Trekking in Everest Base Camp, facing the summit of the world, will be a lifetime journey for all tourists. No matter you decide to take an easy trek to the base camp or challenge yourself to complete the moderate trekking through the Gama Valley or go further to the ABC, better preparation will help a lot to keep you away from trouble.

Here we will introduce how to prepare for the Everest Base Camp trek. Hoping this will help you have a better trekking experience in EBC Tibet.

Required Documents for Everest Base Camp Trek in Tibet

The first thing you need to prepare for your Everest Base Camp Tour is the travel document. Besides the basic Chinese Visa for entering mainland of China, there are also some other important travel documents you need to apply for before you go, like Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens’ Travel Permit, and other permits for all trips to Mount Everest in Tibet.

1. Tibet Travel Permit

No matter you are going to have an Everest Base Camp tour or just a classic city tour in Lhasa, you need to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit before you arrive in Tibet. Tibet Travel Permit is one of the most important travel documents for all Tibet tours. Foreign travelers can only apply for this entry permit through a Tibet local travel agency. And it will be checked at the airport or the railway station when you board the plane or the train to Tibet.

However, it can be easy to get the Tibet Travel Permit through us. Just book your trip with us in advance and then submit relevant documents for the application. As a trustworthy Tibetan local agency with over 10 years’ of experience in permit application, we can guarantee your travel permit, and give practicable advice if you have personal problems to solve.

2. Aliens’ Travel Permit

For an Everest Trekking tour in Tibet, you need to apply for an extra travel permit called Aliens’ Travel Permit. It is a kind of travel permit for foreign tourists to travel to some further areas outside Lhasa city, like Shigatse, Nyingchi, Mount Everest area, and Mount Kailash.

Different from Tibet Travel Permit, the Aliens’ Travel Permit should be applied after you arrive in Tibet. Just before your trip to Everest Base Camp, your travel guide will collect your Tibet travel permit and your passport and apply for the Aliens’ Travel Permit through the office of the local public security bureau in Lhasa or Shigatse. Just waiting for 1 to 2 hours, you will get your Aliens’ Travel Permit.

3. More Other Documents

If you also want to trek in Advanced Base Camp (6500m), the Trekking Permit is also required. Because it is mandatory for trekkers who are bound for regions above 6000m in Tibet to get a Trekking Permit. Trekkers have to apply for the relative Tibet trekking permit in China Tibet Mountaineering Association (TMA).

Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek in Tibet

Besides the required travel documents for the Everest Base Camp tour, there are some other items you need to prepare for trekking to the Everest Base Camp.

1. Clothing

Keeping yourself away from the chilly weather in the Mount Everest area is important for any trip to the Everest Base Camp. Even in summer, it could be cold due to the high altitude of Everest Base Camp (5200m). The average temperature in Everest trekking areas is around 10℃, and the difference in the temperature between day and night is quite huge.

For trekking to the Everest Base Camp, it is suggested to bring a wool base layer, wind layer, insulation layer, and hard shell layer. For the clothes worn inside, cotton ones are better than woolen ones. For safety measures, you may also need to pack a raincoat and windcheater. Besides, other things such as woolen scarves and gloves are also needed.

2. Trekking Gear

Trekking sticks are the basic gear for the Everest Base Camp trek, which can help you keep your balance and ascend the steep path up the mountain. You can bring your own trekking stick to Tibet, or just rent one upon you arrive in Lhasa or Shigatse. A pair of comfortable hiking shoes and a suitable backpack are also important for your trekking tour. The bag needs to be light in weight for trekking at such a high altitude is much more difficult than trekking in the original places.

If you are planning to take a light trek, which only takes hours, you don’t need to bring your tent. If you plan to take some days trekking in Gama Valley on the eastern slope of Mount Everest, you also need to bring a waterproof tent and sleeping bag with you. Some other things, such as water bottles, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also needed.

What’s more, whenever you trek in the Everest region, even in summer, the sleeping bag is one of the basic items you need to take with you. If you trek to Everest Base Camp in summer, you can just bring a down-filled sleeping bag. But in winter, you need to prepare a thick down-filled sleeping bag. In addition to keeping warm, sleeping bags can also be used as isolation layers for public bedding, making your sleeping environment more hygienic.

