Tibet Trek: Everest Advanced Base Camp

Mount Everest Advanced Base Camp

To climb Mount Everest is an extremely huge and dangerous challenge even for professional mountaineers. As for ordinary tourists, catching a glimpse of the Mount Everest from afar is striking enough. If you want to step closer to the world highest mountain, you can trek to the Everest Advanced Base Camp, at an altitude of about 6500m.

The Everest Advanced Base Camp trek proves to be hard, which is world’s highest trek. To trek to Everest Advanced Base Camp in Tibet, trekkers are required to apply for a Tibet Mountaineering Permit. For more details about Everest Advanced Base Camp, keep reading the article.

Part 1. Everest Advanced Base Camp VS Everest Base Camp
Part 2. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Map & Itinerary
Part 3. Required Documents for Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek
Part 4. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Packing List
Part 5. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Difficulty

Part 1. Everest Advanced Base Camp VS Everest Base Camp

• Everest Advanced Base Camp is at an altitude of 6500m. In Tibet, trekkers who are bound for regions above 6000m require a Mountaineering Permit. Trekkers need to apply for it from China Tibet Mountaineering Association. The route to Everest Advanced Base Camp is a challenging but beautiful trek through a stunning mountain landscape.
• Everest Base Camp for ordinary tourists is around Rongbuk Monastery at about 5150m. The Everest Base Camp trek from Old Dingri to Rongbuk Monastery usually takes 4 days to finish. Here you’ll have incredible views of Mount Everest.

Part 2. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Map & Itinerary 

Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Map

The trekking route to Everest Advanced Base Camp we choose for you is one of the most popular ones. The advantage of this route is that the pace of trekking is designed to be slow and stead. The campsites are all arranged under 6000m and there is enough time at Intermediate Camp, so the altitude sickness can be effectively overcome.

The trek starts from Everest Base Camp, pass through C.1, Intermediate Camp, C.2, and finally arrive the Everest Advanced Base Camp. Below comes the Everest Advanced Base Camp trek itinerary:

D1 Trek from Everest BC to C.1 (5500m)
D2 Trek from C.1 to Intermediate Camp (5800m)
D3 Rest in Intermediate Camp
D4 Trek from Intermediate Camp to C.2 (6000m)
D5 Trek from C.2 to ABC (6500m) and return to C.2
D6 Return to Everest BC 

Highlights:

Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek - Rongbuk Glacier

• C.1 is 2.5-3.5 hours from Everest BC. You can enjoy the view of the Rongbuk Glacier's frozen waves of blue ice. Camp 1 is easy to spot, as dozens of tent sites have been leveled throughout the rocks and boulders.
• Intermediate Camp is 3 hours or more from C.1. This is a good place to spend a night acclimatizing before advancing to C.2.
• C.2 is 3-3.5 hours above Intermediate Camp. The scenery is stunning, with grand views of Everest emerging above the smooth white wall of Changtse. Camp 2 is located below a large cliff near the foot of the Changtse Glacier.
• The route to ABC takes 4 hours or more. Strings of prayer flags between cairns mark the site. This is almost the closest nonclimbers can get to the top. You’ve completed the world’s highest trek!
• The journey from ABC back to C.2 takes 2 hours or more. And this route gives you 2 days to walk out so you can enjoy the scenery and get your eyes off the toe of your boots.

Part 3. Required Documents for Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek 

For the Everest Advanced Base Camp trek, you need to prepare the following required documents.

Everest Advanced Base Camp Mountaineering Permit

• Tibet Mountaineering Permit is required for trekkers who are bound for regions above 6000m in Tibet.
• Tibet Travel Permit, also called Tibet Entry Permit, is a must-have document for Tibet travel.
• Alien’s Travel Permit is required in Shigatse, Shanan and Nagari that are must-passed places on the way to Kathmandu. ABC is included.
• Tibet Border Pass is required for your Everest Advanced Base Camp trekking as well.

Part 4. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Packing List 

There is the possible packing list for your Everest Advanced Base Camp trek. You need good quality trekking gear.

• Alpine trekking boots
• Down jacket
• Hiking poles and crampons
• Gloves filled with down and sunglasses for eye protection
• Head wear for warmth and protection from strong wind
• Sleeping bag and moisture-proof pad
• Headlight and battery
• Thermal flask
• Medicine for for cold, headache, stomach ache, insect bite, diarrhea, and high altitude sickness.
• Sunblock for skin protection  

Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek - Trekking Gear

Part 5. Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Difficulty 

The Everest Advanced Base Camp trek is the world’s highest trekking route, from 5150m to 6500m. You must take the time to acclimatize properly before ascending to the higher camps, because the high altitude sickness is a serious environment-related illness that can strike anyone.

Furthermore, daytime temperatures on the glacier is still freezing even during the summer. Light snowfalls are not uncommon, and at times it may rain. These increase the difficulty and risk.

If your body condition doesn’t allow you to finish the ABC trek, or any bad weather and unsafe trail conditions break your plan, don’t be disappointed. The easier EBC trek is also a good choice.