For decades Nepal holidays largely consisted of career trekkers taking over the robust terrain to summit the very best mountain on the planet, Everest, and hippies going in the hunt for peace and love. Nowadays Nepal is a hot vacation spot for anyone with a way of journey, from the New York yuppies to the grey pound. At only 5,365 meters Everest Base Camp is over 3,000 meters under the summit which makes it way more accessible to your average walker. Together with Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Inca Path of Peru, Everest Base Camp is one of the must have trekking badges in your backpack. There are a whole lot of corporations now providing various trips to Nepal incorporating Everest Base Camp treks with excursions to Kathmandu, Chitwan Nationwide Park and rural villages in the Nepalese lowlands. The hippies and experienced trekkers have been joined by ageing hill walkers, families and students. The Himalaya are top of the achievable bucket record and with so many escorted treks virtually anybody can make it to Base Camp.
With the sun setting on Everest Base Camp anyone searching for a singular and ultimate problem will need to be a part of the few individuals that still attempt to summit Everest every year. But there is hope for the eager trekker who isn’t yet ready to take on Everest. On many journeys now you can take on the mighty Kala Patar summit at roughly 5,546 meters or take the longer path to Base Camp through the Gokyo Lakes. For me Kala Pattar is the ultimate goal anyway provided that on the summit you possibly can see gorgeous views of the encircling peaks, together with Lhotse and Everest itself. When trekking through the Gokyo Lakes you take an extended, remote route across Cho La Pass to Gokyo Ri. You go three big lakes, snow capped mountains, traverse and scramble to clear the Ngozumba Glacier before leaving the wilderness for Kala Patar. This is a strenuous hike and only appropriate for very experienced trekkers with time spent in excessive altitudes. The nights are chilly and the trail is steep and really lonely. With few mountains and stones left unturned as of late discovering a true challenge is difficult. The Gokyo Lake route would not get higher than Kala Patar but the walk itself is tiring, long and satisfying.
For those of you looking to add a bit of tradition to your Nepal vacation be sure to take the time to get to know your Nepalese porters and teahouse owners. These guys assume nothing of operating as much as Everest Base Camp and are stuffed with useful tips about what to do or more often, what to not do. In case you’ve acquired the time spend it in Kathmandu and Pokhara where you’ll be able to take within the golden delights of the World Peace Pagoda and sacred temples of Swayambhunath. Or venture beyond Nepal into the Buddhist world of Tibet, explore the Yumbulangang Fortress or holy Barkhor Square. There’s, in any case, more to Nepal than Everest Base Camp.



