A paved road to Everest Base Camp, the Roof of the World
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Mount Everest Base Camp sits at an elevation of 5.157m (16,919ft) above sea level. The road to the base camp is a magnificent feat of engineering. It’s mostly paved.
How to reach the Everest Base Camp?
Located near to the Nepal border, the road leads to Everest Base Camp, a campsite on the highest mountain in the world, that is used by expeditions climbing Everest from the north. Located within Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, the road to the base camp is mostly paved—and, at least in terms of this feat of engineering, it is magnificent. It’s called Zhufeng Road. The asphalted part literally goes right to base camp ending at Zhufeng Base Camp Parking Lot, at 5.017m (16459ft) above the sea level. Just the last 5.4km are unpaved. The road follows the same historic route, pioneered by Mallory & Irvine.
Is the road to Everest Base Camp open?
Set high in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. The road doesn’t receive heavy snow, so getting there is no problem. Anyways keep in mind that you are in the Himalayas at very high elevation, so anything can happen. A visit to the North (China-side) Base Camp currently requires a permit from the Chinese government.
How long is the road to Everest Base Camp?
The road to the base camp is 98.7 km (61.32 miles) long starting at the paved G318. It tops out at 5.205m (17,076ft) above sea level by Pang La.
Is the road to Everest Base Camp worth it?
To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 2.5 and 4 hours. The drive offers great views of Everest north face. The scenery is truly breathtaking with mixed forest, flower filled meadows, glaciers, rivers and spectacular mountainous panoramas throughout. The drive features hundreds of curved and hairpin turns and offers unbelievable views of everything from Shisha Pangma to Cho Oyu, Everest, Makalu, and Lhotse. As a tourist attraction, it’s one of the coolest roads on the planet.
Pic: 廖國廷