Everest Base Camp Trek - The most famous trek in Nepal

The Everest Base Camp is located on either of the side of Mount Everest. The popular Everest base camp trek is the South Base one. The South Base Camp is in Nepal while the North Base Camp is in Tibet. These Camps serve as the base for those trekking upwards to Mount Everest. The camp side is surrounded by the daunting high Mt. Everest, with some of the world's highest and most magnificent peaks in the background.

Difficulty level - Difficult Highest Elevation - 18,513 feet Starting point - Lukla

Landscape

The beauty of this trek is that there are world's tallest mountain peaks surrounding the base camp in the midst of green valley. You will also traverse through high passes and white glaciers. Live snowfall can also be experienced while doing the EBC trek.

Best time for EBC trek

The best time to go on this trek is during April to October, except the rainy months of July and August. You will experience a blue sky and clear atmosphere during the second window, with lesser crowd as Everest summit won't be happening during that time.

How to reach the starting point of Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek?

Lukla is the starting point for EBC trek. You will have to first reach Kathmandu in Nepal. From Kathmandu you will have to take a flight to Lukla which is around 35 minutes away. The flight will be quite adventurous with the plane going above valleys and mountain ranges and villages of Nepal. From there, the trek to Phakding will begin which is at an altitude of 2652 metres. The entire trekking time is around 3 to 4 hours and the trail will pass through small villages and mountain ranges.

Itinerary of EBC trek

Day 1: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440 m; 5-6 hours)

On this day you will be trekking to Namcge Bazaarwhich is a very hyped up place with different coffee shops, restaurants and many other extra curricular activities to do.. You will be able to get a beautiful view of the Everest and Lhotse from here. IN Namche Bazaar, the places to visit are the Namche Museum, the market place and the Namche Monastery.

Day 2: Namche to Tengboche (3440-3860 m; 5 hours)

Tengboche is a small village and it is one of the most beautiful places to visit along the trek. The trek will take around 5 hours to complete and the trail is quite difficult to traverse.

Day 3: Tengboche to Dingboche (3860-4360 m;6-7 hours)

From the Pangboche village the glorious views of Mount Ama Dablam is visible.The trail will lead onwards to Pheriche and then to Imja Valley. On the trail, the Lobuche River will be visible and the hike to Dingboche is quite steep and hence, will be difficult.

Day 4: Dingboche to Dughla (4360-4620 m; 3 hours)

Today’s trek will be very short. Along the trail, you will be able to get a beautiful view of the Pumori Mountin as well as that of a glacial lake. You will also be crossing the Dhudkoshi River. The beautiful wall of Khumbu is also visible from this place.

Day 5: Lobuche to Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp (4620-5364 m; 6-7 hours)

Today’s trail is a complete glacial route. Along the way you will be getting glimpses of the Everest Mountain. The Khumbu ice wall will be clearly visible on today’s trek. In order to get a clear view of the Everest mountain, you will have to visit Kala Patthar.

Day 6: Kala Patthar to Pheriche (5364-5645 m; 6 hours)

The hike to Kala Patthar is very difficult and will be the most challenging part in the entire trek. From here, the entire Peak of Everest will be clearly visible and the view is a mesmerizing one. From here you can return to Pheriche.

Day 7: Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

On this day you will be returning to Namche Bazaar  and there is a bit of hiking to do before Tengboche and after Phungi Thanga.

Day 8: Namche Bazaar to Lukla

This day marks the end of the trek as you will be returning to Lukla. From here you can take a flight bound to Kathmandu.

Cellular network for Everest Base Camp Trek

You will have mobile connectivity till Dole. However, you will also have internet connectivity in tea houses at all locations except Labouche. Tea houses allow you the use of electricity charging points at an additional cost, which can be quite high. For local sim, N Cell or Nepal telecom are suggested. For reliable phone coverage, you can buy a cheap candybar CDMA phone and put a CDMA sim ( Nepal telecom aka NTC sells CDMA sim under the name Skyphone). With this you get reception everywhere in in Nepal and the Everest Valley.