EVEREST BASECAMP TREK

Our big trips are provided by expedition experts who support our mission to help women gain confidence and have incredible experiences through adventure. This trip is provided for us by Adventurous Ewe who have years upon years of guiding experience in Nepal and work with well reputed guides to confidently lead groups to basecamp.

Yes! You will summit with your Adventuress fam. For this trip we have secured a highly experienced local female guide. Additional guides and porters may be male. Your friendly team will have extensive experience of working with female groups and share our groups ethos of respect and acceptance for all. 

95% of our trips are made up of solo Adventuresses from all over the UK. Everybody admits to feeling nervous during their first adventure, but by the end of your trip you’ll feel like you’ve made friends for life. Bonds are formed very quickly on our adventures, and every trip is introvert friendly!

A bespoke trek training programme will be provided when signing up for this adventure to help you with your preparations together with some top tips.

​Adventurous Ewe offer exclusive offers with their Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and Strength and Movement Coach, Peter Lant. For more info, please visit the Training and Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the trek.

TRAINING WEEKENDS

If you wish to sign up for training hikes, weekends or other trips to prepare you for this challenge, then feel to get in touch at info@adventuressinthewild.com and we will let you know which events would be great for you, provided by both Adventuress and/or Adventurous Ewe

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

On joining us for the Everest Basecamp Trek, you will receive all of the exciting trip info via Adventurous Ewe’s free mobile travel app. You’ll have access to your itinerary, trip countdown, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, ‘know before you go’ trip info, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24 hours a day via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper and the need of carrying around documents with you. The app is free to download and all info is customary to your adventure ahead. A’ppy days.

Adventurous Ewe pride themselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service. They appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on the Everest Basecamp Trek and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. They’ll be there to help you every step of the way from the moment you book all the way through to completing the challenge and beyond. 

When booking a trip with Adventuress, you’ll have the opportunity to speak to others joining your trip in a Whatsapp group. This is where you can discuss travel options, gear and maybe even get together pre-trip! 

Flights to and from Nepal are not included in your Everest Basecamp Trek giving you the flexibility to travel from your nearest UK airport and/or extend your stay in Nepal or use any frequent flyer points if you wish.

Adventurous Ewe will provide you with the recommended flights for this trip in order for you to take up the airport transfers included in Nepal and make your own bookings. Alternately, you can book your flights through their flight agent. 

For any further info on flights, please feel free to get in touch at info@adventurousewe.co.uk. 

Most nationalities require a visa for Nepal, and we highly recommend that you secure your visa prior to travel to avoid any lengthy queues or unnecessary hassles. Applications can be made directly through the Nepal Embassy (by post or in person) by visiting https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/.  All Nepal tourist visas are multiple entry. 

On arrival in the immigration hall at Kathmandu there are 3 queues and if you have obtained your visa in advance you can go straight to (3) – immigration.

If you were unable to obtain your tourist visa in advance, you can avoid the queue for the first stage of the visa process on arrival at Kathmandu Airport by printing off the application form found online. Please complete this form before you travel and attach one passport sized photo. If you travel with this form you can then go directly to the cashier to pay for your visa.

Also, please visit the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office website, or your respective nationality governing website, for the latest travel information on Nepal.

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. For the most up to date info, please visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. 

Travel Insurance is an important part of any booking. It is compulsory that everyone who travels with us has taken out adequate travel insurance which includes, among other things, cover for the full value of your trip, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, activities undertaken, personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects and COVID-19 travel cover.

You must send your Travel Insurance Policy to Adventurous Ewe no less than 8 weeks prior to departure.

For peace of mind whilst trekking in the mountains, Global Rescue provides short term membership giving access to travel, security, medical advisory and evacuation services up to $500,000USD.  They’re a specialised field rescue company, and assist from the point of illness or injury by getting you to the closest and most appropriate medical facilities to get stabilised. Once fit to fly if you require additional inpatient treatment Global Rescue will further evacuate and repatriate to your home hospital on record. These services are all covered through their upfront membership fee with no claims process.  For more info, please click here.

For the most up to date info on vaccinations, please consult with your GP or travel healthcare practitioner 8 weeks in advance of travel. There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. For up to date vaccination information please check the NHS government website ‘Fit for Travel’.

There is low to no risk of malaria throughout Nepal and antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain higher risk groups; you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. The risk is highest in the low lying southern ‘terai’ districts bordering India.

A yellow fever certificate is only required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of transmission.

Dengue fever is a known risk in Nepal. It is a tropical viral disease spread by mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. As of August 2019, there has been a recent outbreak of Dengue fever in southeast Nepal and we therefore recommend you take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites (such as wearing full length trousers, long sleeves and applying insect repellent during the day as well as at dawn and dusk).

