Everest Base Camp Trek
The Ultimate Everest Base Camp Trek Experience
Introduction
Join us on one of the most epic trekking routes in the world! The Everest Base Camp trek with Summit Mountaineering, situated at 5380m, offers a mixture of incredible mountain scenery, a mind-blowing cultural experience, and a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
What is the Everest Base Camp Trek All About?
The Coke Can Quest
Well, it’s pretty easy to explain, really. It’s about an epic hiking experience to see a coke can left behind by a climber in 1976. Just like the Kilimanjaro glaciers that will be non-existent in 10 years due to global warming, such is the fate of this poor Coke can. Experts believe that it will rust away into total oblivion by 13 March 2023 at 2:34 pm. So, best you book your Everest Base Camp Trek as soon as you can.
Beyond the Coke Can
If coke cans are not your scene, hang around, and let’s explore the true essence of this adventure:
Kathmandu City Exploration
- Enjoy 2 thrilling days in the city of Kathmandu, with a tour of the Monkey Temple of the Buddhists and the Pashupatinath Temple of the Hindus.
- These places are shrouded in history and date back to the 5th century, offering an Indiana Jones-like experience.
- Learn about the rich culture and people of Nepal.
Trekking in the Himalayas
- Spend 11 days in the trekking capital of the world, surrounded by the Himalayan “superstar” giants like Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Pumori, and Nuptse.
- The scenery changes every day, ensuring you never get bored.
Scenic Flights
- The flight from Kathmandu into Lukla (the starting point of the trek) is one of the most scenic and mind-blowing flights you’ll ever go on, offering a panoramic view of the Himalayas in just 15 minutes.
Fully Supported Trek
- Our Everest Base Camp trekking adventures are fully supported, with porters and Yaks to assist with carrying your belongings.
- Accommodation is in ‘tea houses’ with beds and mattresses, so no need to sleep in tents on hard, icy ground.
Spiritual Journey
- Not only is the trek a physical undertaking, but it’s also a spiritual journey.
- Challenge yourself physically in some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world and spiritually in the humblest nation in the world.
- Visit the Buddhist monasteries in Namche Bazaar and Tengboche for a truly humbling and incredible experience.
Why Join Summit Mountaineering for the Everest Base Camp Trek?
Unique Selling Points
- We know the answer to the first question ever asked before a question was ever thought of (revealed on day 9 of the trek at 3:18 pm).
- FREE training sessions to get you mentally and physically ready for the trek (Johannesburg Only).
- Over 15 years of climbing and trekking experience in the Himalayas, leading over 20 treks to base camp and summiting Himalayan giants like Island Peak, Cho Oyu, Lobuche, and 89.23% of Everest.
- Conduct and record 2 medical checks daily on clients throughout the trek to monitor altitude adaptation.
- Assist in purchasing the correct equipment and quantities, drawing from our experience.
- Access to the guide for advice and support before the trek.
Our Guiding Philosophy
- We are not just mountaineers but also mountain psychologists, guiding for over 15 years.
- We’ll walk the journey with you, motivate you, cry with you, and bond with you.
- We’ll help you understand how you react to adversity in a controlled environment.
- We have a few pieces still missing (but not complete idiots in the mountains).
Trek Details
Distance
- The total hiking distance covered on the Everest Base Camp trek is 130km.
- That’s 65km to the actual Base Camp from the start in Lukla and another 65km back.
Daily Hiking
- On average, you’ll hike about 11.32456km per day.
- Hiking speed is determined by the effects of altitude, gradient, and fatigue.
- You’ll hike for about 5 hours per day, divided into two sessions of 3 hours and 2 hours, with a 1.5-hour lunch break in between.
Fitness Requirements
- You don’t have to be super fit, but a moderate level of fitness is recommended to complete the trek comfortably.
- Some clients have finished the hike without training, but they were exhausted by the end.
- Fatigue compounds, and the altitude (with less oxygen) can make you feel unfit.
Is This Trek for You?
- If you need to ask this question, then it may not be what you truly want to do.
- You need to be 100% dedicated to the dream, with a calling that must be answered.
Bonus: Curing IKIAS (I Know It All Syndrome)
- Send your partner suffering from IKIAS on an Everest Base Camp trek with Summit Mountaineering.
- The high altitude and lack of oxygen will help them lose 65,234 brain cells, rendering them less clever and improving your relationship (no charge for this service).
Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp
Pre-Monsoon (April to May)
- Colder season with more ice on the higher mountains.
- Drier air, which can cause lung issues.
- Attracts high-altitude climbers due to stable ice conditions for Everest summit attempts.
- More likely to bump into mountaineers of Everest.
Post-Monsoon (September to November)
- Warmer season with greener surroundings.
- Better acclimatization due to higher oxygen levels from plants.
