when they nibble on him.
Written 1 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bellaantonio
Rome, Italy2 contributions
Jan 2022
You never forget your first view of Everest. Mine was as I trudged alongside my guide on the trail as we left Namche. If you have a bucket list, this has to be on it in some form. The scenery is beautiful, the area is totally worth every ounce of effort it takes to get there. If you are flying in through Lukla Airport, you can hire a hire porter straight away to help you with your bags or backpack if you want to make the climb more manageable. Most people follow the EBC trail for many days as they slowly acclimatise, so take your time and enjoy the most stunning place on earth.
Written 4 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aaronthemountaineer1
Manchester, UK5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Never reached the summit but the views of the town from high up were incredible. Hope to summit this monster one day but until then i’ll cherish the amazing environment. The national park was also beautiful in foliage and wildlife. Would 100% to again just for the forest range below.
Written 8 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
usman
1 contribution
Dec 2019
Had an amazing time, I carried the corpses of my friends down the mountain, I set up a campfire and sat their bodies next to me as we all drank tea, I packed them back up and dragged them down, and what a challenge that was! I dug their graves at the bottom of the mountain and had a mental breakdown at what I had experienced, amazing! all in all it was an amazing time, would recommend and would go again, possibly next time I'll dig my grave with my partners if it happens again. As I will be going back.
Written 23 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr R M Thapa Syangja
Putalibazar, Nepal435 contributions
July 2024 • Friends
We took 16 leisurely days for this trek.
We flew from Manthali to Lukla. Below is elevation of both starting place name and destination name with each day's walk in hours:
Lukla 2860m <> Phakding (5hrs walk)
Phakging <> Namche approx 3400m
There is an additional one day walk to Everest view hotel at 4000m if you wish.
Namche <> Diboche 4400m You should ideally spend 2 nights here as you walk another day to other view point at 5000m.
Should you not wish to do it:
Diboche <> Pheriche <> Leaboche 5000m
Leaboche <> EBC 5400m
You should be beware of Khumbu Cough as it is annoying and could be life threatening cough as you get close to the Everest Base Camp. Should symptoms persist, you should immediately get to lower elevation.
As for the sights and sounds, what can an enthralled guy say?
We flew from Manthali to Lukla. Below is elevation of both starting place name and destination name with each day's walk in hours:
Lukla 2860m <> Phakding (5hrs walk)
Phakging <> Namche approx 3400m
There is an additional one day walk to Everest view hotel at 4000m if you wish.
Namche <> Diboche 4400m You should ideally spend 2 nights here as you walk another day to other view point at 5000m.
Should you not wish to do it:
Diboche <> Pheriche <> Leaboche 5000m
Leaboche <> EBC 5400m
You should be beware of Khumbu Cough as it is annoying and could be life threatening cough as you get close to the Everest Base Camp. Should symptoms persist, you should immediately get to lower elevation.
As for the sights and sounds, what can an enthralled guy say?
Written 26 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John A
Del Mar, CA6 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
My wife and I were a bit pressed for time to maximize our remaining day in Nepal. Since we didn't have time to do a major trek, we arranged a helicopter tour through Funny Nepal Treks and Expeditions. We were recommended to our guide, Fanindra Dharma, through the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kathmandu. The trip was a bit expensive, though much less than the cost of a mountain rescue. We were totally awestruck! We left in the morning from Kathmandu and flew over the terraced mountains to the village of Lukla, where we dropped off fuel for easier lift and the flight back. From there we proceeded up the valley, flying above Base Camp and landing above Base Camp at nearly 18,000 feet. With the pilot in his seat, my wife, our guide, and I left the helicopter and had 20 minutes or so to take photos with the morning sun over Everest. What a sight! We flew from there to the Everest View Hotel, with more distant but spectacular views of Everest, for some coffee and breakfast. After that, we returned to Lukla, picked up our fuel, and headed back to Kathmandu. Our pilot was extremely competent and made us feel safe despite the terrain over which we traversed. The nearly four hour excursion was the flight of a lifetime, and I would highly recommend Fanindra to take you.
Written 9 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScubaMoose
Essex, England35 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
I recently completed the EBC Trek (mid Nov 2011), and absolutely loved it, but it was really tough going (I knew it was going to be hard, but reading about it and experiencing it are two different things). Having said that, I can't wait to go back! The views are amazing and the mountains indescribably beautiful, but there's plenty of great posts that tell you that already, so, at the risk of writing a long one (I apologise in advance), I'll move on to some practical stuff which you may find helpful: -
It is seriously hard work, so be under no illusions. Long days of steep uphill climbs, over uneven rocky & dusty trails, steps and some clambering over rocks, and it's exhausting! You have to be better than average fitness. Of the 10 in our group, we all made it to Base Camp, only 6 made it to Kala Pattar, and there was one helicopter rescue due to altitude sickness.
