10 Mar 2021 Prakash Devkota
Summiting Mount Everest once in this lifetime is a dream of many travelers. Are you thinking of fulfilling this dream and wondering when the best month to climb Mount Everest is?
Well, our article will be quite helpful for you. It gives you information on which months are suitable for mountain climbing in Nepal. It also helps you learn about the difficulties you can face when climbing Mount Everest.
Climbing Mount Everest is on the bucket list of every climber and trekker. Reaching the summit of the world’s highest peak is an ultimate achievement that brings a sense of joy and excitement.
Among the four seasons, Autumn and Spring are the preferable times for climbing Everest. The Spring Season starts in March and ends in May. Autumn Season starts in September and ends in November.
The forests are green and colorful during these seasons. You can spot several animals on your way to summit Everest. Also, the views are clear and mesmerizing.
Autumn and Spring have the best month to climb Mount Everest. To know about these months, read further below:
About Mount Everest
Mount Everest is also known as Sagarmatha, which is the earth’s highest peak above sea level. It resides at an elevation of 8848.86 m on the Mahalangur Himal sub-range.
The world’s highest peak lies in the Sagarmatha Zone of Nepal. The border of China-Nepal runs over its summit point. This peak attracts many highly experienced and beginner mountaineers.
There are two routes to approach the summit, one is from the southeast base in Nepal, and the other is from the north base in Tibet. Among them, the routes from the South base camp in Nepal are the most popular ones.
The south route is also known as the standard route. Following Everest Base Camp Trek’s trails, you reach the base and continue your climbing journey from there.
Mount Everest lies inside the Sagarmatha National Park, located in the eastern part of Nepal. It covers a total area of 443 sq mi in the Solukhumbu district. The park starts at an elevation of 2845 m and ends at a height of 8848.86 m.
Sagarmatha park was the first National park of the country to be inscribed in the Natural World Heritage site. It was built to conserve the forests, wildlife, natural resources, and cultural resources of this region.
To summit Mount Everest, you will pass through the Sagarmatha National Park. On your journey, you will see several endangered animals and birds along the way.
Routes to reach Mount Everest
Kathmandu – Lukla- Phakding – Namche – Tengboche – Dingboche – Lobuche – Gorakshep – Kala patthar – Gorakshep – Everest Base Camp – Climb Mount Everest – Base Camp – Pheriche – Thyangboche – Namche – Lukla – Kathmandu
You begin the Everest Expedition by flying to Lukla from Kathmandu. It is about a half an hour flight. After arriving in Lukla, you trek towards Phakding. You will pass through pine forests, mani walls, and cross rivers using suspension bridges.
You then trek towards Namche Bazaar the next day, making several zigzags up and downhill walks. The first acclimatization is here in Namche. During your stay, you will explore the areas and hike to nearby attraction sites of this place.
After a wonderful stay, you now head towards Thyangboche. You pass through several traditional settlements to reach here. Thyangboche is famous for its ancient monastery.
In the early morning, you visit the monastery and head towards Dingboche. The routes between these two places give some of the best views of the peaks. The trials are relatively moderate for this day.
The following day, you trek towards Lobuche, crossing wooden bridges and dense forests. Then you head to Gorakshep, viewing the Khumbu glaciers, icebergs, and glacial ponds.
You then hike to Kala Patthar to view the sunrise and return to Gorakshep, and head towards EBC. You acclimatize in the base camp for a few days and prepare yourself for the climb.
After thorough preparation, you finally begin your journey to the summit. Then reaching the top, you return to the Base Camp. From here, you descend the trails to Pheriche, passing Gorak Shep and Lobuche.
From Pheriche, you trek to Tyanboche, making steep downhill walks. Then you travel to Namche and back to Lukla. After arriving at Lukla, you catch your flight back to Kathmandu, ending your Mount Everest Expedition.
Best Month to Climb Mount Everest
Spring, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter are the four seasons of Nepal. Among them, Spring and Autumn have the best month to climb Mount Everest. You can learn more about each season from below:
Spring
Spring is the first season of the year that brings the lost greenery and beauty of nature. The temperature and weather are stable during this time. Spring is the first-best season for trekking and mountaineering in Nepal.
The views are clear, and the weather is warm. There are low chances of rain or clouds during Spring. The windy weather in high elevation can be a slight problem. But other than that, this season has the best month to climb Mount Everest. Also, some of the great festivals of Nepal fall in this season.
March
March is the first month of the spring season. The Winter season has just ended, so the weather is still chilly during this time. It is sunny and hot during day time but gets windy as you reach higher elevation.
As for the night and early mornings, the weather is a bit cold. March is a dry month with the clearest skies giving excellent visibility. The chances of rainfall are quite rare during March.
Even though this month falls in a peak season, the trails are quieter till Base Camp. Thus, the lodges are uncrowded, and there is no queue for bathrooms and food.
The weather around the mountain can be different as it gets colder than from base camp. The temperature ranges from 7 degrees to -12 degrees. Do not forget to carry warm clothes.
