Everest Base Camp Trek Preparation Guide From Taiwan

Planning an Everest Base Camp trek from Taiwan takes more groundwork than most Asian trips!

No airline flies direct to Kathmandu, the trail climbs to 5,364 m, and the best weeks fill up early.

But don’t worry! Below, we shall walk you through how to prepare, from your first flight search to your last night in Namche Bazaar.

Best Time to Plan Your Everest Base Camp Trek from Taiwan?

Late October and November give the steadiest skies and the clearest views of Everest and Ama Dablam.

March to May also works well, with warmer days and rhododendrons in flower at lower elevations. Summer brings monsoon cloud and more flight delays, while winter nights are very cold above 4,000 m!

Time off matters as much as the season. Our standard itinerary runs 12 days in Nepal (14 days with arrival and departure).

Add a day or two for travel from Taipei and one spare day for weather, so ask your employer for about 15 days!

And in case a public holiday falls in your window, book early, because autumn weekends sell out fast.

Flights and Visa Preparation: From Taiwan to Kathmandu

Cathay Pacific flies via Hong Kong, Thai Airways via Bangkok, and China Airlines or China Southern via Guangzhou.

What you need to do is choose a layover of at least 2 hours, since a missed connection can cost you a full day! Recent airline listings show round-trip fares from about TWD 21,000 in quieter months to over TWD 35,000 in mid-October.

Talking about visa, Taiwan passport holders can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. The fee is USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days, paid in cash.

If you ask us, we suggest the 30-day option as it suits most trekkers because it leaves room for delays!

Remember to bring a passport valid for at least 6 months and one passport photo. Filling in the online arrival form in the 7 days before you fly also shortens the queue!

Permits and Paperwork Preparation

The Everest Base Camp route needs two permits: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit.

You no longer need a TIMS card in the Khumbu. Together, the permits cost about NPR 6,000 (roughly USD 42), paid in rupees.

Good news if you’re already booking your Everest Base Camp Trek with Everest Trekking Routes. We arrange both permits as part of our package, so you only need to send us a passport copy in advance!

Moreover, our package also includes a guide as a professional included will always come in handy for pacing, route finding and spotting altitude symptoms early (and we know you want one, right?).

EBC Trek Plan: Fly to Lukla, Then Climb Slowly

During the spring and autumn peaks, Lukla flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) Airport instead of Kathmandu. That means a 4 to 5 hour drive starting around 2:00 AM, followed by a flight of 15 to 20 minutes!

Note that clouds can delay or cancel flights, so we keep a buffer day in the plan for travellers from Taiwan or any other nation!

The standard route gains altitude in these stages:

• Lukla (2,860 m) to Phakding (2,610 m)
• Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), with 2 nights for acclimatization
• Tengboche (3,860 m)
• Dingboche (4,410 m), with 2 nights
• Lobuche (4,910 m)
• Gorak Shep (5,164 m), then Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)
• Kala Patthar (5,545 m) at sunrise, followed by the walk down

You might have already guessed it! Altitude is the real challenge here in the Everest region.

The Wilderness Medical Society advises against sleeping more than about 500 m higher each night above 3,000 m. It also recommends a rest day every 3 to 4 days. That’s the reason we have kept rest nights at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche to keep the average gain within that guidance.

And we know that many of you (Taiwan hikers) have never slept above 4,000 m, even if you have climbed Yushan!

So, headache, nausea and poor sleep are early warning signs that you need to watch out for! Also, tell your guide straight away.

And before you even book your Everest trip, ask your doctor about acetazolamide before you leave.

How to Train for Everest Base Camp in Taiwan? Preparation Tips

Most days during your Everest Base Camp Trek involves 5 to 7 hours of walking, not technical climbing. That means you can start training 8 to 12 weeks ahead!

On weekends, we suggest going for a hike to Yangmingshan or Qixingshan with a 6 to 8 kg daypack. And during the week, climb stairs, such as the Elephant Mountain steps, and add 2 to 3 cardio sessions.

If you’re a gym-goer, we might not have to mention all the fitness-related tips here. In fact, you may even go through our EBC fitness preparation guide to learn more.

One preparation tip that many Taiwan travellers miss out is: break in your boots on those hikes. That’s because new boots cause more trouble on this trail than the mountains do!

Packing, Money and Staying Connected

First things first, about packing! Well, layers work better than one heavy jacket. Check our short checklist:

• Broken-in trekking boots (as mentioned earlier) and 4-6 pairs of wool socks
• Down jacket, rain shell and thermal base layers
• Sleeping bag liner (this one at the least if you’re not planning to carry a sleeping bag), headlamp, sunglasses and sun cream
• Reusable water bottles and purification tablets
• Nepali rupees in cash

You know the rest! Or simply go through our packing guide for Everest Base Camp to learn more.

Further, lodges above Namche charge for phone charging and Wi-Fi, and ATMs become unreliable higher up. Therefore, we suggest withdrawing enough in Kathmandu itself!

Moreover, LINE works over lodge Wi-Fi when the signal holds, but expect gaps above Dingboche. So, let your family know to expect a few quiet days!

Travel Insurance Worth Checking Before You Fly

Please do confirm that your policy covers trekking up to 5,500 m and includes helicopter evacuation.

What we have seen is that many standard travel policies stop at lower altitudes, so reading the exclusions closely is really crucial!

Buy your travel insurance before you leave Taiwan, not in Kathmandu. But in case you’re not sure where to buy, it’s even possible to get travel insurance in Nepal!

Ready to Book With Us?

Once you know your dates, the rest falls into place quickly! So, if you’re from Taiwan and reading this article, don’t hesitate sending us your preferred window and your flight plan from Taipei, and we will shape the itinerary around it, with permits and a guide included.

Any confusions, you may directly reach out via the contact details provided below. We will help you out ourselves so you don’t have to worry about your Everest Base Camp planning or preparation!