On the subject of helicopter rescue, make sure you read the small print on your insurance policy. Ensure you are covered for the maximum altitude as a lot of policies are limited to 3000 metres. Also, make sure that the insurance company will authorise the helicopter rescue without a doctors report. You are on the side of a mountain - where exactly do they think you'll get a doctors report from?! This from the experience of the guy mentioned above. It took many hours of shouting at the insurance company before they agreed, which is not acceptable and potentially life threatening.
The domestic airport for your 45 minute flight to Lukla is next to the international airport, and only short drive from the city. The terminal is basic but ok as long as you don't have to spend too much time there. You can buy water and snacks and there is a small cafeteria. We spent 4 full days there due to low cloud closing Lukla (two days in a row we got onto our flight and within 10-minutes of Lukla, only to be turned back to Kathmandu. Lukla was closed for 9-days in the end).
On day 4 we gave up and hired a helicopter to get us into the mountains (the alternatives being to forget EBC and walk Annapurna instead, or fly home). More bad luck - this flight also turned back just minutes from our landing site when the weather turned against us. We were left overnight in Rumjatta, a small village and army base in the mountains where the people were wonderful and accommodating, and we had a huge amount of fun (once we got over the initial shock and sense of humour failure of being abandoned there) thanks to our new friends Marcel, Fredrich and Alex. Fortunately the helicopter came back for us the next day as promised and we finally landed in a field in Surkey, about a 4-hour walk from Lukla, in the rain.
So that was the first 5-days gone and so far, we'd not walked anywhere. We cancelled Gokyo Lakes and Cho La pass due to lack of time (gutted - I'll have to go back just for that!) and stuck to the standard EBC route which had to be completed in 11-days (normally 14-days including rest and acclimatisation days is recommended). On the plus side for us, it meant that the route was extremely quiet as fixed wing flights were still not operating. On the downside, it meant we had some really long & arduous days of walking two days in one.
I struggled to find information about tea houses in advance other than they were 'basic' so I'll try to expand. They are stone buildings with tin roofs, cold running water, and no heating (except the dining room which has a small wood burner). The bedrooms are small, two single wooden beds with a thin mattress, sometimes a blanket (although you can always ask for one), usually a pillow, a single light bulb and just a little floor space left over. Internal walls are bare wood, and bedroom doors generally come with a padlock for security. The dining rooms are quite comfortable, wood panelled with bench seating covered in blankets or rugs & plastic garden chairs. The wood burner tends to only go on for an hour or two in the evening, but it warms up quite quickly and it's where you'll spend most of the evening as it's just too cold in the bedrooms. The toilets were mostly western and indoor near the bedrooms, but we did come across a few 'squat' ones. Some flush, some don't, some have buckets of water and a jug for flushing as long as it's not frozen. On the whole, the loos are clean enough that there's no need to get too squeamish.
Sleeping at night was not problem despite the cold. My sleeping bag was a cheap 4-season. This, plus thermal long johns and long sleeved shirt, warm hat, neck gaiter and warm socks was fine (and I get cold easily). At higher altitudes I also used a blanket over the top, but I never got cold (apart from midnight dashes to the loo, so keep your head torch, trainers and fleece/duvet jacket within quick easy reach!). I read some posts from people who wore loads of layers to sleep in. I didn't as I read elsewhere this was a bad idea as it stops your sleeping bag from warming up from your body heat. Sounded good to me, I followed the advice and it worked.
The food was excellent, but is generally the same menu at every stop. Stir fried rice and veg, noodles and veg, veggie soup, sherpa stew (veggie soup with a hint of curry), Dhal Bat (rice & lentil curry), egg and chips, fried potatoes & veg, yak cheese pizza, apple pie, porridge, muesli, toast etc. Meat is not recommended above Namche. Typical costs were from 200 rupees per dish at lower levels, rising to 400 rupees per dish as you get higher up the mountain. Tea, lemon tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc are 50 to 150 rupees as you get higher. No stomach issues for the entire trip (until the food on the Jet Airways flight home).
Boiled drinking water you pay for - 100 rupees to 300 rupees per litre. We used chlorine tablets too just in case (why take the chance?). Top tip - take at least one non-insulated water bottle that can cope with near boiling water, get a refill in the evening, pop it in a sock and use it as a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag (and it will still be warm in the morning and ready for drinking/teeth cleaning).
Small shops are numerous along route, and you can buy bottled water, bottles of coke, mars bars etc. A little pricey but not stupid money. Note however that bottled drinks (including water) are not recommended unless you are prepared to carry your empties off the mountain as there are no waste management or recycling facilities. If it can't be burnt and it isn't biodegradable, take it home with you. Boiled water is a much better option, it's safe, environmentally sound and you can buy it each day from your tea house or lunch stop.
