What Tour Group to Choose...

Although you don't really need to have a tour guide to trek to Everest base camp, we have decided to hire a tour guide for this trek. The cost of the tour package includes:

• reservations and cost of all hotel and teahouses along the way
• three meals a day
• a return flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
• yaks and porters along the trail
• camping gear at Everest base camp
• trekking guide

We've decided to go with Peak Freaks based out of British Columbia.  This organization specializes in treks to the top of Mount Everest so they have a lot of knowledge and experience with altitude sickness.
By simply trekking to the base camp, we will all be at risk for altitude sickness so I feel safer going with tour guides who have experience with this. They will arrange for quick extraction from the trail for anyone who gets sick.

Since we have a group of people participating in this adventure, I thought it would be better to go with a Canadian based group so that we can do a bit of background checking on their company and we can using credit cards—something we couldn't do when booking safaris in Africa. 

Comparison of Peaks

Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak (Tanzania, Africa): 5,895 metres (19,341 ft)

Mount Everest North Base Camp (Tibet): 5,545 metres (18,192 ft)
Mount Everest South Base Camp (Nepal): 5,360 metres (17,590 ft)

Kilimanjaro Base Camp-Mandara huts (Tanzania, Africa): 2,725 metres (9,000 ft)
Kilimanjaro Marangu Gate (Tanzania, Africa): 1,800 metres (5,905 ft)


High altitude pulmonary edema: 2,500 metres (8,200 ft)
    - sometimes lower between 1,500–2,500 m or 4,900–8,200 ft in highly vulnerable subjects

Machu Picchu (Peru, South America): 2,430 metres (7,970 ft)

Mount Washington Peak (New Hampshire, USA): 1,917 metres (6,288 ft)

Everest Bound

We 've decided to make a trip to Everest Base Camp. We have no idea what we are in for. We are not experienced mountaineers, climbers or hikers.

Why did we choose Everest and not a hot, sunny place down south? Not sure, but it sounds like it would be something very exciting and amazing to do. Besides, we've been down south several times and we ain't getting any younger. Now's the time to go!

We're inviting friends and family to join us on this trek! Now comes the endless planning process, research, list writing and shopping.  Let the fun begin.