The Everest Base Camp Trek in the serene Himalayan landscapes is an exciting trekking adventure loved by trekkers globally. This spectacular trek provides trekkers with the scenic Himalayan vista and passes through incredible natural terrains. While the trek is doable throughout the year, December is one of the perfect times for this outstanding trek.
December is the transition month in which the season transitions from Autumn to Winter. The weather generally remains stable with fewer weather-related challenges making it ideal for the trek. However, you must make sure you trek in the Everest region in early December.
Trekkers will have a great time traversing through the serene trails in a tranquil atmosphere. There you can travel without any huge crowds along the tracks. Therefore, you will have a quiet atmosphere throughout the region during the month.
However, in late December, the weather conditions of the Everest region can get quite cold. There is heavy snowfall in many parts of the trail, which makes the trek challenging. With heavy snow, slippery trails, and other increased difficulties, it gets pretty challenging to traverse the terrains.
December is also ideal if you love to trek in a quiet atmosphere. It is also suitable for backpackers as you will get budget prices. The facilities of meals and accommodation are available at a bargain price. Since it is the start of the off-season, you will get these facilities at a reduced cost.
Moreover, the trekkers must have proper trekking gear and equipment. This is to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable adventure. It gets pretty cold in the region, especially after dark. Since the winter is approaching during this time, you will get chilly weather and atmosphere.
There are numerous settlements of the local people, and many festivals get celebrated in December. Hence, you will have a great time exploring the region’s cultural settlements and Buddhist heritages. You can book with us for a wonderful Everest Base Camp Trek in December. Read for further details regarding the trip, and Happy Traveling!
Don’t have a long vacation? Check these our packages: 7 Days Everest Base Camp Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek – 11 Days
Things to Experience During the Trip
- Hiking the beautiful viewpoint of Kaala Patthar and observing the mountain vista
- Observing the beautiful Himalayan mountains of Mount Everest, Lobuche, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and others
- Passing through natural trails of forested trails, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, etc
- Incredible hospitality of the local people
- Exploring the beautiful base camp of the highest mountain in the world
- Traversing through the cultural landscapes of the region
- Exploring Buddhist heritage sites of the area, including monasteries, gompas, chortens, and others
Everest Region Weather Condition in December
December is a transition month when the Autumn season transitions to the Winter season. The beautiful weather in the Everest region in the early parts of December makes it ideal for the EBC trek. However, you can face many weather-related challenges in the latter part of December.
The temperature in the region gradually drops as you reach the end of December. The temperatures in the lower area remain cold, but as you move up along the trail, you will find the conditions quite freezing. The temperature ranges around 8-10 degrees celsius on average in Lukla. As you ascend the trek, the temperatures will drop around -8 to -10 degrees on average by arriving at the base camp.
The temperatures in the daytime range around 5 degrees higher on average, making it ideal for trekking. As you trek in the daytime, you will feel the heat due to the direct sunlight, which allows you to trek smoothly in the region. The rainfall is around 3 mm on average, making it suitable for the trek as the trail mostly remains dry. The snow cloud mountains also look enchanting, with clear blue skies.
Everest Base Camp Trek in December Difficulties
The high-altitude trek to the base camp of Mt Everest is challenging throughout the year. In December, you will find various difficulty factors for the walk. Those who have not trekked in the higher altitude before will find the trek quite strenuous. It is moderate to strenuous in the difficulty level, depending on your fitness levels and stamina.
Other challenging aspects of the trek include altitude sickness. Since you will be traveling at a high altitude of above 5,000m, oxygen levels, and air pressure is relatively minimal. Since you will arrive at a higher altitude in a quick time, you will not have proper time to adapt to changing conditions.
Hence altitude sickness is common among trekkers in the region. You must get adequate acclimatization and regular hydration in the region to tackle this. You must also avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine during the December Everest Base Camp trek.
Besides that, you must also get proper rest and sleep during the trekking journey. This will allow you to travel safely and comfortably without any discomfort. Another difficulty is the uphill and downhill trek in the most challenging foothills of the Himalayas.
You will need proper physical fitness and shape to complete this trek at a higher altitude. You must train well ahead of the trek and get adequate training in various exercises. This includes physical strength and endurance training, cardiovascular aerobic training, and mental preparation.
Since you’re traveling to remote areas, you will not have many choices regarding accommodation facilities. In the high-altitude region, you will stay in the small lodge and tea houses where you get basic accommodation facilities. The room has a bed with mattresses, clean sheets, and pillows. You will not get facilities like those you can expect in hotels in the cities.
