The Everest Base Camp Trek - Tough, But Hugely Rewarding

It's a trip that many thousands choose to challenge themselves with every year, a true test of fitness and willpower; a trip up Mount Everest. The experience is one that won't soon be forgotten though! The Everest base camp trek proved to be everything that I was expecting and so much more. As soon as we left the fascinating city of Kathmandu to head to Lukla, I knew this walk was going to be one of the most difficult, yet ultimately rewarding of my life. One of the most appealing features of this particular route for me - aside from the jaw-dropping beauty of the whole place - was the chance to experience how the locals live. People heading to the base camp expecting to be pampered in luxurious hotels are barking up the wrong tree. We would be staying in quaint little teahouses, which were very basic, but surprisingly comfortable. Those who are slightly more experienced when it comes to trekking holidays will tell you that immersing yourself in the local way of life is a huge aspect of proper adventure holidays. If you end up travelling with a group it's also a great way to meet people from all over the world. The first major ascent of the tour saw us climb the Namche Hill, which proved to be a challenging walk, although the local guides seemed to get up there in no time. Acclimatising to the high altitude is also something that needs to be considered and makes it all the more important that you have built up a certain level of fitness before heading to Nepal. Avoiding chocolate bars and spending a little more time in the gym ultimately pays dividends, as the fittest climbers in the group are able to scale the 5,545-metre Kalar Patar. The views from the summit are absolutely unbelievable and make all that hard work more than worthwhile. This was the undoubted highlight of the trip and the next four days were spent retracing our steps on the way back to Lukla, which is, unsurprisingly, far easier going downhill. When we got back to Kathmandu I was sad that my Nepalese adventure had come to an end, but flicking through the amazing snaps on my digital camera brought it all back, I knew this would be an experience I would never forget; the people I'd met and the places I'd seen really did make this the holiday of a lifetime.