Everything You Actually Need to Know About Everest Base Camp (And What Everyone Else Leaves Out)

Let’s be honest: Everest Base Camp (EBC) is amazing but it’s not all sunshine, flags, and Instagram views.

Before I went, I read dozens of blogs. Most of them showed perfect sunrise photos and smiling hikers. What they didn’t show? The cough, the cold, and the toilet situations.

So here’s what I wish someone told me before I started the Everest Base Camp Trek in plain words.

1. Altitude Will Humble You

You’ll feel it around 3,000 meters (9,800 ft). Headaches. Short breaths. Random mood swings. You don’t need to be unfit to feel it. It just happens.

• Go slow.

• Drink water like it’s your job.

• Say yes to garlic soup (trust me, it helps).

• Don’t skip rest days. Your body needs them.

Most people who get sick didn’t listen to their bodies. Don’t be one of them.

2. The Toilets Are… Basic

Flush toilets exist, but not everywhere. The higher you go, the simpler things get.

Expect:

• Squat toilets

• No toilet paper (bring your own!)

• Shared bathrooms

• Frozen pipes in the morning

Just laugh it off. Everyone’s in the same boat.

3. Your Fancy Gear Might Not Save You

Yes, your trekking pants look cool. But it’s your thermals, good socks, and broken-in boots that matter most.

Things that actually helped me:

• A buff (dust, wind, cold—all in one go)

• Lip balm with SPF (your lips will thank you)

• A headlamp (for midnight bathroom trips)

• Wet wipes (for the “no-shower” days… which are most of them)

4. Wi-Fi and Charging? LOL.

Some lodges offer Wi-Fi, but it’s slow and costs money. Same with phone charging. Bring a power bank. Download your playlists. Tell your family you’ll check in when you can.

Or better: just enjoy being offline. It’s weirdly nice.

5. You Might Cry at the Top (and That’s Okay)

When you reach Base Camp at 5,364 meters (17,598 ft), you might cry. Not because it’s Everest (though that’s cool), but because you made it.

It’s hard. It’s cold. It’s long. And that’s why it’s beautiful.

Final Tip

Don’t rush. Don’t compete. And don’t forget to look up and just breathe.

Everest Base Camp is not just about the mountain. It’s about what you learn on the way there.