As we sat around our lunch table at Namche Baazar on day 11 of our Everest Base Camp Trek, I asked my fellow trekkers in the group what their top tips were for the trek. This post includes everything they mentioned along with some of my own recommendations based on observations and experiences along the way.
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Keep Buffer Days
Flights to and from Lukla are extremely weather dependent. Even the slightest cloudy conditions can cause delays or cancellations. Highly recommend that you keep buffer days on either side of your trek.
Drink At Least 4 Liters of Liquids
This is a very important tip for the Everest Base Camp Trek! We were encouraged to drink at least 4 liters of water but were told that all liquids (i.e., ginger tea, soups) count. I struggled a bit to drink 4 liters so I supplemented my liquid intake with a liquid multiplier. Drinking water/liquids is a huge part of acclimatizing so definitely don’t skip out on it.
Rewards Yourself
Go slow and reward yourself with a sweet treat. For our group it was skittles. Got to the top of an incline? We popped some skittles to reward ourselves.
Take a Fiber Supplement
I had read this before I left but completely forgot to pack one. High altitude and changes to your diet can cause changes to your gut. A fiber supplement will help!
Cut Your Nails Short
The dust on the trail is unreal. Every morning, I would clean my nails and they would be gross my evening. Cutting your nails very short prevents dust from getting under them and helps you to stay clean.
Try Your Shoes and Backpack at Home
This is a no brainer but I waited until the last moment to test my backpack and had to scramble to get a new one just before I left as I didn’t like how the initial one I bought felt once I packed up all the things I wanted to take in it.
Pack a Bathroom Kit for the Night
I had a roll of toilet paper, wipes, hand sanitizer in a zip lock bag and kept it on the night stand along with a head lamp. This way, if I needed to go to the bathroom at night, I had everything I needed close by and didn’t have to scramble in the dark to look for things.
Invest in a Sleeping Bag Liner
In addition to a good sleeping bag at the correct tog rating for the month you are trekking, you should also invest in a good sleeping bag liner. I was never cold at night thanks to my sleeping bag liner.
Put Your Electronics Inside Your Sleeping Bag Overnight
Cold weather can drain batteries of your electronics fast. I slept with my phone and external battery chargers inside my sleeping bag liner.
Keep Your Clothes for the Next Day Inside Your Sleeping Bag
I kept the clothes I would wear for the next day inside and at the bottom of my sleeping bag. I didn’t do this at first and ended up wearing freezing cold clothes in the morning. Putting my clothes inside the sleeping bag at night ensured they were nice and warm when I wore them in the morning.
Shower as Soon as You Get to the Teahouse
You will usually get to your teahouse late afternoon or early evening while the sun is still out. Your room will get colder as soon as the sunsets, so don’t wait to shower or do a wipe down. Do it as soon as you get to your teahouse.
Invest in Merino Wool Clothing
Merino wool clothing is an investment but one that is so worth it! Merino wool will keep you dry and warm. In addition, you can wear the same clothes for multiple days without it ever smelling bad. I highly recommend buying Merino wool base layers and socks. This is one of my top tips for the Everest Base Camp Trek.
See my complete Everest Base Camp Packing List HERE. In this post, I cover;
- What to pack
- What I packed but never/hardly used
- What I wore at different elevations
- Packing tips
Don’t Have High Expectations of Accommodation and Food
Accommodation and food along the trek is very basic. I have a huge phobia of public bathrooms and knew the ones in our teahouses and along the trail would be a big mental challenge for me. So, I set my expectations very low. While not the best conditions, I survived them a lot better than I thought I would. It’s a similar mentality for food as well. If you are not a vegetarian, eating 12×3 meals with no meat may be challenging but work on this mentally, before you start trekking. Even if you are a vegetarian, the food options will be very different to what you may be used to at home. Not setting too high expectations is the way to go.
See my post on accommodation and food HERE.
Cover Your Nose and Mouth
This is a very important tip for the Everest Base Camp Trek and one I wished I followed more closely. Wear a buff and cover your nose and mouth with it. While I had a buff, I didn’t use it to cover my nose and mouth regularly. Covering your nose and mouth with a buff will keep the dust away and trap in the moisture, therefore preventing the dreadful Khumbu cough.
Buy Snacks Early On
Snacks get significantly higher as you climb up. I paid Rs.850 for a can of pringles at around 4500 meters! The same can was Rs.350 lower down. Stock up on snacks for the trek at lower elevations.
Bring Entertainment
Whether it is a book or a pack of cards (regular or UNO), having something to do at the teahouses in the evenings is important. Playing a game of UNO is a great way to spend time with your group and keep morale high.
Change More Money
You will probably need more money than you think you do. Change more money or pull more money from the ATM. Prices (food, wifi, charging etc) almost double at the highest elevation. You can always exchange it back if you don’t use it. You may loose a bit but it is better than not having money on the trek. The last place you can get money is Nache Baazar. However, ATMs are known not to work all the time. Hard cash is best as there are money exchangers.
Bring More Wipes and Toilet Paper
You probably may need more wipes and toilet paper than you think you do. See HERE under “sanitation” for the quantities of wipes and toilet paper I took with me.
Wear Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses will help cut the glare and direct sunlight that is especially common as you climb up.
Be Strategic About Wi-Fi
Internet usually can be bought for 24 hours. You maybe able to use your wi-fi for 2 nights, depending on what time you purchase your wi-fi at the teahouse the first night. For example, on the first night, wait until around 7 pm to purchase wi-fi. This way, you have wi-fi for a couple of hours the second night as well. As you climb higher, some places use Nepal Link and some use Everest Link. You can only do what I suggested if the place you are staying the next day also uses the same system. Ask your guide before you purchase your wi-fi card.
Bring Slippers for the Shower
Bring a pair of rubber slip on type sandal for the shower. The floors of the shower stalls can be a little gross.
Have At Lease One Nalgene Water Bottle
Two is ideal but bring at least one Nalgene water bottle to double as a hot water bottle at night. We filled our bottles with boiling water and put it inside our sleeping bag at night to keep warm. This was a favorite tip for the Everest Base Camp Trek from my group!
Bring a Good Battery Pack
A few of us had solar batter packs and they turned out to be useless as they did not recharge in the sun. Bring at least two high power external battery packs. These should be enough to charge your phone for at least 4-5 days.
Charge Electronics Lower
Save your external battery packs for higher up when prices of charging go up significantly. Charge your phone and other electronics at the teahouse at lower elevations when it is relatively cheaper.
Bring a Comprehensive Medical Kit
This is another very important tip for the Everest Base Camp Trek and I cannot stress this enough! There are no doctor’s offices or hospitals as you climb. Having a good medical kit with a wide variety of medication for various illnesses is extremely important. I cover what I took in my packing list post linked above.
Lean on Fellow Trekkers
Lean on fellow trekkers in your group for encouragement. The Everest Base Camp Trek is not a walk in the park and your fellow trekkers can encourage and motivate you.
See all my posts on Everest Base Camp HERE!
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