The Everest Base Camp trek travels at high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itinerary is designed to enable you to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected.

Rest assured we are monitoring and activating the guidelines and recommendations put in place by the respective governments and World Health Organisation as a result of COVID-19. You will receive our operational guidelines for this expedition when you join the trip and hand sanitiser and face masks will be provided for travel. Rest assured your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times.

SEVERE ALLERGIES

If you have a severe allergy please inform us at the time of booking. We will do all we can to help, but unfortunately we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on this trip. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not carried as standard by AE leaders and crew. Whilst your leader is aware of our trekkers medical history, please also inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority. The Everest Base Camp Trek is intentionally challenging and requires individual preparation as the trip is designed to take you out of your every-day comfort zone and achieve something extraordinary. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place.

You will be accompanied by local qualified Mountain Guide/s and a UK High Altitude Mountain Leader for groups over 8 people. All our Guides are Remote First Aid trained and have extensive experience in leading teams in this region. They will be ultimately responsible for your safety on this trip.

There will be radio or phone contact between Adventurous Ewe Mountain Leader, Local Leaders & crew and the Office Base in Kathmandu during your trek. Your Mountain Leader will also carry a Satellite phone for emergencies only and have 24-hour contact with Adventurous Ewe office in UK. In the unlikely event evacuation be required the National Park rescue service. All staff are highly trained with the evacuation procedures. A member of our staff will be carrying medical supplies should it be required.

If for any reason you need to leave the group early and come off the mountains, Sherpas will assist you with your descent and will arrange transfers, accommodation and medical care if necessary. All costs incurred due to an early descent will need to be covered by yourself before departing the hotel, this is why we insist on suitable travel insurance cover.

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel advice website for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.

We also ask that you please ensure you use your alcohol-based hand sanitiser at all times to minimise the spread of any germs throughout your fellow flock of trekkers!

For more info, please visit our Safety and Well-being page. 

Your UK Mountain Leader will have many years leading teams in Nepal and be an experienced high-altitude guide (If 12 attendees reached) Our Leaders are carefully selected to ensure you have the best experience on your trek and with a bit of humour thrown in for good measure. Your UK Mountain Leader will also have Remote First Aid qualifications as well.

Our Local Guides are very experienced, knowledgeable and have the renowed warmth and hospitality of the Sherpa people. They are constantly self-driven to go above and beyond to ensure you will have an amazing experience. Mountain climbing for the local guides is more than just a career, it’s a passion which they are proud to share with others.

Our Guides are responsible for ensuring the complete safety, well-being and enjoyment of the team whilst also retaining a flexible and supportive attitude. The Leaders/s have satellite phone, radio and mobile phone contact with base, the local office in Kathmandu and Adventurous Ewe’s HQ.

Porters welfare: We understand porters, and the whole mountain crew in general, are the heart and soul of our Base Camp treks and we believe that fair treatment of our crew on the mountain is not merely an industry requirement but the tenet of every Everest Base Camp expedition. Ensuring our crew is well paid, insured and cared for is a priority for us.

When we trek, the entire group ‑ you, the guides and porters alike ‑ are a team who share the same needs for safety and well-being in this mountain environment.

Adventurous Ewe pride themselves in small group travel to minimise the impact on the environment and to make your experience more authentic and safe.

The minimum group size for the Adventuress in the Wild Everest Basecamp Trek to run is 6 people and the maximum group size is 16 people.

You can get a rough idea of the kit list here, but a full kit list will be provided when you book onto this Everest Basecamp Trek. Good kit can make the difference between a fantastic adventure and an uncomfortable one. Well worn in waterproof hiking boots are essential together with a good quality waterproof jacket AND trousers.

An exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code will be provided for the independent outdoor retailers.

This is a tough trek, reaching an altitude of 5,380m, but one that is very achievable with the correct preparations. It requires a reasonable level of strength, stamina, endurance and determination. Even if you consider yourself fit, you may still find the climb very challenging, depending on how well your body acclimatises to high altitude. There is no scientific way to determine how easily you acclimatise, and the acclimatisation process can also differ from climb to climb.

Having been operating Everest Base Camp treks for many years now, we strongly recommend this carefully planned itinerary due to maximising time for acclimatisation with built-in acclimatisation and contingency days together with experiencing the beautiful and varied scenery. You will be trekking high and sleeping low on some nights to help with acclimatisation as well.

The hiking on this trek is generally quite moderate and mostly on well-established trails. The trail crosses numerous modern suspension bridges over rivers and valleys; all have mesh sides and none are especially high, however, anyone with a strong fear of heights or vertigo may find them difficult. Please also be prepared for varied conditions and temperatures especially as you ascend. You are likely to be cold, washing facilities are minimal, the loos are different from the luxuries at home and your appetite may be affected by altitude. Sleeping proves more difficult as you ascend too. Though please remember that everyone on your trek will be experiencing the same and as a team pursuit, we encourage strong teamwork and support.

