How to Plan a Mount Everest Tour

How to Plan a Mount Everest Tibet Tour is a dream to many travelers, and to see Mount Everest is a much-looked-forward-to experience. Mount Everest is, the world's highest mountain, is really the top of the world. And the best place for non-mountaineers to see the summit is from China's Mt. Everest Base Camp (EBC).

When to Go

Though you can travel to many places regardless of the season and weather, you should definitely pay attention to when is the best time to see Mount Everest. Avoid rainy weather, as for any remote mountainous location, especially if you want to camp. For Mount Everest, also consider ice, wind and snow.

starred skyView of starred sky of Everest at Everest Base Camp in clear days

The best time to go is from late April to early June, and late September to early November, as there is little rain and snow, and daytime temperatures are above freezing.

Avoid winter time from November to April due to harsh weather conditions. Also Tibet is usually closed in February and March.

We don't recommend you to go in summer, because summer is the rainy season in Tibet, especially July and August. The summit is usually covered by mist/cloud and you have less chance of seeing the peak.

Permits Required

To enter Tibet you need a Tibet Entry Permit, and to visit Mount Everest you need an Aliens' Travel Permit.

You are not allowed to apply for the tibet permit by yourself and you can't travel Tibet without atibet tour guide. You need to find a travel agency to help you arrange it. China Highlights offerstibet Permit + private guide service, and all our Tibet tours include our assistance in getting the required permissions.

Getting There and Returning

Fly to Tibet and Leave by Train

tibet trainScenery along the railway

Many travelers want to experience the Tibet Railway. But it's far easier to get flight tickets to Tibet, and train tickets out of Lhasa. You can take time to adjust to the high altitude in Lhasa, rather than in the confines of a train, before beginning your journey in Tibet.

After enjoying Tibet, you can take time to enjoy the natural beauty from a train on the way out. You won't miss anything of the Tibet experience by travelling this way, and your plans are far less likely to be curtailed due to lack of train tickets.

To Mount Everest by Road

Mt. Everest Base Camp is far from Lhasa, and only a good transport solution will allow you to enjoy a smooth trip. We don't recommend buses.

road from shigatse to ebcFrom Shigatse to Everest Base Camp

The most popular and comfortable way to go by road is to hire a van and a driver.

With China Highlights, after your trip in Lhasa for the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, etc, your driver and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel. It will take about 2 days from Lhasa to Rongbuk Monastery, about 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north of EBC. Then you need to out and take the shuttle bus or walk to EBC.

To Mount Everest by Rail and Road

You can take a train to Shigaste now the Lhasa–Shigatse Railway is open. The journey between Lhasa and Shigatse is about 3 hours. There is only one train between Lhasa and Shigatse per day.

Train Departure Arrival Ticket Price

K9821 Lhasa—Shigatse 9:00 11:59 Hard seat ￥41   $7

Hard berth ￥209  $35

Soft berth ￥319  $52

K9822 Shigatse—Lhasa 17:30 20:27 Hard seat ￥41   $7

Hard berth ￥209  $35

Soft berth ￥319  $52

8 Days Needed

the Potala PalaceSpend couple of days in Lhasa to discover Tibet culture.

You should not go to EBC on the same day you arrive in Tibet due to the high risk of acute altitude sickness. It is recommended to spend three days in Lhasa and Shigatse to acclimate and discover Tibetan culture, and arrange your Aliens' Travel Permit, before going above 4,000 meters.

The typical 8-day Everest itinerary is made up of: three days basic acclimatization, a night for further acclimatization in Dingri, two days for the EBC visit and return to Lhasa, and Lhasa arrival/departure days. See our Mount Everest tour.

Packing List

creamBring lip balm and moisturizer.

Sun cream: Bring strong SPF sun cream to protect your skin from the strong sunlight.

Sun glasses/snow glasses: The ultraviolet light is very strong when up in the mountains. So bring sun glasses to protect your eyes and bring snow glasses to prevent snow blindness if you go to see Mount Everest in the snowy season.

Lip balm and moisturizer: Tibet has a dry and cold climate, so take measures to avoid chapped lips and dehydrated skin.

Down jacket (and warm sleeping bag if camping): It's very cold at night at EBC, even in summer. The quilts in EBC tent hostels may not be enough to protect you from the cold.

Good/spare batteries: There is not much electricity at EBC, so you need to charge your phone or camera and batteries before the final leg of your journey. The cold will sap battery life, so keep devices/batteries insulated.

Food: Bring enough food with you for the long journey if you can't get used to the local food. There is little choice for food at EBC tent hostels.

Medicine to reduce altitude sickness

FAQs

1. Do I have to camp in EBC? I don't like sleeping in tent.

You don't have to sleep in tent. You can stay in Rongbuk Monastery Hotel, about 7 km (4 mi) north of Mount Everest, or a Dingri hotel. They offer basic facilities: a bed and quilts like tent hostels, but they will be a bit warmer, and you can have your own bathroom, bedroom, and more space. Western food is not available. See our Mount Everest page for more on EBC facilities.

2. If I fly to Tibet, can I see Mount Everest on the plane?

If you fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu, Nepal, you may see Mount Everest on the left on a clear day.

3. I heard that it's very easy to get altitude sickness at EBC. What should I do to avoid it besides medicine?

You should take about three days to get used to the high altitude in Lhasa, Shigatse, and Dingri on the way. Avoid strenuous actions, quick movements, and jumping. If you get headaches and dizziness taking bottled oxygen or moving to a lower altitude for further acclimatization can help.

4. Can I use my phone at EBC?

Yes. The telephone signal covers EBC, but can be unstable. But do make sure that you have charged your phone and back-up batteries in your hotel before your departure, because there is little electricity at EBC.

