Tips for Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Trekking Everest Base Camp has been on our top adventure list for many years.
We learned quite a bit hike up to 5364 meters and have some valuable tips that we want to share with any future trekkers to make your life easier.
It is not the scary daunting experience that people imagine it to be, trekking to base camp is actually a lot of fun and hopefully these points will help you with your future climbs and make it just a little bit more comfortable on the way up.
Tips are in no particular order, they are just written down as we learned them.
1. Bring cash USD and Rupees. There are no ATMs in Lukla or Namche Bazaar. Exchange rates are also very dismal so bring rupees with you at least $200 worth.
2. There is free wifi in Lukla and Namche Bazaar if you want to bring your laptop or iphone. You a can always leave gear at Namche Bazaar and pick it up on your way down. Internet is very expensive up on the mountain.
- Lukla wifi location – Internet at “Starbucks” Coffee
- Namche wifi location- Everest Bakery
- Regular costs of Internet with slow connections – 10 NPR/minute below Namche Bazar 25 NPR per minute above Namche Bazaar
- (72 NPR = $1 USD)
3. Bring your own tea – tea is very expensive on Everest and it is cheaper to buy hot water and use your own tea bags. Bring a variety of teas as well for more enjoyment.
4. Buy your gear in Kathmandu – trekking poles, hats, gloves, socks, down jackets, sleeping bags etc. Everything is cheap cheap cheap. There is fake, good quality North Face, Mountain Hardwear and Marmot clothing. There is even a Mountain Hardware and North Face authentic store that offers great deals. Everything you could possibly need to climb to Everest Base Camp is available in Nepal. If you need it or forgot it, you can get it.
5. Bring chocolate and any treats that you want- This is our very important tip for you! Pringles and chocolate are expensive and having your own little stash for treats is nice. Sometimes when the altitude gets to us, the only thing that feels good going down is chocolate. It is a good idea to have some with you and you can buy it in Kathmandu.
-Book Locally:
We trekked with Dipendra of Kathmandu and he has become a great friend. We still keep in touch, He took good care of us and has since opened his own company. With over a decade of guiding experience in the Himalayas, you will be in good hands with Deep. He hired local porters and is a locally run business and we wanted to give him a shout out for his kind heart and great work. If you want to book with him, you can visit his website here and tell him Dave and Deb sent you!
Everest Base Camp Treks, Mustang, Annapurna and more with Simrik Real Nepal
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6. Tang – Bring tang to flavour your water. Water can get pretty boring and you have to stay hydrated at altitude. Flavoured water helps you to drink more and is far more enjoyable than just water all the time.
7. Bring a water purifier or purification tablets - help save the environment and your pocket book. Just fill water as you go for free anywhere and purify it yourself.
8. Pack a map and Lonely Planet EBC trekking book (or guide book of your choice) – you will want to reference regularly, check altitude symptoms, illnesses, your route and what to expect.
9. Bring a book – Trekking to base camp takes several days and it can get a little boring at times. You may only have the energy to lay in bed and read a book, so bring a good one. You can buy books in Kathmandu and at Namche Bazaar.
10. Handi wipes – Don’t worry about showering much. Nobody does on Everest and we all smell. Showers are not very appealing at -10 degrees and you can go for days without properly washing. Handiwipes and hand sanitizer at least helps keep you healthy.
11. Sit at either the front or back of plane on the left hand side when flying to Lukla for best views. The Himalayas are on the left and the front and back are not obscured by the wings of the plane. Sit here for your first glimpse of Mount Everest before your trek. It will help to build the excitement and the view is awe inspiring.
12. Don’t eat any meat after Namche Bazaar. Meat is carried up the mountain. They do not kill the animals on site. Sherpas trek the meat in for days and it is not guaranteed to be fresh.
13. Don’t be afraid of the suspension bridge – Ok, this may seem like a weird tip, but I had heard about the bridges to Everest being terrifying and freaked myself out. They are safe and in great condition. I actually enjoyed walking along the bridges and the gorges. It was beautiful. I think that years ago it was scarier when the bridges were rickety, but now they are well made and maintained.
