Wondering which month is the best for Everest Base Camp Trek? The Everest Base Camp trek needs no introduction as it is one of the world’s most coveted pursuits in the Nepalese Himalayas. Trekking in the vicinity of Sagarmatha National Park, this trek takes to the scenic landscapes, beautiful Sherpa villages, ancient Buddhist monasteries, friendly Sherpa people and their culture, and the iconic Everest Base Camp and vantage point Kalapatthar.
The eastern Nepalese Himalayan belt encompasses a chain of towering snow-capped peaks above 8,000m. It contains the fascinating world’s highest Mt. Everest (8,848.86m), Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Makalu (8,481m), and Mt. Cho Oyu (8,188m), and many more. Everest Base Camp Trek is on many travelers’ bucket lists, but the query here is, which month is the best for Everest Base Camp Trek? Thus, Himalaya Trip has presented this article to provide meaningful insights for trekkers to select their preferred months and plan their Everest Base Camp trek.
Table of Contents
Which month is best for the Everest Base Camp Trek?
The best months for the Everest Base Camp trek are pre-monsoon (spring) from March to May and post-monsoon (autumn0from September to November. During these months, you will get stable weather, clear views, and stunning mountain views. The spring offers you blooming rhododendrons, making the trial more colorful to explore. Similarly, in autumn, you can take part in two major festivals in Nepal.
Everest Base Camp Trek
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If you trek in other months, you will face different challenges. In winter, from December to Feburary, you will encounter heavy snowfall and extreme cold. The monsoons from June to August have heavy rainfall, making the trail slippery and risky. If you are trekking in EBC, understanding what to expect each month is necessary. This will help you choose the best time for you to consider this adventure.
Everest Base Camp Trek Monthly Temperature Chart
| Months | Max (℃) | Min (℃) | Avg. Day(℃) | Avg. Night(℃) | Rain (mm) |
| January | -2 | -20 | 4 | -18 | 20 |
| February | -2 | -17 | 4 | -15 | 25 |
| March | 7 | -7 | 7 | -7 | 25 |
| April | 13 | – 5 | 10 | -5 | 40 |
| May | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 50 |
| June | 19 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 170 |
| July | 19 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 260 |
| August | 19 | 5 | 16 | 6 | 250 |
| September | 18 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 170 |
| October | 17 | -3 | 12 | -3 | 50 |
| November | 10 | -5 | 7 | -5 | 10 |
| December | 8 | -15 | 4 | -15 | 10 |
The above the table is Everest Base Camp’s estimated temperature chart, depending on the weather, and the Lower of the trek is warmer.
Everest Base Camp Trek video
Everest Base Camp Trek Monthly Weather Chart
| Months | Weather | Attractions |
| January | Cold | Snowfall, Less crowded, good view |
| February | Cold | Light snow, Quiet trails, Pleasant views |
| March | Slightly Warm | Clear views, Blooming Rhododendron flowers, Gyalpo Lhosar |
| April | Slightly Warm | Peak season, Pleasant temperature, and views |
| May | Sunny | Bright day, Good views, Tenzing Hillary Marathon |
| June | Warm, Slight Rain | Lush Greenery and awesome scenery |
| July | Warm, Rainy | Beautiful scenery, lush greenery |
| August | Mostly cloudy, Rainy | Greenery but no clear views |
| September | Warm, Slight Rain | Blue skies, Clear views but crowded |
| October | Warm | Perfect visibility, Highly crowded, Mani Rimdu festival |
| November | Slight Warm | Perfect and Clear views, Mani Rimdu festival |
| December | Cold | Chilling cold but clear views |
The above weather chart is estimated. The effect of current global warming is that sometimes we have different weather conditions.
How to get to the Everest Base Camp Trek in different months?
The Kathmandu to Lukla flight is the best option for the Everest Base Camp trek. The flight operates from Kathmandu Airport from January to March and the second half of May to December.
