The Best Way to See Mount Everest

As to what is the best way to see Mount Everest, for the more adventurous individuals, the best way to see Mount Everest is to trek and hike to the Everest Base Camp and spend a camping night the EBC to enjoy different view of the Mt. Everest, like its sunrise, sunset and its starry night. While to mountaineering enthusiasts, the best way to see the Mt. Everest is to climb to the top of the peak.Therefore, different strokes for different folks it’s hard to come up an exact answer that can meet all people’s need. Let’s find out the best way to see Mount Everest that works best for you.

Imposing vista of Mount Everest and Himalayan Range in Tibet 

How to Travel to Tibet

Though Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region, China both share the part of Mt. Everest (8844.43m), the best panoramic view of Mount Everest, namely from its northeast ridge to its summit, in fact lies in Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet.

Accordingly, to be able to travel to Mount Everest, international tourists should first follow the following 3 steps to travel to Tibet:
a.Take International Flights to mainland China
b.Get Tibet Visa (also known as Tibet Travel Permit) from a reliable Tibet tour agency
c.Take domestic flights or Qinghai-Tibet Railway or even both ways( esp. during peak travel season in China during July and August) to travel to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet

Travel Tips: In addition to Tibet Visa, Mount Everest tour would be possible on when you get Alien’s Travel Permit. For Nepali citizens, you have 2 options to get closer to Mt. Everest.

a.fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and later travel from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp (recommended)
b.take tour bus via Gyirong Port to enter Tibet and directly head toward Mt. Everest Base Camp. In this way, theoretically it costs least time. However, mind you to the majority of tourists the dramatic altitude change from Kathmandu Valley(1400m) to Everest Base Camp(5200m) put they at higher risk of altitude sickness.

How to Travel to Mount Everest

Normally, after you land in Lhasa and have finished acclimatization and day tour in Lhasa city, you are good to go to Shigatse prefecture, the second biggest city in Tibet next to Lhasa.

Map of Different Prefectures in Tibet

Generally speaking, there are 3 main ways to travel to Mount Everest, i.e. by tour vehicle, trekking and cycling.

Map of Travelling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp

Drive to See Mount Everest
Travelling to Everest Base Camp by tour vehicle is the most common way for the majority of tourists to enjoy the grandeur of Mt. Everest. It’s suitable for tourists of all ages.

Your travel route is listed as follows:
Lhasa(3658m)---Quxu(3700m)---Nagarze(4500m)---Gyantse(4000m)---Bainang(4200m)---Shigatse(3836m)---Lhatse(4516m)---Tingri(4390m)---GawulaPass(5198m)---Rongbuk Monastery(5154m)---Everest Base Camp(5200m)

On the way, you can enjoy the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier, and tour the Palcho Monastery and Kumbum Stupa in historic Gyantse County. As you head from Tingri to EBC, you will pass Gawula Pass where you can enjoy the Makalu(8463m), Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Everest (8844.43m) and Cho Oyu (8201m)and Shishapangma(8012m). Then you are about to explore the world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk Monastery and finally reach Everest Base Camp.

Trek to See Mount Everest
If you are physically strong enough and find no problem acclimatizing to long walk at high altitude, then no way is better than trekking frong Tingri to Everest Base Camp. It’s one of the ultimate trekking routes in Tibet, a perfect choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
Route: Tingri---EBC
Distance: 70km trekking
Duration: 4-5 Days
Permits: Tibet Entry Permit & Alien's Travel Permit
Start: Tingri (4390m)
End: EBC (5200m)
Highest Point: EBC (5200m)
Difficulty: Medium to difficult
Accommodation: Camping

Trekking map from Tingri to Everest Base Camp 

Cycle to See Mount Everest
Cycling from Lhasa to Mount Everest is an arduous yet visually rewarding option. It gives you better chance to view the breathtaking alpine terrain, and experience distinct Tibetan custom and culture.

Duration: 9-12 days
Distance: Lhasa to EBC 709km
Difficulty: strenuous
Start: Lhasa (3658m)
End: Everest Base Camp (5200m)
Highest Point: EBC (5200m)
Accommodation: Camping or local guesthouses
Best Season to Cycle: April-June and Sep-Oct

Travel Tips:
a. Always check weather forecast before you move to next destination
b. The quality of mountain bike shall be above average and bring necessary tools with you in case your bike has flat tyre or other problems
c. Consult with a pharmacist or doctor and prepare some altitude sickness medicine
d. Travel in pairs or even larger group for you will always need help from others and travelling in this way can better ensure your travel safety

Where to See Mount Everest from

Some believe that the best way to see Mount Everest is to get a distant view of the Mt. Everest. Only when we stand far away can we have the bigger picture that it is the highest mountain along with other 8000m-lever mountains along majestic Himalayas. While if we stand at the foot of the Mt. Everest, we cannot compare it with other mountains.
Overall, for the overland Tibet tour to Everest Base Camp, there are 3 best places to capture the sublime beauty of Mt. Everest.

a.Gawula Pass (5198m)

Photograph grand Mount Everest and other stunning mountains of Himalyas at Gawula Pass

As you keep heading towards EBC from Tingri, after a zigzag mountain road you will reach Gawaula Pass, which is generally believed to be the best place to enjoy the awe-inspiring panoramic view of Himalayan Range. Lofty mountains like Makalu(8463m), Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Everest (8844.43m) and Cho Oyu (8201m) and Shishapangma(8012m) stand side by side above the skyline with dense clouds floating above your head. It’s definitely a once-in-a-life-time experience.

b.Rongbuk Monastery(5154m)

Rongbuk Monastery is  the best place to observe Mount Everest at middle distance.

Viewing Mount Everest from Rongbuk Monastery offers the best view of Mt. Everest , neither too far nor close. Rongbuk Monastery is the world’s highest Monastery and the most important religious site on the way to Everest Base Camp. It’s only 8km away from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp. You may choose to take eco-van or trek from Rongbuk Monastery to EBC.

c.Everest Base Camp (5200m)

Gaze at the lofty Mount Everest at EBC

If you come for the close-up shot of the summit of Mt. Everest, Everest Base Camp is second to none.Unlike the Everest Base Camp (5364m) in Nepal, EBC (5200m) on Tibet’s side brings tourists even more stunning view of the entire northeast ridge and summit of Mt. Everest, most importantly free of obstruction of neighboring soaring mountains. The best time to photograph Mt. Everest would be at sunrise and sunset.

Travel Tips: There is no way to see Mount Everest from Lhasa. If you prefer to view Mt. Everest from top, you are recommended to take flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa and vice versa. Throughout the fly, you can have a bird’s-view of Mt. Everest and Himalayan Range. The following is the flight schedule of two airlines that operate Kathmandu to Lhasa.

Air China:  Lhasa and Kathmandu Flight Schedule

 Sichuan Airline: Lhasa and Kathmandu Flight Shcedule

Best Time to Visit Mount Everest

The best time to visit Mount Everest at Everest Base Camp is From April to May and From Sept to Nov or we can say in spring and autumn. During these months, we can get a clear view of the world’s highest peak that is not covered by mist during the monsoon season. However, some tourists think that the Mt. Everest is more charming when it is surrounded by mist, partly hidden and partly visible. It is just like a shy girl.

The best time for mountaineers to summit Mt. Everest is believed to be from April to May when the so-called “the window” appears. “The Window” means a relatively stable 4 or 5 days weather with mild wind over the summit of Mt. Everest.