“The Everest Base Camp Trek” as grandeur and enthralling as it may sound, trekking to the base of the world’s tallest mountain is not a piece of cake. EBC trek is pretty challenging but it is equally rewarding. Even though anyone can complete this trek, physical fitness, and mental stability are necessary. Hence, before embarking upon the journey, you need a proper Everest base camp trek training that includes; adequate strength and cardio training.
Even though the Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trekking adventures, it can still be intimidating to people with low physical fitness. You must be able to walk continuously for 5-6 hours every day. With prior management and proper training literally, anyone can embark upon this enthralling adventure. So, for those aspiring to partake in the Everest Base Camp Trek, investing time and effort in proper “Everest Base Camp Trek training” is the key to a fulfilling and memorable journey.
Do I Need to Train For Everest Base Camp Trek?
Now the real question is whether or not I need to train for the Everest base camp trek. The answer to this totally depends on your level of fitness. Even though the trek is slow and steady, you will be continuously walking on an elevated trail for 5-6 hours every single day. Hence, aerobic training and strength endurance can be highly beneficial for anyone embarking on this journey.
How Much Training Do I Need To Be Fit For EBC Trek?
As intimidating as it might sound, trekking to the base of the majestic Mount Everest is not an impossible adventure. You don’t have to be a marathon runner or an award-winning athlete to complete this journey. However, what you need is decent physical fitness, a positive mental attitude, and the strength to not give up when challenges arrive.
You can train your mind for positivity by feeding positive self-talk, watching motivating videos, and reminding yourself of your purpose. Now, talking about the physical aspect, you need to add more strength training and cardio to your daily workout session. These small steps are enough to make a massive difference on the trail.
What is The Level of Difficulty on The Everest Base Camp Trek?
A walk to the base of the world’s tallest mountain is definitely not a walk in the park. As the famous saying goes, “The best views come after the best climbs” This applies to the Everest Base Camp trek. When you reach your goal after going through a rather difficult road, it’s everything you could wish for. Witness a larger-than-life scenario of majestic mountains, landscapes, and other breathtaking natural sights then all the hard work will pay off.
The difficulty level of the Everest base camp trek is considered moderate. No previous trekking experience is required for this trek. However, you must be able to walk 6-7 hours a day, be physically fit, and be willing to complete this trek. The main difficulty in trekking is the altitude of the trek. While trekking, you may have to deal with acute altitude sickness or altitude sickness, so it is important to stay hydrated, eat well, sleep well, and acclimatize properly to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
The next difficulty you may encounter is when you are trekking in the off-season. You might face challenges like; unforeseen weather conditions, problems regarding accommodations, and many more.
With our guide to EBC trek accommodation, you’ll be well-prepared for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable adventure in the Himalayas.
Physical Training and Fitness Required For Everest Base Camp Trek
Your physical training for the Everest base camp trek requires you to have cardiovascular endurance as well as strength endurance. Being in good physical shape is primal for trekking in high altitudes. While training for the Everest base camp trek, you should plan to progressively ramp up your speed and duration. Your Everest base camp trek training should involve a mix of cardiovascular, strength, climbing, and flexibility conditioning. This will ensure a comfortable and effortless trek.
Practice with short hikes
If the long elevated trails intimidate you, then it is better to get started with short hikes. Practicing short hikes will help your body get accustomed to trekking long distances. It is best to start off with short hikes with a minimum duration of 6-7 hours. This simple training will help you complete the Everest base camp trek effortlessly.
Cardiovascular Conditioning
Cardiovascular conditioning helps your body deal with oxygen deficiency on elevated trials. Hence, this should be a crucial part of your workout regime in prepping for the Everest base camp trek. These cardiovascular activities include; swimming, cycling, and walking up and down the hill. Your weekday cardio should last for about an hour while your weekend cardio can go for multiple hours.
Also, we advise you to start off early, at least 3 months prior to your trek. The more effort you put in right now, the more you are likely to complete the trek effortlessly.
Strength Conditioning
A strong core and stable legs are crucial while trekking to the Everest base camp. This will bring a certain ease to your body while trekking. So, be sure to add strength training to your workout routine. Some of the most effective exercises that strengthen your legs are; squats, side lunges, toe-ups, and so on. You can also include exercises like; jumping squats, burpees, stairs running, joining aerobic classes, and so on to prepare for trekking.
