The popular 12 days Everest base camp trek is probably the most visited yet challenging base camp of all time. Every year, visitors from all around the world visit the base camp, and there are just so many things to explore during your visit here. The Everest Base Camp trek, otherwise known as the EBC trek, is something anyone would want to explore given they are trekkers, as it is also the base camp to the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest or Sagarmatha. On top of this, you can get an overview of how life is in the rural part of Nepal. The cultural exploration, as well as the adventure factor, makes the EBC trek thrilling. But, there are just as many challenges associated with the Everest Base Camp trek.
If you are planning to visit the Everest Base Camp for your next visit, make sure to read till the end of this article to learn about the challenges of the Everest Base Camp trek!
How challenging is the Everest Base Camp Trek?
You will be in the Everest Base Camp trek for around two weeks. Though it is just a trek to the base camp of the world’s highest peak, it is not to be taken lightly. EBC trek is not as simple as one may think. Trekkers from all around the world have given the trek a moderate level of difficulty label. The facilities that you will find during your Everest Base Camp trek are good enough for you to stay comfortably around the area for a full two weeks. Moreover, the place is always crowded, which also acts as a benefit factor for anyone who is concerned about being stranded with only his group of trekkers or himself in the rural region.
Although the EBC trek trail is quite rural in nature, constant visits from visitors and tourists from inside and outside the country have made this an official site for travelers. So, there are plenty of residents who have made accommodating visitors a way of life. These locals earn plenty of money from the visitors who come to the Everest Base Camp trek every year. In fact, the Everest Base Camp has facilitated the teahouses and vice versa. As for the walking challenges, a lot of people come here to trek straight from Kathmandu, while others simply travel to the base camp from a helicopter. Trekking might lead to some difficulties due to the trail conditions and the confusing need for permits, but if you’ve been to enough treks, then you just might not find the EBC trek as difficult. You can checkout more details in: Everest base camp trek difficulty.
What are the challenges in the Everest Base Camp trek?
The main challenges in the Everest base camp trek are;
- Steep ascents and descents might act as factors that are going to make your trek difficult. The distance for walking is not the biggest challenge, but the trails you are going to take definitely are. It is necessary for a person to be moderately trained as a trekker before he attempts to go on the Everest base camp trek. Otherwise, a beginner has a big chance of getting hurt during his trek.
- Altitude sickness is common among trekkers when they are in the EBC. Though the base camp is not situated at an extremely tall height, it is still above the height of 5000m, which makes it tough for people to breathe during the trek.
- Accommodation is not hard to find, but finding a suitable hotel and service is a major challenge.
- There is little to no internet in the Everest base camp trek.
- If you are not careful, chances are, you might get scammed by the locals.
Unlike trekking, helicopter tours to Everest require minimal physical exertion, making them accessible to a wide range of travelers. Whether you choose to trek or take a helicopter tour, the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas is sure to leave a lasting impression.
