India to Everest Base Camp: how to reach Everest Base Camp from India

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on the planet, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Himalayas region of Asia. The massive mountain lies on the border between China and Nepal, and has base camps at the foot of the mountain on both the northern and southern slopes. From India, the mountain lies around 1,104 kilometers north from the border with Nepal at Jaynagar, the shortest distance from India to Mount Everest. For anyone wishing to travel to one of the two base camps of Mount Everest from India, they need to travel via either Nepal or mainland China.

India to Tibet Everest Base Camp

There are two main routes from India to the base camp in Tibet, on the northern slopes of the mountain. The most popular route for many travelers from India goes via mainland China, using one of the many gateway cities to Tibet, while the alternative route runs through Nepal, traveling via Kathmandu.

India to Tibet Everest Base Camp via Mainland China

To get to Tibet via mainland China, the first leg of the trip is the flight to one of the many cities that can connect with the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.

How to Travel from India to Tibet Everest via Mainland China

There are only four cities in China that have direct flights from India, which are Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai. Flights to Guangzhou depart daily from New Delhi and Mumbai, while flights to Shanghai only run from New Delhi. For Chengdu, the daily flights only run from New Delhi, and for those heading for Kunming, you will need to depart from Kolkata.

India to China Flight Route Map

Flights are available from all four cities in China to Lhasa, though Shanghai does not have direct flights, only connecting flights via Chengdu or Xi’an. Alternatively, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou all have direct train connections to the Tibetan capital, while Kunming does not. Taking the train is the cheapest option, even if it is not the fastest, and has some great views as you pass over the Transhimalaya onto the plateau.

Once in Tibet, the best option for travel to the northern EBC is to travel overland. The Lhasa to Everest Base Camp overland trip, which takes around 7-8 days return, takes you through all of the major cities and sites on the way to the famous mountain, and is the adventure of a lifetime.

Travel Visa and Permits for Tibet Everest Base Camp Tours from India via Mainland China

For those traveling from India to Tibet via mainland China, you will need to have a valid visa for entry to China, as well as several permits to allow you to enter Tibetan and travel to EBC.

The visa must be applied for in advance of booking your tour, and can be done from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in New Delhi. Once you have your visa, you can book Tibet Everest tour and we can make the applications for your Tibet Travel Permit (TTP). The TTP is required for entry into Tibet and travel in the area of Lhasa. We will make the application on your behalf using scanned copies of your passport and visa, and processing can take up to 15 days.

You will also need the Alien’s Travel Permit, which is applied for once you reach Lhasa by your tour guide on your behalf. The permit requires your original passport and TTP, and can be processed in around an hour. You will also need the Frontier Pass, which is required for all tourists traveling in the area of the Chinese border with Nepal. It can be applied for in Lhasa by your guide once you arrive, and takes around 30 minutes to process.

India to Tibet Everest Base Camp via Nepal

If you are planning to travel into Tibet from Nepal, then you will need to travel to Kathmandu, and then on into China to Lhasa and the rest of the TAR.

How to Travel from India to Tibet Everest via Kathmandu, Nepal

Flights to Kathmandu in Nepal run daily from three airports in India, which are New Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Flights from Delhi take around 1 hour 20 minutes, with only one daily flight, while there are eight daily flights from Kolkata, which take around 1 hour 45 minutes. Two flights run daily from Bengaluru, in southern India, which take around three hours to reach Kathmandu.

Kathmandu to Lhasa Travel Map

From Kathmandu, you have two options for getting to EBC, you can choose to fly direct to Lhasa, which takes around 90 minutes, or you can opt for an overland tour that crosses the border into China at Gyirong Port, and travels to EBC and on to Lhasa, with a flight back to Nepal after. While the flight to Lhasa is fast and you get to travel overland back to Mount Everest, the best option is the overland trip from Kathmandu, as it takes you to EBC first, and then on to Lhasa, reducing the risk of altitude sickness for the bulk of the tour. See the details of 8 days Kathmandu Everest Lhasa group tour.

Travel Visa and Permits for Tibet Everest Base Camp Tours from India via Nepal

The permits and passes for travel from Kathmandu to Tibet are the same as for those entering from mainland China, the visa is completely different, and you cannot use a standard Chinese Entry Visa when entering from Nepal. Instead, a Chinese Group Visa is issued once you arrive in Kathmandu, which takes three days to process. When you arrive, our representative will meet at your hotel and have you complete the application, then use your original passport to make the application on your behalf, as the embassy does not accept personal applications.

