Nepal

2

EBC Day 04 – Lukla to Phakding

EBC Index

'World's Most Dangerous Flight'

I had been looking forward to the flight to Lukla for quite a while as all the things that I had both read and had heard from others travelers made the journey not only sound dangerous but also immensely fun. As such, I awoke that day bright and early and very eager to go. I had paid USD282 (NPR29000) for the return flight from Kathmandhu to Lukla Read more

0

EBC Day 03 - Boudhanath & Pashupatinath

EBC Index

TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) Card

I had decided to head to the TIMS office as early as possible in order to obtain my TIMS card as my main reason for being in Nepal was to go trekking. I also wanted to get it over with so that I could enjoy Kathmandu without it weighing on my mind. So after extending my stay in the hotel for another night - I gave USD10 and received NPR170 in change (which would mean that it come up to about NPR870) - and after my compulsory morning coffee which cost NPR30 at my favourite Newa Mo:mo Restaurant, I went in search for a mountain bike to rent. Read more

0

EBC Day 02 - Kathmandu's Durbar Square

EBC Index

Bustling Kathmandu

I woke up early to the noises of bustling Kathmandu. Fortunately the Annapurna Guesthouse that I was staying in was located off the main road and as such was a lot quieter than most of the other guesthouses. Later on was I to realize that the Nepalese start their day very early (normally around 05:00-06:00) as the sun rises and sets early here at this time of year. The first thing I did after I left the guesthouse was to head to the nearest shop and buy a map of the city which ended up costing a ridiculous NPR500! Read more

5

EBC Day 01 - Kathmandu Arrival

EBC Index

Kathmandu Arrival

The Airasia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu that I had purchased cost only MYR579 (including the airport tax) however the return flight came up to a total of MYR780. This was because I had taken quite some time to finalise my itinerary and as such ended up booking the return flight much later on. The flight itself was fairly uneventful, an Airbus 330-300 that remained between 10000 and 11500 metres with a speed of 780 km/h for the most part. One thing I did notice however that was out of the ordinary was the fact Read more

0

Everest Base Camp & High-Altitude Passes

Everest Base Camp & High-Altitude Passes

The Everest Base Camp Trek (commonly refered to as 'EBC) is considered one of the world's classic treks and takes one to the foot of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest (elevation : 8848m). The trek takes at least two weeks with several days of acclimatisation stops, and passes through the world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas. Trekking amongst 'eight-thousanders' provides one with some incredible views of some of the highest mountains in the world. I on the other hand, was looking for something far more remote so that I would be able to escape the ridiculous crowds that one tends to find on the EBC trail. The three high-altitude passes seemed perfect and at that time I thought would be a great side trip from EBC. Little did I know that (underwhelming) 'EBC' would end up being the side trip! A trip to the high-altitude passes (and EBC) requires a lot of preparation as any sustained trek uphill for weeks on end tends to take its toll, both physically and mentally, on those who try to take it on unprepared. I was fairly confident with my fitness levels so felt that I didn't require any special conditioning for the trip but I did ensure that the routes that I had planned to use were pre-programmed on my Suunto Ambit for assistance with navigation if they ever were required. Read more