Independent VS Guided Everest Base Camp Trek

Independent VS Guided Everest Base Camp Trek  Above 90% of trekkers prefer guided Everest Base Camp Trek. However, some trekkers still love to do Independent Everest Base Camp Trek. Now, the question arises what are the pros and cons of Independent Everest Base Camp Trek and Guided Everest Base Camp Trek. But, recently the government of Nepal and the ministry of tourism jointly introduced a new law not to allow any individual trekker to make any kind of trekking in Nepal without a guide or porter soon.  This will help the trekkers to be safe on the trail.

Everest region trek route

Now let’s see what are the pros and cons of Independent Everest Base Camp Trek

Pros

1 Can enjoy the trip in their own way

Independent travelers can manage everything in their own wish. Actually, the holiday trip is for refreshment and exploration not guided by others. Independent Trekkers can be flexible regarding the time schedule. If they like, they spend more days in a particular place and explore the place.

2 Low Cost

Independent trekkers do not have to pay for the crew like guide and porter and even not for the company. They can make their trip in their own way. The money they pay for trekking companies and guides and porters can be spent on other activities like food and accommodation. So, relatively, independent Everest Base Camp Trek is less cheap than guided Everest Base Trek.

3 Can save Time

Everest base camp trek 

Trekkers in Independent Everest Base Camp Trek can faster their walking pace as they want. Even they can accomplish their Everest Base Camp Trek prior to the predetermined time and can utilize the rest of the time in other activities.

Cons

1 Unsafe Trip

Mountains are wild. Nobody foresees misfortune. But sometimes, it happens. We, at least, need to accompany either guide or porter. They will help us in many ways. The guide will help us explain the trail, accommodation, food, walking pace, and local culture. But if you make your Everest Base Camp Independently, there will be nobody to help you in case of dangers and you will completely be responsible for the dangers you encounter on the trail.

2 Less knowledge of the region and local culture

Everest base camp trek route

The guides and porters will impart tremendous knowledge about the region and local culture in your Guided Everest Base Camp, but we do not get such things in Independent Everest Base Camp Trek. Actually, trekking or hiking or tour is to explore a particular region or culture. If you do not explore the

region and acknowledge the local culture, the trip is not complete which we miss in our Independent Everest Base Camp Trek.

3 Uninteresting and Stressful Trip

Your Independent Everest Base Camp is going to be uninteresting and boring because you will not accompany by a guide and porter. The most important thing on your trip is your company: guide and porter. They will make your trip fun and enjoyable. They crack jokes, sing, and dance representing the local culture. If there is no recreation on the trip, then, certainly, our Everest Base Camp Trek is going to be stressful.

4 High Risk of Altitude Sickness

If you are not properly guided in the mountain, trekkers are more likely to get altitude sickness. The professional and experienced guides will instruct you about the weather, food, water, exercises, and the proper trekking gear during or prior to the trekking trip to Everest Base Camp. But if do make your Everest Base Camp Trek independently, of course, you feel a big lack and high chance of getting altitude sickness. But it doesn’t mean that you will not be suffering from altitude sickness if you accompany the guide. You can learn about altitude sickness but your study sometimes may not be sufficient. You need to be very cautious about food, weather, water, and other normal sickness while making your Everest Base Camp Trek so that you can minimize the risks of altitude sickness.

Now, let’s see the pros and cons of Guided Everest Base Camp Trek

Pros

1 Safe and Reliable Trip

Everest base camp trek

Accompanying with the guide will be very fruitful for your Everest Base Camp Trek. They will make you feel safe and help you to enhance your stamina and confidence in many ways. The guide will instruct and inspire you that will help you to make your Everest Base Camp trek memorable, safe, and reliable. The professional guide will orient and make you well prepared for the trip and that is a safe and reliable trip. If independent Everest Base Camp Trek is, relatively, not safer than guided Everest Base Camp Trek.

2 Knowledge about of entire region, local culture, and mountain summits

Trekking is not only a walk on the mountain trail but also an exploration of local culture, lifestyle, and interacting with people on the way. Guided Everest Base Camp Trek will benefit you a lot with the information of local culture, civilization, and mountain summits. The veteran guides will impart holistic knowledge about the people, lifestyle, and religion. This will make your Everest Base Camp Trek memorable.

3 Less Stress and Relaxing

In your Guided Everest Base Camp Trek, all required arrangements will be handled by your guide. You do not have to be stressed about food, accommodation, crews, and other unforeseen circumstances. You

independent Everest  Base Camp going to be stressful if you do not hire a guide because you are going to take all the burden of operation by yourself.

4 Less Risk of Altitude Sickness

Everest base camp trek with guide

Guided Everest Base Camp Trek will get you prepared well instructing you on the right things to do during the trek. But independent Everest Base Camp Trek doesn’t allow you to learn all the things about altitude sickness during your trip. If you are not properly guided, definitely, there is a high chance of getting altitude sickness.

Cons

1 Relatively, High Cost

Independent Everest Base Camp Trek tends to be less expensive whereas Guided Everest Base Camp Trek tends to be expensive because you have to pay for the company and the crew. You can save the money you pay for your guide and porter. But, holiday trekking is not for saving money.

3 Less Flexible

Everest region trek route

You have to follow the time schedule determined by the company and the guide in your Guided Everest Base Camp. You really cannot move according to your own wish. You will be bound by the time provided by the trekking operator. Flexibility is a must during holiday trekking or tour. But you do not such the freedom to enjoy the trip in your own way. But if you make Independent Everest Base Camp Trek, you can do it.

4 Time Consuming

Everest Base camp trek route

We cannot complete our Guided Everest Base Camp Trek prior to the predetermined time schedule. We cannot work faster than we planned. If we work faster, still, we need to wait the same time frame to complete our Everest Base Camp Trek if we choose Guided Everest Base Camp Trek.

Concluding Words

Trekkers are suggested to hire either a guide or a porter for their Everest Base Camp Trek. There are many benefits of hiring a guide for Your Everest Base Camp Trek. Guided Everest Base Camp Trek is always much more reliable and less stressful than Independent Everest Base Camp Trek. So, we must go with guided Everest Base Camp Trek although it is more expensive