A common question asked by people who want to trek in Nepal is whether the trail to Everest Base Camp (EBC-Trek) is difficult. The answer to this is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. What about this? You may wonder. We will explain it to you in this blog. We will also give you some useful tips.
The difficulty of the Everest Base Camp Trek
First, the clarification of the answer to the question of whether the EBC Trek is difficult. We said this is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’.
If we look at the negative answer, it all has to do with the difficulty of this trek. We can say that this trek is not particularly tough. In terms of distance and walkability it is doable. Really difficult passages can hardly be found on the route, apart from the Ngozumpa and the optional Cho La Pass.
What makes this trek difficult is the altitude and the thin air. These make for difficult conditions. The chance of getting altitude sickness is very real here. You would rather not experience this. It causes severe headaches, dizziness and nausea. You also suffer from shortness of breath and you constantly feel very tired.
Prevent altitude sickness
Once you have contracted altitude sickness, the only remedy is to descend and acclimatize so that you recover and get used to the altitude. The well-known saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ certainly applies here. But how?
This starts before you leave. Consult your doctor well in advance, tell him what you are going to do and get examined. Most doctors will prescribe you Diamox pills, which helps with altitude sickness symptoms.
However, it is better to take the tablets as a preventive measure. Once you have altitude sickness, it is already too late. Remember that the medicine also has side effects of which tingling fingers and feet are the most common.
Make sure that you start the EBC-Trek well trained. During the trek you need to acclimatize sufficiently to get used to the altitude. Do not rush and listen carefully to your body’s signals. If you do not feel well, report this immediately to your guide. Furthermore, you must eat and drink enough because you will burn a lot of calories and lose a lot of fluids.
Bonus Tips
- Check your travel insurance in advance to see if it offers sufficient cover for your trip.
- It’s a long journey, and delays are still a daily occurrence. Check passenger rights in advance so you know what you are entitled to in such cases.
- Reserve enough time for your trip so you have more time to get used to the altitude and also enjoy it more.
