An Everest Base Camp trek is not to be sniffed at, an 11 day arduous and demanding trek to the base of the tallest mountain in the world is quite frankly a challenge of a lifetime. It is also not a traditional family holiday. Yet recently that is exactly what some tour operators are offering, a family holiday to trek to Everest Base Camp. Of course this doesn't mean you can pack your trekking boots and hit the trail with a five year old but for those families with restless teenagers looking for entertainment the trail to EBC (Everest Base Camp) is fantastic.
For the adventurous family with teenagers, aged 16 plus, some tour operators will now let you go on the traditional Everest Base Camp trek - a 12 day trek from Lukla to Base Camp at 5,365m. With a couple of acclimatisation days in Kathmandu you are then swiftly flown to Lukla, a Sherpa village perched just above the Dudh Kosi or 'River of Milk'. This is the gateway to the Everest region and you start your trek with a short downhill trek to Phakding before embarking on the 7 day upward climb.
Once you start the trail life on trek doesn't get easier. A family holiday to EBC involves basic, locally run tea houses that get colder and dirtier as you climb, no toilets - it back to nature the whole way and there's the altitude sickness to deal with. A permanent headache, lack of sleep and generally feeling unwell are just part of the course for EBC trekkers. The negatives of a trip such as this do outweigh the positives for some people but for a family I couldn't recommend it enough. The tough conditions tend to bring everyone together on the trail, with a common goal everyone looks out for each other. And of course upon reaching Base Camp the sense of achievement far exceeds your expectations. Base Camp moves location every year but my end point overlooked a glacier whose icy ridge swept round to meet the West Ridge of Everest.
The views on the way up are astounding, Kala Patar towers above along side its cousin Everest and you're treated to continuous encounters with the Nepalese way of life. The rewarding views are made all the more sweet by the fact you've really earned them. For a family sharing this experience together is unforgettable. Career trekkers and climbers call EBC, the 'big one' and to bag this trek is to hold a real badge of honour. For your teenagers there isn't a better way to gain a sense of achievement and pride needed to succeed in the big, wide world.
Family holidays don't have to be all about package deals to the Costa Del Sol. These holidays benefit the family little as the parents tend to stay by the pool or in the bar while the teenagers sulk nearby. Trekking to Everest Base Camp means you share the hardships and the achievement together.
It's the most culturally diverse, scenically spectacular trek I've ever done. You have an incredibly rich Buddhist and Sherpa culture with temples and monasteries, locals trading along the trail, and yaks with sacks of salt coming over the pass from Tibet.
This article was written by Thom Sanders on behalf of the Adventure Company. They offer fantastic family holidays, including the brilliant Everest base camp trek.
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