Today in this blog, we will share the stories of our guests who went trekking to Everest Base Camp with us. She will share her experiences and provide tips on how to choose a trekking company for Everest Base Camp, just like she did.
Let’s dive into Vanessaestol story, as she shares her experiences and journey with Third Eye Adventure in her own words:
I have always wanted to go to Nepal, especially trekking up the hills to see the highest peaks in the world. I felt encouraged to see so many individuals going to the Everest Base Camp and sharing beautiful photos of the trip on social networks as well. I was interested in the videos that demonstrated the themes of natural attraction.
Being my first trip to Nepal, I started with basic research on the trek to the Everest Base Camp. Thus, having read through the material I came to know about physical and mental readiness, the best time of the year, exciting moments, highlights, trails, difficulties in the treks, etc needed for this activity.
This is what encouraged me when I realized that young children and even their parents had done this trek at one point, or even without porters or guides at times. However, the recent rules call for the recruitment of a qualified guide, which was comforting concerning safety and assistance during the hike.
After I had done my search on the experience of the trek up to EBC, I found all my social media accounts were bombarded with ads and pages from different Trekking agencies.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
From Aspiration to Achievement: Becoming an Everest Explorer
Therefore, when preparing for my EBC trek, I opted for Third Eye Adventure based on research and recommendations. While searching for various treks over the internet, their website was quite appealing with the detailed itinerary and reputation.
This is what particularly caught my attention about them: they are very much client-oriented and they are also big on sustainability.
The owner of the Company, Ganesh, initially we communicated through WhatsApp and I was amazed by his quick response and clear knowledge of the trek.
He was very kind and persuasive during the planning and showed tremendous understanding of my needs and desires finally he changed the schedule in my favor.
He knew the place and most of all loved trekking, this gave me a confidence boost to trust him and go for the trek.
At the first glance of Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, I was formally greeted by the staff of Third Eye Adventure. Their initial regard of offering me a Dhaka topi and Khata made me comfortable and welcomed by Nepalese hospitality in the first place.
They effectively took me to the hotel they had booked for me, which showed great organization after a tiring travel time.
Thus, during our adventure to the Everest Base Camp, every process of the trip was effectively and efficiently planned. Everything starting from the flight to Lukla, to the daily trekking routes and the places to sleep and eat in tea houses en route, was beyond my expectations.
Deepak, whom we encountered as our guide, was incredibly familiar not only with the geographical context but also with the people’s attitudes and our necessities as well as cautious of potential risks. His stories and insights made the day special and enriched our trekking experience, which would not have been the same without him.
Another impressive thing that, such a journey as our autumn hike, could offer was to see the local festivities. To be surrounded by these vivid festivals and watch people dancing and joyous, following the tradition and rituals was an honor. It further enriched my cultural understanding of the Nepalese people and was really fun.
In addition to the geography of the trek, I liked Third Eye Adventure’s focus on providing support to communities via their foundation located in the DHADING DISTRICT. Ganesh also explained to me their activities regarding local education and health which I truly appreciated as I am a fan of responsible tourism.
Below is a step-by-step guide highlighting key considerations before choosing a trekking agency for the Everest Base Camp trek:
Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Trekking Company
Itinerary:
Before booking the Everest Base Camp trek make sure to check if it includes the places you want to visit if the departure dates fit your schedule, trekking routes, and if it allows enough time for acclimatization to the high altitude. These are crucial factors that should be considered before you finalize your decision.
If you read the EBC itinerary carefully then you will understand what you can expect during the EBC trek journey and what things you can see. First, understand your level of physical fitness and choose the acclimatization day because the more acclimatization days the more chances of getting success.
Acclimatization not only helps to prevent altitude sickness and health issues but also gives you enough time to explore the nearby palace. This will help to make your trek more memorable and enjoyable.
What’s Included and excluded in the trekking package:
The things that are included and excluded in the trekking package vary between trekking agencies. Read all the included and excluded and compare the trekking agencies’ packages. Know what is your starting point of the trek and do you need to book a domestic flight for the trip or you can use road transportation?
Also, check what you can expect regarding accommodation and food, and whether your trekking agency provides licensed guides and porters. Make a list of the things that you need to pay exactly by yourself so that you can manage the budget for the Everest base camp trek.
Hiring Licensed Guide and Porter:
The first thing you should research is the latest trekking rules in Nepal. Stay informed about these rules by checking the website of the Nepal Tourism Board. Hiring a Licensed guide is compulsory for trekking in Nepal as trekking solo is banned after April 1, 2023.
Generally, the Guide and the porter are provided by the trekking agency you choose. When they provide the Guide having a pre-meeting before starting your Everest base camp trek will be a smart move.
