Many people dream of it. I too could not resist the appeal of seeing the roof of the world for once, as I love mountains and adventure. Nevertheless, I thought long and hard about whether I really had to go there. After all, you hear a lot of negative things about mass tourism and the rubbish problem in the Everest region. And I am not a fitness monster either, even though sporty and healthy.
I am therefore more than grateful to Mrs. Kolay from geoDiscovery Tours for encouraging me and strengthening my resolve to hike through this one-of-a-kind region. It was simply magnificent and probably the trek of my life.
From Lukla, the three of us, with one guide and two porters, walked to Everest Base Camp in nine days. Every day on the way there (and 4 back again) was worth it. The landscape was varied, the surrounding mountains gigantic. The geoDiscovery Tours team had planned the tour perfectly with two acclimatisation days. The side trips to Ama Dablam Base Camp and into the Chukhung valley with a view of Island Peak are wonderful. The absolute highlight of the tour, however, was the “black stone”, the 5644 m high, inconspicuous Kala Patthar with its indescribable panorama of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, but also Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Thamserku and countless other ice giants that look down on you in an almost 360-degree panorama. Incredible!
Sure, you are not alone on this trail and the accommodations are often not very inviting. None of that matters anymore once you can roam every precious day through the beauty of this highest mountain range in the world. Away from the main paths or simply staggered in time from other hikers, it is often surprisingly empty. Everywhere, hospitable people in their tea houses serve trekkers, prayer flags flutter at the countless bridges and stupas, and every encounter with a yak inspires anew. Rubbish you see nowhere. At best it is in the containers provided for it; most trekkers take it back with them.
Of course I was exhausted after this tour. The cold takes its toll, the monotonous food and the extreme altitude. Good for those who can then treat themselves to a few rest days to recover their strength and then immediately plan the next tour 😀 … best again with geoDiscovery Tours 👍
