And while preparing for the Everest Base Camp trek isn’t JUST about packing a bag and strapping on your shoes, but about getting your body ready, your mind ready, and making sure you’re well-versed in logistics, respect for the high-altitude environment you’re entering, etc. But this world-famous trek, which brings you to the base of the world’s highest mountain, is not a technical climb; rather, it’s a test of what your mind and body can do. To maximize your once-in-a-lifetime adventure, you’ll want to start getting into Gear Guy-worthy shape months before you leave. You can build your endurance with long-distance walking, uphill hiking, and cardiovascular exercise such as running, swimming, or cycling, so you can get used to the continuous effort daily. Leg and core muscle strengthening exercises, and balance and flexibility exercises, too, may help, especially on a rocky path while trudging uphill.
Mental preparation is as important as physical. Diminishing oxygen levels, fatigue, changing weather, and basic accommodations can grind down even experienced trekkers. Knowing the best is yet to come, and an attitude of patience and adaptability, and gratitude can transform setbacks into welcoming pieces of your travelogue. It is important to educate yourself on altitude-related health risks, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), as well as how to treat its symptoms. Understanding when to rest, hydrate, and talk to your guide can also help you avoid more severe conditions like HAPE or HACE.
Another part of being prepared is packing and doing so efficiently. The proper gear can make or break your trek. Invest in a few high-quality layers so you can adjust to the temperature changes from the hot valley floor to freezing nights above 4,000 meters. Waterproof jacket and pants, a quality sleeping bag, durable walking shoes, UV-protected shades, and a sturdy day pack with rain cover are all essentials. Do not forget essentials like sunblock, chapstick, water purification, and your medications. If in doubt, seek advice from experienced trekkers or reputable local agencies on a full gear list fit for the Himalayas.
You’ll have to get permits and logistics squared away in advance, too. You will need a Sagarmatha National Park entry and a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. Booking your flights to and from Lukla, teahouse availability in peak season, and the decision to hire a guide or porter are all considerations that it’s wise to get in order early. Independent treks are possible too, and bringing a local guide on board ensures the visit is safe, culturally engaging, and stress-free through the mountains. Porters are available if you want to lighten the physical burden and concentrate more on the experience.
Finally, allow time for it to become accustomed to you. The good news is that most standard treks have gradual ascents and rest days built in at places like Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. Don’t climb too fast — your body needs time to acclimate to the increasingly thin air. Take it slow and steady, engage in mindful self-care, and you will not only make it to Everest Base Camp safely, but you’ll also stop to smell the roses (like, really epic, snow-capped, gigantic roses). With the right preparation, your EBC trek will turn out not just a challenging but truly transformative experience that you’d remember for the rest of your life.
The Deets on the Trek: What Everest Base Camp is Really Like
Mount Everest Base Camp Trek But before you get caught up in training or organizing, it is important to be aware of what the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek is actually about. This is not a stroll in the park — this is a high-altitude, multi-day journey through the heart of the Himalayas. The most common itinerary involves flying to Lukla, before passing through such famous Sherpa villages as Namche Bazaar, Tengboche , and Dingboche, and finally arriving at Base Camp, at 5,364 meters. The total expedition can last 12 to 14 days and cover about 130 kilometers to and fro.
The trail itself is not technically difficult, but the altitude, cold, and long daily hikes make it physically and mentally challenging. It is not just reaching Base Camp but the journey toward it — Buddhist culture and dramatic scenery of the type that changes you — that one seeks here. Acclimatization time, ascent, trail surfaces, and teahouse sleeping are all factors that come into play in your gear preparation.
Having an idea of the pace, setting, and things you will be dealing with will allow you to set your expectations appropriately. Too many first-time trekkers underestimate the effects of altitude or overestimate the amount of comfort in a remote village. Having an eye on what you can expect makes you more skilled mentally and logistically, and your route a safer, more effortless, and enjoyable experience at each stage.
