The EBC trek was my first multi-day trek, far longer than any of my previous Himalayan adventures, which had never exceeded five days. It would have been a 12-day journey, but I ended up taking a helicopter back from Gorakshep after experiencing eye irritation and losing my appetite at Thukla. Despite these challenges, the trek was incredibly thrilling—I had always dreamed of seeing Mount Everest in person, and finally witnessing it from Kala Patthar near Gorakshep was unforgettable. Trekking with Nepal Hiking Team (NHT) made the whole experience even better!
One of the best parts of the trek was staying in hotels at the end of each day—no tent stays required. Plus, the hotels offered a variety of food options, which was a welcome comfort after long trekking days.
From Dingboche onwards, however, the hotels only provided shared toilets. This was true for the places where I stayed, so it’s a good idea to pack plenty of essentials like hand sanitizer and toilet paper to stay healthy.
We chose September for our trek, expecting dry weather without rain or snow. But to our surprise, we encountered rain starting from Namche, and by Tengboche, snow had arrived! On the bright side, the snow-capped mountains were breathtaking, and we didn’t have to deal with sweat. However, the rain managed to soak our shoes and socks, even with rain gear—waterproof shoes, jackets, and pants. Proper gear helps, but drying wet shoes and socks around the restaurant heaters only worked to a limited extent.
While some trekkers fell ill on the way to Gorakshep, I was lucky not to experience any major symptoms, apart from my loss of appetite and the minor eye irritation. I believe staying well-hydrated with warm water in the mornings and evenings, along with the stretching and pranayama exercises I did before and after trekking each day, helped me stay healthy.
From the moment I was picked up at the Kathmandu airport to the time I was dropped off at the end of the trek, NHT’s service was outstanding. My trekking guide, Mr. Ram Krishna Pauwa, another guide, Mr. Arun, and my sales contact, Mr. Ganga Raj Thapa, went above and beyond to make my journey comfortable and enjoyable.
