The Everest is the tallest mountain in the world so most of the mountain and adventure lovers may have the desire to see the highest mountain in the world and reach the base camp of it. The Everest base camp trek is also popular as the base camp trek among the trekkers although base camps are with another mountain in different regions too. There are so many people during the high trekking and expedition season.
The main attraction which attracts people is the base camp because trekker’s main aim is to be and step on here. Besides the base camp, there are much more other highlights in this trek. The features of the Everest base camp trek have been indicated here:
Flying to Lukla from Kathmandu with a small aircraft is an adventure experience to all. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes about a half an hour scenic mountain flight. A short runway with a clip drops downwards and a small hill at the end may make little scary to the people. Flying to Lukla and start the trek is not one and only the way to the base camp but it is a common and popular entry.
Sagarmatha Nationa Park is a natural world heritage site of UNESCO. The national park was established in 1979 and the area of this national park is 1148 square kilometres. The mammals; Himalayan Thar, Himalayan Pikka, wolf, jackal, with endangered animals like snow leopard and musk deer are here in this national park. More than 200 spaces of the birds including Himalayan eagle can be seen around here. Pine, rhododendron, oak, and more with several bamboo bushes are here to hide to the faunas of this national park.
Namche Bazaar is a beautiful village on the way to the Everest Base camp which is like a small mountain city. The view of Kongde Ri, Thamserku, Kusum Kangaroo, Lhotse, Amadablam, Everest, and other high mountains are great to see from the national park army base. There are some coffee shops with bakeries, bars, equipment shops to hang around during a free day when trekkers take an acclimatization day rest. Acclimatization day is not really a rest day, trekkers hike up to the Everest view hotel for attitude practice before going to the higher elevation and enjoy the views. Weekly markets every Friday to mid- Saturday for the public held here where hikers also may visit.
Everest view hotel is on a hill station from where can be seen panoramic Everest Himalaya. This is one of the viewpoints to see the Everest massif and elevation practice. Everest view hotel is running by the Japanese management is like a mountain 5-star hotel. It takes about 2 hours to reach here from Namche bazaar passing one of the highest airport (Syangboche airport). The hike starts after breakfast in Namche than back again by lunchtime.
Trekking to the base cap is not only an adventure journey; it is a spiritual journey. Mani walls, Mani stones, colourful prayer flags, Stupas, and other Buddhist monuments make the journey sacred and the Tengboche monastery is the main monastery for getting a blessing with the monks before heading to the base camp. The monastery is more than 100 years old with religious aspects. The Tengboche hill itself is a viewpoint to see mountains; Surrounding with forest all around and open space at the middle offers an incredible view of the Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam, Thamserku, and more mountain and green hills.
This is the most important and desired destination to the trekkers that’s why they walk about a week not caring any other difficulties facing on the way up. Everest base camp 5364m) stands on the glacier with the ice underneath. The main climbing season to Mt. Everest is in spring so this place will like a high mountain city with colourful tents. Khumbu icefall which the climbers cross to go camping 1 is very close to here. Mt. Everest can’t see from here but other huge snowcapped mountains can be seen. Hikers may forget all the difficult moments before reaching base camp once they arrive here. This is about 5 – 6 hours hiking journey to go and come back from Gorakshep where the lodges for camp are.
Kalapatthar (5550 m) is even a dream destination than the base camp for some trekkers because of the view which it offers. 360 degree panoramic Everest Himalaya with valley and glacier lower is really worth to see. The Everest stand just in front of Kalapatthar and Pumori looks it has been attached with this hill. Hike to the Kalapathar is not an easy walk but after reaching the top, may realize that why I pay for this with an amazing view.
Beside of these highlights, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, glacial lakes, monuments of the climbers, Sherpa culture, local lifestyle, traditional villages and much more attractions are here on this trek.
Conclusion
Not all people can reach the base camp of the world’s highest mountain. There are thousands of mountains to see and be at the base camp of them but this is the most popular than other treks in Nepal because many people would like to see Mt. Everest. Visiting during the spring (March-May) and autumn (September-December) are the best timings to the Everest base camp.
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