Everest Base Camp Trek in winter: Weather, Cost & Reality

Who doesn’t want to reach the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain Mt. Everest? It is one of the prized destinations that people love to visit at least once in a lifetime. However, it is not as easy as it sounds! The journey requires lots of planning and preparations. Today’s blog is about the Everest Base Camp Trek in winter: weather, cost, & reality. This blog will give you idea of doing the off season Everest Base Camp Trekking from weather and cost perspective. The blogger will also try to provide you the real information in terms of success rate of reaching the Everest Base Camp in winter.

Suitable time of the year to visit Everest Base Camp

At first, let’s find out the best season to do the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. Usually, the months of spring season (March – May) and the months of autumn season (September – November) are the best times to do the EBC Trek in Nepal. Moreover, the journey becomes hassle free and scenic during this time of the year. The trail is crowded by the trekkers from across the globe. It is also the best time to make friends and know about the people around the trail including locals, trekking guides, Sherpa, porters, etc.

Winter Season in Everest

The home of the world’s tallest mountain can be the coldest place during winter season. December to February months is the winter season. The temperature can go below freezing temperature especially in the places above 4000 m altitude. Therefore, trekkers must prepare properly for this epic wilderness adventure through the snowy trails of the Khumbu. The hardest thing to do during the Everest Base Camp Trek in winter season is navigating through the snow covered trekking trails. If we can comfortably go through it, then we can comfortably do the Everest Base Camp Trek.

Everest Base Camp Trek in winter: weather, cost & reality

Now, let’s know in brief about the Everest Base Camp Trek in winter: weather, cost & reality. You will find only the authentic information in our website even if it is published in the commercial website of the Everest Trekking Routes Pvt. Ltd. We always work on the sustainable tourism in Nepal where trekkers can get optimum return on their travel investment. Our focus on providing the impeccable hospitality and quality services to our trekkers contribute towards enhancing the overall trekking experiences. Therefore, we don’t share false information to our guests.

Weather & Visibility

The daytime temperature is around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius in the lower elevation places whereas the higher elevation places may experience around 0 to 4 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperature can go below freezing point up to minus 10 degree Celsius in the higher elevation places like Lobuche and Gorakshep. Surprisingly, the visibility is not an issue. You can get the mesmerizing blue sky and snowy landscape. The clear skies make it the most enticing time to visit the place. If you can comfortably walk on the trails of the Everest region, then you can surely be rewarded with the best scenery of mountains. The valleys and hills draped in snow can be compared to the fairyland of some fictional country.

Cost of Everest Base Camp Trek in off season (winter)

The cost of the Everest Base amp Trek in winter season can be more expensive than the regular season Everest Base Camp Trek. Travelers are advised to add the reserve days of about 2 days in order to meet the international schedule. If it snows heavily during the trek, you may have to stay in the same place waiting out the snow to clear. Therefore, additional days can increase the cost of the trek. Therefore, you can allocate around 1500 $ for the standard trekking package.

Reality of winter Everest Base Camp Trek: Can I reach the Everest Base Camp in winter?

Can you reach the Everest Base Camp in winter season? The reality is 50 – 50 and you should know it. For example, the places above Dingboche are not accessible if it snows heavily. It is not safe to travel above 4400 m especially the places where the heavy snowfall can create dangerous crevasses. Beyond Dingboche, there are no densely populated villages. Therefore, it is not safe to trek beyond Dingboche if it is snowing heavily. However, it is possible to reach the Everest Base Camp if it is drizzling snow. You must get the trekking package from the reliable trekking company and hire the experienced trekking guide with the strong trekking crew members.

Which treks of the Everest region are suitable for trekking in winter season?

Well, there are some trekking trails where you can trek without any risks of altitude sickness during the winter season. Let’s known in brief about these trekking trails which can be momentous as the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal and you can surely knit the best winter trekking moments in Khumbu.

The Everest View Trek

Trek to the world’s highest situated hotel the Everest View Hotel. The Everest View Trek is about 4 to 6 days long itinerary and the maximum altitude on this trekking trip is 3880 m above sea level. Trekkers can get mesmerizing scenery of mountains and they can experience the snowy landscape of the Khumbu including staying on the popular Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar.

The Everest Panorama Trek with Tengboche Monastery

Reach the famous monastery of the Khumbu region and sacred place of the Sherpa People, the Tengboche Monastery. Coincide your trekking with the festival date of the Losar festival while booking the Everest Panorama Trek with the Tengboche Monastery. The scenery of the Pangboche Valley, walls of Mountains (Nuptse, Lhotse, Everest, Thamserku, and Amadablam), Lower Dudhkoshi Valley, and cascading hills can be the highlight of this trek.

Sherpa Village Trek

Explore Sherpa villages of the Khumbu region as an alternative of the Everest Base Camp Trek in winter. Major Sherpa villages where you can trek to are Khunde, Khumjung, Phortse, and Thame including the Namche Bazaar.