Everest Base Camp Trek Day 4: Thame

THAME (ACCLIMATIZATION DAY) KEY STATS

Starting Point: Thame (3,820m/12,500ft)
Finishing Point: Thame (3,820m/12,500ft)
Distance: N/A
Trekking Time: N/A
Accommodation: Yeti Mountain Home Thame

THAME EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK DIARY

If you have ever completed a high-altitude trek, then you’ll understand the importance of allowing yourself to acclimatize properly. The process is simply allowing your body to adjust to the lower levels of oxygen in the atmosphere. As it relates to trekking, it’s about taking your time and avoiding the sometimes-fatal altitude sickness. For us, doing this properly is the difference between making it to Everest Base Camp or not. That’s why day 4 of our trek to Everest Base Camp was set aside for acclimatization in Thame.

Even though there was no set agenda for the day, I woke up early as the sun was beaming through my window. I threw on some clothes, grabbed my camera and decided to took a stroll outside. As I walked out of the tea house I was gob smacked. Our arrival into Thame the previous day was less than eventful. The fog meant I could hardly see my hand in front of me. Today was a different story.

Clear as day – the mountains we were trekking through yesterday revealed themselves and they were magnificent. Don’t know why I am surprised by this as it happens almost every day, but clear mornings taunt you with what you were nonchalantly trekking through the day before. It’s almost mother nature’s way of playing peek-a-boo with you – like, on a really large scale

Looking around you can see water being collected from the river, smoke chuffing out of the chimneys and lines of yaks making their way up and down the valley. The grounds of the Yeti Mountain Home – Thame may have been still, but it’s clear the rest of this village was wide awake and raring to go. What a great place to spend an acclimatization day.

Admittedly I was a bit giddy about being in Thame. The village is quite a well-known Sherpa village and has been home to some of mountaineering’s greatest. Tenzing Norgay, one of the first to summit Everest, had one of his childhood homes here after his time in Tibet and India. Thame is also the home to “snow leopard” Apa Sherpa – who has summited Everest a whopping 21 times! Throw in the fact that this village sits on the old salt trading routes between India, Tibet and Nepal – and you got a place jam packed full of history.

After breakfast, we went on acclimatization walk. These are set aside to train your body to deal with the lower levels of oxygen in the air as you trek to higher altitudes, but then come down. It’s why those that summit Everest do so over the course of a couple months. If doesn’t take that much time to get there – it’s just the act of going up and down several times to allow the body to train on lower oxygen levels.

We didn’t summit to any peaks on our acclimatization day, but we did trek an hour to the oldest monastery in the region – Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery. It was a few buildings perched high in the side of the mountains. We followed the prayer flags along the ride and passed a handful of stupas. While our trek up to the monastery wasn’t as taxing as summiting Everest, every step began to get us higher, revealing more of the surrounding mountains. The panorama from the top with awesome perspectives of Thamserku and Kusum Khanguru was again even more fantastic than as it was from below.

Founded in the 17th century, the Thame Dechen Chokhorling Monastery is legit. Monks were filing in and out of the buildings, there were loud sounds of drums beating, cymbals clanging and mysterious Buddhist chants echoing in the air. We made a contribution and got to go inside to check it out. Unfortunately, there were no cameras allowed inside and we were only able to visit one room that was empty. Regardless, it’s hard not to feel a spiritual presence as you meander through the dark and dusty monastery.

Before heading back down to our tea house, I sat myself on the wall that overlooked Thame and watched the clouds roll in over the mountains. The beating drums and chants from within the monastery provided an ambient soundtrack like no other. I let whatever thoughts come into and out of my head as they so pleased and I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I’ve not meditated before, but I’m sure my reflection was as close to it as one can get. It was a special afternoon and one that sets this trek above others that I have done in the past.

As we headed back into Thame we stopped by to visit the local school. It appeared it was the last day of school and students, with parents at their side, were getting their end of year grades. Prem shared with us that a lot of the kids who attend school here travel far and wised from surrounding villages.

We stuck our heads into one of the classrooms to see how where the kids conducted their studies. The rooms were small, covered floor to ceiling in posters and maps, had stacks of out of date text books, one brick of a laptop and a paperless printer. You often hear about how little schools in thirds world countries have– it becomes real when you are visiting one in the middle of the Himalayas. A nice way to end one of the first truly reflective days on trek to Everest Base Camp.

THAME VIDEO

LOOKING FOR NITTY GRITTY DETAILS?

Check out the day as recorded by Stava. See the trails taken, overall elevation gains, trekking times and how fast (or slow) we made it from Point A to Point B.

TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS: NEPAL

Flights

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Accommodation

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21 Comments

Sandy N Vyjay on September 18, 2017 at 2:03 am

The Everest Base camp could easily be one of the most astounding of natural landscapes in the world. Your stunning pictures bring alive the beautiful landscapes in vivid detail. One of our dreams is to head out to the Everest Camp, hope to get there someday.
Reply
- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 9:07 am
  
  Walking through the Himalayas is certainly a mind-blowing experience and one I can’t wait to do again. Deffo take the opportunity to get there if you have the chance. You wont regret it.
  Reply
youngandundecided on September 17, 2017 at 8:19 pm

This is incredible! It’s a dream of mine to one day hike to Everest Base Camp! That scenery is just insane. Can’t wait to read about the rest of your trek!
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- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 9:05 am
  
  Many thanks for the kind words. It was on my list for so long – so happy to have been able to go and experience it first hand. It’s challenging but man, the views day in and out are stunning. Look forwward to hearing about your stories once you go. 🙂
  Reply
Marlies on September 17, 2017 at 1:58 pm

You photos are amazing! Thame looks really nice and I would love to go there now one day!
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- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 9:04 am
  
  Thanks for the kind words. I would highly reccomend this type of trip to someone who is an outdoors lover. Its quite special.
  Reply
Agnes on September 14, 2017 at 10:23 am

Wow the views are absolutely stunning ! I cannot imagine, though, growing up there, going to school and living an ordinary life. How different it must be. But nature there is stunning.
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- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 9:02 am
  
  I agree with you – completely different experience than one most people have growing up. What I noticed in Nepal is that everyone has smiles on thier faces – so even though the conditions maybe more simple, they are a happy people. Nice to experience and humbling.
  Reply
Anushka Aggarwal on September 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm

Those views are really stunning. I have never tried out trekking in real but i will surely want to try it once.
Reply
- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 8:59 am
  
  Trekking is something I look forward to on holidays. A bit more challenging than a standard city break, but for me – much more rewarding. Give it a try. You may surprise yourself.
  Reply
Skyring on September 13, 2017 at 11:17 am

I cut my teeth on the old mountaineering books. High Adventure, the Conquest of Everest, all the classics. It must be amazing to climb in the tracks of the pioneers.

Fabulous photographs. Perhaps I should say, breathtaking!
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- Dom on September 18, 2017 at 8:58 am
  
  Sharing the trails with these guys is quite special. I’ll also have a look at those books – in need of some more reading material. Thanks!
  Reply
ADA on September 12, 2017 at 11:25 am

OK to be honest I was never a mountain person! I was the girl who’s looking for white sand, clear water beaches and palm trees! But now, more I read posts like that, more I wanna start preparing myself to climb Everest! Your photos are amazing! What an adventure!
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- Dom on September 12, 2017 at 1:45 pm
  
  Thanks for the kind words. I love the beach and can swim for hopurs exploring ther world under the waves. Mountains are just another adventure – a bit more physical but just as beautiful.
  Reply
Milena Dawidzionek on September 12, 2017 at 3:26 am

This is so high on my bucket list! But I still need to work on my persistence before Everest! Beautiful pictures, I can’t even imagine how awesome it must be in reality!
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- Dom on September 12, 2017 at 8:48 am
  
  You hit the nail on the head Milena. These pictures don’t do justice to what its like being there and seeing the panoramas around you. With general fitness levels and a desire to tackle a challenge, you can make this trip happen. There are actually a few different treks in the region that let you experience the Everest Region without actually trekking all the way to Base Camp. Everest Region Treks If you really want to get there, you can. 🙂
  Reply
The Wise Travellers on September 11, 2017 at 8:34 pm

This is one the my personal dream trip. Always dream travelling to Nepal and hike around Everest. Your photos are amazing, really makes me envy you.
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- Dom on September 12, 2017 at 8:45 am
  
  Nepal was onmy list of places I wanted to sopend time in for sooo long. Glad we did and looking forward to coming back. Start making plans for your trip now. 🙂
  Reply
Julz on September 11, 2017 at 8:42 am

It must just be an amazing experience and such an adventure! Your pics are just beautiful. It’s just one of these things that I really doubt i’d get to doing and it’s a bit of a shame! Thanks for your post!
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- Dom on September 12, 2017 at 8:44 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it. You would be surprised at the mix of people on the trails – I wouldn’t count it out. What do you think is the main obstacle?
  Reply
  - Julz on September 13, 2017 at 9:09 am
    
    I just cant really imagine when it’ll be – or maybe am talking too fast! Lets see when the kids grow up, maybe they want to take me on an adventure ?
    Reply