14. Give Yaks and Sherpa’s the right of way at all times. When a yak train comes, move to the mountain side to get out of the way. You don’t want to be nudged off a cliff by a yak. Sherpa’s and porters work hard on Everest, they are constantly taking supplies up and down the mountain. Help make their life easier by staying out of their way.
15. Keep batteries close to your body at all times. Sleep with them in your sleeping bags. Charging batteries is very expensive per hour (almost $5 per hour) The cold drains batteries quickly, extend their life by keeping them warm.
Charges for batteries = Near or below Namche Bazaar 100-150 NPR/hour – Closer to Base Camp 300 NPR/hour
16.When you arrive at Tengboche, go and see the monks chant at 06:00 and 15:00 pm, it is very cool. It is a nice break from trekking to give your mind a break and listen to the music of the monks chant. It clears your senses and lets you relax for the day ahead. It is also an incredible cultural experience.
17. The best views are in the morning (at least when we were there)- the clouds roll in quickly and obscure the panoramas, so take your photos early. You can see Everest from a few points on the Everest Base Camp trek. From Namche Bazaar and at Tengboche are two awesome sites. Take your photos early for memories to last forever.
18. On your way to Namche Bazaar, stop for lunch at Jorsale just past the suspension bridge. it is the final place for any food or water until Namche which is 2 hours straight up! You will need your energy for this climb.
19. Do some shopping in Namche Bazaar, we found some great deals that rivaled Kathmandu contrary to popular belief. The Sherpa Store was one of our favorite places and a portion of the sales go to help the Sherpas and Porters in the Everest Region.
20. Take your time. It is not a race and nobody is judging how quickly you get up the hill. Acclimatize properly, drink plenty of water and if you need to take an extra rest day. Nobody is going to ask you how long it took you to get to Everest Base Camp, they are just going to be amazed that you did it. Your guide and porter will not mind if you hire them for an extra day or two. They will be glad for the work. Treks are flexible on Everest if you book in Kathmandu or when you arrive in Lukla.
21. Give yourself a few days after the trek before you have to fly home. Flights were delayed for 3 days near the end of our trek. Some people were stuck in Lukla for 3 days waiting with no way out. If they had to fly the next day home, they would have missed their flight.
22. Everything you need can be bought in Kathmandu. From Tang to tea and from medication to books and maps. Don’t stress too much if you forgot something at home.
23. Have a good first aid kit. Diamox is a must for altitude symptoms. Follow the directions and take 1/2 of a 500 mg tablet twice a day. Make sure to have decongestants, Advil or your choice of pain reliever, lip balm and sunscreen is a must. I had a woman give me salve for my sinuses to moisten them. My nasal cavities dried out and I suffered from severe nose bleeds which were quite scary. I will always have a lubricant for my nose from now on.
24. For our packing a list for Everest trekking, check out tips here at Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek
25. Bring two pairs of sunglasses. I had a pair of sunglasses break when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and it could have easily happened on Everest. At high altitudes snow blindness is a high possibility so you don’t want to take the risk of not having protection for your eyes.
26. Respect local culture and keep prayer flags to the right of your path. Prayer rocks, walls and flags are meant to be kept to the right at all times. It is a custom to follow what the local people believe. Also ask before taking any photographs, many people do not want their photos taken.
27. Put your hair up. Ladies, this is for you. If you have long hair, put it in a braid early on in the trek. I walked with my hair down wearing a hat and a few days in I had full on dread locks. If I would have put it in a french braid or a couple of braided pig tails a la Anne of Green Gables, I would have saved my hair and not have had to cut off 4 inches after the trek!
28. Hire your porter or guide in either Kathmandu or better yet when you arrive in Lukla on the plane. Prices are expensive when you book from your own country and if you book your guides in Nepal, you can be sure that more money is going directly to them as opposed to large corporations. There are many porters and guides that will meet you at the plane when your flight comes in to Lukla that are very experienced and capable. Plus, You have the added bonus of being able to interview them and see if you get on and you save money by not having to pay for their flight from Kathmandu.
Do you have some helpful tips or advice to climb to Everest Base Camp or even some things that you have learned from other treks that you have done? We would love to hear them.
We climbed with our good friend Dipendra in Nepal, a guide with over a decade of experience.
More posts on Everest Base Camp Trekking
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 7
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 6
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 5
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 4
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 3
- Everest Base Camp Adventure- Part 2
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Day 1
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – The Arrival
- Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek
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Really good advice! I’ve definitely added this adventure to my “bucket list” – don’t know when I’ll get to it, but I will, and when I do I’m going to follow your advice to the letter!
.-= Trisha Miller´s last blog ..Review: Understanding Google Analytics =-.
Thanks Trisha. Glad to know that advice helped. We learned a lot during our two weeks up there and can’t wait to go back to tackle the 3 passes.
Very very good tips! Great to know about sleeping with the batteries to keep them warm for longer life, and for #10, I definitely neglect showers at all times when doing anything related to outdoors, sounds like a fit!
.-= Migration Mark´s last blog ..Rules of Engorgement: Burger Hut Nairobi =-.
Mark, we always seem to neglect the showers too. In Africa we went 6 days through the desert without washing and regularly miss our daily showers when doing anything sports related. When we came back from Africa we actually had a hard time getting back in the routine of showering daily.
Great advice. Although, I think that some of it would apply to a lot of places such as bring a book or sunglasses, but the other stuff was interesting. It gave a good description of what it is like there with all the tips on giving Yaks the right of way and the tip on eating meat.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Sandboarding =-.
Very true Steve. Although I want to reiterate that we wrote to bring extra sunglasses. Our porters sunglasses broke and we lent him a pair. Snow blindness is very real up there.
Thanks for this post, it’s useful for me
but about travelling to south america, it’s also great
__________________
Latino Guy
Latino Portal
This trek is on my list too and I read your tips with an earnestness I usually reserve for grocery store labels (I am aergic to wheat). Thank you so much — your list is heartfelt, thorough and practical. Another reason why this is one of my all time fave blogs!
Excellent! We just went to EBC on the Tibet side. It definitely sounds much better on the Nepal side.
I don’t know Ninfa, I think that the Tibet side would be amazing! Far less people and probably more authentic? What do you think?
Those are some great tips. But I have to say it – bring a book? I can hardly keep my eyes open after a day of tramping with my young kids here in NZ (LOL); well done for being able to read a book
.-= Merav | AllWays Rental´s last blog ..Give Your Senses a Boost of Dramatic Scenery and Chocolate =-.
Haha, Actually I think a book is better for inspiration while you are at home. It is better to save your energy while you are traveling
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Thanks for the advice. I’m headed out next month to travel for a year and Nepal is a must hit destination for me but I’m worried about an Everest Base Camp trek. I tend to get altitude sickness when I ski (at much lower altitudes) and normally lose a day of skiing each trip. After I get past that one day I’m fine but the base camp trek has me worried. Did you see a lot of people with problems on your trek?
Scott
Hey Scott,
Thanks for stopping by. Altitude sickness is a real concern on the Everest Base Camp trek. We had been to altitude before and had an idea of how our bodies would react. But we still took Diamox to help with the altitude. It seems to me that you know the symptoms and when it occurs. My advice would be to take it really slow and schedule in some extra rest days so that if you do get symptoms you can walk down a bit and then continue when you feel up to it.
Really good advice for the Everest Base camp Trekkers in Nepal. Your Experience is great… please follow this instruction…
Such valuable advice!Thank you so much,i’ll be going for the EBC trek next week.May i know the rough temperature above namche if you know please.Do i need a down jacket,or a fleece is good enough?
This advice will help a lot.I also use this advice when i go for a Gorilla Trekking.again thanks.
Hey, i was just wondering is it advisable to wait until i get to kathmandu to book the trek and how much does it cost? I assume its a lot cheaper to book it when i get there but i dont want to arrive and have it all booked up!
Hi Conor, Yes, it is better to wait until Kathmandu. We know of a couple of guys that could give you a good deal. If we were to do it again, we’d fly to Lukla before booking a guide and hire once we land for the EBC Trek. There are a ton of porters waiting at the airplane each day ready and willing to take trekkers for a great deal. Take your time and interview them and see who is good at English and what kind of deal they’ll give you. It is much cheaper to book when you get there. A lot of people did it on their own as well, but booking a guide is cost effective. We didn’t have to worry about food or accommodation and when we talked to people that had to haggle and barter each day when they got into the next village, they ended up paying a lot. In comparison, I think we paid less for a porter and guide with meals and accommodation than the people that did it on their own and carried their own packs. Send us a message through our contact form and we’ll give you some information. Cheers.