April
April is the second month of spring. The weather will be more stable by this month. It will be sunny and bright during the day and warm during the night. As for early mornings, it will be cool.
The forests will be filled with bloomed flowers, making the paths colorful and beautiful. The days get warmer in April as this is still a dry season. So, there are no occurrences of snowfall and rainfall.
However, it gets colder as you climb above the base camp so that the night can be chilly at higher altitudes. The temperature ranges from 12 degrees to -12 degrees. But still, the clear views keep you accompanied for the whole journey.
May
May is the closing month of the Spring season. Many climbers consider May the best month to climb Mount Everest. During this month, the skies are clear, often giving a visible view of the peak.
After this month, the monsoon begins in June, so dark clouds can be seen at the end of May. However, the weather in earlier weeks is sunny and bright. The nights are warm as well, but it gets colder in higher elevations.
However, the temperature is bearable at high altitudes. It ranges from 15 degrees to -12 degrees in May. The region is swarming with trekkers and climbers during this month.
Autumn
Autumn is the second-best season for climbing Mount Everest. It is the festive time of the year. During this time, the forests are blooming with floras in the lower region.
The surroundings are clear during Autumn giving the best views of the Himalayas. The weather is stable, and the temperature is moderate in this season. The routes of the Everest region are crowded in Autumn. The chances of rainfall and snowfall are low this time of the year.
September
September is the first month of Autumn. The monsoon season has recently ended, so the weather is cool during this month. And The forest paths are blooming with new species of flowers and plants in the lower regions.
The weather is pleasant around the Everest region during this month. It is warm and welcoming with slight chances of rainfall in earlier weeks. But by mid-September, the weather gets scorching hot.
However, the weather is cold during the early morning and nights in the mountain. But not as harsh as in winter. The temperature ranges from 10 to 24 degrees during the day and 5 to -15 degrees during the night.
October
Among the other months in Autumn, October is the best month to climb Mount Everest. It is the second month of this season and has one of the best weather conditions.
October is also a festive month for the Nepalese people when the major festival Dashain and Tihar falls. The views of the landscapes are clear. The forest paths and peaks look intimidatingly beautiful under the deep blue sky.
The walks during the day are warm and pleasing, and the nights have a bearable cold. It is a dry month, so there are no chances of rainfall or snowfall. You don’t need to worry about insects, slippery routes, or obstructed views.
The temperature ranges from 16 to 12 degrees during the day and drops up to -15 degrees during the night. The weather is not stable in the peaks, so the wind and cloud pattern changes repeatedly.
November
November is the last month of the Autumn season as winter begins right after its ending. There are no chances of rainfall as it’s the driest month in the Everest region.
The humidity is low, but the weather gets colder by the end of the month. However, the skies are clear, giving the crispy view of peaks and valleys. It is not very hot during the day but gets colder during the night.
The temperature ranges from 9 degrees to -15 degrees during September. The weather till mid-September is nice to climb Mount Everest. And the month overall is the peak time for trekking to Everest Base Camp.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu then drop off at Hotel
Day 2: Climbing Preparation and Sightseeing Tour
Day 3: Flight to Lukla (30 min) (2800 m) then Trek to Phakding (2640 m) (3 to 4 hours)
Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440 m) (5 to 6 hours)
Day 5: Rest at Namche
Day 6: Trek to Tengboche (6 to 7 hours) (3867 m)
Day 7: Trek to Dingboche (5 to 6 hours) (4260 m)
Day 8: Trek to Lobuche ( 5 to 7 hours) (4930 m)
Day 9: Trek to Gorakshep ( 4 to 5 hours) (5180 m)
Day 10: Early Morning Hike to Kala Patthar ( 2 hours) (5545 m) then back to Gorak Shep and trek to Everest Base Camp (3 hours) (5380 m)
Day 11 – 13: Climbing Preparation and Acclimatize at EBC
Day 14 – 60: Everest Climbing period (8848 m) then back to Base Camp (5380 m)
Day 61: Trek to Pheriche (5 to 6 hours) (4243 m)
Day 62: Trek to Tengboche (4 to 5 hours) (3867 m)
Day 63: Trek to Namche Bazaar ( 4 to 5 hours) (3440 m)
Day 64: Trek to Lukla ( 6 to 7 hours) (2800 m)
Day 65: Fly back to Kathmandu (30 mins) (1400 m)
Day 66: Transfer to Airport and Departure
Difficulties Faced During Climbing Mount Everest
Climbing Mount Everest, the highest peak above sea level, is never an easy task. You will face various difficulties when climbing Everest. We have written some of the expected problems below:
Temperature
The temperature is not stable in the lower and higher altitudes of the Everest region. It can range around 12 degrees in Namche Bazaar and drop to 5 degrees in Base camp.
The temperature drops by 0.65 C with every 100 m gain in height. Thus, you can expect the temperature to be less than 57 C at an elevation above 8000 m. So, the weather will be cold throughout the year on Mount Everest.
Weather
A significant difficulty is a continuous change in weather in high elevations. The weather up in the peaks is unpredictable so, we can not always pinpoint its next move.