Showers: Some of the tea houses had gas showers (I can't comment on the health and safety issues of a gas bottle in the shower room with you or the quality of ventilation), so I showered twice. It was clean and the water was lovely and hot, but once you step out of the shower it's freezing so try and shower while the sun is still up (same rule applies to use of wet wipes and getting changed for the evening). Once the sun sets its very cold. Cost was usually 350 - 450 rupees, and yes it's worth it at least once if not least to lift the spirits. If you don't want or can't find a good shower, then a couple of packs of biodegradable baby wipes should see you through.
Packing: the main highlights of my kit list were as follows:-
4-season sleeping bag (Vango Nitestar 450)
Thermal Underwear - 1 pair for sleeping in and for walking on the higher/colder days
Merino Long Sleeved t-shirts x 2 (merino wool is warm, wicking and anti-smell)
Technical short sleeved t-shirts x 3
Micro Fleece
Polar Fleece
Duvet Jacket (optional, but I tend to get cold. Keep it light weight and packable - mine is Montane).
Walking trousers - 2
Waterproof jacket (with vents & not insulated so it worked on warm wet days, but also fitted over my duvet jacket or polar fleece. I used White Rock)
Waterproof over-trousers (I used a £5 kag-in-a-bag pair on an internet special from the army surplus store - and they were wicking even at that price)
Neck Gaiter (material, not fleece, so you can use it to keep dust out of your lungs on trail. I used Comfy 3 for £11 on the internet)
Sun hat
Warm hat
windproof fleece gloves
Warm gloves (I used ski gloves)
Head-torch + spare (keep one in your rucksack at all times on the off chance you end up walking past sunset)
Sunglasses (I used ordinary wrap around, & not mountain sunglasses)
Walking boots (well worn in)
Soft Trainers (for evenings and if the boot blisters get too bad)
Small travel towel
Socks and underwear (incl. 2 pairs of 4-season socks for the higher days. 1 pair of lining socks was also essential for me).
High factor sun tan lotion
Washbag - loo roll, biodegradable wet wipes, travel sized biodegradable shower gel or soap in case you find a shower, hand sanitiser, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, travel sized talc (use on your feet every morning as my top tip to help fight blisters).
Weight limit was 12kg on the mountain (for the flight and for the porters), so there wasn't room for much more than that, but I found it left me with enough stuff to layer up and have a couple of changes of clothes.
So my final advice - the golden rules to avoid altitude sickness - take it slow and steady, use your own pace, and drink loads of water. It's not a race, despite what the rest of your group or your guide may think, and there's no prizes for getting to your tea house first. Take occasional breaks to get your breath, enjoy the views, take your photos, have some chocolate and drink your water. If your group wants to dash ahead and not leave time for water breaks or a 5-minute sit down, then force your own stops. Besides, you'll generally be at your tea house by mid afternoon so what exactly were you planning to do for the rest of the day anyway?
It is seriously hard work, so be under no illusions. Long days of steep uphill climbs, over uneven rocky & dusty trails, steps and some clambering over rocks, and it's exhausting! You have to be better than average fitness. Of the 10 in our group, we all made it to Base Camp, only 6 made it to Kala Pattar, and there was one helicopter rescue due to altitude sickness.
On the subject of helicopter rescue, make sure you read the small print on your insurance policy. Ensure you are covered for the maximum altitude as a lot of policies are limited to 3000 metres. Also, make sure that the insurance company will authorise the helicopter rescue without a doctors report. You are on the side of a mountain - where exactly do they think you'll get a doctors report from?! This from the experience of the guy mentioned above. It took many hours of shouting at the insurance company before they agreed, which is not acceptable and potentially life threatening.
The domestic airport for your 45 minute flight to Lukla is next to the international airport, and only short drive from the city. The terminal is basic but ok as long as you don't have to spend too much time there. You can buy water and snacks and there is a small cafeteria. We spent 4 full days there due to low cloud closing Lukla (two days in a row we got onto our flight and within 10-minutes of Lukla, only to be turned back to Kathmandu. Lukla was closed for 9-days in the end).
On day 4 we gave up and hired a helicopter to get us into the mountains (the alternatives being to forget EBC and walk Annapurna instead, or fly home). More bad luck - this flight also turned back just minutes from our landing site when the weather turned against us. We were left overnight in Rumjatta, a small village and army base in the mountains where the people were wonderful and accommodating, and we had a huge amount of fun (once we got over the initial shock and sense of humour failure of being abandoned there) thanks to our new friends Marcel, Fredrich and Alex. Fortunately the helicopter came back for us the next day as promised and we finally landed in a field in Surkey, about a 4-hour walk from Lukla, in the rain.
