The Lhasa-born prodigy used to study business overseas, and got his Bachelor of Business in Nepal and India before moving back to his homeland.With pure passion for life and unlimited love for Tibet, Kunga started his guide career as early as 1997. Currently he is working in Tibet Vista as the Tour Operating Director.
Disclaimer: This guest post is written and sponsored by Tibet Travel Org
If you are just wondering what the top 2 Everest Base Camp Trek tours in the Himalayan Region, you can read this guide to have a brief look. The Everest Base Camp treks have attracted millions of people from all over the world due to a few factors.
Apart from the eye-opening scenery, it is also a great option for adventure seekers due to the high mountain peaks and overall ruggedness. Now let’s take a look at these two treks in the Himalayan Region in detail as deciding which side to scale the mountain from (Tibet or Nepal) is usually a decision that travelers come across with.
When it comes to the two Everest Base Camp treks in the Himalayan Region, the trek from old Tingri to EBC in Tibet is really a good choice for travelers to experience. This is a traditional route which has been adopted by various travel agencies and is considered very safe.
The Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trek is in a region with a high elevation, and the altitudes range between 4400m and 5300m. However, this trip will offer tourists a mix of solitude, wildlife sighting, and physical challenges. Although rare, travelers may even be fortunate to have a chance to catch sight of Tibetan brown bears or gazelles.
Highlights of the Old Tingri EBC Trek
A few highlights in this particular trek hold a few world titles that are worth mentioning. En route above, you can find the world’s highest primary school, the world’s highest monastery, and the world’s highest peak.
The World’s Highest Primary School
Basum Primary School is located at an altitude of 4700 meters at Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, which is regarded as the world’s highest primary school. The students in this school can see Mt. Everest during the daily flag-raising ceremony, due to the school gate is facing with Mount Everest.
If you choose the trek from Old Tingri to EBC in Tibet, you can go to this school to bring some gifts for the students here, such as some candies, chocolates, and toys.
The World’s Highest Peak
Naturally, Mount Everest is famous for having the highest peak in the world. The unmatchable height and its brilliant history have made it a popular attraction over the years. Its peaks are diverse, four of which are above 8,000 meters and 38 of which are above 7,000 meters. It towers 8848.13 meters in the middle area of the Himalayas in the Tingri County and is known as the Third Pole on the Earth.
The height of the peak has made it hard to get to the summit of Mt. Everest and to achieve this goal, you need lots of courage and determination as it is both a physical and mental challenge.
The World’s Highest Monastery
Rongbuk is famous as the world’s highest monastery. It lies against the backdrop of Mt. Everest or Mt. Qomolangma which is the Chinese name. Here, you can find a dark red enclosure, colorful prayer streamers, and white stupas.
It is about 20 kilometers from the peak of Mt. Qomolangma, and is also known as one of the best places to appreciate the mountain peak. When tourists scale the Everest from its north side, this monastery can also work as a base camp. The delicate frescoes also have attracted lots of travelers since its reopening in 2008.Â
Best Time for the EBC Trek in Tibet
After you’ve taken a quick look at the highlights of the trek from Tingri to Everest Base Camp, you should know when the best time is to go.
The best time for the trekking from Tingri to EBC is from May to October, as the weather will be a little warmer with the average temperature ranging from 15℃ to 25℃.
I advise tourists not to go during the rainy season between July and August, as it is easy to encounter landslide and road closures.
How to Prepare for the EBC Trek in Tibet
As for how to prepare for the EBC trek from Old Tingri, you can follow the tips shown below.
First, you need to find a well-established travel agency in advance to help you arrange visas and itineraries. After you decide from companies like Tibet Vista, you will need to customize your itinerary. Here’s a sample itinerary which you can browse through:
Stage 1: Tingri (4390m) to Lungthang (4510m)(5 hours/12km/150m ascent)
Stage 2: Lungthang to Lamna La (5150 m)(8 hours/21km/200m ascent)
Stage 3: Lamna La to Zommug (8 hours/21km/200m ascent)
Stage 4: Zommug to Rongbuk (5000m)
Stage 5: Rongbuk to Everest Base camp (5200m)
Next, you will need to get the Tibet Permit Application and choose a suitable transportation to get to Tingri. If you have selected a good travel operator to help you, there will no need to worry about these things as they will arrange everything for you in advance.
Lastly, you will need to get physically and mentally prepared for the trek from Tingri to EBC. For older people or those that are not super fit, you can consult your doctor prior to see if he advises you to go or not.
Do’s and Don’ts for the EBC Trek in Tibet
Do’s:
Take warm light clothes with you to prevent you getting cold at night.
Take a fully equipped medicine kit with you.
Drink more water than normal in the trip.
Have light and high carbohydrate meals.
Scale up slowly, especially when you reach high altitude.
Don’ts:
Don’t/ avoid getting a cold before going to Tibet.
Don’t drink alcohol and smoke as this will make the trek more difficult.
Don’t lose sight of your tour guide to avoid getting lost.
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The trekking route from Lukla to EBC in Nepal is chosen by around 95 percent of all trekkers to EBC. The average time frame to complete this trek is between 10-14 days.
First is Tourists can explore the Sherpa villages and the Thami and Tengboche monasteries which has a long and culturally enlightening history.
Second, travelers can also pay a visit to a school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in the mountain village of Khumjung.
Best Time for the EBC Trek in Nepal
As for the best time to trek EBC in Nepal, it is from March to May and late Sept. to Nov, where you can avoid the Monsoon season.
The temperature will be well above 15 Celsius during the daytime. Trekking from late Sept. to Nov will allow you to enjoy the clear weather with superb visibility although it will be much colder. During the months of March to May, the lush foliage also adds another point of interest during your trek.Â
Hopefully, this detailed guide has given you lots of information to help you plan a trip to Everest Basecamp. Whether you are scaling it from the Tibetan side or from Nepal, Everest Base Camp is sure to provide you with incredible views and memories to last you a lifetime.
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