When is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp?

Everest is the jewel of the vast Mahalangur Himal that straddles the Nepali/Tibetan border with China. It is also home to three more of the world’s 14 peaks over 8000m: Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu (in the Gokyo region), together with 20 peaks over 7000m and 63 over 6000m.

As elsewhere in Nepal, the massif has four distinct seasons, yet, within that parameter, the effect of surrounding mountains and valleys can make large differences in local settings: often softening weather impacts while creating unique pockets of flora and fauna.
It is possible to trek in Nepal throughout the year: if you are prepared to put up with the differing seasons. But it is essential that you take sensible precautions before “setting out”.

We recommend that you plan any trek in consultation with a reputable company – and abide by their insights and advice. We offer the following basic outline for a start – and hope you will contact us to assist with your ideas and preparations – and then trek with us.
Some best time for Everest Base Camp Trekking are described below

Spring

April – May is “high summiting season” in the Everest region: and thus, is at its most crowded time. Regularly, round the 15th of May each year, the high-altitude jet stream which normally passes over Everest (and is the cause of its oft bare rocky look) moves northwards for a couple of weeks. This creates calm summit-weather conditions: and the opportunity for Everest’s frenetic climbing season. Climbers, Sherpas and other helpers move into the region weeks before this time to begin the grueling fitness preparation for the route and the arduous acclimatization process that will prepare them for the final ascent.

If you don’t mind the crowds, this is a great time to explore the region. The Khumbu weather is less affected by haze than, say, the Annapurna circuit. For the rest of the year, the Base Camp region is silent and populated only by birds, “rats”, insects with the occasional rumble of avalanches (well away from the glacier-trails.)

Summer

Mid-June – early-September heralds the arrival of the monsoon winds that carry moisture westwards from the Bay of Bengal across India, Bangladesh and Nepal: bringing huge quantities of rain to parched lands. They generally last for around 100 days and deposit some 80% of the annual rainfall in each region.

Towards Everest, the southern Sherpa regions of Solu, south of Lukla, and Pharak to the north, receive more rain than the higher Khumbu - Everest region which is further shielded by its southern range of mountains from Nuptse to Thamserku.

Autumn

October – November generally offers stable, fresh trekking weather and clean, often cloudless, skies with superb starry nights: ideal for star and satellite gazing. Day temperatures are comfortable and the routes are not nearly as crowded as in spring.

Winter

From December – February, high ground is extremely cold and can remain below freezing point throughout the day.

Prior to this, many villagers, with their yaks, descend to their homes in warmer regions for the winter season.

Villages such as the highest, Gorak Shep, all but close down. In some villages, the elderly may remain to keep things ticking over whilst younger folk drop to the lowlands to find work as porters, farm hands etc.

Treks to regions in the rain shadow of the mountains such as Mustang and Dolpo west of the Annapurna remain open for trekking.