Hiking to Everest Base Camp (this was hard) | part one

I’m setting out on a big adventure: I’m trekking to Everest Base Camp, but with a twist. I’m doing it without the help of a guide, porter, or even taking a flight! Instead, it's just me and my boyfriend, a map, and a way-too-heavy backpack, that - spoiler alert - is going to cause me to struggle a lot.
In this first act (out of three), instead of flying to Lukla, we first take a bus from Kathmandu to Salleri/Phaplu. Once on the trail, we are forced to navigate muddy roads, battle relentless rain, and face challenges that push me to my limits.
But it's not all rain and mud! Despite the challenges, we get some beautiful, raw views of the Himalayas, and have a lot of fun along the way, too. It's a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with each step bringing me closer to the iconic Everest Base Camp.
Trust, me, this is a series you won't want to miss!
🌍 About Me:
Hey, I'm Flora - adventurer, storyteller, and lover of all things outdoors. Join me as I uncover the hidden gems of the world and share the magic of travel with you!
👉 Support my Channel:
If you enjoy my content and want to help me continue creating these adventures, consider supporting me through www.buymeacoffee.com/floragon...
🌐 Connect with Me:
Instagram: / flora_gonning
For inquiries and collaborations: [e-mail]
⏰ Details:
Time of Visit: End of March 2023.
📷 Gear:
Main camera: Panasonic Lumix S5 mark ii
Lens: Sigma 24-70 F2.8
Side camera: iPhone 14 Pro
Microphone: Rode Videomic X
📌**Timestamps:**
0:00 - Introduction
1:10 - Bus to Salleri/Phaplu
3:22 - Day one - setting off
9:40 - Day two - finding our way
13:37 - Day three - the toughest one yet
18:16 - Day four - mud, mud, and more mud
19:27 - Day five - the last 'unofficial' EBC day
#nepaltravelvlog #nepaltravel #everestbasecamp #nepaltrekking #nepal #adventuretravel

[@zztops489Y]

Did this back in '83. Brings back lots of memories. Incredibly difficult. I had porters to carry the heavy stuff, as I had limited time. In terms of what makes this so hard, not the ups, actually, but the unrelenting downs!!! By the time you reach Namche, you will have done about 3 times the elevation of Everest. The other big advantage of doing it this way, is you will never have to worry about acclimatizing. And, after Namche, compared to what you have done, it's pretty much *flat*!!! Good luck.

[@MohanShrestha-kq6wv]

This is a first video in years, that I haven't skipped a second!!

[@floragonning]

Glad you enjoyed 💛✨🙌

[@suraj-ug7py]

@@floragonning welcome to nepal. i want to suggest you best places to visit in nepal. do you have email ?

[@daniellealishah4505]

Beautiful. This channel makes me feel like someone who has stumbled upon an incredible secret place and am torn between telling everyone i know, or keeping it to myself.

[@floragonning]

🥹🥹💛

[@FelixTVHD]

I will give this channel one year till 100.000 subscribers, mark my words

[@JPF123]

She's living every young person's dream lol (at least outwardly) Yeah this channel is gonna blow up in popularity.

[@Y2Kvids]

Take all the time

[@Bill_Ross]

Whenever I travel, I always carry a set of ear plugs in my pocket. Learned from a similar experience, but at a hostel in northern Vietnam rather than a Nepali bus. Nice video! I did the trek in 2018, but started in Lukla. It was great to see some of what I missed. I also had a similar experience with Snickers bars, initial resistance followed by overwhelming acceptance. As for the why of all of it, I can only speak to my own motivations. For me the beautiful views, the interesting people, the new foods, the photos, the videos, the moments of awe, and most importantly, to me at least, the sense of accomplishment that comes from struggling through hardship for a worthwhile goal. Achievement feels cheap if you don't have to work for it.

[@rebeccaandersson6352]

We are cheering you on back home in Sweden! Amazing videos.

[@zahidkhan04]

Amazingly beautifull,cinematic and very well narrated✌️,waiting for next ep,,plus subscribed👍

[@realisticflow9]

These small food joints all over the route are just life Saviour!

[@imtiazilahi27]

beautiful ... looking forward to the part 2 :)

[@bru2oo]

Amazing. I hope someday I can go to Everest as well! Cheers from Brazil.

