***WARNING: Himalayan trekking is HIGHLY addictive***
I’m a full time traveler, but the good news is YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE! To do this once-in-a-lifetime trek to Mt. Everest’s base camp, I’ve outlined a 14-day itinerary for you.
If you’re looking into hiring a trekking company here’s the one I used: Incredible Himalayan Sherpa Adventure
A little background about my experience in Nepal:
I anticipated my arrival for 21-months. It began as a wild idea while I was still studying Psychology in Connecticut, and eventually I couldn’t shake the vision I had of soaking in the nature from the top of the world. I figured life is short and I might as well go see the world while I’m young. I began looking for possible solutions to get there instead of excuses to go later in life.
As soon as I arrived in Nepal, I was overwhelmed. Kathmandu itself is both hectic and wonderful in its own way, but arriving in the Himalayas for the first time (having grown up in the U.S.) felt like walking on the moon. There is a peacefulness in the air that may not exist in the western world today. The abundance of beauty, and humble welcomes by the nature and people is so genuine. Those mountain villages are truly some of Earth’s most precious gems.
There is a variety of unique Himalayan treks, yoga retreats, meditations and sightseeing, so Nepal’s 30-day entry visa is just enough time to scratch the surface of it’s depth in natural beauty and culture. I was drawn in by the wonder of the Himalayas, and will certainly be back for more. I consider myself one of the lucky people in the world, as I have been fortunate to catch a glimpse of earth’s roof – Mt. Everest.
Now, as promised, here are five simple steps to plan your EBC trekking experience!
TIP #1 DECIDE ON A FLEXIBLE BUDGET
Traveling can be expensive AF. BUT it doesn’t have to stress you out – believe it or not! Budgeting for a trip to a place you’ve never been before can feel like an impossible task, but thanks to blogs like this one it’s getting easier and cheaper (guidebooks can be quite expensive and/or outdated) to learn about unique places of the world through personal accounts! I viewed other blogger’s and vlogger’s content when I planned my first trip. If you decide to book a trekking company for the EBC trek, then they may be able to help you work out a budget for the other activities of your trip. They can also find great prices for tours, accommodation in Kathmandu, and other activities during your time in Nepal (this is exactly what I did and here is the one I used, which I HIGHLY recommend checking out → IHSA
The first thing to keep in mind is that a little wiggle room in your budget can go a long way. Maybe adding wiggle room in your budget means that you’ll have to save up for one extra week. Trust me when I say that saving those extra pennies will pay off ten fold – especially in a country like Nepal, where USD and most European currencies go a very long way. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how you want your itinerary to look. For example…. maybe you also want try white water rafting, or you want to explore the jungle in Chitwan National Park during your stay in Nepal. If you are a spontaneous person like me, then including flexibility is a need – not want.
For the EBC Trek, the budget depends on what each individual prioritizes.
Try to answer these questions for yourself:
- Am I looking for the bare-bones cheapest way to do this?
- What are the most important aspects of travel for me that I should prioritize? (flights, food, accommodation, services, sightseeing, shopping, souvenirs…….etc)
- What do I already have that I can bring and use? In terms of gear? What do I still need to buy? (trekking pants, backpack, trekking poles….etc)
- How many days will I travel and what is the absolute longest amount of time I would stay, if I extend my dates?
- What are the potential emergencies, and what insurances can cover me in case of an emergency?
- What permits and/or visa(s) will I need?
TIP #2 HIRE A GUIDE….. JUST DO IT
Even as a person who tends to just “wing it” (I like to think to think I’m resourceful and able to get around on my own), I hired a company to send me up there with a guide. Two years prior to my trek I decided I would go alone, because I considered mapping everything out by myself would be a part of my adventure. I began researching how to do it – acquiring the permits, accommodation, the MUST-SEE spots. What ultimately changed my mind and led to my decision of hiring a guide from a local company, was hearing from other travelers how awesome their experience was bringing a guide. Another factor was how some people I met had stressful experiences due to NOT bringing a guide. The EBC trek is a once in a lifetime bucket list adventure, and I decided that it isn’t worth chancing.
Most trekkers’ advice that I investigated overlapped:
-Listed “Pros” to hiring an experienced guide
- supports Nepal’s local economy (vs. paying a middle-person outside Nepal)
- no dependency on second-hand sources of information – only primary sources
- enriches one’s overall experience by personally getting to know a local Nepali person – Sherpas are extremely humble and kind people, who know the Everest Region (Khumbu Region) better than any other people on the planet.
