EBC TREK TIPS

• WATER: I did not have steripen, I bought water purification tablets in Thamel Supermarket and did not use it. I used to buy boiling/hot water all the way which cost from 50 - 100 NRs in the lower parts /first 4 days/. 100 - 200 Nrs from around Namche Bazaar and 300 - 500 Nrs per litter from around 4000m - Tengobche upwards. Take thermos flask to keep your water warm.

• FOOD: Cost from around 100 - 200 NRs all the way up to Namche. From Namche the prices slowly rose to up to 500 Nrs per main meal in Lobuche and Gorak Shep.

• ACCOMODATION: Always able to find a place to sleep and eat. The room was usually for free or around 100 - 200 Nrs all the way up to Gorak Shep.

• COST: it cost me around 250 Euro for the whole 15 days trek - food, accommodation, water, bus ticket. Permits added around additional 80 USD.

• CLOTHES: Merino base layer including socks and underwear, 2nd layer merino hoody and thin stretch pants, 3rd layer warm down jacket, Outer layer - goretex packlite pants and jacket.

• SHOES - comfy hiking leather boots. My personal best Hanwag Alaska

• BATTERIES: wear inside the down jacket or wrapped in sleeping bag. I had 3 batteries for my camera and it was enough for 15 days

• PERMITS: when sorting out the permits, have the money already exchanged in Nepalese Rupees. Note that the best way is to exchange in Thamel as outside Thamel it is hard to find exchange service and Banks may be closed.

• TRANSPORT: When taking Bus, buy a ticket the same morning from the Bus station. Bus for Jiri or Bhandar leave early, between 5 and 6 am. Ticket for trip from Kathmandu to Bhandar cost around 900 NRs. I would recommend to take bus only to Jiri and then walk. The bus ride to Jiri was relatively safe and comfy and at 1.00pm lt we were crossing Jiri. Then the ride got very rough, uncomfortable and almost undurable and took about the same time as if one was walking, with more dangerous parts on the road. I suggest walk from Jiri.

• WALKING SPEED - ITINERARY It took me 6 days to cover the trek from Bhandar to Namche Bazaar. It was very challenging, hard and I did not enjoy most of it as I got sick on the first day. Think about it when planning, and take into the account the fact that it is doable in 5 days but it may not be worth it in the long run.The road from Bhandar to Namche is easy to follow and always best to double check with the locals who are helpful. Careful in Manidingma village, as the road crosses and you can easily walk the opposite direction.Get ready for +30 degrees celsius during the day and around 0 at night until Namche. From Namche to Gorak the average temp in early December was 10 - 15 degrees during the day and slowly dropping with altitude to about 5 degrees from 4500m. Nights are cold, with up to - 10 degrees celsius.

• FLYING OUT - I bought a ticket through a local lady who ran a guest house, so I had no issue getting the ticket. Price was 160 USD per flight from Lukla to Kathmandu.

• ACCLIMATISATION - do not underestimate it. I do not recommend leaving out the rest days in Namche and Dingboche, unless you are certain about your level of acclimatisation. I recommend to drink a lot, walk slowly, when you arrive to your destination, always try to stay active and walk up the local hills for a better acclimatisation. Follow the basic rules of the ascent. When walking up the Kala Patar, make regular stops for 5 deep breaths after about 30 steps even if you feel ok, as it may help prevent problems with altitude. Conserve energy and do not rush.

• BEGGING - begging children on the streets of Thamel - note that they tend to ask for food, to be bought for them in the local groceries. Once you do this, they go back, sell it back to the shop and get half of what you paid for it and buy a glue or other stuff to get high. Try to help in other ways to them.

PACKING 

pack light, I had aprox. 16 kg and it was very hard for me to make it all the way up to Namche. Think when packing and do not take things you may /may not need.
What would I have packed/leave out:

• I would not take: 10 bars of dark chocolate, maybe 4 bars would be ok, not take tennis shoes/2nd pair of shoes, as I did not use them at all, 
• Things I would recommend to have: Thermo flask, Down Jacket, Down sleeping bag with comfort around -10 to - 15, heavy leather hiking shoes, antiseptic cream /swollen fingers from cold with damaged skin was getting inflamed quickly, sore throat pills, merino clothes, down gloves, windstopper hat, glacier level 4 sunglasses, camera with wide lens, mp3 player for hard long days with uplifting stuff, probiotics, vitamins, Gingko biloba, hiking poles, headlamp, painkillers, blister bandage, sun cream protection, etc.

GEAR - there are many ways to pack, buy, wear with regards to the gear, I will outline what I had worn and used. Since I was hiking alone and from Bhandar, I tried to use the light gear.

CLOTHES: Devold Merino boxer pants, long pants and long sleeve shirt, Merino Smartwool Heavy Duty sock, Devold 2nd layer hoody, Montura stretch pants, TNF packlite pants, Point Five TNF Hard Shell Jacket, La Sportiva Chum Down Jacket /600 ccuin/,  1xpair of windstopper glows, 1x down gloves, 1x outer layer goretex gloves, Hanwag Alaska hiking boots, windstopper headwear, windstopper baclava, Buff to protect neck, 

GEAR: DEUTER ACT LITE 50+10 backpack /1,6kg/, Sir Joseph Rimo 850 goose down sleeping bag 1,4kg -6 to -12 degrees comfort, Sony Nex 3N camera, 3 batteries, 2 lens, Salewa thermos flask.