Lukla Flight Information
Flying to Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport) has its own challenges and the chief among them is the weather. Lukla is surrounded by the peaks, the weather here is unpredictable and changes frequently. Flights operate only when the weather is stable and clear visibility. The chances of your Lukla flight getting canceled cannot be ruled out. If this happens, your EBC Trek may get extended by a day or two. So, we recommend you to keep buffer days so that you may not miss your international flight.
If there is a long delay due to bad weather for Lukla flight, it is better to use helicopter flight. We will secure a space for you on a helicopter flight but the cost for the helicopter flight is not included in the trip price so, you have to pay separately for the flight.
Due to overcrowding at the Kathmandu airport during the high season (Spring- March, April, May & Autumn - October, November), flights to and from Lukla now operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. The airport lies 132km (4hrs drive) from Kathmandu.
Best Time to Travel
We do have two best seasons to attempt this trek to Everest Base Camp. As this trip is a big trip for you, we always suggest you come at the right time of the year as far as possible.
Spring: (March, April, May) - Best warmest time to trek. Rhododendron flowers in bloom- excellent trails and clear skies, best visibility. Good Temperature, warmest weather of the year.
Autumn: (Mid-September, October, November and Mid-December) - Excellent trails, clear blue skies, best visibility. Best Time to Trek
Winter: (Mid December, January, and February) are also good, but it’s obviously colder. You have to be prepared for this. It is up to you to plan this trek at this cold time or not.
Summer: Monsoon, so rain and visibility can be a big issue (From Mid-June, July, and August). We do not suggest you this time for the trek.
You can opt for a monsoon or winter trek if you want to avoid the crowds. You can enjoy some off-season discounts at teahouses which remain mostly empty during these times. But you should be ready to face some discomforts (rain, snow, and extreme cold) if you take to the trail at these times. The flights also get frequently canceled.
Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization Information
Altitude is related to air pressure. In fact, as altitude rises, air pressure drops. The human body reacts to high altitudes. Decreased air pressure means that less oxygen is available for breathing. One normal effect of altitude is shortness of breath, since the lungs have to work harder to deliver oxygen to the bloodstream.
Remember, you will be trekking to the world’s highest trekking destination, which lies well above 5000 meters beyond sea level. To let your body, get used to the thin air, you need to walk slowly keep your body hydrated. If you try to walk fast to reach your destination in less time, more chances to may suffer from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).
The symptoms of AMS is like dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc., are seen at elevations above 3000 meters. Usually, these symptoms occur once you reach Namche.
Drinking plenty of fluids (water, tea, soup, etc.) and keeping your body hydrated will also help keep the sickness away. One should take the necessary precautions to ensure that the condition does not worsen. But if the symptoms worsen, one may have to return to a lower elevation and get medical help.
There are few clinics in during your trek period which offer basic care for minor sicknesses. In the worst-case scenario, an air evacuation will be arranged, where the patient will be flown to Kathmandu to receive medical treatment. AMS, if untreated or ignored, can take your life.
On a high-altitude trek like the trek to EBC, acclimatization is very important. Your body needs time to get used to thin air which can be done by resting at a lower altitude before reaching a higher elevation level. Our itinerary provides you two days for acclimatization. During your trek, you will be spending extra days at Namche (3440m) and Dingboche (4410m) to acclimatize successfully before trekking further.
Drinking-Water Information
During your trek, it is important to keep your body hydrated if in case you are dehydrate also causes altitude mountain sickness. So, you should drink at least 3-4 liters of fluids daily.
We highly recommend you to carry a re-usable water bottle with you, one that can hold hot water. You can use water purification tablets or an inbuilt filtration system to treat the water. While the water in the mountains tends to be pure and without impurities, it’s better not to take chances and filter or treat the water before drinking.
If you use chlorine or iodine tablets to treat the water may alter its taste so, you can add flavored electrolyte powder (available at pharmacies in Kathmandu) to mask the bitter taste. Adding electrolyte to your drinking water may also be beneficial as the minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) you lose while walking gets replenished.
If you want to use boiled water, teahouses offer at an additional cost. It can cost anywhere between US$ 1to US$ 4. The price increases gradually as you climb higher. You pay the highest for water at Gorak Shep, is around US$ 4. While cold water is provided free of charge, it is not advisable to drink untreated tap water.
Phone & Internet Connectivity on Everest Base Camp Trek
You are in the world’s highest trekking trail but internet connection (though erratic and irregular at some places) is available in the Everest Region. You can connect with your families and friends while trekking, post updates, and upload pictures on social media. Wi-fi is available at all teahouses up to Gorak Shep. But most of the teahouses will charge you extra for using their Wi-Fi.