ON YOUR MARKS Physical Preparation: Laying the right fitness foundations
Training your body for Everest Base Camp is the single most important part of preparation for the trek. It does not need technical mountaineering skills, but it does require strength in the legs and stamina for the cardiovascular system. You’ll be walking up to eight hours a day for nearly a fortnight, often on steep and unsteady terrain at altitude. Unfit, this can be brutal, and you are more likely to suffer from fatigue, injury, or plain not make it to base camp.
Begin training at least two to three months before your trek. Concentrate on cardio workouts such as hiking, speed walking, running, stair climbing, and cycling to increase your endurance. Add leg, core, and lower-back strength training to back up all those hours trekking with a pack. Flexibility and balance work like yoga can help avoid injury and maintain nimbleness on uneven trails.
And most importantly, training in the conditions of real trekking. Hike with a loaded backpack during the weekends, making sure there is elevation gain. And if you can train at altitude, all the better! The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the journey rather than simply endure it. Your aim is not speed, remember — it’s stamina, consistency, and durability operating day after day in a low-oxygen environment.
What To Bring? Mind Over Matter And How To Get In The Right Mental Attitude For High Altitude Trekking
Getting ready for Everest Base Camp isn’t just about physical preparedness — it’s also a mind game. The elevation, variable weather, and the simplicity of mountain living can challenge even the most experienced hikers. Unlike short treks, EBC is a long, drawn out and sometimes uncomfortable journey. You’ll lack many modern comforts, sleep in modest rooms , and maybe even grapple with altitude sickness or fatigue. This is when a change in mindset is so important.
Patience is the first mental skill you will need to develop. The trek itself is not a race — it is dangerous to attempt to move quickly at high altitude. The ability to embrace slowing down, when you need to rest, and adapting when things do not go according to plan is key. You will also need to be emotionally durable. There might be self-doubt, physical challenge, or weather delays. Keeping an optimistic attitude and thinking about the prize keeps you moving, especially on your bad days.”
Mt Everest Base Camp Trek Visualization techniques can be used to help you prepare mentally. Imagine yourself trekking at elevation, crossing suspension bridges, and finally reaching Base Camp. Practicing meditation or journaling in the weeks before your trek can likewise refine your mental clarity. Your body might take you to Base Camp, but it’s your mind that will get you up the steep stretches, across the crevassed sections, and through the thin air.
Picking the Best Time to Hike: Weather, Seasons & Crowds
When you trek to Everest Base Camp, Time is everything. When you have your Everest Base Camp trek can greatly impact your experience. The best trekking seasons are pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. It’s a time of the year that provides good weather, a chilly atmosphere, and great mountain views. Spring offers the bonus of blooming rhododendrons, and fall provides cool air and dramatic sunsets.
Avoid the monsoon season (June to August) as there is heavy rain, landslides, and clouds obstruct the views. Winter (December to February) is bitterly cold and snow-filled, with closed teahouses on higher treks, but it also means fewer tourists and clear views for the well-prepared.
Crowds vary by season. October is a busy month, with thousands of trekkers on the trail, as well as more vibrant teahouse life, and less solitude. If you favor more solitude on the trails, you’ll want to opt for late November or early March. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable; long days or overnight hours are subject to change, so pack for a variety of weather regardless of when you go.
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each season lets you plan your strategy. Whether you’re after iconic vistas, cultural festivals, or places to find solitude, picking the right window can help maximize safety, enjoyment, and overall success on your trek.
Packing Smart: What You Need to Bring and What You Don’t
When packing for Everest Base Camp, you need to find a balance between being prepared and staying portable. Everything you carry must have a use. You will have to live out of a backpack in unpredictable weather and remote locations for up to two weeks — the things you bring, or don’t bring, can affect your comfort, your safety, and your flexibility.
Focus on layers. From warm days at lower elevations to freezing nights beyond 4,000 meters, temperatures fluctuate greatly. Begin with moisture-wicking base layers, pile on warm fleece or down insulation, and top it all with a waterproof, windproof shell. Trekking boots, thick socks, gloves, and hats are essential. And a sleeping bag, you’ll need one that comes rated at -10°C or less, particularly if you’ll be there during the cooler seasons.
