Mount Everest, Tibetan Qomolangma, also spelled as Sagarmatha by Nepalese, is the main peak of the Himalayas, and also the highest peak in the world, with a height of 8844.43 meters.
It is located in the national border area between China and Nepal, with its northern side being in the Tingri County, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China, and its southern side being in Nepal. Consequently, there are two Everest Base Camps.
Note: In this article, we'll mainly talk about the Mount Everest travel in Tibet's side.
With Mount Everest as the core protection zone, China has established the Qomolangma Nature Reserve (or Mount Everest Nature Reserve) that covers four counties of TAR and includes the 8,000-meter peaks such as Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Cho Oyu, the Everest Base Camp, the Five Valleys of the Himalayas (Chentang Valley, Gama Valley, Rongxia Valley, Zhangmu Valley, and Gyirong Valley), Rongbuk Monastery, etc.
Transportation: Drive along the G318 road from Lhasa to Lhatse via Shigatse, and then head south, after driving about 100 kilometers, you'll get to the Everest Base Camp (E.B.C).
About E.B.C: After the relocation of E.B.C in March, 2019, the new site of E.B.C retreated 2 kilometers and is now situated across from Rongbuk Monastery. This relocation means a lot to the environmental protection of this essential zone and has little impact on the amazing panoramic view of the peak.
Accommodation: There are two lodging options: tent guesthouses and the Rongbuk Guesthouse. The former ones are temporary tents set up in every April for the upcoming tourists and usually get pulled out in November. So, during the period from November to March, Rongbuk Guesthouse is the only accommodation at the E.B.C for tourists.
Documents and Permits: Besides your passport, valid Chinese visa, Tibet Entry Permit (or Tibet Travel Permit), Border Pass is also required to visit Mount Everest. As a licensed tour operator, we will be eligible to handle all the permits necessary for all the destinations included in the agreed itinerary.
Tibet Side Everest Base Camp
Wind Season of Tibet: November to April
Rainy Season of Tibet: June to September
Two Weather-Pleasant Periods:
From the early March to the late May is the spring of the Mount Everest Region, and also the window between the wind season and rainy season. The period from the early September to the late October is the autumn and also the transitional time from the rainy season to the wind season. The ideal weather for great mountain view and climbing is likely to happen in these two short periods. April, May, September and October are the four best months to expect clear days with amazing views and stable weather for the challenging summiting.
Due to the frigidity in the summit area, the Mount Everest also gets a nickname the Third Pole. According to the historical data, the coldest month above the 7,500 meters is February, averaging at -27.1℃; the warmest month is August which has an average of -10.4℃.
Most travelers visit the Everest Base Camp in Tibet's side for sightseeing, because of the unblocked panoramic view of this magnificent peak. Here below we give the annual weather data of Tingri County, which is 60 kilometers away from the E.B.C.
| Weather/Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average High℃ | 1.3 | 5.2 | 7.2 | 11.4 | 15.2 | 19.8 | 19.6 | 18.7 | 18.8 | 12 | 9.6 | 1.3 |
| Average Low℃ | -17 | -13 | -10 | -4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 7.8 | 4 | -5.7 | -11 | -19 |
| Precipitation | 4mm | 4mm | 5mm | 7mm | 8mm | 90mm | 100mm | 110mm | 8mm | 7mm | 4mm | 3mm |
December to February: This is the coldest period of the Mount Everest region. But the good side is it also promises high chance of clear days and it rarely rains. E.B.C is still approachable and you can still book an Everest tour with us. Just prepare extra for the cold overnight at the E.B.C.
March: Since the March of 2019, Tibet travel in March was no longer closed to foreign tourists as it had been for over ten years. Optimistically, we believe foreign travelers will be able to visit Tibet in March of 2020. However, we highly suggest that you contact us about one month ahead to check the availability for a confirmed answer.
April and May: Because of the mild temperature and softer wind strength, April and May are ideal for visiting Mount Everest. It is also a good time for climbers to attempt their summit.
June to August: This is the rainiest period in this region. Though rains normally happen overnight. During the day, the top of the Mount Everest might be vailed by mist or covered with banner clouds. However, because of the warmest temperature of a year, these summer months are still popular among tourists to visit Mount Everest.
September to October: Stepping on the heels of the rainy season, September and October hasn't got impacted by the wind season yet. Similar with April and May, these two autumn months are the blessed window for sightseeing or climbing.
November: From the mid-November, the rivers near the Everest Base Camp start to get frozen. The temporary tent guesthouses out of the E.B.C with their Tibetan owners. It is still doable to tour Mount Everest, but you would only have the Rongbuk Guesthouse as the accommodation or go back to Tingri County.
Everest Base Camp
Panoramic View: The small hill behind the Rongbuk Monastery is believed by the insiders as the best spot to take in the whole scene of the magnificent Everest. Be sure not to walk or run too fast so that you can avoid severe altitude sickness.
Star gazing: The Everest Base Camp is a very ideal place for star gazing. Because the region is free of light pollution, and the thinner air condition enables higher visibility. The best season to watch starry night and milky way is autumn. To prepare for a pleasant star gazing experience, you need to wrap up warmly and would better have a thermo of hot water with you. The lowest temperature overnight in the autumn can get down to -15℃. Along with a warm coat, a beanie/hat, scarf, gloves, waterproof shoes are all essential.
Sunrise and Sunset Watching: It is fantastic to see the rising or setting sun shed the golden rays upon the pyramid-like peak and the everchanging color show is just touching. Certainly, a clear day with no rainfall or mist is best for such a beautiful yet physically-demanding experience. Therefore, we recommend that you visit Mount Everest in the one of the following, May, September or October.
Climbing Mount Everest: The Mount Everest, is also revered as a holy mountain by Tibetan people, as they worship the Mount Kailash. The devout believers on this land would do nothing but to protect this divine mountain. Therefore, for the mountain guides who are trained to help the climbers to summit the Mount Everest, or the monks who guard this region at the Rongbuk Monastery, climbing activity might cause a mixed feeling. To know more about the climbers, the mountain guides ( Most of them are born and living in the villages under the foot of Mount Everest), and the mysterious story about Mount Everest told by the local monks, you can watch a documentary film Himalayas: Ladder to Paradise , released in 2015 ( with Chinese and English subtitles). What's more, the prone photography also makes it possible for us to have a clear view from the top of the highest peak and find out what the climbers and mountain guides have to go through before making it to the top.
Starry Night at Everest
Tingri County People's Hospital: South Xuebao Road, Tingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet; 0892-8262289
Lhatse County People's Hospital: 100 meters west of the intersection between Road Zhongni and Road Zhabei, Lhatse County, Shigatse City, Tibet; 0892-8322131
Shigatse City People's Hospital: South Jinlin Road, Shigatse City, Tibet; 0892-8822658
Tibet Tours you may be interested in:
8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour
10 Days Everest plus Namtso Lake Tour
