Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour from Kathmandu

Best Season

The Tibet Everest Base Camp tour is all about viewing the Everest in its full glory. Therefore, for the best visibility of Everest in its grandeur, the golden period is from late September to early June.

During the autumn months of September, October, and November, the highly located Everest region of Tibet benefits from high oxygen levels in the air thus reducing the chance of altitude sickness. The temperature also is pleasant dwelling between 19 to 20 degree Celsius.

The March, April, and May months are also ideal times as the days are warmer reaching to 25 degree Celsius with rich oxygen in the air.

If you go in July and August, your chances of seeing the mountain are slim, but not zero. July and August are the rainy season both in Nepal and Tibet. The sky can be covered in rain for a week or more.

Although Lhasa doesn’t receive much rain in these months, Everest will be under the full impact of heavy rainfall. The path leading to the Everest Base Camp is well-maintained however, there is always the possibility of landslides.

In winter (December to February) also, Everest is capricious and can hide its face behind a large cloud, especially in the morning. On the other hand, the Lhasa tour is favorable all year round.

Weather and climate

From April to June, the temperature at the Tibet Everest Base Camp varies between 10 to 17 degrees Celsius during the day and -5 to 5 degrees Celsius during the night. It receives 8 to 31 mm of precipitation during these months.

On the other hand, the autumn months of September to November bring warmer days, with temperatures often ranging between 10 to 19 degrees Celsius during the day and 5 to -10 degrees at night. Precipitation in these months can vary from 1 to 39 mm.
In July and August, the Tibet Everest Base Camp receives the most rainfall, with precipitation measuring between 94 to 108 mm, while temperatures range from 8 to 16 degrees Celsius.

During the winter season, the highest temperature reaches 7 degrees Celsius, and at night it can drop to a freezing -12 to -17 degrees Celsius. The precipitation during this time is only 2 mm.

Difficulty

Our Tibet Everest Base Camp tour is classified as a very easy tour in Tibet without great physical exertion. No physical preparation or hiking experience is necessary for the trip. Our focus on this trip will be on culture, animal watching, sightseeing, and contact with the local population.

The imperative condition for the tour is you should be physically fit and should not have any chronic ailments such as heart or respiratory diseases.

There are no long hikes involved, and all transportation will be in a private van or bus. Accommodations will be in the finest hotels available along the road, equipped with amenities such as hot showers, air conditioning, private bathrooms, and internet access.

The gradual drive through the Tibetan Highlands allows for adaptation to the high-altitude air of the Tibetan Everest Base Camp, making the tour suitable for individuals of any level of fitness.

Altitude Sickness

Our Tibet Everest Base Camp tour from Kathmandu will take you to the highest elevation of 5200 m at the base camp. The transition along the road will gradually take you from 2700 m elevation to 5200 m on the same day. Therefore, the occurrence of altitude sickness is higher due to the quick transition to higher heights, low oxygen, and low air pressure.

Most of our participants have experienced varying degrees of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, sleep disorders, and restlessness. If you also suffer from these symptoms, we advise you to tell our guide and go to a lower altitude.

In our previous tours, most of our participants had only experienced one or two mild symptoms which usually subside and disappear completely within a day or two.

In order to minimize these risks, we have therefore avoided physical exertion after your arrival and carried out transportation in four-wheel drive.

We suggest you not to drink alcohol or smoke, drink plenty of water, and eat high-calorie foods like chocolate which will help you prevent altitude sickness.

Medication such as Diamox and oxygen help cure altitude sickness. However, do not use oxygen too often at lower altitudes if the symptoms are not severe. Oxygen treatment at the high altitude of Everest base camp will not be effective if it has been used too often at lower altitudes.

Accommodation

In Kerung, we will sleep in a comfortable modest hotel room with twin beds. After Kerung, our second night will be spent at the Everest Base Camp which offers few accommodation options.

We will stay in Rongbuk either in a government hotel or in a monastery guesthouse which is very modest. If both are fully accommodated, we may have to stay in a tented hotel which are basically tents equipped with beds, blankets, and hot water in thermoses.

While in Shigatse and Lhasa, you can enjoy a comfortable sleep in various types of accommodations, including hostels, guesthouses, and 3, 4, or 5-star deluxe hotels. We have arranged a 3-star hotel room for you with twin beds that offer the best views of the Tibetan town.

The rooms is equipped with a private bathroom with a hot shower. We also have made sure the hotel is equipped with sufficient oxygen supplies and has proper heating systems.

Meals

During our Tibet Everest Base Camp tour from Kathmandu, we provide daily breakfast at your accommodation. In Kerung, you can enjoy Nepali, Indian, Tibetan, or Chinese meals for lunch and dinner.