It will be cheaper and easier to get sim card in Kathmandu and purchase internet data that could last you for your entire trip. Ncell (a private telecom company) sim card is advisable to use for this trek. The company offers 3G connectivity up to Everest Base Camp (5364m).
Packing Checklist for Everest Base Camp Trek
It is important to have correct clothing and equipment for safe trekking in Everest Base Camp. Here below, you will find our recommended list for packing to this trek.
Head: Sun hat or scarf, Light balaclava or warm fleece hat, Sunglasses with UV protection, and Lip balm
Upper Body: T- Shirts (2), Light and expedition weight thermal tops, Fleece jacket or pullover, Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional), Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
Hands: Lightweight gloves
Lower Body: Underwear (3), Hiking shorts (2), Lightweight cotton long pants, Light and expedition weight thermal bottoms, Fleece or wool pants, Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric)
Feet: Thin, lightweight inner socks (3), Thick, warm wool hiking socks (2), Hiking boots with spare laces
Camp shoes (sneakers and/ or sandals)
Accessories: Sleeping bag rated to zero degrees F, Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries, Small padlock or combination lock, Basic First Aid Kit, Large plastic bags- for keeping items dry inside trek bag
Daypack (you will carry your own small daypack), Water bottles (2), Hiking poles/ walking sticks
Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothbrush etc., Earplugs, Small wash towel
Extras: Camera with extra batteries and cards/ film, Binoculars, Reading book |Trail Map/ Guide book
Journal & Pen, iPod & Travel games (i.e. cards, chess, and backgammon)
Most of the trekking equipment are available in Kathmandu. You can keep your baggage light by only packing the essential items and buying the rest in Kathmandu. Shops in Thamel offer branded as well locally made gear and equipment.
Guide(S) & Staff Arrangements
You are going for the highest trekking trail in the world so, having an experienced local guide accompanying you will enrich your trip in so many ways. Trekking with a person who has in-depth knowledge of the mountain will also keep you safe and secure. Our guides have experience of more than 10 years and have a vast knowledge of the area you are visiting. Our guides have completed the trekking guide course and have all the required government license to work as mountain trekking guides. They can communicate in English and have received wilderness first aid and crisis management training.
Our trek leader will lead the trek and for every 5 trekkers, there will be an assistant trek guide assisting them personally. One porter will carry the luggage of 2 clients. Ensure that your luggage does not exceed 15 kg, as the porter can only carry a weight of 30 kg.
All our Guides and Porters are provided with weather-appropriate gear and clothing to battle the harsh weather in the mountains. Before the start of a trek, we ensure that our mountain guides are fully insured. They are given fair wages and treated with respect.
Trip Safety information
Our Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary has been designed to ensure the safety of our clients by following all safety protocols during the trip. To prevent AMS, the required number of rest days has been added to the itinerary. Our guides always carry a first-aid medication kit and pulse oximeter (to measure the oxygen level in your blood) with them. The guides assigned to you have more than 10 years of experience and know what steps to take during an emergency. If a client shows symptoms of AMS and needs to descend to a lower elevation, an assistant guide will escort him/her and follow the safety protocol. He will closely monitor the client’s condition and take the required steps needed for the client's well-being.
If the client feels alright after a night’s rest, the guide will escort the him/her back to join the group. But if the condition worsens, the client will be escorted down to Lukla or get airlifted by helicopter to Kathmandu for further medical aid.
Entry Permits & Requirements
We will arrange permits for this Everest Base Camp trek. The permits are 1) Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, and 2) Khumbu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit. Unlike other treks in the Himalaya, you won’t be needing a TIMS (Tourist Information Management System) card for this trek.
Travel Insurance & Vaccination
You must obtain personal travel insurance to join us for this Everest Base Camp Trek. You must be having a travel insurance which must cover helicopter evacuation, trip cancellation and medical expenses. And it is suggested that you buy your insurance policy from your homeland country before traveling as it is difficult buying local travel insurance policy for foreigners in Nepal. It would be advantageous for you also to choose a company that offers insurance cover on domestic and international flight cancellations and lost or stolen baggage
Vaccination is required to plan to your trip to Nepal but it is not a must to have thing to come, but highly suggested. Your doctor will have the information of vaccination you would require to the country you will be traveling.
Hepatitis A, Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Malaria etc. are the recommended vaccination for traveling to Nepal.