A truly amazing experience arriving at Everest Base Camp - I have just arrived back from a truly amazing experience, one for the bucket list crossed off. Firstly, I would like to thank the Nepal Hiking Team and in particular... read more our guide Basu Dev Sapkota. He made the trip possible by being supportive, having great emotional intelligence to understand the groups needs and wants and ensuring we were looked after at all times along the way. Basu and his team were with us all the way from picking us up at the airport to spending the days and evenings with us when we were tired and needed feeding :). If you use the Nepal Hiking team you will be well looked after. some keys bits of info, your kit bag shouldn't way more than 15 kilos including the sleeping bag that they can provide. Less if possible, they say 10 kilos as the sherpa's need to take them up on their backs! the food is plentiful along the way and you can buy bottled water at every interval during the trip. The cost of litre bottle ranging from £1 to £3 as you get higher. I went in November but luckily it was warm during the day but be aware it gets freezing of a night. Key items that I took, a pair of warm slippers for the night and evening, some tracky bottoms to get out of your walking trousers, a small torch, I used this more than a head torch. Altitude tablets is a must, i purchased online, they are called Acetazolamide (Diamox). Don't stress about taking them, the guide will inform you when and how to take them based on progress. I used 3 T-shirts, underwear, 1 pair for every 2 days (no comments please). Liner socks helps your main socks remain clean, main socks 3 pairs enough. Water bladder in the ruck sack made drinking so much easier, and maybe tablets to give the water a better taste, i,e. cycling tabs. Sun cream for your face, good sun glasses but you don't need to spend a fortune. a good jacket, you can buy from Kathmandu very cheap and probably okay but they are generally fake. Walking Poles for me were a absolute must!! As you get higher the rooms wont have heating or electricity so i had 2 battery packs, and a tablet to watch some films in the room. Make sure you have a good set of thermals to sleep in and gloves, a light pair for the nights and thicker for higher altitudes. You can buy chocolate along the way, i did take out some cereal bars but to be be honest i didn't eat many because your appetite slows as you get higher. I took two fleece's, one for walking in (waffle fleece) and a thicker one to wear when relaxing in the evenings, i didn't use a flask, i used 2-3 wick away T-shirts under my T-shirts. A good pair for walking boots is a must, but you need to make sure they are worn in, I had Scarpa's and they were brilliant. I wore a baseball cap during the day and a woolly hat for the evenings. so....a key question of fitness...It says a good level...its hard to judge fitness, everyone is different...in our group we had three in their twenties, they found it tough but had natural fitness and managed well...I'm in my 50'S and would say I have a good level of fitness. I found it really challenging, mainly the climbs, but still did it, Basu managed the pace and made sure it was a slow pace to conserve energy. My advise is to ensure you have the ability to climb steep hills (Brecon Beacons, Wales as an example) for 3 days in a row to help you. If you can do that you will be fine. Don't worry about the altitude, you hear a lot of stories, in fact , no one knows if you will get symptoms, but out of 6 of us only one had some form of sickness and he was the only one that didn't take Diamox. Make sure you have insurance that covers high altitude helicopter rescue, mine was about £350. I took £700 spending money and changed it into Nepalese Rupees out there. £600 is probably enough as i bought some souvenirs. Lastly a big thank you to Basu and his team, they were brilliant and he even carried my bag when i got tired!!!! thanks Basu!!!!! Basu knew when to help, when to slow down the pace and when to encourage you. This trip is a must as long as you prepare, I'm so pleased I've completed it as the views and incredible, the group was amazing and Nepal Hiking team on point!!! thanks to all i had the time of my life!!!!
