FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Alpinistas Everest Base Camp Expedition

Is everyone leading this trip female?

We are partnering with Nepal Everest Himalaya Hiking - one of the few Nepalese trekking companies owned and operated by women. They primarily hire female Sherpa guides and our lead guide will be a woman. However, we will have male porters and potentially some male assistant guides on this trip to help with operations.

When is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp?

The best times of year are March-May and September-October. May is an especially exciting time to be on the mountain because many mountaineering teams will be at camp beginning their rotations into the icefall and getting ready to make their summit bids!

Is this a typical price for an Everest Base Camp Trek?

An EBC trek can run from $3000 - $6000 per person or more, depending on the type of service you are interested in. If you see trips for less than $3,000 then the company may have questionable practices such as their mountain training and medical certifications, how they treat their staff, if they pay permits and other government fees and taxes or if they provide chefs, porters or enough guides. We pride ourselves on paying all of our local guides above-average industry standards. We also want to make the experience the best it can possibly be for you - which means staying in higher-end hotels in Kathmandu, adding on meals and spa services, and adding porters in to our base purchase price.

What should I pack for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Alpinistas will provide you with an extensive gear list upon booking but generally, here is what is recommended to bring. You will also receive a discount to the Alpinistas store to purchase gear and rental items may be available as well.

Day pack (25-40L): for carrying valuable documents, extra layers, water, electrolytes, personal first aid kit, phone/camera and other misc. items that you might need for day hiking. You may not have access to your duffle bag/large backpack for the day so it should carry everything you might need.

Duffle bag / Backpack: For hauling personal gear needed on the mountain. This bag will actually be handled by the porters so it doesn’t have to be a traditional backpacking pack. A cargo duffle bag is sufficient but understand that the porters will be carrying this bag in a rucksack or on their head. It will often be put on the ground so expect wear and tear. Your bag should not exceed 15 kg / 33 lbs. It is recommended to use waterproof bags and waterproof containers to keep your clothes, sleeping bag and other essential items dry.

Sleeping bag: It is recommended to bring a warm sleeping bag, 0 degree to -30 degree, depending on how you sleep. Also, you should bring a sleeping bag liner as additional insulation and comfort.

Sleeping pad / mattress: Bring an air mattress or foam pad to help provide comfort over the provided foam we provide.

Trekking poles: This is a long trek with a lot of elevation gain over rocky, uneven terrain. Trekking poles will help keep you stable and distribute weight throughout your body.

Large plastic bags/trash bags: If you do not have a waterproof bag, this will help to keep your stuff dry.

Sun hut/sun cap/warm beanie

Sunglasses/glacier glasses/ski goggles: You always need general eye protection from the sun when you hike but bringing along glacier glasses or ski goggles will help during the glacier portion of the trip or if the weather turns windy or snowy.

Base layers made of wool/wool-blend

Gore-tex rain gear or other waterproof shell jacket and pants

Hiking pants

Insulated down jacket and pants layer.

Mid-layer like fleece to take on an off throughout the day.

Poncho - Is helpful to cover your entire body and pack when trekking in the rain.

Leather hiking boot or any water proof hiking footwear

Wool socks for every day on the mountain

Camp shoes - to wear when not trekking, at camp, they should be insulated.

Ear plugs - teahouses can be noisy at times.

Headlamp and extra batteries

Body towel, face washcloth

Water bladder for backpack or nalgene bottles for water. Insulated tube recommended for summit and colder days if using a water bladder.

Electrolytes/salt pills

Personal first Aid Kit

What level of experience do I need to have? Do I need special fitness or skills training?

This is an 80+ mile round trip hike with over 8,000 feet of elevation gain. You should be physically fit and ready to hike back-to-back days. However, we will provide you with a training plan and coach you through the entire process of preparing!

Experience at altitudes ~10,000 feet is helpful but not necessary. We will have plenty of time to acclimatize, and if you are not feeling well during the trek you always have the option to stay at a tea house or descend to lower elevations.

How do I go to the bathroom on the trek?

There are plenty of toilets on the way! When we are in an area without the ability to use the mobile toilet, you will go behind rocks, trees or bushes, however, you must pack out any waste as is normal custom.

How do we handle trash on the Everest Base Camp Trek?

In order to preserve the beauty of this amazing place, all trash must be kept and carried to the next teahouse. The rule is that what we take in, we must take out. If you bring trash bags to carry your trash, you’ll be able to dispose of it at the next village. The trek support staff will consolidate all the trash and take it out when we make our way down.

How can I prevent altitude sickness?

The challenge of climbing to higher altitudes poses a chance to encounter altitude sickness. The Everest Base Camp schedule that we have planned has several built-in days of acclimatization to allow your body to adjust to the changing elevation. Every body reacts differently to altitude and previous experiences with altitude or fitness levels do not determine who this affects. It can happen to anyone.

There are some preventative measures that you can take before traveling to Nepal. Speak to your doctor to ask for altitude sickness medication.

Our guides will carry supplemental oxygen to be used in emergencies. Should you need to be evacuated, your trip insurance that you purchase from our partners at Global Rescue will cover an evacuation.

Do I have to share a room? Can I purchase a single room?

The pricing for this trip is based on shared accommodations. You will be paired with another solo female traveler.

If you prefer to not share a room with another person, a single supplement of $650 applies.

Can I bring my partner / husband / significant other with me on this trip?

Since this is a female-only trip, only females will be allowed to join and would be more than welcome. We are not able to book males on this trip.

Can I bring my daughter or niece on this trip?

If she is over 18, then she is more than welcome to join. We cannot book anyone under 18 years of age.

Are we encroaching on local communities or making a negative impact?

For the Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek, we are partnering with a local female-owned guiding and trekking company. Our partners focus on empowering women guides and Sherpa and providing employment opportunities in a field that is highly male-dominated.

We are proud to partner with another female-empowering organization that will provide employment opportunities to those underprivileged.

Do I need any special medication or vaccines for traveling to Tanzania?

Please check with your doctor before traveling internationally as well as the CDC website for current requirements.

Do I need a visa for Nepal?

Nepal requires visas on-arrival. Your visa will cost $50 USD for a 30 day visa - plan to bring this in cash.

What if I cannot travel because of COVID restrictions or catching COVID or another sickness before my trip?

We require all guests to purchase travel insurance that covers unforeseen circumstances which would prevent them from traveling.

Once the final payment is made for the trip, your payment is non-refundable.

What happens if I get sick?

We require that all guests separately purchase travel and medical insurance that includes international evacuation. If you do get sick, the guide team will assist in getting you to the closest medical facility.

Do you have any other questions?

Send us an email or chat us (bottom right corner of page). We’re happy to help!