Everest Base Camp Travel Tips
Mt. Everest is Earth’s highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. It is also one of the most accessible big mountains in the world, bringing hundreds of climbers and thousands to its base camp in a typical season. Base Camp is in Tibet at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) and used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent. Trekking to base camp is actually a lot of fun and this page gives you the useful Everest Base Camp Travel Tips, please keeping reading.
1. Travel Documents
Traveling to Everest Base Camp (EBC), you should make full preparation for it. Except for strong body and courage, you also need certain permits and certificates including Tibet Travel Permit, Alien’s Travel Permit, and Frontier Pass. Tibet Travel Permit is a must to travel in Tibet, otherwise, you cannot enter into Tibet. The Aliens’ Travel Permit, issued by the Public Security Bureau, is a necessary for your travel to Mount Everest which can be applied at the Foreign Affairs Office in either Lhasa or Shigatse.
2. Entrance Fee
Admission to the Everest nature reserve costs about 90 CNY(off-season ) -180 CNY (peak-season). Besides, there are some small shops at the tent hotels and some of them can accept US dollars.
3. Get the Right Gear
If you plan to trek to Everest Base Camp, there are many gear that are essential for your trek. First of all, you need a good, sturdy, waterproof pair of trekking boots. Second, take a good down jacket to keep warm which is essential during the cold nights and mornings on the mountain. Third, take a a platypus and Nalgene style plastic bottle for drinking water. Another essential is a sun hat and sunglasses. The sun can be extremely powerful in the Himalayas, so have as much cover from the sun as possible. Besides, pack a few extra goodies in your bag to get some calories.
4. Best time to Enjoy Majestic Mt. Everest
Usually the best time to enjoy Mt. Everest is from January to mid/late February, from April to early June and from Mid September to November when there is no rain and cloud. Among them, from April to June is the best. For more information, please click Best Time to Travel to Everest Base Camp in Tibet.
5. Transportation of Everest Base Camp
Getting to Everest Base Camp, there are several ways: by walking, cycling and bus. The distance between Rongbuk to EBC is 8 km which is part of the classic trek from Tingri to Everest Base Camp. Usually it takes about 2 or 3 hours. The best time to trek to EBC is from April to the end of May and from September to November. It takes about six days to cycle from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp. You will will pass 8 mountains with an average altitude of above 4000m. As for bus, private cars and tourist buses are not allowed to be driven to the Everest Base Camp. But tourists can use eco-van to get there.
6. Services and Facilities at Everest Base Camp
Hotel: Everest View Hotel(near Rongbuk monastery); tent hotel on the way to from Rongbuk Monastery to the Everest Base Camp
Food: It’s easy to get food in the summer days while difficult in the low season of winter. Rongbuk Monastery can provide food even in the winter.
Oxygen Supply: Portable oxygen bottles are the main source of oxygen supplies. There are oxygen bottles sold at the base camp, but it’s better to buy it at Lhasa or Shigatse.
Hospital: There are no doctors or hospitals or clinics. You can only leave there and go to the nearest town or city for timely treatment.
Post Office: There is a China post office at Everest Base camp where you can get stamp of Everest.
Bank or ATM: There is no Bank or ATM at the base camp. The nearest ATM is in the city of Shigatse.
Phone Use: The signal is available at the base camp but not so good when it’s windy. Also the power there cannot charge your phones and cameras. So prepare spare batteries in advance.
7. People Not Suitable for Everest Base Camp Tour
For safety reasons, these people are not recommended to travel to EBC even Tibet who have heart disease, serious arrhythmia, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, emphysema and so on. At the same time, children under the age of 7 should not participate in the Everest base camp tour. So the other people of all ages can visit Everest Base Camp.
8. Best Location to Shoot Mt. Everest
The best place to shoot Mt. Everest is a small hill above EBC and on the way from Tingri to Everest Base Camp, you can get a panoramic picture from Gawula Pass. Spring and autumn are suitable to take the pictures.
