Everest Base Camp

The Everest Base Camp trek is a bucket list experience that’s not just a box to tick off, it truly is one of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth. The journey begins walking through storybook-like pine forests with cute farming villages in the lower alpine regions, then as you ascend the vegetation becomes sparser until you are traversing in between giant walls of snow and ice.

Far from conveniences and daily luxuries, here you will immerse in nature, with no reception or tv to distract you, remembering how beautiful simple life is. Your morning coffee will taste so much more delicious, the chill in the air is refreshing instead of freezing, and even the hardest bed feels comfortable! You'll be filled with gratitude in all corners of life.

As you ascend to Everest Base Camp, you will break any preconceived notions and surpass your own expectations of your capabilities, building your personal confidence. This isn't just about conquering physical peaks; it's about discovering the untapped reservoirs of strength within. When you think to yourself “theres no way I can make it up that hill,” but then you do it! You’ve just raised the bar for your self-belief, and this will flow into so many areas of your life.

Better still, you’ll be doing this all accompanied by like-minded women supporting you every step of the way. We’re your personal hype crew! Not to mention our team of expert local guides and porters who will ensure you make it through your journey safely and happily.

The Details:

Duration: 16 days

Dates: November 25th - December 11th

Meeting place: Kathmandu, Nepal

Group size: 14

Price: $3990 AUD
*Payment plans available

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Information

Included:

• 4 nights accomodation in Kathmandu Hotel.
• 12 nights accommodation in traditional Nepalese "teahouses" during the trek.

• Airport transfer service upon arrival and departure in Kathmandu

• Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and back
• Professional female Nepalese mountain guides.
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day while trekking

• Medical kits carried by the guide

• All necessary paper works, office service charge and all Government Taxes

Not Included:

• Visa to enter Nepal

• Flights

•. Travel Insurance (Mandatory)

• Tips for Nepalese guides

• A few meals in Kathmandu

•. Beverages besides tea and coffee

Meeting point:

We will be meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, on the 25th of November. You can book your flight arriving in on the 25th or earlier. We will be having our official "meet and greet" around 4pm on the 25th, so it would be good to arrive earlier than that to give you time to settle in.

A driver will be waiting for you at Kathmandu airport with your name on a card ready to bring you to the hotel.

Finish point:

We will arrive back to Kathmandu after our trek on the 9th of December. The flights from Lukla to Kathmandu sometimes get cancelled or rescheduled so we have booked an extra night in Kathmandu at the end for a buffer. So, although the trip officially ends when we arrive back into Kathmandu, you will have one extra day to explore before you fly home. You can book you flights home anytime from the 11th.

Required Fitness:

Everest Base Camp Trek requires a high level of fitness and endurance. We will be walking for 10 days, covering a total of approximately 127kms with a LOT of stairs, steep slopes and high altitude. Each day we will be walking for approx 5-8 hours, with about 80% of that being either up stairs or down stairs. But in saying this, we will take plenty of breaks and will be supporting each other every step of the way. It is amazing what you can achieve when you have the right people by your side, encouraging you, and of course sharing conversations and laughs as we go.

We will have porters to carry our main bag for us so we will only need to carry a small bag with what we need for the day.

Altitude:

High altitude trekking is considered to be anything above 1500m, which is where you begin to feel the effects of less oxygen in the air. On this trek you will walk from 2360m above sea level, to 5643m, and back down again, so you will definitely feel the altitude! But the good thing is, if you ascend up slowly, and make stops to wait and acclimatise, your body has the capability to adjust to the altitude.

In high altitude the first symptom you will feel is being out of breath, or "puffed", more quickly than you would at sea level. This is normal, and everyone trekking at altitude is guaranteed to feel it at some point. However the better your cardio endurance is, the higher you will be able to trek before you feel this extra exertion, and the less effect the altitude will have on your trekking experience overall. Which is why its important to work on your cardio fitness before the trek.

The next stage of altitude symptoms is to feel dizziness, a lack of apetite, and potentially nausea. If you feel this, you are approaching altitude sickness and will need to rest a while before continuing higher. For this reason, our group will have 3 expert mountain guides, as well as 2 Wild Women trip leaders, so that we can split when needed. This means there is no pressure for you to maintain any speed or keep going when you are not feeling well.

Altitude Sickness:

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), can occur when ascending to high altitudes too quickly. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. If you begin to feel unwell, the guide will recommend stopping and resting, drinking lots of water and monitoring your symptoms, and if it persists, you may need to descend.

What happens if you are unable to complete the trek?

If you realise that you are unable to go further, or your guide advises that you must descend due to altitude sickness, you will either rest in the tea houses until you feel well enough to walk back down, or directly begin to descend, escorted by a guide and porter.

In an emergency situation where you need to be evacuated due to acute altitude sickness, illness, or injury, a helicopter will be called. Helicopter pads are everywhere on the EBC trail, and there are dozens of rescue helicopters being used in this region every day. So they will be able to get to you usually within an hour, and either drop you off at Lukla airport in 15 minutes, where you willl go to Lukla hospital, or take you straight to Kathmandu Hospital, which is a 1 hour flight.

As Nepal has a huge trekking industry, which is dominated by extreme altitude and dangerous trails, they also have a very compitent mountain medical industry. Their hospitals are well funded and set up for foreigners.

