EBC Trek Info

Ebc trek info

01. What kind of food available in Everest base camp trek ?

Food Menu: Various types of meals are served according to its Menu from Continental, Indian, Nepali, Chinese, Mexican, local Sherpa & Tibetan food as well.

On standard Breakfast mainly Western food are served 

Cereals varieties are from Muesli, Porridge and Corn flakes with milk to add,
Eggs of choice (omelet, fried, boil or scramble)
followed with toast along with hash brown potato / tomato with tea / coffee
Lunch of variations:
Toast / Sandwich (Tuna, Sardine, vegetable or eggs) served with honey, jam, peanut / normal butter.

Lunch:
Green Salad, plain boiled vegetable (as per the season) cauliflower, potato, carrots, French beans, cabbage or pumpkins, baked beans with bread / pancake or Tibetan bread ( a simple flour bread dipped in hot oil) followed with refreshment (tea / hot orange/ lemon drinks)

Dinner:
Soup variations either plain chicken, mushrooms, tomato, noodle and vegetable soups with snacks breads, prawn crackers or popcorns and papadum (thin small Indian soft crackers based on lentils).

Main course:
Variation Nepali Dal / bhat (boiled rice / lentil soup) with vegetable / meat (chicken, buffalo or yak) and vegetable mild curry.

Pilau Rice, Fried Rice (veg or meat and eggs) fried noodles (veg or meat and eggs)chapatti (unleavened plain Indian type bread) sometime MoMo (Dumpling) either veg / meat choice followed with desert either fresh fruit if available like orange, apples or canned mix fruits, custard, pie / cakes
With tea / coffee / drinking chocolate.

Recommended vegetarian food:
Breakfast either toast / chhapati / pancake or Puri ( small rolled bread dipped in hot oil) with mild curry vegetable, paratha bread ( Indian buttered bread either plain or stuffed with potatoes)
Vegetable Fried Rice / Noodles or plain rice, Dal (Lentil soup) with mild veg curry can have vegetable Momo stuffed with cabbage or spinich.

02. Our Trekking  Guide and Porter for Everest Base Camp Trek:
All our Trekking guides are well prepared with knowledge of the area culture, traditions, religions, flora / fauna and plus medical with First Aid experience.

Our guide have full knowledge on High Altitude Sickness known as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) every year our field staff and guides attends Medical Course to refresh the knowledge we carry Gamow Bag (Pressure bag) for quick relief on altitude and plus oxygen bottles in some case.

Know how to risk management:
Our guide are well prepared for all kinds of situation if something occurs during the trek such as bad snow weather, avalanche or landslides, broken trails or any other calamities that might take place, our guide will make you secure including all our staff and porters as well avoiding from mishap and other problems.

Know about Everest region culture:
Most of our guide are allocated according to the area of trekking, for Everest Trekking we have expert Sherpa guide or any other local guides who knows the area with good knowledge of culture, traditions, custom and religion including of mountains and places on route trekking and our guide knows the best place for overnight stop in the villages who have friends and family to make your stay enjoyable in comfort of local warm hospitality.

Trekking guide licenses:
All our guides have gone through many courses related in tourism and trekking including climbing with related Government department licenses and plus of medical course certificates.

Know about the responsible tourism:
No doubt about it, our guide has the best knowledge in eco-trekking and eco-tourism informing the clients leave nothing (litters) but your foot prints, all litters and garbage are well taken care collecting and disposing in designated sites where available on route trekking.
We advice the client not to buy plastic water bottle unless it can be recycled, recommending to use own water bottle every day and refill it when required.
Our guide also helps and supports the local villages and the surrounding environment by keeping it clean and hygienically including preservation and conservation ideas of the beautiful surrounding area and its woodlands.

03. Why Everest base camp trek with us ?
As our guide have the best knowledge of the area, whether trekking from  Jiri or flying into Lukla depending upon your choice of itinerary days, we have the best itinerary days lined up for travelers with flexible days to acclimatize, enjoy the company of the local villagers and to interact with the local people learning their culture and traditions.   

04: Where we stay in Everest region Trekking ?
Depending upon your choice on booking, normally on Everest Trek it involves trekking staying overnight stop in a lodge, as Everest area is a well established trekking destination in all Himalaya, with fine cozy lodge and excellent food menu, as the trek reach higher ground above 4,000 meters
Lodge are limited, where some time in high season one has to use dormitories or share rooms with other people as well.
However, every necessary thing is well taken care by our expert guide to make your travel safe and enjoyable.

05. Lodge(basic and deluxe)Tents:
It all depends upon the booking whether using simple standard Lodge or Deluxe / Luxury types, In Everest area all these types of accommodation are available as attitude wise from above 4,000 meters Deluxe lodge are limited even if there is the restrooms are common due to cold and high altitude where individual toilets are hard to maintain in this high and cold altitude.