Base Camp Everest Trek: Avoid overpacking. Do not take any luxury articles or unnecessary gadgets — they will only serve to weigh one down. Basic meals and bedding are available in teahouses, so you don’t need camping gear. Must bring along are water purification tablets, a first-aid kit, a headlamp, a power bank, and toiletries. With your gear packed in a waterproof duffel or backpack, keep your travel bag and packing cubes organized.
Travel light but smart. Every kilogram matters when you are hiking for hours at altitude. Picking and choosing your gear means you’re ready, but not weighed down.
Acclimatization Plan: Playing It Safe at High Altitude
A smart acclimatization strategy is one of the most crucial ingredients to a successful Everest Base Camp trek. We don’t all live up in the alpine belt; as you go higher to the high regions of the Himalayas, your body should be adjusted to the lower oxygen content. Failure to acclimate well can result in altitude-related sickness, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), which can be dangerous or life-threatening. The best defense against IHT is to ascend gradually and incorporate rest days.
Most schedules will have at least two acclimatization days—usually at Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and Dingboche (4,410m). These aren’t just days to relax; they are opportunities to “climb high, sleep low,” where you go on a hike up to a higher point during the day and then return to sleep at your current elevation. This will enable your body to accommodate more safely.
Hydration, nutrition, and pace are also key elements of the acclimatisation challenge. Drink 3-4 liters of water per day, stay off the booze, and eat a balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates. So is going too hard or too long: Avoid it, as tempting as it is to push when you feel strong. Pay attention to what your body is saying and let your guide know if you have any symptoms.
Acclimatization is also not optional; it is survival. Those trekkers who respect the altitude, listen to a sensible pace, and put rest before their ego, those are the ones who make it to Everest Base Camp safely and are the happiest.
The Trail at a Glance: The Route, the Terrain, and the Key Stopping Places
To control your expectations and maximize your trek, it’s essential to know the Everest Base Camp route. The trip typically starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 meters), on one of the world’s most feared airstrips — balmy at best, when the weather cooperates. From here, the trail meanders through Sherpa villages, suspension bridges, pine forests, and high-altitude valleys as you make your way to Base Camp (5,364 m) in 8-10 days.
Nepal Everest Base Camp Trek The most scenic stops throughout the trek are Phakding , Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. These villages provide you with rustic accommodation, meals, and a view of the world that would leave the Taj Mahal looking colourless – and each one allows you to acclimatise in style, and soak up the cultural richness of this environment. Trekkers can also make the Kala Patthar (5,545 m) summit (the highest point of the trek) for a breathtaking sunrise over Everest and surrounding peaks.
Types of terrain range from undulating uplands to steep ascents, rock routes, and glacier traverses. Weather can be unpredictable, and trails can become slippery and/or obscured, especially during shoulder seasons. Route finding is quite easy as the path is a well-used one and also signposted, although a guide can help with both the safety of the route, pacing of altitude, and local knowledge.
Trekkers especially need to know the critical stopping points and the kind of terrain that awaits them on the route ahead so that they can feel secure and have the vision to break the route down in their minds into manageable sectors.
Food and lodging: life in the mountains
Trekking to Everest Base Camp isn’t synonymous with going hungry, but it will be an adjustment if you’re used to eating fancy. You will be staying with families, in teahouses, which are simple lodges that serve food and provide a space to sleep along the trail. Accommodations tend to be plain, with shared rooms and beds that tend to be basic, but you’ll also get a sense of mountain hospitality on a cozy, friendly level.
Teahouse food is hearty and carb-heavy for the long days of trekking that they fuel. By far the most frequent meal is dal bhat, a Nepali staple consisting of rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry that is usually served with free refills. Noodles, pasta, pancakes, eggs, fried rice, momos, and soup are some of the other options. Despite the surprisingly varied menu, don’t anticipate any gourmet embellishments; things are served with rustic simplicity.
Above this level, everything has to be carried in by a porter and a yak, and everything is more expensive and restricted. Don’t expect hot showers or Wi-Fi in every village — these are luxuries, not reliable amenities. Keep some cash on you, as ATMs are not always reliable once you leave Lukla.
Being ready for something rustic makes it more fun. For many trekkers, there is solace in the routines, camaraderie, and rhythm of mountain life. Stories shared over hot tea, huddled around the stove at night, make for some of your best memories on the trail.