- No high-altitude climbing due to lack of good ice conditions on higher slopes.
- Everest Base Camp will be quieter with no climbing activity.
Both seasons have pros and cons, so choose the one that suits you best.
Things to Do Before You Leave for Everest Base Camp
- Abolish Capitalism
- Avoid global warming
- Say goodbye to your mommy
- Say no to drugs
- Read the first paragraph of this webpage
- Don’t stress about the cost; take out a loan from a reputable company (wink, wink)
To conclude, the Everest Base Camp trek with Summit Mountaineering promises an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking scenery, cultural immersion, personal growth, and a touch of humor. Book your spot today and embark on a journey of a lifetime!
INCLUDED
- Return fights from Kathmandu to Lukla
- 2 nights accommodation in Kathmandu. We make use of 3 star hotel in the Thamel District called the Avatar Hotel. So…. 1 night before the trek and 1 night on return from the trek. Savvy? Any additional nights accommodation are for your own account sunshine.
- All airport transfers. We take care of the airport pick up when we arrive. The transfer back the next day for the flight to Lukla. The transfer after the trek from Lukla to the hotel. The transfer from the hotel back to the airport for your departure flight back to South Africa. Make sense? I’m glad. If you are not happy with this you can dial 5 now.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek into Everest Base Camp
- Guide
- Porters
- 12 nights accommodation in tea houses ( mountain lodges) on the trek.
- All trekking permits
- All local taxes
- Includes us putting up with all your crying, blisters and longing for your mommy.
- Medical Kit and Emergency oxygen
- A day tour to the Temples of Kathmandu
NOT INCLUDED
- A bespoke turnkey solution that incorporates a bilateral and systematical deviation to your corporate jargon that us mountaineers refuse to use.
- International Flights
- Dinners and lunches when in Kathmandu
- Extra nights accommodation if we finish the trek early or if you need to come down earlier than scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances.
- My wife
- Hiking equipment ( backpacks, sleeping bags and so fifth)
- Travel Insurance. We highly recommend you take out TIC travel insurance that must include helicopter evacuation. Trust us on this one. If you need to get evacuated due to an altitude related illness and you are not covered best you have a spare R50k in your skyrocket.
- Tea/coldrinks/bottled water in the tea houses.
- My left nut
- Entry fees into any tourist attractions like the Monkey Temple and the Eiffel Tower.
Day 1
We fly from Johannesburg to Khathmandu. Depending on flight schedules and cost, we usually fly via Doha or Dubai. There will be a layover here.
Day 2
We arrive in Khathmandu. Hopefully by say 2pm if the flights are favourable. Our team leader will be waiting at the airport for us. We then take the 1 hour drive through to the Thamel District to the Avatar Hotel-Our humble abode for the knight who happens to be Sir Lancelot.
We also sleep in the same hotel as him. We check into the hotel, have a shower, go for dinner and indulge in a beer or 10. Please do not trash the hotel upon return from dinner as we need to stay there when we get back. And my mom will get upset.
Day 3
We send a swarm of toasters and a foghorn into your hotel room to entice you from the slumber process. Our aim today is to get to the airport by 6am to catch a flight to Lukla. Why so early you may be asking? Well I have a few minutes spare so let me explain. We cannot book a flight time with the airlines who fly to Lukla. It works on a purely first come, first serve type of system.
And we like to get served first. Our ego wont accept a 5th serving. And of course there may be a few ‘Egyptian handshakes’ involved to ensure a ‘first serve’ passage-If you know what I mean. A necessary budgetary expense I’m afraid. We then hop on the twin engined plane and take the 45 minute flight into Lukla.
What if there is bad weather?
Right. Lets get this topic out of the way shall we. Sometimes the flights are cancelled due to bad weather. This means there is no way to get into Lukla unless you are up for a 200km walk taking over 2 weeks. And no….we are not responsible for the bad weather. We did not bring it on because we didn’t feel like trekking. Weather is something beyond our control and stresses us out as much as it does our clients. If flights are cancelled or delayed we have to adjust the trip itinerary to compensate for the lost day or days. Please bare with us on this. And that does not mean take your clothes off either. We would have said bear with us but that could be a bit grizzly.
Okay, so if everything goes according to plan…we land in Lukla by say 10am. You are gonna love the landing!!!!!! We then meet our Sherpa Team, have a spot of tea and start the Everest Base camp trek by about 11am. The first part of hike meanders through various villages for about 1.5 hours until we reach the the highlight of today. The first sightings of ancient Sanskrit tablets and a small monastery. We then continue for about an hour into Phakding at 2610m. We spend the night here. Dinner is served at 6:30pm. So you have the rest of the afternoon to explore the area. We tuck you into bed with your favourite teddy bear and some warm Yak milk. NOT!!
