You might have gone trekking before but Everest base camps trek is something you will never get to experience somewhere else in the world. Not only you being stunned by the view of the highest mountain in the world is something extraordinary here but the trek route and the experiences you collect in between is astonishing. There is nothing as compared to the feeling of standing before something that has itself been standing tallest since ever.
With a strong determination and even stronger mindset only you can complete this trek. With that, taking care of the fitness of your body and maintaining it for the climb is another essential. Though you are not going to climb the whole Mt.Everest and stand above 8848m, you are definitely going to reach the Kalapathhar also known as the Everest base camp that lies at the height of 5160m/16929ft and that my friend is tough in itself.
Trying to keep up with the local porters while climbing, passing through traditional villages, and often encountering yaks and pastures and walking through the forest you’ll be able to see many wildlife around. As you reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park you will witness the Thamserku rising above you. Continuing the trekk you will reach Namche Bazar which also goes by its another popular name, The gateway of Everest Base. In the Khumbu region, Namche Bazzar is the largest village of Sherpa people who are the natives of the region.
At the start of the trek from Namche bazar you will not have to walk through steepy routes which gives a good start of the journey and also the trekkers can focus on photography for sometime. You’ll find many stupas, prayer flags, main walls and mountains like Ama Dablam and Tengboche Monastery to capture. Dusty switchbacks make up the trail leading to Tengboche, but the stunning panoramas from the monastery make the effort worthwhile. You may also light up some butter lamps.
As the trail goes high it is ofcourse incredibly beautiful, but it also gets quite difficult while trekking from Tengboche to Dingboche. Following the Imja Khola before ascending to the Dingboche's windswept fields, which are primarily made up of potatoes, the Khumbu Region's highest Sherpa village is located there. The views you get of Ama Dablam are very breathtaking and dramatic. When trekkers reach there they usually take time for launch and rest. Usually they are seen reading books and viewing the mountains.
It is crucial to take another day to acclimate because of the constantly rising altitude. So, there are a lot of possibilities for quick hikes.Visiting the sacred sites and Mt. Makalu views at the foot of NangkarTshang Peak is one example. This climb, which takes between 3.5 and 5 hours round way, will help our bodies acclimate to the high altitudes that lie ahead. The next day trekkers begin with a gentle climb towards the Pheriche valley. You will pass through alpine scrubs and yak pastures while moving up. With the stunning view of Tawoch and Cholatse and walking ahead of Ama Dablam. You will see Ama Dablam rising directly from the valley floor.
The challenging ascent starts from Thokla Pass but no one can deny that even though the trail is tough one it is a paradise for photographers because of incredible views of Nuptse, Lhotse Shar and other peaks above 7,000 plus metres. After going over the pass, we arrived in Lobuche. Although the town itself is not particularly appealing, the surrounding landscape is stunning and dramatic.
Here starts the fun. Starting to ascend to the Everest viewing platform. First, the trail leads us over boulders and difficult terrain for nearly three hours to the little town of Gorakshep. After lunch, you will set out towards Kalapatthar, where you can see Everest from the best vantage point possible. The highest altitude at which we can trek in Nepal without a climbing permit is 5,545 metres. It is more of a ridge than a mountain, despite the term "black rock" that it bears. Since daybreak above Everest is just as breathtaking as sunset, you might be suggested to leave Kalapatthar for the morning if the weather is not clear.
Getting to Kala Patthar the morning of the following day, you will have breakfast there. Similar to that, you will visit Everest Base Camps the same morning if you didn't on day 9. The trek from Gorakshep back takes between three and four hours. Heading for Pheriche after breakfast, which takes about four hours. The Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic can be found in this small community. Long established, it is now a hospital but continues to concentrate on locals' health as well as the health of trekkers and climbers who experience altitude sickness and other difficulties associated with it. This unique aspect of the area, which is staffed primarily by volunteers in the medical field, is present.
Route descends quite a bit while heading back to Namche Bazar, but there will also be some hills to climb. The woodlands and foliage return as you near Namche. You will find the walk more difficult because of the challenging hike the day before. But the thoughts of a tasty dinner and a warm shower will always motivate you. It will be the perfect time to enjoy a beer in honour of your successful journey to Everest Base Camps!
While returning to Kathmandu you will go through all the trails in your mind. You will feel that inner peace because you’ve just completed what you had been dreaming for such a long time.and with that your love for mountains grows more.
