Everest Base Camp Kalapattar Trek

Dec 16, 2021   |   By Raj Kumar Basnet

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek lies in the northeast part of Nepal, which reaches an altitude of 5,550m above sea level.

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek is famous among those who want the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the peak of Everest from the famed Kala Patthar viewpoint. It is more a hike than a trek as it situates only 300 m above the Everest Base Camp.

This trek is popular and gives a unique experience for the trekkers. This trek takes you through Sherpa villages with its cultural settlements and traditional lifestyle of Sherpa people. It also takes you through the Buddhist Monasteries. This Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek lets you experience the beauty of Mount Everest and many other snow-capped peaks.

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek spans from 14 days to 20 days. It is excellent for both well-experienced trekkers and those who are new to trekking. Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek trail is in the midst of the Sagarmatha National park, which provides an excellent view of nature. Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Overview of Everest Kalapattar Trek

  • Name: Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek
  • Region: Everest Region Trekking
  • Trip duration: 14-20 days
  • Trip type: Tea house Trek
  • Best Season to visit: Autumn and Spring
  • Trip Difficulty: Moderate
  • Trip Start: Kathmandu
  • Trip End: kathmandu
  • Max Altitude: 5,550m

Best Time for the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek

Trekking in Nepal is and has always been dependent on the season and the weather it presents. Each season brings along different Weather, and those weather conditions can directly affect the trek. Such as the autumn and spring have always been favorable seasons to go trekking in Nepal. The sky clears, and the temperature starts to get warmer. The trail also becomes safer for traveling.

Summer and winter, however, are opposite of this as it gets colder and darker. The clouds block the sky, which gives muddy visibility and the trails become especially tricky to trek on.

Everest base camp Kalapattar Trek in Autumn Season: The Autumn season is the best time in Nepal for trekking. As such, the autumn season is generally popular for the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek. It falls in September, October, and November. And it becomes crowded with adventurers and trekkers.

Moderate temperature and relatively low chances of rainfall make it an ideal season for trekking. The sky clears, and the temperature gets warm. And the ending Monsoon rain of the summer season washes the trekking region making it lush and green.

Everest Base camp Kalapattar Trek in Summer Season: The arrival of the summer season brings the clouds of Monsoon rain. It falls in June, July, and August. Because of the Monsoon rain, this summer season is the off-peak season for tourists and adventurers alike.

The constant rain which falls every day is enough to make the trail path muddy and slippery, which causes the infestation of leeches and mosquitoes. This causes the trail to become incredibly tricky to pass through. The cloud of the Monsoon season also can occasionally block the view of the mountain.

Everest Base camp Kalapattar Trek in Spring Season: The month of March, April, and May indicate the arrival of the spring season. It is also one of the popular seasons among tourists for trekking purposes in Nepal. The weather warmer gets warmer and calmer with the arrival of the spring season. The vegetation in the Sagarmatha National Park also becomes lush and green.

This gives a great view of rhododendrons and other flowers in the lower region of the trek. The spring season brings about of Everest expedition rush. The season is popular for mountaineers, and you will get an opportunity to meet people, who are attempting to brave Mount Everest.

Everest Base camp Kalapattar Trek in Winter Season: The arrival of the winter season welcomes the month of December, January, and February, which are the coldest in Nepal. The days will get shorter, and the snow gets deeper with each passing day. Because of this, routes that involve crossing big passes like the three passes trek are usually impenetrable.

The cold weather brings along cold temperatures with freezing winds. Because of this, the snowfall becomes heavier, which results in fewer people treading on these trails. But this makes it great for those who want to trek and experience the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek in solitude.

Namche Bazaar on Everest Kalapattar Trek

The difficulty of Everest Kalapathar Trek

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek is one of the popular and challenging treks in Nepal. As with the danger in trekking through the rigorous area, there is also a danger in the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek. Even though it has its danger, the trek is worth the dedication and the challenges that you have to face. And with proper guide and self-research, you can overcome these difficulties and have the experience of your lifetime.

Everest Kalapathar Trek Map

High Altitude

The first difficulty that comes to everyone's mind when asked about the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek is "altitude." The Everest base camp Kala Patthar trek starts from Lukla at 2,860 meters above sea level. It reaches a height of 5,550m.

The high altitude tends to cause Altitude Sickness among the trekkers. Altitude sickness is dangerous as it can cause severe health problems. The Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek or the 16 days Everest Base Camp trek is essential to counter this problem. The Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek has 2-3 days of rest and acclimatization. But even then the threat of altitude sickness is ever so present.

Everest Kalapathar Altitude Chart

Insufficient Training

Any type of trekking requires a huge amount of strength and stamina. If you ask any trekkers with experience, they’ll tell you that physical fitness is an important part of trekking. So proper training is advisable to overcome this physically demanding challenge. With proper training months before the trek, you can achieve the physical fitness necessary to overcome this hurdle.

Training 6-8 weeks before the trip is a very good idea. This early training can condition your body to be more resistant to physical exhaustion. Exercises which increase your physical endurance are essential. As such jogging, running, cycling, and swimming are highly recommendable.

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek is not only a physical but also a mentally tough challenge. Having a strong mentality is important before you start the trek. Envisioning your success can help you in achieving that success.

Improper diet and Food Poisoning

Proper food and hydration are essential for the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek. The food you eat and drink serves as fuel for your body to undertake this difficult journey. Without a proper diet plan with good hydration, you can have serious health complications. These can abruptly stop your trek and hamper your journey. As such consuming a healthy diet is essential for the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek.

Hydration also serves as another important part of the prevention of Altitude Sickness. Little hydration means the body would be prone to health complications. A simple solution for this issue is to drink an ample amount of water or eat a soup-based diet.

Distance on Everest Base camp Kalapattar Trek

Not many people realize the vast distance you have to walk during the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek. The total distance that you have to cover is 130 km as you have to cover 65 km up and down from Lukla to the Everest Base Camp. And Kalapathar hill is about 300 meters above the Everest Base Camp. Underestimating this trekking distance would be foolish.

The trails you walk through can change according to the season at hand. The summer and winter seasons are especially difficult. During these seasons you have to walk about 7-8 hours a day in slippery or snowy trails. This can be dangerous as the chance of landslides is high in these seasons.

The trails get easier during the autumn and spring but it is still a challenging trek. As such managing the trek by extending it is also a simple solution to deal with this. Rest and acclimatization are also important parts to overcome the difficulty.

Cost of Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek

The cost for the Everest Base camp trek ranges from USD 1000 to $3000 per tourist. It excludes travel insurance, visa fees, trekking equipment, and other personal expenses. The trip can span from 14 days to 20 days.

Porter and Guides

As with most types of trekking Porters and guides are important. If you are solo-trekking or do not feel the need for porters or guides then the cost of them can be reduced. But this is only advisable for the trekkers with more experience and who know the trails.

For novice trekkers, it is important to bring along a Porter or a guide for the trek. These guides and porters can make your trip easier and keep you safe from the danger of being lost. It is also important to hire only trusted and trained Guides as these people can guarantee a safe journey.

Accommodation

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek can be quite expensive, especially in remote areas. Transportation in remote and high-altitude regions is very basic. Porters or pack animals are in use for transporting goods across these regions.

As such, prices can increase for food, drinks, and lodging accordingly. These only get more expensive as you elevate towards a higher altitude. Good food and rest are important while trekking through the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek. As such it is important to allocate a set amount of budget for foods and lodging.

Accommodation in Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek also depends on the season. In the popular season of spring and autumn, it is difficult to get rooms to rest in. Booking is important during these seasons to have a good experience.

Solo Trekking

While trekking is usually a group activity for many people, you can also trek alone or independently. While this can be a bit difficult, it does help to reduce the cost of the trip drastically. Solo trekking usually costs about USD 900-$1300 per person.

There are many dangers in trekking through these treacherous trails alone. So, this is only advisable for those with a lot of experience in trekking and the trails of Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek.

It is highly dangerous so those without experience may have life-threatening events or simply get lost in the trails of the Everest Base Camp.

Gear for Everest Base Camp Kalapathar Trek

Packing essential gears for the Everest Base camp Kalapathar Trek is an important and daunting task. The gears and the clothing you pack are highly dependent on the season. The spring and autumn are warmer while summer is rainy and winter is the coldest in Nepal. It is also important to remember the weight restriction before packing for the trek.

