From Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, you can easily reach both Mount Everest base camps in Nepal and Tibet. While many assume that the closer southern base camp in Nepal will be easier to reach, it actually takes less time to travel from Kathmandu to the northern Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

Here, we’ll provide detailed information on the distances between Kathmandu and the two base camps, as well as guidance on how to get there, to help you better choose the base camp that suits you.

1. Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp in Nepal via Lukla: 203 km involves both flight and trekking

The Everest Base Camp in Nepal is the closest base camp to Kathmandu, but it takes over ten days for the tour. The base camp lies at an elevation of 5,380 meters and is a climb that requires at least two days of acclimatization along the route. However, before starting the trek, you will need to get a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the mountain village that marks the start of the trailhead.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla

Located in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal, Lukla is around 140 kilometers east of the Nepali capital, and the straight flight distance from Kathmandu to Lukla is 138 km. Flights to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla depart from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport daily. Around 5-6 flights per day make the 30-45 minute trip. Thousands of trekkers head for this small village on the side of a mountain every year to make the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, and the village has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. However, it takes an expert pilot to land at the airport in Lukla, as it has a very short runway with a massive cliff at one end and a sheer drop at the other. Only small aircraft land there, taking 6-8 passengers on each trip.

The trekking distance from Lukla to the Southern Everest Base Camp in Nepal is 65 km, which takes around 12 days, including two days for acclimatizing to the increasing altitudes along the way.

Travel Note: You can also take a helicopter from Lukla to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. However, the half-day helicopter tour costs over a thousand dollars.

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2. Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp in Tibet via Gyirong Border: 504 km by land

Getting to Everest Base Camp in Tibet is far less arduous than the long, hard trek to EBC in Nepal. While taking the overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you can stay one night at the Everest Base Camp in Tibet to witness the majestic mountain peak of Everest.

Seeing the sunrise of Mount Everest at Rongbuk Monastery near the Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

First, you need to take a 126 km drive from Kathmandu to Rasuwagadhi. It can be done by public or private car in Nepal. The drive from the Nepali capital takes around six hours to get to the Nepali customs control point at Rasuwagadhi Fort, on the border with Tibet.

Once in Rasuwagadhi Fort, you will be dropped off and pass through customs leaving Nepal. Then, it is a short walk across the Resuo Bridge, which spans the Trishuli River Gorge to Gyirong Port on the Tibetan side, where you will pass through Chinese immigration control. Once cleared, your guide and driver will meet you at the immigration office to take you to Gyirong Town, the first stop of any overland tour in Tibet.

The road distance from Gyirong to Everest Base Camp in Tibet is around 334 kilometers. It takes the whole day to drive from Gyirong Town to the base camp at 5,200 meters above sea level. The route is a little circuitous, as the roads in Tibet rarely go in a straight line due to the steep mountain slopes. After staying the night at the base camp, you will get a chance to see the stunning view of the sunrise of Mount Everest, which lies just a few kilometers away.

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3. Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp in Tibet via Lhasa: Over 600 km by land after flying to Lhasa

The most popular Everest Base Camp tour in Tibet is from Lhasa with visits to Yamdrok Lake and Shigatse en route via the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway.

First, you can take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The Kathmandu to Lhasa flight takes 1 hour and 25 minutes to cross 572km and passes directly over the summit of Mount Everest for amazing views of the Himalayas.

After arriving in Tibet, you can join an Everest Base Camp tour to appreciate the majestic Mount Everest in Tibet side. Or, you can take the epic overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu, which takes 7 days with one night stay at the base camp.

Experience a breathtaking bird's-eye view of Mount Everest on the plane journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

4. Which is the best route for visiting Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu?

If you want to experience Everest trekking from Kathmandu, it is best to choose the South Everest Base Camp in Nepal. It’s an ambitious and extended trek through some challenging terrain but also a chance for a unique, up-close experience of the Himalayan region. The EBC trek in Tibet is usually done from Old Tingri. It is not a hard trek and follows the Friendship Highway.

Old Tingri Trekking to Tibet Everest Base Camp.

If you are looking for a close view of Mount Everest with an easy trip, you can visit the Everest Base Camp in Tibet from Kathmandu, as the northern base camp on the Tibetan side is more convenient to reach by car. The overland journey can be done in both directions via the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, either from Kathmandu to Lhasa or from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

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5. More Travel Tips for Visiting EBC from Kathmandu

Once you decide which route to take for your Everest tour from Kathmandu, here are some more things to prepare.

1). Required travel documents for visiting EBC in Nepal from Kathmandu
Entering Nepal is easy. You can choose from the online visa or visa on arrival available at the airport in Kathmandu. Going to South Base Camp requires a TIM card (Trekking Information Management System) or paying 2,000 Rs (~15 USD) to enter the Everest Region. Sagarmatha National Park, where EBC is located, also has a 3,000 Rs (~22.5 USD) entrance fee.

2). Required travel documents for visiting EBC in Tibet from Kathmandu
Visiting EBC in Tibet requires several permits. The first is a Chinese visa. When entering from Nepal, international tourists must obtain a Chinese Group Visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. It takes 3-4 business days to process, so you need to arrive before your trip. Entering Tibet from the mainland of China requires a tourist visa that can be obtained from the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

A Tibet Travel Permit, an Alien’s Travel Permit, and a Frontier Pass are needed to visit Mount Everest in Tibet. But don’t worry, all these local travel documents are involved in our tour packages. Once you book your Tibet Everest Base Camp tour with us, simply provide the scanned copies of your passport and Chinese Visa, and we will handle the rest for you.

A sample of Tibet Travel Permit.

3). The best time to visit Everest Base Camp
Spring and Autumn, March-May, and October-November are the best times to visit EBC in Nepal. The skies are clear, and there is little rain. Temperatures are comfortably warm, and you won’t experience snow blocking the trail.

The best time to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet is from April-June and September-November. These periods avoid the fog from the summer monsoon that can obscure views of the mountain and offer warm, clear weather for being outdoors.

4). How to avoid high altitude sickness while visiting the EBC
To prepare for high altitudes, talk to a doctor before traveling for advice and recommendations on what medicine to take. While in the Himalayan region, follow the general rule of ‘travel high, stay low’.

Our Mount Everest tours are designed with the science and experience to minimize the risks of high-altitude sickness as much as possible. You will get a chance to acclimatize along the way before reaching the highest points.

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Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

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Conclusion

The distance between Kathmandu and the Everest Base Camp is not the main consideration in choosing the travel route, because the shorter distance to the southern base camp in Nepal will often take longer because you need to trek for days to reach it. The northern base camp in Tibet, which is over 500 kilometers away, can be easily reached by land.

Whether you want the trekking adventure of going to South Base Camp or the sweeping overland tour to North Base Camp, feel free to contact us for more information about EBC tours, and get started planning the trip of a lifetime.