Mental Conditioning
Becoming mentally prepared for a trek is as important as it is to be physically prepared. Having the right frame of mind makes it a lot easier for you to navigate through tough challenges and circumstances. Some of these tips might be of help to you.
Be Prepared To Face Challenges
Let’s face it, not everything on the trek is going to go our way. So, it is crucial to accept and face any unforeseen challenges with a lot of strength. Challenges from sudden climatic change, rocky trails, and foods that you may not enjoy. So be mentally prepared to face any unforeseen circumstances, this way you can easily navigate through problems.
Know Your Motive Behind The Everest Base Camp Trek
If you have a solid reason behind, why you want to complete the Everest base camp trek, then it will work as a strong motivating factor on the difficult trail. Keeping your purpose in mind at all times will provide you with the necessary motivation and hope for moving forward when you feel like giving up.
Try To Stay Positive
A positive attitude goes a long way. Whenever you meet difficult circumstances and challenges, maintaining a positive attitude will help fix a lot of things. Overthinking and negativity are only going to solidify the already existing problems, so try to keep a positive attitude as much as possible.
Learn more:
Fitness Level Required For The Everest Base Camp Trek
Important Tips To Avoid Altitude Sickness During Everest Base Camp Trek
There are always two sides to a coin. Similarly, the majestic Himalayas also come with their own cons. Altitude sickness is a negative aspect of the Himalayan trail. Several travelers fall prey to altitude sickness which makes it difficult for them to trek further. However, these drastic situations can be avoided if you follow these preventive measures.
Elevate Slowly
Trekking continuously for 6-7 hours, every day on a Himalayan trail is a daunting task in itself. Additionally, adjusting your body to these higher altitudes makes this experience even more challenging. Hence, it is essential to pace yourself, listen to your body, and elevate gradually. This will help your body adjust to the higher altitudes and help prevent altitude sickness.
Stay Hydrated
It is crucial to stay hydrated while trekking at higher altitudes. It is only possible to successfully complete this journey if you are fit and healthy. Challenging trails like the EBC trek demand your body to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated will help your body fight the minor symptoms of altitude sickness as well as help prevent it totally. Hence, It is very important to drink sufficient water while on the trek to higher altitudes.
Avoid Junk Food
Make sure you avoid junk food and other unhealthy meals. Eating good food will support you in completing the challenging trek, effortlessly. On the other hand, the consumption of unhealthy food might cause severe side effects. Consuming healthy food also helps prevent altitude sickness.
Don’t Ascend More Than 100m In One Day
Having no prior trekking experience can make it difficult for your body to adapt to higher altitudes. So ascending 100m in a day is a good start. This will give you enough time for your body to adapt to the higher altitudes. You can prevent severe symptoms of altitude sickness this way.
Avoid Doing Heavy Exercises At High Altitudes
Exercising while on a trek can be highly beneficial. Especially exercises like warm-ups, yoga, and light exercises. These simple exercises help in preventing altitude sickness. However, you must avoid performing any heavy exercises at higher altitudes. This might result in shortness of breath, and dehydration, followed by other symptoms of altitude sickness.
Don’t Smoke Cigarettes, Drink Alcohol, Or Take Sleeping Pills
Make sure that you avoid smoking, taking sleeping pills, or drinking alcoholic beverages. Consumption of these substances invites the symptoms of acute mountain sickness or high altitude sickness. Also, if you already have the symptoms then these substances will worsen it. So be sure to avoid them at any cost.
Learn more:
Everest Base Camp Altitude Sickness
Final Thoughts on Training For Everest Base Camp
The Everest base camp trek in Nepal is one of the most renowned trekking trails that comes with its own set of challenges. In this article, we have guided you on “how to train for Everest Base Camp trek,” ensuring that you are fully prepared to tackle the journey and any unexpected circumstances that may arise along the way. You can follow through with this article to be fully prepared for trekking to the Everest base camp.
With decent physical fitness and a stable frame of mind, it is easier to overcome any challenges while enjoying the awe-inspiring sceneries at the base of the world’s tallest mountain. Check out our Ultimate Everest Base Camp Trek Guide which covers everything from route options and permit requirements to gear lists and acclimatization tips.