So that was the first 5-days gone and so far, we'd not walked anywhere. We cancelled Gokyo Lakes and Cho La pass due to lack of time (gutted - I'll have to go back just for that!) and stuck to the standard EBC route which had to be completed in 11-days (normally 14-days including rest and acclimatisation days is recommended). On the plus side for us, it meant that the route was extremely quiet as fixed wing flights were still not operating. On the downside, it meant we had some really long & arduous days of walking two days in one.
I struggled to find information about tea houses in advance other than they were 'basic' so I'll try to expand. They are stone buildings with tin roofs, cold running water, and no heating (except the dining room which has a small wood burner). The bedrooms are small, two single wooden beds with a thin mattress, sometimes a blanket (although you can always ask for one), usually a pillow, a single light bulb and just a little floor space left over. Internal walls are bare wood, and bedroom doors generally come with a padlock for security. The dining rooms are quite comfortable, wood panelled with bench seating covered in blankets or rugs & plastic garden chairs. The wood burner tends to only go on for an hour or two in the evening, but it warms up quite quickly and it's where you'll spend most of the evening as it's just too cold in the bedrooms. The toilets were mostly western and indoor near the bedrooms, but we did come across a few 'squat' ones. Some flush, some don't, some have buckets of water and a jug for flushing as long as it's not frozen. On the whole, the loos are clean enough that there's no need to get too squeamish.
Sleeping at night was not problem despite the cold. My sleeping bag was a cheap 4-season. This, plus thermal long johns and long sleeved shirt, warm hat, neck gaiter and warm socks was fine (and I get cold easily). At higher altitudes I also used a blanket over the top, but I never got cold (apart from midnight dashes to the loo, so keep your head torch, trainers and fleece/duvet jacket within quick easy reach!). I read some posts from people who wore loads of layers to sleep in. I didn't as I read elsewhere this was a bad idea as it stops your sleeping bag from warming up from your body heat. Sounded good to me, I followed the advice and it worked.
The food was excellent, but is generally the same menu at every stop. Stir fried rice and veg, noodles and veg, veggie soup, sherpa stew (veggie soup with a hint of curry), Dhal Bat (rice & lentil curry), egg and chips, fried potatoes & veg, yak cheese pizza, apple pie, porridge, muesli, toast etc. Meat is not recommended above Namche. Typical costs were from 200 rupees per dish at lower levels, rising to 400 rupees per dish as you get higher up the mountain. Tea, lemon tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc are 50 to 150 rupees as you get higher. No stomach issues for the entire trip (until the food on the Jet Airways flight home).
Boiled drinking water you pay for - 100 rupees to 300 rupees per litre. We used chlorine tablets too just in case (why take the chance?). Top tip - take at least one non-insulated water bottle that can cope with near boiling water, get a refill in the evening, pop it in a sock and use it as a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag (and it will still be warm in the morning and ready for drinking/teeth cleaning).
Small shops are numerous along route, and you can buy bottled water, bottles of coke, mars bars etc. A little pricey but not stupid money. Note however that bottled drinks (including water) are not recommended unless you are prepared to carry your empties off the mountain as there are no waste management or recycling facilities. If it can't be burnt and it isn't biodegradable, take it home with you. Boiled water is a much better option, it's safe, environmentally sound and you can buy it each day from your tea house or lunch stop.
Showers: Some of the tea houses had gas showers (I can't comment on the health and safety issues of a gas bottle in the shower room with you or the quality of ventilation), so I showered twice. It was clean and the water was lovely and hot, but once you step out of the shower it's freezing so try and shower while the sun is still up (same rule applies to use of wet wipes and getting changed for the evening). Once the sun sets its very cold. Cost was usually 350 - 450 rupees, and yes it's worth it at least once if not least to lift the spirits. If you don't want or can't find a good shower, then a couple of packs of biodegradable baby wipes should see you through.
Packing: the main highlights of my kit list were as follows:-
4-season sleeping bag (Vango Nitestar 450)
Thermal Underwear - 1 pair for sleeping in and for walking on the higher/colder days
Merino Long Sleeved t-shirts x 2 (merino wool is warm, wicking and anti-smell)
Technical short sleeved t-shirts x 3
Micro Fleece
Polar Fleece
Duvet Jacket (optional, but I tend to get cold. Keep it light weight and packable - mine is Montane).