At Everest Base Camp though the food choices are limited to basic Tibetan dishes like local bread, noodles, soup, and instant noodles. However, in Shigatse and Lhasa, you can indulge in a variety of cuisines including Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan, Chinese, Italian, and many other Western options for lunch and dinner.

Don’t miss out on momos, Tsampa, dried yak meat, lamb sausages, and local yogurt. Also, try sweet and buttered tea for a change. A delightful nightlife in Lhasa in bars of Nepali Low House Music Bar, Makye Ame, Dunya Restaurant Bar, and Ganglamedo Cafe and Bar provides a Western experience with various beverages.

Kindly be aware that the lunch, dinner, and beverage costs in Nepal and Tibet are excluded from our service. The average meal cost including lunch, dinner, and beverage can be around USD 30 per person each day.

Transportation

We will provide private transportation throughout the Tibet Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu. A private jeep will take you to Kerung, where our Tibetan guide will greet you and accompany you to the Everest Base Camp in a private bus or van, depending on the group size. During the Lhasa tour, the same private transportation will be available for exploring significant landmarks.

Flight Information (If you fly from Kathmandu)

One of the most convenient alternatives for the Tibet Everest Base Camp tour is to take a direct flight to Lhasa. From there, you can drive to Shigatse and explore the base camp before making your way back to Kathmandu via Kerung. If you choose this route, then you can directly board a 2-hour flight to Lhasa Kingdom.
However, please note that daily flights to Lhasa are not available, with only three flights allowed since April 17, 2024. Himalayan Airlines currently flies to Lhasa on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If your travel plans fall on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, you may have to fly to Chengdu first and then make a flight to Lhasa from here.

You can also fly directly to Lhasa from your home instead of traveling to Kathmandu. Please keep in mind, that when you choose this option for your travel, you will require the Tibet Entry Permit before boarding the flight to Lhasa.

To receive the permit, you have to stop for 5 or more hours or stay for one night in a Chinese city so we can send you the authentic Tibet Entry Permit.

Travel Insurance

No doubt when traveling to the high altitude region of Tibet, especially the Tibet Everest Base Camp, we are exposed to the risk of uncertain climatic and weather conditions and altitude sickness.

Therefore, it is essential to have travel insurance for our Tibet Everest Base Camp tour. You must submit your insurance copy when booking this trip with us. Ensure that your insurance covers altitudes of up to 5500m.

It must also include coverage for urgent helicopter evacuation, medical expenses, trip cancellation, luggage loss, and other incidents that can cause an additional burden on your pocket.

Physical Fitness and Health

The Tibet Everest Base Camp tour although doesn’t need you to indulge in the long trekking journey, but you still will be travelling to the higher altitude of the Everest Base Camp ultimately spending the night a 5200 m.

Therefore, a certain level of physical fitness and mental preparedness is necessary for this tour. We kindly request you to refrain from joining this
tour if you have any existing health issues. Mount Everest will always be there, so ensure your health is in good condition before taking on the Tibet Everest Base Camp tour.

If you already are a fitness freak, and regularly remain active in gyms, and other routines, then no extra physical preparation is required as our travel will be in a comfortable four-wheel drive.

We will still be spending a whole night at 5200 m elevation so physical preparation to some extent helps in preventing altitude sickness. So we suggest you integrate some walking and hiking adventure, or biking, running and swimming will also do the trick in building your endurance.

In addition to physical training, mental preparedness is also significant for this tour, as we will be traveling together as a team. It is essential to be able to work well in a team, interact socially, and offer support to one another. We suggest you watch some YouTube videos so you will know what actually awaits you there at Tibet Everest Base Camp.

Communication and network

In the high altitude zone of Tingri and Everest Base Camp, mobile networks and their 5G service may not function properly due to the high elevation. Additionally, WIFI and internet services will not be available in these areas.

However, once you descend to Shigatse and Lhasa, you can easily stay connected by purchasing China Mobile, China Telecom, or China Unicom SIM Cards. Our Tibetan guide will help you in acquiring and activating the mobile service once you reach Shigatse.

In Shigatse and Lhasa, you can access the WIFI in your hotel lobby, bars, restaurants, and some deluxe rooms. However, to fully use the internet to your advantage, you must install a reliable VPN on your mobile or laptop.

The social platforms and some commonly used messenger apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and Google are banned in China of course because of their foreign policies.

