Why trek to everest base camp

The beautiful amphitheatre Sherpa capital Namche Bazaar. Most walking is done in the morning and afternoons are for relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere and culture of the amazing environments you trek through. The secret is to acclimatise well and to do so you need to take a slow pace, a good itinerary, ascend to altitude slowly, rest, eat good food, sleep well and drink plenty of fluid.

The actual distances from Lukla to Everest Base Camp can be covered far quicker than we do it, but that will make you ill. For this very reason the trek is relaxed and of course enjoyable. The whole trek is through Sherpa villages, the last community is called Gorak Shep and is at nearly m. They run pretty quick along the trails and have been known to bump into people and send them flying. You can control this through your Privacy Options.

Everest is more than a mountain and the journey to its base camp is more than just a trek. Along a route dubbed by some as "the steps to heaven," every bend in the trail provides another photo opportunity — beautiful forests, Sherpa villages, glacial moraines, and foothills. For active adventurers not afraid to break a sweat, our full trekking support staff will bring you close to local cultures before opening a window to the top of the world.

Call us to book your flights! Hiking, trekking, biking, rafting, and kayaking adventures all over the world, made for outdoor types.

Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities. Serious high-altitude hikes, cycling, or other instances of heavy exercise. Come prepared to sweat a bit. The Ripple Score is an honest evaluation of how often we use local businesses and services to create each tour. With this score you can see the percentage of our local expenses that stay in the communities you visit. Learn more. Catch the mountain flight to Lukla, enjoying stunning views of the Himalayas.

Meet the Sherpas and begin the trek to Phakding. Trek to Dingboche, crossing bridges and rivers with sweeping views of the Himalayan region. An AC representative will meet you at the airport and the first of many team briefings will take place on the evening of Day One.

Please do not book to depart before the scheduled final trip itinerary day. Do ensure you print your itinerary and have your booking number with you, as this allows our local agents to assist with changing your return flight plans, if need be, while you are in the mountains.

When should I book my ticket? Generally, we ask you to wait until 60 days prior to your trip start date to ensure your trip has met the minimum numbers and will operate. If you see a good deal and want to book your flights, then please ensure that you can make changes to your tickets or you run the risk of losing them if we do have to cancel the trip. In such situations, we are usually able to help you book on to an alternate departure, either with us or another operator.

Can I get a cheap ticket online? The problem with these tickets is that you usually end up having to pay quite a lot more if you have to make any changes to your ticket. Some of the places we go to aren't straightforward and we highly recommend using a travel agent for such travel, as there are many intricacies that they can help you with.

In the long run, they save you money! We use professional travel agents for all our staff and guides' travel bookings.

Where do we meet? Will I be picked up? You should fly into Kathmandu International Airport KTM and an Adventure Consultants guide or representative will be there to pick you up off your flight. If you are arriving before the scheduled trip start date, we can often make arrangements for a pickup although taking a taxi is generally the easiest form of transport before your trip starts.

What if I am arriving early or departing late? Adventure Consultants can make reservations for you and can often make recommendations for attractions you can enjoy while waiting for your trip to begin. Please let our office know your specific plans as we love to pass on Kathmandu sightseeing tips.

Do you have a recommended list of clothing we should bring? Once we have received your application we will email out your Team Reference Notes which include an assortment of information including detailed equipment lists.

Any questions you have after reading through this will be directed to our Equipment Coordinator, who can assist you in preparing for the trip as well as recommending and sourcing a range of clothing and equipment suitable for the trek via our gear retail service. Do I really need all the equipment on the equipment list? Yes, these lists have been carefully prepared. Please bring everything on the list!

How warm do we need our sleeping bags to be? Will there be extra blankets available if required? This will be clearly stated in your recommended gear list. Blankets are generally not available so pay careful attention to the bag we recommend. We suggest buying a sleeping bag big enough to allow you to wear extra clothes in if it is especially cold. Sleeping in a warm hat can greatly improve a bag's warmth. How much weight do we carry on the trek? You will carry your day pack with warm clothes, water, snacks, sun block, camera and whatever else you need for the day.

Generally, it will be light at 5 to 10kgs pounds. Will there be any oxygen carried on the trek? Is this included in our trek fee? Most of our treks take oxygen as a medical backup. A trekker with mountain sickness is placed inside the PAC chamber and it is inflated around them. It increases the air pressure and any altitude related illness is usually immediately fixed. The trekker then feels better and can usually walk down to lower elevations to recover. What altitude medication will be available on the expedition?

All our guides carry extensive medical kits including various medications for altitude illness. If you have a previous history of altitude illness, then discuss this with your physician and let us know. Otherwise, there is no need to take preventative medication before or during your trek.

Also, please bring a small first aid kit including a blister kit and mild headache medication for the normal altitude headaches. How many guides Sherpas will be assigned to our group? Sherpa guides are assigned depending on the size of the group and type of trek or expedition. Who goes on your trips? Our climbers and trekkers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, countries and skill levels, ranging from those seeking skill development to those seeking purely adventure. We provide courses, expeditions, treks and guided ascents for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.

I would like to arrange a private trip, is this possible? We are happy to arrange a private group trip and we have run many successful private trips and expeditions including summits of 8,m peaks such as Gasherbrum 2 and Kanchenjunga, all of the Seven Summits and remote destinations such as Antarctica. Some clients enjoy the added privacy and schedule flexibility that a private expedition allows, so you can hike and climb at your own pace and enjoy the mountains on your own terms.

