Lonely Planet ranks Nepal’s Everest base camp as 4th best trek in the world
The trail passes through Sherpa villages, glaciers, and finally to the lap of Mt Everest, the world's highest mountain.
The Everest base camp trek that passes through Sherpa villages, glaciers, and finally to the lap of the world's highest mountain–Mt Everest–has been ranked 4th best treks in the world by Lonely Planet, the leading travel guide book publisher in the world.
‘The 10 best treks in the world’ updated in June 2020 by the guidebook says everybody wants a glimpse of the world’s highest mountain and that’s the reason why the Everest base camp trek has become so popular.
“Reaching a height of 5,545m (18,193ft) at Kala Pattar, this two-three-week trek is extremely popular, thanks to its spectacular scenery but also romanticism; successful trekkers are able to proudly say they've stood at the base of the world's highest mountain,” the guidebook said.
The trail threads between small, characterful mountain villages en route to the famous campground and are trafficked by Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu.
“The heights reached during this trek are literally dizzying until you acclimatize to the altitude, and the continuous cutting across valleys certainly has its ups and downs. Be warned: prime trekking season brings serious crowds.”
Most of the trek is through the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Everest) and a refuge for musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, black bear, and many spectacular types of iridescent pheasant.
Among the top 10 lists of the world's best trek, Everest base camp trek trails behind the GR20 trail that goes through Corsica, France diagonally from North to South; Inca Trail in Peru and Pays Dogon in Mali, one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions.
Other best treks are—the Indian Himalayas in India; Routeburn Track in New Zealand; Overland Track in Australia; the Narrows in the US; the Haute Route in France-Switzerland and Baltoro Glacier & K2 in Pakistan.
The travel guidebook says that these 10 classic treks are amongst the best on the planet; all of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs, and a good amount of preparation. But the reward is an experience that lasts a lifetime.
According to Lonely Planet, Mount Everest has captivated intrepid men and women since the 1920s. The exploits of legends such as George Mallory, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa put the mighty mountain on the map; thousands have followed, making huge sacrifices – many with their lives – in their own attempts to the summit.
But today, the trek to Everest base camp has become an achievable goal for people from all walks of life who want a glimpse of the world’s highest peak. In 2018, more than 56,000 people trekked in the Everest region.
