12 Major Highlights of Everest Base Camp Trek – Mesmerizing Trail

Know the major highlights of Everest Base Camp Trek before you proceed with the trekking. Knowing these highlights lets you plan well to visit and enjoy these important parts of Everest during your trekking. The Everest region itself is a dream destination for many travelers.

As we know, Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trekking packages and the most dreamy for all adventure seekers worldwide. Everest Base Camp lies in the northeastern part of the Khumbu region of Nepal. Trekking in the Everest region offers you a lifetime memorable moment where you will experience local Sherpa culture and traditions as well as magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks, including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, Nuptse, Pumori, Amadablam, Island peak, Thamserku, and mighty of peaks.

Many of the trekkers have some queries, such as what the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek are? What are the major attractions of the Everest Base Camp Trek? Looking for those queries, Life Himalaya Trekking has listed some of the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek that you should not miss.

Major Highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek:

1. World’s highest Mt. Everest Base Camp:

One of the important and major highlights of the  Short Everest Base Camp Trek is the base of the world’s highest Mount Everest. Mt. Everest base camp lies at an altitude of 5,364 meters above sea level. Basecamp is the camping site for the Everest expedition. It is also the destination point for every trekker who treks to Everest base camp. Since there is a trait of altitude sickness and no teahouse on base camp trekkers stay at the small village near a base camp called Gorakshep.

From Everest base camp, we are rewarded with the breathtaking view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori, as well majestic Khumbu glacier & icefalls, glacial rivers, and snow avalanches beyond our eyes. It is the major highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek.

2. Kalapatthar – majestic viewpoint:

Kalapatthar or Kalapathar is one of the beautiful viewpoints from which Everest base camp trekking can be seen. It is also known as the highest point of the Everest region trek, located at an altitude of 5,545 meters. Kalapatthar is famous for the spectacular panoramic views of the world’s highest mountains. Trekkers usually hike to Kalapatthar in the early morning or in the evening for the sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas.

From this vantage point, you can admire the 360-degree panorama views of the world’s highest peaks above 8,000 meters such as Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, and other mighty peaks. Kalapathar is another major highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek to explore the panoramic and close-up views of Mount Everest

3. Tengboche Monastery:

Tengboche is a magnificent village in the Everest region. It is a charming spot for close views of the world’s most beautiful mountain Ama Dablam. Not the only view of Ama Dablam, it offers many other surrounding peaks whose views are simply breathtaking.

Tengboche is also famous for the renowned oldest and biggest Buddhist Tengboche monastery nourishing spirit with the daily praying Buddhist monks. Tengboche Monastery is an important attraction of Everest. So it is one of the major highlights of the Short Trek To Everest base camp, so you don’t miss it.

Also, Tengboche is famous for the Everest Mani Rimdu Festival trekking, an important festival of the local Sherpa people. Mani Rimdu Festival at Tengboche monastery is a 19-day series of events in the annual full moon festival, usually held in mid-October or early November as per the Tibetan Buddhist lunar calendar.

4. Nepal’s biggest Khumbu and longest Ngozumpa glaciers:

The Khumbu Glacier and Ngozumpa Glacier are the biggest and longest glaciers in Nepal, respectively. The Khumbu glacier is about twelve kilometers between Mt. Everest and the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. It is also known as the world’s highest glacier, consisting of large icefalls & starts from the Everest base camp. You can see the best Khumbu glacier from the world’s highest base camp and Kalapatthar.

Meanwhile, Ngozumpa glaciers are about 36 kilometers long and lie below the world’s sixth highest, Mt. Cho-Oyu, up to the Gokyo Valley. For the breathtaking views of Ngozumpa glaciers, you have to trek to the viewpoint of Gokyo RI. Hence, these glaciers are also termed the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek.

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5. Gokyo Lakes & Gokyo Ri:

Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo RI trek is the optional trekking route to the Everest Base Camp Trek rather than a classical route. Gokyo Lake is a popular & excellent adventure trekking route in the heartland of the Everest region. Gokyo Lake trek is also known as the Gokyo Valley trek or Everest Panorama trek, the alternative to Everest base camp. Gokyo lakes comprise five lakes, also known as the world’s highest freshwater lakes.

