One Woman, One Dream: Jayashri’s Journey to Everest Base Camp with Thrillophilia Review

The Himalayas had always been in my mind as something untouchable, snowy giants that needed bravery, patience, and respect. I finally decided that enough was enough in April 2023, and decided that it was time to make a start towards that dream. I booked my trek to Everest Base Camp through Thrillophilia, who set up everything from tea house stays to trustworthy guides. They even rescheduled everything as I got there a day later than I was initially supposed to. I didn't expect that a "solo trip" would be filled with laughter, shared struggles, and friendships made in the thin air of the mountains.

The First Step: Lukla to Phakding

I will never forget the short flight from Ramechhap to Lukla, half fear and half exhilaration. My heart was racing not only because the runway was short, but also because this was it, the start of my climb to Everest. When I met my trekking group, which included people from all over India and the world who were also on an adventure, my nerves started to settle. I had signed up by myself, but all of a sudden I wasn't alone.

The trek to Phakding was a good way to start. We walked through pine forests and over suspension bridges covered in prayer flags on the trail. By the time we got to the tea house in the evening, I had already made three new friends: an engineer from Bangalore, a nurse from Germany, and another woman travelling alone from Mumbai. We talked about why we were there, what scared us the most, and how strange it felt to finally be here over hot cups of chai.

Finding Rhythm: The Climb to Namche Bazaar

The next morning, we began our climb to Namche Bazaar. This part of the trek wasn’t easy; it felt like the climb after crossing the Dudh Koshi River would never end. But every time I stopped to catch my breath, the sight of Thamserku or a brief look at Everest in the distance made me keep going.

At one point, when my legs felt like they were made of lead, one of my group members slowed down to walk next to me. She smiled and said, "We're all in this together." That moment changed everything for me. Even though my dream was very personal, the journey was becoming a story that everyone could relate to.

The group already felt like a family by the time we got to Namche Bazaar, a town with colourful rooftops and a busy market that looked like an amphitheatre. That night, after walking around and eating momos at a nearby café, some of us ended up at a Pub, under the soft glow of fairy lights, and laughter was louder than the tiredness.

Moments of Stillness: Tengboche & Deboche

The journey from Namche to Tengboche had postcard-worthy views, with Ama Dablam standing tall against the sky and monasteries hidden among the peaks. When we finally got to Tengboche Monastery, the wind blew through the prayer flags, and the monks' chants filled the air.

I remember sitting quietly during the evening prayers, which was a rare moment of peace after days of hard work. It was no longer just a physical journey, but also a spiritual one. Later that night, a group of us stayed up talking about resilience in our tea house at Deboche. Everyone had their own Everest, personal battles, heartbreaks, and fears, and being here gave us all the strength to face them.

The Grind: Dingboche to Lobuche

When we got to Dingboche, altitude had become the enemy without a sound. We were out of breath just from climbing stairs. We spent an extra day getting used to the area by walking around the village and talking to Sherpas who had climbed Everest many times. I was humbled by how humble they were.

One of the hardest days was when we climbed to Lobuche through Thukla Pass. The path was steep, rocky, and never-ending, and it pushed me to my limits. The memorials to climbers who had died along the way were sad reminders of how harsh the mountains can be. My legs were shaking, but everyone in the group cheered each other on. One of them gave me a piece of chocolate at the steepest part, and it was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted.

The Dream Realised: Everest Base Camp

The air was thin and cold when we left Lobuche for Gorakshep in the morning. It felt like I was dragging a heavy weight with every step I took towards Base Camp. But when we finally got to the spot with prayer flags and stones that said "Everest Base Camp," I forgot all my pain.

I cried as I looked around at the Khumbu Glacier and the tall peaks that surrounded us. I wasn't just at a certain place on the map; I was at the top of my own courage. My trekking group cheered, hugged, and took pictures all around me. I had come alone, but at that moment I was part of something much bigger, a team that had carried each other here in spirit and strength.

The Final Gift: Kala Patthar Sunrise

A few of us woke up before dawn the next morning to trek to Kala Patthar. It was extremely cold, but the reward was beyond anything I could have imagined. A golden sunrise over Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse that painted the peaks in fiery colours. We didn't talk for a few minutes, we just stood there, shivering and feeling overwhelmed, as if the mountains had let us see inside them.

Walking Back Different

The descent was faster but no less memorable. Passing through familiar villages like Pheriche, Tengboche, and finally back to Namche Bazaar, I realised how much the journey had changed me. On the first climb, every step had been about fear and doubt. On the way down, every step carried pride, gratitude, and the warmth of the friendships I had built.

When I finally boarded the flight back from Lukla, I wasn’t the same person who had nervously stepped onto the trail nine days earlier. I returned home with aching muscles, sunburnt cheeks, and a heart full of memories that would last a lifetime.

The Takeaway

The Everest Base Camp trek is not just about reaching 17,600 feet. It’s about discovering your own resilience, surrendering to nature’s grandeur, and realising that even when you travel solo, you’re never truly alone. With Thrillophilia’s meticulous arrangements and the camaraderie of my trekking group, I found both my dream and a piece of myself on those trails.

Read More: Thrillophilia Himalayan Trek Reviews