Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return – Walk Up, Fly Down

To be honest, you don't have to be a runner to enjoy the trek. But the preparation will probably save you a lot of pain and suffering on the trail and help you enjoy your experience there. The suggestions we have for physically preparing are to take good, long, brisk walks, preferably wearing a pack with a similar load that you'll be carrying. Cycling and swimming are also great alternatives, as is just about anything that gets your cardio working. Do some breathing exercises to get more oxygen into your lungs. Watch for signs of altitude sickness; symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and breathlessness. Bring a supply of the medication Diamox for treatment; if symptoms persist, descend. Trekking to Everest Base Camp may not be the right trip for everyone, as it is quite a physically demanding experience, and when you combine high altitude with plenty of climbs, you may get a recipe for suffering. But normal, average travelers can do the Everest Base Camp trek.

Travel insurance and rescue when traveling to a remote destination like Nepal are strongly advised. It should provide adequate protection for the full duration of the tour. Your insurance policy must cover all the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal, such as helicopter rescue, cancellation, air ambulance, injury, death, lost baggage, theft, liability, medical treatment, and covering repatriation and personal expenses. If a client becomes ill, all hospital expenses, doctors’ fees, and repatriation costs are the client’s responsibility. For reliable travel insurance, we have the suggestions of some of the best insurance companies: Cover more Click or Europe assistance Click or Travel Direct: TID Click. We have an agreement with Helicopter Company to do the payment for helicopter evacuation after we collect the payment from you once you have been rescued. And the reimbursement responsibility from your insurance company will go up to you. Be sure your policy specifically covers helicopter evacuation and does not exclude mountaineering or alpinism.

Most of the tea houses do have western-style flushing toilets. But in higher elevations, you may also find the traditional type of toilet made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or a few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground, which is situated outside the room.

You will get the facilities of hot and cold water running with an attached bathroom up to Namche without any extra charges. But above Namche, you will be charged about USD $5 per shower (depending upon the guesthouse) for a hot water shower.

There will be a laundry facility in Kathmandu and Namche.

The maximum weight limit for the Lukla flight is 15 kg, which is equivalent to 33 pounds including your handbag (daypack). If your baggage exceeds the weight limits, additional costs of USD 1–$2 per kg will be applicable, and the payment should be made at the airport counter itself.

Depending on when you plan to travel, it's important to have the proper clothes and be prepared for unexpected weather. Fairly well-worn hiking boots and shoes are a must! For tours between November and the first two weeks of March, bring a jacket suitable for -10 degrees Celsius. For tours at other times, please bring a jacket suitable for -3 to -5 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the daytime weather will tend to be warm or pleasant.

A sleeping bag is necessary during the trekking days, and if you have your own sleeping bag, you can bring it. Otherwise, HSJ will provide you with a sleeping bag during the trek (-10 to -15 degrees).

In Kathmandu, we will be staying at three-star standard hotels like the Himalayan Suite Hotel or a similar quality hotel. You can also choose luxurious accommodation for this trek at the Hotel Aloft, which has a five-star standard. These places come highly recommended, but please don't expect a European standard of hotel. These hotels are good, clean tourist hotels and are of good quality by Nepali standards. On the trek, we'll be staying at simple lodges run by Nepali families. During the trek, the bathrooms are outside the rooms, and hot water is dependent on solar panels, so don't count on many warm showers.

If you wish for better accommodations during the trek, you can upgrade the accommodations in the mountains. The upgrade will be at Yeti Mountain Home in Namche, Phakding, and Lukla. It costs USD $160 per night, including breakfast, service charge, and tax.

Most teahouses (lodges) in Everest region trails cook a delicious range of mostly vegetarian fare. Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, daal bhat (rice and lentils), bread, soup, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season), and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization; eat some every day. In many villages, you may find some meat items on the menu. You can always get hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks and treats like chocolate and crisps.

The best months for trekking are spring, March, April, and May, as the weather is bright and calm in these months and you can see high mountains with Manaslu full of snow. Spring and May are the best months. Rhododendron is ideal for spring; all the rhododendrons turn into a wonderful garden, and you can see them. Autumn is another strong season for the Everest tour. The perfect months for trekking after the monsoon in Nepal are September, October, and November. During these months, you have a beautiful view of the Himalayas and their people because you can be part of Nepal's biggest festivals in the fall.

There are two different permits you need to trek to Everest Base Camp. The first is a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) permit. This costs USD $10 if you are part of a group or USD $20 if you are trekking independently. You also need two passport photos. HSJ will acquire those permits for you.

