Baked goods, Wi-Fi makes you feel at home in Everest

A Chinese climber reads while another uses his mobile phone at the Everest base camp.

A Chinese climber reads while another uses his mobile phone at the Everest base camp.   | Photo Credit: AFP

Tour operators provide creature comforts such as fresh salads, Turkish drip coffee

Wi-Fi, baked goods and trendy coffee: gone are the days of deprivation at Everest base camp, with hipster perks and modern conveniences ensuring life is cushier than ever on the roof of the world.

The Khumbu glacier at the foot of Everest transforms every spring into a high-altitude metropolis of surprising luxury for the hundreds of climbers aiming for the peak of the world’s highest mountain.

Today’s climbers enjoy fresh salads, Instagram and creature comforts unthinkable when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first stood atop the 8,848-metre peak 65 years ago.

Have a hot bath

Tents have carpeted floors and bouquets of plastic flowers. Piping hot showers running on solar power offer respite from the freezing temperatures outside.

A brigade of helicopters keeps the tent town stocked with daily deliveries of fresh supplies to cater for the 1,500 or so people at base camp. Climbers, who want a break from high altitude life, can even hitch a helicopter ride back to Kathmandu before returning to attempt the summit.

At Alpine Ascents’ camp, breakfast comes with Turkish drip coffee. “Cappuccino machines don’t work at altitude,” director Gordon Janow explained.

Cinnamon rolls, anyone?

Meanwhile over at Seven Summit Treks’ camp, the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls from its bakery greets climbers returning from the mountain.

Fresh salads are served up by Adventure Consultants, a New Zealand-based operator.