Why because you can know by having a conversation how well he can speak English and how much trekking experience he has. You can ask him if is he from the local area and if not how much local knowledge he has.
Furthermore, don’t forget to ask if your guide has local contacts to call upon in case of issues. Are they insured, and are all their expenses covered? What training have they received?
Customer Service:
Another great way to know about the trekking company is by reading the reviews. Read the reviews about the company and how they handle situations, and consider the experiences shared by other travelers.
This can provide valuable insights into the company’s reliability and customer service. Understanding how they address issues can help you make an informed decision before booking your trip. It is important to know whether you are in safe hands while traveling in Nepal.
Support:
The standard and the reputation of the company can be judged by how supportive they are. While searching the reputed trekking agencies in Nepal, ask the trekking agencies do they only take care of logistics, or do they go further by helping you choose gear, providing training plans, and more. It’s also important to know if they are available to answer your questions and support you throughout your trip.
Refund policy:
No trekkers want to cancel the trek after you book. But you will know when the unexpected situation might come so that you are forced to cancel the trek. So before you book the Everest base camp trek or any other treks read carefully about the refund policy.
Check whether the company will fully refund you if you can’t make it on your planned dates. Can you change the trip date or not?
Local expert:
The journey for the Everest base camp trek is not only about reaching the summit and watching beautiful landscapes. Immersing yourself in the local culture and traditions takes the trekking journey in a whole new perspective.
Transparent Pricing:
Another important thing that trekkers need to keep in mind is whether there is any hidden cost or not. Transparent means all the costs of the Everest base camp trekking package should be mentioned. You need to know how what you are paying so that it will help to create a bond between the trekking agency and the client.
Sustainable tourism:
The beauty of nature should be preserved for the coming generations also. Trekkers and trekking agencies play a great role to preserve and protect the environment. Practice sustainable tourism and follow the Leave No Trace policy.
Empowering Local Communities Through Trekking:
In the context of Nepal, most of the trek is tea house to tea house trek and tea house is mainly run by the local families. Also, you can find many local shops along the trekking routes for the convenience of the trekkers.
Trekking in the remote and mountain areas helps to uplift the economic development of that place which is far from the city area.
During the trek you can, you can Provide aid and charity work to underprivileged villages. For example, you can buy books, copies, clothes, and stationery items. You can also contribute to needy students and participate in charity work.
Buying local handmade items helps in women’s empowerment. Even you can participate in agricultural work with the farmer in the field. By doing this, you can bring a smile to their faces and find inner peace for yourself as well.
Take a journey through trekking agencies that support local communities. Investigate whether their focus is solely on business or if they genuinely contribute to the community.
After Booking Your Trip: Next Steps to Prepare For Everest Base Camp(EBC) Trek
Once you’ve selected your company and confirmed your booking, the next steps involve organizing a few essential details before your departure.
Passport:
The validity of your passport must be six months from the date you enter Nepal. Also, check the condition of your passport as you will need it for flight booking and to get the visa.
Flights:
Confirming the flight ticket might be a challenging part of the journey if you’re traveling for the first time in Nepal. But don’t worry I will help you to make it easy for you. If you have a long-distance flight you need to make a transit because there may not be a direct flight to Nepal.
If you are a budget-friendly traveler then you can search online for cheap flights which will connect you to Nepal. But while doing so keep in mind that luggage allowance will meet your needs.
Always choose the connecting flight so that you don’t have to worry about finding the luggage, getting visa approval, and flight delays for the second flight.
If you have to transit flight then you can choose either from Qatar Airlines or from Emirates. They are renowned for their service worldwide. Even though this flight are little expensive you will get the best experience for the trip without having to worry about much.
Moreover, booking two separate flights may require you to obtain a visa for the country you are transiting through. If you must leave the airside area of the airport and pass through passport control, you will likely need to obtain a visa.
If you can’t get the visa then it will cost you time and money so prepare wisely. Please remember that your travel insurance does not cover visa-related costs, so you will need to manage this independently while traveling.
Tourist Visa:
The best part of trekking to Nepal is you can easily get a visa on arrival. After you submit your documents and passport which are valid then you can get a visa stamp on your passport from the immigration office in a short time.
While getting the visa make sure to choose the correct date so that you will not have a problem later.
Travel Insurance:
Most of the reputed trekking agencies will ask you for travel insurance before you actually begin your trek. It is for your safety and personally, I suggest you purchase travel insurance before you leave your home country.