Employing Guides and Porters: Why They’re Worth It
Nepal Mount Everest Base Camp Trek Albeit it is possible to hike to Everest Base Camp on your own, there are advantages to hiring a guide and/or porter to help make the most of your experience while ensuring your safety and overall enjoyment. A certified guide is far more than just a navigator. They provide cultural insight, monitor your health for altitude sickness, handle logistics, such as teahouse bookings, and translate into local dialects. They also assist you in pacing the trek well, which is crucial for acclimatization to the altitude.
Porters will carry your main backpack, enabling you to walk relatively weight-free with a day pack. This is especially important as the trail gets steeper and every extra kilogram feels heavier. The hiring of a porter directly supports the local economy and ensures the spread of tourism money into the mountainous regions.
There’s also the emotional comfort provided by a support system. When the going gets rough, the weather gets terrible, or a decision needs to be made, it’s a great benefit to have someone experienced at your side. It also minimizes stress, so you can concentrate on the journey, not the details.
It is also important to employ ethical companies that offer reasonable pay and loads for porters and guides. It guarantees that you contribute to a sustainable and ethical trekking culture. In exchange, you get an immersive, safe, and much richer experience than you have walking the trail by yourself.
After the Trek and Relaxing
The trek doesn’t stop at Everest Base Camp — or even when you get back to Lukla. Recovery is a sensitive period that should be handled both physically and emotionally. After days of trekking at altitude, legs weary from miles of climbing, the body needs rest, hydration, and nourishment. You may feel sore, tired, and maybe have some mild symptoms of altitude as you go down. Give yourself several rest days in Kathmandu or Pokhara post-trek.
EBC trek is not only a challenge to the body but of emotions and the mind. There is also the stereotype of the newly enlightened trekker, somehow transformed by the experience. Having emptied one’s mind of modern distractions in the company of the world’s highest mountain range, things like priorities tend to change. Writing in a journal, telling your story, or making a photo album may be a good way to work through the experience and save the memories.
It’s also a great time to take care of your gear, get in touch with other trekkers, and even plan your next Himalayan adventure. Chances are, you will emerge from the trail a changed person — a stronger, more grounded version of who you were, with a fresh reverence for both nature and human tenacity.
By allowing yourself time to recover and reflect, your Everest Base Camp trek is not just an event in your life, it’s a legacy that you get to leave as a significant milestone of accomplishment and growth.
Acclimatization Plan: Playing It Safe at High Altitude
Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal A smart acclimatization strategy is one of the most crucial ingredients to a successful Everest Base Camp trek. We don’t all live up in the alpine belt; as you go higher to the high regions of the Himalayas, your body should be adjusted to the lower oxygen content. Failure to acclimate well can result in altitude-related sickness, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), which can be dangerous or life-threatening. The best defense against IHT is to ascend gradually and incorporate rest days.
Most schedules will have at least two acclimatization days—usually at Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and Dingboche (4,410m). These aren’t just days to relax; they are opportunities to “climb high, sleep low,” where you go on a hike up to a higher point during the day and then return to sleep at your current elevation. This will enable your body to accommodate more safely.
Hydration, nutrition, and pace are also key elements of the acclimatisation challenge. Drink 3-4 liters of water per day, stay off the booze, and eat a balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates. So is going too hard or too long: Avoid it, as tempting as it is to push when you feel strong. Pay attention to what your body is saying and let your guide know if you have any symptoms.
Acclimatization is also not optional; it is survival. Those trekkers who respect the altitude, listen to a sensible pace, and put rest before their ego, those are the ones who make it to Everest Base Camp safely and are the happiest.
The Trail at a Glance: The Route, the Terrain, and the Key Stopping Places
To control your expectations and maximize your trek, it’s essential to know the Everest Base Camp route. The trip typically starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860 meters), on one of the world’s most feared airstrips — balmy at best, when the weather cooperates. From here, the trail meanders through Sherpa villages, suspension bridges, pine forests, and high-altitude valleys as you make your way to Base Camp (5,364 m) in 8-10 days.