[@floragonning]

I hope you’ll get the chance!! 🙌👏

[@dearlychrystabellereantill1754]

omg this is such a wonderful yet difficult adventure. I love this so much please release part 2.

[@shalavrana]

Excited to see the rest of the series.

[@aamarbdr5192]

What a great video. Engaging storytelling, eye-catching framing.

[@MarjonSporrij]

What a special adventure! Can't wait to see more. So proud of the two of you. You are living your dream, girl and you're making you're mom proud and happy! Love you ❤

[@dennyyohanes8677]

Loveee the Lumix S5 mark ii colorrr😍😍😍

[@vincya9761]

I found your channel recently. I can only say wow just wow. The cinematic view video editing photography some memorising views I just love all on your videos.. Keep pushing one day you will get popular. mark my words. You are capable of it. Lot of love ❤. Stay blessed and have a safe journey.. ❤

[@Kabuldevkota]

I am from Nepal . Video seems amazing and the bus music was awesome😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sgshubham98]

One of the best content seen recently… Just pure emotions and feels like my conversations on trails 18:49 ❤❤

[@TheDaemonKing]

What a beautiful adventure ❤❤❤

[@juleshorse9056]

First vid I have seen of the stretch South of Lukla. Well done - mud is not easy.

[@angusyoung6087]

the story telling is so beautiful and the cinematography is so sophisticated, this is the greatest everest base camp film i have ever seen. Not only is this top quality (filming + post production), it is f**kn hard to carry film gear and find the time and logistics to efficiently shoot this trip. so well done.

[@floragonning]

🥹 thank you for noticing and taking the time to write such a lovely comment 🫶🙏

[@tanmaya1111]

top quality content

[@ranjinirajainfilm]

really lovely story telling. and i did not fast forward!! Also, i did not know that tyou could hike and stop at villages as you go buy!

[@gonuts42]

That was amazing! Waiting for the next parts :)

[@mariannemarlow]

Loved this. Look forward to the next one :)

[@tirsolecointere]

I enjoyed so much the colors in this video! Waiting for the rest! Good content, new follower here!

[@suspan23]

15 seconds in the video and I subscribed. I had a feeling something fantastic was on its way, and I wasn't let down. Keep delivering this awesome content!

[@floragonning]

Aw that’s very kind, thank you so much! 😊🙏✨

[@lavikumar3191]

I'm from India, beautifully described all the route and plans. Desperately waiting for part two and further.

[@floragonning]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you 🫶 it’s coming on Friday 🌞

[@lavikumar3191]

@@floragonning wow 🤩

[@theboyfromhills]

Gosh! I haven't seen such thing before ,You guys are truly incredible and blessed May mountain gods bless you both on your journey. Good luck!! love from India ❤

[@Mt.Everest.]

Glad I found this channel! I need the rest of the trek? 🎉❤

[@ervinslens]

This looks great my friend, absolutely fantastic scenery and ambience! So professionally narrated 👏👏

[@floragonning]

Thank you very much!

[@lifeisbeautiful2001]

Hi I love your videos . They are surreal. I have taken sabbatical for 5 months and exploring Himalayas. Lahaul, Spiti, Ladakh.

[@theridgelinestories]

This was amazing to watch. I like how you merge cinematic shots with a raw vlog style in between. And I didn't know we could still do the EBC without a guide as I heard it was made compulsory from last year onwards. This is good to know.

[@floragonning]

Thank you 🙏🙏 and yes, the new rules aren’t implemented in the Everest area - one of the only regions in Nepal you can still legally hike without a guide!

[@lopshangtshering7977]

Very inspiring & informative too. Loved the simplicity of the presentation. Looking forward for act 3. Could you pls share the name of the map navigation app what you were using in your phone.

[@ohaakash]

such refreshing content, i mean just wow. this is something i completely relate to "like why do we even do such things", haha...

[@surabhisuresh5560]

woww im in a loss of words, I am in awe of your work and will can't wait to see more of what you guys do keep it up!! Edit: Just bing watched all your videos and I know ill be coming back to them again and again

[@chriscaffee4932]

As moviemakers and story tellers you have both grown a lot. This is an EXCELLENT movie. Extremely well shot and edited. Very entertaining.

