What do you visualize when you think of "trekking in the mountains"? Some steep slopes, long walks, snowy trial, physical strain, and a lot of heartwarming and majestic views of nature, isn't it? Now, replace the phrase with "trekking to the Everest Base Camp." You must be visualizing everything mentioned above but with the majestic view of Mount Everest from the Kalapatthar viewpoint.
What we are trying to say from these sentences is that the Everest Base Camp trek is also challenging to accomplish as it is a walk to an altitude of 5545 meters. Because of various obstacles and factors affecting the trek, its difficulty is ranked as moderately complex.
Everest Base Camp is the camp that is also the commencing point of the expedition to the peak of the world, Mount Everest (8,848 meters). The journey to the EBC starts from Lukla. The route passes through frequent weather changes, rugged terrain, physical strain, less oxygen, and many more challenges. However, with all these challenges comes the mind-boggling views of snowy peaks, lush green forests, beautiful cultures and traditions, remote lifestyle, and hospitality the locals provide.
We cannot deny that this base camp trek is suggested only for experienced trekkers because of the difficulty and obstacles they can experience during their journey. Please keep up with the blog, as this blog will let you know how difficult the Everest Base Camp is.
However, before starting with the difficulties, trekkers can experience during the Everest Base Camp and the ways to overcome Everest Base Camp difficulties, let's see what attracts the tourists so much to visit the Everest Base Camp even though the route is so challenging and arduous.
Major Attractions of the Everest Base Camp Trek
- The satisfaction of being at the base of the world's roof, Mount Everest (8848 meters), and getting the best view of Everest from Kalapatthar viewpoint (5545 meters).
- Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sagarmatha National Park, and sightseeing different flora and fauna.
- A chance to spend a night at the Everest View Hotel, the world's highest guesthouse.
- Get a chance to put your physical and mental strength to the test, along with a fantastic view of the Everest region.
- Pass through the local lifestyle, learn about the local cultures and traditions, and feel the heart-touching hospitality the people offer during the journey.
- Meet several peak climbers in the Everest region and share experiences with them.
What makes the Everest Base Camp Difficult?
We have been telling you that the Everest Base Camp is difficult. It is only recommended to experienced trekkers and similar things. So, you might be thinking, what factors make this trek moderately complicated? From the subheading, you might have already understood that your question is about to be answered in this section. So, let's know some of the major factors making the Everest Base Camp trek comparatively difficult:
High Altitude
The first thing that you should know or you might already know (most probably) is that the Everest Base Camp trek's final stop is at Kalapatthar, at 5545 meters above the sea-level. To better understand the altitude, Mount Everest's peak is just 3,303 meters from the Kalapatthar.
What we tried to explain from the above paragraph is that the journey to the Everest Base Camp is very challenging as you will have to ascend a long distance every day with the minimum amount of rest. Besides, the high altitude also causes more and more physical strain. Because of that, the trek becomes more and more difficult as much as you ascend.
However, remember that we have said challenging/difficult, not impossible. So with proper planning and preparation and the company of an experienced and licensed guide or porter, you can reach the base of Mount Everest safely.
Limitations in food and Accommodation
As you reach the higher altitude, you will slowly experience the habitat getting thinner and transportation getting almost close to impossible. This directly corresponds to the limitations of food, tea houses, and lodges. You might also have to make your own camp and stay at some places if you visit in the off-season, as most of the tea houses and lodges will be closed because of extreme temperatures.
This might cause difficulties while visiting the Everest Base Camp, so trekkers must be more cautious and prepared. Furthermore, the cost of food and accommodation also gets higher as much as you ascend because of difficulties in transportation and habitation. Therefore, the trekkers must carry essential snacks and liquids to keep them energized and hydrated throughout the journey, even if the accommodation and food are limited.
Contrast in Geographics
The Everest Base Camp is located in a remote part of Nepal, less developed than the Kathmandu Valley. Furthermore, the geographical distinction or unbalanced topology makes proper development difficult in this region.
Therefore, you will experience that the Everest Base Camp region lacks many facilities available in the other part of the country. Besides, the digital divide is also one of the worst problems in this region for several reasons. These circumstances make it difficult for trekkers to have an easy trekking experience.
Besides, you must cross several regions while trekking, where people only communicate in their local language. As a result, many foreign trekkers might not be able to communicate with the local people, which also causes a lack of proper assistance during difficult situations.
Cultural Differences
One of the major attractions of the Everest Base Camp trek is the unique culture and tradition among the Everest region's locals. However, this is also a difficulty for foreign trekkers as they may not be used to the different practices in these cultures and traditions.
The main habitats of the Everest region are the Sherpa people, who have a distinct lifestyle utterly different from the ones in the urban areas. You might have heard a saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Remember the same when you visit the Everest Base Camp and try to respect the Sherpa culture and tradition.
Nepalese traditions have some restrictions which might not exist anywhere else. For instance, you must wear dresses that cover your shoulders and legs while entering temples or religious places. Moreover, several other practices are complicated for foreign people as they might not believe in such practices or traditions. However, the trekkers are responsible for understanding and respecting the cultural variations of the places they visit.