It is situated at an altitude of 4,750 meters above sea level. Gokyo RI (5,357 m) is another superb viewpoint where we are rewarded with the sweeping panoramic view of the world’s four highest peaks, i.e., Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho-Oyu with surrounding Everest panorama. Gokyo RI also offers Everest’s five Gokyo lakes and the world’s longest glacier- Ngozumpa Glacier.

6. Three great high passes (Kongma-La, Cho-la & Renjo-la pass):

The three great high passes of Everest are another major highlight of the Everest base camp trek. 3 great passes trek is also known as the Everest circuit trek which covers the entire trekking route in the Everest region. This three passes trek of the Everest region let you cross 3 high passes including Kongma La, Cho La & Renjo La, and get into the world’s highest Mt. Everest base camp. This adventurous three great passes trekking route starts through distinct remote and untouched valleys such as Thame, and Marulung and continues passing through the Gokyo Lakes, Kalapathar and Everest base camp and ends passes through the classical route to Lukla.

7. Hillary Museum:

A Hillary museum is also another major highlight of the Everest base camp trek. Hillary Museum lies located in the world-famous Namche Bazaar in the Everest region. This museum is open to all the trekkers who come to the Everest region trek as well as for expedition or research purposes. It is the oldest museum in the Everest region which is named after Sir Edmund Hillary.

In this museum, you can witness traditional Sherpa lifestyles, culture, dresses, utensils, art and architecture, gears & equipment, and many others. This museum is very interesting where you can see the past photographs collected from the local Sherpa community and Sherpa’s way of life in the past. Mainly trekkers visit the Hillary museum on the acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar.

8. Namche Bazaar-the Sherpa’s Capital:

Namche Bazaar, the gateway of the Everest Region is a major highlight of the Everest base camp trek. Namche Bazaar is a delightful mountain town built on a steep mountain bowl-shaped with excellent views of mountains like Kongde RI, Thamserku & other peaks in the background. Namche is also a Sherpa’s capital where you can find every facility like markets, standard lodges, restaurants, banks, ATMs, shops, cafes, post offices, cyber, and so on. This popular touristic hub lies at an altitude of 3,440 meters and is also a great place for altitude acclimatization for trekkers.

9. Sagarmatha National Park- Major Highlights of Everest Base Camp Trek:

Another major highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek is Sagarmatha National Park. Sagarmatha National Park is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site covering 1,148 sq km. It is the protected area in the Himalayas of Everest region. It is also the world’s highest national park, starting from an altitude of 2,800 meters and continuing to 8,848 meters. This national park also protects the natural vegetation and conserves the natural biodiversity. You may witness various flora and fauna, including endangered wildlife such as Himalayan Thar, Musk deer, Red Panda, Snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, etc. The entrance point to Sagarmatha National Park is at Jorsalle village.

10. Traditional Sherpa villages, culture, traditions & hospitality:

One of the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek is exploring the traditional mountain Sherpa villages. During EBC trekking, you may experience Sherpa’s culture, traditions, and hospitality which is absolutely amazing. You may also experience Sherpa’s daily living lifestyles of the world’s famous Sherpas during your Everest base camp trek.

11. Experience a Helicopter flight above the Himalayas:

Experience the helicopter flight above the Himalayas, one of the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. The Everest base camp Helicopter Trek is one of the best options for you, and it lets you have a lifetime of memorable experiences in the breathtaking Himalayas of Nepal. Helicopter flights in the Everest region provide the world’s highest peaks, such as Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Nuptse, Amadablam, Pumori, Island Peak, Mera Peak, and many other Everest massifs. You may also get a golden opportunity to witness the tranquil green valleys, geographical variation, green hills, rivers and streams, snowy lakes, and glaciers. The best seasons to do helicopter tours in the Everest region of Nepal are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).

12. Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak climbing:

Along with the Everest base camp trek, trekkers may also climb the peaks, major highlights of the Everest Base Camp Trek. There are many climbing peaks in the Everest region; however, Island Peak (6,189 m/20,305 ft.) and Mera Peak (6,461 m/21,190 ft.) are famous peaks climbing in the Everest region. Trekking and climbing packages in Everest region trips take you not only toward the renowned Everest base camp but also offer climbing to the beautiful peaks of Island & Mera peak climbing in one single trip. For those who want to do an adventurous trip and dream of climbing the peak in the Everest region, this Island & Mera peak with Everest base camp trek is the perfect package for you.

Read More About Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base camp Trek.