Season:

We have chosen November to go trekking as this is one of the best parts of the year for the climate in Nepal. It will be the end of autumn, so temps have begun to drop, but its not quite the super cold snowy winter yet.

The first few days of our hike will be a bit warmer and then the higher and higher we get up the mountain the cooler it will get. When we are in the higher elevations it will be very cold at night. So this means you'll have to pack some autumn hiking clothes AND winter clothes.

Tipping:

Tipping is a customary way to show appreciation to our Nepalese guides and porters who work super hard to make sure we are always safe and having the best time ever. While not mandatory, it is highly appreciated and considered an important part of their income. As a general guideline, we suggest budgeting around $10-15 per day for your guide and $5-10 per day for your porter, per trekker. Tips are usually pooled and given at the end of the trek. Of course, the exact amount is up to you and what you feel comfortable with giving.

What to bring:

3 Passport size Photos (required for National Park trekking permits)
Day pack for you to carry on hike
Torchlight / Headlight
Warm light weight backpacking sleeping bag (-10 degrees Celsius)
Sunglass and sun-cream
Hat
Beanie
Neck warmer
Thin fleece gloves
Down jacket (Yes, you need this!)
Base layer thermal like wool or similar
Sweat wicking t-shirt
Fleece/Jumper
Wind proof jacket
Long and short hiking pants
Swimmers
Hiking boots - "broken in" and comfortable
Wool socks- a few pairs for hiking and one thick one for night
Sandals (Crocs or Tevas are great to wear wool socks with)
Trekking poles (optional only if you feel your knees struggle with down hills or your worried about your endurance)
Dry fruits, protein bars, chocolates for trekking snacks - can buy in Kathmandu aswell
Toiletries
Camera/gopro
Chargers - international adapter
Journal/book
2 x 1lt water bottles (recommend lifestraw or katadyn purifier bottles)

Altitude Medications:

Acetazolamide (Diamox): This is a medication that helps to reduce symptoms of altitude sickness by increasing the amount of bicarbonate excreted in the urine, which stimulates breathing and helps the body adjust to higher altitudes. It's often taken preventatively starting a day or two before ascending to altitude. It can also be used to treat mild symptoms of altitude sickness. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking acetazolamide, as it may not be suitable for everyone.

Dexamethasone: This is a steroid medication that can be used to prevent and treat altitude sickness. It works by reducing inflammation in the body, including in the brain, which can help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Dexamethasone is typically used as a treatment for severe altitude sickness or as a backup option if acetazolamide is not effective. Like acetazolamide, it should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Ibuprofen or Aspirin: These over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate symptoms such as headache or body aches associated with altitude sickness. They don't treat the underlying cause of altitude sickness, but they can provide temporary relief while your body adjusts to the altitude.

Anti-nausea Medications: If you experience nausea or vomiting as a result of altitude sickness, anti-nausea medications such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or ondansetron (Zofran) may be helpful. These medications can help alleviate nausea and prevent dehydration.

It's important to note that while these medications can be effective in preventing and treating altitude sickness, they are not a substitute for proper acclimatization and altitude awareness. It's essential to ascend slowly, stay hydrated, and listen to your body's signals while at high altitude. Additionally, always consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

Visa:

All Australians can obtain a Visa on Arrival to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. It costs $30USD for 15 days, $50USD for 30 days, or $125USD for 90 days.

Important notes:

You will need a valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background with you at immigration to get the VOA.
Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen.
Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fees

Travel Insurance:

It is compulsory for you to have travel insurance to join this trip, which we will need to have a copy of before you depart. You should book travel insurance which covers you from the moment you leave home, until the moment you return, ensuring it includes cover for flight delays/cancellations, lost baggage, theft, and medical expenses. There are many companies offering insurance, so you should shop around and compare prices and values.

IMPORTANT: Most travel insurances only cover up to 3500m altitude trekking, as anything above has a much higher risk factor, so you need to make sure you get an insurance which covers up to 5600m. It will be written in the T&C's.

Try using this website to compare high altitude insurances:

https://www.comparetravelinsurance.com.au/travel-insurance-tips/climbing-trekking-travel-insurance

If you are struggling to find good value for money insurance or have any questions, reach out to us and we can help.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Kathmandu (1400 m) / Meet & Greet

You’ll arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, greeted by the bustling atmosphere of Nepal’s capital city. The sights, sounds and smells will immediately immerse you in the rich culture of the region. After meeting our staff member at the airport you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Thamel where you can rest and recharge from your flight. In the afternoon you’ll meet the rest of your group for a briefing on the journey ahead before all heading off to dinner together.

Meals Included: Dinner

Accommodation: Kathmandu Guest House (twin share)

Day 2: Cultural day in Kathmandu

Before heading of on our trekking adventure we will take a day to learn a little bit more about the culture and explore Kathmandu. Some of the highlights will be doing a cooking class, exploring Bhaktapur, walking around Durbar Square & some local markets, and visiting a local women's handicraft workshop.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Kathmandu Guest House (twin share)

Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (2860m/9383ft). Trek to Phakding (2610m/8560ft)

After an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, known as one of the most thrilling airport landings in the world, embark on your trek to Everest Base Camp. The trail descends from Lukla through picturesque villages and lush forests, following the Dudh Koshi River. Arrive in Phakding, a charming village nestled along the riverbanks, where you'll spend the night.