Everest Cho La Pass Trek Difficulty
Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass is a challenging trek. The mountain sickness problem, you may face on this trek. Some previous trekking experience is helpful. The regular exercise and hill walking is a good physical preparation for the trek. You will reach to a height at 5,545 m. You need to walk 6 to 7 hours a day, distance between 12 km to 18 km. The trail goes uphill and downhill frequently.
Basic Teahouse(Lodge) Accommodation
Everest Base Camp Trek is no more remote now. You will find basic and budget teahouse lodges to luxury hotel along the trail to Everest Base Camp. In our package price, we do provide basic-twin sharing room in the teahouses. The twin beds have foam mattresses, bed sheets and a pillow. The rooms are unheated and cold at nights, so please bring a good sleeping bag. Most lodges have only one or two basic toilets inside and outside the main tea house lodge building.
Toilets-Toilets are usually Asian ’squat’ style; although many lodges have ‘western style’ seated one now. Toilet paper is not provided so you should bring your own or buy it locally (please dispose it in the bin provided – do not put it in the bowl). If there is not a flush handle, there should be a container of water to pour down – if it is empty (or frozen) please either refill it or ask the lodge too.
Hot Shower-Mostly lodges have hot showers, price charges from Rs 250 to Rs 500 per shower. Sometimes hot shower is simply a bucket of hot water and not a shower head. As a general rule, the higher you go, the lodges are more basic and the more expensive food and services become. However, we discourage our groups from using water heated by wood as the lack of firewood in the alpine villages. It is a big environmental concern in Nepal. Access to electricity point for charging devices will charge an extra price. WIFI is available most of the hotels, but connection is poor.
Meals on Everest Cho La Pass Trek
Everyday, three meals-breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. You will have choices of meals consist of noodles, porridge, bread, eggs, Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), vegetables, noodles, potatoes, soup, pizza, pasta and French fries. Also hot and cold drinks like tea, coffee, bottle of water, beer, whisky, coke and fanta.
Although meat is also available in the tea houses, we advise you not to eat meat on the trek. The meat has often been carried from lower altitude for several days before reaching to the lodges. So, meat can cause stomach upsets and illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money – we recommend using hand sanitizer.
Breakfast and Dinner you have to eat at the same tea house where you spend night, lunch will be eaten at some teahouse restaurant on the trail.
Wi-Fi and Internet Access
Hotels in Kathmandu generally have excellent Wi-Fi connections. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi in public areas. While trekking Wi-Fi may be available in tea houses and lodges for a small cost. The higher you go the use of Wi-Fi and internet will be extra cost and likely the slower the speed. Your tour leader will be able to offer some advice on communications in remote areas of the country. Please note that most tea houses do not have electrical outlets in rooms to charge devices but are shared in the main dining area with an additional cost. Past travelers have found portable solar chargers to be very useful.
Electricity on the EBC Trek
Almost all lodges have electricity but it is not wholly reliable and lighting may not be bright enough to read. Buy a torch is essential. Electrical charging facilities are generally available only in the dining room(It charges from Rs 150 to RS 350 per hour per device). Many of the lodges use solar power, so sometimes there is not enough electricity for charging. Many lodges have Wi-Fi now – in some areas it works well but in others, it is slow and temperamental. It also an additional price from Rs 200 to 500 from evening to the next morning.
EBC Cho La Pass Trek Seasons and Weathers
The main trekking season to Everest Base Camp Trek is from September to mid-June. The daytime weather at the most altitude are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear, rain and snow are occasional occurrence. Daytime temperature will vary from 15ºC to 35ºC in the Kathmandu Valley to 10ºC at 3,600 m and progressively lower the higher we go. Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.
Post Monsoon/Autumn Season
Mid-September to November is the main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approximately above 20ºC. Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperature dropping down to minus 10ºC at the highest altitudes.
Winter Season
December to end February is an ideal time to trek to Everest Base Camp although it is colder. Skies are usually very clear especially in December and the mountain views are at their best. Nights will be very cold with temperature goes down to minus 15ºC to minus 20ºC at the highest altitudes but days are pleasant and sunny. The trails are also much less busier at this time of year. In Kathmandu maximum daytime temperatures are 19ºC.
Pre-monsoon/Spring Season
March to May holds both day and night temperatures will be warmer in general but often a haze will build up in the afternoon. It is very hot in the lowland and temperature rise to 35ºC in Kathmandu. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people choose to trek in spring. Snow can be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes. Please remember that in any mountain area, the weather is never wholly predictable and you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any difference in weather beyond the conditions described above.
Drinking Water
Staying rehydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly to an altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 3 to 4 liters of water in a day.
Strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to grow problem of plastic pollution in Nepal. The tea houses sell boiled water, cost ranges from Rs 150-300 per liter (the price increases the higher you trek) which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double up as a hot water bottle.
Alternatively, all tea houses will provide cold water free of charge, if request. Although this should not be drunk untreated, we recommend that you bring a reusable bottle with you and use an effective form of water treatment.
Handheld UV filters such as a ‘Ste Ripen’ are very effective, can treat 1 liter of water in a couple of minutes and the water is ready immediately – look for lightweight lithium battery models and remember that you will need to bring a wide-mouthed bottle (e.g. Nalgene) for use with these devices. The water purification tablet is also the best way to treat water on the trek.
Equipment List for Everest Cho La Pass Trek
Please kindly pack basic clothing and accessories on your baggage taking to Everest Base Camp Trek. You can store the excess luggage at our office in Kathmandu without any charge(free). Two each to one means for every two trekkers, we appoint one porter to carry luggage, but the weight limit is 9 kg per person. Pack your luggage in a duffle bag(rucksack) of 70 liters. Moreover, you need to carry a small backpack with your valuables and important documents while on day trek. Below is the list for you to help you pack for the trek.
