Dates confirmed / Itinerary Confirmed

Right… deep breath. I’ve officially paid the deposit, which means this is no longer “a nice idea” — it’s happening.

I’m trekking to Everest Base Camp in April 2027, and the itinerary is now confirmed. For anyone following along (or just here for the inevitable blisters and questionable life choices), here’s the outline of the 14-day plan.

April 16th Depart London, arriving Kathmandu April 17th.

A fun day out for my birthday…..

April 17th. Day 1 — Arrive in Kathmandu

Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu).

April 18th — Fly to Lukla, the worlds most dangerous airport, + Trek to Phakding

The adventure properly starts: flight into Lukla, then the first hike to Phakding.

April 19th. Day 3 — Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,438m / 11,280ft) — the main hub of the region and the start of proper altitude territory.

April 20th Day 4 — Acclimatisation Day in Namche

A “rest” day (which usually means walking around to help acclimatise, not sitting in a spa unfortunately).

April 21st. Day 5 — Namche to Tengboche

Trek to Tengboche (3,870m / 12,697ft).

April 22nd. Day 5 — Tengboche to Dingboche

Trek to Dingboche (4,410m).

April 23rd. Day 7 — Acclimatisation Day in Dingboche

Another acclimatisation day to help the body adjust to the altitude.

April 24th. Day 8 — Dingboche to Lobuche

Trek to Lobuche (4,910m / 16,105ft).

April 25th. Day 9 — Gorak Shep + Everest Base Camp

Trek to Gorak Shep (5,140m), then on to Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,599ft)… and then back.

This is the big one.

April 26th. Day 10 — Kala Patthar + Down to Pheriche

Early trek up to Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,193ft) (best viewpoint), then down to Pheriche (4,371m).

April 27th. Day 11 — Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

Back to Namche.

April 29th. Day 12 — Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Final long push back to Lukla (2,840m).

April 30th. Day 13 — Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

Return flight to Kathmandu (weather allowing — Lukla is famous for delays).

May 1st. Day 14 — Depart Kathmandu back to the loving arms of my family (?)

A short note to thank everyone for their support in helping me make this happen. This is one of those moments when I sit back, look at the screen and realise that ‘it’s happening…..

All the best everyone – until next time, Rich

8kg Gone: My Journey to Sustainable Weight Loss

Delighted to share that at the 1st month dreaded weigh in, I’ve now managed to wave goodbye to 8kg since training began in January. This hasn’t come without sacrifices – I miss my beer, and I sure as anything miss my chocolate oranges once a week. Overall 12 month plan is to lose 25% of my starting body weight ahead of the trek, on a sustained 0.6-1.1kg per week plan. It’s actually happening quicker than this currently, and weight loss is addictive. Having spent my life yo-yo’ing, I just need to be sure that this time….it’ll be different.

Training continues…

Progress on the weight front is actually ahead of the curve, and I’m happy about that. Minor change to itinerary to move trek forward to April to avoid flight changes in Kathmandu to Ramechhap. I didn’t fancy a nine hour connection cross country ahead of the trek.

Thanks everyone for donations so far. Pleased to be at £700 of £5000 so early on. It’s taken some of the pressure off.

12 months out…

Thanks everyone for giving the page a read. I’ve now had the 12 month training plan come through from hiking bees and it looks brutal.

12-Month EBC Training Plan Breakdown (Richard Hayes)

Months 1-3: Foundation & Core (Build Consistency)
Goal: Build a solid base without injury.
Activities: 2-3 days of light cardio (hiking, walking, running) and 2 days of strength (core, lunges, squats).
Focus: Start wearing your hiking boots to get used to them.

Months 4-7: Strength & Aerobic Endurance (Increase Volume)
Goal: Build stamina and leg strength.
Activities: 3 days cardio (longer walks/runs) and 2 days strength (weighted step-ups, leg press).
Focus: Begin hiking with a 5-8kg backpack, gradually increasing weight.

Months 8-10: Specificity & Back-to-Back Training
Goal: Simulate trekking conditions.
Activities: Long hikes (4-6 hours) on weekends, preferably in hilly terrain.
Focus: Back-to-back training days (e.g., long hike Saturday and Sunday) to prepare for consecutive days of trekking.

Month 11: Peak Intensity
Goal: Maximum training load.
Activities: Longest, heaviest hikes.
Focus: Ensure you can comfortably hike for 6+ hours with a 10kg pack.

Month 12: Taper & Recover
Goal: Reduce fatigue, prevent injury.
Activities: Reduce training volume (fewer sets, shorter distances).
Focus: Rest, stretch, and ensure full recovery before travel.