Besides that, the meal facilities are also limited to Nepalese dishes and a few other varieties of food. Since the higher altitude does not have many food ingredients, they must get a porter or a yak to transport them. Therefore, it gets pretty expensive, and these accommodation facilities’ menu size remains limited. These are the various challenges that you must face during the Everest Base Camp trek in December.
Food and Accommodation in Everest Base Camp Trek in December
The food and accommodation along the trail in the teahouses and lodges provide you with basic facilities. The beautiful route takes you through the challenging terrain that passes through the remote landscapes of the region. You will stay in the room with a bed, mattresses, pillows, blankets, and others.
You will also get sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains from the tea houses. The tea houses also provide you with the best facilities for meals. You will have a limited menu of Nepali dishes like Dal bhat. You will also get various cuisines like momo, chaumein, noodles, pasta, and others. There are also hot beverages like tea, coffee, and others in the teahouses. Along the course, you can also carry snacks like dry fruits, protein bars, chocolate bars, and others for the trek.
Detailed Itinerary – Everest Base Camp Trek in December
Day 1 – Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,830 m) and trek to Phakding (2,640 m).
Lukla altitude: 2830m
Phakding altitude: 2640m
Flight duration: 35-40 minutes
Trek duration: 3-4 hrs
Overnight: Phakding
The Everest Base Camp trek itinerary begins with a scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The beautiful trail provides you with the best views of the picturesque Himalayan mountains of the region. Finally, after around 35-40 minutes, you will arrive at the gateway of the Everest region. The trek trail then takes you to the village settlement of Phakding. It takes trekkers around 3-4 hrs to complete the trek as you pass through the beautiful terrains and territories. Finally, you will arrive at Phakding and then rest overnight at a teahouse.
Day 2 – Trek From Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m)
Namche altitude: 3440m
Trek duration: 3-4 hrs
Overnight: Namche
Trekkers will pass through the beautiful settlements of the region to arrive at the commercial hub of Namche Bazaar on this day. During the trekking journey through the settlements, including Monjo and Jorsale. Namche Bazaar is the hub of the Khumbu region, with many shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and others. After arriving at Namche, you will explore and then rest at the lodge in Namche.
Day 3 – Acclimatization in Namche
The beautiful town of Namche is an ideal place for acclimatization in the Khumbu region. The region has excellent exploration points, including Khunde and Khumjung hiking points. You can explore the area’s local settlements, including the region’s various souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, and others. There are beautiful acclimatization points in the region with the Sherpa museum, where you can find cultural heritage and landmarks of the area. After exploring the beautiful terrains, you will return to your teahouses for rest and sleep.
Day 4 – Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3867 m)
Tengboche altitude: 3867m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
Overnight: Tengboche
The trek trail then takes you to the beautiful settlement of Tengboche. You will pass through the natural terrains of the region to arrive at this destination. The trail passes through beautiful settlements and cultural routes, where you can find many monasteries, prayer flags, stone inscriptions, and others along the path. You will arrive at the Tengboche region 4-5 hours after trekking. We can explore around the Tengboche monastery and then sleep overnight at the teahouse.
Day 5 – Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4260 m)
Dingboche altitude: 4260m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
Overnight: Dingboche
On this incredible journey, pass through the beautiful terrains. The scenic views of the entire region pass through the naturally diverse terrains. The stunning sweeping views of the region provide you with a tremendous Himalayan vista. You will trek through the cultural settlements for some 4-5 hours to finally arrive at the destination of Dingboche. There you can stay overnight at the teahouse in the region.
Day 6 – Acclimatization Day in Dingboche
Dingboche is an excellent acclimatization point in the region. You can explore the beautiful region and climb the Nagarjuna peak, a beautiful trekking peak in the region. You can explore the region’s beautiful region and cultural settlements in the Dingboche village. There are other natural landmarks where you can hike and get the best views of the entire region. Finally, after exploring around, you will return to the teahouse in Dingboche and rest overnight.
Day 7 – Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4930 m)
Lobuche altitude: 4930m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
Overnight: Lobuche
The beautiful section of the trek takes you from Dingboche to Lobuche. The trek trails pass through the beautiful terrains providing you with the best views of the entire region. The trekkers will pass through the rugged landscapes of the region. There are incredible views of the snow-clad mountains from the viewpoint of the region.
Day 8: Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5170 m) and Everest Base Camp (5364 m) and return to Gorakshep.
