The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most famous trekking adventures in the world. It is a grand journey that takes trekkers from the low-lying hills of Nepal to the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain peak. It is of no surprise as such that people from all parts of the globe visit Nepal to undergo this feat. The trek’s popularity is also well-deserving as the adventure presents amazing highlights and features that capture the true essence of Nepal’s Himalayan life and topography. From the rich Sherpa culture to the cerulean shadows of the mighty Everest Himalayas, the Base Camp Trek of Everest is an escapade that you should not miss out on! Here are the top 7 reasons why you should do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal.
1. Initiation of the Everest Base Camp Trek- the Exciting Flight to Lukla.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is commenced via the flight to Lukla. While this is not the only way to the Khumbu, it is certainly the easiest and shortest route. It is also the most-preferred. The flight to Lukla is like a small adventure in itself. The Lukla airport- also known as the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is situated atop a cliff and drops off downwards at the end of the runway. As a matter of fact, the airport’s runway is considered one of the shortest runways on the planet. Correspondingly, the short flight to Lukla is sure to stay in the minds of all those who do it, as the flight offers a spectacular view of the unfurling mountains. It presents beautiful sceneries of the change in topography as one leaves the hills and enters into the Himalayan foothills.
2. The Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park is one of the highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek. Trekking trails of the journey goes through the gorgeous Himalayan protected area and offers astounding natural sceneries of its floral and faunal species. The national park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and trekking through its verdant trans-Himalayan woods is a special experience. The winding landscape of the park is home to many endangered species of animals as well, like the Snow-Leopard and the Musk Deer among a myriad of many other creatures. The birch and bamboo forests of the park provide a tranquil nature to trek through, and the beautiful scenery that the park protects is a magnificent journey that adds more worth to the final destination of the base camp.
03: Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is another famous highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek. It is a popular mountain town that provides a gorgeous view of mountain peaks like the Kongdi RI, the Thamserku, and of course- Everest from its step-like terrains. The town is quite famous for being the gateway to the Himalayas of Nepal, and its amazing amphitheater-like topography provides an outer-worldly aura of Himalayan serenity. Namche is also the place where most trekkers stay for acclimatization. It is a beautiful destination that plays an important role in the growth of the tourism sector of Khumbu. As a matter of fact, Namche Bazaar was an important rendezvous point for Nepali and Tibetan traders in ancient times, where salt, dried meat, and textiles were exchanged.
04: The Sherpa Culture
The Khumbu region of Nepal is a highly condensed Sherpa haven. The legendary Sherpa culture of the Everest is a subject of much awe and inspiration for most people around the world. As such, the Everest Base Camp Trek presents a perfect opportunity to enjoy the legendary culture and tradition of the Sherpa people in close proximity. As a matter of fact, the Sherpa people are known worldwide for their almost super-human mountaineering skills. They are welcoming and friendly people who add a touch of exoticness to the trekking journey. Most trekkers almost always have a Sherpa guide or helper while exploring the region.
05: The Tengboche Monastery
The Everest Base Camp Trek is as much a spiritual journey as it is an adventurous one. While trekking, one may find many small Gumbas and chortens decorated with colorful prayer flags. Mani stone walls carved with prayers are also quite common to see. Among the many spiritual symbolisms the trek presents, the Tengboche Monastery is perhaps the most famed and revered one. It is a beautiful Buddhist monastery that is situated on Tengboche village. Trekkers often visit the monastery for blessings of a successful journey from the Buddhist monks who reside there. The village of Tengboche itself is also another highlighted destination of the journey. It is a village surrounded by rhododendron woods where the sound of Himalayan eagles are common to hear and those flying above the village are common to see. From the ridges of the village, the sight of the Ama Dablam and Mount Everest are extremely majestic.
Correspondingly, the monastery itself is also decorated quite brilliantly with amazing artwork and Buddhist murals. The outside walls of the monastery and the gate are ornamented with soft and intricate pastel artwork that depicts myths and legends from the Buddhist culture. It is a holy place of peaceful, surroundings and a Himalayan pulchritude.
06: The Everest Base Camp
The Base Camp of Everest is of course the most significant highlight of the whole trekking journey; it is the final destination of the trek itself. Trekking for over a week and finally reaching the base camp is a gratifying feeling. It fills up trekkers with a sense of pride and accomplishment. The sense of captivation and inspiration becomes too big to hold as one stands under the shadow of the world’s tallest Himalayan peak, surrounded by snow and vast openness under the clear sky. The sheer size and the bulk of the mountains is sure to life anyone’s spirits.
07: Panoramic Vistas of the Everest
The Himalayan vistas of Nepal are one of the country’s biggest draw points. And the Everest Base Camp Trek also does not disappoint in this aspect. What’s more, the trekking journey presents one of the most amazing and mesmerizing panoramas of the Khumbu’s Himalayas the likes of which are not found anywhere else on the planet. All throughout the trek, the trekkers are constantly in the company of giant mountain peaks of the Everest massif, which include many prominent peaks like Lhotse, the Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam as well as Mount Everest itself along with many more. Similarly, the famous Khumbu Icefall is also part of the sight as trekkers reach the base camp. The blue skyline decorated with the glowing white Everest peaks that pierce the sky are sights that are fascinating to see and wonderful to behold. They are really breathtaking and give off a sense of awe with their colossal size and enormity.
Furthermore, it is good to know that one cannot see the view of Mount Everest from the base camp itself, but rather from the most famous viewpoint of Kalapatthar. The word translates as “the Black Rock”, and this viewpoint is massively famous for presenting a panorama of the entire Mount Everest massif in a spectacular fashion. Moreover, most trekkers visit the viewpoint of Kalapatthar early in the morning to watch the stunning natural phenomenon of the sunrise from amidst the Everest Himalayas.
In conclusion, there are many more highlights and aspects to the famous Everest base camp Trek in Nepal. The best seasons to do the trekking journey are spring and autumn, which last from March to May and September to December respectively. Anyone can do the trek, and it is a must-do for any trekking/adventure enthusiasts.
