Best Time to Visit Everest Base Camp

The best time to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet is from April to the following year February, especially from April to June and September to November.

The Everest Base Camp, the protection zone built for protecting the core area of Qomolangma with an altitude of 5,200 meters, is one of the must-sees for any trip to Tibet.

The weather in the mountains is notoriously difficult to predict. However, it is not as gloomy and cold as you imagine, and the temperature generally features the big temperature gap, cold at night while warm during the daytime.

It is almost sunny and even warm in the summer-time, about 12°C (22°F) colder than in Lhasa.

Just follow our utmost guide to find out the detailed climate and travel experience at different times all around the year.

A climate picture to help you decide when to visit Everest Base Camp

Weather and wind speed of ebc

Everest Monthly Temperatures - Select a Month to Visit Everest

Mount Everest (27°59′17″N 86°55′31″E), 8,848m (29,029 ft) high, is known as the third pole and the highest mountain in the world. Located in middle of the Himalaya Mountains, border between China and Nepal, south side of Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture of Tibet, Mt. Everest is also called Sagarmāthā (Forehead in the Sky) in Nepal and Qomolangma (Goddess Mother of Mountains) in Tibet China.

For the high altitude and unique geographical environment, the main peak of Himalaya Mountains - Mt. Everest has a classic alpine climate: extremely low temperature all year round, perpetual snows, glaciers and ice slopes are everywhere, very thin air and frequent high speed wind. Weather of Mt. Everest and surrounding mountains is complicated and changeable, surprisingly unpredictable in one day. Considering of the severe cold weather and wicked geography, many tourists have to select a best time to challenge the highest mountain.

When is the Best Time to Visit Mount Everest?

Trekking to Mount Everest is only available in a short period from April to mid-May and from September to October as the deadly monsoon in Summer and harsh climate in Winter makes it extremely difficult and dangerous to climb Mount Everest area. So you should select a proper time in Spring or Autumn to visit Mount Everest. Because during these months the average temperature ranges from 15°C to 25°C, with blue sky and clear weather for you to enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Everest.

The temperature of the Mount Everest Base Camp at night is under 0°C all year round. Even in July, temperatures just get as high as nearly zero degree Fahrenheit (about -18°C). And in the coldest January, temperatures drop to as low as -76°F (-60°C). Temperature also varies within a single day, rising up to 10°C during the day and dropping far below zero degree during the night. Since the temperatures change a lot in one day, you’d prepare well for the rough changes.

Mount Everest Four Seasons – Seasons to Go

The true face of Mt. Everest exposed to tourists only in a short time which deeply influenced by the extreme harsh weather and dangerous circumstance. By and large, the weather of Mount Everest is severe cold all throughout the year and temperature varies widely from day and night, the high elevated mountain is fully snow covered with permanent glaciers. Each season Mount Everest shows different climate features.

According to information provided from Tingri Meteorological Station at the foot of Mount Everest, the annual average temperature of Mount Everest is -29℃, 37 degrees below zero centigrade on January and 20 degrees below zero on July. Among these periods, the coldest time of Mount Everest is February while the hottest period is in August.

Pure and Snow Covered Mount Everest on May

Marvellous Scenery From Rongbuk Monastery

Trekking Around Mount Everest Base Camp

Tents' Camp in the EBC

Spring & Autumn

Every year, early April to end of May is considered one of the best times to visit Mount Everest when the windy season will transit to rainy season in Spring. Another best season for mountaineering is the early September to end of October when it is in the interim from rainy season to windy season in Autumn. During these periods, there is a chance of good weather to see blue sky, holy and pure, spectacular view of Mount Everest.

Summer in Everest

Usually, the rainy season of Mount Everest starts from the beginning of June to Mid-September in Summer, when the heavy southeast monsoon brings frequent rainstorms, cloud and mist permeate everywhere, even snows and ices rage in horrible impermanence. On July and August, it has the most amount of precipitation than other months.

Winter in Everest

Controlled by the strong northwest cold snap, temperature of Mount Everest can drop to 60 degree below zero centigrade during Mid-November to next year Mid – February. During this time,Mount Everest is regarded as a “no man’s land” or “forbidden zone of life” with average temperature between -40°C to -50°C, maximum wind speed highs to 90 meters per second.

Wind velocity varies largely on plateau area than plain area, and the higher the hill is, the greater the wind speed change within a day. Statistically, wind speed above Mount Everest turns into the highest during January to March and November to December, during which is not recommended to visit Mount Everest. The thin air at the summit of Mt. Everest is much challenging for oxygen content there is only one quarter of that of eastern plains.

Travel Activities Available:

you can visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest temple in the world with elevation of 4,980m, 8km to EBC, is also thought to be one of the best places to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Mount Everest when the weather is good. Or you can stay at the Rongbuk Monastery Hostel to experience the authentic Mount Everest longer if physical condition permits.

Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC) is another famous attraction on Mount Everest. It is a protection area built for the core environment of Mount Everest, about 19km to the summit. There are tents, hotels, store and the highest Post Office in China on the base camp.

Monument at Elevation of 5,200m, is the officially symbol of the EBC. The stone tablet is 4km south of EBC, only accessible by walking and taking the environmentally friendly car.

Travel Tips:

1. Best Time to Visit. If you want to travel to Mount Everest, you have to pay close attention to the weather of Mount Everest to select a good time for going. The actual weather is so complex and changeable, mainly up to its weather in real time.

2. Travel Documents Needed. For foreign tourists who plan to tour Mount Everest, travel documents like Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens’ Travel Permit and Border Permit are compulsory as well as Chinese Visa. If you want to tour Mount Everest from Nepal, a Group Visa from Nepal is also required. We will handle all these permits and visas if you take our tour package. For Mt. Everest Mountaineers, you need to get the Mountaineering License issued by Tibet Mountaineer Association.

3. Essential things to pack. Due to the high altitude and thin air, the Mount Everest has strong UV radiation and harsh weather to be up against. Things such as oxygen bottle, altitude sickness medicine, warm clothes, sunblock items (sun cream with high SPF, sunhat, sunglasses, gloves, lip balm, scarf, etc), food, water and other living goods are essential to be carried with.