Everest Base Camp - path to the top of the world

The Journey begins

I preferred train to reach Kathmandu which is well connected via Raxaul (India) and Birganj (Nepal). It also helps me to control a few costs. Now after packing I take Mithila Express to reach Raxaul station. Raxaul is a sub-divisional town in the East Champaran district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is situated on the India-Nepal border opposite Birgunj (Nepal).

Reached Raxaul and way to Kathmandu

Reaching Raxaul I take a horse cart and cross the Indo-Nepal border and reach Birgunj. Though shuttle services are all time there in Raxaul towards Kathmandu, unfortunately, it was just after Durga puja and there was no service due to post puja till Lakshmi puja. So after waiting for more than an hour luckily, I got a Sumo who agreed to go Kathmandu. Immediately I convinced a few peoples who were waiting there for the same destination and hired the entire car. It takes around 8 hours and finally I reached Kathmandu. Finally, I reached my hotel. Its Hotel Manang Pvt. Ltd. A very beautiful and gorgeous place. Also its time to meet the team with whom I have already done a couple of treks. Our Guide comes and brief us about the trek and next few days programs. Then we take our dinner and went for sleep as the next day was waiting for us with big excitement.

Kathmandu Airport Story

Good Morning. We are all set to start our journey. Bags are packed. The car is waiting outside our hotel to drop us to Aiport. Reporting time at 9 am. we all get prepared before that and reached the airport on time. Now the real fight starts here. Reaching the airport we find there are approx 3000 people waiting for Lukla flight and flight service are only 4. We were very confident as we are holding our confirm ticket but the trick is coll for our flight never came. Waiting for the whole day we finally came back to our hotel at 6 pm exhausted and heartbroken. At the airport, few people decide to divert their journey towards Pokhra for ABC but we were rigid for EBC. Finally, after reaching hotel we decide tomorrow to reach the airport early in the morning and will manage our flight anyway.

Kathmandu to Lukla - a flight of 35 min

The next morning we reached the airport at 7 am with the same spirit. Today also scenario was the same. We continuously request our flight agency for our flight. 2 hrs..3 hrs.. 4 hrs.. 5 hrs.. over. nothing happens. PNR got changed 3 times but we were still there, hungry only waiting for our flight. At one time our own "Manage Master Arpan" directly goes and sits on the floor in front of the boarding counter. Continuous looking at the eye of the boarding issue person somehow works. They finally agreed to issue us the boarding pass but in 2 flights. At 4 pm first flight departs from Kathmandu. Kathmandu to Lukla is only 35 min journey. I and Apoorva take the first one and reached Lukla before 5 pm and wait for the rest of 2 people. Arpan and Anay reached at 7 pm on the last flight for that day. Finally, we are in Lukla. But its too late. We had to drop our plan for that day to reach Phakding. We take a Lodge near the airport and stay the night at Lukla.

Lukla to Phakding to Namche Bazaar

This day was the biggest challenge for us of this trip as we have to cover 2 days trek in a single day. So we prepared accordingly. After breakfast at 8 am we start to walk through Khumbu flat and trek for about three to four hours and reached Phakding. We have our Lunch there again start walking continue uphill along the bank of the Dudh Kosi, crossing this majestic river with on exciting suspension bridges laden with pray flags and reaching the village of Monju the entrance gate of the Sagarmatha National Park. We had to show our permits at the checkpoint. It was already late but we had to move on. When entering the National park boundary we walk down and a gradual walk brings us to the suspension bridge over the Bhote-Koshi river to Jorsalle village and after Jorsalle again crosses Bhote Kosi then trail climbs steeply with breathing views to last village Namche Bazaar as well as can see Mt.Everest way to Namche. Namche is a prosperous trading town and gateway to the Khumbu region. It takes more than 12 hours to reach Namche. We reached there at 9 pm. Were totally exhausted. Hotels were prebooked. we just report our hotel, have some food and directly go for rest.

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar (3,440 mtrs) is the unofficial capital of the Khumbu region of Nepal and is acclimatization point for trekkers and climbers heading for Mount Everest base camp. Namche Bazaar is the best place for acclimatization pushing you to go Everest Base Camp destination for all trekkers. You have full day leisure so we also take an interesting side hike up to Everest View Point hotel which is 400 mtrs up from Namche Bazaar to see the wonderful panoramic view as well as Mt.Everest, Amadablam, Thamserku, Kongde and others snow peaks and they service of ATM`s, trekking shops, Internet cafe, restaurant, bakery; and colorful shop with different varieties market each Friday and Saturday. Also, you can visit the Sherpa Museum as well as a great place to learn Sherpa culture and history of mountaineering and overnight at Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

Everest Base Camp Trek with pleasant walking through the pine and Rhododendron forest toward the magnificent view of Mt. Everest 8,848 mtrs, Nupse 7,879 mtrs, Lhotse 8,516 mtrs, Ama Dablam 6,856 mtrs, Thamserku and Kwangde peak with a view of the eastern snow-capped mountains. Our trail follows on the few ups and downs overlooking the magnificent view of the awesome Himalayas. Walking through this day we can see wild animals like pheasant, musk deer, blue ship and Himalayan Thar. The trail passing down to Kayangjuma and eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction to go Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. Then the trail follows through the pine forests and after we cross the prayer flags wood bridge over Dudh Koshi River, we reach Phunki Tanga to have lunch. After having lunch at Phunki Tanga, we climb uphill of pine forest and reach Buddhist Monastery place of Tengboche.

