When is the Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp? 

When is the Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp?

With the main trekking seasons being autumn and spring, those are generally the best times to trek Everest Base Camp. For clear views and good weather, I recommend going to Everest Base Camp in late October, November, early December, March, April or early May.

Still, there are a few things to keep in mind. Traditionally, the monsoon season used to come to an end in early September, and September used to be a good time to go trekking. However, in recent years, the monsoon has lasted until the beginning of October, so now it is better to plan treks from mid-October onwards.

As autumn is one of the main trekking seasons, it gets very busy on the trails, especially in October and beginning of November. Personally, I find trekking EBC in late November/early December a great time as the sky is clear, the weather is not massively cold yet, and there are less people on the trail.

Deciding when to Go to Everest Base Camp

• Best Time for Weather: Autumn (October-November) and spring (March-April): The weather is generally good during these months with clear skies and good mountain views. It gets cold in high altitude but not as cold as in winter. The negative side to trekking during these times is that it gets crowded with a lot of people on the trails.

• Best Time for Fewer Crowds & Good Mountain Views: Late November – early December. I love late November and early December for the Everest Base Camp trek as the weather is good (no as cold as proper winter) and it is less crowded than during the main trekking seasons.

• Best Time to Be at Base Camp: April-May. The main climbing season is in April/May in the spring and during this time, the base camp is set up for the expeditions. It’s only during this time that you can see the tents set up and meet climbers. Other times, there are no tents at base camp. You can also book a trek that includes staying at the base camp.

Everest Base Camp Trek by Seasons

Everest Base Camp Trek in Autumn

Autumn season in Nepal runs from September to November, but with the monsoon season lasting until the beginning of October, I don’t recommend going to Everest Base Camp in September.

As it still rains in September, it tends to delay flights in and out of Lukla. It also delays road travel as the roads are obstructed by landslides. The trekking trails can also be obstructed by landslides, plus, in lower altitudes, there are also leeches on the trail.

Due to the monsoon in September, I would only plan Everest Base Camp trek from mid-October onwards. If you plan your trek from mid-October onwards, it is less likely to be affected by rainfall. There can always be unexpected rainfall (even in late October), but if you plan your trek from mid-October onwards, the chances are lower.

The weather on EBC is the most ideal from mid-October to early December. During this time, you get clear views of the Himalayas, the days are sunny, and although it gets cold at night, it is not as cold as during winter (January-February).

The Everest Base Camp trek gets the busiest during October and November, but if you trek from late November to early December, it is much less crowded, and you still get good weather.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Spring

Spring is also a one of the best time of year to trek Everest Base Camp, especially if you want to see the base camp come alive during the spring climbing season.

There is usually not much going on at the Everest Base Camp throughout the year, except for Spring, when the expeditions set up their camp at base camp and start their ascent to Everest. You can also book a trek where you stay one night at the base camp.

The weather is generally good during spring, you get clear views of the Himalayas, and it is not as cold as night as during autumn or winter. Spring is also a busy time on the EBC trek, so the trails are crowded.

For spring, I recommend planning your trek from mid to late April onwards until early May. During this time, you get to meet the expedition teams at base camp, and the weather is generally good. Pre-monsoon rains can start in May (delaying Lukla flights), so it’s better to complete the trek by early May.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Winter

Winter is low season on the Everest Base Camp trek as it gets very cold in high altitude, but a lot of people prefer to trek in winter as there are less people on the trail.

December is generally a good time to go to EBC. Some of my friends trekked EBC in winter, and they said it was pretty good. Great views of the Himalayas and very few people on the trails. If you prefer quieter trails, December may be the right time for you. Still, I’d recommend going in early December, rather than late winter, as the weather is better in the beginning of December.

January and February are the coldest months on the EBC trek, and it has the highest chance of snow. It is tricky to trek in snow, so I would avoid these months. If you plan to go during this time, make sure to hire a guide, as the trails can be slippery and difficult to navigate when it snows.

Everest Base Camp Trek in Monsoon

I would say monsoon season is the worst time to go on the Everest Base Camp trek. Monsoon runs from June to September, and it makes trekking EBC challenging.

When it rains a lot, the flights in and out of Lukla get delayed (sometimes even for days). Road travel to Salleri (if you plan to go to the trek start point by jeep) can also be obstructed due to landslides on the highways.

Once you get to start the trek, there are leeches in lower elevation, and the trekking trails can also be obstructed by landslides. If you plan to trek in monsoon, make sure to go with a guide. It’s better not to trek alone in monsoon due to the risk of landslides.

Possibly the worst part is that the view of the Himalayas is limited due to the cloudy weather during monsoon. I find it’s a big letdown to come to Nepal and trek all the way to Everest Base Camp, and barely get any good views of the mountains. It takes great effort to make it to base camp, and if you don’t get good views on the trek, it’s like missing out on half of what makes it worth it. Personally, I would only trek to EBC during monsoon if there was really no other option.

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