Not Enough Time, Money, or Stamina to Summit Mount Everest Trek to Base Camp

Whether you are a single dad or a family with a spouse and little’s chances are you have dreamed of getting away from it all. Perhaps even far from it all, atop the world’s highest mountain. At 8,848 meters might just be enough space to regain your sanity. But let’s face it, not everyone can summit or even attempt to summit this renowned mountain. And not everyone wants to leave their loved ones behind for months.

Everest Base Camp Experience

Most folks chose to trek, not mountaineer, for a variety of good reasons. The Everest Base Camp Hike is where you can see Mt Everest close up and satisfy your wanderlust. The wonderful about Everest Base Camp in Nepal is you can take the family. As long as your children are, say, over 10 years of age, they will enjoy the adventure. Many examples of children trekking to Everest Base Camp (EBC).

The choice is yours whether you go with friends, your spouse or your children. Your personal experience might differ depending on your trekking companions, but the trail and the mountains remain the same.

How to Get There

There are plenty of flights going into Nepal, so getting there is pretty straightforward. Either book through a trekking agent before you leave home or go old school and do so when you reach Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Remember to read the reviews before selecting your trekking company. Remember that the cheapest isn’t always the best – read the small print of what is included and not included in your package.

What should be included in the flight to Lukla in the Everest Region is your accommodation, meals, guide, and a porter? Hiring one is recommended if a porter is omitted, especially if going with children. The more helpers, the better. Since Nepalese love children and are a very friendly nation, your children will be in good hands. Even traveling alone, having someone to carry your luggage is a definite plus.

What Happens on the Trail?

Your trek may include a sightseeing trip around Kathmandu on arrival to give you time to recover from your flight. You should be able to meet your guide in Kathmandu also before leaving for the trek. Then it’s off to Lukla to meet your team, consisting of porter(s) and other staff as necessary. As soon as you land at Lukla, you set off on the first day of trekking. It’s a short day, but since you will have been up early in the morning and are now at an altitude of almost 3,000 meters, you need to acclimatize.

As far as acclimatization is concerned, you will also have another day to do this once you reach Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is the main market town for this Sherpa region, now with plenty of accommodation ranging from luxurious to basic. Again, please check with your agency and adjust to your needs. Remember that most overnight stops on the trail will be in rather basic teahouses. Perhaps spending the night on your return journey in more comfortable surroundings would be refreshing.

Acclimatization gives your body time to get used to the high altitude – now at 3,440m- and allows you to explore the surrounding area, meet the local Sherpa and get to know your trekking group. It’s also a fun time for children and a learning experience. Perhaps visit the school set up by Sir Edmund Hillary for the Sherpa children? It’s a good idea, if traveling with children, to have done a little history research before leaving home, so they know the value of what they are going to experience.

Since the Sherpa are Buddhists, there are plenty of Buddhist shrines, prayer flags, and monasteries to see along the way. The most interesting is perhaps Tengboche Monastery, with its amazing 360-degree panorama of mountains. Having tea and attending a puja (religious service) with the monks (when possible) is something everyone will love. If traveling with children, don’t worry, Buddhist culture is quite relaxed, and children are always welcome.

Close-ups of Mount Everest

Everest Base Camp is iconic as it is the base of this majestic mountain and where climbing expeditions set off from. To stand there is quite an achievement. But the better views of Everest are gotten atop a high ridge known as Kalapattar. While EBC is too close to the mountain to get good views, Kalapattar provides outstanding views of Everest and its surrounding mountains. Known amongst trekkers as ‘Everest viewpoint,’ you will discover how it got its name.

Time, Money, and Stamina

It takes around 12 to 14 days to do the EBC Trek and costs around USD1,500 to USD2,000. It is doable for most people who are good general fitness. No need to be a gym junky or marathon runner to complete this trek. The key is to go slow and steady. It is a tough trek, and some preparation would be a good idea.

Overall, it is the best way for the majority to see Mount Everest up close.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.