Overcoming the Difficulty
A true trekker wants to overcome all the challenges and reach the Everest Base Camp rather than cancel the plan after knowing about the challenges. If you read this blog, we are sure you also come within such trekkers. So, to make it easier for you and help you visit the Everest Base Camp, here are a few ways to overcome the abovementioned difficulties.
Proper training and experience
Everest Base Camp is only possible with proper training and prior experience. Therefore, we request all the trekkers start working out at least six months before visiting the Everest Base Camp trek.
You can start running, working out, exercising, playing several outdoor games, taking adequate rest, and eating healthy to increase physical strength and gain more stamina. Furthermore, trekkers who want to visit the Everest Base Camp should also avoid bad habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, etc.
Also, it will benefit the trekkers if they visit at least one or two short trekking journies before visiting the Everest Base Camp. This will help them adapt to altitude and help in acclimatization and altitude sickness while ascending the Everest Base Camp trek.
Keep a steady pace
Whenever you visit any place that requires high physical strength, always remember to have a slow but steady pace. Do not panic or hurry while ascending the Everest Base Camp trek. Remember that you must walk for 5-7 hours almost daily except on the acclimatization days. If you do not keep a steady pace, you may get into several illnesses and other problems.
Your health and well-being matter the most, so to keep yourself from getting into physical or health-related problems, we recommend you ascend slowly but steadily. Do not try to reach ahead of your guide.
Keep following the path led by your guide or porter, and keep maintaining the pace they suggest. Remember that the Everest Base Camp trek is snow-covered, so you must be very cautious in every step you take toward the base camp.
Hire an ideal and licensed guide or porter
One of the best things you can do to be safe and successful is to hire a professional and licensed guide. You can find a lot of trekking agencies on the internet providing trekking packages and guides or porters. However, we recommend you research before hiring any guide or porter. You can also find a blog about the difficulties of visiting the Everest Base Camp without a guide.
A perfect guide can enhance your trekking experience by more than 60% to 70% because they can help you in every step right from the beginning to the end of the trip. You will get to walk freely as your backpacks will be carried by the porters. The guides can help you learn new things about the Everest region and establish a communication channel between you and the Everest Base Camp trek region locals.
Wait! the above section says that the Everest Base Camp trek is challenging, but still, this is one of the most visited treks in Nepal. Does this make sense? We are sure these are exactly what the readers are thinking but don't worry, the next topic will justify your curiosity.
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Why is Everest Base Camp trek one of the most visited treks in Nepal?
Trekkers are people who want to avoid walking an easy path. Once you are into trekking, you will enjoy a course full of obstacles, rugged terrain, steep slopes, and more. This is exactly what Everest Base Camp lets you experience. When a trekker sets off for the Everest Base Camp trek, they will pass through several uphills and downhills, many suspension bridges, and rocky and rugged paths.
These paths provide eternal happiness and satisfaction to those who love trekking and challenges. Besides, there are much more factors that attract so many trekkers to the Everest Base Camp trek despite being difficult, and here are some of those factors:
Stunning Scenery
The Everest Base Camp trek has natural beauty and mind-blowing, magical scenery. Trekkers can experience the relief of being surrounded by the tallest peaks, green forests, and the beauty of the rocky hills. Besides, you can also get to see many clean rivers, including the Dudh Koshi River and many suspension bridges. Similarly, terrace farming, farms, yaks grazing, and small yet peaceful villages are like a treatment of eyes and satisfaction to the soul.
No matter how hard and challenging the path is, a panoramic view of the Everest region is always waiting for you. Here is a thing to boost your motivation while ascending the Everest Base Camp, "the higher you go, the more beautiful and heart-melting the view of the Everest region gets." Moreover, imagine seeing the closest view of the tallest peak in the world from a height of 5545 meters. How cool would that be?
You might have already understood why people visit this challenging base camp from these two paragraphs. However, there are more reasons to justify the popularity of the EBC trek amongst trekkers worldwide.
Feeling of Achievement
Reaching the Everest Base Camp is a dream of many trekkers or even ordinary people. Therefore, when someone gets the Everest Base Camp, they feel like they have achieved a lifetime achievement.
Not everyone can reach the altitude of 5545 meters after walking for so many hours, bearing such extreme temperatures, passing through the rugged tracks, and interacting with so many locals who are completely unaware of their lifestyle. Therefore, this automatically gives a sense of achievement and encourages trekkers to go on an expedition.
Furthermore, the Everest Base Camp is not just about reaching the top; it is also about understanding the lifestyle of people living in remote areas of the country. When the trekkers return from the Everest Base Camp, they will know more about the Sherpa culture and tradition.
Moreover, some trekkers also get touched by the lifestyle of that region and come again to support the Everest region and do different types of social work. This also gives them the satisfaction of humanity and encourages the trekkers to support many other local trekking regions and people living there.