Walking trousers - 2
Waterproof jacket (with vents & not insulated so it worked on warm wet days, but also fitted over my duvet jacket or polar fleece. I used White Rock)
Waterproof over-trousers (I used a £5 kag-in-a-bag pair on an internet special from the army surplus store - and they were wicking even at that price)
Neck Gaiter (material, not fleece, so you can use it to keep dust out of your lungs on trail. I used Comfy 3 for £11 on the internet)
Sun hat
Warm hat
windproof fleece gloves
Warm gloves (I used ski gloves)
Head-torch + spare (keep one in your rucksack at all times on the off chance you end up walking past sunset)
Sunglasses (I used ordinary wrap around, & not mountain sunglasses)
Walking boots (well worn in)
Soft Trainers (for evenings and if the boot blisters get too bad)
Small travel towel
Socks and underwear (incl. 2 pairs of 4-season socks for the higher days. 1 pair of lining socks was also essential for me).
High factor sun tan lotion
Washbag - loo roll, biodegradable wet wipes, travel sized biodegradable shower gel or soap in case you find a shower, hand sanitiser, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, travel sized talc (use on your feet every morning as my top tip to help fight blisters).
Weight limit was 12kg on the mountain (for the flight and for the porters), so there wasn't room for much more than that, but I found it left me with enough stuff to layer up and have a couple of changes of clothes.
So my final advice - the golden rules to avoid altitude sickness - take it slow and steady, use your own pace, and drink loads of water. It's not a race, despite what the rest of your group or your guide may think, and there's no prizes for getting to your tea house first. Take occasional breaks to get your breath, enjoy the views, take your photos, have some chocolate and drink your water. If your group wants to dash ahead and not leave time for water breaks or a 5-minute sit down, then force your own stops. Besides, you'll generally be at your tea house by mid afternoon so what exactly were you planning to do for the rest of the day anyway?
Written 23 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ismail M
3 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
I did the everest base camp trek last month, On the way back from the camp I lost consciousness suddenly and got severe seizures likely I was quickly evacuated by a Helicopter from Namche to Kathamndu, I was diagnosed with High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) the fatal form of Altitude sickness unfortunately the seizures broke 5 of my vertebrae and dislocated my right arm, I was hospitalized in ICU in Nepal for 10 days had to fly by stretcher back home in which I did an operation and I am now 3 month off work undergoing rehab...BE CAREFUL from altitude sickness this is not just headache and fatigue this can progress to something really fatal, most of trekking companies won't tell you how risky this trip can be, they will never reveal much information about altitude sickness in order not to scare you! my advise READ about altitude sickness, consult your doctor and do your own research, and if you already there & dont feel well STOP ascending rest where you are or even discuss your symptoms with your guide for possibility of descending or even evacuation before it is too late! My mistake was the trek company told us the guide will evacuate you if necessary but he only did when it was too late, Two days before this happened my guide noticed that I have AMS but he didn't take any action to evacuate me if I was evacuated immediately it would have never progressed to this, Read a lot about the risks of AMS and how you can reduce it and if you got it what you should do! Also you have to know that the trip is very challenging very poor hygiene facilities in terms of toilets, accommodation, you will sleep under negative zero conditions because guest houses dont have proper heating facilities, anyway good luck if you decided to go for it, hope this review saves lives!
Written 24 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CGR1362
Bengaluru, India209 contributions
Apr 2011
My everest base camp trek from Lukla to Mount Everest Base camp and then to Kalapattar at about 5546 metres. The trek was pretty challenging. It was spanning for about 13 days (1.e from April 3rd to April 15th 2011 (Both days included). Flew from Kathmandu to Lukla via Agni Air . As usual the flight was delayed by a couple of hour and added to that we were stuck in an air bubble and the flight staggered a bit (It was fun to have a roller coaster ride close to Himalayas). I landed in Lukla and with the help of a guide we started our trek after a cup of Tea in a nearby Tea house. My first stop was Phakding about 3 hrs trek from Lukla and it was at 2620 metres . The trek was very scenic, but the path was tough. We stayed overnight at Phakding and then proceeded to Namche Bazaar, which is close to 3400 mts, This trek took me about 7 hrs and was quite challenging as I encountered heavy snow showers and the path was pretty slippery. Reached Namche Bazaar at 4 pm and had a cup of tea and stayed there for a couple of days (purpose of acclimatization), then proceed further to Phortse , Periche ..... and Gorakshop, before reaching Kalapattar. I would be happy to share further inputs for anyone interested
Written 29 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nomad07
Doncaster, Australia431 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
It has been said over and over how great this trip is. I absolutely agree so I won't labour that point any further. What I will provide is some tips that I inherited prior, during and at the conclusion of my tour.
1. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail
With up to 3 rescue helicopters a day pulling Trekkers out over my 11 days, I can assure you that the vast majority of these people failed to plan and therefore failed to reach EBC. It amazes me how many people I spoke to and when they told me how they were approaching the trek, I knew they were destined to failure. Some made it to EBC but had no stamina to reach Kalla Pattar or simply exhibited many symptoms along the way from migraines to vomiting and diarrhea, blisters, eye infections etc. I am an office worker who had never trekked before, but I read so much before I left, watched YouTube videos, read blogs etc so I was absolutely prepared & I can say it paid off as I never once had a headache, vomiting, diarrhea, I did start to get a blister or two and a sore knee etc but I was prepared.
