Can You Climb Everest Base Camp In December?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Everest Base Camp changes to one of a pristine white wonderland in winter.

The daytime temperatures at EBC in the winter months range between freezing and minus five degrees

, which does mean it is cold enough to warrant plenty of warm clothes.

What is the best time of year to trek to Everest Base Camp?

The most popular months for trekking in the Everest region are

March, April, May, October and November

, as these months are when the conditions are at their best. The spring and the autumn tend to offer reasonable temperatures, clear skies, little-to-no rain, and less chance of problematic snowfall.

Is December a good time to go to Everest Base Camp?

As winter sets in, the trekking trails clear of all but the bravest travelers. But,

December is actually a lovely time to trek to Everest Base Camp, if you’re properly prepared for cold temperatures

.

Can you trek to Everest Base Camp in January?


Everest Base Camp trek in January can be a unique kind of adventure in the snow-covered trails of the Everest region

. This is the coldest month in the Everest region so it experiences fewer tourists in the trekking trails. You will have the most peaceful treks with the unaffected views during this time.

Has anyone ever climbed Mount Everest in the winter?


Krzysztof Wielicki, 72, made the first winter ascent of Everest on Feb. 17, 1980

, with a fellow Polish climber, Leszek Cichy, after a team of 16 climbers toiled away on the mountain for two months. “You have to be able to suffer.

How cold does it get in Mount Everest?

On the summit of Mount Everest, the temperature is usually around -10°C in the summer months, but the temperature remains a comfortable 15-20°C in many other regions. In the fall and winter, the temperature falls below 0°C on the western slopes of Mount Everest, to as low as -20°C or -30°C on the eastern side.

How crowded is Everest Base Camp Trek?

The visits are seasonal with

42% of annual visitors coming in October and November. March and April is also busy with 31% of annual visitors

. Although as you can see there are fewer trekkers in Spring compared to the Autumn season. Given these statistics, yes the hike to Everest Base Camp is along a busy trail.

What month is best to climb Everest?

From

April to May

, even mid-June, is arguably the ideal time to Mount Everest; not only is the peak often visible and clear. For mountaineers, the climbing window between April and May is also one of the best times to attempt an ascent to the summit.

How long is the walk to Everest Base Camp?

On average, it takes

between 11 and 14 days

to trek round trip to Everest Base Camp. Most people will do it in 12 days: 8 days to hike from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and then 4 days to trek back to Lukla.

How difficult is the trek to Everest Base Camp?

The difficulty level of the Everest Base Camp is

moderate

. The trekking time often requires two weeks. Even though the EBC Trek requires no prior trekking expertise, it is suggested that the trekker should be determined and be physically fit.

How much does it cost to climb Everest?

The price range for a standard supported climb ranges from

$28,000 to $85,000

. A fully custom climb will run over $115,000 and those extreme risk-takers can skimp by for well under $20,000. Typically, this includes transportation from Kathmandu or Lhasa, food, base camp tents, Sherpa support, and supplemental oxygen.

Can you see Everest from base camp?

While

you can’t see Mount Everest from Base Camp

– there are other insanely tall mountains blocking your view – from day one of the hike, you’ll have great views of the world’s tallest mountain so you’ll have lots of snaps of Mount Everest from other parts of the hike.

How cold is Everest Base Camp in winter?

Mt. Everest Base Camp changes to one of a pristine white wonderland in winter. The daytime temperatures at EBC in the winter months range

between freezing and minus five degrees

, which does mean it is cold enough to warrant plenty of warm clothes.

What is the coldest and warmest month on Mount Everest?

I would speculate that the warmest temperature to ever be reached on the summit to be in the 10-15°F (range -10°C to -12°C) on still and sunny days. The coldest months are

December-February

, with January night temperatures averaging -33°F (-36°C) and the daytime just a couple of degrees warmer if at all.

How cold is Everest Base Camp in January?

Place Lobuche Elevation 4,910 m/ 16100 ft Avg Temp
-9.7°C
Min Temp
-18.3°C
Max Temp
-1.1°C

Can you climb Everest in January?


January is firmly in Nepal’s trekking off-season

, with low visitor numbers across the country. Kathmandu gets quite cold in the evenings, and it’s even colder up in the mountains at higher elevations.

Do people climb Everest in January?

Winter Ascents of Mount Everest

Since records began,

only 15 climbers have made it to the summit in Winter

. (Note that where a piece of data is not available, a dash has been inserted.)

Can you climb Mount Everest in January?

While

there are no rules prohibiting climbers from attempting to scale Everest during the winter

, only a handful have reached the mountain’s 8,850-metre-high peak during that season. The climbers from Germany are Jost Kobusch and his photographer Daniel Hug, as confirmed by The Himalayan Times.

Do planes fly over Everest?


The two planes fly towards Lhotse and Everest at 32,000 feet

. Though the 29,029-foot-high summit of Mount Everest was first conquered on foot by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, it was conquered by air two decades earlier.

Can you fly a helicopter to the top of Mount Everest?

That type of weather is enough to ground any helicopter and intentionally landing in those conditions is strongly ill-advised.

There are several factors that limit a pilot’s ability to fly to the top of Mount Everest

. For much of the year, the mountain is covered in hurricane-force winds and sub-freezing temperatures.

What is the chance of dying on Mount Everest?

Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, attracts hundreds of climbers every year, and has a

14.1%

fatality rate.

Can a beginner climb Everest Base Camp?

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is not going to be a walk in the park, but it’s not a technical climb and

if you’re fit enough, mentally and physically, you’re more than likely to be up to the challenge

. This is a hard and tough trek at altitude and over at least 10 days.

Which is harder Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp?

Most people agree that

Kilimanjaro is harder than Everest Base Camp

. While there are aspects of the Everest Base Camp trek that are harder than Kilimanjaro, the general feeling is that Kilimanjaro is the harder of the two treks. The main reason for this is summit night – it’s a biggie.

How much does Everest Base Camp cost?

And trekking up to the base camp is way cheaper than climbing Everest. As for the cost of Everest Base Camp Trek, there is no fixed price. The journey would cost anywhere between

$2099 to $4500

depending on the route, the outfitter and their services.

Is trekking to Everest Base Camp worth it?

So, is the Everest Base Camp trek worth it? Given the length of this trek (around 13 days),

it’s more akin to a journey and one you can get your teeth into

. Take the altitude seriously, be well equipped, be as fit as you can when you start, and importantly, be well organised. You will then enjoy this trek so much more.

How can I climb Mount Everest for free?

How Does it Work. All you need to do is

find ten people to join you on the trip

! If you bring ten others with you on the trek, and they all pay for their trek, you can get your place FOR FREE!

Who is the youngest person to climb Everest?


Jordan Romero
Born July 12, 1996 Redlands, California, U.S. Nationality US Occupation Mountain climber Years active 2006–present
Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.