Everest Base Camp Solo Trek
Is Everest Base Camp Solo Trek in 2024 doable?
The first word is “Yes”. You can trek independent to the base camp of Everest, the base camp of the world’s highest mountain.
However, hiking to Everest Base Camp Solo is challenging. Even though it’s among the easy trekking in Nepal, the high altitude terrain here makes a tremendous impact. Altitude sickness in EBC Trek is unavoidable. On top, you have to manage all the itineraries, EBC Trek Permits, EBC Trek Costs, and prepare for a month at least as training for EBC Trek.
Let’s see different topics related to solo EBC Trek and whether you can complete the hike.
Everest Base Camp Solo Trek- Distance and Itinerary
The distance from Lukla to the EBC Base Camp is 60 km / 37 miles, and returning to Lukla also sees you retrace the same route, making it 120 km/ 74 miles in total.
Completing this route takes 11 days, including two acclimatization rest stops at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. And Lukla to Kathmandu flight on the following day makes it a 12 days long trek.
Now let’s see a brief overview of 12 days of EBC Trek Itinerary that you must plan for considering EBC Trek Solo in 2024.
Trek Itinerary
Day 2: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar(3,440 meters/6 hours)
You'll start the hike around 8 am and trek for 6-hour from Phakding to the Namche Bazaar. Namche is 12 km from Phakding and takes nearly 6 hours to complete the walk.
Day 3: Acclimatization stop at Namche Bazaar. Hike to Hotel Everest View (3,880 meters)
It's a day for acclimatisation at Namche Bazaar. To better acclimate, take a short trek from Namche to Everest View Hotel at 3,962 metres.
The trail length is 4 km, and the trek time is 4 hours.
Day 4: Trek from Namche to Tengboche/Deboche (3,860 metres/5 hours)
It’s an 11 km trek from Namche to Tengboche, at 3,860 metres. The expected trek time is 5-6 hours. Overnight at a tea house in Tengboche or Deboche.
Day 5: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410 metres/5 hours)
You'll trek to Dingboche at 4,410 metres from Tengboche on day 5. This 12 km long trail takes you 7 hours of trek time. Overnight at a tea house in Dingboche.
Day 6: Acclimatization at Dingboche. Hike to Nangkartshang Peak (4,800 meters/2 hours)
It would be best if you acclimated well before ascending to Lobuche and past 5,000 meters altitude. Hence, stopping at Dingboche makes you fit for the coming day's hike.
Trekker on standard Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary Solo hike to Nangkartshang Peak to see the best glimpse of Makalu, Cholatse, and Ama Dablam.
Overnight at the tea house in Dingboche.
Day 7: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4,910 metres/6 hours)
On the 7th day, you'll hike to Lobuche from Dingboche. It takes you almost 5-6 hours to complete the hike. You'll stop at Thugla for lunch.
Day 8: Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,180 metres/3 hours), Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364 metres/3 hours), and back to Gorak Shep
It's the longest trek day, 9 hours. First, you'll trek to Gorak Shep from Lobuche for 3 hours. After reaching Gorak Shep, you'll begin the hike to Everest's base camp at 5,364 metres for another two hours. After sightseeing and photographs, you'll return to Gorak Shep. Overnight at a tea house in Gorakship.
Day 9: Trek to Kala Patthar (5,645 meters/4 hours). Return to Gorak Shep and trek to Pheriche (4,210 metres /7 hours)
In the early morning, you'll hike to Kala Patthar to witness the sunrise over Everest. And then you'll return to Gorak Shep, take breakfast, and prepare the return to Pheriche.
It'll be a long walking day as you'll hike for almost 12 hours, first the Kala Patthar hike and then returning walk to Pheirche.
Overnight at the tea house in Pheriche.
Day 10: Trek from Pheriche to Namche (3,440 metres/8 hours)
You'll hike for 8 hours while returning to Namche from Pheriche. You'll cover more than 15 km distance on today's hike. Also, you'll wave off to the mountains as you near Namche Bazaar.
Day 11: Trek from Namche to Lukla (2,880 meters/8 hours)
You'll start the hike around 8 am from Namche, stop for lunch at Phakding, and trek to Lukla.
Overnight at the tea house in Lukla.
Day 12: Fly from Lukla to Ramechhap, Drive to Kathmandu
You'll take an early morning flight from Lukla to Ramechhap airport and then take a jeep or bus drive to Kathmandu.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost
Hiking to Everest Base Camp Solo can cost you nearly a thousand USD. Often known as one of the most expensive trekking in Nepal, managing EBC Trek Cost often becomes challenging. Being expensive is also why many trekkers these days prefer off-the-beaten trekking routes.
Cost of Meals
EBC Trek’s meals get expensive as you hike further to Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep. The meal menu offers a good range of choices, but you’ll pay more.
But with a trekking agency, you’ll get different meals of your choice, all-inclusive on the cost you pay for the package.
The cost of Everest Base Camp Trek meals can cost around USD 20-25 for an individual trekker, excluding the cost of accommodation.
Breakfast like muesli and omelette or porridge and omelette with tea can cost USD 5 at Lukla and Namche. However, the same meal can cost USD 6 at Lobuche and Gorak Shep.
