Many trekkers around the world covet to reach the Base Camp of Everest. The desire to have a close-up view of Everest lures thousands of travelers to Everest Base Camp every year.
They feel a sense of glory which comes with getting as far as the base camp of the Everest – the tallest mountain in the world.
Amidst all the interest, some people ask – What are the major highlights of this trek? What are the most significant features of Everest Base Camp Trek? Is there something else that Mount Everest Base Camp Trek offers besides mountains?
Here are the seven major highlights of this trek.
1. Mt. Everest Base Camp
Mt Everest Base Camp lies at the altitude of 5,364 meters. On reaching there, you will get a chance to stand on the base of the highest peak in the world.
In the peak season, the Base Camp turns into a tented town colored in yellow. If you trek to Everest Base Camp at the climbing seasons, you will find many climbers on the way and see them preparing at the Base Camp for the summit.
From the Base Camp, you can get a close-up view of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori. The magnificent views of Khumbu glacier, many other glacial lakes, and big ice walls are other attractions of the Base Camp.
2. Kala Patthar- The Magnificent Viewpoint
Kala Patthar – the viewpoint at a hill next to Gorak Shep, is the best destination for the stunning views during the Everest Base Camp trek.
Kala Patthar is the final point of the EBC trek. Most trekkers hike to Kala Patthar early in the morning from their warm bed at Gorak Shep. After a two hours morning hike from Gorak Shep, you will stand at 5,644 meters to catch the majestic close-up view of the towering Everest, Nuptse, Changtse, and surrounding peaks.
Adorned with prayer flags, you can easily recognize the viewpoint while ascending to Kala Patthar.
3. Tengboche Monastery
Situated at the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Imja rivers, Tengboche monastery is the biggest and a well-known monastery of Khumbu Region. It is a Tibetan-Buddhist monastery and has a Rinpoche who blesses the pilgrims and visitors at the monastery.
The monastery is the meeting point of the local Buddhists, travelers, trekkers, and the summiters preparing for the Everest expedition. You can get the stunning views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Thamserku from the monastery courtyard.
Every October, locals celebrate Mani Rimdu festival in Tengboche monastery. They gather, sing, dance, and organize other programs. If you plan to trek in this month you will get a chance to participate in this colorful festival.
4. Khumbu and Ngozumpa Glaciers
Everest Base Camp trek offers you an opportunity to witness two significant glaciers of the Khumbu region. They are Ngozumpa glacier and Khumbu glacier.
Ngozumpa Glacier lies below the Cho Oyu Mountain – the sixth highest mountain in the world. The Glacier is 20 km long and is the longest glacier in the Himalayas. To catch the best view of Ngozumpa glacier you can hike to the Gokyo Ri.
Khumbu Glacier lies between Mount Everest and the ridge of Lhotse and Nuptse. You walk across this glacier to reach the Base Camp. Khumbu Glacier is the glacier at the highest altitude in the world with its source at 7,600 meters and the end point at 4,900 meters.
From the Base Camp, you can view Khumbu Glacier and its enormous icefall that lies at the Lhotse face of Mount Everest.
5. Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar, also called as “ Sherpa Capital ” is the gateway to Everest. It is a famous town at the slope of a hill which rises to the height of 3,500 meters. The beautiful view of Kongde Ri, Thamserku, and Everest from here excite trekkers and climbers.
It is the administrative center of Khumbu Region with vibrant touristic hubs. There are dozens of hotels and lodges, three museums, a monastery, a few bakeries, and shops in Namche.
The place supplies many of the trekking essentials like backpacking tent or any other gears for their trip. Also, Namche homes Sagarmatha National Park Visitor’s Center where you can get the detail information about the wildlife, geography, and hidden facts of the National Park.
Trekkers usually spend their first acclimatization day here.
6. Biodiversity of Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha National Park conserves the wildlife and vegetation on the surrounding of Mount Everest. Dominated by Everest, the national park has steep terrain and gorges of high Himalayas, barren lands, grasslands, and a small percentage of forests as well.
The lower parts of the national park contain birch, juniper, pines, bamboo, and rhododendron whereas grasses dominate the lands as you cross the treeline.
Sagarmatha National Park is the habitat of more than 118 species of birds including Blood Pheasant, Red-billed chough, Lophophorus, and more. Likewise, the rare mammal species like Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Thar, Snow Leopard, and Langur have made this national park their home.
7. Sherpa’s Culture and Tradition
The Khumbu Region is the main settlement of Sherpas. Widely famous for their strength, endurance, bravery on Mount Everest, Sherpas have never failed to amaze and inspire the climbing world.
En route to Everest Base Camp, you will meet Sherpas, live in their teahouses, talk with them, and make some lifelong friends. You can closely look into their culture, tradition, and lifestyle. Their culture and tradition match with that of Tibetan Buddhist. They speak Sherpa language – a dialect of Tibetans.
Likewise, they follow Nyingmapa Buddhism – the earliest Buddhist sect in Tibet. Monasteries and stupas display a great influence of the Buddhist practices which unite Sherpas spiritually and economically.
Conclusion
Apart from these, there are many other attractions to excite travel enthusiasts. It includes the thrilling Lukla flight, stunning landscapes, amazing settlements, age-old monasteries, and chortens, etc.
If you want more adventure, you can combine Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak Climbing, which a lot of travelers do. This offers thrilling adventure and breathtaking landscapes.
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is a lifetime experience and it has many things to offer. So, trek to Everest Base Camp and live it up in the Himalayas.
