For any of you thinking of doing Everest base camp, just do it.... train for it and expect the unexpected.... amazing challenge. They key to it being great for me was trekking with Citynguides, a fantastic company, pre, during and post trip. There kit list was spot on and their sleeping bag and extra jacket the warmest ever. Our leader Jim and our Sherpas were the best. With 50 in our group we encountered everything, and kept our allocated doctor quiet busy too lol...... GO FOR IT!!!!
Everest Base Camp Trekking Tour Gear and Tips for all travelers reading my review.
My wife and me just returned from a 12 day Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek on November 2019 with the trek organized by Citynguides. We had started planning, reading gear lists and compiling our own since last April. We gained some valuable knowledge during our trip that might be useful to others travelers here.
1. Do some physical exercise before doing this trekking its not mandatory but this gives enough strength to make your Trekking successful. But I have met some old man, small kids also young people during my trek as I asked them they were not physically prepared but they succeed there trek. My Best advice before trekking do some of the following exercises:
Start your trekking training early.
Choose the correct footwear for your trek.
Don't forget your walking socks.
Build leg strength with gym work.
Build your walking training.
Train on similar walking terrain.
Practice using your backpack.
Use walking poles.
2. Get a Ste ripen and keep your batteries warm in a pants or jacket pocket even when you sleep so you can capture your memory next day.
3. Most gear lists included toilet paper. We took 3 rolls and never used any. We did use bio-degradable baby wipes though.
4. Don't eat meat on the trek. Our guide advised us not to and there is scientific reason behind it. Which is meat contains lots of protein and fat. At first, meat looks like a promising source of food during treks, but there are some drawbacks in having meat during your trek. The excessive fats and proteins will take much longer time to digest and provide energy very slowly. So avoid meat during trek.
5. A lot of lists included snacks/trail mix. We took a bunch and never ate it. We loaded on carbs at all 3 meals and just never got hungry in between. If you want a snack like a Snickers you can purchase it at most tea houses and stands along the trail.
6. Go at the beginning of either season. Our trek started on 15th November and most of the traffic on the trail was from yaks, horses and porters. On our way back down from Everest base camp on the 21st it got pretty crowded with new trekkers ascending.
7. Diamox. We got some from our Dr. and had heard good and bad about it. When my Oxygen level started to dip at Dingboche my wife and I started taking it and it helped a lot. No more headaches and my oxygen level went back up. Your body will tell you if you're not getting enough Oxygen and it took me about 3/4 of a night to adjust at each major altitude change. Also I found it much easier to breathe if I slept on my right side....... maybe that relieved pressure on my heart and left lung..
8. Electrolyte tablets to put in your water. We used NUUN. You're going to expend a lot of nutrients during 6-9 hours of ascending hills every day and I believe the tabs helped to keep us going and prevent muscle cramps.
9. Take a couple pillow cases to put on tea house pillows and large zip-lock bags for dirty clothes and Bounce sheets to put in them.
10. Solar Charger. There are a lot to choose from, we tested a couple and settled on the Anker 21W Dual USB Solar Charger. I just used some carbines to attach it to my pack and charged up our power packs as we hiked. Worked great.
11. Trekking poles ....... it was the fist time I had used them. I found them helpful when going up steep inclines but a hindrance descending. It seemed like I was spending more time thinking about where to put my poles than actually moving even when the terrain was fairly level so I stowed them when I could.
12. Hire porter: There is no parade or medal given at the end for carrying your own gear so make it easier on yourself and at most carry a VERY light pack big enough to keep your valuables, water and outer layer that you may put on or take off. So for two people get your gear down to about 20-25 pounds per person.
Finally, if you have any question regarding trekking you can ask Citynguides tour operate who are always there to answer you any queries.
Thanks for your time reading my review..
“This trip to the Everest Base Camp, with my husband was amazing adventure without doubt.The scenery, the people and their culture and the animals are from another world which we fall in love with.
The weather was too good and as we were lucky having a big sun and blue skies everyday but the higher you went it still became very cold.
Our two guides were both very attentive at all times. Looking after us while on the trek and providing us with all our meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There were 12 of us on the group as we join the with other to minimize the cost. Our trek and so with our two guides we became a very close group and enjoyed a lot of Banter along the way, particularly with the number of different variations on how to say the word, OK."
We just completed our EBC Trek as a group of 12 family members with citynguides. This was a once in a lifetime adventure for us all and we could not have picked a better company then Citynguides. Mohan was so easy to talk to and a very resourceful person. Communication was excellent and very prompt. I was lucky enough to meet him as my guide. Upon arriving in Nepal.
The guides we had for our Trek were just simply amazing. Their experience and knowledge and looking after us all was just awesome. Senior guide Dave, and his team did an outstanding job. We truly believe that if not for them and their experience and guidance and their ability to read our difficulties and adjusting accordingly, I do not believe we would have all made it to Everest Base Camp successfully. We met the porters a few times along the trek and they were just as amazing. They all treated us as Family and their actions proved that over the three weeks, and we did come to regard them as family. We certainly made life long friends with them now.
As the Trek progressed, Mohan kept in touch with the guides and adjusted our itinerary according to our progress and abilities. Now who does that for 12 strangers except the most dedicated people. Hats off to all these people and a big THANK YOU for making these wonderful memories possible.
If anyone wants to get in touch with them to talk or get advice about Citynguides. Please do not hesitate, Just leave them a inquiry and these amazing people reach back to you. We highly recommend their service.
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Amazing Everest Base Camp tours