Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the life-changing and adventurous trek of the Everest region. The trek to the base of the world’s highest peak is on many people’s bucket list. People from a different corner of the world visit Nepal only to stand on the base of the world’s tallest peak Mt. Everest.
Being the highest peak of the world, reaching the foot of the Mt. Everest in itself is full of adventure!
This beautiful trek offers breathtaking sceneries, amazing landscapes, and diverse culture. By trekking to Everest Base Camp, you’ll follow the adventurous footsteps of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Everest Base Camp Trek takes you via different charming Sherpa villages, traditional monasteries, beautiful rhododendron forests with a magnificent mountain vista. This adventurous trek holds a special place in the hearts of not only trekker but people from diverse backgrounds.
Moreover, there are several ways to reach the base camp. The most popular one is the pleasant flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and then trek down to Phakding.
The second one is Jiri to Everest Base Camp, in this option you can easily escape the breathtaking mountain flight. The last option is an Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. This last option is perfect for those who want to visit the base camp in a short period.
Let’s look at the top 6 reasons to go to Everest Base Camp instead of staying at home;
#1 Exhilarating Flight Into Lukla
The starting point of Everest Base Camp Trek is Lukla. It stands on the face of the mountain at an elevation of 2,900 m, and a 600m drop encloses the one end off a cliff face and on the other end by a solid stone. Because of its location, it is famous as one of the dangerous airports in the world.
Lukla airport (Tenzing-Hillary airport) stands on the side of a mountain, so there isn’t much room for failure. The runway is extremely short which makes it very difficult for pilots to land.
Likewise, the weather in the mountains is totally unpredictable; it can change quickly. The flights can only leave and arrive in good weather conditions. So, usually, the flight’s departure time is in the early morning when the sky is clear.
Despite this kind of danger, this forty-five minutes flight from Kathmandu to Lukla offers spectacular views of the mighty Himalayas.
If you are going to Everest Base Camp tour via helicopter, then you might miss the spectacular view of the mighty Himalayas but you will be mesmerized by the Namche Bazaar.
#2 Sagarmatha National Park
The UNESCO world heritage site, Sagarmatha National Park covers an area of 1,148 sq km. It is the world’s highest national park and protected area in the Himalayas of the Everest region.
This national park protects the natural vegetation as well as protects wildlife biodiversity. The rare wild species like Snow-leopards, Himalayan Thar, Musk Deer, and Red Panda are also protected under this national park.
Likewise, many traditional settlements of the Khumbu region fall under the national park. The entrance to the national park lies at Monjo village. Here is the checkpoint, where you’ve to pay a fee to enter the park.
Moreover, in the low forested zone, rhododendron, bamboo, fir, juniper, and blue pine trees are available. Above this zone, only plant life like mosses and lichens can survive. You’ll also witness some colorful insects and different kind of birds. It is also home to in total 118 species of birds and 26 species of butterflies.
I assure you that, you’ll be spellbound by the beauty of flora and fauna in the region.
#3 Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is capital of Khumbu region and well-known as a gateway to the high Himalayas of Mt. Everest region. It is the famous tourist and trading hub of the Everest region. Namche Bazaar is a Sherpa trading center, from trekking gears shops, information center to pubs, cafe, restaurants, and hotels, Namche has everything.
It is also famous as the first acclimatization spot during trekking in the Everest region. Trekkers heading to the Mt. Everest summit, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Valley, Three Pass, and other many destinations for both trekking and expedition, spend at least two nights in Namche Bazaar as part of acclimatization.
Around Namche, there are a lot of places to explore. You can visit Syangboche Airport and Everest View Hotel or visit some Sherpa villages like Thame, Khumjung, and Kunde. All these small hikes from Namche are good options to explore the Everest region.
Besides all this, if you climb up to a viewpoint above the village, you’ll get the first view of Mt. Everest. As this village stands on crescent shaped mountain slopes that offer the stunning views snow-capped mountains. You’ll fully immerse in all these lofty peaks!
Likewise, every Saturday you can visit the weekly market where traders from Tibet sell their goods (often Chinese goods) in exchange for Nepali and Indian food and goods brought from Lukla.
#4 The Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche Monastery is the largest monasteries in the Everest region. It stands at 3,867 meters on the top of the hill and offers the outstanding mountain view including Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Tawache, and Mt. Thamserku.
Tengboche monastery attracts a vast number of visitors. Ancient mani stones and prayer flags surround the monastery. The flags are in five color which symbolizes five elements; earth, water, wind, fire, and consciousness.
Most of the trekkers visit the monastery to take blessing by Lama. Trekkers visit to light the candle and pray for their good health and safe trekking to mountains. Inside the monastery, you’ll see the monks practicing the Buddhism. With the paintings, the wall of the monastery is beautifully decorated.
Beside the mountain view, during the spring the hill is fully decorated with a variety of rhododendron flowers which make this place more alluring.
Mani Rimdu festival is the most important festival of the Sherpa community. The festival falls in the autumn season between mid-October and mid-November month. According to the Tibetan calendar, people celebrate during the tenth Lunar month.
#5 The Sherpas
Sherpas are one of the Nepalese ethnic group live in the Himalayas of Nepal. They are worldwide famous for their incredible mountaineering skills and their kindness and hospitality as well. They’re also some of the friendliest people you’ll encounter during your adventure trip.
Around 500 years ago, they migrated from Tibet to Nepal. Prior twentieth century, the Sherpas didn’t climb mountains. Hence, Sherpa culture has the high influence of Tibetan culture.
In the 1920s, the British planned mountain climbing expedition and hired Sherpas as porters. From that day onwards, their willingness and ability to climb the mountain makes mountaineering as a part of the Sherpa culture.
Since the Everest region is home to these brave Sherpas, the trekking in this region offer you for a close encounter with the Sherpa people. You’ll get familiar with the Sherpas and their rich culture and lifestyle.
The Sherpas are mostly engaged in trekking activities as some work as a guide and some as porters. Some people also run a teahouse, cafe, restaurant, trekking gear shops. Besides, they also run their life from high-altitude farming, cattle raising, and wool spinning and weaving.
During the trekking journey, getting and learning Sherpa culture will be an immensely rewarding experience. Besides, the Sherpa people are also really humble and friendly.
#6 Panoramic Mountain Vistas
One of the most viable reasons to go Everest Base Camp is to be in the right front of the mighty Mt. Everest. The moment of being there is a great achievement that anyone would love to achieve once in a life.
Everest region is home to various highest soaring peaks of Nepal. As the region itself lies at the high altitude, you’ll get the spectacular views of mountains of Khumbu region. The Everest Base Camp Trek route offers a close view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Thamserku, and Mt. Phortse.
Likewise, you can also witness the famous Khumbu Icefall a part of Khumbu Glacier (World’s Largest Glacier).
The wilderness of the region, mountainous terrain, and the towering mountains are some of the reasons to visit Everest Base Camp.
Finally, the Everest region is a great place to have an excellent trekking adventure. All trekking or adventure enthusiasts should visit this amazing place to experience an unforgettable memory for a lifetime.
Happy Trekking!