The most scenic stops throughout the trek are Phakding , Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. These villages provide you with rustic accommodation, meals, and a view of the world that would leave the Taj Mahal looking colourless – and each one allows you to acclimatise in style, and soak up the cultural richness of this environment. Trekkers can also make the Kala Patthar (5,545 m) summit (the highest point of the trek) for a breathtaking sunrise over Everest and surrounding peaks.
Types of terrain range from undulating uplands to steep ascents, rock routes, and glacier traverses. Weather can be unpredictable, and trails can become slippery and/or obscured, especially during shoulder seasons. Route finding is quite easy as the path is a well-used one and also signposted, although a guide can help with both the safety of the route, pacing of altitude, and local knowledge.
Trekkers especially need to know the critical stopping points and the kind of terrain that awaits them on the route ahead so that they can feel secure and have the vision to break the route down in their minds into manageable sectors.
Food and lodging: life in the mountains
Trekking to Everest Base Camp isn’t synonymous with going hungry, but it will be an adjustment if you’re used to eating fancy. You will be staying with families, in teahouses, which are simple lodges that serve food and provide a space to sleep along the trail. Accommodations tend to be plain, with shared rooms and beds that tend to be basic, but you’ll also get a sense of mountain hospitality on a cozy, friendly level.
Teahouse food is hearty and carb-heavy for the long days of trekking that they fuel. By far the most frequent meal is dal bhat, a Nepali staple consisting of rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry that is usually served with free refills. Noodles, pasta, pancakes, eggs, fried rice, momos, and soup are some of the other options. Despite the surprisingly varied menu, don’t anticipate any gourmet embellishments; things are served with rustic simplicity.
Above this level, everything has to be carried in by a porter or yak, and everything is more expensive and restricted. Don’t expect hot showers or Wi-Fi in every village — these are luxuries, not reliable amenities. Keep some cash on you, as ATMs are not always reliable once you leave Lukla.
Being ready for something rustic makes it more fun. For many trekkers, there is solace in the routines, camaraderie, and rhythm of mountain life. Stories shared over hot tea, huddled around the stove at night, make for some of your best memories on the trail.
Employing Guides and Porters: Why They’re Worth It
Everest Base Camp Treks Albeit it is possible to hike to Everest Base Camp on your own, there are advantages to hiring a guide and/or porter to help make the most of your experience while ensuring your safety and overall enjoyment. A certified guide is far more than just a navigator. They provide cultural insight, monitor your health for altitude sickness, handle logistics, such as teahouse bookings, and translate into local dialects. They also assist you in pacing the trek well, which is crucial for acclimatization to the altitude.
Porters will carry your main backpack, enabling you to walk relatively weight-free with a day pack. This is especially important as the trail gets steeper and every extra kilogram feels heavier. The hiring of a porter directly supports the local economy and ensures the spread of tourism money into the mountainous regions.
There’s also the emotional comfort provided by a support system. When the going gets rough, the weather gets terrible, or a decision needs to be made, it’s a great benefit to have someone experienced at your side. It also minimizes stress, so you can concentrate on the journey, not the details.
It is also important to employ ethical companies that offer reasonable pay and loads for porters and guides. It guarantees that you contribute to a sustainable and ethical trekking culture. In exchange, you get an immersive, safe, and much richer experience than you have walking the trail by yourself.
After the Trek and Relaxing
The trek doesn’t stop at Everest Base Camp — or even when you get back to Lukla. Recovery is a sensitive period that should be handled both physically and emotionally. After days of trekking at altitude, legs weary from miles of climbing, the body needs rest, hydration, and nourishment. You may feel sore, tired, and maybe have some mild symptoms of altitude as you go down. Give yourself several rest days in Kathmandu or Pokhara post-trek.
EBC trek is not only a challenge to the body but of emotions and the mind. There is also the stereotype of the newly enlightened trekker, somehow transformed by the experience. Having emptied one’s mind of modern distractions in the company of the world’s highest mountain range, things like priorities tend to change. Writing in a journal, telling your story, or making a photo album may be a good way to work through the experience and save the memories.