However, choice can be made as Everest area from Lukla to Dingboche / Pheriche have good standard lodge / resorts for your choices.

Using Tents or camping trek is few now days due to many lodges on route trekking, however if you like camping trips we can organize with single or twin sharing  warm spacious tents, with separate kitchen unit of cook, kitchen staff, guides and porters with all camping facilities and excellent foods.

06:  What Kind of cloths i have to wear for Everest base camp trek ?
All our trekking itineraries and programs in the website have equipment with list, however for Everest trek depending upon the season and duration of itineraries differs, normal list as follows your personal warm clothing including shorts, T shirts, caps, woolen caps, toiletries, sun / snow glass, fleece jackets, down / duvet jackets, rain / wind proof gear, gloves, sun screen lotions.

During day time T shirts and shorts are good for walking however one has to carry something warm like fleece or wind proof in case the weather breaks into cold and wet.

On reaching overnight stop warm clothing, fleece, down jackets and woolen caps with wool mufflers or scarf and gloves.

07: How can benefit local people trek with Himalayan Smile Treks ?
The natural environment and the villages on route are very important so we encourage client using local meals and food which is part of the joy of travelling and experience, have local food and drinks and this supports the local economy, rather than seeking out imported familiar snacks and drinks from home.

Buy handicrafts and art directly from the craftsman in local villages when you can, rather than from fancy shops or department stores. This will help to maintain a better price.

A strong advice not to purchase endangered flora and fauna products that may be offered for sale. In many cases wildlife products that are offered for sale cannot be taken from Nepal, avoid illegal trade by not purchasing.

Please do not give money, pens, or sweets to the local children in the villages, as it promote a ‘begging culture’. If you wish give consult with your guide, he will visit you local schools and office of the social organization. There you can handover to teachers and social leaders. They will distribute to those people who need them.

We collect clean usable clothing and trekking stuff from travelers at the end of a trip, for distribution to needy communities. If you want to leave them after the trip please consult with our guide and our office staff. We will collect them and distribute them to the people where it is mostly needed.
We also raise fund for the development of rural villages and schools to maintain the area and villages on route trekking and by following the rules and norms of responsible tourism.

08: What happen if I get high altitude sickness in Everest base camp trek ?
Depending upon the seriousness of illness, if the symptom is severe we use instant operation service for evacuation to lower altitude or call for a helicopter for airlift to Kathmandu hospital, if the it is a mild one we use Gamow (pressure) bag, for few hours till the victims recovers or send to lower elevation with the help of our guide / porter support, staying in lower altitude helps and can catch the group on the way back, as on Everest trek much of the trekking trail is using the same route both ways.

09: How can we make safety for Everest base camp trek ?
As we have very standard and flexible itinerary so that people can have easy time on trek with rest day for acclimatization and plus our guide will always check on clients each day if there is any physical and medical problem, so that we know beforehand the problem to cope and to take care of the matter. We also carry medical kit with Diamox (Acetomolide) pills, which is popular now days on high altitude taking each pill as safety and caution from AMS.

10: what happen if flight is cancel to Lukla:
Depending upon your international flight home or to next country, if you have time in Nepal for few days, we can adjust by staying for 1 or 2 nights if the weather does not improve for normal flight, the last option would be to call for Helicopter service which can cost minimum of US$ 500 per person, the extra expenses which you can claim from your insurance with strong recommendation letter from the local company. If this situation arises before the trek to Everest, the company and our guide will refer and inform you with alternative trek to Annapurna or Langtang area.

11. How can we communication in Everest base camp trek.
There are many places with cell phone and satellite phone available on route trekking, sometime the company issue satellite phone to the guide to carry for emergency purpose and for clients’ service as well at extra cost.

12: In emergency who is in-charge of the Everest base camp Trek
Your guide is the man in charge, throughout the trek in case of emergency he will keep in contact with the main head office in Kathmandu for advice and suggestion.

13. About Lukla flight
Starting early morning as the mountain weather can change drastically, so all flight are operated in the morning only sometimes during day time also, all schedule flights planes are small aircrafts, Dornier, Pilatus Porter and Twin Otter planes which accommodate 15 -16 persons in each flights,
Flights are base on phase, each has normally 2 planes which comes and goes with the routine on high season, landing at Lukla airstrip which is one of the most exciting and unique runways with up / downs which makes it very dramatic especially during the take off downhill for a short while.
Lukla town and its airstrip stand at 2,860 meters high dominated with Sherpa tribe, Tamang and some Kirat Rai people, the air terminal is named tribute to legendary mountaineer late Tenzing & Hillary the 1st summitter to Mt. Everest in 29th May 1953 AD. Apart from carrying passengers, planes carry provision and cargo with construction and food product as well.

