Everest Base Camp Trek in January

As the peak trekking season in Nepal is Autumn and Spring, there are some misconceptions about winter treks that fall in January or December. We call it for what it is, so read along and find out while we give you all the facts straight. The highest mountain, Everest, falls in Nepal, so book us! We offer you one of the most popular treks in Nepal, the Everest Basecamp trek. This journey offers views of some of the World’s highest peaks. It lands on a scale of demanding and challenging on the difficulty rater. Consider some factors while deciding on a time for your Everest base camp trek before sticking to an autumn or spring trek. In this blog, we will discuss some pros and cons of conducting the trek in Winter (January) and why it may be a better pick for you than the other months.

Why Trek Everest Base Camp trek in January?

Are you in search of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? Look no further! This trek we offer to Everest base camp is the perfect fit for you. Trekking in January provides a particularly unique and peaceful experience, adding to the beauty of the Himalayas. January falls in the winter; hence, there is a significant rise in cold weather and heavy snowfall. The mountains are covered in snow, making them look majestic and mesmerizing, which is just the view you trekked to such great heights looking for.

We start our journey to the Everest base camp from Lukla. Our ending point is Kala Pathar, the highest point of the Everest camp trek. As the most popular seasons for trekking are autumn and spring, those seasons tend to be more crowded than others. January offers you the peace and solitude that other seasons don’t while trekking. The lack of crowd allows you to enjoy and take up all of the natural Himalayan beauty with your own company. Plus, the winter makes the scenery look magical as all the mountains are covered in snow, adding to the majestic beauty of the Himalayas. 

We warn you of some challenges you may face and obstacles that come with trekking in the winter, like the heavy snowfall, the icy and slippery paths, and the cold weather. Despite these challenges, if you pick January for your Everest Base Camp Trek, you have a unique experience tackling the frigid, icy weather and balancing on the trails. This gives you a distinctive sense of achievement, making the reward of reaching the top that much more appealing. Your experience while trekking to EBC will be enhanced when you choose January. 

Highlights of Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek in January

The Everest region is on the list of places that Nepali people take the most pride in, as it contains the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. Our country includes other high, towering peaks like Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu. There are many highlights of this trek. The main highlights of this trek are the views seen from the high peaks, the villages filled with deep cultural history, the glaciers, icefalls, parks, and deep-rooted cultural places like monasteries and temples. Below are some of the primary highlights of the Everest Base Camo trek you are bound to be charmed by –

1) Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

2) World’s highest Base Camp (5364 m)

3) Khumbu Icefall (5486 m)

4) Kalapatthar (Most popular Viewpoint) (5,555 m)

5) Astonishing Mountain views like Lhotse (8516 m), Makalu (8188m), Ama Dablam (6812 m)

6) Tengboche Monastery (3867 m)

7) Hillary Museum

8) Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Lakes 

9) Experience the Sherpa Culture 

Weather Conditions while trekking to ABC in January

Benefits of Choosing the Everest Base Camp Trek in Winter 

• Less Crowded Trails – As it is considered an off-trekking season in Nepal, the trails contain very few trekkers during the winter months from December to mid-February. You get to take in the beauty of the views of mountains and walk through the paths in complete peace. 
• Reduced Costs—During peak seasons like autumn and spring, it becomes difficult to find appropriate accommodation and lodging facilities due to a high number of crowds. This becomes an upside during the winter season, as the lack of crowds results in reduced prices for accommodations and flights. Winter treks are more affordable compared to peak-season treks.
• Heavy snowfall—Usually, heavy snowfall is considered an obstacle to trekking, but it can be more than just that for a few reasons. The snow covers the Mountain, resulting in a mesmerizing view of the majestic high Mountains. The white snow covering the Mountains can be seen glowing like fire during sunsets and sunrises, which makes trekking during the winter worth trying.
• Unique winter landscapes and magical night skies—Winter brings cool and chilly air, which enhances the quality of the view and makes the atmosphere around the Everest base camp colder. The view of the snow-covered mountains is a sight for sore eyes! Some trekkers believe it to be the main highlight of the trek and what makes it worth going to. 
• Unique Cultural Experience—As you explore the Everest region, you will meet many local people. These paths contain ethnic communities of Sherpa people. During your trekking journey, you will observe these people’s lifestyles and learn about their culture and traditions.
• Below are other reasons why you should pick the Everest base camp trek in January or whether it is a good fit for you. Read along with us and find out for yourself! 

Challenges of trekking in winter

• High altitude – One of the main reasons EBC is regarded as a challenging trek is due to the high elevations you reach during the trek. This trek will require you to climb high altitudes, where the highest point, Kala Patthar, stands 5545 m tall. As you go higher, the oxygen level decreases; this increases your chance of getting altitude sickness if you do not prepare well and take the necessary measures. So being careful during this trek is quite essential for your overall well-being. 