Tengboche to Dingboche

The trail descends to Debuche, winding through the Rhododendron forest to Debuche and crosses another exciting suspension bridge on the Imja Khola, and climb up to Pangboche thousands of Chorten with stones. Our uphill trek continues, taking us to the traditional Sherpa village of Dingboche with its fantastic views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam. Dingboche is also the gateway to Chhukung and further, beyond for the most challenging traverses towards Mt. Makalu area and Hinko Valley via Sherpani col 6,100 mtr and Amphu Laptsa pass 5,780 mtr and overnight at lodge.

Acclimatization day in Dingboche

This is the second rest day you have helped to push up your destination of the trek. You can utilize your full-day resting or there are some places where you can hike for a day to chhukung 4,4730 mtrs, it takes 3-4 hours along the Imjatse Valley either towards the Chhukum Ri 5,550 mtrs quite far and there are tea houses in Chhukum to have lunch or site trip to Nagarjun viewpoint, a fantastic view for many high mountains including Mt.Makalu 8,475 mtrs, Ama Dablam 6,856 mtrs, Island peak 6,183 mtrs, Tawache 6,367 mtrs, Cholatche 6,335 mtrs, and other snow peaks. After enjoying stroll back to Dingboche overnight at lodge.

Dingboche to Lobuche

This day turn to the north, the trail is gradually up for about an hour as we come to a Mani prayer Stupa and walking through the mountain flat viewing Pheriche village down there. The trek terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier and cross wooden bridge then will reach Thukla 4,620 mtrs, which is nice rest for lunch. After having hungry lunch we continue uphill to Thukla Pass 4,830 mtrs, at the top of the right we can see the mountaineers' memorials with pray flags with a name and country of mountaineers. From here about half and an hour will reach Lobuche 4,910 mtrs overnight at lodge.

Lobuche to Gorak Shape

After breakfast, we start our trek to Gorakshep and along the windy and rocky trail gradually uphill to Gorak Shep after walking 3-4 hours. This lags offers the fantastic view of Mt Pumari 7,161 mtrs, Mt Nuptse 7,855 mtrs, other peaks, Everest base camp 5,364 mtrs, Kalapathar 5,550 mtrs and beneath the Gorakshep valley included top of the world Mount Everest 8,848 mtrs and check-in at the lodge as well as after the lunch, we hike towards Kalapathar 5,550 mtrs summit as we wish to see the sunset from there where the golden sun ray falls on the Mt. Everest 8,848 mtrs and make it majestic as well as many of others like Nuptse, Pumari and Ama Dablam along with the entire mountain view of Khumbu Himalayas range. After 3 hours walk, we reach on the Top of Viewpoint. Enjoying some hours on the top of Kala Pathar & taking some nice photo attaching with Mount Everest, we then back to Gorak Shep and spend overnight at lodge.

Gorak Shape to Pheriche via EBC.

Early in the morning our adventure keeping towards Everest Base Camp 5,364 mtrs crossing through Khumbu glacier, rocky path for best sunrise view with fresh morning air. After 2- 3 hours reach to Everest Base Camp. During the spring season (March, April and May) there will be many group of mountaineering colorful tents and many people will be there. We enjoy some hour in Everest Base Camp, Khumbu glacier with Carapaces and back to Gorak Shape, have our breakfast and trek down to Pheriche over night at lodge.

Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

This day we trek down along the yak grazing place Somare and passing through Sherpa village Pangboche and along the Dudh Kosi River through a magnificent rhododendron forest reach to Tengboche and after that down to the Phungi Tanga then cross the wooden bridge and climb up to Sansa, Kyang Juma then following Nepal I flat and down to Namche Bazaar and stay overnight at lodge.

Namche to Lukla via Monju

The trek all the way down to Dudh Kosi and River from Base Camp and joint point then cross the suspension bridge and passing through noticing impressive faith and Buddhism Culture of Prayers Chorten and Prayer flags when we walk crossing Sherpa villages of Jorsalle, Exit gate of Sagarmatha National Park, Monju, Phakding and our last night in mountain sleep at Lukla. We enjoyed with our staff and make them happy overnight at Lukla.

Lukla to Kathmandu

The next morning we fly back to Kathmandu and again go to the same hotel which was already pre-booked according to schedule and took some rest. In the evening we went to the Nepal market to buy some local things and have our dinner together lavishly.

Call from Home

Finally its the end of the trip and we need to go back to our country. Rest of the mates went for international airport and me again take a shuttle service for Birgunj. Then crossing the Indo-Nepal check post and reach Raxaul. Back to Kolkata by Mithila Express.

Photo Courtesy: Me and my friend Anay

Bon Voyage