There are two Base Camps for Everest. Southern Everest Base Camp lies in Nepal, whereas, the Northern EBC lies in Tibet, China. Both are the highly visited tourist destinations, however, the Nepali side tends to get more visitors because of the popularity and ease of access.
Overview
The locals in Tibet call Everest “Chomolungma,” whereas Chinese call it “Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng.” The base camp is located at Tingri County in the Tibet Autonomous region of China. The international border between China and Nepal runs across the precise summit point of Everest, hence of the mountain lies in the Chinese region.
There are also two different base camps in the Everest (North), Tourists Base Camp at 5,150 m is about half-way between Rongbuk Monastery. You can easily reach the Tourist base camp in a vehicle. The Climbers Base Camp which lies at 5,180 m is reserved for the climbers.
North Everest Base Camp
Everest from North
Everest seen from Tingri, Tibet
Climbers Base Camp
North Everest Base Camp
Tea House
North Everest Base Camp
Way to Everest Base Camp
Access
Many private vehicles run chartered service from Lhasa to Everest, and can be booked along a packaged tour from any outdoor agency.
You’re required to obtain permit from the Chinese government beforehand. Applying for the Tibet permit can prove to be a complicated affair from ones home nation. therefore, you are suggested to first arrive in Nepal or contact any local agency in Kathmandu to obtain the permit for you.
The base camp can be reached through a 100 km road branching to the South from the Friendship Highway near Shelkar. The road trip from the Lhasa to Tingri county, passing through remote landmasses, glaciated lakes, monasteries and dry deserts, can prove to be an overwhelming experience. Spotting Yaks on the way carrying loads is common. There are fewer tourists at any given time, hence, you can have more peaceful time.
Everest base camp (North) is generally toured duringSpring, Summer/Monsoon and Autumn seasons. The farther higher regions of Tibet is mostly inaccessible during Winterdue to heavy snow and cold.
The High Passes trek is one of the most challenging treks available in Nepal. Located entirely at the Everest (Khumbu) region, you must cross three individual passes which are above 5,000 meters.
Overview
It is comparatively a lengthier trek compared to most other treks in the region. Kongma La 5,535 m, Renjo La 5,360 m and Cho La 5,368 m are classified as the 3 high passes.
The first leg of the trek begins at Lukla, a small airport town in Khumbu. The trail ascends up towards Renjo La and Gokyo valley.
The second leg of the trek passes through Cho La Pass, and towards the Everest Base Camp. You can hike up the Kala Patthar 5,643 meters as well.
The third leg takes you towards the Kongma La Pass, and concedes at Lukla.
Renjo La Pass
Renjo La is one of the high passes located in Everest region at an elevation of 5,360 m (17,585 ft). It is the first pass you reach, following the path leading to Gokyo.
The Renjo La trail is quite strenuous; snowfall during winter makes it difficult to attempt the pass. Renjo La and surrounding regions are culturally Tibetan and Sherpas are the indigenous tribesmen.
Renjo La Pass
Gokyo village
Cho La Pass
Cho La at 5,420 m (17,782 ft) is another high pass located along Gokyo trail in Khumbu valley. It connects the village of Dzongla to the east and the village of Thagnak to the west.
One can cross Ngozumpa glacier on the way to Cho La. To the east the trail joins the classic Everest Base Camp route.
Crossing Cho La can be physically demanding. One can get best view of Lobuche peak from the top. Crampons come handy while crossing the snows.
Cho La Pass
Sunset at Cholatse, Gokyo
Kongma La Pass
Kongma La at 5,535 m (18,160 ft) is another high pass located between Chjukung village and Lobuche. it is the final pass located to the east of Everest Base Camp. It is also the highest pass among the three passes. The panorama of surrounding mountains is quite amazing when seen from Kongma La.
Kongma La Pass
Everest and Lhotse
Ama Dablam on the right, with Everest on the background
Mount Everest is the highest peak on earth. It attracts more than 50,000 people in a year to trek through the treacherous trail to reach its base camp. But, there’s more to the trekking than just seeing the Everest. The Sherpa inhabitants of the region, their native culture, rich biodiversity and the sight of humongous mountains are few treats of the trekking.
Everest Region
With the commercialization of Mount Everest, the trekking began in late 80s. Since then, millions of tourists have visited the Khumbu (Everest) region; few of them comprising of climbers. Today, the Everest Base Camp along attracts more than 50,000 tourists in a year.
Over 5,000 people have summited the Everest. With availability of better logistics and assistance, more climbers tend to join the expedition every year bringing the total summits over 300 per year.
Mount Everest
Khumbu is mostly accessible through a short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Those who wish to map it on foot can arrive through Jiri village. It may well take over 9-10 days to trekking to reach the base camp. However, there aren’t any lodges available in the base camp, hence, you must stay at Gorakshep or Lobuche before approaching it.
