The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world. Besides being at the foot of the world’s highest mountain, it is also the highest base camp. Trekking all the way to EBC is an other-worldly adventure. However, Everest and the mountains are not the only highlight of this trek.
Throughout the trek, you will come across many incredible highlights like Sagarmatha National Park, Gokyo Lakes, majestic view of Everest and other peaks, cultural exchange with local sherpas, heart-melting hospitality, and museums. These highlights make the Everest Base Camp Trek one of the best adventures. In this article, we have tried to provide you with the key information on these key highlights of EBC. Read along to see which one entices you.
Everest Base Camp lies in the Everest region of Nepal and is the gateway to the high Himalayas. Yearly, more than 40,000 people trek to this camping side for the Everest expedition, crossing valleys, peaks, and rivers. They come across many spectacular gifts of nature, which are the key highlights of the base camp trek. Here is the list of 10 main such highlights;
Sagarmatha National Park is a primary highlight of your trek to Everest Base Camp, as the Everest Base Camp is in the park. It is located in the Khumbu region and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1976 A.D. It is home to many endangered animals and plants. Animals like Snow Leopards, Red Pandas, and Himalayan Musk Deer are native to these regions. This 1148 sq km area of land has over 118 species of birds. Not just that, the park is also home to seven 6000 m+ peaks. More than 24 rhododendron species are found in this landmass, making it an expedition to the land with rich biodiversity and diverse ecology for the trekkers.
Did you know that just as Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, its base camp is the highest globally? Therefore, out of the major attractions of the Everest Base Camp trek, the base camp itself has to come first. After all, you trek all the way from Lukla to the base camp. This high-altitude campsite at 5364 m above sea level is a resting point for the Everest expedition team. If you are lucky enough, you might even encounter someone climbing the mountain and hear their experiences and stories. It offers a close-up view of the peaks like Everest and Ama Dablam. You will also get to see Khumbu Icefall, which is another highlight.
Imagine a set of Game of Thrones with high ice towers and icy terrain getting real- that’s Khumbu Icefall for you. The Khumbu glaciers in the Khumbu region formed the Icefall, giving it its name. It is located at 5486 m above sea level and is the most dangerous section of the South Col route to the summit of Everest. With ice towers and crevasses constantly shifting, it becomes a significant challenge for climbers and might push them to their limit. The crevasses in this part of the Everest route are more than 300 feet. Avalanches are pretty common in this part. Seeing the Khumbu Icefall is an exciting and unforgettable experience.
I will tell you what you will feel when you reach Kalapatthar, the highest point of the Everest Base Camp Trek at 5,555m. Presume a bee. It has just landed in the carpel of the lotus. When it looks around, it sees nothing but the flower’s petals. It sits there, enjoys the view, and sucks in the nectar. You will feel exactly like that. You will be at this black rock (a literal translation of Kalapatthar) and look around- the tallest mountains are everywhere, in every direction. You can catch a clear glimpse of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks of the high Himalayas, like Nuptse, Lhotse, and Pumori. Watching a sunrise from this viewpoint at a high altitude is a heavenly experience. As the sun shines on the white snow, you will feel amazed by how bright and peaceful it looks.
A trek to the base camp of Mount Everest gives you a wonderful view of Everest and nearby mountains. But you know what else is certain? You will get to witness the various tallest peaks throughout the journey. Your Everest base camp trek route will give you a glimpse of 7 other mountains above 6000 m. Those seven peaks in the Everest region are;
Another highlight of the Everest base camp Trek is Tengboche Monastery in Tengboche village at 3,867m above sea level. This monastery is the largest gompa in the region. Lama Gulu built it way back in 1916, and it is now over 100 years old. Tengobche Monastery is famous for hosting Mani Rimdu, a 19-day festival of Buddhists in that region. The festival falls between October and early November. If you are trekking in the Everest region during autumn, you might witness the festival and the monastery. The village is often a stopping point for trekkers. Spending a night at this village on your journey to the base camp will allow you to experience the sherpa culture and pray at the monastery. You will also get a close view of Ama Dablam here.
The Khumbu region is home to Sherpas. They are engaged in tourism and hospitality. So, on your journey to Everest Base Camp, you will come across various villages and settlements of sherpas. There are village settlements, such as Gorak Shep, even at the higher altitude of the base camp. The people of these regions are very close to Tibetan culture. Therefore, your trek to the Everest Base Camp is not just about the view of Mount Everest. It is also about the exploration of a culture different from yours.
