If we had to describe one of our challenges as ‘Epic’, then this trek to Everest Base Camp would be the one that we’d choose. Maybe it’s the fact that you have to fly into the ‘Worlds Most Dangerous Airport’ at Lukla to begin the trek that makes it feel so epic or maybe it’s the soaring peaks that surround you at every turn. Maybe it is simply the fact that this journey to the very heart of the Himalaya mountains takes over a fortnight in total. Either way, in terms of the scale and grandeur of the landscape through which you travel nothing can beat this truly epic challenge.

GRADING.Tough! This is a multi-day trek to significant altitude (5150 metres above sea level, to be precise!). There are several hours of trekking a day and you will need to be in good physical shape to complete this challenge. Although acclimatisation is slow and gradual, you will feel the effects of altitude and stamina is essential for all participants.

TRIP DURATION.17 days in total with 11 days of trekking (trip extensions may be available)

ACCOMMODATION.You will be accommodated in a comfortable guesthouse in Kathmandu and during the trek itself you will be staying in simple mountain bunkhouses.

AVAILABILITY.Departures are available in April and September as these are the best months to attempt this challenge.

CHALLENGEOVERVIEW

It was first identified by a British survey team lead by Sir George Everest in 1841

1841

EBCROUTE KEY

EBC TREKROUTE

TRAILMAP

EVEREST

CAMPBASE

EBCITINERARY

The first attempt was in 1921 by a British expedition from the north (Tibet) side

1921

20th Sept: DEPARTURE

Departure from the UK for an overnight flight to Kathmandu stopping at least once.

21st Sept: ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, you will be collected by your tour guide and transferred to a comfortable hotel located in central Kathmandu. Team members will be accommodated on a twin share basis in en-suite rooms. The afternoon will be yours to explore the city with optional walking tours available. In the evening, there will be a short briefing.

Dinner included

22nd Sept: TREK DAY ONE

After breakfast, you will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla. This is the gateway to the Khumbu region and it nestles in the lower slopes of the Himalaya at an altitude of 2,840m. This is an exciting flight which should give you a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In the afternoon, you will begin your trek towards Phakding. Overnight in simple guesthouses in Phakding.

Breakfast and dinner included23rd Sept: TREK DAY TWO

After an early morning start, you will begin your trek from Phakding to Namche. You will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before entering the Khumbu National Park. You will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply through pine forest for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar at 3,400m. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artefacts and souvenirs. Just across the valley to the east stand the Majestic peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, the first real indications that you are entering ‘Big Peak Country’. You will overnight in a simple guesthouse in Namche.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

EBCITINERARY

24th Sept: TREK DAY THREE

You will spend today in Namche Bazaar, resting and allowing your bodies to become acclimatised to the altitude of 3,400m. In the morning, there is the option of walking up to the Everest View Hotel at 3,900m, returning to Namche for lunch. Many people find that this strategy of gaining altitude in the day and then descending back down to sleep at night helps them acclimatise more quickly. Namche has some nice bakeries which serve great apple pie! You will overnight in a simple guesthouse in Namche.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included25th Sept: TREK DAY FOUR

From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. As you follow the path, you will get your first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, you will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Thyangboche (3867m), home of an impressive and recently rebuilt monastery. You have plenty of time to look around Thyangboche before you check in to your guesthouse for the night.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included26th Sept: TREK DAY FIVE

Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche (3770m). An hour’s walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, (3985m) an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam (‘Mother’s Charm Box’) and home to the Sherpas who work on this imposing mountain each post monsoon season. Contouring up the valley side, you will cross the river again and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche at 4,410m.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included27th Sept: TREK DAY SIX

Acclimatisation Day - Dingboche is a good location for acclimatisation prior to your ascent to the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingboche, you will take a walk to a close viewpoint which will serve as good acclimatisation training. Overnight in your simple guesthouse in Dingboche.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included28th Sept: TREK DAY SEVEN

You will retrace your steps back to Pheriche before continuing along the trail up the broad valley bottom towards Dugla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuche East (6,119m/20,075ft) and to your left is the formidable north face of Taweche, the scene of many cutting-edge Himalayan ascents of the 1980s and 1990s. After three hours, you reach the small collection of lodges at Dugla (4,620m). From Dugla, the trail starts to climb up steeply beside the glacier moraine. After a few hours, the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuche (4,940m). You will spend the afternoon relaxing and continuing the process of slow acclimatisation.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included29th Sept: TREK DAY EIGHT

About three hours beyond Lobuche, you reach Gorak Shep (5,220m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition’s base camp. At 5200m, the tiny village is dwarfed by the enormous peaks on all sides. After Gorak Shep, you continue for another few hours to the current base camp where the ascents of Mount Everest depart. There you will be rewarded with amazing views of the Khumbu Ice Fall and will spend some time exploring the camp before returning to Gorak Shep for dinner and your overnight stay.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

1953MAY 29

The first summit was made on May 29, 1953 by a British team led by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal. They climbed from the south side.