Kala Patthar at 5,643 meters is located just above the base camp. It’s a small hill or the monument where the trekkers can spend time enjoying the up-close glimpse of the Mount Everest. (Note: Everest isn’t visible from the base camp. The towering Lhotse peak blocks the entire view)
Namche Bazaar, Gokyo lakes and Tengboche are another major attractions in the region. Namche and Tengboche are accessible through the usual trail, however, you must take an entirely different route to reach the Gokyo lakes. Gokyo is a discreet village located at the western section of Khumbu.
Trekking
The trek is generally strenuous and may require walking over 5 hours a day. It begins at Lukla. The trail aslowly ascends towards Namche Bazaar through Phakding. Namche is the most populated Sherpa town and is known for its luxury lodges, markets and ethnic lifestyle. Hiking around the place or staying a day more is recommended.
The trek ascends further towards Tengboche. Tengboche boasts the highest monastery on Earth. The monastery is over 100 years old and the popular Mani Rimdu festival is held every year to commemorate its legacy. Few other Sherpa villages, you’ll come across are Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep before heading towards the Everest Base Camp.
You can hike to the base camp from Lobuche in few hours and come back to Gorakshep to stay overnight. The next day, you an make an early hike to Kala Patthar and start descending the usual way afterwards.
Anyone from the age 8 to 59 can do this trek, with sound health and proper assistance. Acclimatization is essential to get used to the local environment and altitude.
Facts
The Everest was attempted by British mountaineer George Mallory before it was successfully summited by the 9th British expedition
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa became the first humans to touch the summit of the peak, in 1953.
Over 5,000 people have summited the Everest since 1953.
Reinhold Messner became the first person to summit the Everest without the use of bottled oxygen
The term Sherpa actually signifies the native tribe of Khumbu region. Today, Sherpa is used as a misnomer for porters, guides and such.
Over 250 people attempt the summit in a single day every year during the climbing season of May.
The disaster of 1996’s at Everest cost 15 lives. The incident was later adapted into the best-seller, Into Thin Air.
The popular trekking seasons are Spring and Autumn. They last from March to June and September to November simultaneously.
Everest Base Camp
Kala Patthar
Messner and Habeler on Everest 1978
Everest Expedition 1924
Everest and Lhotse
Climbers ascending from Camp I
South Col. Everest
Mount Everest
A trekker posing at Everest base camp memorial site
Ama Dablam on the right, with Everest on the background
Kala Patthar is the most prominent landmark of the Everest region. An enormous and elevated dark land mass at above 5,000 meters is one of the most popular tourist sites in the region.
Overview
Everest seen from Kala Patthar
The term Kala Patthar literally translates to ‘Black Rock’ in English. It is a notable landmark on the south ride of Pumori in the Khumbu region, and is mostly visited by the trekkers during the trekking to the Everest Base Camp.
Located at 5,643 meters, it is one of the highest tourist sites in the Everest. The view of Everest is completely blocked by the towering Lhotse peak in the East, hence, your only option of seeing the Everest is from the Kala Patthar. There aren’t any lodges at the top, mainly, because, the location is too high and open for a night stay. Therefore, the access to it is facilitated by the hike lasting an hour or two.
It is the only place throughout the trail which offers the close and optimum view of the Mount Everest, hence, almost everyone makes a point to hike Kala Patthar during the trek to enjoy the rare sight of the Everest.
The ascent of Kala Patthar begins at Gorakshep, the original base camp for Mt. Everest. After a brief dip to an ancient lake bed (which now contains a small lake and a helipad), the ascent makes its way up a series of steep switchbacks before levelling off somewhat as it traverses to the eastern side of the mountain. The trail then becomes steep once again until it reaches the wind-swept summit ridge.
The top is marked with prayer flags. The full ascent usually takes between 1.5 and 2 hours, and is generally in the early morning.
As the expedition season for 2016 came to an end, 456 climbers successfully climbed the Everest this year. Out of which, 199 were foreigners. While hundreds of climbers tasted the feat, many other returned or were being evacuated before the big summit. Almost 33 climbers summited the Everest every day this season.
Country
Climbers
Summiters
Nepal
449
258
India
64
52
US
58
39
China
20
18
UK
29
15
Australia
15
11
Others
111
63
TOTAL
746
456
:. Department of Tourism of Nepal
The climbing season brings deaths along with the success too, every year. This year, 5 innocent souls lost their lives trying to summit the Everest. Dr. Mariya Strydom, an Australian, died of AMS while descending from the summit.
Three more climbers die from altitude-related conditions on Everest, while two climbers went missing and are presumed to have died on the mountain. Many more climbers have been evacuated by helicopter for pulmonary edema, frostbite, and other illnesses. ~NatGeo
South Col. Everest
Everest summit from South Col.
Dr Robert and Dr. Maria Strydom back in 2011 during Island Pea k summit
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