[@floragonning]

Thank you so much!! 🙏 I try my best to learn something new every day :)

[@phurbasherpa-et5fo]

Happy to see you at our lodge at shurke hope you liked it

[@inaw.1967]

Love your channel so much ❤

[@user-bm2rw7nh1n]

Beautiful

[@gulqureshi5681]

This is bloody brilliant. Hopefully you will do the K2 basecamp trek in Pakistan one day which is 10x harder than this one 🔥

[@floragonning]

It's on the wishlist!! 🙏

[@user-wb4lr9on3n]

Why buddy why always compare with IND just focus on your country to make good the more you try to compare with IND I make sure you will get more failure... So bhai agle 50 saal to Mai av jinda hu tu dekh le kab pak IND ku surpass krta h😂

[@thadiyography]

Wow such a soothing video

[@rukumbhandari8022]

Awesome

[@mountaingirlzstuff4314]

Hello new sub here, looking forward to your amazing story

[@rishavnepal8613]

Such an amazing content, you’re so good at what you do. Im glad i found you this early and can’t wait for the channel to blow up. Maybe Nepal videos will help? Haha Looking forward to the EBC series 😅

[@floragonning]

Ahh that means a lot, thank you so much!! 😊

[@prileteli4]

Cool video, well done, good luck to you ☺👌

[@somtamang1635]

I love nature too 😍😍😍😍

[@sitthawittreesinchai2736]

Love the video tone 😊

[@mgr381]

Really like your videos! Found your chanel about a month ago when I by some reason decided to search for Pakistan. And now I wait expectantly for your next videos!

[@floragonning]

Ahh thank you, glad you like it! 🙏

[@karanssiddu8891]

The cinematography, music, man! just love ur content

[@janetjoyrubrico8621]

This feels like watching a movie ❤ doing this in october hopefully - but with guide and all, I'm not too brave 😊 Looking forward to your upcoming videos! 😊

[@chhiringdawasherpa7917]

Hello namaste If you want to travel with sherpa guide I am here for your service. Thank you 😊

[@Bimalraj825]

Enjoy your trip 🇳🇵🙏

[@Sophia-bn2rx]

music sounds special💗

[@user-vf5gp2lv3m]

Misty forest, lot of fog in the hills and mountains of Nepal means spirits rome there that lady and the kid might be spirits, can be bad sometimes. Its actually scary in the misty mountains.

[@ryanbell335]

Amazing adventure! Especially since you're unable to hike without a guide in Nepal now 😢

[@jps900]

I like the story music. Video shots... voice clarity... wow... love from india. Ur writing style is difderent but i wnjoyed

[@lijithomas608]

Good luck, i always dreamed about "The mount everest but never get time"

[@-JourneyJournals]

very beautiful places! great movie! I think you will quickly gain a large audience👍

[@floragonning]

Thank you!! 😊

[@ashutoshacharya3082]

welcome to Nepal❤ Land of peace✌️

[@realisticflow9]

That women and kid disappeared right after they showed you the route?? Angels guiding you guys :D

[@beatrizkj]

Nice video!!!

[@shriyanshshukla8895]

Very good quality content at such an early stage, you are making films.

[@floragonning]

Thank you so much!!

[@hemkumarpun8788]

❤thank you for coming nepal,❤

[@X1991A]

Stunning Camera work in all your videos.

[@floragonning]

Thanks! I try :)

[@sacheenvicky4838]

You guys deserve 100k Subs ❤

[@tilakshresthavlogs]

My Dream Treak🇳🇵❤️

[@pawin694]

what a beautiful video😊

[@floragonning]

Thank you 😊

[@jypdr]

I like your style, edit, vibe, smile etc… nice. love you as person, hope you will not change with more subs like other youtubers 🙂 little bit in your steps - in few weeks trekking around pakistan, then mt kilimanjaro and maybe next year EBC

[@floragonning]

Amazing!! Which hikes are you planning to do in Pakistan?

