Your Ultimate Travel Guide for Mt. Everest Base Camp

Mt. Everest is on almost everyone's travel bucket list, and while most of us won't have the chance to scale the mighty mountain, you can still visit Mount Everest Base Camp. North Base Camp, in Tibet, is 5,150 meters, or 16,900 feet, above sea level. It offers an exceptional view of Mount Everest and its natural wonders. Read on for practical information to help ordinary tourists enjoy this epic, once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Mount Everest

Where is Mount Everest Base Camp located?

Overlook Mount Everest

There are two Mount Everest Base Camps: South Base Camp in Nepal and North Base Camp in Tibet. The North Base Camp is the most accessible of the two. You can get there from Lhasa using Friendship Highway, a paved road with plenty of attractions to see on the way. The North Base Camp also faces the northern part of Mount Everest, so you'll enjoy incredible sunrise views and beautiful starry night skies over the Himalayas.

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What Is the Best Time To Visit?

Sit down and enjoy yourself at Himalaya

Generally speaking, spring (April and May) and late summer to early fall (late June to September) are the best times to visit Mount Everest Base Camp because the weather conditions tend to be fair, sunny, and not too cold or hot. This time of year is an excellent time to take mountain pictures, especially from the North Base Camp.

You'll also see plenty of mountain foliage and flowers, which add to your lovely photographs. Although the weather is beautiful this time of year, it's also peak season, so be prepared to deal with larger crowds and increased prices.

If you visit North Base Camp during the winter, you'll find fewer crowds and lower prices, but harsher temperatures. Mountain winter can also be unpredictable, with intense snowstorms and deep-freeze temperatures. You'll undoubtedly need good winter gear during the colder months, but you will also want to bring a heavy coat during the summer as temperatures drop substantially at night.

What Are the Best Things To do at Mount Everest Base Camp?

Admire sunrise at Mt. Everest

Sunrise over Mt. Everest (Golden Summit)

There's nothing quite like the golden sunrise peeking over the high Himalayan mountains in the morning, and North Base Camp is an excellent place to watch it. Those who rise early enough can see and photograph it for themselves.

Starry Skies and the Milky Way Above the Base Camp

The stars and Milky Way are more prominent in the mountains simply because there's far less light pollution. Stay overnight at Mt. Everest North Base Camp, and you'll see the best light show nature offers.

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery is a great place to photograph Mount Everest, especially at sunrise. It's the highest monastery in the world and a sacred Tibetan Buddhist site just a short distance from the North Base Camp.

Gawu La Pass

If you love photography, Gawu La Pass (加乌拉山观景台), which stretches from Tingri County to Everest Base Camp, is a must-visit destination. It's a famous Tibetan mountain pass, where you can see multiple Himalayan mountains, including Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, and Shishapangma.

What Travel Documents Do I Need To Visit EBC in Tibet?

International travelers will need their Chinese Visa, passport, Tibet Travel Permit, and Alien's Travel Permit to visit Mount Everest Base Camp.

If you're eligible for the visa-free entry policy, then you won't need to apply for a Chinese visa to enter Tibet.

We will help you obtain the Tibet Travel Permit and the Alien's Travel Permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau and the Public Security Bureau, ensuring your journey to Mount Everest goes as smoothly as possible.

What Are the Dining and Accommodation Options at EBC?

The dining and accommodation options at Everest Base Camp are very humble. You'll find a few tent guesthouses and the Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse. The tent and container guesthouses offer very basic accommodations and squat-style toilets.

You'll find hot water and flush toilets at the Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse, but no showers. The rooms also have electric blankets, hot water bottles, and power sockets. The guesthouse also serves simple meals of noodles, fried rice, and hot beverages.

How Do I Get to EBC?

Sunset at Himalaya

The Tibet North Base Camp is easy to get to from Lhasa if you take the Friendship Highway. Plan to spend several days getting used to the altitude in Lhasa before making your way to Everest Base Camp. The air is much thinner in the mountains, and suddenly exposing yourself to extremely high altitude can be physically uncomfortable or even dangerous.

The route from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp passes through Gyantse, Shigatse, and Tingri before finally crossing by Rongbuk Monastery on the way to North Base Camp. The drive takes 14 hours and spans just about 700 kilometers. Since the road is steep, winding, and can be affected by bad weather, it's important to drive slowly.

Our travel experts will tailor-make the itinerary according to the local road conditions, beautiful sights along the way, and your personal interests. So you can enjoy a smooth and memorable trip to Mount Everest...

What Is a Recommended Itinerary for Visiting EBC?

We recommend starting and ending your Mount Everest Base Camp journey in Lhasa. You'll be able to acclimatize and see some wonderful sights along the way properly.

• Day One: Arrive in Lhasa and get used to the altitude. Visit the Potala Palace and Sera Monastery.
• Day Two: Explore Lhasa and see Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street.
• Day Three: Finish your time in Lhasa with visits to Ani Tsamkhong Nunnery and Norbulingka Park.
• Day Four: Travel from Lhasa to Shigatse, stopping in Yamdrok Lake for a bit of hiking and sightseeing. On the way, you'll also see the Korola Glacier and the historic village of Gyantse.
• Day Five: Today, you'll explore the lovely Gawu La Pass on your way to Everest Base Camp, then explore the Rongbuk Monastery when you arrive at Everest Base Camp.
• Day Six: Head back to Shigatse, stopping to take panoramic photos along the way, and visit Tashilunpo Monastery.
• Day Seven: Slowly make your way back to Lhasa, stopping in Gyantse to visit Palcho Monastery.
• Day Eight: Relax in Lhasa before heading home.
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What Should I Pack Before Visiting EBC?

Even if you're visiting Everest Base Camp during the summer, you'll still need to pack plenty of warm clothes. A heavy jacket is important. You'll also want some waterproof upper layers, warm socks, and waterproofed hiking boots with poles. Strong sunscreen and glasses are essential too, as the sun can get very bright on the mountain.

You can also pack granola bars, other portable snacks, and a charged power bank for your phone.

As the air is thinner at Everest Base Camp, make sure to pack any essential medicine for altitude sickness and your necessary travel documents.

What Travel Tips and Limitations Should I Know Before Visiting Mt. Everest?

Himalaya under bright sunlight

The good news is that anyone of any age can visit Mt. Everest, but you do need to be in fairly good health to do so. People who have heart conditions, emphysema, or hypertension are not good candidates for this adventure. Since the air is far thinner at base camp, altitude sickness can be a concern.

It's important to familiarize yourself with the common signs of altitude sickness, like nausea, lightheadedness, and headache, and get to a lower altitude if you're starting to feel seriously unwell.

There is also very little running water at Everest Base Camp, so you won't find showers at the guesthouses. Standard amenities, like Wi-Fi, are in short supply, too, so embrace being unplugged from the world.

Enjoy the Trip of a Lifetime at Mount Everest Base Camp

If you've always dreamt of taking a sky-high adventure of a lifetime, we can help. We'll give you a personalized itinerary and help you with all necessary documentation. Email trip@odynovotours.com or visit our contact page to start planning today.