Everest Base Camp Trek for School Students: Our Expedition to 5,364 Metres

Few school journeys go higher than this one. In April 2024, a team of Grade 12 students and teachers from Sacred Heart School, Kalyan trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, at 5,364 metres (17,598 feet) — making Sacred Heart the 1st school in Maharashtra and the 2nd in India to undertake the Everest Base Camp expedition with high school students.

The Everest Base Camp (EBC) expedition was designed as an adventurous, educational trek that combined physical endurance with immense learning opportunities. It offered our students the chance to explore the Himalayas, experience local culture, and gain valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork and environmental sustainability.

How Students Were Selected

The journey to Base Camp began long before the first step in the Himalayas. Students with a passion for sports and adventure were encouraged to join an endurance-building camp at Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh — known as the Grand Canyon of India — in November 2023. Students who displayed meticulous endurance, physical and mental resilience, and great team-building skills were then nominated for a scholarship for the Mount Everest Base Camp Expedition.

Four Months of Training with Mountaineering Legends

The selected students trained for four months under the aegis of two extraordinary mentors: Shri Shekhar Babu, recipient of the Tenzing Norgay Award — the highest award in the field of endurance sports — and Ms. Poorna Malavath, the youngest woman in the world to have summited Mount Everest, at the age of 13. Learning from people who have lived the mountains gave our students both the preparation and the confidence the trek demands.

The Route: From Lukla to Everest Base Camp

The highlight of the expedition was the trek itself — through diverse landscapes, with spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. The team followed the classic route:

1. Lukla — the starting point of the trek
2. Phakding
3. Namche Bazaar
4. Tengboche
5. Gorakshep
6. Everest Base Camp — 5,364 m (17,598 ft)

Safety First: Why We Chose Natural Acclimatisation

The team completed the expedition in 16 days, deliberately opting for natural acclimatisation in the mountains instead of a quick, record-making journey. Climbing gradually gives the body time to adjust to the thinner air at high altitude — the safest way for young trekkers to reach Base Camp, and a lesson in patience in its own right.

Meet the Expedition Team

Grade 12 students Sanjana Pansare, Sajiri Gawali, Aditi Puneja, Mitashi Kukreja, Krish Peswani, Shivraj Gorad and Aadil Pillai completed the expedition alongside teachers Ms. Abarna Sethuraman, aged 57, and Ms. Sajitha Nair — a 9-member team for whom the entire journey was a transformative experience.

What Our Students Learned on the Mountain

Students could witness, experience and understand the challenges of villagers living high up in the mountains, and reflect on the beautiful relationship between village life and nature. These experiences have moulded our children, taught them resilience, given them deep insights into patiently handling tough situations and, above all, taught them to start over again despite failures.

Adventure Learning at Sacred Heart

The Everest Base Camp expedition is the high point of a wider adventure programme. From rock climbing at Gandikota to river rafting at Kolad and paragliding at Kamshet, alongside scuba diving and military training, our students take on real challenges that build courage, teamwork and resilience. Explore sports at Sacred Heart and life in our Senior Secondary section.