Our local Nepali team is one of the most experienced, hospitable, and respected trekking outfits in Nepal. The team is fully licensed and affiliated with the Trekking Agency's Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Tourism Board, Govt. of Nepal, Sustainable Tourism Network, Himalayan Rescue Association, and Kathmandu Environmental Educational Project. You will be provided with a professional and experienced English-speaking trekking guide with a good knowledge of the place and the trek. The trekking crew is skilled, with over 10 years of experience, a well-trained, friendly guide, and courteous and helpful porters, ensuring a wonderfully memorable experience.

Yes, if you are a solo traveler and to avoid a single supplement surcharge, you can share your room with a solo traveler of the same gender. It, however, depends on the availability of another solo traveler and their willingness to share the room with you.

When you embark on this trek, you will be accompanied by a professional and experienced English-speaking trekking guide who possesses excellent knowledge of the area and the trek itself. Our guides are skilled and have over 10 years of experience leading treks. They are friendly, courteous, and helpful, ensuring that you have a wonderfully memorable experience throughout your journey.

To ensure your comfort during the trek, we maintain a porter-to-people ratio of 1:2, considering the group size. Each porter will carry a maximum of 12–15 kg of luggage per person. While the porters take care of your belongings, you will only need to carry a day pack containing your essentials, such as a wallet, camera, water bottle, dry snacks, a headlight, and other gadgets. We value the safety and well-being of our porters, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their welfare. We kindly request that you only bring items that are absolutely necessary to reduce their burden.

In addition to the trek itself, we offer various programs and complimentary services to enhance your overall experience. Welcome and Farewell Dinner: To make you feel at home and foster a sense of camaraderie, we arrange welcome and farewell dinners, where you can savor delicious local cuisine while sharing stories with fellow trekkers.

At HSJ, we prioritize your satisfaction and strive to provide a personalized experience. We are your flexible travel partner, catering to your unique preferences. Whether you wish to follow a different route, have extra time in Nepal, or customize the trip according to your specific interests, we have you covered. Our additional add-on tours include options such as the Chitwan Jungle Safari, a cable car ride to Chandragiri Hills, cooking and yoga classes in Kathmandu, and more. Just share your ideas with us, and we will create a complete itinerary tailored to your desires. Moreover, if you prefer different standards of accommodation than those provided in the standard itineraries, we are more than happy to accommodate your requests. From the moment you arrive until your departure, your wishes become our commands. Feel free to make any requests, and we will ensure your utmost satisfaction.

Throughout the tour, two people will be accommodated in each room. If you prefer private accommodation, you have the option to select the "single supplement" for an additional cost of USD 350. However, please note that due to limited room availability in certain lodges along the trek, even with the single supplement, you may have to share a room for a few days.

While we recommend booking in advance, we understand that some circumstances may require last-minute reservations. At Himalayan Social Journey, we strive to accommodate such requests; however, please note that full tour payment is required within 24 hours for last-minute bookings. While we make every effort to operate treks at any time, delays may occur due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions and accommodation availability.

There are two ways to get from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp. By Bus: Touring to and from city destinations is done on a private vehicle such as a car, jeep or microbus. Luxury tourist buses, which are only hired by the company for the most part, make the long distance travel. You will may have to take a public bus on some trip, but you do not need to worry about your protection or comfort because you ride with our guides and support staff in a group. By air: The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and back is included in the price.

A moderate trek requires you to walk 5–6 hours per day with a light day pack. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes; however, the pace of the trek will vary in compensation. If you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have strong determination, you will complete a moderate trek successfully. Exercise, particularly jogging and climbing stairs regularly for some weeks prior to your arrival, is recommended to enhance your strength and fitness. Past hiking experience would be an asset, but no technical skill is required.

At Himalayan Social Journey, we value customer feedback and consider it an essential aspect of our journey towards becoming an exceptional travel partner. We have faced both ups and downs along the way, and it is through feedback, both positive and constructive, that we have reached where we are today. During the farewell dinner with our crew at the end of the trek, we kindly request that you share your valuable feedback, including your experiences, recommendations, and honest rating, on our trip advisor page.

The Himalayan Social Journey is committed to providing you with a remarkable trekking experience in the Everest region. With our experienced local team, flexible itineraries, and attention to your needs and preferences, we strive to create memories that will last a lifetime. Choose HSJ as your trusted travel partner and prepare to embark on an extraordinary adventure in the breathtaking Himalayas. Contact us today to start planning your Everest Base Camp Trek.