You will also need to have the Tibet Travel Permit, the Alien’s Travel Permit, and the Frontier Pass completed and obtained in advance of the trip, unlike when entering from China. This is because you will be traveling in the areas outside Lhasa and near the Sino-Nepal border for the first part of the trip, and the permits are required to cross the border. They are also all required for those that are flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa, despite not actually setting foot on the ground until you reach the Tibetan capital airport.

Indian nationals do not need to have a visa for Nepal, as they have a Freedom of Movement agreement between the governments of India and Nepal, which allows free travel over their joint borders, using passports or national ID cards.

Best Time to Visit Everest Base Camp Tibet

The best time to visit the base camp in Tibet is during the spring and autumn, from April to May and September to November, when the weather is dry, the skies are clear, and there is little to no rain. Temperatures are not as high as in summer, but are pleasant and not too cold at night, so you can still be comfortable for the trip. It is also possible to visit in summer, from June to August, as there is not as much rain as you might think, even though it is technically the monsoon season. And in winter, you can still visit from December to January, as the roads to the base camp are kept well cleared of snow throughout the year.

Visit Tibet Base Camp in September

India to Nepal Everest Base Camp

How to Travel from India to Nepal Everest Base Camp

There is only one route to get to EBC in Nepal, on the southern slopes of the famous mountain. The first thing is to fly from India to Nepal, which can be done from New Delhi, Kolkata, or Bengaluru. From Kathmandu, you can take a flight to Lukla, the airport in the Khumbu District closest to EBC. While it is possible to trek to Lukla from a town some 100 kilometers away, there is no road to the small Nepali town in the mountains, so the flights are the most popular option. There are two flights a day to Lukla, which take around 25 minutes to get to the famous Tenzing–Hillary Airport.

Once you arrive in Lukla, you can arrange a guide and porter if you need them, or you can do it in Thamel in Kathmandu before you leave for Lukla. When you are ready, you will start on the long 9-day trek to EBC, 65 kilometers from the airport. The trek passes through several villages in the mountains along the route, and includes two days for acclimatizing at villages along the trail.

Travel Visa and Permits for Nepal Everest Base Camp Tours from India

There are no visa requirements for Indian nationals entering Nepal, though you will need to have a valid passport or government-issued ID. Valid IDs include your photo Voter ID, a valid registration certificate from the Indian Embassy that confirms you are an Indian national living in Nepal, or an ad-hoc ID card issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

While you may not need a visa, you will need to have the right permits to trek in Nepal. The TIMS Card is no longer required for EBC treks, unless you are trekking via Jiri, and a new permit has been introduced. Available from the local government office in Lukla, the new Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit allows trekkers to hike only to EBC along the approved route. Only available since October 2018, many people still do not know this permit replaces the TIMS card, and end up paying for both, which doubles the cost of the permits.

You will also need the Sagarmatha Trekking Permit, which can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu, and is required for entering the Sagarmatha National Park area.

Best Time to Go to Nepal Everest Base Camp

The EBC trek is best done from March to mid-June and late September to the end of November. During spring and autumn in Nepal, the weather is ideal for trekking, and these are the main peak seasons for hiking in the country. The weather is optimal for trekking, with clear skies, no rain, and temperate weather. While it is not too hot, nor is it too cold, and a few warm sweaters can handle the colder temperatures in the evenings and at night.

The EBC trek is not advisable in the summer months, as this is the monsoon season in Nepal, and the rains can be fairly heavy in the wettest months of July and August. Winter can be a little too cold for some, as the temperatures at the higher elevations can be a lot colder in December and January. However, it is not impossible and many people tend to opt for the low season in winter for fewer tourist crowds.

Conclusion

Traveling from India to Mount Everest Base Camps in Nepal and Tibet is a great adventure that can be done easily, whichever base camp you decide to go to. In the north, you can drive all the way to the base camp at 5,100 meters, thanks to the long and well-paved road that has been built all the way to Rongbuk Monastery. This is ideal for those that are not into trekking. Alternatively, if you love to hike in the forests and mountains of the Himalayas, the route to EBC in Nepal is the best option available. A 12-day trek there and back, this awesome adventure is the most popular trek in Nepal, and is one of the best ways to trek in the Himalayas.