The Everest Base Camp trek holds a special place in my heart. This is because the EBC trek was the first trek that captured my heart. The journey touched my heart so much that I cannot describe it in words, but I will try to do it in this article below. As a solo female traveler, I have always been drawn to exploring different mountain ranges of other countries. But, of course, EBC remains at the top of my list. This will always be a cherished memory that I will revisit without hesitation.
Let’s start from the first, where I really wanted to tackle this journey on my own but unable to do so because of recent travel restrictions on solo travelers. I badly wanted to go to EBC, so I started to look for a suitable and reputable travel agency in my budget range. First, I looked for international agencies, but they charged too much, and ultimately, they have a contract with a local company based in Kathmandu, Nepal. So the next option for me was to choose a local agency. Fortunately, while digging online, I found a travel agency named Mosaic Adventure. And the price they quoted for the 14 days EBC trek was within my budget.
After exchanging several emails with Madhav from the company, I booked my trek with them. All the budget and itinerary plans were customized according to my needs and interests. Before the adventure began, I was consumed with excitement and nervousness. So I am here to share my experience of EBC with the Mosaic Adventure.
On this trek, I saw some fantastic scenery while experiencing the Sherpa culture at the same time. One of the most outstanding examples of Sherpa culture, history, and tradition is at the Namche Bazar Museum. Crossing suspension bridges and spinning colorful prayer wheels was a different experience. I enjoyed delicious food and a small chat with fellow travelers around the fireplace at night. The natural beauty of the Everest region is beyond words.
Here I share my key highlights during my trek.
Thrilling Flight to Luka
I woke up early and caught the first flight from Ramechap to Lukla. As I did this trek in April, Lukla flights were operated from Ramechp instead of Kathmandu. The plane was relatively small and only fit about 14 passengers in total. I once read that sitting on the left side of the plan was the best spot to view all the mountain ranges and surroundings. So I just did that, and guess what? The flight was indeed an amazing one. I was not scared during the flight, but considering Lukla’s small runway, I can imagine it would be tough for someone afraid of flying. And Lukla Airport is also considered one of the world’s most dangerous airports.
Once I landed, I had some coffee with breakfast while waiting for my bags. Once I got them all, we headed towards Phakding, which is about 7.8 km walk away from the Lukla airport.
Namche Bazaar and 1-day Acclimatization
Namche Bazar was like the London of the Everest Base Camp Trek. This place is full of shops and restaurants. Here you can do all sorts of things like washing and dying your hair, visiting a famous Irish pub, getting a massage for your sore body, and buying souvenirs or gears if you forget anything to purchase in the Thamel area. I was very impressed with the scenarios of tourist shops and local people. We stayed in Namche Bazar at the tea house after trekking from Phakding for nearly 6 hours. Since the next day was our acclimatization day, our guide insisted we do an acclimatization hike. We can head to the Everest view hotel or the Sherpa Museum during our acclimatization day. I always wanted to learn about the lifestyle and history of the Sherpa people, so I decided to do both and went to the Sherpa Museum after the EVH trip.
Trek to Tengboche, Dingboche and Lobuche
After Namche bazaar, we headed toward Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. It took us four whole days, with one extra day for acclimatization at Dingboche. While trekking to these high-elevated places, we saw the mountain ranges of Mt. Thamserku, Mt. Amadablam, Mt. Tabuche, etc. We also visited Tengboche Monastery, where 60 monks were living. Those monks consist of 8-year-old trainees to 80-year-old reincarnated Rinpoche. This place is one of the best for me because of things like Mani Rimbu, Earth-witness Posture, Lama Sanga Dorje, and prayer wheels.
Trek to Everest Base Camp and View from Kala Patthar
This was a big day and a tough one for us. I started early for some serious walking to get to Gorak Shep and then towards Everest Base Camp. Next day, we hiked to Kala Patthar and the view from there was mesmerizing. These places are located at more than 5000 meters altitude and walking there was the most challenging walk during my trek. The weather in the Himalayas is unpredictable, but by the time I reached, the weather was good, and the visibility was clear.
My Overall Experience:
I rate my EBC trek experience as nine out of ten. Everything, like food accommodations, guides, and porters, was organized very well by Mosaic Adventure. I felt some difficulty after Dingboche, but thanks to my guide, who guided me safely to the base camp. If you are to ask about the difficulty level, I would say it is a challenging trek; but it depends on your fitness level. This trek will be pretty challenging for an unfit trekker and moderately difficult for an average hiker.
