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The Everest Base Camp Trek is one trek that you must do in your lifetime. It is the mother of all treks.
There are actually two Everest Base Camps, one in Nepal and the other in Tibet. We are going to the one in Nepal which is also known as the South Base Camp (5364m, 17598ft). The base camp is simply a campsite that is used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent to the summit of Mount Everest. The base camp separates the boys from the men. Only the hardcore climbers hike past the base camp. [Note : the base camp is only a pile of ice-cold rocks – there is no pintu gerbang to indicate that you have “arrived”].
The trek to the base camp is non-technical. What this means is that you can hike to the base camp without having to use any fancy climbing gear - no crampons, no ropes, no ice-ax, just your good old hiking boots. Just like Gunung Kinabalu – but more challenging because of the trekking distance, high altitude and low temperatures.
The trip to the EBC will normally take 9 days up and 5 days down. From Katmandu, we need to take a 30-minute flight to Lukla (2640m), a small town in the Himalayas. From Lukla, we hike to the EBC – a total distance of about 50 km – which should take us about 9 days. Along the way, we will pass by and stay at several villages including Namchee Bazaar (3440m), Deboche (3820m), Lobuche (4920m) and Gorak Shep (5130m). Gorak Shep is the last post before the EBC. The return journey should be shorter, typically 5 days.
The itinerary is as follows :
Day 1 Depart KL, arrive at Katmandu, prepare for trek, organize supplies
Day 2 Fly to Lukla and trek to Phadking (6 hours)
Day 3 Trek to Namchee Bazaar (8 hours)
Day 4 Full day acclimatization at Namchee Bazaar
Day 5 Trek to Deboche (7 - 8 hours)
Day 6 Trek to Dingboche (6 - 7 hours)
Day 7 Full day acclimatization at Dingboche
Day 8 Trek to Lobuche ( 5 – 6 hours)
Day 9 Trek to Gorak Shep. Climb Kalapathar (5545m)
Day 10 Trek to Everest Base Camp (3 hours). After lunch at Gorak Shep, trek down to Lobuche
Day 11 Trek down to Deboche
Day 12 Trek down to Namchee Bazaar
Day 13 Trek down to Lukla
Day 14 Fly back to Katmandu
Day 15 Free and easy at Katmandu.
Day 16 Free and easy at Katmandu.
Day 17 Fly back to KL
Additional days are needed in the event of adverse weather.
How difficult is it?
The EBC trek is non-technical. What this means is that you can hike all the way without having to use any fancy climbing gear – no ropes, no crampon, no ice-ax. Just walking. You have to be reasonably fit but do not have to be super-fit. The MY team members who made it to the Everest Base Camp in 2011 were all amateurs. As long as you prepare adequately, go slow and follow all rules – you will make it without any problem. The golden rule is GO SLOW. Age is not a problem – on the previous trip, the age of our team members ranged from 30 – 55. [however if you are more than 100 years old, may I suggest that you consider joining other teams rather than the MY team].
Most people will trek about 6 – 8 hours a day, covering 8 – 12 km. The trekking is also scheduled in such a way that trekkers do not gain too much altitude in a single day. Usually the maximum gain in altitude in a day is about 400 – 500m, a little lower in the higher altitudes.
The second but lesser challenge is the cold temperature which can be overcome by appropriate clothing. The temperature at the EBC will be about -10degC. There is little danger of getting lost because the trails are well-established and you will be accompanied by guides all the time.
Where do we stay?
On the trek, we will be staying in lodges at the villages along the way. There will be NO camping. We will not be staying overnight at the EBC. Most lodges are basic with a common dining room and common toilets. It is usually 2 persons sharing a room. You will be provided with a sleeping bag. If you want 5-star accommodation, you should just stay in KL.
Guides and porters
The team will be accompanied by guides and porters.
How much would the trip cost?
You should budget about RM 8000 - 9000 for the trip. This includes airfare, insurance, trekking permits, food and accommodation (16 days), guide, porters (and yak charges) and entrance fees. You also need to allow for your clothing as well as spending money in Nepal. It is best to buy most of the clothing in Katmandu where it is half or one-third the price in Malaysia.
Read about MY Team EBC trek in 2011 here
Read about MY Team Annapurna trek in 2013 here
The Everest Base Camp Trek is one trek that you must do in your lifetime. It is the mother of all treks.
There are actually two Everest Base Camps, one in Nepal and the other in Tibet. We are going to the one in Nepal which is also known as the South Base Camp (5364m, 17598ft). The base camp is simply a campsite that is used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent to the summit of Mount Everest. The base camp separates the boys from the men. Only the hardcore climbers hike past the base camp. [Note : the base camp is only a pile of ice-cold rocks – there is no pintu gerbang to indicate that you have “arrived”].
