Planning · 9 min read · Updated July 2026
Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp
The short answer: late September through November, and March through May. Here's why, and what the other months are actually like on the trail.
Quick Answer
The best months to trek Everest Base Camp are October and November (post-monsoon, clearest skies) and April to May (pre-monsoon, warmer, rhododendrons in bloom). Both windows offer stable weather and the highest odds of an unobstructed Lukla flight.
Autumn: late September to November
This is peak season for a reason. The monsoon has washed the dust out of the air, days are typically clear and cool, and trail conditions underfoot are firm. Namche and Base Camp itself are at their busiest during these eight weeks, so tea houses book out early and the trail near Tengboche can feel crowded around midday.
Spring: March to May
Temperatures run a little warmer than autumn, lower elevations are in rhododendron bloom through April, and this window overlaps with the Everest summit climbing season — you'll pass expedition teams heading to Base Camp for their own acclimatization rotations. Afternoon cloud build-up is more common than in autumn, occasionally obscuring peak views by early afternoon.
Winter: December to February
Cold, especially above Dingboche where night temperatures regularly drop below -15°C, but the trail is close to empty and skies are frequently the clearest of the year. Some higher tea houses reduce services or close in mid-winter, so itineraries need to be planned around which lodges are actually open.
Monsoon: June to August
We don't run scheduled group departures in this window. Lower trails see daily rain and leeches, cloud cover blocks most mountain views, and Lukla flight delays become more frequent. It's the quietest and cheapest time to trek if mountain visibility isn't the priority, but most first-time trekkers are disappointed by it.
Whatever month you choose, build at least one buffer day into your Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight schedule — it is the single most common cause of a missed international connection.
Season comparison
- Oct–Nov: Clearest views, busiest trail, book lodging 2–3 months ahead.
- Mar–May: Warmer, rhododendrons blooming, some afternoon cloud.
- Dec–Feb: Coldest, quietest, some tea houses closed above 4,500m.
- Jun–Aug: Monsoon rain, limited visibility, not recommended for first-timers.
Frequently asked questions
What month has the clearest views of Everest?
Late October and November typically have the highest number of fully clear mountain days, right after the monsoon clears the atmosphere and before winter jet-stream winds pick up.
Can you trek to Everest Base Camp in winter?
Yes — the trail stays open year-round. Winter treks need warmer gear (down jacket rated to -20°C or colder) and flexibility, since a small number of high-altitude tea houses close between December and February.
Is it too crowded to trek in October?
October and early November are the busiest weeks on the trail. It's still an enjoyable trek, but book tea house lodging and Lukla flights well in advance, and expect company at popular viewpoints like Kala Patthar at sunrise.