These information are very useful for my upcoming trek to Everest base camp thank you
How much did it cost to you do the trek?
It was under $1000 each. I am afraid that I can’t remember 100% exactly, but I’ll look through my records and see if I can find the price. Booking locally was very reasonable. When I look at the prices online today I can’t get over how much it costs and we only did this trek 2 years ago.
as a Nepali i like this reference of the Mt Everest Base Camp Trek, thanks Dave and Deb,
all the wishes from magic Himalayan country of Nepal and Nepalese family,
regard
simbir ghale
Hi Simbir, you have a beautiful country and we are honoured that you stopped by. Thank you and best wishes to you too!
hi
Where do you book your flights to Lukla from? There doesnt seem to be that much information on this on the web. Can you just go to a tourist agency in Thamel or do you need to book at the airport itself?
Cheers.
Hi Rich, you can book a flight at a Tourist agency in Kathmandu for a flight to Lukla. Cheers.
Thanks very much!
Hi,
When did you’ll do this treck? didn’t come across the dates?
hi, after reading this i really want to do it…i am from australia, do i just book flights to kathmandu and look for local porters/guides there…..what if i go there and they are all booked out? how much did you pay for the everest base camp trekking package?
your help will be priceless, thank you =)
warm regards michelle
It was my good fortune in the life to be Guide of Dave & Deb for Everest Base camp Trekking.
Simrik Real Nepal Treks & Expedition (P) Ltd, Is one of the renowned and popular Nepal tour operators, organize tours, everest base camp trekking, other mountain expeditions and trekking in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India. Established in 2008, our professional everest base camp trekking, other mountain trekking and mountain guides are at the top of their field with a decade of guiding and high altitude experience. Simrik Real Nepal installs new standards of services in the tour industry, have always been on the forefront of incorporating new ways to increase the comfort levels of it’s guests and giving them the best deals in the cheapest rates for travel and trekking in Nepal.
I am always able to provide excellent service to my valuable clients according to Dave & Deb’s recommendation. I am standby in Nepal to serve Mount Everest Base camp Trekking for whole season of the year.
Trekking Guide & Friend of Dave & Deb
Deependra Simkhada (Deep)
009779849430866
Great list! But I’m not interested to do so. I’m afraid of heights and I can’t stand the cold! Even if its only climbing a ladder, my knees shivered!
I enjoyed reading this blog. thankx !
Good job with the writing. Enjoyed it.
i reading and nice blog..
Good Blog. Its enjoyable to read.
Really good advice for Nepal Trekking !
Those are some great tips for the Everest Base camp Trekkers in Nepal.
Thankx !
I will be 64 next year. For the last three years I have been preparing[reading ,videos,attending lectures] for a trip to EBC. Lots of reservations about the possibility of altitude sickness Yet, this blog gives me a sense of comfort. As a physician I would not be so quick to use Diamox. Rather than that there are some alternatives like Advil and just common sense. It did cross my mind to search for seniors who have done the trek.
Great info . I am 64 with plans to go to Everest base camp next spring. Have spent three years researching the trek and even though some apprehension about altitude sickness I am sure that other people my age have gone and not gotten ill.
Rhododendron trek happening now.
Rhododendron trek in Nepal you may start beginning of March to still end of April then able to see rhododendron forests all the ways to famous Himalayan Viewpoint of Poon Hill in full bloom. Enjoy magnificent mountain views with Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Hiumchuli, holly Mount Macchapuchare and Lamjung Himal.
Nice Post and i liked it
Nice Post and i liked it
Nepal Trekking – MountFujiAdventure
we have just finished our trip of a life time. . . we had heard really amazing things about Nepal, and we weren’t disappointed. . . our trip was just one spectacular day following another, amazing vistas and wildlife sightings. Simrik real nepal treks & expedition (P) Ltd organised everything superbly, and looked after us from the second we arrived in Nepal to the second we left. We felt very at home and comfortable and easy. Dipendra is a superb guide, very professional, warm, friendly, reliable with much experience and a can do attitude . We would love to come back again an trek with him. And we would highly recommend Simrik Real Nepal Treks & Expedition (P) Ltd.
