Mt. Everest base camp trek: Myth & Reality  

• Kumbha Raj Rai

“Heaven is a myth, real is Nepal” is indisputable and popular pithy remarks usually said, heard and commented by numerous adventurers, nature lovers, alpinists, trekkers about  Mt. Everest Base Camp once they have landed in the snow-covered stunning Himalayan region.

Trekking through the trails of Mt. Everest base camp is the first choice of all the tourists who arrive in Nepal. Over 60,000 external tourists had visited this Mt. Everest base camp last year only.

The most exciting, spectacular and significant moment about hiking through the Mt. Everest base camp is to cross more than a dozen of panoramic glimpses of Himalayan peaks in this region.

Kalapathar is one of this region’s indispensable destination while hiking a few hours to reach Mt. Everest base camp towering with a height of 5,380 meters.

Tourists approaching Mt. Everest base camp can easily capture the glamorous glimpses of all Himalayan ranges from Lukla only.

Your eye lenses can record the images of Thamserku, Khangteka, Kongde, Ama Dablam, Lobuche peak, Tabuche peak, Pumori, Lhotse, Nuptse Himalayas.

Hundreds year old Pangboche monastery, Tangboche monastery on the way fills your heart with gleeful mood and ecstasy. Your gleeful mood will be further accentuated by the sight of flocks of gorals grazing across the green meadows of Sagarmatha National Park.

The bewitching sights of flocks of Himalayan monal (Lophophorus), the herd of Yaks and sheds will touch your heart and lull you to feel like staying there. The charm of ancient Sherpa cultural heritage being displayed by folks of Sherpa community all through the trail makes you forget your fatigue until you come to base camp.

Tourists also throng to see the skull of Yeti (the most abominable creature kept in the Khumjung monastery said to be found in the Himalayan region) about whom a lot has been covered in media and folk tales.

Kalapathar peak is just 5,643 meters which lie in the lap of Pumori Himalaya. The sight of Mt. Everest gets more charming and striking when seen in the evening time especially when the twilight of the sun falls on the peak of the Mt. Everest it appears golden in color.

The real significance of Mt. Everest is evidenced when I came across persons like an America based professor- a resident of Syangja-accompanied by his wife returning from Mt. Everest base camp to get relief from a questions put to him by his fellowmen such as “Being a person from the land of Mt. Everest, have you ever visited Mt. Everest base camp?”

How to reach Sagarmatha Base Camp?

The route to reach Mt. Everest base camp is to take a flight from Kathmandu for Lukla and spend the first night at Fakding, a second and third night at Namche bazaar then trek through Tyanboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep till the base camp.

Most of the trekking agencies have 14 days itinerary to reach the base camp which includes the days for return from the base camp. But suppose the weather condition at Lukla airport worsens, then we need to take the means of transportation to reach Kathmandu via Salleri which will take two more additional days.

Talking about the trip to Mt. Everest base camp one of the visitors said, “Trip of my life I think I can easily say that this is one of the most impressive trips I have done in my life. As an amateur mountaineer, I have always dreamed of going to the Himalaya. In the case of mountains the slogan: Size does matter, really is true. Hiking along the highest mountains of the world is just sensational.”

What’s the cost?

The cost of an expedition to Mt. Everest base camp could vary from USD 990 to 1340 for 14 days. The cost rate depends on the trekking agency regarding the type of logistic and food facilities given during the expedition.

But for the domestic visitor, the cost to reach base camp may range in between rupees 30,000 to rupees 40,000 tentatively which does not include the medical expenses that might be incurred on the way.

Trekking Gears

The cost may increase due to the type of trekking gears you carry with you. You need a minimum Down Jacket, trekking shoe, cap, hand gloves, socks, goggles, water bottle, mobile, camera battery or back up, stick to use while walk gets difficult and chocolates, etc. Since the hotels are plenty on the routes, sleeping bags are not necessary. But if you can carry it would be better for you.

The months of April, May, October, and November are considered suitable for trekking to Mt. Everest base camp.