- logistics of the trip are completely taken care of such as finding accommodation (NOTE: solo travelers can have a much harder time booking accommodation on the trek because teahouses give priority to big groups).
- Knowledge of local culture and history, significant landmarks, and possibly personal accounts to historical sites
- Knowledge of potential risks and emergency precautions
After my experience, I can honestly say that Sherpa guides go above and beyond to ensure a great experience for each adventure. Without my guide, the journey would have been undoubtedly very stressful, and not nearly as personal. At the end of each day I was safe, and I learned so much about the beautiful and fascinating nature and culture around me. I didn’t have to worry if I would have a bed to sleep in, or miss out on the best places to take photos and videos! (Very important!) At the end of the day, I also had a new friend (and I learned some Nepali card games as well!).
TIP #3 DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH – HIRE THROUGH A LEGITIMATE COMPANY
As a female solo traveler, I’m a bit picky when it comes to booking a travel company in a foreign country. As a former thrift shop fanatic, I’m always on the hunt for those authentic Patagonia jackets at 80% off the original price – not to imply that I care so much about brands over quality. The most important aspect of a product to me is: number one – QUALITY, and number two – COST. I’ve learned through trial and error how to work SMARTER, not necessarily harder, in order to find the best deals everywhere I go. Finding the best quality packages for cheap prices ultimately requires more work on the consumers’ end, and a pinch of patience.
When I began searching for my Patagonia equivalent of local trekking companies in Kathmandu, my method was no different. A few months before my trek, I researched trekking company after company that I could find with a decent online presence. I sent countless emails to cast a wide net, sorted through my responses and decided on the one that I believed would suit my need the best. I’d recommend also checking out Tripadvisor. BUT remember to still converse with any companies before sending money or personal details.
In terms of booking local versus international, I believe in supporting the locals of the areas that I travel to, rather than paying a middle person outside the local area an administrative fee to research information I could potentially find, give or take a few coffee-fueled hours on google. International companies are more expensive than the local companies. They may try to guarantee more qualified guides, and to be more legitimate, however, this is not necessarily true. Authentic and experienced guides from the local areas work with the local companies, too. There are just fewer administrative fees for the consumer. Tourism & services is one of Nepal’s top industries and fuels Nepal’s local economy.
I discovered that there are countless tour agencies offering about the same itineraries and amenities for similar prices in Kathmandu. Most companies are offering the same itineraries and prices for trekking to the Everest Base Camp, but at first glance, the offered packages appear in a variety of itineraries and price ranges. Itineraries are similar, and prices are lightly discounted with just about every company, so I realized I needed to do some deep digging and emailing. After a bit of research, emails and lots of coffee, I began to unravel the mystery of finding my trekking company that was best suited to meet my expectations, budget and needs.
TIP #4 IT’S ALL ABOUT SAVING$$.
Okay. You’ve now decided on a budget with flexibility and an emergency plan, decided on an awesome company to hire, and you are still working to save enough to meet your budgeting requirements. Working, saving and waiting is also a part of the adventure. Developing a positive mindset to overcome obstacles is ESSENTIAL trekking in high altitude.
TIP# 4.5 → PREPARE YOUR BODY, MIND AND SOUL.
Before I left for my trek, I worked for five months on a farm in Australia. That experience mentally and physically challenged me in ways I had never experienced before. I’d recommend taking those months prior of working and saving for your trip, and to do as much long distance running, walking, hiking, biking, or any activity that will test and grow your endurance. If it’s possible to altitude train, I’d recommend that as well.
TIP #5 ONE FOR THE BOOKS – BOOK YOUR MOST SUITABLE TIME
The best seasons for trekking to the EBC are Spring and Autumn. I did my trek in mid-October, so there were a lot of other people on the trail, as that is the most popular time. I’d recommend trying to book a time just before or after the peak of the season if this bothers you. For example, I was not able to stay overnight in Tengboche, a famous village with a monastery that was once a pilgrimage sight, because all the accommodation was already booked out for being so popular. We ended up staying in the nearby village of Pangboche, which is lovely and very near to the base camp of Ama Dablam. I was still able to visit the Tengboche monastery and everything, just the accommodation was booked out already, so I missed out on an overnight stay there because it was the PEAK of the peak season.
After completing your bookings, all that’s left to do is put those hiking boots on, board that flight and GO HAVE THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!
I hope these tips have helped you in some way. For more info on the EBC Trek, or travel in general, check out some of my other awesome blog posts! It’s all here for you!
Sources:
https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/nepal/economy