Trekking to Everest base camp is a mythical pilgrimage that’s woven through the hearts, minds, and souls of all kinds of magical folk who want some form of adventure in a faraway land. Proper acclimatization is the key to success to avoid altitude sickness and to drink each second of your Everest base camp trek itinerary. Nobody in the know spends these acclimatization days just sitting around doing nothing because the time is too valuable to just blow off resting, so not to waste all this time, but not having fun or doing something cool to make the trip special. Whether you are doing the Everest base camp trip with a guide or going on the Everest base camp trek without a guide, understanding the principle of front-loading your acclimatization days with purposeful exercise can be a game-changer for your health, mood, and the way you enjoy your trip.
Why are Acclimatization Days such a vital part of the Everest Base Camp trek
Your body needs to acclimate to the reduced oxygen as it ascends. Lack of acclimatization can result in Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) that can potentially ruin your trek as well as your healthRestst days, usually every 2-3 days on the EBC Trekking, and help your body adjust to the high altitude with a rest before trying to go higher.
Acclimatisation aside, in addition to physical acclimatisation, the other highlights of your trek to Evererest Base Camp may also be spent on these Rest days, just be sure to do them intelligently! The gentle streamlining into activities, cultural exchanges, and a touch of pampering in acclimatization doesn’t just nudge you gently into being able to keep fit and morale higher while on the trek; it restarts you and makes a good foundation for the next part of the trek.
Sensible Things To Do On Rest Days To Help Your Body Acclimate:
Explore Nearby Villages and Culture
Mount Everest Base Camp Tour: Visit villages from your current acclimatization. This is one of the best uses of your acclimatization day! Places like Amche Bazar, Tengboche, or Dingboche mix Sherpa ways, sweet shops, and busy markets. When you walk quietly in these spots, your body gets okay with not having a fixed, dream-like way of life around you.
Tour monasteries such as Tengboche Monastery, witness spiritual ceremonies, and marvel at ancient architecture. All these, not to mention the awesome feeling of sitting in front of a cup of salt-butter tea, drinking it together with the friendly sherpa people and getting a glimpse of their culture and lifestyle, your journey to EBC and Khumbu should not only be an adventure physically, but exploring them culturally too.
Adapt on the Go with Short, Easy Hikes
Rest is good, of course, but becoming a couch potato between now and the big day can interfere with acclimation. Easy short hikes at your accommodation altitude can help get your blood and oxygen circulating without working too hard. Or else it’s just a cakewalk, for instance, the hike from Namche Bazaar to Everest View Hotel or Sherpa Culture Museum is a breeze and a lungful of fresh air at the same time.
These ascents enable your body to acclimatise to the rarefied atmosphere, give you a workout as well as tone your muscles, build your stamina, and offer you the vistas that would have made your Everest Base Camp trek package even more magical – the one you initially put your name down for.
Practice Breathing Exercises and Meditation
Altitude can be rough on the lungs. Note, while on acclimatization day, practice deep breathing, meditation exercises, as it helps in enhancing lung capacity and concentration power. This same feeling of peaceful space centrality and space for spiritual experience of the mountain environment can also be found in the meditation (occasionally held) of Tibetan Buddhist monks from the local monasteries.
New for 2020: Mindful Breathing and Meditation. This will help clear your head and get in the zone for hiking and will make the all in all, the whole thing much more enjoyable.
Eating and Drinking: Your Body Hydration
Use acclimatisation days to concentrate on eating and drinking, as these are key to good adaptation. (Dehydration, caused by high altitude, is among the most common hazards of high-ionizing radiation.)
Pepper up yourself with the tasty local food Dal Bhat, or that yummy looking and somewhat scary sounding Thukpa – it is a fantastically good high-energy dish that keeps you heat and will give you the right kind of carbohydrates and proteins. Re-Storing: Between that gym time, energy stores can be topped up with a wide variety of healthy food options.
Rest and Sleep Properly
It is critical to relax nicely while acclimatizing. Night temperatures cool down at higher elevations, and that may make napping quite uncomfortable, so just be organized for that with warm, sound asleep baggage and layers. Caffeine and alcohol impair sleep, too, so keep them out of the test.
You will have enough time to meet new friends and do some sightseeing after the hike, but when you come home after the day hike, just shower and try to get to bed quickly. Rest days are here for a good rest for your body after your hike.
Avoid Common Acclimatization Mistakes
Now that you have maximized your acclimatization days, here are things to avoid. Don’t resist the urge to sprint up those days or to push yourself. And not listening to your body’s messages can become altitude sickness, which can be deadly.
Don’t smoke, and at least as little caffeine as you can because it also interferes with your oxygen absorption. And try not to binge-eat rich or unfamiliar foods that could be hard on your digestion.
So by including easy movement, along with mindful rest and self-care, your rest days will be serving to help stimulate your body to adapt and, in the end, to make your trek to EBC an enjoyable one.
Conclusion: Equip Acclimatization Days to be Pillars for your EBC Trek.
Rest days do not have to be boring on the Everest Base Camp trek. The savvy acclimatizer uses these days (and nights) well — cultural activity, gentle forays into the high valleys, techniques releasing the effects of whatever from high altitude, reverent focus on the right food and rest — cramming into the body and mind the right combination of fuel and hell-yes! for the surge up ahead.
Not only do you increase your chances of a successful, safe journey, but also your knowledge and fascination with the Himalaya, and your attraction to the sherpa country. Whether you’re booking an adventure such as the Everest Base Camp Trek and guide, or booking your solo Mt Everest Base Camp tour, taking that time and experiencing those acclimatization days as a welcome change to endless stepping, stepping, stepping can create memories you will never forget.
If you would like some help planning the ideal Everest Basecamp moments and itinerary with you walking and acclimatizing within the bounds of your current physical fitness, I’ll help. Just ask!
