Along with the Inca Trail and Kilimanjaro expedition, the Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular treks in the world. No doubt it should be included in your bucket list.

EBC trek is two weeks plus teahouse trek in Nepal which follows the foot print of legendry mountaineers and takes you to lap of mighty Everest.

The Everest Base Camp Trekking Trip initiates with an overnight stop in the vibrant city of Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal). The next day begins with an adventurous flight to Lukla, the major gateway to Everest. It takes around 10 – 12 days to reach Base Camp and Kalapatthar and trek back to Lukla (it includes two nights halt at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche for acclimatization).

Most of trekkers believe that trekking to the BC of world highest peak via rough mountain terrain is treacherous. But it is not that challenging; with proper preparation and training, you can complete the trek without being the victim of mountain threats.

Here are some of the difficulties of Everest Base Camp Trek, you are likely to encounter during your trip:

TrekkingRoute

The trail route to EBC and back is roughly 130km (80 miles) (starting from and ending at Lukla). It also includes the side trip for acclimatization at Namche and Dingboche. It is roughly 65km one way route to reach BC which takes 8 – 9 days uphill walk and 3 – 4 days of easy downhill walk back to Lukla. Trekkers have to walk around 6 – 8 hours per day which covers approximately 6 – 7 miles. For unseasoned trekkers, the lengthy trekking route might be the difficulty.

Elevation and Altitude Sickness

The elevation and its related health threat is another major difficulty during your hike to Everest Base Camp. The starting point Lukla is at 2,850m and the final height Kalapatthar is at 5,545m. You will gain 500m – 700m per day during the trek. If you do not acclimatize and rest properly, it is very hard to complete the trek successfully. We suggest you to stay one more day at Namche and Dingoche followed by the side trips it offers.

Weather & Temperature

The temperature and weather in high mountains are very unpredictable. It usually drops down to -12 degree Celsius in mid-November. Though the nights are below freezing level, day remains sunny with clear blue sky and excellent views. It is for high season – autumn and spring. If you are well-prepared with proper gear, temperature might not be come in your difficulty list.

Flight Cancellation and Teahouse availability

As we know the weather of mountains are highly unpredictable, the flights to Lukla are prone to get delayed that may last for few hours or even for few days. Better to get few spare days to compensate such delays and cancelation.

As EBC hiking is popular mountain trek, there are large flock of trekkers visiting the area in high seasons. The teahouse numbers are limited at higher altitude which might create difficulty; if you are travelling without booking the accommodation in advance.

We suggest you to engage in physical training few months prior the trip. Cardio vascular exercise, weight training, running, swimming etc. are best exercise to boost your strength and endurance capability.