Trek to Everest Base Camp - Trip Details

What you need to know before you go!

PRE-TRIP PREPARATIONS CHECKLIST

• Trek to Everest Base Camp - Pre-Trip Prep Checklist

PACKING CHECKLIST

• Trek to Everest Base Camp - Packing Checklist

PRINTABLE ITINERARY

• Trek to Everest Base Camp - PDF

ARRIVALS

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

DEPARTURES

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

PASSPORTS & VISAS

TIPPING

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

QUICK FACTS

MONEY MATTERS

GETTING FIT

GENERAL FAQS

ARRIVALS INTO KATHMANDU

• Wild Women Expeditions recommends you arrive at least one day before your trip officially begins.
• You will be met by our local partner at KTM outside the arrival gate (look for Wild Women Expeditions on a sign across the road!). Your airport transfer is included regardless of when you arrive!
• Our driver will bring you to the Address Kathmandu Hotel or your other pre-trip accommodations.
• Submit your flight info (Airline carrier, flight number, date, time) on your Travel Details Form (to be sent via email)

Group Rendezvous Point:

• Date: Day 1
• Time: 4:00 p.m.
• Location: Lobby of the The Address Kathmandu Hotel (Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal)
   

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS 

We recommend booking your pre-trip rooms at The Address Kathmandu Hotel.

• Please book directly on their website or through a reputable online booking service.

Reference you’re with Wild Women Expeditions so we can work to keep you in the same room on Day 1 and 2 of the trip.

DEPARTURES FROM KATHMANDU

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

• Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Important: A copy of your passport must be emailed to the Wild Women Expeditions office by 130-days pre-trip.

• Visa:

Visas (15-day, 30-day and 90-day) are available on arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu. Your passport must be valid for at least six months and you will need a whole free page for your visa.

To obtain a visa upon arrival by air in Nepal you must:

• Fill in an application form. Visa application forms are available on a table in the arrivals hall, though some airlines provide this form on the flight. You may also download a visa application form from the website of the Nepali embassy in your home country.

Please use this address:

The Address Kathmandu Hotel

Street: Chaksabari Marg

District: Thamel

City: Kathmandu

• Provide a passport photograph. If you don’t have official-sized passport photos of yourself (purchased at home), you’ll need to first fight for one of the electronic kiosks on the left. Scan your passport, complete the visa form, and allow the machine to take a photo. If you already have your own passport photos, you can skip the kiosk step.
• Pay the fee (approx. $40 USD for 30 days) at the little desk in the corner before lining up in the Immigration queues.
• Pocket the coloured receipt and take the other to the next counter where you’ll give overall paperwork, photos, and receipts to an immigrating official and hopefully be issued your visa on arrival.
• Exit to the left toward the baggage claim area. Have your boarding pass with luggage code ready to show the officer as you depart the baggage claim area.

Traveler’s Tips

• Keep a pen and your passport handy to complete paperwork. The forms may be given out during landing when you can’t get to the pen in your carry-on bag.
• Don’t lose or toss your boarding pass with luggage code — you’ll need it in the airport to claim your bags.
• Passport photos come in very handy in Nepal — bring several recent ones with you. You’ll need passport photos when getting a SIM card for your phone and for your Entry Visa.
• Don’t jump into the first long queue that you see after deplaning. Look for the tiny signboards above desks far to the front, and ask others in the queue for which part of the process they are waiting for.
• Don’t expect orderly or polite queuing, especially if waits are long. You’ll probably need to shuffle your feet and even stick out elbows to block attempts to cut the line in front of you. Please visit Nepal’s Department of Immigration website for full details.

Above info is from Lonely Planet and TripSavvy.com.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

We recommend the group pool their tips, presenting an envelope/card to each guide/porter outlined below as part of a tipping ceremony. One or two people in the group can take the lead in organizing this. Expect to tip on the last night in Lukla because this is when the porters leave the group. You should plan to tip in Nepalese Rupees. It is recommended to avoid openly tipping porters and guides separately from the tipping ceremony.

Here’s an example:

• Lead Guide: $300 USD for the whole trip from the group (Example – $300/8 women is $38 per person)
• Assistant Guide 1: $280 USD for the whole trip from the group (Example – $258/8 women is $35 per person)
• Assistant Guide 2: $200 USD for the whole trip from the group (Example – $200/8 women is $25 per person)
• Porter: $150 USD per porter for the whole trip (Example – 8 women need 4 porters, so that’s $600 total / 8 = $75 from each woman.)
• Kathmandu Tour Guide: $40 for the day from the group (Example – 8 women each pay $5 USD)
• TOTAL TIP per group member (based on a group of 8 women) to contribute: $164 USD but the equivalent in Nepalese Rupees.