This is because foreigners will not be able to purchase travel insurance inside Nepal. While you are getting the travel insurance make sure it covers things like I have mentioned below;
- Lost or stolen luggage
- Altitude sickness
- Cancellation insurance
- Accidents
- Disease
- Emergency evacuation
- General problems
- Immediate medical response
- Medical expenses
- Rental insurance
- Repatriation insurance
- Adventure sports
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Helicopter rescue
- Medical reasons
- Repatriation
- Travel protection
Vaccinations:
Since each trip is different, you can ask trekking agencies about the major risks and the type of environment you will encounter. After that, you can talk with your travel clinic and get the vaccinations.
Medication:
Another important step to follow is to undergo a full-body health checkup to determine if you have any serious health issues. If you are currently taking medication, consult with your doctor about your travel plans and obtain any necessary medications.
Airport Transfers:
For me, I had booked with the Thirdeyeadventure so they handle all the ground transportation for me. So I don’t have to worry about someone picking me up from the airport or getting to the airport for departure.
If trekking agencies have not included the transport transfer then don’t worry you can easily get the taxi outside the airport. But make sure to change your currency to Nepalese currency inside the airport. Nepal restricts or tightly controls the availability of its currency (Nepalese Rupee) outside of its borders.
Therefore, you cannot easily obtain Nepalese currency (cash) from foreign currency exchanges or banks before you physically arrive in Nepal.
Communication:
In today’s highly connected world, communication plays a crucial for everyone. It helps you to connect to your close ones when you are far from them. During the trek for the Everest base camp, you will spend your night in the local tea house. They provide you connection for the wifi at a little extra cost. While during the trek you can use the local sim for the mobile internet connection. For this, you can purchase the local sim which you can easily buy in the Tribhuvan International Airport at around 1$. If you forget to buy it at the airport don’t worry there are so many shops in the streets of Thamel where you can purchase it.
Buying the sim at the airport will be the best idea. You know why it is coz you can inform the trekking agency that you have arrived. Further, in case of any assistance you need, they will help you to manage.
Local sims are a great way to get yourself connected all the time and it is budget-friendly also. You don’t have to pay every time you stay in a different tea house. During the trekking routes with the help of mobile internet, you can connect with your close ones and show the beauty of Nepal. If you are a blogger, content creator, or simply want to share your daily activities on social media, I suggest getting a local SIM card and purchasing a data pack.
You can get a wifi connection in the city area restaurants, cafe bars, and hotel for free but when you reach the trekking area they will charge you. Also, the connection may not reach everywhere due to high altitude.
Packing:
When it comes to packing it is not as easy as you think. It took me two days to finish my packing. I buy new trekking clothes, trekking shoes, and trekking poles for the trek. While packing the things make sure that you pack all the things without making an overpack. After you finish make sure to check your luggage weight so that it will not be more than what airlines have offered. Be prepared for all the weather conditions.
Choose the best time:
When I went on the Everest Base Camp trek in the Everest region, it was autumn. Before booking the trek, I was curious about the best season to enjoy the trip comfortably and conveniently. I found that the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp is during the spring and autumn seasons.
I remember that during the peak season, many Nepalese travelers were returning to their country to enjoy their festival, which was Dashain. They were super excited to meet their family and relatives. The entire airport was busy, and even during this time, domestic flights were packed.
During the peak season, there are no direct flights to Lukla. Instead, you need to first reach Manthali Airport and then take a flight to Lukla. For me, Third Eye Adventure managed transportation to reach Ramechhap and booked a nice hotel near the airport. It took me 4.5 hours to reach Ramechhap by private jeep. The ride was comfortable, and I loved seeing the scenery of villages, rivers, terraced farms, and lush hills along the way.
The next day, I took a scenic flight to Lukla, which lasted about 25 minutes. After collecting my luggage and checking out, my trekking guide, Deepak Neupane, along with his assistants including a porter, was there to receive me.
Then, with them, we went to a nice restaurant for lunch. After that, my trekking journey started. I enjoyed the trek a lot, thanks to the whole team who made my trek memorable. The best part of the trek was making new friends, and I promise to come back here again for my next trekking destination.
I greatly appreciate the efforts of the entire team, especially Ganesh Neupane, the Managing Director of Third Eye Adventure. Ganesh is a down-to-earth person who skillfully managed the entire trek.
I returned home not only with incredible memories but also with a renewed sense of appreciation for the natural beauty and hospitality of Nepal. I’m very happy about their service and I recommend you guys to go through these trekking agencies if you are planning to trek in Nepal. Stay safe and keep travelling.
Final Say
Her experience with Third Eye Adventure is all about adventure, learning about different cultures, and being mindful of how we travel. It shows that trekking isn’t just about walking; it can have a meaningful impact. If you’re inspired by her journey and want to trek with us, feel free to reach out and connect. We’d love to be your trekking partner.
