ARE YOU ready to experience earth?

Would you walk in the footsteps of one of  New Zealand’s greatest icons, Sir Edmund Hillary?

As with many New Zealanders, the awe of Everest and base camp has long been ingrained in the minds of Taryn Martin and his mother Dianne. The pair decided to act on that reverence. It was to be a pivotal decision that led to an incredible journey and eventually to Experience Earth, a global travel company that lets you not only see the natural wonder in the world but actually take part in it too.

In 2016, Taryn, a 27-year-old New Plymouth local, set out for Nepal with his mother Dianne and 12 friends. The goal had been to start the year off in remarkable fashion, watching the first sunrise of 2017 break over Mt Everest. The group started their trek on Christmas day, making their way along the well-trodden route to Everest, enthusiastically tackling the physical challenge and absorbing the Nepali way of life. But before they made it to EBC, Dianne suffered from Acute Mountain Sickness, commonly known as altitude sickness. As the rest of the group trekked on, Taryn stayed with his mother and the duo were helicoptered out of the Himalayas straight to Kathmandu and the sanctuary of the city’s lower altitude. 

Instead of the view they’d planned for, New Year’s Eve was spent looking at hospital walls and eating takeaway curries.
And although most would see that as a setback, for the mother and son duo the experience inspired a love for Nepal - forged through a strong bond with the kind Nepalese people that went above and beyond for them, and an appreciation for the raw, untamed freedom of the Himalayas. Both knew what they wanted to do: return to Nepal and work to empower the local trekking operators they now called friends. Not to mention, finally tick EBC off their bucket list. Taryn says, the thought of ‘How do I get to Everest Base Camp?’ can be quite overwhelming for many people and communication barriers online can cause doubts. “But no matter where you are in the world, no matter how off the beaten track the depths of the Himalayas may seem, you can explore these parts of the globe first-hand, you just need the know-how,” the NPBHS old boy says.

And, Experience Earth is that link between worlds. Having actually been there and trekked with knowledgeable locals, Dianne and Taryn knew they could provide that connection and with guidance from the likes of Venture Taranaki, they brought their idea to life. Experience Earth pairs the best of trusted Nepalese trekking knowledge with a safe and easy-to-use booking and preparation platform.  It’s a combination that unlocks rewarding and unforgettable travel experiences for international adventurers, Taryn says. 

Although only less than one-year-old, Experience Earth has grown to provide six different all-inclusive treks throughout  the Himalayan mountains, each ranging from 13 to 19 days.  They plan to add additional treks within Nepal and branch out to Tibet before the year ends.

In April of this year, Taryn headed back to Nepal to have another crack at base camp.  He was joined by two fellow trekkers, Lindsay Schrader and Michael Hurworth, who were eager to follow in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and “knock the bastard off”. Although not quite the summit, trekking for 8 days, to an elevation of 5,364m (17,600ft) - over twice the height of Mt Taranaki - is no easy task. Lindsay Schrader says he originally thought the EBC trek would be too challenging. “Having only seen photos of the Himalayas and Everest I thought I was going to be pushed to new boundaries and would need to learn some technical skills before going,” he says. But Taryn says with experienced, alert guides that prioritise trekkers health and a well-planned, safe trekking schedule, it’s within the grasp of most Kiwi’s. 

So what can you expect?

Arriving into Kathmandu, trekkers are met by the constant movement, ongoing sounds and exotic smells of Nepal’s largest city. Balancing out this chaos is a strong presence of Hinduism which focuses on calmness, and respecting Earth and all its people. Taryn says that Kathmandu feels like an entire world away when you land in Lukla for the first time and find yourself face-to-face with the Himalayas. Amongst the mountains, life slows down to a standstill as your only daily chores are eating, drinking, walking and breathing - providing your body ample time to acclimatise along the way. En-route to Base Camp, your guide will explain the names and elevation of the surrounding peaks, unfolding the history of the valley as you walk between each village.

On the journey you’ll encounter welcoming locals, smiling kids eager to practice their English, and breathtaking views - you’ll even have to share the path with a yak or two. Taryn says arriving at Everest Base Camp and seeing the peak is a surreal experience. “You know you have achieved a significant milestone, temperatures are down below -10 degrees and you have reached an altitude of 5,364m.  “The many yellow tents are filled with those carrying out summit expeditions. Prayer flags are rested on the rock mounds and Mt Everest stares down over you.” Not to be outdone, and to achieve her goal,  Dianne and the local Experience Earth guides are leading a group to Everest Base Camp in October 2018. You are welcome to join her and tick Everest Base Camp off your bucket list.

www.experienceearthtravel.com