Tibet Mount Everest Base Camp

Tingri County, Tibet, China · China

Challenging10 daysAsia~£3,500 est.

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Overview

The Tibetan approach to Everest is a road trip across the roof of the world: the Friendship Highway runs from Lhasa over 5,000 m passes, past the turquoise sweep of Yamdrok Tso, to the Rongbuk Valley, where the world's highest monastery stares straight up the vast pyramid of the north face. Unlike the Nepal side there is no fortnight of trekking — a vehicle delivers you to around 5,200 m, which is exactly why acclimatisation discipline matters: gain height slowly through Gyantse and Shigatse, and expect the altitude to hurt regardless. The view from base camp is the one that obsessed Mallory's expeditions — the North Col and the summit ridge in a single sweep. Note that the old trek to Advanced Base Camp at 6,400 m has been closed to non-climbers for years; visitors are now limited to the base camp area near Rongbuk. Tibet travel requires permits and a booked group tour with a licensed agency, and the rules shift frequently — allow months, not weeks, for the paperwork. April-May and September-October give the clearest faces; around £3,500 for the ten-day overland trip from Lhasa.