Gorak Shep altitude: 5170m Everest Base Camp altitude: 5364m
Trek duration: 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Gorakshep
The beautiful trek provides you with the best adventures in the region. The trail begins from Lobuche as you trek to Gorak Shep, which is the original base camp of Mount Everest. The settlement is the highest in the world at around 5170m. After resting for some time, you will continue your trek to Everest Base Camp (5364m). The beautiful vibrant atmosphere of the base camp, where you can find beautiful camps and tents, and the lively atmosphere of the region. After exploring the beautiful area, you will return to the Gorakshep, where you will spend the night at a teahouse.
Day 9 – Early morning hike to Kalapathar (5545 m) and trek to Pheriche (4240 m)
Kala Pathar altitude: 5545m
Trek duration: 6-7 hrs
Overnight: Pheriche
The trek trail starts early in the morning as you take the scenic hike to Kalapathar. The beautiful hike takes you through the rugged terrains you need to traverse carefully as you will be traveling in the dark with the help of torchlight.
After trekking for 2-3 hours, you will arrive at your destination. From this viewpoint, you can observe the sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains of the region. The perspective also provides you with the incredible vista of Mount Everest. After exploring around, you will trek back to Pheriche.
Day 10 – Trek from Pheriche to Namche Bazaar (3467 m)
Namche Bazaar altitude: 3467m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
Overnight: Namche Bazaar
The beautiful trail of the trek takes you through the rugged terrains of the region. The beautiful terrains of the area take you through the natural terrains. You can observe an incredible vista along the trail to Namche Bazaar. You will pass through the stunning natural terrains to arrive at Namche Bazaar. After arriving at the destination, you will rest overnight at the teahouse.
Day 11 – Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2800 m)
Namche Bazaar altitude: 3467m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
Overnight: Lukla
The trail of the trek then takes you through the beautiful terrain from Namche Bazaar to Lukla. The beautiful course provides you with sweeping views and incredible adventure of the region. Extraordinary cultural settlements will take you through the region before arriving at Lukla. Trekkers can stay overnight at the teahouse in the region.
Day 12 – Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
Namche Bazaar altitude: 3467m
Flight duration: 35-40 minutes
The Everest base camp trek in December ends as you take the flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. The flight takes around 35-40 minutes to observe the sweeping views of the Himalayas.
Why Take Everest Base Camp Trek in December?
Scenic views of the Himalayas
You should take this beautiful track in the high-altitude Everest region for many reasons. The beautiful region is known for its snow-capped Himalayan mountains, including some of the most fantastic 8,000 mountains.
The beautiful Himalayan region also provides you with the area’s natural diversity. You will also observe landmarks like waterfall glaciers, mountain passes, meadows, terrace farm hills, etc. Hence it is one of the most common reasons to take this incredible trek in December.
Outstanding rugged adventure
The beautiful Himalayan trek is also ideal because it provides you with the best adventure in the region. Trekkers will pass through some of the most challenging terrains in remote areas. The uphill and downhill battle keeps this trek enchanting. You will get to travel through the local settlements of the region. Hence, this Everest Base Camp Trek in December is among the best in the world.
Exploration of the wildlife
The high-altitude trek passes through forested trails of the alpine region. Many rare and endangered wildlife remain present in the area. You will observe various flora and fauna of the region as well. The track also passes through the natural habitat of these wild animals.
Exploration of the cultural landscapes
The beautiful high-altitude track is also known for cultural exploration as there are various local settlements along the way. The trail provides you with the best opportunity for an artistic exploration of the region. There are cultural landmarks and religious temples, and monasteries in the region. Many prayer flags, chortens, and stone inscriptions are all over the trails. A professional guide will give you insight into the local area.
Safe and comfortable trek
The trek is a safe and comfortable adventure as we will provide you with the best professional trekking guide. Also, you will get a porter to help you carry your luggage and reduce the burden on your back. You don’t have to worry about the means of accommodations or logistics along the trail. The trekkers will also remain safe from any injuries or blisters. They will also provide you with evacuation facilities, if necessary.
Everest Base Camp Trek in December – Packing List
Clothing
- Down jacket
- Trekking pants
- Waterproof jacket
- Trekking shirts
- Windproof jacket
- Thermal wears
- Trekking socks
- Warm woolen cap
- Trekking gloves
- Trekking boots
- Raincoat
First Aid and Toiletries
- Anti-nauseant medication
- Water purifying tablets
- Insect repellent
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Quick-dry towel
- Toothbrush
- Toilet paper
- Sanitizer
- Sunscreen
Others
- Phone
- Power Banks
- Solar Charges
- Extra Batteries
- Local SIM card
- Trekking Map
- Reusable water bottles
- Camera
Important documents
- Passport
- Trekking Permits
- Travel insurance
