Mount Everest belongs to the Himalayas, which located on the Tibet border. Two Everest base camps were built respectively on the north and south sides of Mount Everest. The EBC of Nepal is located in Sagamartha National Park, at an elevation of 5,545 meters, and the EBC of Tibet is located in Tingri County of Tibet, China, at an elevation of 5,200 meters. Usually, people fly to Nepal's capital - Kathmandu, or Lhasa, China, from where they start their Mount Everest Base Camp tours. This article will focus on how to travel to EBC from Kathmandu, including route planning, itinerary, beautiful scenery along the way, packing list, and budget.
Travel from Kathmandu to EBC in Nepal
From Kathmandu, take a propeller-driven plane or helicopter to Lukla, at 2,823 meters, and then from Lukla, after a 6-7 day hike, you can finally get to the Nepal base camp. This hiking route has a total length of 130 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 5,634 meters. The commonly mentioned EBC trekking in Nepal is a round-trip route wi Gorek Shep as the destination. It is a very accessible and popular hiking route and has always been one of the most popular hiking routes in the Himalayas.
A direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to EBC takes only about two hours (including helicopter refueling at Lukla and waiting at Pheriche), but the price is expensive, costing around $4,500 for a six-person charter flight during peak season.
Travel from Kathmandu to EBC in Tibet
Visitors who want to visit the EBC on the north part of Mt.Everest can get to Tibet by air or rod and then join a tour. It is said that the train between Tibet and Nepal will open within five years, which is bound to provide more choices for passengers.
Tip:
- The elevation from Kathmandu to the Gyirong Port is relatively low, with an average altitude of about 2300 meters. After entering Tibet through the Gyirong Port, the altitude will gradually increase. On the way to the Everest Base Camp, the altitude will abruptly rise from 2500 meters to 5200 meters. If you are worried about altitude sickness, you can divide the journey from Gyirong to EBC into multiple days of driving. Every time you reach an elevation point, you can have a rest, so that you will have no problem after getting to EBC after a few days of adaptation.
- Tibet requests a well-organized group for any foreigners traveling in Tibet. Driving to the EBC in Tibet from Kathmandu requires a Tibet travel permit and a China group visa, and both need to be handled by a travel agency in Tibet for the guests. So joining a reputable travel agency is the best way to visit Everest's northern base camp.
