How hard is it to trek Everest Base Camp?

19th February 2019

Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty – It depends on your mental strength With more than 40,000 trekkers a year, Everest Base Camp Trek is the most sought and popular treks in Nepal. Mt. Everest itself indicates the straggling height and lofty peak, but is it really hard to trek Everest Base Camp? A most common question! Very few adventurers stand atop of the Mt. Everest, 8,848m – the base camp have been the best site for those who are not able to undertake the adventure but wish to enjoy the mountain in its all glory. With no road connection, the only way to enjoy the mountain is via a rigorous mountain trail (unless you go for a helicopter ride). Depending on your Everest Base Camp Itinerary, the trek usually takes two weeks excluding the time in Kathmandu. Firstly, it is very important to know that Everest Base Camp Trek demands no previous climbing experience and technical skills. With some determination and average fitness, you can achieve the trek successfully. We have involved on many treks – which is accomplished by old and young and overweight and underweight trekkers. However, there are some important factors to know before starting the journey. Altitude, AMS, Distance and Remoteness are some key factors that you have to tackle during the trek.

Altitude

The most difficult part of Everest Base Camp Trek is its altitude. The trek starts at Lukla which is about 3,000m – already high enough for AMS. The trek goes through rugged mountain trail achieving about 300m – 400m a day. You have to conquer Kalapatthar standing at an altitude of 5,545m. So there is high risk of mountain sickness. We suggest you to walk slow, hydrate properly and acclimatize at least two days – one at Namche Bazaar and another at Dingboche. These acclimatization days are not waste, you can explore surrounding areas but sleep at same altitude. Your climbing journey should be longer than your returning trip. Most of the operator takes 9 days to get to the Base Camp and 3 days to trek back to Lukla. Also make a thorough research on altitude sickness and be aware of its symptoms and treatments. Make sure to carry all the medicines – Diomax, anti-headache, anti-stomachache and more.

Distance

Most of the trekking companies start theirs Everest Itinerary from Lukla. However, you can start the trek from Jiri too which adds 3 more days to normal Everest trekking package. From Lukla, your hiking trail to Everest Base Camp is about 65 km (130 km round trip).

If your trek is supported, your stuffs will be carried by a porter or yak – a great relief!

On standard 14 days EBC trek itinerary, you will walk for 12 days covering about 15 km per day. It might not be formidable distance for seasoned hikers but not underestimate the mountains and challenge it brings. A series of ups and downs and extreme remoteness will surely test your physical and mental strength. Imagine a steep, rocky and remote trail with no transportation and communication access.

Physical and Mental Training

Many people believe that Everest Base Camp is very difficult to trek and you need an extreme fitness level. But we assure that an averagely fit person can enjoy the trek at fullest, you certainly don’t need to be an athlete. Surely Everest Base Camp Trek challenges your stamina and endurance capacity because of its altitude and craggy mountain trail, but we believe that a pre-trek training will enhance your fitness and confidence. Note that some days are easier than other and make sure to prepare well for hard days. So, brining strength, stamina and flexibility on your body will surely eases the tough days during the trek. We strongly suggest you to plan for 6 – 8 weeks before your trek (only if you are unseasoned trekkers). Your training plan must include the following: