How hard is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

The Everest Base Camp is often regarded as a hard trek, but is it actually? Being one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world, thousands of tourists make their way to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain every year. But contrary to popular beliefs, the Everest Base Camp Trek is not hard or a difficult trek. Of course, the concept of difficulty varies from person to person, as it is a subjective matter.

But in general, taking in the fitness of a person to be of average, the trek is not considered to be hard or difficult. And an average person can easily do the trek successfully. Many people equate trekking to the Everest Base Camp as the same as summiting Mount Everest, when that is not the case at all. 

There are many factors that make trekking to the Everest Base Camp quite challenging, but with the right training, preparation, and following steps, it can be done in a smooth manner. The following things are what you need to take into consideration before planning a trek to the Everest Base Camp. 

Altitude and Acclimatization 

The trek to the Everest Base Camp starts at an elevation of 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) at Lukla, and the highest elevation is at 5,600 meters/18,373 feet at Kala Patthar. One of the major challenges for this trek is the altitude. Rapid ascending without giving our body the time to adjust to the atmosphere will lead us to get altitude sickness, otherwise known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). Those who neglect acclimatization have a higher chance of coming down with altitude sickness, which ultimately cuts their trip short and increases the chance of an unsuccessful trek. 

People are not recommended to ascend more than 500-700 meters a day. The slow ascend helps our body to adjust to the low level of oxygen in the atmosphere. Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite are common for people who are suffering from AMS. The best way to tackle AMS is to first acclimatize properly, and in case these symptoms make an appearance, the best medicine is to descend down as soon as possible. You can also consult with your doctor and get prescribed medication for altitude sickness. Some common medicines include Diamox and acetazolamide. 

For acclimatization, the best practice is to walk high and sleep low. Hiking up to higher altitude but sleeping in lower altitude helps the body to adjust to the impacts of the AMS. Your itinerary should contain at least two days where you stay at the same place so that you can minimize the chance of getting altitude sickness. A properly acclimatized body will have no problem whatsoever during the trek to the Everest Base Camp.

Technicality, Gear and Equipment

Speaking about the technicality of the Everest Base Camp Trek, it is not that technical. Depending on the route, some places can be a bit technical, but the overall Classic Trail is very smooth and easy. The only reason it can be hard is because of the high elevation. There are different routes for the Everest Base Camp Trek, such as Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Trek and the Three High Passes Trek. But talking specifically about the classic route, it isn’t technical. 

You will also need exclusive trekking gear, from your backpacks to boots. Trekking gear is light weight and made specifically for outdoor activities. So, a smooth trekking experience also depends on the quality of your gear and equipment. 

Physical-Mental Fitness, Training and Health

It is no secret that your physical health matters for an adventure like this. It is not to say that you should be able to run a marathon or benchpress a significant amount of weight to do the Everest Base Camp trek, but you do need to be healthy in a general sense. And if you do run a marathon or benchpress big weights, it will just be an added bonus that will make your trek easier for you. 

A healthy mind and body have a better chance of surviving any situation and coming out on top. What you need to know about the Everest Base Camp Trek or any trek in general is that you will have to climb steep mountains and descend down the same path. But as hard as it is to climb up, it can be equally strenuous to climb down as well. Therefore, your cardio level and muscle strength should be good enough that you can hike the ups and downs of the Himalayas for about 6-7 hours a day on average. 

On top of hiking for long hours, you will also likely be carrying at least 3-5 kg of load on your back in case of hiring a porter and carrying even more weight in the scenario of not hiring a porter. The other thing that matters as equally as physical health is your mental strength. Anyone doing any sort of adventure activity, and especially something as strenuous as trekking, should have a strong mental resolve and not give up at minor inconvenience. 

Because there will be times where you might have to push to the limit and be out of your comfort zone, and it will be hard to successfully complete the Everest Base Camp Trek if you give up without even trying. Training your mind and body prior to the trek, at least 4-5 weeks before, is recommended. 

Proper Planning and Itinerary 

There has been a trend nowadays where people are in a rush and make the trek as short as possible. And while it is not something inherently bad from the perspective of time management, it can be quite troubling for people doing the trek because it means rapid ascending and no acclimatization. The mountains have a low level of oxygen, which makes it harder for people who are not used to the altitude to suffer from altitude sickness. 

Mountain climbers take many days to acclimatize before finally going for the final summit, and even then, many people have to give up because the high altitude takes a toll on their bodies. Imagine if the climbers who are there to summit also cut their 50-60 day expedition in half, like many people do with trekking. Granted that trekking is far less dangerous compared to actually summiting Mount Everest itself, but the point still stands. The standard 15-16 days of the Everest Base Camp Trek are what most people choose, and it has the right days for acclimatization. 

Your itinerary must have at least 2-3 days of acclimatization. For a standard package, Namche Bazaar and Dingboche or Pheriche (according to your preferred route) are the destinations for acclimatization. Therefore, you should have 2-3 days extra at your disposal, so even if you get AMS symptoms, you can stay for an extra day to acclimate and continue on your trek. 

Diet and Hydration

Your mental and physical health go hand in hand with your diet and hydration. Because of the massive elevation gain, sometimes food might not taste as great as when you are in the cities. Neglecting your diet and hydration can cause you quite the trouble in the near future. You are at a significant elevation and need as much energy as you can get to conquer the Everest Base Camp. 

While most food can be found, it is recommended not to eat meat during the trek as it can upset your stomach if the meat is not fresh. Hiking for hours will make you lose the water content in your body, which is why it is important to hydrate frequently. You should drink at least 3-4 liters of water per day while trekking. If you are not hydrated enough, you can experience muscle cramps and headaches. 

Does choosing the right season for the Everest Base Camp Trek matter for difficulty? 

Choosing the right season for trekking to the Everest Base Camp is important. But each season has its own unique feature that it offers. The most popular trekking seasons are spring and autumn, as they provide the trekkers with clear views of the mountains and landscapes and also have moderate temperatures. 

But the winter season is also one of the best seasons to do the EBC trek in terms of getting the best views, but it will be colder compared to other seasons. You will also require crampons to walk on ice and snow for winter treks. The difficulty is the extreme cold and walking on ice and snow. If you are well prepared, you can do the trek in winter as well. It will be a bit difficult but not impossible. 

The summer season, which is also the monsoon season in Nepal, will experience a lot of rain during this time. The views might not always be clear and crisp, along with chances of landslides and rockfalls in many areas, which increases the dangers during this season. You will need to have raincoats at all times. If you are someone who enjoys greenery, then this is definitely the best time to do the trek. Having a trekking guide and porter will be a lot more safe during this trek.

Unpredectible Weather 

It is a known fact that the weather in the mountains is always unpredictable. It can be very bright and sunny, and then later on, the dark clouds start to roll in and cover the sky with high-speed wind blowing. Therefore, looking at the weather forecast before embarking on your trekking for the day is very important. You should always aim to reach your day’s destination before dark. Getting caught up in rain, high-speed wind, snow, or storms will be very dangerous for the trekkers. 

Landslide, Rockfall and Losing Path

There are many trekkers who prefer to travel solo, which is not inherently wrong, but there are many cases here where they have missed their trails and gotten lost. Many of the said trekkers have been found, but there are also many who remain lost. Having a local guide will help prevent such things from happening. It is better to travel in a group or have a local guide assist you on the trek.

There are also many areas that are labeled as landslide or rockfall zones because of how prone those areas are to such disasters. While on your hike, you should be very aware of your surroundings, and most rockfall-prone areas have signs set up so that trekkers can be careful. You must swiftly cross such areas.

Food and Accommodation

Having a good diet during the trek is extremely important. It is better to avoid meat products during the trek, as there will be no guarantee if they are fresh or not. Having local Nepalese food such as Dal Bhat or Thukpa (noodle soup) is better than having western cuisine because it provides you with enough energy for the trek. Having bad food can cause problems with digestion. It is better to avoid foods with meat and dairy products. 

As for accommodation, it ranges from a decent room with facilities such as a hot shower, laundry services, and wifi to a very basic room with solar-powered lights. And the higher you go, the more basic the accommodation and facilities become. It is better to take your own sleeping bags to keep warm, as sometimes the blankets provided by the tea houses will not be enough. In many cases, the rooms are small, and you have to share with another person if you are traveling in a group. 

Injuries and Medical Attention

Doing an outdoor activity always comes with its own set of risks. It can be of high risk or low risk. While trekking to the Everest Base Camp isn’t something that involves high-risk situations, there is always a chance that you can get sick from bad food or even sprain your ankle while walking. And in situations like that, getting immediate medical attention can be tough, especially if you are on a trekking trail. Not all the destinations have health posts, so for serious injuries you need to rely on rescue. 

For very serious situations, emergency helicopter rescue can be done, for which you will require your medical and accidental insurance. Carrying a first aid bag with common medications such as paracetamol, betadine, and bandages will be very helpful in case of emergencies. If you are feeling sick, let your trekking guide know or stay an extra day to rest and ensure the symptoms do not get worse. It is better to stay a day extra than being flown out in a helicopter mid-trip. 

Conclusion

So to answer the question, how hard is the Everest Base Camp Trek? It can be hard, but with the right steps, we can make it much smoother. The preparation in terms of physical and mental fitness, along with carrying the right gear and equipment, makes a world of difference. Doing good research before embarking on the journey to the Everest Base Camp will be a nice approach to ensuring a splendid trek. 

Ultimately, you should know your own body and limit, which can be the fine line on what decides your experience to be good or bad. Always try to take a local guide with you and follow their lead.