Mount Everest Trekking - How to Trek to Everest Base Camp

Where is Mount Everest

The top of the world Mount Everest is always a dream destination for the intrepid hikers. Today, it has become a popular trek for people from all walks of life who want to witness the world’s highest peak. As widely known by people, Mount Everest has two parts – south face in Nepal and north face in Tibet. Unlike the south face in Nepal, the north face of Mount Everest is a high land - less crowded, quiet and peaceful, no vast forests, no many towns, no great lodges, with average altitude of over 4500 meters. There are three major trekking:

A. Easy short trekking from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp;

B. Moderate trekking from Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp;

C. Trekking beyond Everest Base Camp to Camp 2, Camp 3…Summit.

Generally speaking, trekking beyond Everest Base Camp to further camps or summit is only available for those very experience trekkers and mountaineers. It needs at least a month or more for the trek. Special permits from Lhasa are required. While the treks and B are achievable goals for most of people who are fit and well prepared. Camping, food supply, transfer, gears can be arranged easily. Following is the detailed guide on the Trek B - Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trekking which also covers the trek from Rongbuk Monastery to the Everest Base Camp

Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trekking

During this trek, you will walk in the shadow of giant Mount Everest, which will give you an exciting mixture of solitude, wildlife seeing as well as physical and mental challenge. This route takes you to traverse from the vast plain of Tingri, along a motorable track, to the wild Ra-chu Valley, then enter pastures of herders and livedock, and go up to the highest point Pang-la (5350m), then walk up and down along isolated valleys to reach the final destination – Everest Base Camp.

Trekking At a Glance

Starting: Old Tingri (Shegar Town)

Finishing: Everest Base Camp (north face Tibet side)

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Distance: 70km (43.5miles)

Duration: 3~4 days

Highest elevation: Pang-la Pass (5350m)

Accommodation: Camping

Best time to trek: Apr to Oct

Nearest city: Shigatse

DAY 1: Old Tingri Town to Lungchang

4~5 hours / 12km / 150m Ascent

After obtaining admission ticket of Everest National Park at Old Tingri Town, you will start today’s trekking to Lungchang Village, which is manly on plains and valleys, and usually costs about 4~5 hours. Today you will walk at slow pace to adjust yourself to the high altitude and thin air. About half of today’s trekking will be done in the beautiful Ra-chu Valley where you can enjoy vast meadows with herd. You will also pass by several Tibetan villages whose people mainly make living on herding. The route partly follow a bumping earth road which allows vehicles passing, and partly take straight paths in the valley. Today’s highest point is a pass with altitude of 5170m. Getting over the pass and pass by a small Tibetan monastery, you will arrive at the campsite of today – Lungchang (4510m).

DAY 2 Lungchang to Lamna-la

7~8 hours / 21km / 200m Ascent

Today you will trek from Lungchang to Lamna-la. It is a challenge of both energy and mind because you will walk many strenuous trails while you leave the lower Lungchang to ascent to the high pass of Lamna-la (5150). Remember to walk at a moderate pace and take some necessary rests on route because it is a long trek. Today you will also see several villages and the highest-altitude primary school in the world. Yes, you are not along on this high land in shadow of Mount Everest. After all the efforts you will get your feet on the Lamna-la Pass, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. From this pass, you have chance to see four of the highest peaks in the world – Mount Everest, Makalu Peak, Cho Oyu Peak and Shishapangma Peak. Last, find a good location to camp and have a good rest.

DAY 3 Lamna-la to Zommug

7~8 hours / 22km / 360m Descent

Today you will trek about 15km from Lamna-la to Zommug Village. The first half is mainly downhill trail which is verdant with a variety of plants. There are many yaks on the hills. Then you will see many white corrals environing expansive plains, which means you are about to get Zommug Village. The plains here are too infertile to grow the Highland Barley. So the only way to make a living is to count on their yaks and sheep. As you approaching Zommug, you can also see the giant Mount Everest and Gyachuang Kang Peak in a distance. This night, camp near Zommug Village.

DAY 4 Zommug to Everest Base Camp

7~8 hours / 15km / 290m Ascent

Today’s trekking goes along a boulder-strewn valley leading to Rongbuk Monastery and EBC without sharp ups and downs. The altitude will increase gently to 5200m at Everest Base Camp. After about 12km’s trekking, you will arrive at the highest monastery in the world – Rongbuk Monastery, and get a wider and closer sight of the mighty Everest. Located about 5100 meters above the sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world. It is the best location to take some great photos of the front face of Mount Everest. Take a short rest at Rongbuk Monastery, you will then keep trekking to EBC. The distance from Rongbuk Monastery to EBC is about 8km, approximately 2 hours’ walking. You will walk to EBC and spend some time enjoying the closer view of Mount Everest, then take a park bus back to Rongbuk Monastery area for camping.

Enjoying a Trek to Everest Base Camp

Wonderful View of Cho Oyu Peak

Tibetan Village along the Trek

Lovely Tibetan Kids

Rongbuk Monastery - the Highest Monastery in the World

Looking at Mount Everest Close from Everest Base Camp

The Best Time to Trek Mount Everest

You can trek Everest during April to October when it is warm, clean and beautiful, without extreme weathers like strong snow and rain. The temperatures are also suitable for trekking, usually between 10~25 ℃. There may be frequent rainfalls during July and August, which may make your trekking and camping inconvenient. But the plants along the trails are verdant and various.