14. Cost  of  water on the Everest Base Camp trek:
Better to use your own water bottle so you can refill where necessary, this helps to keep the environment safe from unwanted plastic rubbish, bottle water or fresh boiled water depends everyday as you go higher from near NRS 100 to 300 a bottle or liter even more from Tengboche above.

15. How high is Everest Base Camp.
South Everest Base Camp is 5,364 meters (17,598 ft) high and Tibetan North Side Base Camp is 5,200 meters (17,160 ft) high.

16. What’s Mount Everest’s real name:
Varied names were used in early days the western climber used to call Peal 15 before Andrew Waugh, British Surveyor General of India. Waugh named the mountain after his predecessor Sir George Everest, arguing that there were many local names. Also it is known as Peak XV, at 29,002 ft (8,840 m).

The Mount Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmatha and in Tibet as Chomolungma, located in the Mahalangur Mountain range of Himalaya, standing at 8,848 metres (29,028 ft) high above sea level.

The international border between China and Nepal runs across Everest’s precise summit point. Its massif includes neighboring peaks Lhotse, 8,516 m (27,940 ft); Nuptse, 7,855 m (25,771 ft) and Changtse, 7,580 m (24,870 ft).

17. Who was the first person to climb Mt. Everest.

• George  Mallory made the first expedition in 1921 on the North Face and failed or reached the summit as he died during the climb or on descend it is still a mystery.
• George  Finch made another attempt in 1922 on the North Face and failed
• On 8 June  1924 George Mallory and Andrew Irvine made a joint attempt to climb Mount  Everest but neither man ever returned. In 1999 an expedition team found  Mallory’s body and controversy has reigned ever since on whether either Mallory  or Irvine had made it to the top
• Due to  China’s takeover of Tibet the North Face was closed off for a period in the  1950’s
• In 1953  Raymond Lambert and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were able to reach a height of about  8,595 meters (28,199 ft) on the southeast ridge
• Again In  1953 a British expedition of Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans came within 100 m  (300 feet) of the summit on May 26th 1953 but ran into oxygen problems and had  to turn back
• Two days  later the same expedition made a second attempt on the summit with its second  climbing pair Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal)
• They  reached the summit of Mount Everest at 11:30 a.m. local time on 29 May 1953
• Though both Hillary and Tenzing said it was a joint effort.  After many years Tenzing finally spoke out and said Hillary was the first to  put his foot on the summit of Mount Everest.

18. Where is the best place to see Mount Everest:
From Everest Base camp you won’t see much only the tip of Mt Everest. The best places to see Mount Everest close would be a trek up to Kala Pathar or to Gokyo. Both are in the Everest Region.

Second option from Tibet at Rongbuk monastery or from the North Base Camp itself, the other best options is taking a daily morning Mountain Flight from Kathmandu an hour flight.

19. Can I do laundry on  the Everest base camp trek
Yes, you can either have it done at a lodge / guest house at the cost of per kg. This will not be by machine, it will be by hand. Or, you can do your own laundry in a bucket. There are some guesthouses that will charge you for the use of a bucket full of water either cold or warm. You’ll need to bring your own washing line as there might not be one provided or it might be full. Do follow lodge /guesthouse rules not to hang your laundry in rooms.

20. How difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek
It is a simple moderate normal walk with ups / downs trail, there is no vertical climbing involved like in peak climbing. The ground is sometimes rough with rocks and muddy all the path are well maintained with overhanging suspension bridges to cross several time before and after the trek to base camp. Most of the trek involves long winding paths that goes up and down. People with weak ankles should take caution. Depending on the time of year can encounter snow and ice on the trails. The only harder part of the trek will be from the altitude and thin cold air, as the walk leads higher above 4,500 meters walking across moraine and glaciers section. The Khumbu Glacier can be tricky to walk on due to potholes, rocks and unsettled ground. Use caution or seek the expertise of a guide walking or ski poles for walking will be the best for trekking especially on downhill slopes.
       
21. Internet in Everest base camp Trek
About the internet in Everest region few places are available.  Please find below the places and price for internet

• In Namche has several Internet cafes.  The wifi cost is approximately 100rs per half hour, 200 an hour.
• In Tengboche has an Internet cafe, its 20 rs per min.
• In Dingboche has an Internet cafe. It is fast satellite Internet laptops at 20 rs per min
• In Gorak Shep Internet cafe is 25rs per min, and is very slow

For your kind information, we will recommend you to buy NCELL SIM card this company has up 3G base station of broadband mobile communications in the altitude of 5,200 m in Everest Region. –Also it is possible to make video calls and browse the internet on the mobile phones, a Nepalese telecommunication company called Ncell. If you are using your own device (computer) you can buy an NCELL USB + SIM card for around Rs. 2400.