The trek to the base camp is non-technical. What this means is that you can hike to the base camp without having to use any fancy climbing gear - no crampons, no ropes, no ice-ax, just your good old hiking boots. Just like Gunung Kinabalu – but more challenging because of the trekking distance, high altitude and low temperatures.
The trip to the EBC will normally take 9 days up and 5 days down. From Katmandu, we need to take a 30-minute flight to Lukla (2640m), a small town in the Himalayas. From Lukla, we hike to the EBC – a total distance of about 50 km – which should take us about 9 days. Along the way, we will pass by and stay at several villages including Namchee Bazaar (3440m), Deboche (3820m), Lobuche (4920m) and Gorak Shep (5130m). Gorak Shep is the last post before the EBC. The return journey should be shorter, typically 5 days.
The itinerary is as follows :
Day 1 Depart KL, arrive at Katmandu, prepare for trek, organize supplies
Day 2 Fly to Lukla and trek to Phadking (6 hours)
Day 3 Trek to Namchee Bazaar (8 hours)
Day 4 Full day acclimatization at Namchee Bazaar
Day 5 Trek to Deboche (7 - 8 hours)
Day 6 Trek to Dingboche (6 - 7 hours)
Day 7 Full day acclimatization at Dingboche
Day 8 Trek to Lobuche ( 5 – 6 hours)
Day 9 Trek to Gorak Shep. Climb Kalapathar (5545m)
Day 10 Trek to Everest Base Camp (3 hours). After lunch at Gorak Shep, trek down to Lobuche
Day 11 Trek down to Deboche
Day 12 Trek down to Namchee Bazaar
Day 13 Trek down to Lukla
Day 14 Fly back to Katmandu
Day 15 Free and easy at Katmandu.
Day 16 Free and easy at Katmandu.
Day 17 Fly back to KL
Additional days are needed in the event of adverse weather.
How difficult is it?
The EBC trek is non-technical. What this means is that you can hike all the way without having to use any fancy climbing gear – no ropes, no crampon, no ice-ax. Just walking. You have to be reasonably fit but do not have to be super-fit. The MY team members who made it to the Everest Base Camp in 2011 were all amateurs. As long as you prepare adequately, go slow and follow all rules – you will make it without any problem. The golden rule is GO SLOW. Age is not a problem – on the previous trip, the age of our team members ranged from 30 – 55. [however if you are more than 100 years old, may I suggest that you consider joining other teams rather than the MY team].
Most people will trek about 6 – 8 hours a day, covering 8 – 12 km. The trekking is also scheduled in such a way that trekkers do not gain too much altitude in a single day. Usually the maximum gain in altitude in a day is about 400 – 500m, a little lower in the higher altitudes.
The challenges
The main challenge will be the acute mountain sickness (read more here). The higher you go, the amount of oxygen in the air gets lesser and lesser. The oxygen deprivation will cause headaches, nausea and loss of appetite. Everyone gets it, at varying degree of severity. Most of the time, the headache can be overcome by popping in two panadols. Some people prefer to use the drug, diamox. There is no foolproof way of overcome AMS. High level of fitness is not a good indicator of ability to acclimatise. The best advice anyone can give you is GO SLOW and drink lots and lots of water. The EBC trek will include at least two days of acclimatization (usually at Namchee Bazaar 3400m and Dingboche, 4400m). [Note : the ability to acclimatize is not related to your level of fitness].The second but lesser challenge is the cold temperature which can be overcome by appropriate clothing. The temperature at the EBC will be about -10degC. There is little danger of getting lost because the trails are well-established and you will be accompanied by guides all the time.
Where do we stay?
On the trek, we will be staying in lodges at the villages along the way. There will be NO camping. We will not be staying overnight at the EBC. Most lodges are basic with a common dining room and common toilets. It is usually 2 persons sharing a room. You will be provided with a sleeping bag. If you want 5-star accommodation, you should just stay in KL.
The team will be accompanied by guides and porters.
How much would the trip cost?
You should budget about RM 8000 - 9000 for the trip. This includes airfare, insurance, trekking permits, food and accommodation (16 days), guide, porters (and yak charges) and entrance fees. You also need to allow for your clothing as well as spending money in Nepal. It is best to buy most of the clothing in Katmandu where it is half or one-third the price in Malaysia.
Read about MY Team EBC trek in 2011 here
Read about MY Team Annapurna trek in 2013 here
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