I would highly recommend Simrik Real Nepal trekking company. I went trekking in Nepal last year with Dipendra, the owner of the company, and he was a fantastic and attentive guide. He made sure that our trek to Annapurna Base Camp went smoothly and provided delicious fruit salad even at 4000 metres! His knowledge of the area, patience, tireless energy, and ability to talk with us in English about all aspects of Nepalese culture was great. If you are planning to travel to Nepal and need a guide you will be in safe hands with Dipendra and his company.
We had an amazing time trekking in the Everest region and I would
like to thank everyone at Simrik Real Nepal for making it possible.
Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of the Himalayas until you
arrive and see it for yourself, but I found the friendliness and
helpfulness of the Simrik staff very pleasing. Before leaving they
took the time to explain everything in detail so we would be fully
informed of what we could expect.
“I would highly recommend anyone to experience what we did as it is an
immense experience!”
We did two great treks with Simrik Real Nepal Treks & Expeditions – Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit. They both exceeded our expectations.
Dipendra, our guide, was wonderful. He was warm and friendly, yet professional. He took very good care of us, watching out for us at all times making sure we were safe and that we were enjoying ourselves.
He knew the names of the mountains & the rivers, the animals & the birds. He pointed out things of interest along the way. His sharp eyes spotted a Musk Deer, a Paradise Pheasant (Nepal National Bird), and fresh paw prints of a Snow Leopard, all of which are protected and endangered species.
His enthusiasm for and knowledge of the areas added excitement and interest to our journey.
We had a very warm welcome and farewell at the Airport where we were met and taken to and from our hotel.
I highly recommend Simrik Real Nepal Treks & Expeditions. In fact I would not trek with anyone else.
This has been a very useful site for me. Thanks guys. After much contemplation while here in Kathmandu, I have decided to just go to Lukla and see how things rock from there. I will be prepared to carry my own stuff if required. Your site has given me some of the enouragement I needed. Cheers.
Have a great time! You are going to find Everest to be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life.
I noticed you wearing gators in one picture but you didn’t mention them in you packing list. Did you find they weren’t necessary? I really needed them on Kili for all the dust and am debating whether or not to bring them on EBC.
We didn’t find the gators to be needed but you never know. If you have different weather, you may find the snow to be deeper closer to Base Camp or even the trail muddier. We had them on early expecting dust and loose rock, but in the end we didn’t need them. gators are such a small part of the gear, that it wouldn’t hurt to pack them anyway since they take up very little space. Hope this helps.
Thanks! We’re doing this next month, insha’allah, so it’s brilliant to have your list. Do you mean oral decongestants or something like a Vicks inhaler?
I would take that along, there is a good possibility of congestion. If I were to do it again, I’d bring a nasal lubricant. My sinuses dried out and I had a bloody nose a lot which ended up causing a lot of problems.
Love the down to earth tips (flavoring water etc). Need all the help I can get!
Any advice on minimum trip length to avoid altitude sickness? I got mild symptoms at 3000+m in South America but still want to try Everest base camp if I can.
Hi Marianne, just take your time. You will be flying in to Lukla and landing over 3000 metres so you’ll be feeling the altitude immediately. Take extra days to relax. There is no hurry to get up there and it’s nice to hang out at some of the tea houses for a day to relax, read and drink plenty of water. Aim for at least over 10 days. Good luck and have fun
thank you for that!
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Really great advise! Me and my brother are planning to trek up Everest base camp when we go travelling this year but you hear a lot of stories that put you off! This has helped sway me though! One question though, how much is it typically to hire a Sherpa locally?
It would be about $18 a day for guide and $14 would be a porter. Please email us if you need more information.
Thanks for the update.
Thank you for all the great infos. Very helpful. I’m planning to trek to Everest Base Camp. I will definitely try to book it through Simrik Real Nepal Treks& Expedition Ltd.
I can’t wait for the time to come.
Simrik’s reasonable prices makes my dream come alive.
Peace,
Brigitta
Hi Dave! these tips are quite outdated and needs to be update. However you have included lots of things. But you need to change dollar rates, internet costs and to get flight from KTM-Lukla is very difficult and one should take care of this…
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