Throughout your journey, you can interact and interview people where you stay; you can hire a sherpa guide or porter and learn more about the region and its history. You can visit monasteries and museums to further enhance your knowledge of sherpa culture. You can also explore their cuisine. Sherpa cuisine includes Tibetan bread, chhurpi (hardened cheese), momo, Sherpa stew, tsampa, and rildok, among many others.
Tell me, what will bring you back on the same route of Everest Base Camp that you just walked? Is it panoramic views of mountains, including Mount Everest and Lhotse? Is it the sheer thrill of reaching Everest Base Camp? Maybe. But warm hospitality would top every one of those. A place would not be fun if people were not welcoming. Imagine you go to a place where people make you feel alien. I bet you would not want to come back. Well, that won’t be the case here.
You will spend nights at tea houses and family-run lodges at your stops on the Everest base camp trek. They will welcome you with open hearts and make you feel at home. Warm foods taste even better when served with warm hospitality in a cold environment. You can meet and interact with local Sherpas at tea houses. The land is steep and rugged, not the hearts of sherpas.
One of the major highlights of the Everest base camp trek is the Hilary Museum. It is the oldest museum at the Namche Bazaar in the Everest region. It is a significant piece of attraction for many who want to explore the Sherpa culture and seek to know more about Buddhism. Named after Sir Edmund Hillary, this is a preservation place of the Sherpa lifestyle, culture, dresses, and utensils. The old sherpa artifacts, various gears and equipment, and photographs of the sherpa lifestyle can be a dream place for researchers.
Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri Trek are another route to Everest base camp. If you don’t want to take the usual route, this trail gives you wide views of Mount Everest and the beautiful sights of Gokyo Peak and Gokyo Lakes. The peak is 5,357m tall and is in the western part of Nogzumpa Glacier, the largest glacier in Nepal. Meanwhile, the six freshwater lakes are significant to Hindus and Buddhists. These lakes are the highest freshwater lake in the world.
Besides trekking, hiking, and walking, you can engage in other forms of outdoor activities during your EBC trek. Sagarmatha National Park is home to many endangered plants and animals. You can explore them. It is among the best retreat destinations for Yoga Trainers and spiritual leaders. You can practice meditation in the lap of the Himalayas. As an outdoor activity, cultural and historical tours of the regions are entertaining and knowledge-providing. If you want to channel your inner climber, you can climb the peaks at lower elevations with permits, guides, and training.
You landed in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. You will have a city of temples on your service as soon as you land. You wouldn’t immediately book a flight to Lukla to start your Everest Base Camp Trek. This is why Kathmandu, your first destination in your trek, is also a main highlight, including Everest. The valley has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can visit before your EBC trek. You can also learn about the city’s stories, gods, and art.
Before moving in the silent laps of the Himalayas, you can also explore the hustling and bustling of the busy streets of Thamel and Patan. You can visit Boudha, a place with many monasteries. You can learn about sherpa culture and Buddhism in Boudha, which will definitely help you when you encounter local sherpas during your trek to base camp.
You will learn about the adventures on the trek to base camp as soon as you board the plane to Lukla. You will fly above the clouds, experiencing the majestic birds-eye view of hills, greeneries, and mountains throughout your 40-minute flight. This is where your adventure begins because Lukla is amongst the most dangerous airports in the world. This is the most essential part of your trek because you will be taking your first step towards the EBC from here. However, you should stay updated about the flights as cancellation is possible due to the weather conditions.
EBC Trek is one of the dream destinations for many adventurers! You will reach the foot of Mount Everest while immersing yourself in obscenely beautiful landscapes- a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Along the trek, you will encounter many natural wonders like Khumbu Glacier and Icefall, Sagarmatha National Park, Dudh Koshi Rivers, Gokyo Lakes, and many others. Experiencing them is undoubtedly a blessing to the eye. The warm hospitality of Sherpas will make your journey more memorable, and knowing about their culture will undoubtedly fill you with joy. When you complete this journey, you will have tales to tell with your friends and grandchild. Cheers to your successful trek! And Cheers to those tales!
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