How hard is it to trek to Everest base camp in 2024/2025?

Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most renowned treks in Nepal and most of the trekkers are unaware and have a dilemma about its difficulty level and How hard is it to trek to Everest Base Camp?

Our expert’s reply to the query:
To step on the base camp of the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848m), and witness it ‘live’, is the dream of many adventure lovers and trekkers. Everest Base Camp Trek is a moderate to strenuous level trek. The difficulty level of EBC Trek may vary from trekkers to trekkers; some may feel it difficult while some trekkers may find it moderate or easy. There is no universally acclaimed answer to this question.

We can ensure that EBC Trek can be accomplished by the enthusiastic trekkers who have average physical fitness, mental well being and good health condition.

Factors determining how hard is it to trek to Everest base camp? 

Duration and distance:

Trekking to the Everest Base Camp is definitely challenging and adventurous as the trekkers have to walk on the higher elevation for many hours until many days.
Normally, the EBC trek is of a minimum of 5 days to a maximum 22 days trek. If we take an average calculation of our popular 15 days Classic Everest Base Camp Trek, we have to walk for 10-12 hours per day in average to cover 120/ 130 km of round trip from/to Lukla – EBC – Lukla with 2 days of acclimatization.

*If you think you can walk for at least 10-12 hours with 2 days of acclimatization, it is easily doable; otherwise you can book Everest Helicopter Trek for easy and comfy EBC Trek.

Altitude:

In EBC trek, we trek to Everest Base Camp which is at an elevation of 5,364m (17,598ft); and ascend higher than EBC i.e. Kala Patthar (5,545m) for a stupendous view of Mt. Everest and Elegant sunrise.

Altitude is always a challenging factor in EBC Trek. The more we ascend higher than 4,000m, the more we risk of Altitude sickness due to low level of oxygen intake; therefore, trekking pundits advise to include at least 2 days of acclimatization and regular health check-up in EBC Trek.

Acute Mountain Sickness may result high altitude pulmonary edema and cerebral edema which can make the trek difficult and hazardous. Learn the symptoms and preventive of AMS to make the trek blissful.

Weather:

What makes the trek difficult is weather condition in higher elevation.
Trekking in Nepal is suitable in any season; but spring and autumn seasons are considered as the best trekking seasons to trek due to favorable climate and weather condition. In these peak seasons also there is high chances of climate fluctuation and can arouse obstacle in trekking.

In summer, there will be heavy rainfall in lower elevation which makes the road slippery; the trails may also be prone to landslide; the jungle walk may be irritating due to leeches and bugs. The winter is also curse for the trekkers due to heavy snowfall, slippery trail, hidden ice boulders, foggy weather, flight cancellation, etc.

The climate change is beyond our control; yet we can adopt some precautions and prefer suitable seasons to trek to minimize the risk.

You can check our fixed departure schedule to confirm the booking in the best trekking seasons.

Trails:

Trails can also increase the difficulty level. There are numerous trails to EBC. Some trails are short but difficult; some are long yet easy; and some are average. The best option for you is to choose the trail which is mostly traveled by trekkers.

The slippery and landslide affected trail; steep and inclined trails; avalanche risk trails; moraine boulder trails; canyon, ridge and cliff trails en-route to EBC have resulted bad experience in trekkers.

Sometimes trekkers have lost the way; walked long monotonous trail and stuck in the middle of the trails which also have made the trek to EBC difficult.

Tips to minimize the difficulty of EBC Trek:

1. Check Acute Mountain Sickness friendly EBC Trek Itinerary of the trek.
2. Train the limbs and muscle before trek; also maintain physical and mental well being.
3.  Always prefer the best trekking season; adopt preventive measures and consult with experts if you want to trek in off-seasons.
4. Hire the guides who have trails record and can lead you to EBC easily.
5. Posses Maps within self if you are solo trekker.
6. Don’t trek in worse weather condition; keep the record of day-to-day weather update report.
7. Buffer days should be added on scheduled date to minimize the stress.
8. Adopt the ultra-light bag packing method to ease the load burden.
9. Eat hygienic food; drink pure water and take plenty of rest to avoid Altitude sickness.

Conclusion:

Everest Base Camp Trek is the best trekking option for every trekker. With some precautions and determination, the EBC trek can become easy as well as jovial; extreme carelessness may result in trek difficulty.

Trekking to EBC is challenging and adventurous; yet it doesn’t need the use of the gears, ice-axe, boots, gloves, crampons, ropes, etc. The EBC trail is also trekked down by the trekkers and climbers of 13 to 70 years old which proves that EBC Trek is doable with average fitness plus the confidence.

There are many trekkers who want to reach EBC once in their lifetime. Some have achieved their dreams whereas it has just become a nightmare. If you want to endeavor the EBC trek inconvenient way, contact us. We help you in the best way to achieve the success.

There is no gain without pain: EBC Trek also has some difficulty level; but all it will be faded away once you land at EBC and witness the glimpse of serene scenery, panoramic landscape and stupendous Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest.