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A Guide to Everest Base Camp Elevation and Altitude Gain

The Everest Base Camp elevation of 5,364m (17,599ft.) makes an exhilarating trip, if you are planning a trip to the base camp. By far, the trekking trail to Everest base camp is one of the most challenging routes. It can cost you heavily if you think you can do it without any prior preparedness.

Situated at the base of the mighty Mount Everest, the EBC attracts hundreds of adventure seekers from around the globe every year. The challenging nooks and corners of the trekking routes and the intriguing elevation make it more appealing to extreme adventure lovers. 

Trekkers on their way to the Everest Base Camp; following the Guide to Everest Base Camp Elevation and Altitude Gain

As challenging as it may seem, proper training and sufficient knowledge of the elevation of Everest Base Camp and altitude gain can prepare anyone to walk through the scenic trails of EBC. Besides trekking, you can also explore EBC through a helicopter ride, which can take you up to an elevation of 5,545 m (18,192 ft).

Everest Base Camp Elevation for Trekking Trail

To clarify, there are 2 base camps of Everest; one is the South Base Camp in Nepal, and the other is the North Base Camp in Tibet. The Tibetan Everest Base Camp altitude is 5,150 meters (16,900 feet). However, in this article, we are only discussing the South Base Camp of Everest.

1. Kathmandu to Lukla

In your trip to EBC from Kathmandu, you will ascend from 1,350 meters (4,429 feet). Before your trek starts, you will have to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, which is at an altitude of 2,800 m (9,187 ft). It generally requires around 30 minutes to reach Lukla from Kathmandu in normal conditions.

2. Lukla to Namche Bazaar

After you land in Lukla, you will trek for 3-4 hours to Phakding, which does not differ much from Lukla in altitude. The next day you proceed to Namche Bazaar, which ascends to an altitude of 3,438 m (11,280 ft). On average, each day, you will trek for 5-7 hours. 

Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar

3. Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

When you reach Namche Bazaar, you will go through acclimatization, allowing your body to adapt to the higher altitude to avoid the possibility of altitude sickness or any discomfort due to the altitude rise. On the acclimatization day, you can spend the day strolling around the culturally-rich Namche Bazaar, exploring the historic artifacts. After you feel ready to continue the trek, your next stop will be Tengboche at 3,870 m (12,697 ft). 

4. Tengboche to EBC

Likewise, after spending a night at Tengboche, you will continue through the trails to Dingboche, rising to the altitude of 4,360 m (14,305 ft). Again, you will head toward Lobuche, at 4,940 m (16,208 ft), after spending a night at Dingboche. The next day, you will reach your destination, EBC.

5. EBC to Kala Patthar

From the Mt. Everest Base Camp elevation of 5,364 m (17,599 ft), you can further extend your journey by trekking to Kala Patthar (5,545 m /18,192 ft). Kala Patthar blesses you with a spectacular and closer view of the Everest summit. 

Eventually, after you have reached your destination, you will descend back to Namche Bazaar. And head back to Kathmandu via Lukla flight. Additionally, it is recommended you go through the guide for the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp before planning your trip to figure out which season suits you best.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Elevation 

The EBC trek requires physical and mental fitness and tremendous effort to ascend successfully to the height of 5,364 m (17,598 ft). However, it is not the only way to reach the EBC. The easier and hassle-free option can be a helicopter tour to EBC.

Reached Everest Base Camp with Heli
Reached Everest Base Camp with Heli

The helicopter tour to EBC starts from Kathmandu and will land in Lukla at an elevation of 2,800 m (9,187 ft). From Kathmandu, you will fly for 45 minutes over the scenic foothills and mountain ranges, leading you to Lukla. Regardless of the threats of the Everest Base Camp elevation, the helicopter refuels at Lukla and takes off shortly towards EBC. Flying over the Khumbu region lets you enjoy the spectacular view of the EBC trekking route.

The helicopter then flies over the base camp, stopping at Kala Patthar at an altitude of 5,545 m (18,192 ft) for a short while. Then, the flight descends toward Lukla and lands to refuel again. After refueling, you are taken back to Kathmandu. Generally, the flight to EBC from Kathmandu is completed in a day. Although it is convenient to travel to EBC by flight, it will certainly not allow you to have a closer experience with nature. However, the Helicopter tour to EBC can save you time and effort. 