It’s also a great time to take care of your gear, get in touch with other trekkers, and even plan your next Himalayan adventure. Chances are, you will emerge from the trail a changed person — a stronger, more grounded version of who you were, with a fresh reverence for both nature and human tenacity.
By allowing yourself time to recover and reflect, your Everest Base Camp trek is not just an event in your life, it’s a legacy that you get to leave as a significant milestone of accomplishment and growth.
What are some tips to prepare physically for the Everest Base Camp trek?
You should start training for the Everest Base Camp trek 8 to 12 weeks before your departure, working on improving your endurance, leg strength, and cardiovascular ability. Begin with longer distance hiking or brisk walking 3–4 times per week, then gradually increase the duration and difficulty. Climbing stairs or a hill is particularly useful to mimic long walks with steep gradients. Add in cardio, like running, biking, or swimming, to increase your stamina, and strength training in the legs, core, and lower back to prepare those muscles to handle the weight of your pack and to stabilize you on uneven ground. Train to hike with a weighted backpack and break in your hiking boots well beforehand. Stretching and flexibility work, such as yoga, can also help minimize the chances of injury and level performance on the trail. Training for EBC is not about speed – it is about the ability to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day at altitude at a comfortable, steady pace. You will have a lot more fun on the trek if you’re well prepared than if you’re dragging your feet the whole time.
How fit do I need to be to walk to Everest Base Camp?
You don’t have to be a marathon runner or professional athlete to hike to the base camp of Everest; a moderate to high level of fitness is required. The trip requires 12 to 14 days of sustained hiking through rough, steep, and alpine terrain. You must be able to walk 10-15 km (6-9 mi.) on rolling terrain and steep off-trail terrain, sometimes gaining as much or more than 600 m (2,000′). Your light daypack must contain your gear for the day. Being in shape allows you to handle the stress of altitude and avoid early fatigue, which adds to the pleasure of your trip. Not that altitude affects everyone the same way; the fitter you are, the better your body can acclimate and recover. If you can hike for a few hours back to back on days in a row, tackle long ascents, and keep a consistent energy level, you probably are. Mental strength is also huge—keeping a positive mindset, staying focused, often can help you get through tough moments even when the body is tired.
What are the safety measures you should observe while trekking to Everest Base Camp?
While on the trek to Everest Base Camp, the most important precaution is to be kind to the altitude. Adopt an unhurried, leisurely schedule with a couple of acclimatisation days in Namche Bazaar and Dinboche to avoid AMS. Hydrate — drink between 3 and 4 litres of water per day, avoid alcohol, and try to eat good, carb-heavy meals to fuel your body. Bring altitude medication (like Diamox, with doctor’s guidance) and know the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which include headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Descending is essential if symptoms start to scale up. Make sure you always have travel insurance that includes high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation. Select well-rated local guides or trekking companies that adhere to safe practices. Bring adequate equipment such as warm clothes, rain gear, and a first aid kit. Take care on narrow paths, especially if they are icy or slippery, and give way to yaks and porters on the trail. Finally, listen to your body — one extra rest day can make the difference between getting to Base Camp or having to turn back.
What should I take to Everest Base Camp?
You can hike for 8 hours or longer per day in all kinds of weather on a loop over several days, and that can be physically tough if not properly prepared. So if you do decide to hike from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, you will need to pack the right clothing, gear, and documents you need to stay safe and comfortable. Begin with layers: a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm fleece or down jacket, and a waterproof shell. Bring thermal undergarments and gloves, a warm hat, a sun hat, and lots of pairs of socks. You will need solid, well-broken-in hiking boots. You’ll also need a sleeping bag rated -10°C (or colder), a comfortable backpack with a rain cover, and a small daypack. Other necessities such as sun block, sunglasses, a water bottle to refill (hydration pack), water-purification tablets, headlamp, toiletries, and power bank might also be included, although the following list is considered an overkill. Do not forget your Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card, Sagarmatha National Park permit, and Khumbu Rural Municipality permit. Cash is also important — ATMs can be unreliable on the route. A standard first-aid kit, altitude medication, and trail snacks complete your packing list. If you do hire a guide or porter, the load can be split, but even then, be smart about what you take.
