EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK IN DECEMBER

“Enjoy the treks in the low, and off-season different ways to experience”

Everest Base Camp Trek in December is the starting season of the winter months around Nepal and all Himalayan regions. Despite the cold time of December, trekkers will experience the adventures more than in high seasons. The reason is that the mass flow of trekkers and mountaineers will be much less in December. This makes the winter walk quite special to spring and autumn high seasons, avoiding large groups of trekkers.

Everest Base Camp Trekking in December is a great and exciting way to enjoy the Christmas and New Year Holidays. Most people might not be aware, that trek to Everest Base Camp and other moderate adventures around the Himalayas are possible. Although it is a cold month, most days are bright with crystal blue skies for views and pleasant walks. December is also the best time to catch a glimpse of
some mountain wildlife. All the wild animals come to graze around the lower areas to escape the harsh winter cold.

December with a few good advantages then joining in the main peak seasons. It will be less crowd of trekkers, most settlements with only a few lodges are available for the trekkers. The lodges and Inns will be almost empty so that you can enjoy the best of the best. Enjoying the nice warm comfort of a lodge with a great variety of meals. The services in the lodges will be much faster than in the busy seasons of spring and autumn/fall times.

The best thing about Everest Base Camp Trekking in December is to enjoy pleasant walks with fewer trekkers. The views of towering Snow-Mountains ranges are visible most of the days throughout the walks. Great chances of flying in and out of Lukla, on time as per the itinerary days. During high times all domestic flights to Lukla will be overbooked and can get delayed or cancellations. It is due to the unfavorable weather conditions that may hamper the trekking itinerary schedules sometimes.

THE WEATHER FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK IN DECEMBER

Trekkers joining for the trek to Everest Base Camp treks in December will enjoy the pleasant and exciting scenic walks. In the cold winter season, most of the villages seem deserted. As the highlanders, Local Villagers migrate to lower warm regions to escape the cold winter. But it will be a different scenario during December with few numbers of trekkers to encounter on daily walks.

Most trekkers might think it will be cold to enjoy the walk with overcast days in December. But to their surprise, they will be amazed at bright sunny days, especially from the late morning till afternoon.
Although most days are fine, the weather is full of sunshine, but the daylight is
short and gets dark soon. The sun rises late from 6 a.m. and sets by 5:30 p.m. The nights are clear and bright with shining stars. In the mornings, and on shades away from sunlight, including the late afternoons till night are freezing. Minimum temperatures of -5° to -10° Celsius as altitude-
wise from above 2,800 m to 5,000 meters. The maximum temperatures on a clear day from late morning till mid-afternoon are -15° to -20° Celsius.

Sometimes the sunshine can be very bright with strong UV rays, during the day sometime, especially with reflection from snow. As the walks reach higher away from vegetation and above the tree lines, it gets windy. Add much cold with an extra wind-chill factor, where trekkers need to be equipped with warmer clothing, to fight against the cold. Nevertheless, as the walk progresses one will feel warm with steady paces reaching the overnight destinations.

ROUTE FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK IN DECEMBER

The trail from Lukla is gradual with downs and ups to reach the first overnight halt at Phakding Village. It is located on a Dudh Koshi glacial river gorge, in a shady place away from the bright sunlight. The next morning as the sunlight strikes, enjoy the pleasant walks from one smaller village to another. Cross bridges with a slower climb to Chumo and lovely Monjo Villages, then enter the Sagarmatha
National Park. Located on a shade within a gorge, the route follows a bridge to the last village of Jorsalle. The walk leads to the river bank amidst a lovely shade of tall rhododendrons, oaks, hemlocks, and fir with pine trees.

Get cooler as you cross the last suspension bridges with a slow climb on a winding trail to Namche Bazaar. The major hub of Khumbu Villagers is the only place in the high Khumbu where a colorful and busy Saturday Market is held. Namche Bazaar is also an ideal place for rest days with a perfect altitude for acclimatization at 3,440 meters high. From Namche Bazaar the sunlight gets stronger as you reach higher heights to Tengboche. It is a beautiful spot with a colorful majestic Monastery surrounded by arrays of snow peaks.

From Tengboche leaving the forested areas for sheer mountain wilderness, as the air gets thinner with cold winds. It is a great walk with fewer trekkers to come across on a serene scenic trail to Dingboche, another lovely settlement. Dingboche, although with bright sunshine hours, mornings are cold and in the late afternoon till night time. The adventure follows higher terrains but the walk is pleasant with short steep climbs with the glorious view to enjoy. Enjoy the lovely walks to Lobuche, one of the coldest places, situated on a corner away from sunshine. Finally, the adventure reaches you at the foot of the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest. The morning is pleasant and cooler as the trail follows
above the massive Khumbu Glaciers with views of Mt. Pumori.

As well as Mt. Everest, then reaching the last remote and isolated settlement of Gorakshep. From here a few hours of steady walks to the foot of Mt. Everest at base camp. It is one of the highest spots at 5,364 m/17, 598 feet before the climb of Kalapathar high ridge. The daytime is full of sunshine for perfect views of the surrounding towering peaks with great views of Khumbu Icefall. The afternoon gets quite cold with wind chill as you reach Gorakshep for the overnight stop.

The next early morning climb of a few hours with a steep haul to Kalapathar at 5,643 m/18,514 feet. The most popular and famous, the highest viewpoints around the Khumbu region. From the top of Kalapathar offers mind- blowing views of the giant peaks including Mt. Everest at a close distance. Morning weather is fine and pleasant and can get snowy sometimes, after Kalapathar and Gorak Shep on the trail to Lukla. In the wintertime of December with fewer groups of other trekkers, flight back to Kathmandu is much easier. To get the first flight to and from Kathmandu to Lukla with fewer passengers.

CONCLUSION:

Everest Base Camp Trekking in December will be the best for trekkers who want to avoid crowds of trekkers. It will be a great adventure holiday for those interested in celebrating Christmas and New Year around the foot of Mt. Everest. Most people are unaware that visitors can enjoy moderate walks around the Himalayas in wintertime. The winter month of December is not too harsh, it can get snowed sometimes. But most days are fine and crystal clear for the views and scenic walks.

Enjoy, the unparalleled vista of the Himalayan chain of peaks on flights both ways. It is a different way to experience the serene walks to Everest Base Camp, amidst tranquil surroundings. Where one comes across fewer trekkers than in the peak times of spring and autumn seasons. During the December trek to Everest base camp can get overcast sometimes. But most days the weather remains perfect with clear blue sky, despite the freezing mornings and night times.