Never Everest - The Himalayas Travel Video

Camera I used: Sony a6500 (https://amzn.to/2SSM510)
Lens: 16-70mm f4 Zeiss Lens (https://amzn.to/2BihSge)
️ Drone: DJI Mavic Mini (https://amzn.to/3cdzCwS)
Music: The Himalayas by Ben Winwood licensed via Artlist.io (https://artlist.io/Pete-165569)
️ For a complete travel guide to trekking Everest Base Camp independently? https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/everest-base-camp-trek-independently

Never Everest is a travel video about a man's journey into the Himalayas, hiking the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo independently experiencing Nepalese culture, the people and the hardship of trekking the mountains for 15 days.

On the last day of my 20s, turning 30, I woke up early in the morning and climbed Kala Patthar (5,643m) to see Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world and its surrounding neighbors.

It has always been my dream to see Mount Everest with my own eyes and so on November 2018, I showed up in Nepal with a backpack and started hiking Everest Base Camp trail solo without porters to follow through my dream before I turned 30. The experience was both exhilarating and exhausting, and yet that is the best 30th birthday celebration I could ever ask for. There is no better way to celebrate your 30th birthday than to prove that your body can still handle extreme condition like trekking for 15 days at the 5000+ altitude.

My journey took me to Lukla via one of the most dangerous flight I have ever taken. I began trekking to Namche Bazar where I was able to experience the culture of the Himalayan people as I witnessed a Buddhist ceremony in Khunde monastery and the Tengboche Monastery, 3800m above sea level. I continued to push on for the next 6 days until I reached Everest Base Camp, a rocky area where the real expeditions begin their journey up the highest peak in the world.

I went up to Kala Patthar, the highest point in the EBC trail to see Mount Everest and started heading west toward another highlight of the trail, the Gokyo lake. The trail to Gokyo is a little less tamed and wilder than the well-trodden EBC trail which is a much welcome change. The adventure didn't end once I reached Everest Base Camp. At one point, I had to walk on a melting glacier with my regular shoes through the Chola Pass towards Gokyo which is heart-pounding to say the least. I survived without falling which is an accomplishment in itself.

I spent a few days at Gokyo lake hiking up Gokyo Ri but there were a few problems that started to appear. I started to cough quite violently up there due to a nasty case of Khumbu Cough which is when you breath dry air for too long and worst of all, I ran out of money. So on the last few days, I had to push through from Gokyo to Namche (the last place with an ATM), a 2 days hike in one day, and the cough was definitely not helping. It took me around 8 hours to finish that day and I almost collapse when I arrived in Namche Bazar late evening.

After a few days resting, I finally was able to get down and got back to Kathmandu where I was able to recover from the trek. As it turned out, the cough lasted for weeks after I came down, but other than that, the journey I took through the Himalayas was one of the best things I could ever do for myself for my birthday.

I hope the video will be able to give you a glimpse of what it's like trekking the Everest Base Camp and eventually inspire you to do the same.

Location: Kathmandu, Lukla, Namche Bazar, Khunde, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Chola Pass, Gokyo, Gokyo Ri

Music: The Himalayas by Ben Winwood licensed via Artlist.io (https://artlist.io/Pete-165569)

Camera: Sony a6500 + 16 - 70mm F4 Zeiss lens (https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/sony-a6500-best-travel-camera-2018)

Looking for a complete guide to trekking Everest Base Camp independently? https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/everest-base-camp-trek-independently