It can be bright and sunny at one moment and windy at the next moment. Changing weather is a nature’s demand, so we can’t control it, but we can be precautious and travel safely.
Altitude Sickness
This is one of the biggest risks faced when Climbing Mount Everest. The oxygen level gets low as you climb to higher places because the air is thin in higher elevations.
The symptoms of altitude sickness are similar to a hangover. There is first a mild discomfort leading to debilitation. Some signs are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, sleeping difficulty, and fatigue.
These symptoms kick in within the 4 to 12 hours of your ascend. But altitude sickness improves within 1 to 2 days for some people as they stop climbing. However, if it progresses, you need to trek down to a lower altitude.
Falls
We have heard several times people falling while climbing Everest, which is quite common in this expedition. Falls are the highest causes of death in the Everest Expedition.
Falls happen when climbing on a high ridge or being careless— e.g., stepping out to pee during the night in the snow-covered ground, and many more. So always be careful and cautious during your ascend.
When ascending the peak, double-check your knots and carabiners, maintain your footwork with others, and have a fair amount of prior experience.
Low-Quality Equipment
Another difficulty is buying low-quality equipment. Some climbers buy low-quality mountaineering equipment to save money, which can cost them their life. If your gears are not right, it can be a significant problem when making the ascend. So, check their quality and buy the ones recommended by your agency.
Crevasses
Crevasses are cracks in glacial ice that swallows unfortunate or careless climbers. These cracks appear in the Khumbu icefalls and western Cwm when traveling from Nepal. To make the safe travel, teams tie ropes between each member and drag out people the whole take a fall.
Training
To complete this expedition, you need both physical and technical training. You will be using various specialized tools such as locking and non-locking carabiners, ice ax, rappel device, harness, etc. So, You need to know how to use them. Thus, you will be taking six months of training before your actual climb.
As for physical training, you can do it on your own or hit the gym as well. You need to increase your stamina as ascending and descending takes a massive toll on your body.
You also need to prepare yourself mentally if you want to finish this expedition. Many climbers give up in between the climb due to low spirit. You can do meditation for the physical and mental part, go hiking at 4000 to 5000 m altitude, running, swimming, long-hour walks, and many more.
Everest Expedition Gear List
You will be carrying many things while climbing Mount Everest. So, we have made a list to make it easier for you to decide what gear you should bring on this expedition.
Upper Body Wear
- Waterproof shell jacket
- Down jackets suitable for expedition
- Down jacket for base camp
- Mid-weight insulated jacket
- Lightweight fleece tops
- Trekking shirt
- Thermal tops
- Casual wear for lower regions
Lower Bodywear
- Waterproof shell pants
- Expedition pants
- Lightweight insulated pants
- Softshell climbing pants
- Fleece pants
- Leggins
- Underwear
- Shorts for the lower region
Head Wear
- Sun hat
- Beanie
- Bandana or buff
- Sunglasses
- Ski goggles
- Neck gaiter
Hand Wear
- Liner gloves
- Fleece gloves
- Mountaineer gloves
- Expedition mitts
Foot Wear
- Socks
- Shoes or Sandals
- Mountaineering boots
- Snow gaiters
- Trekking boots
Bags
- Small duffle bag with locks
- Large duffle bags with locks
- Day pack
Camping Gear
- Sleeping Bags
- Sleeping Mat
- Inflatable sleeping mat
Climbing Equipment
- Ice ax
- Crampons
- Rappel device
- Climbing helmet
- Locking carabiners
- Climbing harness
- Non-locking carabiners
- Mechanical ascenders
- 4m of 8mm cord
- 6mm prusik cord
- Avalanche transceiver
Toiletries
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Facewash
- Bathing and washing soap
- Personal towel
- Moist wipes
- Toilet rolls
Accessories
- Headlamp
- Spare lithium batteries for headlamp
- First aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Lipbalm and lotion
- Pocket knife
- Camera and memory cards
- Solar panel power banks
- USB flash drive
- Snack for day
Travel Documents
- Passport
- Copy of your passport
- 4 pp size pictures
- Insurance
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Prakash Devkota
Managing Director and Team Leader
Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota is an established name in the Tourism Sector in Nepal. He is a focused individual gifted with a brilliant mind. He is also hugely dedicated to social work. Born in the Gorkha district, a beautiful hilly region of Nepal, he first entered the tourism industry as a guide in 1997. He has gained extensive experience in almost all the trekking and climbing routes like Mera, Island, Lobuche and, Ama Dablam, etc.
He registered Nepal Guides Treks & Expedition in 2009 AD. Due to his passion for adventure and efforts to provide quality personalized service to his clients, he has established himself as a successful tourism entrepreneur. He has dedicated most of his time working diligently to elevate the tourism industry and collected more than 15 years of experience in organizing trekking and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. He believes in the power of the tourism industry and the employment opportunities that can be created through it. He constantly looks for innovative ways to run the company.
Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices. He believes promoting eco-tourism will preserve natural resources and positively impact the environment.
