Are showers and wash facilities available on the Everest Base Camp?
Showers and wash facilities on EBC Trek:
Everest Base Camp Trek is a long, adventurous and challenging trek in the Himalayas. Diverse land topography, extreme climate and continuous walk in the higher elevation cause difficulty in maintaining personal hygiene and health. The more you climb higher in day time, the more you get tired and sweaty: You need a shower to clean the sweat, to be healthy and fresh. If there are no showers and wash facilities on EBC trek, sponge wash is also another option to avoid the foul smell and dirt from the body. Don't want to be a popular stinking trekker? must have a shower at least 2-3 times in 6-7 days time of Short classic Everest Base Camp Trek.
Approximately, you need to pay U$D 4 to U$D 7 to take shower in EBC Trek. The exact cost of the hot shower depends upon the facility at lodges and elevation. If you want the shower in cheaper price then you can get bucket shower in many lodges in lower elevation which may costs U$D 2 to U$D 5; but in higher villages, the price may be comparatively expensive.
If you want to cut off the budget of shower then you can carry wet wipes to clean the body. Sponge wash or wet tower wash could be other options to minimize the expenses of hot shower.
*Most of the companies include the price of hot shower in the package; but MMT hasn’t included the price of hot shower and trekkers have to pay the price after taking shower.
Does every lodge have shower facility?
Are showers and wash facilities available on the Everest Base Camp?
Don’t worry! Almost 90% of the tea houses or lodges have facility of hot shower. In the lower region like Lukla, Namche and Phakding, trekkers can easily get hot bucket shower or hot tap shower facility in cheap price; but the more you ascend higher above Tengboche, Dinhboche, Gorakshep, the more expensive is hot shower. In higher elevated destination like Gorakshep, it is challenging to get running water so bucket shower is the better option for you.
If you trek in peak seasons, demand of shower is high and it becomes difficult to provide shower facility to all the trekkers. In winter season, the tap water in high altitude gets frozen and there will be no option left for having shower. The trekkers who don’t want to increase the expenses can take cold shower from the taps which are available on the EBC Trails: The tap water is free of cost.
Is there facility of pure drinking water in EBC Trek?
There are plenty of water resources like rivers, lakes, glaciers, and snow clad mountains in the Everest Region. The water is supplied to almost every village through pipelines and there are taps on the trekking trails too. Trekkers can enjoy the cold and natural water throughout the trekking duration; but it is recommended not to drink the natural water directly or without filtering. The water can be used safely only after chlorine tablet is mixed. While trekking the long trek like Gokyo – Cho la – Everest Base Camp trek, trekkers need to carry a water bottle to keep oneself hydrated.
There is facility of purified drinking water in most of the lodges where trekkers can fill the bottle with filtered water by paying U$D 1 to U$D 5.
*Regarding drinking water: We provide you pure filtered water in the package cost.
What about laundry service in EBC Trek?
In Lukla and Namche, there is facility of laundry; but above Namche, there is no laundry service available for the trekkers. In the higher elevation, the temperature drops to – 0° C which is too cold to wash many clothes of the trekkers; also they don’t have adequate power supplies to run washing machines.
While trekking in the long and adventurous Jiri – Everest Base Camp Trek, trekkers need to carry small bag-pack with limited trekking clothes. It is better to use the same trekking clothes than washing as it takes long time to get the clothes dry. If you want to have clean and fresh smelling clothes then you can wash the clothes and socks yourself by cold water.
Conclusion:
In Comfort Everest Base Camp Trek, trekkers need to walk 8-9 hours a day for 10-12 days. The trekkers toil and sweat due to long and continuous walk under scorching sun in broad daylight. The tiresome walk, wet clothes-socks, sweaty body, heavy boots, definitely makes the trek annoying. After trekking continuously for hours and hours, trekkers need to wash their body and clothes to remain fresh and healthy.
In most of the villages of lower region, there is availability of bucket shower or tap shower; whereas, the trekkers get difficulty to maintain the personal hygiene and sanitation as there is scarcity of water due to arid landscape and cold temperature in some lodges at higher altitude. To remain fresh, healthy and clean, trekkers can take hot/cold shower by paying some price. The price of the shower is different from one tea house to another tea house or lower region to higher region.
It is always wise to follow the healthy habits and get shower time to time to maintain the sanitation and hygiene. If you can afford U$D 15 – U$D 20 for extra expenses then you can add showering in your to do list. If you can’t afford much budget, at least take shower for 1 or 2 days; otherwise use alternative like wet wipes, wet towel, sponge wash to maintain the sanitation and health.
Always consult with the MMT’s experts if you have any queries; we are always at your service. Thank You!