A bespoke training programme will be provided when join the team for this Everest Base Camp Trek to help you with your preparations. Your training should incorporate aerobic (endurance building), anaerobic (strength building) exercises and some good long walks! Training in your trekking kit with your ruck-sack on consecutive days in the outdoors is ideal to help with your preparations too.

We also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and the Bath Kettlebell Society. For more info, please visit our Training and Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the challenge.

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

When you ascend above 2500 metres your body has to acclimatise to the decreasing amount of the oxygen available. To allow your body to adjust we have structured this trek so that you ascend slowly, allowing acclimatisation to occur. However, during the acclimatisation process, you may experience some of the following symptoms – headaches, tiredness, disturbed sleep, shortness of breath, cough, loss of appetite, nausea, palpitations and swelling of the hands and face.

Individuals acclimatise at different rates and we would expect the majority of the team to notice the effects of being at high altitude, and while most will only feel discomfort and headaches, it is not uncommon for a small number of people to need extra care which will be provided by our leaders and crew. During your pre-trek briefing, altitude sickness will be discussed in more detail and advice on how to best cope with it. The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it. Know the signs & symptoms of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), be aware of how it affects the body and report any illness to your leader straight away. Our leaders and crew are there to help and are fully experienced with high altitude conditions and all the scenarios that trekking at these altitudes bring. You’re in good hands.

In most cases, AMS can be avoided following these guidelines:

• Drink around 3-5 litres each day to achieve suitable hydration levels. Try and avoid tea & coffee and definitely no alcohol
• Walk slowly, even when in the teahouses
• Keep warm, especially at night
• Eat well, even when you don’t feel like eating

All our trips that spend time at High Altitude follow our standard altitude safety measures. A number of medical conditions or medications can also reduce your body’s ability to acclimatise, and thus will affect your performance at altitude and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any pre-existing condition (e.g. heart problems), or unsure of your physical ability, you must seek medical advice prior to booking. There are a number of untested herbal remedies which claim to prevent mountain sickness. However, only one drug is currently known to have a useful role in preventing AMS and to be safe for this purpose: acetazolamide (Diamox). We recommend that you carry Diamox in your first aid kit for treks where you spend an extended period above 4000m. Diamox can only be obtained from a medical professional on prescription and it is important that you first consult your own doctor so that you know there are no contra indications with other medicines you may be taking and that you do not have an allergy to acetazolamide. Diamox commonly causes some minor side effects, such as tingling fingers and toes, or a metallic taste in the mouth, but more severe reactions are rare. If you intend to take Diamox, you must familiarise yourself with the appropriate dosage and regime prior to coming on this trip. We recommend trialling it first in the safety of your home environment prior to the trek.

Please note that while we endeavour to assist you with achieving your personal goals, however there may be times when your leader makes the decision to either delay or stop your ascent based on your medical conditions and AMS symptoms. Please respect this decision for it is for your own safety and welfare.

The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for trekking, the sky is predominantly clear and rain & snow occur occasionally. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15ºC to 35ºC in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10ºC at 3,600m and progressively lower the higher you trek.

Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.

POST MONSOON/AUTUMN: MID-SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER.

This is the main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approximately above 20ºC. Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as to minus 10ºC at the highest altitudes.

Snow can be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes.

Please remember that in any mountain area the weather is never predictable. You should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.

We recommend that you check the mountain weather forecast in the days leading up to your trek by clicking here.     

16 NIGHTS: HOTEL (4 NIGHTS), TEAHOUSES (12 NIGHTS)

In Kathmandu we usually stay at the Kathmandu Guesthouse, a 3-star hotel located within the Thamel district and 18 minutes’ walk from Kathmandu Durbar Square, a royal palace complex. All rooms have ensuite facilities and there is a restaurant, a bar and an outdoor courtyard. There is complimentary Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby and Wi-Fi throughout. 

The teahouses are basic but adequate; please be realistic about what to expect in the mountains. The hub of the teahouse is the dining room, which is generally a heated area via stoves and often attractively decorated. Most teahouses sell snacks and other essentials such as tissues, soap and toilet paper. Almost all lodges have electricity but it is not wholly reliable and lighting may not be bright enough to read by – a head torch is essential. Electrical charging facilities are generally available only in the dining room (charged at approx. Rs150-350 per hour per device). Many of the lodges use solar power so sometimes there is not enough electricity for charging.