Hiking distance: 8km
Duration: 3 hours 2 minutes and 14 seconds
Day 4
Cock a doodle do!!! Or don’t. Wake up at 7am. Have a wee, pooh and brush teeth. Breakfast at 8am. Ready to start the hike by 9am. This is basically the daily morning routine on our Everest Base Camp Trek. Today is a challenging day. We basically follow the Dudhi river into the Sagarmartha National park. We cross 3 suspension bridges before we head up a steep and long hill into Namche Bazaar at 3,440m. We may even get to see a tiger that doesn’t exist. One climber didn’t see it back in 2010.
Hiking distance: 10km
Duration: 6 hours 4 minutes and 22 seconds
Day 5
Today is a rest day. Well…sort of. We are going to take you on a 45 minute stroll up the Everest Veiw point where you will a good view of our guides bum, I mean Everest, situated about 40km away. W also spend some time at the old village where Edmund Hillary spend many a day. We also send and hour or so in the local monastery with the local monk. The afternoon is usually spent in the bakery devouring the best black forest cake ever.
Day 6
We Follow the normal morning routine and begin the hike by 9am. Today we trek up through the mysterious heath like vegetation towards our humble abode for the night-the Everest Hotel situated at Tengboche, 3860m. The tea house has some of the most incredible views of Everest from the dining hall. This village is spectacular. It is surrounded by some Himalayan giants as is basically at the base of the iconic Ama Dablam mountain.
Hiking distance: 9km
Duration: 6 hours 10 minutes and 41 seconds
Day 7
Today. Well it may not be today as you might be ready this in the future. But you get what we mean. Today….we head up the village of Dingboche at 4,410m. So the altitude will most likely start to affect you at this point. The trekking speed will be slow so as to allow our bodies to adapt to the tanning air.
Hiking distance: 8km
Duration: 6 hours 2 minutes and 11 seconds
Day 8
Rest and acclimatization day. Rest day???? Ha ha ha. Yeah right. We need to get you acclimatized. So we are going to drag your sorry ass up to 4800m. A steady trek that takes about 3 hours up and down. Then you can rest sunshine. So hopefully back by say 11am so you can chill.
Day 9
We start to head into alpine territory. So the vegetation will become sparse as will the ping pong balls. The highlight of the trek today is the time we send at the Everest memorial sight. This is sombre place indeed that is home to all of the climbers who have died in the Himalayas. We then continue up to the village of Lobuche at 4,900m.
Hiking distance: 7km
Duration: 5 hours 45 minutes and 19 seconds
Day 10
An early start as we have a long days trekking ahead today. We start with a 3 hour hike into Gorek Shep at 5,164m. We have lunch and then take the 3 hour trek into Everest Base camp at 5,300m. We spend about 45 minutes here harassing the tiger that doesn’t exist and of course the climbing teams. We may shed a tear or two to commemorate the sense of accomplishment before we head on back to Gorek Shep for the evening. Ginna be a long night I’m afraid. The altitude here is not conducive to good sleep. But you will survive.
Hiking distance: 12km
Duration: 8 hours 12 minutes and 34 seconds
Day 11
Wake up at 3:30am. What???? Did you say 3:30am? Well yes sireeeee…we did. In fact you have 30 minutes to get ready because at 4am we start or climb to the summit of Kala Patar at 5,610m. It is from here you will get THE BEST VIEW EVER of Mount Everest. You cannot see the summit of Everest from the bas camp or even Gorek Shep as the looming mass of Nuptse and the Khumbu Icefall is in the way. Back down for breakfast by say 8am. We give you about 3 hours to chill before we head on down to Periche at 4,420m. for the night.
Hiking distance: 11km
Duration: 7 hours 18 minutes and 56 seconds
Day 12
We head on down to Namche Bazaar for the evening. And now that we are at a lower altitude and the trek is basically nearing its end…..we can enjoy a celebratory beer or 20.
Hiking distance: 9 km
Duration: 5 hours 34 minutes and 02 seconds
Day 13
The final trekking day. We head back done to Lukla. A pretty long day. Especially with that hangover from Namche Bazaar. We overnight in Lukla
Hiking distance: 14 km
Duration: 6 hours 37minutes and 22 seconds
Day 14
The final trekking day. We head back done to Lukla. A pretty long day. Especially with that hangover from Namche Bazaar. We overnight in Lukla
Hiking distance: 14 km
Duration: 6 hours 37 minutes and 22 seconds
Day 15
We highly recommend that we include this day in case we get delayed in Lukla due to bad weather. Of course, if we get down in time….the cost of the accommodation is on your account.
Day 16
Fly to Dubai/Doha
Day 17
Arrive back in Johannesburg