Head

  • Sun hat or scarf
  • Warm fleece hat
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • Lower Body
  • Breathable Under Garments
  • Hiking shorts
  • Lightweight cotton long pants
  • Light weight thermal bottoms
  • Fleece or wool pants (seasonal)
  • Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell pants

Feet

  • Thin and lightweight inner socks
  • Thick and warm wool hiking socks
  • Hiking boots with spare laces
  • Sneakers or Sandals
  • Gaiters

Upper Body

  • T-shirts
  • Light weight thermal tops
  • Fleece jacket or pullover
  • Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
  • Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
  • Down vest and/or jacket

Hands

  • Lightweight gloves
  • Heavyweight gloves (waterproof)
  • Accessories
  • Sleeping bag
  • Headlamp
  • Duffel bag
  • First Aid Kit
  • Day pack
  • Trekking Poles
  • Water bottle

Toiletries

  • Towel
  • Toothbrush/paste
  • Multipurpose soap
  • Deodorants
  • Nail clippers
  • Face and body moisturizer
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Small mirror
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Wet wipes (baby wipes)
  • Tissue /toilet roll
  • Anti-bacterial hand wash

Extras/Luxuries

  • Binoculars
  • Novels
  • Trail Map/Guide book
  • Journal & Pen
  • Pencils and small notebooks

Other trekking options in the Everest region

There are many other options in the region, apart from the Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek, provided by Escape Nepal Holidays. We have also specially designed many trekking packages. It meets the requirements and interests of all kinds of trekkers include:

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour: Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour begins from Kathmandu airport. It flies east from Kathmandu towards the beautiful Sherpa village and the gateway to the Everest region, Lukla. After fueling in Lukla, the flight starts flying towards Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar. The Everest flight tour goes over the Tengboche, Dingboche, Gorakshep, and Khumbu glacier to reach the Base camp of Mount Everest. The EBC Helicopter Tour is best for those who do not have time to trek EBC.

Everest Base Camp Chola Pass Trek: The Everest Cho La pass trek goes to the viewpoint of Kalapathar. Following the tough Climb through Cho La, which finally takes you to the cobalt-blue lakes at Gokyo. Following the classical route, you drop down to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu leaving behind your footprints in the shadows of Everest. EBC Cho La pass trekking combines the highlights of the Everest region into one spectacular and adventurous journey

Jiri - Everest Base Camp Trek: The Trek from Jiri to Everest Base Camp starts after a long drive from Kathmandu to Jiri. The trek to EBC continues through Kharikhola, Bupsa dada, Surke, Phakding. We will have a day for the acclimatization in Namche, and you follow the original trail of the Everest base camp. After going through Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorekshep, we finally reach Everest Base camp. After climbing the Kalapathar, we retrace back to Lukla and take a short flight to Kathmandu.

Important Notes

Visa and Passport: All foreign nationals must require Visa to enter Nepal. You can get your Visa in the Nepalese embassy abroad or on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport. You can also get your Visa at the borders of Nepal. Please insert the correct information in your Visa from your Passport.b For more information, please visit: http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa

Flight Delays and Weight Restriction: The flight in Nepal from Kathmandu to Lukla are usually on time. But sometimes due to unpredictable weather, it can be delayed for a set amount of time.

Also, it is important to remember the weight restriction while packing for the trek. Only carry important gear and clothes as you are only allowed a certain weight limit for your luggage.

Travel Insurance: Trekkers are advisable to have travel insurance before undertaking such treks. This travel insurance can help you with your emergency medical expenses. It also covers the loss of your items/luggage, personal liabilities, and cancellation.

Extra Expenses

It is always a good idea to carry some money for some extra expenses. This can include showering, recharging batteries, bottled/boiled water, tipping, and recreational expenses, etc.

Conclusion

Everest Base Camp Kalapathar trek is the most popular trek in Everest Region. However, there are many other treks such as Everest Panorama Trek, Gokyo & Ren Jo-La Pass Trek, and Everest High Pass Trek. So, let us know if you need a customized itinerary to trek in the region.