Best Season for Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal

Trekking in Nepal is possible to conduct throughout the year- we have slogan “Nepal for all season”. Short and easy trekking in Nepal such as Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek, Chisapani Nagarkot Trek, Everest View Trek, Sirubari Village Trek etc. can be done all round the year. Everest Base Camp Trek is doable all around the year except at monsoon i.e. July and August.  

Mount-Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world dominating the skyline at 8,848m. It lies approximately 28 degree north of the equatorial line and follow the seasonal pattern pretty much similar to North Hemisphere experience.  

Below is the complete seasonal guideline for Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal that helps you to determine the best and perfect season for trekking in Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Winter

Winter season starting from December and ending to March is largely dominated by the migration from alpine northern zone to south. If you are willing to trek Everest at winter, you must check the availability of teahouse at alpine place like Lobuche and Gorakhshep.

Winter brings plenty of changes in Everest Base Camp like the drastic fall in temperature, hymn snowy winds and heavy snowfalls. It gets chilling cold at night however day temperature can be dealt with. It is not the best season for trekking in Everest Base Camp but the clear blue sky at day time serves the best views.   

If you want to avoid the traffic route and is content with the extreme temperature at high altitude, winter might be the perfect season for trekking in Everest.

Pros

• Less-crowded route
• Relatively cheap food and accommodation during EBC trail
• Clear blue sky and stunning view

Cons

• Obstruction of trekking route due to heavy snowfall and snowy hymn
• Unavailability of teahouse at alpine altitude
• Cancellation of Kathmandu-Lukla Flight
• Chilling nights

Temperature

Month	Max	Min
December	40C	-150C
January	40C	-170C
February	40C	-150C
March	70C	-120C
Wind Speed	40km/hr

Everest Base Camp Trek in Spring

Starting from April and ending to June before Monsoon is probably the best season for Everest Base Camp trek and climb in Nepal. Many climbers embark at Everest Expedition summit in this season. Temperature during spring is moderate making it perfect season for trekking and climbing. In fact, lots of trekkers are out in their T-shirts and weather is warm and sunny with stunning mountain and surrounding views.

Spring is the time when the flowers are in state of bloom. The sweeping view of rhododendron flower all over the hills are stunning during spring. It is one the peak season for trekking in Everest or any Himalayan section of Nepal, you need to check the availability of flight and hotel prior the starting of journey.

Pros

• Stunning rhododendron flower view
• Moderate temperature for trekking
• Best views of Everest and multiple 8,000+ peaks
• Deep insight of great festivals of ethnic tribe of Khumbu region

Cons

• Traffic route
• Rise in price of food and accommodation on EBC trail

Temperature

Month	Max	Min
April	100C	-50C
May	150C	00C
Jun	170C	50C
Wind Speed	14km/hr.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Monsoon

Trekking Everest Base Camp during monsoon or summer (June-August) is affected by rain and not recommended season for trekking in Nepal. Monsoon is dominated by cloudy days followed by heavy rainfall every day. Trekking routes are slippery and there is high risk of landslides, flood and avalanches. Kathmandu-Lukla flight often gets delayed or cancelled due to bad weather in monsoon.

Trekkers who wish to trek Everest at Monsoon generally starts their trail form Phaplu or joins classical EBC trail from Jiri.

Trail like Upper Mustang Trek, Dolpo Trek and Lo Manthang Trek that lies on rain shadow areas are highly recommended destinations for monsoon trekking in Nepal.

Pros

• Less Traffic Route
• Exceptional and unique view
• Cheap food and accommodation during the EBC trail

Cons

• Slippery trekking route and peaks
• Risk of avalanches, landslide and floods
• Heavy rain fall and cancellation of flight & trail
• Cloudy days and obscure view of mountains

Temperature

Month	Max	Min
June	170C	50C
July	160C	80C
August	160C	60C
Wind Speed	16km/hr.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Autumn

Extending from Sept to November, autumn in Nepal is the post monsoon season of the year. Until the winter kicks in during December, fall makes the perfect season for climbing, trekking or any sort of trail in EBC. It is the peak and best season for trekking in Everest Base Camp. Weather are good and so are the mountain views.

Since it is the peak season for EBC trail, you must book the flight and teahouse prior the starting of the journey. Highly recommended season for EBC trail in autumn is between mid-Septembers to end November.

Pros

• Warm and sunny days with beautiful trekking environment
• Best view of mountains and surroundings landscapes
• Participation on different festivals of ethnic tribe

Cons

• Traffic trekking route
• Expensive food and accommodation during the trail

Temperature

Month	Max	Min
September	190C	50C
October	120C	40C
November	100C	-100C
Wind Speed	14km/hr.

Conclusion

Spring (March/April to May/June) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons for Everest Base Camp Trek.

It important to collect information about the pros and cons of the seasons and some essential tips of EBC trail prior the journey. Basic knowledge about the altitude, its problem and solution is important to know, if you don’t want to face any complication

Check the weather forecast frequently and know the meaning of the chart before you decide to take on the mountains.

Everest Precipitation Patterns

Everest Base Camp is usually dry with only an average, precipitation of 18 inch at base camp. Most of the precipitation (80%) falls at monsoon from June to September and the rest of the year is fairly dry. Everest Base Camp experiences the rain shadow effect with most precipitation falling on the south section of the mountain and raining out before the cloud reach to base camp.  Lukla experiences 80 inch precipitation every year.