22: Weather  and Climate in  Everest base camp trek

23: Best Season for Everest base camp trek

Autumn (mid-September to end-November)
Autumn is the most popular time to trek. During this time, the weather is clear with mild to warm days and cold nights. However, in the higher altitude, the nights drop into freezing temperature. In this season, the mountains views are clear.

Approach to winter and the mid winter (end-November through March)
It is also possible to trek during winter, from December until the end of February. Daytime temperatures will be cooler; however, the nights will often be very cold. The days are generally clear but occasional winter storms can bring snow as low as 2500m. Early October through late November is also the busiest period for trekking. But in mid winter (January through March), trekking is more challenging in the high altitudes with semi-regular snowfall followed by more winter storms, which break the long fine periods. The mid-December to mid-February is the coldest time.

Spring and early summer (mid-March through May)
During this period the mornings are usually clear but afternoon cloud build-up brings occasional showers. The days are mix up with warm and rain, which displays wildflowers like rhododendrons. The whole country is lush and an abundant green at this season. This period instigate the second most popular and pleasant trekking season as this is rice-planting time. Late-march into April is especially beautiful. It is also a good time for climbing as the high passes are usually snow free and the mountain views are still clear in April. Up to May, the weather becomes hazy and disturbed with the clouds.

The monsoon (June to mid-September)
From June to early September, is the monsoon season. Generally the morning is cloudy and cloud wisps form on random ridges and peaks. Trekking at this time of year is generally difficult and uncomfortable as the weather is hot and it rains almost every day. The trails become muddy and are often leech-infested and the mountains are usually obscured by cloud. During April and May, there is an expectation of thunderstorm, hail shower and strong winds among the fine periods. There are, however, possibilities for summer trekking in the trans-Himalayan regions of mustang, Dolpo and Tibet. These regions lie in a rain-shadow and therefore receive significantly less precipitation than the more southerly areas.

24: Everest base camp Trek  trial diagram of height and distance

25: How can I  Responsible Traveler for Everest base camp trek

Travel that is environmentally friendly is called green travel. Green travel supports sustainable tourism. It facilitates future travelers to have similar wonderful experiences that you enjoy now. We are promoting green travel. To succeed this campaign every traveler has a role from his part. We appeal them to be a green traveler. And we suggest adopting following ethics to be a green traveler.

• Pollution and waste management is a huge problem throughout the world. In Nepal disposal systems are inadequate and recycling of plastics is limited. We suggest avoiding plastic packaging where possible and take along your own bag when shopping. Plastic bags will be offered for everything – don’t be shy to tell that it isn’t needed. When trekking, many travellers take an extra plastic bag to pick up any rubbish that they see to improve the area and for their own rubbish. It’s a good practice. Rubbish may have to be carried until a suitable disposal place is found.
• Bottled water is for sale in all tourism places in Nepal but unfortunately there are few facilities for recycling of the bottles. Please try and minimize the waste of plastic water bottles. Carry water bottles with water purification tablets or iodine to purify drinking water. At many mountain lodges there is boiled water sell system where you can refill your bottle with purified boiled water for a small fee.
• The natural environment is also very important. If in the bush (jungle) you need to make sure your human waste is buried away from waterways. Burying or carrying out used toilet paper is a must. Sanitary pads must be taken out of the area and disposed of appropriately.
• Local culinary are part of the joy of travelling. Eat local food and drinks and your money supports the locals, rather than seeking out imported familiar snacks and drinks from home.
• Taking photography is one of the joyful parts of travelling. Please ask permission before taking photographs of people and video. Respect their wishes if they refuse. Travellers should avoid paying to take a photo as it encourages a begging mentality to the locals. Instead if you take photos send back copies through Travel Company or direct to the people themselves.
• Buy handicrafts and art directly from the makers in local villages when you can, rather than from fancy shops or department stores. This may help the maker to obtain a better price.
• We ask you not to purchase endangered flora and fauna products that may be offered for sale. In many cases wildlife products that are offered for sale cannot be taken through Nepal customs on your return home. Avoid contributing to illegal trade by not purchasing.
• Please do not give money, pens, or sweets to the local people in the communities directly you visit, as it can promote a ‘begging culture’. If you wish give consult with your guide, he will visit you local schools and office of the social organization. There you can handover to teachers and social leaders. They will distribute to those people who need them.
• We collect clean usable clothing and trekking stuff from travellers at the end of a trip, for distribution to needy communities. If you want to leave them after trip please consult with our guide and our officer. He will collect them and distribute them to needy people.
• We suggest doing travelling by only those travel companies who follow the ethics of responsible tourism.

 26: Substance Decomposition Information