5. What else can I experience besides viewing Mount Everest at EBC?

You can appreciate the sunrise/sunset at EBC in clear days. The starry sky at night is also very spectacular. And there is a China Post Office at EBC where you can buy and send your family postcards from Mount Everest.

Overland to Tibet - Tibet Road Map and Guide

If you want to have a road trip in lhasa tibet, the first thing you should do is to know the road map in tibet.

Currently, there are five highways to Tibet, namely the Sichuan Tibet Highway, Xinjiang Tibet Highway, Qinghai Tibet Highway, Nepal Tibet Friendship Highway and Yunnan Tibet Highway, as show on the Tibet Road Map below.

Due to the poor and rough road conditions, driving to Tibet used to be extremely difficult. However, in recent years, with the improvement of the living standard and transport services on the plateau, self-drive tours to Tibet have been becoming increasingly popular. Now, vehicles from different parts of China can be seen along the Qinghai-Tibet highway and Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

Among the five highways, only Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway are open to foreigners at present.

The Qinghai-Tibet Highway starts from Xining, running through the mountains of Kunlun and Tanggula, via Golmud, and reaches Lhasa, with a total length of 1,214 kilometers long and an average elevation of above 4,000 meters. It takes visitors the shortest time to Tibet with the best and safest road comparing to other highways. As the terrain is desolate, it’s not recommended and you may have a better time on the train to Lhasa, Tibet.

Many travelers book overland Tibet tours via the Sinao-Nepal Friendship Highway that runs from Kathmandu (capital of Nepal), through Zhamud Friendship Bridge and reaches Lhasa, with a total length of 920 kilometers. It takes three to five days with stops at sights along the way.

Roads in Tibet

A transport network centered around Lhasa has taken shape in Tibet, covering various parts of Tibet and provided outlets to China’s hinterland and countries in Central and South Asia. Click to check out the road conditions in Tibet for your trip.

Tibet Trekking Tour

Tibet Trekking Tour

Why do trekking in Tibet 
Tibet, land of spirit and dream, is always mysterious to trekkers. Lying in the shadow of Himalaya, the breathtaking high plateau landscape of Tibet offers great opportunities for trekker. No matter what your interest is, let’s say climbing majestic towering mountains, circling around holy lakes, visiting sacred monasteries, riding horses across the vast grasslands, or hiking through national parks, Tibet has something for you.

Trekking is a perfect way to explore Tibet and a wonderful experience of a lifetime that you can’t get anywhere else on earth. By trekking in Tibet, you can enjoy the unique landscapes on the roof of the world and have a full insight of Tibetan culture. You can sense the subtle and harmonious relationship of people with nature once you step on the highland.

What to do and see while trekking 
Here are several recommended trekking tour routes in Tibet which offer you breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. Most importantly, the routes are accessible to all levels of skills and experience.Gandan to Samye trek is the best long trek, which costs you 4 to 5 days. You will traverse two passes over 5000m that are Shuga-La pass and Chitu-La pass. You can see holy lakes, beautiful alpine landscapes, nomads’camps, sacred sites, as well as two of Tibet’s greatest centres of religious culture-Gandan monastery and Samye monastery.

The best short trek is Shalu to Nartang trek with 2 to 3 days. This trek follows the ancient trade route between two great Buddhist monasteries and you can feel the caravans laden with scriptures and treasures that once passed this way. The route passes through several villages as well as uninhabited dry canyons, while the trails are easily accessible from Shigatse.

Mount Kailash trek is one of the most demanding and challenging treks for pilgrims in the world, which is widely known as the kora around Asia’s holiest mountain-Mt. Kailash. This trek admirably integrates the spiritual, cultural and physical dimensions of a trip in Tibet. You can see some gorgeous mountain scenery along the way and meet some pilgrims from Tibet and other countries.

Tsurphu to Yangpachen trek begins at Tsurphu Monastery and crosses several high valleys before coming into the broad and windswept Yanpachen valley. It combines alpine tundra, monasteries, hot springs, lots of nomads, and remote nunnery. This trek perfectly balances cultural and wilderness activities. It’s an excellent choice if you want to get a close look at the lifestyle of the herders.

Nyenchen Tanglha Traverse trek is incredible for you to see ecological diversity of northern Tibet. The route leaves Damxung Valley and wends its way through a rocky alley, and a number of stream crossings aside you. You will pass through gorges, alpine meadows and forested slopes. Fantastic views of sparkling Nam-tso and Tashi Do can be visible from many vantage points on the trail. Some colorful nomad camps dot the way as well.

Everest base camp to Tingri trek provides a complex mix of solitude, wildlife sighting and physical challenge. It is an excellent alpine trekking in the shadow of the legendary Mt. Everest. On the way to Everest Base Camp, you will have enough time to explore the valleys and glaciers below the massive north-face of Mt. Everest and view the most magnificent scenery on the world's highest mountain. You can also see much wild wildlife in the valleys and pasture along the way.

When to go
All seasons are perfect for trekking tour except snowy (Nov-March) seasons. Generally, the ideal time for trekking in Tibet is from April to October. April to June and September to October are most highly recommended months without much rain or snowfall. During the snowfall, not only the mountains are inaccessible but the highways that take you to the trail heads are blocked. July and August are the hottest months of the year and the rainy season in Tibet. The roads are in bad conditions which make your trekking messy and hard.

GreatTibetTour.com is an online travel agency and group tibet travel operator, offering affordable Tibet tour,the largest low cost tour operator in Tibet and to make the dream of  traveling to Tibet possible for everyone.