Everest. Don’t think of this region as a trek. Think of this region as nature’s gift to you. It’s a true privilege to visit a place of such beauty, and perhaps that’s why so many people miss out on these mesmerizing adventures, ignoring them from their bucket lists altogether! Whether you’re in love with all things adventurous, an adrenaline pumping expedition or the plain old slow paced lifestyle with stunning natural landscapes all around you, the Everest region is one adventure that never disappoints.
The Everest region not only hosts three of the most popular treks in Nepal, it is also flowing with ancient Buddhist culture. Everest is also home to the stunning Sagarmatha National Park, a magnificent mountainside forest that is full of all kinds of birds and animals including snow leopards, lesser pandas, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, ghoral, weasels, wolves, jackals and black bears. The most common bird species seen in the park include the impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, red-billed chough, snow pigeon and snow cock.
To truly enjoy Everest for all its beauty, you need to embark on a trekking adventure. You have to spend at least four nights above 4000 meters and a minimum of one night above 5000 meters, and this is easily possible when you choose one of the following three treks, all leading to the most coveted destination of Nepal – Everest Base Camp. Most of these popular trails offer well-equipped lodges and luxury cabins for accommodation so that you’re never far from luxury despite being in an area that forces you to look beyond modern-day comforts to relive the beauty of nature.
Everest Base Camp Trek
Mount Everest climbs to a height of 8848 meters, but that’s insane. Probably best left alone for the Edmund Hillary’s and Tenzing Norgay’s of this world! Luckily there’s another adventure that is as crazy, as exciting and as unique as climbing this mammoth monolith itself, namely the Everest Base Camp Trek. The Everest Base Camp journey begins in Kathmandu and it takes you through countless mountains and plains, villages and monasteries, culturally rich lands and vast barren landscapes, introducing you to the very best and most untouched scenes of the Himalayas.
Dive into all that natural beauty and explore villages that are full of fluttering Buddhist flags. Discover hidden monasteries and visit villages steeped in ancient Buddhist tradition. Whatever you do, you’ll always return homes with tales of a legendary adventure.
Below are some facts about the Everest Base Camp Trek:
Advantages:
- Enjoy the best views of the highest mountain peak on the planet
- Beautiful mountainside scenery and well-maintained trails
- Stunning views of surrounding peaks such as Lhotse and Nuptse
Disadvantages:
- The trail is the same in many places while going up and coming down
Trek Facts:
- Duration: 12 to 15 days
- Difficulty: Medium
- Pricing: Medium
- Remote: No
- Permits:
- Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) Card
- Sagarmatha National Park permit
- Accommodation: Basic tea houses and luxury lodges
- Maximum Elevation: 5600 m (Kala Patthar)
- Best Time to Visit: March to May and October to November
Everest Base Camp 3 Passes Trek
Renjo La (5388 m), Cho La (5380 m), Kongma La (5535 m). Start remembering these names, for you’re sure to repeat them a number of times for the rest of your life. Considered to be the best way to the Everest Base Camp, these passes are as adventurous as the most exciting activity on the planet and as dangerous as any thrill-seeking adventure out there, but nothing stands before them in terms of natural beauty and fascinating scenery.
The Everest Base Camp Three Passes Trek has quickly become one of the most popular treks in the country for serious trekkers. Offering the greatest adventure of your life, this trek basically involves a challenging trek that is dominated by four majestic mountain passes, each surrounded by pristine natural beauty, untouched trails and mesmerizing peaks. Better yet, this magical journey also lets you enjoy the beautiful Sherpa culture, live in Sherpa villages and explore some of the most popular monasteries in the region.
Pssst. You’re going to keep your eyes peeled for Mt. Everest, but you’ll have enough of that at the Base Camp. We’d recommend you to watch out for the Ama Dablam, a stunning peak that comes into view during the trek and offers fascinating photo ops.
Below are some facts about the Everest Base Camp 3 Passes Trek:
Advantages:
- Visit three stunning and incredibly challenging mountain passes
- Very remote and secluded trail, ensuring pristine nature
- Crossing the Ngozumba Glacier, the wildest glacier in the Himalayas for the best adventure of your life
Disadvantages:
Not accessible during winter
- Duration: 17 to 19 days
- Difficulty: High
- Pricing: Medium
- Remote: Very
- Permits:
- Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) Card
- Sagarmatha National Park permit
- Accommodation: Basic tea houses and luxury lodges
- Maximum Elevation: 5540 m (Kong Ma La Pass)
- Best Time to Visit: March to May and October to November
Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Trek
Visiting the Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lakes region lets you enjoy two highlights of the Himalayas in the same tour. It introduces you to the stunningly serene lakes of the Gokyo Valley as well as the highly popular Cho La pass. You get to pass numerous landmarks of the Khumbu region, meet friendly Sherpas, enjoy beautiful views and encounter picture-perfect lakes, all the while being treated to unparalleled views of soaring mountains and colorful monasteries. Popular features of the Everest Base Camp trek such as Namche Bazar and Kala Patthar are already a part of this adventure, but choosing this particular trek also opens up other attractions such as Gokyo Ri, Gokyo Lakes, and Gokyo Village.
If you’re looking for adventures that let you explore the unexplored, the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo trek is as good as it gets. It is sure to be challenging, particularly if you’re new to the world of trekking, but it is also known to be highly rewarding.
Below are some facts about the Gokyo and Everest Base Camp trek:
Advantages:
- Visiting Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Village is a treat
- Beautiful mountainside scenery and well-maintained trails
- Stunning views of surrounding peaks such as Cho Oyu, Mt Makalu, Mt Everest, Mt Nuptse, as seen from Gokyo peak
Disadvantages:
- The trail is the same in many places while going up and coming down
Duration: 15 days
Difficulty: Medium
Pricing: Medium
Remote: Yes
- Permits:
- Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) Card
- Sagarmatha National Park permit
Accommodation: Basic tea houses, luxury lodges in some areas
Maximum Elevation: 5600 m (Kala Patthar)
Best Time to Visit: March to May and October to November
We really hope the above article enticed you to visit one of the treks in the Everest Region. At least, you are sure to get an adventure of a lifetime on any of the above 3 treks. Bon Voyage!