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Our Top 10 Tips for your Everest Base Camp Trek

November 21, 2020

After 5 years of running quality treks to the Himalayas, we have developed our Top 10 Tips in support of your Everest Base Camp Trek. Seeing Mount Everest with your own eyes is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and we are here to make it happen for you. This is the ultimate guide on how to trek the Everest Base Camp independently. The Everest Base Camp trek isn’t easy but I can promise that it’ll be well worth the effort. These are some of the things that you need to know:

1. Acute Mountain Sickness

It is a rough guide on how to deal Acute mountain sickness and It is not mandatory but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Brand name: Acetaxolamide (other brand also known as DIAMOX)
take 2x a day 125mg (morning after breakfast and evening after dinner)
2 days before the hike, then stop after Gorak Shep Village down to Loboche. 20 pcs of 125 mg is good enough.

Pros: Help body to acclimatize faster by breathing more.
side effect: Urinate more, tingling of fingers, carbonated drinks taste flat.
Note: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) will start around 2,500 meters.

2. Access to Oxygen and Good Acclimatization
Make sure your team have oxygen with the group at all times on your way up to Everest Base Camp. Oxygen should only be used in an emergency situation. Do not put yourself, your team and guides at risk. Having more acclimatization in Kathmandu and in Namche Bazaar will give you a safer journey to high altitude. And another acclimatized in Dingboche on next two days.

Oxygen Saturation at different altitudes:
1350m (Kathmandu) – 90 to 95%
2800m (Lukla) – 92 to 93%
3400m (Namche Bazar) 85 to 90%
4000m (Thengboche) 80 to 85%
5000m (Lobuche) 75 to 80%
5500m (Kalapatthar/EBC) 70-75%

Drink at least 1-2 liters or more from 7-12NN and another 1-2 liters or more 1-7PM. These will get you more relax and acclimatized during the trek.

All of these we have developed unique Itineraries for our treks to Mount Everest. They both have excellent acclimatization for the best safety and success. You can find that on Facebook event pages.

03. Training Climb
You should be in good enough shape to walk continuously throughout the day. Good overall fitness, flexibility, and healthy will ensure you trek safely and comfortably. Improving cardio endurance, strength endurance, and being comfortable carrying a daypack 30-40L for uphill for long periods at a time. At least 8-12 weeks before your trek, you should begin hiking or taking long walks at least 2-3 days a week (focus on duration more than distance). If you can do a major hike i advice to do more than 3,200 meters (1x)

04. Trek the Traditional Route to Mount Everest plus 2 buffer days

Everest base camp trek requires no technical expertise or mountaineering skills as it is basically a very long hike at altitude. There are a wide range of routes you can take to Mount Everest. But If you want the right acclimatization, you should pick the traditional route plus 2 buffer days. Total of 15 days itinerary.

05. Everest Wifi Link and Nepal SIM

There is a WIFI SPOT on every lodges but you have to pay every time from $50 to $200 usd. Better buy Nepal SIM once arrive in Kathmandu and Everest Link WIFI Card in Namche Bazzar. Nepal SIM will work some of the region in Himalayas until Namche Bazzar. Next, buy Everest Link Wifi Card on acclimatized day. You can use Everest WIFI Card for the whole trek.

06. Bring Cash and lots of snack

There some ATMs in Lukla and Namche Bazzar but they charge crazy fees and so you’re better off getting ruppes out in Kathmandu. Equivallent of $500 usd is good enough thoughout the 15 days itinerary including tip both guides and porters (they expect). You’ll want to stop for breaks and treat yourself every once in a while so make sure you bring enough Nepalese rupee cash to do so! Your personal local food after 8 days trek up have same taste, better after finishing the base camp and going down to lukla city, you cook your own food pack. We can cook that at any lodges. So that you can eat at least not nepalese food.

07. Bring Charging Packs and always Wear Sun Glasses

Protecting your eyes from the harsh UV rays is essential on the trek, that even tend to bring a back-up pair with us on each trip. And for charging, your batteries will die much quicker than they do at home in the cold. While some of the tea houses allow you to charge things, they all charge you for it (some more than others). An easy way to avoid this is to bring spare batteries and a portable charger like Solar power panels is very useful.

08. Use better lodges and Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol.

By using the better lodges with toilet inside your room, you give yourself access to better food, cleaner environment and less chance to get food or water born sickness. Avoid caffeine and alcohol while trekking Lodges with toilet and shower in last two days down to lukla is very important and great food and comfortable experience en route to Everest. Higher on the trail, there are very few options in the villages, however whenever possible, we use the better options!

09. Have the right gear before the trek.

You need to check each piece of gear you are bringing and make sure it fits, works and makes sense to bring. You will have a weight limit on the trek that you MUST adhere to. Do not bring unnecessary or uncomfortable items with you on the trek. They will end up staying in your bag and will have been carried up and down for no reason. The weight limits for the flight to/from Lukla are 10kg/ 22 lbs in your duffel bag and 5kg/ 11lbs in your backpack. On the trek, our weight limit is a total of 15kg/ 33 lbs in your duffel bag.

10. Helicopter Evacuation Rescue
Use two insurance plan in place that includes helicopter evacuation in the plan and for hospital bills. There are no roads in or out of the Everest Region and the only way out is by walking or helicopter. Make sure you have a good policy in place if you have an accident or injury. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of fraudulent behavior from helicopter companies over the years in Nepal. I highly recommend https://www.globalrescue.com or NOMADS. and for Travel insurance (any insurance, as long as they can manage to reinbursed your hospital bills while out in the country).