The best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp

The best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp requires more time on the trek to Everest. It’s simple, give yourself more time especially in Namche Bazaar 11,500 feet to put yourself in the safest and best possible position making it to Everest.  I have climbed to the summit of Everest and made the trek 30+ times.

The best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp

Having enough annual leave or time off work can be challenging. Time is needed to acclimatize correctly so you can be safe and enjoy your Everest base camp trek and truly enough this amazing journey through the Himalaya’s. You need the best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp. All the research over the past decade suggests more time is needed in the acclimatization process at 3,500m/ 11,500ft. That is why we spend 3 nights acclimatizing at this height on all our treks.

The trek to Everest base camp has so much to offer and should not be rushed for a number of reasons. A trek in Nepal and into the Everest region could change your life. You don’t want to rush this journey. You will want to take your time breath in this phenomenal place. The Himalaya’s and the majesty of these monstrous mountains will leave you humbled in their mighty presence.

You will need to have excellent physical conditioning. If you sign up to one of our treks we will help you prepare. I will be available to you 5 days a week when I am not on trips, helping you build your fitness, conditioning and help you fully prepare for your journey to being fully prepared for the Mt. Everest base camp trek.

The key is getting the acclimatization schedule correct. I have led over 100 expeditions to altitude over the last decade. I have climbed Everest and Kilimanjaro 25 times now. I have climbed Kilimanjaro in 5,6,7,8 days and there is a noticeable difference in how I adapted and performed at altitude on a 5 day trip or an 8 day trip.

The best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp needs to have an acceptable acclimatization period on route to high altitude. Recent research suggests that you will need more time to adjust to the lack of oxygen at 3,500m/ 11,500ft. Adjusting and acclimatizing needs time. If you fail to acclimatize well lower down you will really struggle higher up. So the closest town at this height is Namche Bazaar 3,440m/ 11,286ft Our itinerary spends three night at this height and critical for your safety moving higher.

By spending three nights in Namche Bazaar, gives you the best chance to making a successful, safe and enjoyable experience high into the Himalaya’s. There will also be an additional two nights acclimatizing in Dingbouche 4,410m/ 14,468ft.  Which will set you up nicely for the journey above 4,900m/ 16,000ft and a dangerous lack of oxygen. Above 5,638m/ 18,500ft you would enter the base layer of the death zone. This means your body would slowly be dying above this height and can not fully adjust to the low levels of oxygen above this height.

The highest point on the Everest base camp trek is at Kala Phatar 5,632m/ 18,477ft. So you are getting really close to that extreme altitude level. With 50% less oxygen getting to your muscles, you have to make sure you acclimatize correctly in the early stage of the trek. If you acclimatize better lower down in Namche Bazaar, the better acclimatized you will be when you arrive above 5,000m/ 16,404ft. 

The best acclimatization schedule for Everest base camp

For two years we ran 50% of our treks with two days in Namche Bazaar. The other 50% of the treks ran with three nights in Namche. We set up a O2 test on each client over the space of a year. Our research suggested a big different between two and three night acclimatizing around the 3,500m mark. We saw an 85% increase in people stats. Suggesting that people who spent three nights in Namche bazaar 3,440m/ 11,286ft stood a far better chance of not getting altitude related sickness. This additional acclimatization is what helped people enjoy and get more from their Everest base camp experience.

After conduction our research on the ground in Nepal.  We added an additional night to all our Everest base camp treks in Namche Bazaar. We are getting the best results from our Everest base camp treks. We have a 99% success rate with clients enjoying their adventure, experience and journey into the magical mountains of Nepal. We continue to do research on all our treks in Nepal, Kilimanjaro and all our trips. Making sure our results on high altitude treks are second to none.

Watch our Everest base camp video and see what people said about our treks.