2. Pack List Essentials
I won't go through every item, but these were things I read about and took and so glad I did.
- can't stress the need for a high quality down jacket, gloves, boots, wind jacket. When I say high quality I mean like RAB or Arcteryx, and boots like Zamberlan or Scarpa, gloves like Outdoor Research. It's cold, always cold. Whilst hiking you will warm up but when you stop or are at a guest house etc, it's just freezing. Also if doing Kalla Pattar, we like most left at 4am and with -20 degrees, if you don't have the right gear you will suffer and that is a guarantee because Trekkers who came unprepared told me how their hands were freezing etc. Even the guides laugh at how Trekkers come with gloves not designed for this climate. So I had three pairs, woolen liners for day hiking or around the guesthouses, trekking gloves with fleece and waterproof gortex for not so cold conditions and double gloved, top of the range snow gloves rated for minus degrees for the really cold treks and I will say even then my fingers were still a little cold.
Boots I purchased Zamberlan leather, water proof, gortex, tough and heavy boots ankle supports the lot. They were expensive but like tired on a car, they prevented me from many a twisted ankle, major blisters, cold feet or basic slipping on loose rocks. The terrain is unforgiving, make no mistake, it's not flat, so invest wisely,
Down Jacket RAB 800 down and Arcteryx wind stopper and down lightweight trekking jacket. These were my absolute essentials. The RAB I used every night at guesthouses and also from Loubche to EBC and Kalla Pattar. The Arcteryx wind stopper I barely needed as it was sunny every day except the last few, weather changed suddenly to almost snowing and freezing high winds. The Arcteryx day down lightweight was the the best of all, so warm, so lightweight which I wore over a heavy Patagonia fleece, thermals, etc.
Other must haves
- rope for a clothes line in your room. After trekking you will sweat so you need to get out of sweaty clothes fast and let them dry or you will freeze.
- solar charger I purchased Power Monkey, hung it off my back pack whilst hiking and basically had better charge than the solar charge higher up that you pay 350 rupee for one hour or 500 rupee for full charge, but it can take almost a day to charge an iPhone higher up on solar in guesthouses. The cold as everyone says drains your battery exceptionally fast so I slept with all my batteries and electronics every night, and kept them on me throughout the day in my down jackets.
- hand and feet warmers buy from pharmacy, amazing how good these are when you get to Gorek Shep and beyond.
- sleeping bag I hired and was rated minus 30 and it was, but still needed at least two blankets plus two Nalgenes full of hot water to stay warm
- buffs incredibly important unless you like breathing freezing cold air and dust
- thermals two pairs wool a must for staying warm
- clothing that is all made from wool because after not washing for 10 days it still did not smell and drys very fast when washed.
- two trekking poles. There are a lot of people trying to prove they are tough by not using poles or taking diamox etc but let me tell you, I met a guy once on the Namche acclimatization hike who had no poles because he was trying to be tough and I said well it's either use more energy and get AMS or knee injuries etc and a helicopter ride out of here or get some poles. Next day after that hike he had poles times two.
- diamox is another one where people think it's a badge of go out if you didn't take diamox. Frankly know one cares, so I took it almost from Lukla and then drank 5 liters of water a day but I didn't suffer once. People who didn't take it were either flown out or suffered in their opinion immensely.
- insurance is a MUST because there is a lot that can go wrong, AMS, twisted ankles, eye infections, food poisoning etc etc
- cash take at least 70,000 rupee, 35,000 for incidentals like charging, hot water, food etc and then 35,000 in case there is an emergency because insurance can take time, cash is king and will get you out of any situation.
- first aid kit with nurofen, anti histamine for the coughs you will develop, deep heat for muscles, paracetamol. Most important eye drops and electrical tape for blister prevention, band aids do not work or stay on.
3. Health
I was lucky that my guide had 12 years experience, had trekked that route over 100 times and had also climbed to South Col on Everest. He told me from Lukla, no meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc, only vegetable and noodles etc.
I also took purification tabs but never used one because everyone I met was buying bottled water or boiled water which is what I did.
I stopped smoking after Lukla and never drank alcohol.
People who are eggs and cheese or alcohol paid dearly with vomiting etc. of course not all the time, it was a gamble. Trust me, you don't want to be sick up there when you see the guesthouses or toilet areas.
Wipes I took for my daily wash. I never had hot water but basically it was too cold to strip down even for a few minutes.
