Most trekking and hiking lovers have already done and some of them looking to do Everest Base Camp Trek. Before you plan your trip to the base of the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest; you should know the best and worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek. If you do the Everest trek without a proper plan you may have a miserable trekking experience. So be a good planner and have a great Everest Base Camp Trekking.
In general, the best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek is the spring and autumn season. And the bad time to do Everest Base Camp Trek in the summer and winter season. But all these four seasons have pros and cons to doing a trek in Nepal, and the same goes for Everest region treks too. Because that different time has its own unique characteristics in the Himalayas of Nepal.
As a trekking guide and porter, I have done Everest Base Camp Trek in different seasons. Even some seasons I did this trek multiple times and each time I had a different trekking experience. Sometimes very magical and sometimes very stressful too. In my experience, the worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek is during the monsoon season and winter season.
Why the summer and winter seasons are the worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek.
Summer season for Everest Base Camp Trek
The summer season is the rainy season in Nepal during this season there will be a lot of rain everywhere in Nepal. Even some parts of the country will be flood and landslide problems. To walk to the wetland is not entertaining so the disadvantage of the monsoon season is rain and wetness everywhere.
Rain, wetness, and haze mean no good views of the snowy peaks and enclosing areas. The main purpose of doing a trek in the Himalayas is to enjoy a glimpse of the giant mountain peaks. And of course the views of the landscapes, jungle, monasteries, and other elements of nature and human creations. So the second disadvantage of the summertime for trekking to the Everest region is no views.
Don’t worry if you have a holiday during the summer season and want to do trekking in Nepal. There are some great summer treks in Nepal that are waiting to welcome you Nepal. And the third disadvantage to doing Everest Base Camp Trek during the summer season is unable to fly to Lukla. If rains and is cloudy in KTM and Lukla, there are no flights to Lukla. And Lukla is the normal Everest Base Camp Trek beginning point.
I faced all these disadvantages summer season of doing the Everest Base Camp Trek. Once I completed 12 nights and 13 days of Everest Base Camp Trek without seeing Mt. Everest. I got a problem with my feet because I walked for 7 days continually in the rain and wetlands. And one time I have to change Everest Base Camp Trek to Annapurna Circuit Trek after a delayed flight to Lukla for 3 days.
However, during the summer season, there will be fewer people to trek, and greenery everywhere. The combination of green land and white mountains is so awesome to see. So, if you are a green lover and want to stay away from the crowd; then it’s the best time to do Everest Base Camp Trek.
Winter Season for Everest Base Camp Trek
My experience of Everest Base Camp Trek during the winter season was fun, entertaining, and a nightmare too. Because I enjoyed playing with the fresh snow, sliding in the snow, and stocking in Gorekshpe for 5 days. And I got frostbite on my legs and stayed in the hospital for treatment for a whole month. Therefore all these bad experiences made me the Winter season is the worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek.
As I mentioned up here playing with snow and sliding on snow is the fun factor of the winter season. But when there is snow, the cold will be there so if you are a warm-blooded person then cold will be a tough challenge. Because of the cold, everything will be frozen in the high mountains, even the drinking water. Facing cold is the first disadvantage of the winter season to trek Everest Base Camp.
Icy and snowy walking trails are the second most dangerous disadvantage of the winter season for trekking in the Himalayas. Especially in the highest parts of the mountains trails, there is a lot of snow and that vanished the walking trail. So that sometimes you may miss the way and be unable to get to the targeted destination. Sleepary can be very dangerous in the high passes, once fall down can be the last breath of life.
However, during the winter season, there will be a clear view of the mountains and encompassing. Blue and crystal clear sky, if sunny day then only extremely cold during night and morning. View wise and less tourist wise Everest base camp during the winter season will be a great experience.
In conclusion
Nepal has four different seasons, and those seasons have their own characteristics. Hot, cold, warm, and cool; but the upper part of the mountains are mostly cold. The winter season is extremely cold and during the summer season in Nepal; there is a lot of rain and no good views. Therefore winter and summer seasons are the worst time to do Everest Base Camp Trek and other reasons treks too. Although, there are some treks which you can do such as Upper Mustang Trek, and Dolpa Trek. Tiji Festival Trek etc.
