Let’s face it! You have dreamt of trekking to Everest Base Camp at least once. Lucky are you if you have done it already. Kudos to you. Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the best treks in the world. Every year over 30,000 trekkers flock to Nepal to trek to Everest Base Camp. You can pretty much find everything regarding this trek on the internet. Decent hours of search can give you a lot of information for the trek. If you search where is mount Everest, for instance, you can find amazing blogs for this. If you Google Dingboche height, you can find the height easily. Similarly, if you search for a side-hike to the base camp, you will be suggested amazing short hikes.
Worried about packing list? You can find many articles on it. Worried about the routes and itineraries? Well, there are YouTube vlogs and web articles for it as well. Don’t know how to prepare? There are many articles on planning and preparation for the trek. But in this article, we will reveal something nobody tells you! Yes, something very few people know and share. So, embrace yourself, sit back and enjoy this amazing blog on things you probably didn’t know about Everest Base Camp Trek.
Take Diamox
Did you know the trekking trail to Everest Base Camp has an altitude ranging up to 5550m? You will have to cover an altitude up to 5,644 m at Kala Patthar. And altitude sickness is inevitable if you are not prepared mentally and physically. So, it is better to take Diamox with you beforehand.
Diamox is a medication against altitude sickness symptoms and should be used to prevent altitude sickness, not to cure altitude sickness. Above 2500m, altitude sickness can develop in your body. Don’t ascend quickly or drink alcohol. You should drink enough water and stay hydrated. It is always better to consult your guide or a local pharmacy about your health and the best ways to get to the base camp without health complications.
Take Enough Tissues
I am pretty sure that this is not something somebody will tell you for your adventure to Everest Base Camp. Although you can buy everything on the way to Everest Base Camp, buying tissues is not recommended. The tissue for sale is of bad quality and gets messed up easily. If you get a runny nose or have to use the bathroom often, my friend, you need to take enough tissues. Wet wipes are good for use as well.
You Can Buy Wi-Fi In The Mountains
Worried about the internet in the mountains? Well, if you got money, you got Wi-Fi in the mountains. There is an internet facility almost everywhere along the way to the Everest Base Camp. And it’s affordable. Almost every teahouse offers Wi-Fi to the trekkers, but at a price. You can buy a card from Everest Link if there is no Wi-Fi. You can buy a Sim Card and use 3G. The best way is to buy a data bundle and enjoy reliable connectivity almost everywhere.
Don’t Eat Bakery And Meat
One of the biggest mistakes is to eat Bakery on the way to Everest Base Camp. This is because most of the time, the Bakery items are not fresh. So, it is not advised to eat cake or bakery items even if you crave a piece of cake. And regarding meat, you should never eat meat during the Everest Base Camp Trek.
It is because the meat is flown all the way from Kathmandu and takes days to reach the teahouses in the mountain. Sherpa culture does not allow the killing or slaughtering of animals in the Khumbu Region. So, the meat has to be transported from Kathmandu or other city areas to the teahouses in the Everest region. For this, it has to fly to Lukla and get carried on the back of the mules or donkeys for days.
The EBC Hike Is Easy
Honestly, the trek to Everest Base Camp is easy. What makes it hard is the altitude. Most trekker claims that the trail to Everest Base Camp is easy; however, the trek is not. The trek is nothing technical at all. Anyone with little to no experience can do this trek. The only challenging part is crossing the Nzogumpa Glacier because there is no good trail and people who don’t have a guide can easily get lost there. This part of the trek is often considered the most challenging part. However, many independent trekkers have done solo treks to the Everest Base Camp.
Last year, a 4-year kid completed the trek successfully. And no doubt, a 40 years old man can do the trek as well. If you are physically fit and have the determination to complete the trek, you can do it. But not to underestimate, make sure that your itinerary entails acclimatization day because some people had to return to Kathmandu via helicopter rescue due to altitude sickness. Before you finalize the trek, ensure that you can walk for at least 5 hours on rough terrain.
You Can Fly To Everest Base Camp Directly
This is a viable option only for those who are short on time and has enough money to afford a heli ride to Everest Base Camp. You can board a helicopter from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp. You can reach the base camp in just a few minutes and get back to Kathmandu on the same day. Everest Base Camp heli tour is ideal for those who hate to trek for days.
If you love to trek for a few days, you can directly fly to Namche Bazaar or Lukla and trek from there to the base camp. You can also trek to the base camp, and while returning, you can book a heli ride from Gorakshep. There are travel companies who can arrange a heli flight for you. You can admire the beauty of base camp in just a few days. But it will be a lot costlier than the regular 2-week trek.
