Bicycle Touring Philippines: FUNDRAISING FOR HIRAYA’S EVEREST BASE CAMP (EBC) TREK

Hi there! We are Hiraya's parents, Noel and Kareen Mercado. We are raising funds for Hiraya’s journey to Everest Base Camp (EBC) in Nepal.

Hiraya is a nine-year-old boy from Sorsogon, Philippines, who enjoys trekking and hiking. At six, he climbed Bulusan Volcano, a 1,535-meter peak in his hometown, and is the youngest to have climbed this peak. He has also summited Mount Pulag, the third highest peak in the Philippines at 2,928 meters, and several mountains in his home region/province.

In April 2026, Hiraya will attempt to trek the EBC route—one of the most popular trekking routes in the Himalayas. The trek begins in Lukla, Nepal, and winds through the Khumbu region, and covers about 130 kilometers. This route offers breathtaking views of Mount Everest and other peaks, along with the chance to visit traditional Sherpa villages and monasteries.

Mt. Pulag, 2023.

We will allocate 15 days for the trek, including acclimatization and contingency days. A local guide will be hired for safety support, navigation, and local knowledge.

While the trek is not technically challenging, one potential risk is acute mountain sickness (AMS) since EBC is at 5,364 meters. To prevent AMS, a gradual ascent is crucial to allow the body ample time to acclimatize to higher altitudes.

Hiraya will trek with us. We, the parents, have previous experience in high-altitude trekking and cycling in the India Himalayas and Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

We are raising PHP 92,000 (US$ 1,613) to cover Hiraya’s expenses. This is for airfare (66% of the cost), guide (23%), and other expenses (11%):

Airfare Manila-Kathmandu-Manila – PHP 40,000 (US$ 702)

Airfare Ramechhap-Lukla-Ramechhap – PHP 21,000 (US$ 368)

Guide for 15 days – PHP 21,000 (US$ 368)

Visa, insurance, and other expenses – PHP 10,000 (US$ 175)

We, the parents, will cover Hiraya’s food and accommodation and our own travelling expenses. We travel light and simply—choosing independent travel, packing light, preferring public transport, and staying in lower-priced teahouses/hotels.

We live in a small town called Irosin in the Philippines, where Hiraya is currently in Grade 3 at elementary school. The father, Noel, 55, works as an urban planner for the municipal government, while the mother, Kareen, 49, is a principal of a public elementary school. We are experienced trekkers and long-distance cyclists (see our travel blog).

We take annual paid leave from our work for adventure trips. But for the EBC trek, we can only afford to finance expenses for two people.

Help our young mountaineer Hiraya reach the Everest Base Camp!

"Hiraya manawari!" Hoping that all of our dreams come true! Donate here.