Currency

The first phase of our Tibet Everest Base Camp tour will take us from Kathmandu to Kerung and then directly to Everest Base Camp. We therefore recommend you exchange your currency for the Chinese Yuan in Kathmandu, as Kerung town and Tingri may not have easy access to foreign currency exchange centers.

In Kathmandu, the Himalayan Bank, Nabil Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Everest Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank offer easy services of foreign currency exchange.

In Tingri and Everest Base Camp, there is no availability of ATMs or card payment so please carry the necessary cash for the trip. However, in Shigatse and Lhasa, the ATMs, and banks for cash withdrawal are easily accessible.

You will also have the flexibility to make payments using cards or mobile applications at restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars, and shops along the way.

What to expect?

The route to Mount Everest is one of the most beautiful in Tibet. The Friendship Highway will guide you to Tingri, a charming Tibetan cowboy town where you can observe numerous nomadic people tending to their yaks.

Along the way, you will cross the 5050 m high Lalung Pass and Pang la Pass. From the top of the Passes, you will have world-class fascinating views of Chomulungma, Makalu, Chomo Lonzo, Lhotse, Shishapangma, Langtang, and many more.

Then, you will have the chance to explore the Rongbuk Monastery, where you can observe the lives of Tibetan monks, their traditions, and culture. Then, you will set foot at the Everest Base Camp where you will be able to admire the majestic beauty of Everest in all its glory.

In the next phase, you will take a different route through Shigatse, crossing the Lhakpa La or Gyatso La Pass. In Shigatse, you will have the chance to visit the grand Tashilhunpo Monastery. Finally, in Lhasa, you will explore the Potala Palace, Bakhor market, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, and Sera Monastery where you will be enveloped in the spiritual energy of Tibet.

Visa Information

All foreigners traveling to Tibet must have an entry permit, a Visa, a private vehicle, a driver, and a local guide. This means your trip must be organized by a certified and licensed local travel agency.

There is no way to enter Tibet on your own, any rumor you may have heard to the contrary is untrue. Without a permit, you will not be allowed to board a train or plane, nor will you be able to check into a hotel. Permits are checked at every police checkpoint outside Lhasa, which is approximately every 50km.

Regarding our permits, we will be stepping into the UNOPENED Shiagtse county of China where the Tibet Everest Base Camp is located. Therefore we will need the Tibet Travel Permit, Chinese Group Visa, Military Permit, Aline’s Travel Permit and Foreign Affairs permit for the Tibet Everest Base Camp tour.

You should therefore contact us at least 3 or 4 weeks before your tour. You must establish a specific travel plan, which we will enter in the permit. You must think it through carefully because once the permit is issued, no major changes can be made to it.

Kindly provide us with a scanned copy of your passport along with a passport-size photo (51mm x 51mm) featuring a white background, without makeup and glasses. Please ensure that the scanned copy of your passport is in color, clear, and complete.

There should not be any parts cut off else the processing of your permit may be delayed or canceled.

 Tibet Travel Permit

It is the most important permit that allows your entry into any part of Tibet. This permit is issued exclusively by the Tibet Tourism Office, through local travel agencies; it cannot be obtained at the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China.

After the confirmation of your Tibet Everest Base Camp tour from Kathmandu, and receiving all your documents, we will apply for your permit in the certified local agency of Tibet.

After it has been approved, the invitation letter will be sent to us which we will then present at the Chinese Embassy to obtain the Chinese Group Visa. Meanwhile, our Tibetan Guide will receive the permits which he will present at Kerung Checkpost.

 Chinese Group Visa

Since the advance application for the Chinese Group Visa from Kathmandu is not needed, we will wait for your arrival in Kathmandu. The next day after your arrival, we will head to the Chinese Embassy where we will submit your passports, photos, and your fingerprints for biometric registration.

Our team will be with you to assist you with the process. The embassy will keep your passport for 2 business days which they will return after the arrival of your Visa which we will collect on your behalf. Remember, the group visa is a single document issued for the whole group members so each member must enter and leave Tibet at the same time.

 Foreign affairs permit

This permit is exclusively issued by the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office. We will send copies of your passport, and Group visa to our Tibetan Guide. After he receives your Tibet Travel permit, he will present all these documents in the office which will issue the permit within 10 to 15 working days.

 Aline’s Travel Permit

This permit is an on-arrival permit exclusively issued by the Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau. Before we enter Shigatse, our guide will submit all your documents (Visa, Tibet entry permit, and your original passport) and the permit will be issued within a few hours.

 Military Permit

The Shigatse County of Tibet falls under the administration of the Chinese Military, therefore an authorizing permit from the military is also required. It also requires 10 to 16 business days therefore advance application will be carried out by our guide.