• Extreme and unstable weather conditions – The weather in the Himalayas cannot be predicted during most times. Sometimes, it may start raining, and it may begin to heavily snowing at other times. This instability brings a lot of unexpected difficulties during the EBC trek, especially if you are a first-time trekker. Carrying out this trek during a difficult season like winter can add to the existing weather difficulties. Consider your safety, prior experience, and fitness level before conducting this trek in the winter season.

• Long Distance and Duration—This trek spans 12 to 15 days and covers over 130 kilometers on a round trip. You will be walking for 6 to 7 hours daily in rugged terrain. It can be exhausting and physically demanding, as a continuous hike for long hours daily can be quite difficult if you are not physically fit.

• Infrastructural issues – The trail passes through remote areas with limited facilities, which means fewer comforts, basic accommodations, and simple meals. All those factors create difficulty in your journey. You may also have trouble keeping up your pace on rocky trails, steep climbs, and uneven paths.

Trekking Route in Off-Season in the Everest Region

Trekking to Everest Base Camp in winter? It’s something else. The whole experience has a different, peaceful, and rewarding vibe. The winter off-season offers a unique and quiet experience regarding cultural interactions and the tea house experience. The lodges are less crowded, and the warmth and hospitality of the Sherpa families who run them take on an even more personal touch. You’ll often find tea houses with cozy wood stoves that invite trekkers to relax and talk with locals, sharing their stories over a cup of tea. This tea house experience in winter is one of those things that makes everything feel warm and comforting. The off-season brings a sense of calm, and with fewer trekkers, you’ll get more space to connect personally. The locals have this warmth that makes you forget about the cold. Winter’s the way to go if you’re after an authentic cultural experience. Book us now! And we’ll make sure your trek is full of these meaningful moments.

If you want to trek Everest in winter, the January weather in Everest camp is chilly. The Temperature in the Everest region would be around -5 degrees Celsius to -12 degrees Celsius. January is one of the seasons during winter when the weather is quite snowy. Even though the snowfall does make the trial difficult, it also offers a wide range of beautiful photographic scenery of the mountains. The winter brings clear and crisp air, enhancing the quality of the view. The difficulty that the snowy conditions bring, especially making the trails slippery and making you prone to falling, is enough to make a lot of people scared to trek during winter. But if you are dedicated enough, even the most dangerous snowfalls cannot stop you from completing the Everest base camp trek in December or January (winter). This is why we recommend carrying guides with you, as they make your journey easier by showing you different kinds of routes, primarily safe alternatives to slippery snow-filled paths. These trek itineraries usually make you start the trek early in the morning. Hence, you reach your end destination of the day earlier to avoid getting trapped in the snowstorms that may present themselves as night approaches. The weather is much colder during the night than during the daytime. Below is a chart of the day and night time temperatures of all your stops throughout the trek to help you visualize better. 

Packing Tips for a winter trek in Nepal

As the weather during a winter trek is relatively cold compared to trekking in other seasons like autumn or spring, you must pack all the required and recommended items to prevent altitude sickness, frostbite, or other illnesses. As you reach higher elevations, the lack of oxygen increases the chances of altitude sickness. To avoid this, you must be careful about what you pack. Below is the list of things we recommend you to carry during your trek. Note that renting trekking gear before you start your journey is more straightforward than bringing them from your home country to help. You pack lightly and with no hassle.

Clothing 

• Base layers – top and bottom thermals
• Jackets – Fleece jacket, down jacket
• Waterproof jackets
• Windproof jackets
• Trekking pants 
• Breathable Tshirts
• Socks, winter gloves, Hats for warmth

Footwear and Accessories

• Trekking boots
• Extra Shoes or Slippers
• Gaiters
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen, lip balm and moisturizer (with SPF)
• trekking poles
• sleeping bag
• backpack
• water bottles
• water purification tablets
• toiletries and towels
• insect repellents

Safety and Necessities

• First aid kits
• altitude sickness medications
• personal prescribed medications
• Passport and visa
• travel permits (if required)
• travel insurance
• Cash

Extra

• Camera and smartphone
• Power bank
• Solar charger
• Extra batteries
• Swiss knife

Preparing for altitude sickness for Everest Base Camp in winter

Altitude sickness is a serious problem affecting many trekkers throughout their Journey. Whether you get it or not, short and easy or long and challenging treks can majorly depend on your prior trekking experiences and preparation levels. There are some things you should do from your end to prevent altitude sickness before the trek and things you need to do during the trek. Training your body to increase your endurance and stamina before the trek is essential as you will elevate to a higher altitude. Exercises like jogging, running, swimming, and cardio can help you achieve a higher endurance. Engage in core and leg training to help you climb up the trails and maintain your balance on slippery routes to avoid any unwanted injuries on the path to EBC.

During the trek, staying hydrated and maintaining a good diet while resting at lodges and tea houses is essential. We suggest you avoid eating meat as it usually has to be brought up from low altitudes and may be old, resulting in digestion problems. The most important thing you can do during your treks to avoid altitude sickness is to take acclimatization breaks(rest days). These days, you rest from trekking and stay at the same altitude to allow your body to adjust to the elevation. You can travel nearby and explore the place peacefully since winter brings a lack of crowd. Hiring an experienced guide will make your trek journey more exciting and easier as you get back and follow their direction instead of trying to figure out the path on your own. 

