Everest Base Camp Trekking is considered as one of the most famous trekking trail in the world, as there is Mount Everest – World’s Highest Mountain. Maximum elevation that one gained during the trek is 5545 m at summit of Kalapatthar. In general trek last in between 12 – 15 days starting and ending in Lukla. Region is often known as Khumbu Valley and considered as very bless and holy valley among Sherpa. This is dream of most of hikers who are travelling around the world. We enter Khumbu Valley at elevation of 2840 m at Lukla Airport so high altitude sickness might one problem for most of the trekkers. Apart from that people fear a lot for Everest Base Camp Trekking unnecessarily. One of the most frequently asked questions by trekkers is “How difficult is Everest Base Camp Trek? Am I strong enough for this trek? And how strong should I be for Everest Base Camp Trek?”
Well before defining the term strong lets know in details about Everest Trek. Starting from Lukla is first day trekkers’ loose elevation of approximate 250 m while reaching Phakding for first overnight stay in Khumbu Valley. It is very short trek around three hours from Lukla to Phakding and is almost entirely downhill except some minor up. Second day of trek is little bit tough that is around six hours walking to Namche and elevation is gained more than limit almost around 840 meter. Last part of trek after lunch is quite harassing as it is steeply up toward Namche after crossing a suspension bridge. Third day of trek is allocated for acclimatization in Namche. Normally people hike up to Everest View Hotel and explore village of Khumjung and Khunde during day and descend to Namche for overnight. Trail up to Syangmoche Airport is steep up onward it flat and total round from Namche – Khumjung – Namche last around 4 hours. Fifth day of trek is flat for an hour and then it is steep downhill to lunch camp, from where another 3 hours steep uphill trail lead to Tengboche that is around 3900 m from sea level. From Tengboche it is short trek to Dingboche and consist of some gentle up and mostly flat trail. Trail on this day is very short, which is less than 4 hours. Elevation of Dingboche is 4400 m from sea level. Another rest day is allocated on Dingboche during which trekkers get an opportunity to scale 5100 m from sea level at Nagarjun Hill and descend all the way down again to Dingboche. From Dingboche next day trip is toward Lobuche, which is around 4900 m from sea level and is 4 hours walk with two uphill portion of around 1 hour each and 2 very flat portion of around 1 hour each. Now final settlement of Gorakshep is around 2 hours walking distance with steady flat start and small 10 min hike up which end on final minor up and down on glacier. From Gorakshep trail to Everest Base Camp is mostly flat that passes through some glacier and rocky part. It is short trip around 4 hours from Gorakshep to EBC and back to Gorakshep. Next morning it is 3 hour steep uphill toward Kalapatthar at 5545 m from sea level. And retrace back all the way down to Lukla passing through same trail.
Talking about trail it is very well developed trail with good track and marking. There are cozy accommodations all the way up to Base Camp. Each day walking duration in average is 5-6 hrs. So you don’t need to be strong enough as you don’t need to cross high alpine passes and doesn’t need any mountaineering skills. All you need to have is determination and synergy. Acclimatization day helps to adopt with high altitude sickness. There is Internet facility up to Gorakshep and local mobile does work very well on most of the places except Dingboche. Slow and steady always win the race. Do not hurry up and follow proper AMS prevention measure as well as drink lots of water not beers and other liquor. Without any previous mountain experience you can make trip to Everest Base Camp.