You will usually stay in twin-share bedrooms throughout this trek. Beds with foam mattresses, bedsheets and a pillow are provided. Bedrooms are unheated and get cold at night so a sleeping bag is essential. Most teahouses have only one or two basic toilets and sometimes these are located outside the main lodge building. Toilets are usually Asian ’squat’ style; although many lodges have now installed ‘western style’ seated ones. Toilet paper is not provided so you should bring your own or buy it locally. Some lodges now have hot ‘showers’ (charged at approx. Rs250-500 per shower).

Standards of cleanliness vary especially in the peak trekking season and in winter when the water freezes at night. Please report any problems to your leader or the lodge and be vigilant in your personal hygiene regime at all times. As a general rule, the higher altitude you go to, the more basic the lodges and the more expensive food and services become.

For more info or to request a single room, please get in touch with us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Group trips are designed for shared accommodation in order to keep the cost at a minimum for you. Single rooms and tents may be organised for an additional cost however this is dependent on accommodation availability. For more info or to request a single room/tent, please get in touch with at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Breakfast is included throughout the trip. In the teahouses breakfast will comprise of a choice of bread (a slice of toast, chapatti or Tibetan bread), eggs, and a choice between either muesli or porridge. Hot tea/coffee will also be served. On specific days, there will not be a choice for breakfast and either a trekkers breakfast (egg, hash brown, baked beans and toast) or a pancake with jam/honey will be served – these options are not available in all teahouses.

Lunch will be taken at a teahouse enroute – sometimes one of your guides will go ahead with the group’s order to make it more efficient. Dinner will be in the same teahouse that you overnight in (this is custom in Nepal). Most meals are included in your trip however, please refer to the itinerary for more information.

Although most lodges have almost identical menus, they are reasonably extensive and offer a varied selection, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal baht to pizza. Another popular snack is momos; a type of Nepalese dumpling. Although meat is available in the teahouses, we advise against eating it on trek.

If you wish to order additional dishes and/or snacks, you should budget accordingly. Boiled drinking water will be provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner. All the lodges and teahouses sell snacks, chocolate bars, soft drinks and beer.

Whilst the teahouses can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, if you have a gluten free diet or vegan, then we strongly recommend you bring some extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek. Unfortunately there will be a limited variety available for you given the nature of the trip and being in Nepal, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you will have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do get in touch and we can further discuss the options available to you. 

Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

In Kathmandu your evening meals will be at the hotel and local restaurants.

Water

Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 3-4 litres per person per day. We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in Nepal.

The teahouses sell boiled water for approx. Rs150-300 per litre (the price increases the higher you trek) which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double up as a hot water bottle. It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps or streams enroute. Adventurous Ewe has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates over 99.99% of all microbiological contaminants from any non-salt water source – for more info please click here. Adventurous Ewe trekkers will receive a free Water-to-Go bottle when departing for our EBC trek, and better still, 15% of the purchase value for replacement filters will be donated to our environmental charity partner, Cool Earth. Please note that if the water freezes it will clog up the filter – in this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. Please help us reduce the volume of single use plastic in this pristine environment.

When booking this trip you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions of Adventurous Ewe which can be viewed here 

Deposit: £195 per person on booking.
Remaining balance: £1800 per person. Payment due no later than 4 weeks prior to the trip start date.
Total cost: £1995 per person

Monthly payment plan
A monthly payment plan can be arranged for this trip. Please contact us for more information or to set up your plan. Simply email info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Book & Travel with Confidence
As well as carefully crafting amazing and meaningful adventures across the planet, we’ve made booking them as flexible, safe and as simple as possible. 

For the latest info regarding booking and travelling with Adventurous Ewe, please visit our website.

INTERNAL ROAD TRANSFERS

Airport transfers and transfers to and from the start and finish of the trekking point will be via private minibus. All minibuses are fitted with seat belts.

Roadworks and infrastructure projects can cause delays on major roads within cities and highways between destinations. Road travel can also be disrupted due to demonstrations and bandhs (strikes) without warning. Major roadworks are currently ongoing in and around Kathmandu. Delays, traffic, poor road conditions and dust are a reality of road travel in Nepal.

INTERNAL FLIGHTS

Are included as per itinerary

Your Adventurous Ewe Leader/s and Crew will have a satellite phone, mobile phones and radios communications in case of emergencies. The team are trained to deal with these situations. Please ensure you listen to your Leader during these times and refrain from putting any posts on social media. Should you find yourself unable to continue with the trek, your Leader and crew will make the necessary arrangements. Depending on the situation, you will be met by the support vehicle (depending on access) and you will be transferred back to suitable accommodation or nearby medical facility as required.

Your Emergency Contact at Adventurous Ewe HQ is Jim Young on +44(0)7747 346 588.