How to Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa and Kathmandu

0 COMMENTS

Everest Base Camp (EBC) is one of the most popular places to visit in the Himalayas, and have been used by climbing expeditions heading for the summit of Mount Everest for almost 100 years. Lying on the border between China and Nepal, Mount Everest, also known as Qomolangma in Tibetan and Sagarmatha in Nepali, Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain, with a peak that lies at an altitude of 8,848 meters above sea level. Since many tourists are keen on visiting the highest mountain on the Earth, how to get there is one of the most important things to know before you go.

Where Is Everest Base Camp?

Mount Everest, a popular mountain for climbers that want a unique experience, has two base camps that are open to the public. The northern base camp lies in the Tibet autonomous Region of China, while the southern base camp lies in Province 1 of Nepal, also known as the Khumjung Region.

The northern base camp in Tibet was first set up in 1921, as the main base camp for the first mountaineering expedition to attempt to reach the summit. Since then it has been used by a huge number of expeditions heading for the peak of the world’s tallest mountain, and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tibet. The northern EBC lies a few kilometers from the world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk Monastery, at the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier on the northwestern slopes of the mountain.

EBCt in Nepal
Southern Base Camp in Nepal

The southern base camp lies several kilometers from the actual summit, which is obscured from view at the base camp by the southwest ridge, the popular climbing route to the peak. The base camp was set up during an exploratory expedition to the mountain in 1950 by British climbers, after the Nepali government opened up the country to foreign nationals just for this attempt. The camp lies on the same route that was taken by the expedition in 1950, and the trekking trail follows their route to the base camp from Namche Bazaar. Since it was first set up, the southern EBC has become one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world, with thousands of tourists making the journey to the camp.

How to Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa

Getting to Everest Base Camp in Tibet from Lhasa is much easier than getting to its counterpart in Nepal, and there is now a road that can take you all the way to the tourist base camp. From Lhasa, the G318 Friendship Highway runs all the way through Shigatse, the second city of Tibet, until you get to the town of Lhatse, in Shigatse Prefecture.

From Lhatse, you turn off south along the road to Old Tingri, after which you will eventually reach Rongbuk Monastery. From there, it is a short walk of around 8km to the base camp, or you can take the government-provided bus to the camp, as private vehicles are not permitted past the tourist base camp.

Lhasa to EBC by road

The route to the camp from Lhasa covers a distance of around 610 kilometers by road, and takes around 4-5 days to get there, stopping at the various attractions in Tibet along the way. Tours to Everest base camp can be taken with us, who can provide the vehicle, driver, and guide required for the trip, as well as the permits you need to get into Tibet.

All travelers to Tibet are required to have a pre-booked tour with a registered Tibet tour operator, as well as a private guide, driver, and vehicle at all times. The Tibet T ravel Permit is required to get into the region and to travel to the various parts of Tibet, and all of this can be arranged for you by us.

How to Get to Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu

From Kathmandu, the route to Everest Base Camp is one that is a little more complex, and requires a combination of flights, buses, and walking. The first leg of the journey takes you from Kathmandu to Lukla, a small town in the Sagarmatha National Park which is the trail-head for the base camp trek. Most trekkers heading for the base camp fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, as there are no roads to the town. However, it is possible to trek into Lukla from Phaplu, the closest road to the town, and the airport there has daily flights from Kathmandu.

From Lukla, it is a 12-day trek to get to the base camp, traveling through Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, and Gorak Shep, before reaching the base camp on the 12th day. Day one of the trek takes you to the village of Phakding, and on day two you head for Namche Bazaar, at 3,440 meters. In Namche Bazaar, trekkers normally take their first acclimatization day, after an ascent of 580 meters.

Lukla to EBC in Nepal

From Namche, after the rest day, the next stop is at Tengboche, at 3,860 meters, and then it is on to Pheriche, at 4,371 meters on the fifth day of trekking. Pheriche is the next stop for acclimatization to the altitude increases, and at that point trekkers have already ascended 1,511 meters from the starting point at Lukla.

After Pheriche, the ascent is just 400 meters to the village of Duglha, and the day after, you will climb the steeper route to Lobuche, which lies at 4,940 meters above sea level. From here, it is a 3-hour climb on the following day to Gorak Shep, the last stopping point before Everest Base Camp, and you can take the side trip from there to the ridge at Kala Patthar, from which you can get the best view of the summit of Mount Everest.

The last day of hiking, which takes you up to the base camp at 5,364 meters, is a grueling climb that traverses the glacial moraine and the glacier itself before finally getting to the famous southern base camp.

The route covers a distance of 51 kilometers on foot, and ascends 2,504 meters in altitude. For a trek like this, with such a high ascent, trekkers need to take a few days during the trek to acclimatize to the increases in altitude, to reduce the risk of altitude sickness at high elevations.

Along the route there are several sites of interest for tourists in Nepal. Namche Bazaar, the second stop and the first acclimatization day, is the hub of trade for the Sherpa region, and has several nice guesthouses and some good restaurants for tourists. There are also two museums of Sherpa life and history that are worth a visit while you are in the village acclimatizing, and it is the last place where you can get a pizza or use the internet on the trail to EBC.

In Dingboche, on the fifth day of trekking, there is a nunnery that is worth visiting, as these Buddhist nunneries are few and far between in the Himalayas. Further along, there is a monastery in the Upper Pangboche area that you can take a short side-trip to visit. And near Gorak Shep, a little way off the trail before you get there, is the Everest Pyramid. The Pyramid is an Italian weather station that was set up to constantly monitor the weather and climate of Mount Everest, and is important in confirming the weather conditions for climbing expeditions to the summit.

Tips for Getting to Everest Base Camp

If you are traveling to EBC in Tibet, then it is a good idea to go there in the spring and autumn, or early winter, as the monsoon season from June to September can often be too wet or cloudy to get a good view of the mountain. The latter part of winter, from January to march, is also not ideal, as it can get too cold.

It is best to book your Tibet tour early, especially if you are planning to visit Mount Everest, in order to secure accommodation in the peak seasons, as it can get very busy. Tibet is crowded with tourists from China as well as the rest of the world from May to October, and accommodation can book out early.

Take plenty of sun cream, moisturizers, and lip balm with you when visiting Everest Base Camp, as the sun’s rays are strong and can burn the skin, especially at this high altitude. Moisturizers will also keep your skin protected from the strong winds, and the lip balm will help protect your lips from chapping.

Protect Your Skin
Protecting your skin is quite important

When traveling to EBC from Kathmandu, it is a good idea to have a guide, especially if it is your first trip. While the route along the trail is clearly marked out, it is possible to get lost if you stray, and a good guide is worth their weight in gold.

Do not over-pack for the trek, and try to keep the weight to a minimum. Trekking in high altitudes is hard work, and takes more energy to cover the same distance over the same terrain than at sea level. Pack only what is necessary, and leave the rest behind.

Similarly, do not underestimate the weather in the Everest region of Nepal, as it can change at a whim. Ensure you have enough layers to keep you warm, and invest in a good arctic sleeping bag for those cold Himalayan nights.

Follow the routine for rest days to acclimatize, as altitude sickness is not pleasant. Known the symptoms and watch out for them in yourself and others around you to prevent more serious symptoms from occurring.