Head
Sun hat or scarf
Winter hat or insulating hat or Wide-brimmed hat
Headlight with extra batteries
Face
Sunscreen
Sunglass with UV protection
Face/body wipes
Hands
Lightweight gloves
Heavyweight winter gloves
Body
Hiking shirts
Long-sleeved shirt
Hooded rain jacket
Fleece jacket
Lightweight cotton pants
T-Shirt (bring Lightweight wool)
Polypropylene underwear
Down jacket (available in rent in Kathmandu)
Sweater
Waterproof jacket and pants
Footwear
Hiking Boots
Thick wool socks (Take an extra pair)
Essential Gears
Backpack or daypack (Size depends on whether you take porter or not).
Thermal bottle
Water purification
Trekking pole
Sleeping bag
Toiletries
Medium size drying towel
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Deodorant floss
Biodegradable bar soap
Nail clippers
Small mirror
Personal Accessories
Money
Watch
Cell phone
Camera
Extra Items
First aid kit
Extra passport photos and photocopies of passport
Notebook and pen
Binoculars
Why booking with us(Mission Eco Trek Nepal)
- Free transfer: Kathmandu-TIA airport to hotel to airport.
- Easy booking and reservation system by email, WhatsApp, Facebook, WeChat, Viber, Skype, Zoom)
- 24/7 Communication at +977-9851023742
- Easy Payment System.
- Sleeping bags and down jacket arrangements, if you do not have your own.
- Free excess luggage storing service while on trekking.
- Team of highly experienced experts
- No Booking or Credit Card Fee
- Hassle-Free Booking
- Your Happiness Guaranteed
- Best Price Guarantee
Trip Briefing
The trip briefing will clear your all doubts about the trek such as the equipment checklist, itinerary and what expect on the trails. We do conduct trip briefing before the trek departures. The flight between Kathmandu and Lukla may get delay due to weather. In such cases, we re-schedule flights to the next available flight. So, we suggest you all guests add at least 2 extra days as a caution to avoid international flight delays back to home country.
Lukla Flight Information
In the peak trek seasons(March, April, May, October and November), flight to Lukla run from Ramechhap/Manthali instead of Kathmandu due to air traffic in Kathmandu airport. At the other times than this months, the flight will be from Kathmandu. You need to leave at around 1:30 AM from Kathmandu for Ramechhap to catch up flight to Lukla. The drive will take around five hours from Kathmandu to Ramechhap.
On Arrival at Kathmandu-TIA Airport
Your guide and our company representative will be waiting you at the opposite of Kathmandu-TIA airport arrival entrance. They will show your name with flight arrival details(Airlines Name, Flight No and Estimate Flight Arrival Time). Once receive, you will drive to hotel. We also book tourist standard hotel to luxury hotel in Kathmandu as per your kind advice.
Trekking Luggage
We apply one porter for two trekkers. The porters carry no more than 18 kg of luggage. Please carry your valuables and essential documents on your daypack. It is possible to store your luggage at our office in Kathmandu for free.
Typical day
The day in the trek, begins with morning breakfast at 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, and after walking 3-4 hours, we stop for lunch in the afternoon for an hour. We walk for 1 to 2 hours to our next teahouse after lunch. Free day in the afternoon, walk around the area. Dinner will serve at around 7:30 PM, and your guide will give you about the next day trip plan like time to breakfast and beginning of the trek. It is also possible to play cards, reading books and learn Nepali words after dinner.
Tipping
Nepali culture accepts tipping. We advise you to tip according to the trip length, cost, and quality of service. Further, we recommend you tip collectively at the end of the trek.
Trip Extension
If you have extra time in Nepal, we do organize trip extension activities to sightseeing tour in Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, rafting, canoeing and bungee jumping.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory for the EBC trek. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to us before your trekking departure. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation- including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes (up to 5,500m). We request all our valuable clients to send your insurance documents to once once you book the trek. In emergency, we will use your insurance and informational documents for a quick rescue operation. Your insurance must cover mountain rescue service at high altitudes (6000m).
Group and Private trek
We run both group and private treks. If you have your own group, you are eligible for discounts proportional to your group size. However, you will not get discounts for the groups we assemble. For groups of 12 people and more, we also add an assistant guide.
- 2 Pax group cost: US$ 1120
- 3 Pax group price: US$ 1100
- 4 – 6 Pax and above group price: US$ 1070
Nepal Visa and Passport
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold a valid passport of a minimum of 6 months validity remaining and valid visa. Visa can be obtained at the Nepalese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. Visa is also issued at the entry points. It can be extended at the Department of Immigration, Kathmandu. Children under 10 years need not pay any visa fee. People willing to get entry Visa at the Kathmandu-TIA airport or any of the land entry points are required to fill a visa form with passport photograph.
The following visa fee to be paid at the airport as per your stay in Nepal.
- Multiple Entry 15 Days: US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
- Multiple Entry 30 Days: US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
- Multiple Entry 90 Days: US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency
Responsible Travel, Tour and Trekking Operator
The beautiful environment of the Himalayas is also an extremely fragile one. We are extremely conscious about the environment and aim to minimize the detrimental impact on the environment as much as possible.
Cares for Porter and Guides
We make sure that all porters and guides are provided with adequate clothing and equipment. We also ensure that the porters and guides are insured. We run the trek according to the guidelines of the International Porter Protection group.