Altitude Gain Data During Everest Base Camp Trek

This section has a more simplified presentation of the altitude gain you will face throughout your trek to Everest Base Camp. Although there are other factors, such as rises and dips throughout the trial, they would rather complicate things. So, to make it understandable, we are only sticking to the elevation and altitude gain. 

To summarize the above section, here is the data on the elevation from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp at every stop:

LocationElevation
Kathmandu 1,350 m (4,429 ft)
Lukla2,800 m (9,187 ft)
Phakding2,610 m (8,563 ft)
Namche Bazaar3,438 m (11,280 ft) 
Tengboche3,870 m (12,697 ft)
Dingboche 4,360 m (14,305 ft)
Lobuche 4,940 m (16,208 ft)
Everest Base Camp5,364 m (17,599 ft)

Everest Base Camp Elevation Chart

For you to be able to grasp the elevation data more easily, below is the visual representation of the elevation gain. The chart will help you easily navigate and understand the altitude difference between Kathmandu and Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp Elevation Gain Chart

Height of Mount Everest

Mount Everest, the snow-covered highest peak in the world, peaks at the height of 8,848 meters (29,030 feet) from sea level. Nepal, a landlocked country, is blessed with enchanting Himalayas, which cover almost sixteen percent of the total area of Nepal. To top it all, the nation is known worldwide as the home to the tallest peak on Earth.

Mount Everest with Khumbu Glaicer
Mount Everest with Khumbu Glaicer

So how high is the tallest peak in the world? To give you a clear reference to the height of Everest, here are the comparisons of Everest with some of the renowned structures in the world. 

  • Everest is 10.6 times taller than the tallest man-made structure, Burj Khalifa, which is 828 m (2,716 ft.) high.
  • Compared to the second tallest mountain in the world, K2, Everest is just about 237 meters (777 ft.) taller.
  • In comparison with the Eiffel Tower, which is 300 m (984 ft.) high, Everest is 29 times taller.
  • Compared to Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest is 2,953 meters (9,688 ft) taller.
  • Everest is two times taller than Mauna Kea, in terms of its height above sea level.

Besides Everest, Nepal is also home to seven other of the top 10 tallest peaks in the world, including Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Cho Oyo, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, and Mt. Annapurna. 

EBC Trek Challenges Due to Elevation

Who isn’t mesmerized by the alluring beauty of snow-capped mountains? The Everest Base Camp trek guarantees the adventure of a lifetime and allows you to witness the surreal Himalayas and thrilling trekking routes. But, as exciting as it sounds, the EBC trek comes with its own challenges because of the higher elevation as we ascend.

Along the Everest Base Camp Trek

Of course, there can be occasional issues with flight cancellations, and accommodation and food availability along the way because of the higher altitude and remoteness. However, the major concern is altitude sickness at higher elevations, which causes difficulty in respiration. 

As you ascend from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, elevation significantly rises by 4,014 m (13,169 ft). The atmospheric conditions in the higher altitude zones, such as low air pressure and a decrease in the oxygen level, can expose you to the risk of altitude sickness. Therefore, understanding the causes and the symptoms of altitude illness can save you from the potential risk.

Symptoms and Prevention of Altitude Sickness in EBC Trek

As physical and mental fitness heavily impacts your trek, appropriate training for Everest Base Camp is a must, and so is the understanding of altitude sickness in the Himalayas. EBC trek is one of the most extreme treks in Nepal, and failing to follow the precautions could impact you tremendously. As daunting as it may seem, proper training will prepare you well for the trek.

Altitude sickness is a common occurrence among EBC trekkers. When you rapidly ascend to a higher elevation, it becomes difficult for your body to adapt to the reduced air pressure and oxygen level. Such changes in atmospheric conditions can expose you to altitude sickness, followed by the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. 

However, adopting some preventive measures can lower the risk of altitude illness. On that note, you should drink at least 3 to 4 liters of water on a daily basis throughout the trek. Likewise, you should avoid alcoholic drinks and smoking and carry preventive medicines. Most importantly, do not trek longer distances at once, and make sure to get sufficient rest.

Ending Note

The Everest Base Camp trek will ensure the adventure of a lifetime. And with the proper preparation for the trip, anyone with moderately fit health can explore the challenging yet magical journey to the higher elevation of Everest Base Camp. Most importantly, with the assistance of the right organizer, success is guaranteed. We at Himalayan Glacier are devoted to providing the best service to adventure-seekers from around the globe, ensuring their safety backed by a team of experts. 

So, if you wish to make your EBC trek dream come true, contact us or find and follow us on Facebook to reap the benefit of our service.

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