In April 2026 I set off for Everest Base Camp with the first Nomad Exped group. It was a pilot: I wanted to see the tour exactly as I offer it, with real people, before opening it to a full group in 2027.
A group of four
The group was very small: four people. Some knew me from Instagram, others came on a friend’s recommendation. For a pilot, that size was exactly right. I had time to talk to everyone, to see which questions came up and where people needed more information before leaving.
The route was the one I am taking again in 2027: via Gokyo and over the Cho La pass, then on to Everest Base Camp. It is longer than the classic out-and-back trail, but it has two big advantages: more time to acclimatise and views the classic trail does not have.
The hardest day
For me, the hardest day was crossing the Cho La pass. Not because of the pass itself, but because I climbed it with an upset stomach. It is the kind of day that shows you how much a well-stocked personal first-aid kit matters, and how much a calm pace helps even when you feel fine.
The people in the group did brilliantly, both on Cho La and around Gokyo. Nobody fell behind or had to turn back.
No altitude sickness
Nobody in the group had altitude sickness. I do not think that was luck. The tour is planned with enough time to acclimatise, with days when we climb higher and come back down to sleep, and with a pace that does not push anyone.
Gokyo Ri and the night at base camp
Gokyo Ri is a place that fascinates me every time. From the top you see the Gokyo lakes, the Ngozumpa glacier and, on clear days, Everest and the peaks around it.
The high point, though, was at Everest Base Camp. I slept there in a tent, and what has stayed with me most clearly is the joy of the people who had reached the goal of the tour. After days of walking, watching them realise where they are is the reason I do this.
The local crew
I worked with a local agency in Nepal, which provided the guide, the porters, the accommodation and the permits. They were very open, answered every question and were with us at every moment, not just on the trail.
What I am changing for 2027
The tour went well, but I am adjusting one thing: the short acclimatisation walks after we reach the place where we spend the night. In 2026 we did them on a few days; in 2027 I am adding them on more days. You climb a little higher in the afternoon, come down to sleep, and your body adapts more easily for the next day.
Back in Kathmandu
The participants came back to Kathmandu very happy. Their own words, with their names, will appear separately on the site, and I will soon add photos from every stage here too (Lukla, Namche, Gokyo, Cho La, base camp, Kala Patthar).
The pilot confirmed what I believed: a realistic pace and time to acclimatise matter more than anything else on the way to Everest Base Camp.
