Everest Base Camp

Everest base camp lies in eastern Nepal. The bottom of the world's highest mountain Everest is called the Everest base camp. The altitude of this place is 5364 m. above sea level. Thousands of visitors visit this place every year. We see hundreds of climber tents and the climbers in spring. Closer to the Khumbu icefall and on the ice is the base camp of the Everest. During the climbing season in spring, this place looks like a small mountain city. March to May is the busiest time here.

How to reach here?

Driving to Salleri and Jiri then trek to here takes about 2 weeks which the long Everest base camp trek. Flying to Lukla and trek 8 days is another way to reach the base camp. The easiest and quickest time is to fly on a helicopter and land. The people who have a long holiday and like to explore more days out of the city, the long trek is good. More than 90% of trekkers fly to Lukla and walk all the way to this place. The last lodges available are Gorakshep so visitors seep in Gorakshep and hike to the base camp which takes 4-5 hours both ways.

Does Everest see from here?

We only feel proud that visited the bottom of the highest mountain in the world but cannot see the Everest from here. We only are very close to the Khumbu icefall and the Khumbu glacier. Mountains like Nuptse, Lho-La, Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori, and the Tibetan mountain Changgatse can be seen with the sign on the rock written. Kalapatthar is the best place to see stunning Everest Himalaya all-around 360 degrees.

Best time to visit

Late September to mid-December and March to May are the best timings to visit this place. Compare to the autumn, spring is warmer for Everest base camp trek. Winter is not bad for the view but it will be freezing cold up here. I don't recommend going here during the monsoon which is June to beginning September.

How safe it is to visit?

It depends on the condition of visitors. Normally more than 80 % of visitors have no problem but some may suffer from acute mountain sickness. It is physically challenged for everyone and the trail is not very clear. There are lots of rocks along the way to Everest base camp from Gorakshep. If there is more snow, it may be more difficult to walk. Late autumn and winter are windy so you need to have warm and windproof clothing. Just about 15 minutes before reaching the base camp, the stones fall from the side of the trail so need to walk carefully near to the landslide area.

Is a guide compulsory?

The smartest idea is taking a guide but if you are in the high season, there are hundreds of visitors so you can follow to the other. If you have a guide to lead you, you will not be in pressure and walk freely but if you are following to the other, you sometimes walk faster than other and miss the trail and if you are slower than the other may not wait for you to help. The base camp has lots of ice underneath so it melts every year and changes the trail somewhere. I suggest having an experienced guide to lead.

Can You sleep at the base camp?

There are no lodges to sleep and can't get food. The climbers sleep here with good equipment and plenty of food during their expedition time. If you are a member of the expedition, you can sleep here but if you are a trekker, you need to have a waterproof tent, warm wearing equipment, own food, comfortable mattress, and sleeping bag. I advise not to try to sleep here if you are alone. It is better to stay at the Gorakshep and hike to base camp and come back to the lodge. After visiting at the world's famous place, you then trek back to Lukla passing Pheriche, Tengboche, Namche, and other villages and fly back to Kathmandu with lots of nice memories from Everest or pass a hill Cho- La and see the Gokyo lakes and the more.