Sikkim honours veteran mountaineers with Everest Base Camp Trek

GANGTOK,: Thirteen veteran mountaineers from Sikkim embarked on a 20-day Mount Everest Base Camp Trekking Expedition 2025 today. This initiative by the Sikkim government honours their contributions to the State’s adventure tourism sector.

A press release informs that the expedition coincides with Sikkim’s golden jubilee of Statehood and celebrates the legacy of those who helped transform the Himalayan State into a global hub for mountain tourism. According to the release, many of these veterans played a key role in promoting mountaineering during the 1990s by completing professional training and mentoring young climbers.

For several of them, the Everest trek fulfils a long-cherished dream, as they never had the chance to attempt the expedition earlier due to financial or personal reasons. The team will trek through Nepal’s Khumbu Valley to reach the Everest Base Camp, located at 5,364 meters, passing through scenic Sherpa villages and monasteries along the way.

Officials said the expedition not only pays tribute to the mountaineers’ achievements but also promotes eco-friendly adventure tourism and inspires the next generation of climbers. The government hopes the initiative will further boost Sikkim’s tourism profile and encourage other regions to recognize their own unsung heroes, the release mentions.