Water is your best friend, I drank 5 liters a day but also ate double the calories I normally eat at home and still lost weight. I drank one litre in the morning, two whilst hiking, one at dinner and then one throughout the night
I know this bit seems crude but when you drink this much you may need the toilet as much as 3 to 4 times a night, so as a man I had two spare Nalgene bottles for a toilet meaning I never had to get out of my sleeping bag or suffer the pain of waiting. I will let you work this bit out, practice before you go on the trek, it makes such a difference. Note I had 2 liters a night.
That's about it really, take a head torch, handy at night especially for those toilet trips. If you have any questions please email me
Thanks
1. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail
With up to 3 rescue helicopters a day pulling Trekkers out over my 11 days, I can assure you that the vast majority of these people failed to plan and therefore failed to reach EBC. It amazes me how many people I spoke to and when they told me how they were approaching the trek, I knew they were destined to failure. Some made it to EBC but had no stamina to reach Kalla Pattar or simply exhibited many symptoms along the way from migraines to vomiting and diarrhea, blisters, eye infections etc. I am an office worker who had never trekked before, but I read so much before I left, watched YouTube videos, read blogs etc so I was absolutely prepared & I can say it paid off as I never once had a headache, vomiting, diarrhea, I did start to get a blister or two and a sore knee etc but I was prepared.
2. Pack List Essentials
I won't go through every item, but these were things I read about and took and so glad I did.
- can't stress the need for a high quality down jacket, gloves, boots, wind jacket. When I say high quality I mean like RAB or Arcteryx, and boots like Zamberlan or Scarpa, gloves like Outdoor Research. It's cold, always cold. Whilst hiking you will warm up but when you stop or are at a guest house etc, it's just freezing. Also if doing Kalla Pattar, we like most left at 4am and with -20 degrees, if you don't have the right gear you will suffer and that is a guarantee because Trekkers who came unprepared told me how their hands were freezing etc. Even the guides laugh at how Trekkers come with gloves not designed for this climate. So I had three pairs, woolen liners for day hiking or around the guesthouses, trekking gloves with fleece and waterproof gortex for not so cold conditions and double gloved, top of the range snow gloves rated for minus degrees for the really cold treks and I will say even then my fingers were still a little cold.
Boots I purchased Zamberlan leather, water proof, gortex, tough and heavy boots ankle supports the lot. They were expensive but like tired on a car, they prevented me from many a twisted ankle, major blisters, cold feet or basic slipping on loose rocks. The terrain is unforgiving, make no mistake, it's not flat, so invest wisely,
Down Jacket RAB 800 down and Arcteryx wind stopper and down lightweight trekking jacket. These were my absolute essentials. The RAB I used every night at guesthouses and also from Loubche to EBC and Kalla Pattar. The Arcteryx wind stopper I barely needed as it was sunny every day except the last few, weather changed suddenly to almost snowing and freezing high winds. The Arcteryx day down lightweight was the the best of all, so warm, so lightweight which I wore over a heavy Patagonia fleece, thermals, etc.
Other must haves
- rope for a clothes line in your room. After trekking you will sweat so you need to get out of sweaty clothes fast and let them dry or you will freeze.
- solar charger I purchased Power Monkey, hung it off my back pack whilst hiking and basically had better charge than the solar charge higher up that you pay 350 rupee for one hour or 500 rupee for full charge, but it can take almost a day to charge an iPhone higher up on solar in guesthouses. The cold as everyone says drains your battery exceptionally fast so I slept with all my batteries and electronics every night, and kept them on me throughout the day in my down jackets.
- hand and feet warmers buy from pharmacy, amazing how good these are when you get to Gorek Shep and beyond.
- sleeping bag I hired and was rated minus 30 and it was, but still needed at least two blankets plus two Nalgenes full of hot water to stay warm
- buffs incredibly important unless you like breathing freezing cold air and dust
- thermals two pairs wool a must for staying warm
- clothing that is all made from wool because after not washing for 10 days it still did not smell and drys very fast when washed.
- two trekking poles. There are a lot of people trying to prove they are tough by not using poles or taking diamox etc but let me tell you, I met a guy once on the Namche acclimatization hike who had no poles because he was trying to be tough and I said well it's either use more energy and get AMS or knee injuries etc and a helicopter ride out of here or get some poles. Next day after that hike he had poles times two.
- diamox is another one where people think it's a badge of go out if you didn't take diamox. Frankly know one cares, so I took it almost from Lukla and then drank 5 liters of water a day but I didn't suffer once. People who didn't take it were either flown out or suffered in their opinion immensely.
- insurance is a MUST because there is a lot that can go wrong, AMS, twisted ankles, eye infections, food poisoning etc etc
- cash take at least 70,000 rupee, 35,000 for incidentals like charging, hot water, food etc and then 35,000 in case there is an emergency because insurance can take time, cash is king and will get you out of any situation.