EBCITINERARY30th Sept: TREK DAY NINE

Today you will make an ascent of Kala Patta; the highest point on your trek at 5,545m. The climb takes between 2 and 3 hours and can be hard work. However, the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Everest and the Khumbu Icefall as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. You retrace your steps to Lobuche and return down the Khumbu Valley, stopping for a break in Dugla. With views of the stunning peak of Ama Dablam ahead of us, you continue along the flat valley to Pheriche, where you will stay overnight.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included1st Oct: TREK DAY TEN

Following the main Everest trail down the beautifully scenic valley, you pass through Pangboche and re-cross the river before climbing to the monastery at Thyangboche. A steep descent of around 500m leads through bird-filled rhododendron bushes and fir trees to the Dudh Kosi River. Crossing on yet another suspension bridge, you climb up the opposite side of the valley to reach the contouring path leading back to Namche Bazaar, where you will spend the night.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

2nd Oct: TREK DAY ELEVEN

Today, after descending from Namche, the trail flattens out and you cross the river twice more before a rising traverse up the hill-side, past numerous tea houses to Lukla. Your last day of steady trekking will be a real joy as at lower altitudes, with two weeks behind us and nothing left to prove, you can soak up the atmosphere in each of the villages you amble through.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

3rd Oct: RETURN TO KATHMANDU

You will depart Lukla Airport early morning for your flight back to Katmandu. You will be met at the domestic airport in Kathmandu by a Really Wild Representative and taken to your standard hotel. You will travel into town in the evening for a celebratory dinner!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

4th Oct: FREE DAY

Today can be spent exploring the city at your leisure. With no activities planned for today you are free to visit some of the temples, browse the bookshops or shop in the Thamel area.

Breakfast included5th Oct: TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT

After breakfast at your hotel, you will have some free time (depending on your flight time) before transferring to Kathmandu airport, ready for your flight home.

Breakfast included6th Oct: RETURN

Arrival in the UK.

EBCFAQ’S

About 3,668 climbers have summited Everest once and another 2,540 have summited multiple times totaling 6,208 summits of Everest through June 2012

06THOUSAND

EBCFAQ’SHOW MUCH MONEY DO I HAVE TO RAISE?Please see our website.

HOW MUCH OF THIS MONEY GOES TO THE CHARITY?Our challenges are always run on a 50:50 minimum ratio. This means that of the money you raise, at least half goes to furthering the vital work of the charity and the remaining money is used to cover the cost of your trip.

IS THIS CHALLENGE SAFE?All of our challenge events involve an element of risk (that’s part of what makes them challenges!) but we work closely with our partners in Nepal to ensure that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons! We risk assess all our trips and we comply with BS8848 British Standard.

YOU WILL I BE TRAVELLING WITH?You will be travelling with your best friends (you just haven’t met some of them yet!). Group sizes vary, but typically there will be 12-30 fellow participant on your challenge.

WHO WILL BE LOOKING AFTER US IN NEPAL?We use only the best English-speaking guides who have years of experience of guiding participants in this region. They will not only be there to ensure that you are healthy, safe and well looked-after – they’ll also be more than happy to give you a real insight to the culture and traditions of Nepal!

WILL I GET SUPPORT FROM THECHARITY FOR MY FUNDRAISING? Absolutely! Whilst it is your responsibility to reach your fundraising target, all our partner charities have staff dedicated to supporting participant taking part in Really Wild events like these. Please see over for more details.

CAN I EXTEND MY STAY IN NEPAL?Yes, many of our departure dates allow participants to stay on as a group after the trek has finished and explore the highlights of Nepal (please see over for details).

WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?Weather in the Himalaya can be very changeable due to the nature of the surrounding terrain. When it does rain, downpours can be heavy and last for several hours! As you reach Everest Base Camp itself, the altitude leads to a sharp drop in temperatures, particularly at night. Kathmandu enjoys a sub-tropical climate (around 25 degrees Celsius during the day) but there can be heavy downpours during the humid summer months.

EBCINCLUSIONS

EBCINCLUSIONSIncluded• International flights• All meals mentioned and three meals a day during the hike• All relevant transfers• All relevant accommodation• Services of professional English speaking guides at all times• Safe drinking water during the hike• 24/7 support and emergency line available throughout the itinerary• Bag Transfer Service – you will only need to carry day-packs whilst on the trek Excluded• Evacuation - In event of serious medical injury we will coordinate with your insurance company to arrange evacuation• Meals and drinks other than those mentioned• Tips and gratuities • Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and telephone calls• Country visa• Travel Insurance• Vaccinations• Personal camping equipment such as sleeping bag and mattress

EBCINCLUSIONS

EVEREST BASE CAMPOPTIONAL EXCURSIONSWhat about making the most of your time in Nepal? After completing such a tough challenge, you might decide to put your feet up for a little while and explore some of the amazing wonders that Nepal has to offer. Here are just a couple of examples of how you could choose to finish off your challenge.

Chitwan National Park Chitwan was the first National Park to be created in Nepal. Established in 1973, it now holds the status of being a UNSECO World Heritage site. Meaning ‘Heart of the Jungle’, Chitwan is home to horned rhinos, deer, monkeys and 450 species of birds. Less prevalent are its leopards, wild elephants and sloth bears. You may also get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spot the majestic royal Bengal tiger. One of the best ways to explore this rich environment is on the back of an elephant or in a traditional dug-out canoe.

PokharaAptly named ‘The Jewel in the Himalaya’, Pokhara is characterised by its pristine air, spectacular backdrop of snowy peaks, serene lakes and surrounding greenery. The magnificent Annapurna range dominates the skyline and the city is surrounded by three major lakes – Phewa, Rupa and Begnas. Pokhara owes its popularity to the enchanting Phewa Lake and along its eastern shore has grown the Lakeside or Baidam, a thriving resort town of hotels, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops that allow travelers to relax and enjoy. Phewa Lake is the largest and most beautiful of the three lakes, attracting a large number of visitors to its placid waters.

Here at Really Wild Travel, we have devised some trip extensions that, we believe, will cater to every taste. Our range of extensions will be available to book 6-months in advance of departure so we will be in touch with you closer to the time to tell you more.

*please note that all trip extensions are subject to availability

Chitwan National Park