Lunch and dinner meals like Dal Bhat, Spaghetti, dumplings, spring roll, and fried rice can cost USD 5 to 8. However, with extra meals, the cost may increase. But, a meal on Everest Trek will cost USD 10 at maximum.
Cost of Accommodations
The cost of accommodation in Everest Base Camp Trek can be from USD 5 to USD 10, based on your chosen service.
Some tea houses in Namche charge USD 5 for hot water showers and USD 5-7 based on the quality of the room. The electricity battery charge costs USD 3-5 at every tea house. So, carrying a power bank and saving a few bucks is better.
Some tea houses offer room for USD 1000, including a hot water shower, internet, and free electricity.
Cost with trek guide and porter
Suppose you are planning for independent; the EBC Trek Cost averages around USD 700. It’s the least you’d spend while trekking to EBC.
However, if you consider hiring a trekking guide or even a porter to assist in carrying your backpacks, you’ll end up paying USD 1300.
Getting Everest Base Camp Trek Permits
Altitude sickness in Everest Base Camp Trekking
If you’re planning Everest Base Camp Solo Trek in 2024, you must be aware of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can be mild, or severe, and even lead to fatality. However, with adequate trek preparations, acclimatization, and good decision-making, you can easily escape altitude sickness.
We recommend you take a one-day acclimatization stop at Namche and another day rests at Dingboche. With rest, you’ll get well acclimated to the high altitude of the Everest region. Also, your body gets adequate rest to continue the hike for the coming days.
Please remember that if you need a few days of acclimatization, stop resting at other places like Tengboche or even at Lobuche. Aiming solo Everest Base Camp Trekking needs a lot of acute decisions and rest is crucial to be your decision pinpoint.
There have been situations where trekkers have died due to altitude sickness, especially solo trekkers. Due to high altitude risk, almost all trekker trek EBC with local travel agencies. With an agency, you’ll have a trekking guide which you’ll lack in a solo trek. Trek guides are the most useful resource during the situations like altitude sickness and even high-altitude rescue.
Let’s say you get altitude sickness where you can’t even hike a single step up or down. And there’s no one to help you. The only escape you’ll have at this place is a helicopter rescue. Without a trekking guide, you can’t even locate yourself and call a helicopter for the high altitude rescue. Past Tengboche, you won’t even get telephone networks. Hence, for emergencies, a trekking guide is a must.
Don’t take altitude sickness lightly as it’ll certainly impact you while trekking to EBC Base Camp Trek. Around five solo trekkers in Nepal died in 2022 due to altitude sickness.
Ways to deal with altitude sickness in Everest
International Travel Insurance for Everest Base Camp Solo Trekkers
Foremost, trekking to EBC Base Camp Trek Solo is adventurous and risky. High altitude sickness can kick in, and you may be helpless. However, a valid travel insurance policy can save you from tricky situations, especially during high altitude sickness and injuries.
A travel insurance policy can be your ticket to escape Everest Trek Route on a helicopter. A helicopter can come to rescue you anywhere on the route you stop.
Furthermore, travel insurance compensates your medical bills and other expenses throughout the trekking.
Everest Base Camp Solo Trek Difficulty and Preparations
The EBC Trek Route is among the easy trekking in Nepal. However, the exceptionally high altitude terrain, unpredictable weather conditions, and other associated risks make it a challenging trek. Therefore, decent physical fitness and preparation are necessary for this trek. But, the risk of altitude sickness still prevails.
Cardio exercises are among the best for high-altitude hikes. The breathing techniques help you to adjust breathing at higher altitudes. Furthermore, you must train for physical strength as you’ll hike for at least five hours daily. Some trekkers even start practising and preparing for EBC Trek a few months before departure.
Hospitals in Everest Region you should know
There are few hospitals in Everest Region. There’s one decent hospital in Lukla and two in Namche, including a pharmacy, clinic, and hospital. You can also find another quite reputable clinic or semi-hospital at Pheriche. And past Pheriche, there are no hospitals in the Everest region.
Trekkers who get altitude sickness at Namche Bazaar can visit the doctor from 10 am to 3 pm, except Saturday and Sunday. However, the pharmacy remains open throughout the week.
The one in Pheriche is more like a treatment centre where injured trekkers and guides get medical treatment. And if the condition is severe, helicopter evacuation remains the last resort.
As an Everest Base Camp Solo Trekker, you must remember that these hospitals are the only ones where you can get medical attention. Furthermore, these services could be more sophisticated but keep you in better health.
Stop and descend wherever you feel difficult
It’s always better to stop at places where you feel difficulty in breathing or even get injured. Usually, we recommend you descend to lower altitudes and stop at tea houses that offer internet services.
If you get altitude sickness in a middle way while hiking, you’ll barely get help from other trekkers or even trek guides. Hence, you’ll be on your own and must take care of yourself.
As you won’t find any telephone networks past Tengboche, only wifi at tea houses remains the ultimate communication. So, to access it to call a helicopter or even for rescue, you must descend to the tea houses instead of hiking further higher.