3. Personal Hygiene Items

A trekking towel will help dry yourself quickly. And baby wipes are also useful for cleaning yourself if there is no water and shower en route. For your hygiene bag, you can also choose to carry the following items: dry shampoo, comb, sunscreen, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, and some other basic toiletries.

4. Medicines and First Aids

To avoid significant altitude sickness during your trek to the Everest Base Camp, you can follow the doctor's advice to take some drugs such as Gaoyuan An, Hongjingtian, etc. In addition, according to local Tibetans, butter tea has a certain effect on alleviating altitude sickness. You can also bring some American ginseng lozenges to resist fatigue and supplement energy with glucose.

What’s more, if you encounter other emergency problems during hiking, it is necessary to have a first aid kit. In addition to some plateau drugs, some conventional drugs should be prepared in the first-aid kit, such as Imodium or Lomotil (to prevent diarrhea), antibiotics for infection, and headache and pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or Tylenol). Additionally, bandages, ointments, and zinc oxide tape are essential items when your skin cracks or small wounds appear.

5. Food and Drinks

It is important to keep yourself dynamic and energetic during trekking in the Mount Everest area. So it is suggested to bring some carbohydrate-rich food with you, such as chocolates, dry fruit and so on. The trekking trails in Everest regions are desolate, you need to cook for yourself. Taking some instant noodles can be a good choice.

At Everest Base Camp, generally the final destination of an EBC trekking tour, there are tent hotels offering simple food and instant noodles. For drinks, you can take some tea and coffee along with you during your Everest Base Camp trekking tour. Please remember that, do not drink unboiled steam water directly.

Physical and Mental Preparation for Everest Base Camp Trek in Tibet

Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, is haunted by many brave challengers. So, what kind of physical and mental preparation does it take to trek in the Everest Base Camp?

Firstly, before climbing a mountain, it is important to prepare for your physical strength and endurance. After all, this mountain is not an ordinary one, so you can exercise your body and do some weight-bearing exercises.

Secondly, by learning outdoor hiking knowledge and outdoor life-saving knowledge in advance, you can cope with various unexpected situations that may occur during hiking.

Thirdly, you need to be positive in facing kinds of challenges. In the face of the towering snowy mountains, humans may feel insignificant and even afraid. it's crucial to learn how to harness that fear and transform it into energy and motivation.

Tips for a Safe and Smooth Everest Base Camp Trek in Tibet

1. Acclimatize properly to avoid altitude sickness

To have a better trekking experience and avoid altitude sickness during your EBC trek, it's important to acclimatize properly. Here are four ways to achieve this:

The first is to slow down the speed. Slow down your ascent speed in high-altitude areas to allow your body to adjust to the changing altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness.

The second is to have a good rest. Ensure you get adequate rest and avoid overexertion during your trek. Proper rest helps your body adjust to the altitude and lowers the chances of altitude sickness.

The third is to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you and worsen altitude sickness symptoms.

Lastly, Acclimatize yourself in lower-altitude areas before heading to higher altitudes. For example, staying in Lhasa (3650 meters) for a few days can help you adapt to the plateau environment before proceeding to higher places like Mt. Everest.

2. Find a reputable travel agency to book your trip

When selecting a travel agency for your trekking trip, it's crucial to choose a reputable and reliable one. As a pioneer in Tibet inbound tourism since 1984, we are a Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator specializing in various small group tours and private package tours, including those for Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek.

Our team comprises experienced local tour guides who are well-acquainted with the EBC trekking routes and will guide you attentively throughout the entire journey.

Additionally, we offer comprehensive one-stop services, including assisting with the Tibet Travel Permit application, and arranging accommodation and food, to ensure a seamless and hassle-free EBC trekking tour for you.

Conclusion

Trekking to Everest Base Camp demands meticulous preparation to ensure an optimal experience. We can provide you with invaluable assistance, including obtaining travel permits, crafting a well-planned itinerary, offering expert advice for your journey, and more. No matter what your travel requirements are, please feel free to contact us, and we will be delighted to serve you.