In the months of April and the first half of May months, the flight operates from Manthali Airport, Ramechaap, due to air traffic in Kathmandu. During these months, take a 4-hour drive from Kathmandu to Ramechhap and then take a flight to Lukla.
Lukla Flight Operation Table Everest Base Camp Trek
| Months | Flight Operates |
| January to March, May(16-31) to December | Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu |
| April and May (1-15) and October , November | Ramechhap-Lukla-Ramechhap |
What to do in case of flight cancellation during the Everest Base Camp trek?
Flight cancellations to and from Lukla are common due to bad and unstable weather. If your flight gets canceled, you should check with your airlines or trekking agency for the next flight. It is good to have extra days in your plan in case of delays. There is an alternative option of Kathmandu to Lukla by helicopter, which costs around USD 500 per person in case of flight cancellations from Kathmandu to Lukla or Lukla to Kathmandu.
If you are stuck in Lukla, you can also trek to Phalpu and then take a jeep ride back to Kathmandu Valley. This will be slightly more time-consuming and will add about 2 to 3 days to your itinerary, but it is a good backup plan. Or if you have enough time, you can also wait in Lukla till the flights start again. We generally recommend you carry some extra cash and get travel insurance that covers flight delays and helicopter rescues.
Festivals or Events during different months during Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek in Gyalpo Lhosar
Gyalpo Lhosar marks the New Year of Sherpa ethnicities, which lasts for two weeks. It falls in the month of March. According to the lunar calendar, it falls in the month of Falgun Shukla Pratipada (the second day of the waxing moon). Mainly they celebrate it for 3 days. Sherpa people celebrate this festival grandly by preparing a special drink called Changkol. They take part and perform in various cultural performances, prepare a tasty dish called ‘Khapsey,’ wear traditional dresses and jewelry, and visit the monasteries. Don’t forget to attend this festival if you are here around March.
Everest Base Camp Trek in Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon-May 29
Tenzing Hillary Marathon, which is held every year on May 29, is one of the interesting events in the Everest region. It is one of the toughest Marathons organized at such a high altitude. This event has garnered international recognition, and participants from different nations take part annually. The marathon starts from Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and ends at Namche (3,440 m). To participate in this event, some criteria must be fulfilled. Witness this grand event during your EBC trek if you are around the last month of May.
Everest Base Camp Trek in Mani Rimdu Festival (October/November)
Mani Rimdu is a very important Buddhist festival celebrated in the Everest region, which falls in October or November, according to the lunar calendar. This is a 19-day-long festival especially organized in the monasteries of Tengboche, Thame, and Chiwong. This festival is celebrated to mark the establishment of Buddhism by Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava.
Good Experience of Himalaya trip’s EBC trek – 12 days
Unforgettable Everest Base Camp Trek with Jay and His Amazing Team!
Unforgettable EBC Trek with Jay
Everest Base Camp Trekking – 12 Days
Was referred to Harka by a friend who had done the 12 Days EBC Trek a few months before, and he was very easy to contact and quick to respond. We were a bit uneasy about booking with someone from the other side of the world, but Harka proved himself to be honest, professional, and reputable while organising our trip for us. Once we were in Kathmandu, he was easy to meet up with and was quick to help us out with anything we needed. Our guide, Mr. Dil, who met us in Lukla, was what really made our trip as amazing as it was. He was extremely knowledgable on the mountains and mountain passes, as well as getting us into tea houses and our flight home. He was very professional, friendly, and easy to work with, even though his English was a bit broken. Overall, it was an incredible trip, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Harka again. If you do the EBC, ask for Dil, he’s the man.
Canada, November 2018
Private trek to Everest Base Camp
I booked a private trek to Everest Base Camp so it was just myself and my guide / porter trekking together for 12 days. As a solo traveller I always invest a lot of time in to researching the company I book with, it was important to me to do this with a Nepalese tour company and the previous reviews were so encouraging and positive I decided to contact Himalaya Trip to see what they had to offer.