[@jypdr]

@@floragonning Probably the most traditional - Gilgit, Fairy Meadows, Nanga Parbat BC, Hapakun campsite, Rakaposhi BC, Hunza valley, Attabad Lake, Passu Glacier & Bridge etc etc… over 2wks wander around :-) and of course Lahore for 4-5 days (because of you 👍and your amazing video from Lahore)

[@user-jb5nj7ly5b]

love your content 😁😁

[@xenzo3863]

Waiting for the next chapter

[@sashivgupta658]

Well, what a video! Incredible! While I'm preparing and planning for EBC next year, this video gives me peace:) Love from Jammu&Kashmir, India. P.S. Try KGL "KASHMIR GREAT LAKES" anytime soon.

[@floragonning]

Hope you have the best time next year, it’s gonna be amazing! 🙏 Lots of love back 🫶✨

[@MattMrau]

What the LUT you are using here for color grading? So nice looking

[@tilakpunmagar8670]

Our country Nepal is really no less than heaven💪🇳🇵❤️

[@General_153]

what card game were you playing on the end of day 3? looks quite interesting!

[@sujanbhusal43]

❤

[@family.srilanka]

Like this

[@rishabsachidanand3863]

Great video! Inspires me to get on this adventure! I was wondering, which mapping app are you using? I'll be heading out on a trek myself in a few weeks, and I'm searching for a good app to navigate trails.

[@floragonning]

Glad to hear that! We use Maps.me, you can download maps offline so you don't need any internet connection :) most of the time they're actually pretty accurate! (unlike in the video😅)

[@travelwithjason999]

Wow beautiful ❤❤❤ Nepal

[@ajazalee_7]

Come to Ladakh. Northern most part of India.

[@rupamde2352]

Amazing! I loved it No Guide, No Flight, No Porter, Wow! But what about permission? Nowadays, the Nepal Government has made it compulsory for a foreigner to hire a guide & permission through a registered trekking agency. then how did you manage it ?

[@TiwarAUT]

I hope the youtube algorithm finds your videos again soon, they deserve at least 500k views. 😍

[@floragonning]

I hope so too 😅🫶 thanks for watching!

[@hesam.rahmati]

😍😍😍😍

[@birhangijam3679]

Oh my, took me back! Did a similar trail as my flight was cancelled! My favourite trip I've had! Hope it'd be the same for you! :)

[@wanderwithrm]

what a beautiful video but guide is mandatory right for abc trek

[@floragonning]

Thank you! It’s actually not mandatory in the Everest region to have a guide - one of the only areas in Nepal where the new laws are not implemented 😊

[@sk.r.01]

When she say blasting music I couldn't control my laugh😂 i feel that blasting music 😅

[@floragonning]

😂

[@anujadkar245]

Lucky.... I guess from this year they are not allowing without guide trekking

[@ddjwebb]

I’d be interested to know what was in your backpack that made it so heavy!

[@floragonning]

Mostly camera gear such as laptop, harddrives, extra batteries, etc.! It really adds up 😅

[@suniellama2820]

I like te color grading, never seen such for a travel video

[@syedrehanrazajafri]

Any plans for coming to Lucknow, UP? :)

[@Namgelsherpa10]

Amazing vlog which camera and lance you using ?

[@floragonning]

Thank you! Lumix S5 mark ii with a Sigma 24-70 lens :)

[@tilakpunmagar8670]

love from 🇳🇵❤️

[@lhakpasherpa5368]

😻

[@senorsunset]

Yay, a fellow lefty!

[@floragonning]

Haha you have a keen eye! 😉

[@Beastfeb22]

come on lady u can do it.. it's same like the pregnant lady how she tackle with the harder time for 9 months and just forget every single pain after getting her baby in her arms..so u r going to get ur baby ahead..keep moving.. lots of love n support from me❤❤❤❤

[@hassanahmed2781]

This is what experiencing it like a local means.

[@arya7159]

HIRE A BIKE AND DO THE JOURNEY MANALI TO SPITI VELLAY YOU WILL REMEMBER IT ENTIRE LIFE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS….🤗🤗

[@dreamer3954]

😊

[@white_feather5240]

I also love also hills , mountain but i am stuck in high school 😢 i can't even travel my own country

[@vividkaucha9581]

Love from NEPAL 🇳🇵! 💌

[@teapeng]

the first challenge of blasting music would already piss me off