Everest Classic trek

Everest Classic Trek

A spectacular 15 day trek (19 days in total including travel) that takes us from the foothills all the way up into the heart of the Himalaya at the foot of the highest mountains on earth. The time spent in the lower regions, below the main Everest trail, provides a window into the culture and lives of the legendary Sherpa people who are inseparable from the great stories of the Himalaya. The rich landscapes here will also provide a stunning prequel and counterpoint to the desolation of the upper mountain valleys.

This route follows the classic walk in of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, made during the historic 1953 expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. They started slightly lower in Jiri, but this head start from Phaplu is now possible due to changing infrastructure.

Trekkers stay in lodges or homes of the hospitable Sherpa people, while a rest day in Bupsa gives you the opportunity to observe the work of our charity - The Moving Mountains Trust in the area, before continuing the ascent north to Lukla, Namche Bazaar and beyond towards Base Camp

SUMMARY OF THE CLASSIC EVEREST ITINERARY

The trek begins in Paphlu, climbing steeply through forests, deep gorges with bridges and many villages until reaching Lukla, where the gradient of the path becomes less steep, however, still with lots of ups and downs until reaching Namche Bazaar.

Above Namche Bazaar, capital town of the Khumbu, the path enters the high Himalayan valleys with large fast flowing rivers and surrounded by very high peaks. The gradient is consistent and gradual, villages are further apart and it is colder and more exposed. The exposure to altitude makes the walking harder and the likelihood of altitude sickness higher, so it is necessary to allow rest days and walk very slowly.

Everest itself is at the head of the valley, a vast cul de sac with the Tibetan border on the other side of an impassable wall. The final days involve hiking along the edge of, and eventually on top of, the Khumbu Glacier, and it is noticeably colder at night. 

PHAPLU TO EVEREST TREK ROUTE MAP

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ALTITUDE PROFILE

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DESCRIPTION OF TERRAIN

The trek is on a well trodden path though this can be rocky and uneven in parts. It is not precipitous and there is no rock climbing or ‘mountaineering’ which requires equipment. It is a walk all the way, although some of the hills can be steep and never-ending and occasionally! You will find the lower section more up and down, which is great fitness training for when you're higher up. Higher up the days and distance covered are shorter due to gaining in altitude.

Poles are useful, depending on conditions and especially so if you have any problems with your knees. Higher up, the open slopes and moraine may give you added reassurance with a pole, but again the path is quite easy to follow.

Medium weight hiking boots with a high ankle are recommended for this trek, to protect you against possibly going over on an ankle and ensure that they're big enough to add warm socks when up high and don't forget that your feet will swell slightly at altitude. You can use heavier boots if you like, but they can be hot, heavy and cumbersome lower down, in which case also bring a pair of trek shoes or cross trainers for that section.

The terrain is never dangerous or precipitous, it is still just a walk, but requiring the usual care and caution. There is no climbing or special equipment required. However, we recommend you review our Nepal packing list to ensure you're properly prepared.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation on the trek will be in comfortable lodges run by local families, unless people specify a preference for tents. Each lodge has a central communal area with stove, while the bedrooms are unheated with two beds and mattresses, blanket and pillows. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (3 season is normally enough). The lodges generally have showers which are powered by gas and some use the infamous ‘drop’ toilets, though most now have flush systems now. You'll notice a difference between lodges below and above Lukla with those above being larger and more modern and below being more traditional and cosy.

Food on the trek is very good quality, and a mixture of local Nepali / Sherpa & Rai food and more so above Lukla 0 western recipes. Burgers and chips are a common meal, as is dal bhat with rice. You will find everything from fresh pastries to beer, stir fries to deep fried Mars bars available in the lodges and shops a Nepal price guide can be found here. And there are many shops selling all types of drinks and snacks, sweets and chocolate. The biggest challenge will be avoiding all the unhealthy foods and sticking to a simple diet of rice and dal!

PACKING LIST

The basic idea of the kit that you need to take is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move comfortably in the mountains and able to be comfortable in the evenings and at night.

You will be given a detailed kit list after booking, but the main points to cover are as follows:-

• BAGS - Rucksack or duffle bag for a porter to carry plus a day pack to be carried by you
• SHELL - Top and bottom waterproofs to keep off wind/rain
• LAYERS - Shirts, trousers, shorts, Tshirts, jumpers and jackets, hats and gloves
• BASELAYER - Thin layers to wick away any sweat and to wear for cold mornings
• FEET - Comfortable boots with a good sole and ankle support. Lighter footwear to change into in the evenings.
• SLEEPING - Warm sleeping bag (3 or 4 season) to get a good nights sleep at the lodges (they also have blankets)
• DRINKING - Water bottles should be hard plastic (Nalgene), not throwaway bottles.
• WASHING & MEDICAL - wash kit, towel, first aid kit
• SUN CARE - sunglasses, sunhat
• TREKKING - trekking poles, umbrella, dry bags
• PERSONAL ITEMS - cameras, books, music

We also hire lot's of equipment which can be seen in the 'Extras' tab. If you look at the 'More Information' section you will find in-depth details covering a Packing List for Nepal, Trekking Boots, Sleeping bags and Local prices. In Kathmandu has an area called Thamel which is full of hundreds of equipment shops, each one an emporium of new, used, quality and fake equipment all very reasonably priced for rental and buying. You can buy almost anything needed for any trek.

If you have any questions about what kit to bring then to please call or email us. Do consider this is a long trek though it is possible to wash items en route however drying them can at times be difficult, especially higher up, though there are rest days. You must be prepared for cold conditions when up high, hopefully that won't be the case, but best to prepare with good insulating layers and windproof outer shells. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE TO HIKE TO EVEREST BASE CAMP?

This is a slightly longer trek starting from lower down, so more time to acclimatise and get mountain fit. We do recommend that you embark on a good fitness programme at least 6 weeks prior to your trip though, and one that builds up general stamina and specific leg muscle groups. There is nothing like hiking with a rucksack to train, so the best advice is to get out into the hills as often as you can. You are likely to carry about 5 kilos in your day sack so this is a good weight to work with.

The trails are easy to follow and not precipitous, but they are rocky and can get slippery with mud after a rain shower. Take good footwear for the walk, but do some training on your calf and thigh muscles because they will certainly feel it on the long steep ascents and descents.

WHAT SUPPORT WILL I HAVE ON THE EVEREST TREK?

The porters will carry your main bag up to a maximum weight of 15 kgs and cater for all the group needs, including assisting you if you need to go back down the valley. You will meet your bag again at the lodge when you arrive at the stop for the day, so make sure you have everything you need with you in your day pack, like waterproofs, and umbrella, camera and so on.

We provide the trekking guide and porters throughout the trek, plus all the organisation of the holiday including rooms in the lodges and your evening meals which you can choose from a menu.

Do have a read of our various Blogs about treks in Nepal and also the 'More Information' section, both have tabs on this page and will answer every question you may have! We also have a lot of useful information on our Nepal Preparation page.