There is no specific group size, but obviously larger groups are more cost-effective. Please contact the office for more information or visit our Private Customised Expeditions page. What kind of physical condition should I be in for a trek? We cannot recommend enough being fit prior to the trek as this will make all the difference to your acclimatisation and, ultimately, your enjoyment.

For most treks, you should be comfortable walking up to 6 hours with a light pack. Please note that for the Mustang trek, the trekking is of only moderate difficulty as we can ride the horses on most of the trail apart from steep descents and the occasional exposed section. Please also note that are some longer days on the Dhaulagiri Trek as we ascend Dhampus Peak. Training should include regular walking on hills, in combination with swimming, light running or biking, and gym work to develop strength.

Check out our Fitness Training Programmes page for more information. How do I know this is the right trip for me? We offer trips to suit all levels of ability and ambition, from your first mountain experience to extreme ascents and everything in between.

To help you navigate the choices available, our trips are graded by both the level of physical exertion and the level of skill required, allowing you to find your perfect expedition match. These ratings are displayed in the icons at the top of each expedition page, with a further explanation available by clicking on the accompanying question mark. A full run-down of the categories can be found on our Difficulty Ratings page and our team is more than happy to discuss your experience to find the right trip for you.

Will there be any access to a satellite phone? If yes then what would be the charges for usage? Most often, your guide will post daily dispatches on the AC website in which your friends and family can follow your progress. I want to contact my friend or relative, who is on one of your trips, how can I reach them? Many of our treks and climbs send daily internet dispatches , and we receive updates from our guides while they are in the field.

The best place to reach a loved one is through our office. Will there be any power source for charging batteries, etc.

For lodge-bassed treks, many of the lodges have power available with typical Asian plugs two nail like horizontal prongs and offer to recharge for a fee. On the Mustang Trek, charging facilities may be more limited and you may wish to consider bringing your own personal solar charging system.

On the Dhaulagiri trek, mains voltage charging will not be available. Although we do carry a 12V power supply, this is primarily for recharging the satellite phone so we recommend you bring your own personal sized solar panel and battery pack if you have multiple devices. If your equipment has a cigarette lighter type car charger, bring that and you can plug it in to charge. We do NOT recommend bringing rechargeable digital cameras as they tend to run out when power is not available.

Use cameras with replaceable batteries and we recommend lithium batteries. We can cater for special power requirements at an extra cost or advise on the purchase of a suitable personal solar charging system - please enquire with our office.

What insurance do we need to get? Each trek member must have travel insurance covering medical evacuation and repatriation, with no exclusions pertaining to trekking. This should provide adequate cover in the event that any mishap occurs and an expensive evacuation is initiated. We do also highly recommend that you purchase a standard comprehensive policy to include cover trip cancellation in the event of an injury or mishap prior to your trip start date , delayed flights, lost luggage, etc..

Do I need evacuation insurance? Yes, it is very important. Many of our expeditions are in remote places with no roads and developing medical services.

In the unlikely event that you get sick, you want to get to good medical care ASAP. Who do you recommend for insurance?

Coverage varies based on your nationality and the trip that you are taking with us. Our recommended providers are found on our Travel and Rescue Insurance page. When you have booked on a trip with us, we will also send you more comprehensive information on various insurance options.

What is trip cancellation insurance? We recommend that all our trekkers buy trip cancellation insurance upon sign up for their trip or at the very least, at the same time as their flights and balance payment are settled. Can I pay by credit card? We can accept both the trip deposit and balance payment on credit card. Please contact our office or visit our online payment system. With no proper infrastructure everything needs to be carried up from lower elevations by human power I swear porters are super humans or if the business owner can afford it, helicoptered in from Kathmandu.

It is undoubtedly better to rent your down jackets and sleeping bags if you are only going to the mountains for two weeks. If you are planning on going for a month which we did plan on , I would consider buying a sleeping bag as it may end up costing more to rent it. Please do not bring 10 rolls of toilet paper with you on the trek, like many advise. There is plenty of it available to buy for cheap even if you are on a budget in case you run out. Save some space in your bag for other, more important things like wet wipes that can be very expensive.

No one ever warns you about the enormous ATM fees in Kathmandu. True story! Most people nowadays expect to have wifi everywhere they go and that includes the highest mountain range in the world.

Telecom companies in Nepal have spotted an expanding market and are cashing in big time on the luxury of internet connections high in the mountains. The mb of data gets more and more expensive the higher you go. This will mostly be enough for a couple of emails and to update your Facebook status, but nothing more. I saw this happen way too many times. I would recommend buying a local SIM card with a data plan from Kathmandu before your trek instead, as there is reception up to around metres and in some cases even in Base Camp.

All of this does add up. Before my trek, I found so many different opinions about using Acetazolamide for preventing and reducing the symptoms of altitude sickness. There are several side-effects to consider before taking Diamox to aid with acclimatisation, the main being numbness, having tingling sensation in fingers, toes and lips, ringing in the ears, loss of appetite, vomiting and sleepiness.

As these can also be signs of your body reacting to high altitude, knowing the difference can be difficult. The medication, however, can decrease headaches most common side effect from not drinking enough water , nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. This together with the need to drink at least three litres of water per day will make you go to the toilet a lot.