Everest Base Camp (Tingri)

The northern slope of the roof of the world: cross the Gyawu La Pass for views of five 8,000 m peaks, and stay at Rongbuk Monastery or in Tingri town to see Everest's Golden Sunlit Peak.

This destination is in Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, and covers the north face of Mount Qomolangma (Everest) and the surrounding Himalayan region. Tingri's county seat, Shegar Town (New Tingri), sits at about 4,300 m beside the G318 highway and is the gateway to the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve; about 60 km to the west, Gangga Town, or "Old Tingri", offers views of both Everest and Cho Oyu. The classic route: from Shegar or Gangga, pass the reserve checkpoint and cross the Gyawu La Pass (about 5,198 m), where the viewing platform lets you see five 8,000 m peaks at once (Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma); then descend the "108 Bends" switchback road to Zhaxizong and the Rongbuk valley, finally reaching Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp (about 5,200 m). The Kama Valley on the east side is a pristine trail for trekkers. Seasons: April–June and September–October have the most stable weather and a high chance of seeing Everest's banner cloud and the Golden Sunlit Peak; July–August is the rainy season with lots of cloud; December–February is bitterly cold and windy, and the tent area at Base Camp may be closed. Getting there: Shigatse city to Shegar is about 240 km (about 4 hours); from Lhasa it usually takes 2 days. Foreign visitors must hold a Tibet Travel Permit and travel with a licensed guide and vehicle; domestic visitors need a border area permit. Suggested time: 2–3 days for a round trip from Tingri to Base Camp, plus another 6–8 days if you include the Kama Valley trek. Notes: Base Camp is at about 5,200 m with a high risk of altitude sickness, so acclimatize for 2–3 days in Lhasa and Shigatse after entering Tibet; private vehicles usually must transfer to eco-friendly buses inside the reserve; it is strictly prohibited to go beyond the Base Camp boundary marker toward the mountaineering camp.

Top sights

• Everest Base Camp (North) – Looking up at the north face of Everest from the Rongbuk Valley at about 5,000 m, this is one of the closest points to the mountain that or…
• Gawu La (Pang La) Viewpoint & 108 Bends – A viewpoint at the pass, at about 5,198 m, from which you can take in five 8,000-meter peaks at once, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and…
• Rongbuk Monastery – One of the highest monasteries in the world, at about 4,980 m. Its white stupas and prayer flags framed against the north face of Everest m…
• Old Tingri (Gangga) & Cho Oyu Viewpoint – A highland town beside National Highway 318, where open grassland gives views of both Everest and Cho Oyu. Visitors can stay overnight to w…
• Shegar Chode Monastery – A Gelug monastery on the hillside behind Shegar, the county seat of Tingri. The remains of an ancient dzong fortress run along the ridge ab…
• Kama Valley (Everest East Face) – The Everest East Face trekking route, often called one of the most beautiful valleys in the world, surrounded by forest, rhododendrons, and…
• Gyatso La Pass – A pass at 5,248 m on the Lazi to Tingri stretch of National Highway 318, covered in prayer flags. It is the northern gateway to the Everest…

Where to eat

• Rongbuk Hotel Restaurant – A restaurant at Rongbuk Hotel, about 5,000 meters above sea level and opposite Rongbuk Monastery; dinner is a yak hotpo…

Itineraries

• Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse & Mount Everest – The most classic route for first-time visitors to Tibet: acclimatize in Lhasa for three days, then travel through Shiga…
• Self-Drive Tour of Yadong, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley in Tsang – Drive along the northern foothills of the Himalayas, connecting Yadong Valley, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley to exp…
• East-to-West Tibet Traverse: Nyingchi, Lhasa, and Mount Everest – Fly into lower-altitude Nyingchi to acclimate, then head to Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, and Mount Everest, covering both the e…
• Ngari Loop: Mount Kailash Kora, Guge Kingdom, and Northern Route – Depart from Lhasa to visit Mount Everest, complete the Mount Kailash Kora, explore the Guge Kingdom and Pangong Tso, an…