Everest Base Camp Trek Weather

What to Expect from the Weather in Everest!

As anyone who has ever trekked before knows the weather can make or break your trip. But people enjoy different things some trekkers enjoy the quieter trails and empty hotels that the winter brings while others put up with the busier trails in return for glorious weather. Below is a breakdown as to what to expect when. But whatever time of year you come to the Everest Region, there is adventure and cultural experiences waiting for you.

January

In January many of the high passes will be closed and the trails from above Namche and beyond will be covered in snow. With many of the locals from Dingboche, Namche, Khumjung and Khunde migrating to Kathmandu for the winter, some of the hotels and teahouses will be closed. Those remaining open, particularly on the ends of the Cho La Pass and Renjo La Pass will be very cold. If you are going to the Gokyo Lake be aware that not only is it cold, but the lakes themselves will be frozen. In addition to all this, January is not in the climbing season so you will not have an opportunity to meet any of the expeditions heading to the summit of Everest.

March

Conditions in the first half of March are very similar to those in January. By the end of March the lakes are slowly starting to melt and locals and hotel owners start flying back to prepare for the coming season. While the weather is better than in January, there is still occasional snow falls.

April and May

These are very popular months with both trekkers and climbers. In fact, Everest Base Camp will be filled with climbers waiting for the ideal weather to push on up the mountain. The overall weather is lovely with occasional snow and wind.

June to August

This is monsoon time in Nepal and there will be few trekkers on the trails. Again, many of the hotels will be closed for the low-season and there is no climbing expeditions. In general there will be rain below Dingboche and snow at altitudes above this village. If trekking from Jiri to Everest Base Camp be aware the trail will be very muddy, slippery and full of leeches up to Phakding.

September to December

This is the most popular time for trekkers because the weather is at its best, particularly in October and November. Therefore, flights are harder to get despite the fact that due to the good weather there are more flights each day, even up to 5pm in the afternoon. Naturally, the trails and hotels will be very crowded. In fact you might need to share a sleeping room with other trekkers at Gorakshep and Lobuche. From December again the locals migrate down to the cities where they will stay until March.

So When is the Best Time to go to the Everest Region?

The best times to go to Everest are mid September to mid December and then again mid March to mid May. Best in terms of weather, drier and easier trails and tasty food prepared by professional cooks at the hotels and teashops. But this has to be balanced by the number of trekkers on the trails, overflowing accommodation, and crowded viewpoints!

Happy trekking!

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Article by Pradeep Guragain

Pradeep is the co-founder of Magical Nepal. He was born and bred in Nepal and is a seasoned hiker and rider.

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