Accommodation and Food on the Trail

The most common local cuisine during the EBC trek is dal bhat tarkari, which consists of rice, veggies, and lentil soups. But these are not the only options. Local and international cuisines like pizza, spaghetti, and noodles are found in the hotels and lodges. So, if you get tired of eating the same dish, you can switch it from local to continental and from one stop to another. One thing to note is that the raw materials in these remote places on the trek to Everest Base Camp are not regional. The owners of teahouses and lodges have to get it or send someone to get it by foot from Namche Bazaar or Lukla. So naturally, the food prices significantly increase as you go higher during the trek. 

You will come across two kinds of accommodations on your journey to the Everest base camp. They are lodges and tea houses. Another option is tents, which are highly unpopular, especially during more extended and higher altitude treks like EBC. As you go higher, the cost of these lodges and the food items increases, and the comfort and facilities of these lodging places decrease. Tea houses are a cheaper and more affordable alternative to Hotels. Hotels provide you with luxury and comfort. They provide facilities like WIFI, hot showers, and proper warm bedding. While tea houses don’t provide as much luxury as hotels, they offer you a sense of community as you live close to all the other trekkers and the local people who usually own and run these tea houses; during winter, fireplaces are a common sight to see. On the offside, when the cold weather gets unbearable, it is usually best to bring warm clothes to avoid getting sick. Check out our packing list below for more details. 

Comparing January trekking to peak-season experiences

We all know that spring and autumn are the most picked seasons for trekking due to their easy and suitable weather, allowing for a comfortable and safe trek. The monsoon season offers comparatively bad weather than these seasons. The winter season has its upsides, with some being the lack of crowds as it is an off-season. The winter offers mostly empty trails that allow you to peacefully go on about your journey while taking in the beauty of the mountains with just your own company or the company of the people you choose to come to trek with. This gives you an experience of enjoying solitude, which many lack in today’s fast-paced world. A pro of the lack of crowds is the reduced costs of the accommodations and flight tickets. Due to lack of availability, the costs of tea houses and lodges in the Everest region and all others go up during peak seasons. Naturally, during winter seasons like January, the price decreases, allowing you to experience a budget-friendly trek to the Everest base camp. The temperature in the Everest region naturally becomes colder during the winter, incredibly late at night and early in the morning. 

During the winter, the air is crisp, offering you clear skies and enhanced clarity in the view and improving the quality of the pictures and videos you take. This is the perfect opportunity for photographers and photography enthusiasts to come and visit EBC in January. During monsoon and warm summer seasons, insects like mosquitoes or leaves increase significantly. Many people are repulsed and even scared by such insects. If this is enough reason for you to decide to put your trekking journey on hold, do not worry! Due to colder temperatures, winter has no such problems, making it a suitable time for you to start your journey. So, if you want to have this magical experience of trekking in winter, Connect with us now! And we will make sure you have the time of your life!

Who should avoid trekking in extreme cold?

Though it might be tempting, there are some situations where you should choose to avoid trekking in colder weather. Suppose you have an existing condition, such as lung or breathing-related problems like asthma or eosinophilia. In that case, it will impact your health, worsening your existing problems. These health issues make you more susceptible to catching a cold, which can quickly cause altitude sickness. Another thing you have to keep in mind is appropriately packing all the essentials required for a winter trek.

Due to the rise in elevation and decrease in oxygen, the chances of getting altitude sickness increase. Under these circumstances, packing warm clothes, including thermals, jackets with fleece, windproof and waterproof jackets in case of heavy snowfall and the icy wind, socks, and hats for warmth, a sleeping bag, and preferably a heating pad is essential for your overall well being for the duration of the trek. Trekking during winter might especially be hard if you are a first-time trekker with no prior experience. Contact us to connect you with a guide and porter to make your trekking experience more straightforward and hassle-free. Having guides by your side lets you focus on having fun and enjoying the beauty of the high mountains and the trails instead of worrying about the routes, accommodations, and duration. 

Final Say- Is the trek to Everest Base Camp in January the Right Time for You?

The cold winter brings heavy snowfall, which usually falls under the downside category of treks during winter. However, an upside is that the air is crisp and clear during winter, and the heavy snow covers the mountains, giving you an enhanced view of the Majestic Mountains. The white snow covering the Mountains can be seen glowing like fire during sunsets and sunrises, making trekking during winter worth trying. This trek is for people looking for a fun and challenging time. Seasons like Autumn and Spring provide you with things like comfort and safety. Still, if thrill and adventure are what you’re looking for, the Everest base camp trek in January is the one for you. But don’t trust us unquestioningly! Hurry and book us now and see it for yourself! This trek will test your limits and bring you closer to yourself as you become more aware of how you handle challenging situations and think on your feet to make quick decisions if need be.