When searching for the info about the world's highest peak, the Mount Everest, you may end up getting confused by the overwhelming posts and articles comprised of various contents from Tibet and Nepal. The way to filter out the irrelevant info is to use the precise terms that fit what you're truly searching for.
Because we're a Tibet-based tour operator providing Everest tour from the China side, we're here to sort out the details about the North Face of Mount Everest and give our advice on traveling to North Everest. Read on to know more about North Everest and North Everest Base Camp.
North Face of Mount Everest
It you plan to visit Mount Everest from its northern part, which belongs to China's Tibet Autonomous Region, whether you're just sightseeing or intended on trekking or climbing, your destination would be the base camp area seasonally built up at the North Everest. The common names for this base camp are either “Everest Base Camp in Tibet” or “North Everest Base Camp”. And the North Everest Base Camp is also the farthest point open to normal tourists (non-climbers or non-trekkers), to appreciate the view of the legendary peak.
The North Everest Base Camp is set up on a flat broad terrain, shaping like a funnel, with the north face of Mount Everest at the far narrow end. In comparison with traveling to the South Everest (in Nepal side), travelers can have a panoramic view of the major body of the peak at North Everest Base Camp. Therefore, tours to North Everest have been much more popular among travelers who mainly come to take in the scenery.
North Everest Base Camp in Tibet
Besides, the road trip to North Everest from Lhasa, the regional capital of Tibet, is beautiful itself. There are mainly two routes connecting Lhasa and North Everest. The shorter one includes Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhatse, Tingri and ends at North Everest Base Camp; Taking this route enables you to visit the important historical site, the Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is the seat of Panchen Lama and one of the top Gelug monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. The longer route is an extended version of the shorter one, which incorporates a detour to Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse Town, and then converges at Shigatse, with the rest sections overlapping with the shorter route. The classic route is the longer one, as you get to experience Shannan region, where the ancient Tibetan civilization is originated from. Either route is a feast of natural beauty and culture.
Yamdrok Lake
There were deaths of climbers on both sides of Mount Everest. One of the reasons is believed to be that the number of climbers (inclusive of the assisting teams from the authorized climbing company or commercial outfitters) far surpassed the proper size. As a result, the long lineup delayed the reasonable time of descent, making the oxygen supply run out faster than it was not supposed to be. Due to the insufficient oxygen and the body temperature loss from waiting too long in the line, the late climbers didn't make it to the low lands.
Besides, the calm weather window on both sides is usually very short, lasting from 10 to 15 days. Even during the relatively stable time, the weather can be unpredictable. Avalanche of ice in Khumbu (South Everest in Nepal) took sixteen lives in 2014.
Everest Summits 1953-2016
The infamous event that climbers died on the edges of Mount Everest on the both sides was catastrophic and led to discussion on the mountaineering activities. The outfitting industry assisting the permitted climbers were also criticized for the accepting the excessive climbers. Let along the sensitive issue of what Mount Everest meant to the Tibetan people and Nepalese, in terms of the spiritual significance. Plus, what the climbing activities bring to the fragile 6,000-meter above environment also includes severe pollution.
In order to guard the safety of climbers and minimize the impact of human activities on Mount Everest, Tibetan authorities has set strict limit to the number of permitted climbers at North Everest. Ideally, there will be only around 300 climbers granted a climbing permit to attempt the summit every year.
Unlike the South Everest in Nepal, which you can take a flight from Kathmandu to the nearby airport and then trek to the South Everest Base Camp, there isn't any airport in the vicinity of North Everest.
The airports closest to North Everest are Shigatse Peace Airport (RKZ) and Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA). The former has very limited air routes and the latter is the one for passengers traveling to Mount Everest in Tibet's side.
The two ways of getting to North Everest are:
Nepal-China border at Gyirong Port
Though making it to the world's tallest mountain itself is quite a feat itself, Mount Everest offers more. Both sunrise and sunset at Mount Everest are stunning views. Seasonal-built tent guesthouses and basic permanent hostels accommodate those who'd like to see the sunrise at the North Everest Base Camp. Trekking is also available at North Everest region, suitable for the outdoor enthusiasts who are yet to get a climbing permit. (Check the North Everest Trekking Tour)
Tours you may be interested in:
8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour
8 Days Tibet to Nepal Overland Tour
10 Days Everest plus Namtso Lake Tour
11 Days Everest Base camp Trekking Tour