Please note: Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

• Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum two women per room), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner. Standard rooms are shared (2 women per room) with two small cots that have mattress, pillows, and sheets. Blankets are also available upon request but might not live up to your expectation of cleanliness. Be sure to bring a sleeping bag liner and pillowcase.

If you are interested in a private room while in Kathmandu (Day 1, 2 and possibly, Day 16,17), please email support@wildwomenexpeditions.com and we will email you a quote if a room is available (for hotel nights only).

• Electricity / Internet / WiFi / Cell Coverage

Electricity is usually available in the main dining area and you can charge batteries at an hourly rate of $1-2 USD, about 150-300 RS. You might be able to get away with free battery charging if your room happens to have a plug.

Wifi is sometimes available, up until about 4000m but past that, no more internet. You will usually pay for 300 MB or something nominal, so do not expect to be uploading photos or anything!

There is very little cell coverage in the Everest region above Namche Bazaar.

• Bathrooms

Some tea houses boast western-style flush toilets but many still have squat toilets. Most of the time, you’ll be squatting over a porcelain hole and rinsing it down with water afterwards. Toilets are frequently located in a separate building or at the end of the hall. Toilet paper always goes into the wastebasket.

Many tea houses have showers available and some do have hot water showers. Cold showers are free; hot showers (if available) will cost 100-300 RS, around $4 USD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7KBbjtan9Q

• Potable Water

The tap water and river water in Nepal is unsafe to drink and visitors have a choice between bottled water, purification tablets, or boiling water.

Bottled water is available at the front desk at the Address Hotel Kathmandu but you can easily treat the tap water each day while in Kathmandu.

It is important you have two 1 Litre water bottles that do not leak (Nalgene works well).

During the trek your guides will provide unlimited amounts of water using 2 methods:

• Water sourced from lodge kitchens (mountain streams), filtered by your guides and then poured directly into your 2 x 1L bottles. The filtered water is safe to drink but if you prefer, you can use a Steripen or chemical treatment tablets to further treat it. Boiled water will be available in the evenings.
• Bottled water is available everywhere but creates a tremendous amount of waste. If bottled water is purchased, it must be transferred into your 2 x 1L bottles and the plastic left at the restaurant/tea house so they can direct it to the proper disposal.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

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Water-To-Go

• Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

• Camping in Sub-Zero Temperatures

What is the coldest it is expected to be at Everest Base Camp?

Temperatures vary considerably with altitude and time of day. Daytime temperatures range from 41 - 59°F (5 - 15°C). Nighttime temperatures at Base Camp can be well below freezing 32 - -4°F (0°C to -20°C), and will feel colder (-20 to -30°C) if there are strong winds.

• Sleeping Bags

Packing List Optional Items:

• Sleeping bag liner for additional warmth (adds 5-7°C)
• Sleeping bag: rated for sub-zero or down to 0°F/-20°C (*the provided sleeping bag is rated to -20C/-4F and weighs 1.5kg but you are welcome to bring your own if it is rated warm enough).

QUICK FACTS ABOUT NEPAL

• About

• Mountain Flights

Twin Otter aircraft is the usual mode of transport to and from Lukla. This flight is included in the trip package and can be an intense part of the experience due to the nature of the mountain weather and the location of the Lukla runway. If you have any reservations with flying/small planes etc., please discuss this with Julie-Anne at adventure@wildwomenexpeditions.com

This service is fairly dependable, however in case the flights are cancelled due to mountain weather conditions, we will work to get you on the next available flight. Should the bad weather persist, your guides will make the call to charter a helicopter for either or both ways. The helicopters can fly if the visibility is 1500 m, while the Twin Otter can fly if the visibility is 5000m as per the Civil Aviation Rules.

The cost of the helicopter is payable directly to your guides (have cash) in the event that this service is utilized. US cash or credit cards are accepted. You will be given a receipt upon payment so that you may claim the amount from your travel insurance. The minimum cost will be $350 USD and a maximum $650 USD depending on the number of group members. The baggage weight allowed for is 10 kg check-in baggage + 5 kg hand carry per passenger. These limits are strictly adhered to so please pack carefully.

We recommend using your credit card for the helicopter flights, and carrying cash for tipping the trekking and tour crews. Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will be able to withdraw Nepalese currency from an ATM for shopping or if you want to buy something on the mountain. Please make sure to double check with your bank that your credit card will work in Nepal.

• Climate & Weather:

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds. 

• Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

One of the most convenient ways to get cash is by using an ATM. You will often receive better exchange rates, even though you have to pay a service fee, as with most ATMs outside your bank network. Ask your bank if there are branches at your destination where you can avail of free cash withdrawals.

• Budgeting

$1,000 USD cash should easily cover any extra expenses (helicopters, toilet paper etc.) and tips. It will be best for you to change the amount for tips plus about $200 USD (from the $1,000 USD) into Rupees for on trail purchases such as chocolate bars, drinks, toilet paper, bottled water (if preferred) and souvenirs.

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Although no mountaineering experience is required, a good level of physical fitness and competence in outdoor personal maintenance is necessary. You must be prepared to undergo a hiking training regimen to ensure you are able to hike at altitude for twelve to fourteen days straight. This trek is accessible to the beginner hiker ONLY IF you are willing to put the time in to make sure you are fit and ready to learn the skills of outdoor personal care. You must be comfortable walking uphill for 6 – 8 hours a day. This is a strenuous and challenging climb so the better prepared you are, the more you should enjoy it.

Trekking to EBC requires cardiovascular endurance (via aerobic training), strength endurance (through strength conditioning), and hiking-specific training (via hiking with a pack). It is highly recommended you begin conditioning at least 12 – 16 weeks before this trip (4 – 6 days per week for 8 weeks).

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

• Cardio Training

Suggested conditioning activities include running, walking on an inclined treadmill, doing stair stepping or stepmill training, trail running, working on an elliptical machine, walking up and down hills, or participating in step aerobic classes. While biking, rowing and swimming are cardiovascular options for the off-season or earliest stages of your training, be sure as you get closer to your expedition that you include predominantly spinal-loading cardiovascular exercise such as any of the activities mentioned above.

Be sure to include at least three to four sessions of 30 minutes of sustained activity at a moderate intensity per week, and build to four to six aerobic sessions of sustained effort for at least 45 – 60 minutes each. Be sure to include a 5-10 minute gentle warm-up before working at your target heart rate for the day (for most workouts, choose a level of exertion that allows you to connect a few words together in a phrase, but leaves you feeling comfortably tired at the end of the workout), and cool down with 5-10 minutes of appropriate stretching of the muscles you use most in your activity, including lower back, calves, hamstrings, hips and quadriceps. Training with free weights, bands, a backpack, bodyweight exercises, or gym machines will help you build overall strength, particularly in the core (lower back and abdominals), upper back, and legs. Developing strength in your upper back and shoulders will help you with such tasks as carrying a pack and using trekking poles effectively. The calves, hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes are all involved in ascending and descending trekking routes, and strength endurance is required in all areas of the legs and hips.

• Strength Training

Training primarily with free weights will give you the functional, trekking-specific strength that will help you most in the mountains. Free weight-training requires that you balance the weights as you would your own body, weighted with a pack, in three-dimensional space. When starting any strength conditioning program, complete two full-body strength workouts a week for 30-45 minutes each, focusing on compound exercises such as squats, lunges, step-ups, dips, pull-ups, rows, deadlifts, bench presses, push-ups, and overhead presses. In the beginning phase of strength conditioning, your focus will be building a foundation for harder workouts; to that end, keep the weight light enough to concentrate on good form and complete 2 sets of each exercise for 12-15 repetitions. As you continue to train, you will shift focus to building strength, strength endurance, and mental and physical stamina; each phase varies the weight used, repetitions completed, a number of sets, and rest intervals. Most important in strength training is to be sure you maintain proper form at all times in order to prevent injury or strain.

Balance work is also essential for this trek. While you are traversing the rocky trail, there will be countless occasions where the strong balance will be your saving grace. Yoga and pilates can really help you improve your balance.

• Hiking-specific Training

Nothing replaces the training for hiking than hiking itself. Plan on using hiking poles on the trail – two is preferable, but one is better than none. In particular, you’ll really want these for the descent especially if you have achy knees, hips or ankles. There is some technique to hiking on rocky and uneven terrain. There are motor muscles that are used to heave yourself up a steep hill that isn’t really used with other activities. Also, learning how to manage your footsteps, timing your poles and pace while going over the rocky trail is a skill that is developed with practice. Aim to hike steep outdoor trails, gradually increasing your pack weight with each outing until you are at your target trekking pack weight.

• Additional resources:

https://trailblazerwellness.com/

• Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

• Break in your hiking boots.

Blisters and sore feet are no fun at all! So make sure that while you’re getting yourself ready you’re doing the same for your boots. Start by just wearing them around the house, then down the road, and walking the dog. Then ideally do a couple of decent length weekend hikes to prepare them for what is to come.

• Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

• Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

• Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S