Packing Well for the Extreme Weather

Whenever you trekking on Mount Everest, remember to get fully prepared for the climate. The most important thing is to keep warm especially in the night time when the temperatures may decrease to below 0℃. Even in the day time, you should keep warm, which is helpful for prevent from catching a cold on the plateau. A great idea is to bring different clothes for different conditions – daytime, night, rain, snow, etc. A pair of high trekking shoes, an alpenstock, hiking jacket and pants, hat, sunglasses are all necessary. Camping gears like thick tents and sleeping bags are also necessary to be packed with.

April to October is the Best Time to Trek Mount Everest

How to Get to Old Tingri Town

Old Tingri Town is the starting point of the trek to Everest Base Camp. It is located in the remote southern Tibet along the Sino-highway, one and a half days’ driving from Kathmandu, Nepal. While, currently the most popular way is to drive to Old Tingri from Lhasa even though it needs two days because the border between Nepal and Tibet is closed due to earthquake. The only way to get to Tibet from Nepal is flight.

Lhasa to Tingri

The shortest driving distance from Lhasa to Old Tingri is about 560km, completely following the Sino-highway (Lhasa – Shigatse – Lhatse – Old Tingri). It is less scenic as another route which takes the road passing the beautiful lake Yamdrok and Gyantse Palcho Monastery with a driving distance around 645km. For most travelers who visit Tibet for the first time, the latter route is strongly recommended (Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse – Lhatse – Old Tingri). Well, it is not a problem if you will return back to Lhasa after the Everest trek. Both two routes cost 2 days to get to Old Tingri – day 1 from Lhasa to Shigatse (via Gyantse) and day 2 to Old Tingri from Shigatse. For those who had visited Lhasa, you can also directly fly to Shigatse and then transfer to Old Tingri to start the Everest trek.

Kathmandu to Tingri

Before the Nepal earthquake in 2015, there were many travelers traveled directly from Kathmandu to Everest by land. After the earthquake, many parts of the road from Kathmandu to Zhangmu Border are damaged, and the reconstruction hasn’t complete yet. The border is supposed to be reopened in the end of 2017 when travelers can directly have land driving to Everest to enjoy a trek. If you want to go to Tibet from Nepal, you can take flights from Kathmandu which usually offer one or two daily flights to Lhasa each day during tourism peak months (May to October).

Go to Mount Everest from Lhasa

Permits for Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trek

If you just trek the route from Old Tingri to EBC, you only need following permits as a regular Mount Everest trip requires:

Firstly you will need a Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) which is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. This permit is the most important permit because you will need to take flight/train to Tibet. And it will also be checked in Tibet. Secondly you have to obtain an Alien Travel Permit which allows you to visit other prefectures in Tibet, such as Shigatse, Mount Everest, etc. Thirdly you will have to apply for a Border Pass because Mount Everest is located near the border between China and Nepal. Tibet Travel Permit must be obtained before your trip while the Alien Travel Permit and Border Pass will only be checked when you are already in Tibet.

Trek Beyond Everest Base Camp

According to local regulation, to trek beyond Everest Base Camp to Camp II, Camp III…, one has to apply for special permit and register in Lhasa General Administration of Sport. That’s right. It is not related to travel. Besides, one has to be quite fit and get fully trained.

The first page of TTB Permit (Tibet Entry Permit)

What to Pack for Mount Everest Trek

Basic warm, comfortable and firm clothing are required. A pair of strong, well-fitting boots is necessary. We will offer tent, stove, cooking utensil and other necessary equipment for trekking and camping. The private gears and equipment, such as sleeping bag is suggested to bring on your own. Check following packing list:

Bag:

1. A large backpack and a smaller one. The smaller one can be used for daily activities and be put into the large backpack when necessary;

2. A waist bag to put important documents and property.

Clothing:

1. It's advisable to dress in layers that can be easily added or removed as temperatures vary greatly within a day in Tibet;

2. A windbreaker is advisable at any time of year;

3. A pair firmed, water-proof, warm-keeping and well-fitting trekking shoes;

4. Waterproof clothing and raingear;

5. A down jacket (better with hat) together with other warm-keeping clothing is necessary.

Avoid Sunburn:

1. High SPF sunscreen cream, sun block, skin cream and lip balm to against intense sunlight and dry weather;

2. Sunglasses and sunhat can protect you effectively from being exposed to the scorching sunlight;

3. A pair firmed, water-proof, warm-keeping and well-fitting trekking shoes.

Medicine:

1. Medicine to prevent and lessen High Altitude Sickness, such as Diamox;

2. Medicine for cold, headache, stomachache, diarrhea, nausea, insect bite, etc. such as Aspirin, Diphenoxylate, and Prochlorperazine;

3. Band-aids or other wound dressings;

4. Nasal ointment and throat lozenges if you are sensitive to chilly or freezing weather conditions;

5. Multivitamins.

Other Equipment:

1. A water bottle;

2. A solar flashlight;

3. Sleeping bag;

4. Alpenstock.

Packing Well for the Trekking

Always Keep Yourself Warm

Trekking Shoe is Necessary

Bring a Warm Sleeping Bag

More Mount Everest Travel Guide

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