Harka responded almost immediately despite the time difference and sent me detailed information on the Everest Base Camp trek. He answered all my questions and always replied quickly which continued to give me confidence. They were also very competitively priced compared to other local companies and along with the great reviews I had a good feeling that Harka and his team would be the ones to get me to EBC.
Harka met me at the airport, took me to my hotel and helped get me any last minute bits I needed for the trek in Kathmandu. He made everything very easy and I felt safe and reassured the whole time which is important to me as a solo female traveller.
My guide / porter was called Dil and he was the man I was spending 12 days with trekking to EBC. Dil was fantastic, he looked out for me every step of the way, regularly checking in to ensure I was ok and did everything to make my experience on the trek as comfortable and as safe as possible. Dil was so knowledgable about the area and the mountains he would point out everything along the way. Despite him speaking broken English we could quite easily chat and communicate without any problems.
The trek was an incredible experience and one of the toughest yet most amazing things I’ve ever done and part of that was down to the efficiency and professionalism of Harka and his team. I didn’t have to worry or think about a thing, just getting to EBC.
UK, Nov 2018
Great time on my walk to Everest Base Camp
Trek to Everest Base Camp Experience
Good Experience of Himalaya trip’s EBC trek
A huge crowd of Sherpas gathered around the monasteries to celebrate this festival. A series of thirteen acts encompassing religious ceremonies, dance, and drama are performed with great joy. Masked dances, prayers, and feasts are the prime attractions of this festival.
Everest Base Camp Trek Map
Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek in a different month
The weather is generally warm in lower regions, but as you climb higher to the Everest Base Camp, it gets colder. Thus, we recommend packing light but warm clothes. During winter (December, January, February), it is cold in the lower regions too, so pack accordingly. summer (June, July, August ) is raining season, so you expect some rain. you need to pack rain clothes. Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn ( September, October, November) have average temperatures which is warm and clear visibility. The packing list is mentioned below:
- Trekking boots (If new boots are purchased, “break them in” to avoid blisters) and spare laces
- Hat (Warm), scarf and gloves
- Trousers (Warm trousers are useful higher up in the mountains in the morning and at night.
- Running shoes, sandals, or thongs (To wear in the camp at night or when your boots are wet).
- Shorts and trousers
- Wool-blend socks, liner socks, and underwear (three pairs)
- Thermal underwear
- Sunhat
- Fleece jacket
- T-shirts (two or three) and a long-sleeved shirt with a collar (a long-sleeved – shirt is particularly suitable for avoiding sunburn.)
- Laundry soap powder or bar
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen (SPF 20+) and lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Pocket knife
- Iodine, water-purification tablets, or filter
- Insect repellent ( for lower elevation)
- Stuff sacks
- Earplugs
- Backpack
- Sleeping back and silk liner
- Water bottle
- Torch (flashlight), spare batteries and bulbs
- Duffle bag
- Crampon
- Down jacket or down vest
- Camera, memory card, and battery charger( spare batteries)
- Books and magazines
- Trekking poles
- Quick-drying camp towel
- Day pack (This is a small rucksack to carry personal requirements for the day, e.g., toilet items, cameras, towel, soap, chocolate bar, etc.)
- 2-4 large plastic bags to separate clean clothes from dirty ones
- Personal medical supplies
Conclusion
Choosing the right month for the Everest Base Camp Trek is important for a safe and enjoyable trekking experience. The best months, like October, November, April, and May, offer clear skies, stable weather, and breathtaking views. These months attract most trekkers, making the trail lively and well-supported. With stable weather, you will have a higher chance of completing the trek without major delays or risk.
However, trekking off-season, such as winter and monsoon, from December to Feburary, and June to August, requires more preparation. You can also consider these two seasons for trekking. However, you need to have great preparations and planning and a guide with you. Still, if you want to get the best and most comfortable trekking experience in the Himalayas, you should choose the right season and avoid unnecessary challenges.