- first aid kit with nurofen, anti histamine for the coughs you will develop, deep heat for muscles, paracetamol. Most important eye drops and electrical tape for blister prevention, band aids do not work or stay on.
3. Health
I was lucky that my guide had 12 years experience, had trekked that route over 100 times and had also climbed to South Col on Everest. He told me from Lukla, no meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc, only vegetable and noodles etc.
I also took purification tabs but never used one because everyone I met was buying bottled water or boiled water which is what I did.
I stopped smoking after Lukla and never drank alcohol.
People who are eggs and cheese or alcohol paid dearly with vomiting etc. of course not all the time, it was a gamble. Trust me, you don't want to be sick up there when you see the guesthouses or toilet areas.
Wipes I took for my daily wash. I never had hot water but basically it was too cold to strip down even for a few minutes.
Water is your best friend, I drank 5 liters a day but also ate double the calories I normally eat at home and still lost weight. I drank one litre in the morning, two whilst hiking, one at dinner and then one throughout the night
I know this bit seems crude but when you drink this much you may need the toilet as much as 3 to 4 times a night, so as a man I had two spare Nalgene bottles for a toilet meaning I never had to get out of my sleeping bag or suffer the pain of waiting. I will let you work this bit out, practice before you go on the trek, it makes such a difference. Note I had 2 liters a night.
That's about it really, take a head torch, handy at night especially for those toilet trips. If you have any questions please email me
Thanks
Written 8 January 2016
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Why is there snow on top of the mountain if it’s in South Asia???? Did the government make this mountain to hide something????
Written 28 November 2020
Hi there,
Would it be possible to know if there are any official private guides available mid May for a small group to do everest base camp please?
Thanks
Reena
Written 16 February 2020
anyone want to go Nepal for do adventure ?
Written 19 December 2019
If you want to visit 2020 everest base camp text question plz ..
Written 23 November 2019
Hiking to Base Camp with my 12 year o
ld son at end of October. Have read an awful lot or horror stories about Altitude Sickness which have made m extremely nervous. Aside from staying dehydrated with at least 3-4L of water per day; walking very slowly; taking Diamox & Ibuprofen before, during and after the trek; is there anything else to help avoid it, please?
Written 20 August 2019
Trekking on the Himalaya you have to consider about previsions of altitude sickness. You must to drink hot water in the morning and evening to avoid hypothermia. You should drink 3L water every day during the trek (better to drink before 4 pm ). You should have changed your walking inner cloths avoid pneumonia. Walking slowly way up and rest on every 100m up. Every day overnight not gain 400m altitude. And every 1000m you must have to overnight 1 day more rest. Even more important thing to do a day hike height gain 200m elevation than your overnight lodge altitude. If you are able to do such thing you avoid taking any kinds of altitude medication.
Written 22 September 2019
Hello all, in April this year l lost an SD camera memory card on the Mt Everest base camp trek. I know it’s a needle in a haystack possibility but if you have happened to find one please contact me by responding to this message, thanks sue
Written 1 June 2019
Impossible task. So many sq meters to look not even including hiking trails
Written 6 June 2019
anyone want to go everest base camp trek??
Written 28 May 2019
Hello there, im booked with Intrepid for April 2020 so its reassuring to hear that.
Jim
Written 15 November 2019
Hi
I am visiting nepal on June. Will be visiting Kathmandu, Pokhara and Nagarkot. Would like to know if there is any place where I can view mount everest without Hiking or anything like this. I do know that we can view from far from Nagarkot. But if we want to get closer, is there any place? Please suggest. Thanks
Written 2 May 2019
The view from Nagarkot is weather-dependent, so, I would want to ensure a view. A fly-by is a good way to go about it, or a helicopter trip is also an option, both expensive, but, amazing views. A shorter trek would be Pikey Peak, which Sir Edmund Hilary declared is the best view of Everest. I suppose it also depends on your budget.
Written 6 May 2019
How much better is the view of Everest from Kala Pathar compared to say Tangboche, Kumjung village or the Everest view hotel?... ie; if EBC is not a priority, is Kala Pathar worth the extra trek ?
Written 13 March 2019
Hi David, it is much better to have excellent views of Everset from Kalapattar than Tengboche, Khumjung or Everest view hotel. It is worth taking Kalapattar.
Written 18 March 2019
Hi , we are doing the trek in June, can't wait.Do you have the contact info for your private guide. Did you get them in Lukla or KTM? Can you provide the list of Tea Houses you Liked / stayed in. Thank you, great review.
Written 5 March 2019
Yes, I can guide you in Kathmandu! Do not hesitate to ask through this forum. We love to be your assistance even if it is so small matter.
Written 18 March 2019
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