Basic Information for Trekking to the Everest Base Camp
When one thinks of places like Nepal and Tibet, usually remote villages and grand mountains come into mind. These places are closely associated with the Himalaya Mountains, of which Mt. Everest and K2 are considered the highest mountains in the world. The area is also famous for the Sherpas, people whose hospitality and reputation as mountain guides are unmatched.
One of the main attractions when going to Nepal would be a stay at the Everest Base Camp. Despite not climbing up the entire length of the mountain, it takes several days of strenuous trekking to reach the base camp. One has to be physically fit to be able to survive the cold, the thin air, as well as the constant uphill journey.
The base camp itself has no permanent location. Mountaineers attempting to summit Mt. Everest usually pick their own spot to set up camp. During the spring and summer months, the base camp becomes a tent city full of climbers and tourists alike. A stone’s throw away from Mt. Everest is Kala Patar, where majestic views of Mt. Everest and other Himalayan mountains can be seen.
Flights to Nepal usually feature the base camp or add a trip there as part of the package. The Everest Base Camp gets very crowded during the peak climbing months, so some areas are kept off-limits to tourists and reserved for climbers. Tourists looking for a bit of a thrill usually trek only up to the base camp, since it is as close to Mt. Everest as one can get without any major risk as long as one is physically fit enough.
The alternate route, which is accessible through flights to Tibet, takes on a different trail and ends up in a different base camp. The trek is still pretty challenging, requiring the same level of fitness as the route from Nepal. The base camp offers panoramic views of a whole stretch of the Himalayas, with Mt. Everest as the centerpiece of it all. This trek requires permits from the Chinese government as well as from local Tibetan authorities.
When one returns from the Tibet trail, it is possible to go on Lhasa tours as a side trip. Lhasa offers amazing architecture and fascinating insights into the culture of the Tibetans. It is a relaxing side trip worth taking, coming from the Everest Base Camp.
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