Adventure and Challenges
As mentioned earlier, the Everest Base Camp lets the trekkers overcome different challenges, and the trial to the Everest Base Camp is full of adventures. Far away from the influence of the urban world and its facilities, the EBC is such a place that teaches people to keep working hard and keep struggling. A beauiful result will always be waiting for you at the end of your struggle. If you give up before reaching the Everest Base Camp, you might never be able to see the cleanest view of Mount Everest or any other high peaks.
Everest Base Camp requires a lot of physical strength and mental stability. You will meet one or the other obstacle throughout your journey. Still, with proper preparation, planning, and support from an ideal, experienced, and licensed guide, Everest Base Camp is not as complex or challenging as you think it should be.
Cultural Experience and Festivals
Nepal is one of those rare countries which has at least one festival every month of the year. Besides, how people celebrate these festivals is so unique that you will never find such celebrations anywhere else in the world. Talking about culture and festivals, the remote area of Nepal can show you the cultural diversity and the way to celebrate all the festivals far better than you can experience them in the urban areas.
Dashain, Tihar, Lhosar, Maghe Sankranti, Ubhauli, Udhauli, etc., are some of the highly celebrated festivals in the Everest region. You will experience a unique style of celebrating each of these festivals. Besides that, there are also several local festivals and celebrations which will give happiness to your soul.
Talking about the culture, trekkers will get to see some of the most unique and outstanding cultural practices in the Everest region. The way people provide hospitality to the foreign trekkers, the way they live together with each other, the way they do farming even in such extreme regions, the dresses the local's wear, the foods eaten there, and also the houses they live in are enough to make the trekkers think that they are not in the Earth where they used to live.
Trek with Eco Holidays Nepal
When it comes to a safe yet affordable trekking agency, Eco Holidays Nepal is the first choice of many experienced trekkers. Our agency has helped many foreign tourists experience the best of the Everest Base Camp trek. We are a highly skilled and authentic trekking agency certified by Nepal Tourism Board. Furthermore, here are some other reasons that make Eco Holidays Nepal one of Nepal's highly preferred trekking agencies.
Certification and Licenses
Eco Holidays Nepal is a certified trekking agency that has also been appreciated with the certification of excellence in 2022. Furthermore, we are also licensed by the Tourism Board. All the guides and porters that we offer are also licensed and experienced. No matter which treks you choose, our guides and porters will be ready to help you have a safe and adventurous experience. Therefore, you will not have to worry about certification issues when choosing us as your trekking partner at the Everest Base Camp.
Trekkers-friendly itineraries
We provide trekkers with the best itineraries that give them adequate time for acclimatizing and resting. Besides, you can also increase the days in the itineraries at your convenience because our main motive is to provide satisfaction to all the trekkers who take us as their trekking companions. We ensure that you can complete the trek in time with us, as our guides and itinerary models are made for the efficiency of the trekkers.
Cultural Enlightenment and Interaction with Locals
Our guides and porters know almost everything about the Everest Base Camp or the Everest region. Therefore, you can ask them anything about the area and expect their best answers. Furthermore, as most of our guides are locals of the Everest region, they will also help you communicate with other locals and know more about their lifestyle, culture, and tradition.
Final Words
The Everest Base Camp trek is indeed complex and challenging and requires a lot of physical and mental strength. Besides, trekkers also need to be highly prepared for unpredicted circumstances like changes in weather, sudden rainfall, and many more.
Visiting the Everest Base Camp without proper training and preparation might be one of the worst decisions. However, this trek is also one of Nepal's most visited trekking routes because adequate preparation, activeness, positive mindset, and hiring a good guide or porter make this trek one of the best and the most adventurous treks in entire Nepal.
We request all enthusiast trekkers to be very careful while visiting the Everest Base Camp, get ready to experience the views of a lifetime, and come across the most unique and beautiful culture in the Everest region.
Being a Nepali agency, we welcome you to the Everest Base Camp trek and wish you the best, even if you choose us as your trekking partner. Also, we hope that reading our blog helps you understand the difficulties and the ways to overcome them during your journey to the base camp of the tallest mountain in the world.
FAQs
Is the Everest Base Camp trek rarely visited because of its difficulty?
No, despite being so difficult, you will be surprised that the Everest Base Camp is one of the most frequently visited base camp treks. The reasons behind this are the stunning views, chances to see the snow-covered mountains, the feeling of achievement, and many more.
What are the most important preparations before visiting the Everest Base Camp?
Visiting the Everest Base Camp trek requires proper physical strength and mental stability. For this, we recommend the trekkers work out daily, play different outdoor sports, research, talk to experienced trekkers, meditate, eat healthily, and rest adequately.
How important is hiring a licensed and professional guide for the Everest Base Camp trek?
Without hiring a licensed guide, trekking to the Everest Base Camp trek is banned by the Nepal Government. Besides that, guides are essential for having a safe tour, learning new things about the journey and the area, cultural education, interacting with the locals, and many other reasons.