Activity

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EVEREST BASE CAMP

2013 will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sir Hillary and Sherpa Tenzings first successful summit of Mount Everest. In May 1953 these two foolhardy men took on the biggest trekking challenge in the world and succeeded in summiting Everest for 15 minutes. With oxygen running low they both made it home alive and elated. Ever since treks to Everest have been a popular adventure for the thrill seeker and for trekkers the Everest Base Camp trek is a must on the hit list. Nepal holidays have a fairly recent history as the Nepalese didn’t really start welcoming foreigners until the late 1950s. Since then its popularity has grown and Nepal is one of the top selling destinations for activity holidays.

The Everest Base Camp trek can be tackled without a guide or group and even completely one your Jack Jones but it is unadvisable. Not only do you miss the camaraderie of trekking in a group, the moment of sharing your success with your fellow EBC trekkers but also you run the risk of illness and injury without a backup plan. If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Everest Base Camp I strongly recommend travelling with a reputable tour operator that uses local Sherpa guides and porters, who know the mountains, the signs of altitude sickness and the route!

Altitude sickness is a massive killer in Nepal and many die on what they think is a fairly steady trek. The signs of altitude are often K2 base camp trek masked or ignored by those desperate to succeed. A well trained, professional Guide will spot the signs and help you treat them with diet and sleep, usually. If you choose to continue against advice though on your own head be it!

Moving away from the negatives surrounding high altitude treks, Nepal holidays offer something far beyond just jaw-dropping mountain scenery. The warmth and simple lives of the Nepalese people fills the heart of those that visit and many return several times. Life is hard in Nepal where only really two major cities thrive from tourism and trekking, the rest of the country maintains a traditional rural way of life, founded on devote Buddhism or Hinduism. The people are happy with their lot and you’ll never see so many smiling faces. Along your trek to Everest Base Camp you will encounter many a Sherpa, his donkey and probably some of his family. In the teahouses you will experience aromatic, warming local food all the more appreciated due to your long days trekking. While the teahouses are cold and communal with little facilities, just being around the owners and your local guides is enough to make you forget the hardships. High up on a mountain it is friendship that lasts not a fire.

After your trek take the time to explore Kathmandu and the surrounding rural villages, and maybe even take a trip to Chitwan National Park where Nepal’s finest wildlife is on display, including the Bengal Tiger. Kathmandu is hectic and crazy, a city built haphazardly over hundreds of years without a town planner but it sucks you in and a day or two here gives you a wonderful view into the daily lives of the city dwellers, workman and many foreigners who flock here. Away from the city take time out in Pokhara, a lakeside town that acts as the gateway to Nepal’s other trekking region, the Annapurna. This is a relaxed, café culture city with hidden caves in the surrounding areas and prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Nepal really is more than just Everest.