Everest Base Camp in March is the rarest opportunity to step your feet between the colossal mountains in the world. Everest Base Camp in March offers a beautiful quest: enjoy the comprehensive views of white snowy peaks, walk through the colorful Sherpa villages, and get to know their culture, language, food, and lifestyle.
For decades, Everest Base Camp has been populating the dreams of climbers, adventurers, and people from all over the world of different ages, professions, and interests.
On this trip, you will walk along trails used for hundreds of years by the local population of Nepal. You will also have the moment to explore the beautiful ancient city of Kathmandu, its temples, and its rich culture.
Is it possible to trek Everest Base Camp in March?
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is available all year round, but the most reasonable period lies in March. The winter cold subsides slowly; the dry yellow tree starts to blossom, and life in forests returns to the usual vibe, making your daily hike of approximately 5 hours more welcoming.
The life of natives in the Himalayas also returns to the usual routine. The lodge and teahouse owners resume their housing to welcome their foreign guests. So there’s no limitation on accommodation and meals.
Due to the subsiding cold of winter, hiking at an altitude of more than 5000 m becomes reasonably easy. Walking in the sun’s warmth in cool, dry air with a steel blue sky above can make you smile.
Hiking to Everest Base Camp in March is favorable for those who like socializing. Hiking enthusiasts, trekkers, climbers, and regular tourists begin to reach Nepal and embark on the journey to the base camp. So you will never be alone on the path. Even if you are trekking alone, many companies are on the way.
So yes, it’s possible to trek to Everest Base Camp in March with only one condition- you should be in good health.
Why Everest Base Camp in March?
March month in Nepal marks the commencement of the Spring Season. All parts of the country, including the Everest Base Camp, delight in the weather of the spring season.
At this time, the climate in Everest Base Camp is stable- not cold or hot. Everything around begins to bloom; the mountain slopes are covered with green meadows and bright pink spots of blooming rhododendrons.
The luscious red flowers form an impressive contrast to the snow-capped mountains and blue sky. It is an exceptional experience to undertake a trekking tour during the rhododendron blossom.
The air is filled with scents and birdsong. The clear views of Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam will pique your eyes. Nature amazes with lush vegetation. The most breathtaking views of the mountains and surrounding landscapes open up. The cities host a considerable number of colorful festivals and holidays. Warm days and clear skies make hiking easy and fun.
The grandiose holidays are another big plus of the March trek to Everest Base Camp. Hindus celebrate Holi, Ghodejatra, Shivaratri, and Sherpas of the Himalayas and welcome their new year. If you are lucky enough to come to the country for one of these holidays, vivid impressions and memories for a lifetime are guaranteed!
If you want to see the blooming Himalayas, sign up for the Everest Base Camp trek in March.
Festival in March
Trek to Everest Base Camp in March gives you a moment to see the gigantic Himalayas and the opportunity to soak in the unique festivals and culture of the Nepalese people.
The beginning of spring in March is celebrated with numerous festivals in Kathmandu valley. More popular among travelers are Holi, Maha Shivaratri, and Ghodejatra.
Shivaratri festival is an auspicious yearly festival celebrated in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal with unusual vibes. The festival attracts many guests, both Hindu pilgrims and just tourists, as well as residents of Kathmandu. Everyone comes to see strange and colorful sadhus, and tourists take unusual pictures. The pilgrims of Lord Shiva are mainly crowded with devotees from early morning.
Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated throughout Nepal when everyone sprinkles each other with a special paint prepared based on an Ayurvedic selection of herbs. The festival exemplifies rebirth and the victory of good over evil.
Ghodejatra is another essential and vibrant festival that is celebrated in late March. The Newari tribe believes the festival grants protection against evil Gurumapa. The Nepal police and army organized a horse procession in Tundikhel, in the heart of Kathmandu.
The Sherpa inhabitants of the Everest Region celebrate their new year as Gyalpo Losar. They wear new, colorful clothes, go to the monasteries to pray, and present gifts to monks. Explosions of firecrackers and shouts accompany all this. These actions are to disperse the evil forces. The evening ends with a special reunion dinner, during which, along with other delicacies, a special kind of bread is served with chhang (an alcoholic drink).
Weather in March
In March, the overall weather in the country is pleasant, so most travelers arrive in Nepal to rest and relax. The rainfall is rare, characterized by sunny weather.
The weather situation in the Everest Base Camp is similar, but some peculiarities exist. It can be colder as you gradually gain height, and the mountain’s temperature drops by 5C° for every 1000 meters of climb. The higher the tourist rises, the lower the atmospheric pressure and the more discharged the air. As it expands, it cools and can no longer retain as much heat as sea level.
The day temperature can rise to + 20C ° and even higher; at night it can drop to – 5C °.
Hence, while trekking to Everest Base Camp in March, you should always carry T-shirts, shirts, trousers, and warmer clothing like down jackets.
Temperature in March
During March, the daytime temperature in Nepal usually stays at 24 degrees but can reach 34 degrees and drop to 10 degrees at night.
But you cannot find the same temperature as you trek to Everest Base Camp. Due to the high altitude, the temperature is still low but will remain mostly above 15 degrees. It will be a warm hike during the day, but the night temperature can stay at 0 degrees, so bring a fleece jacket and sleeping bags to beat the cold night temperature of the Everest region.
Trekking gear for Everest base camp trek in March
During your preparation for the Everest base Camp in March, you must ensure you have all the equipment and clothing suitable for the track.
You can purchase this equipment in Kathmandu or rent it per day.
- Merino wool base layer to keep you warm and light
- Fleece Jacket
- Down outer jacket
- Trekking shoes
- Hiking socks
- Neck gaiters
- Sunglass
- Trekking sticks
- Head torch
- Steripen for water purification
- Sleeping bag
- Solar or power bank
- Some medicines (Diamox for altitude sickness, Ibuprofen or citamole, band-aids, Vicks vaporub for common cold, Protogyl for stomachache)
The disadvantage of the trek in March
Everest Base Camp in March is most favorable and popular among ordinary travelers and climbing enthusiasts. It is also suitable for those who wish to devour the beautiful and generous Himalayan views once in their life. But this trek can also be unsuitable for some for the following reasons:
If you are not accustomed to simple hardships of life, such as the inability to shower, surf the Internet, or drink your favorite coffee, the trek is not for you. However, you may be surprised, but the less you wash on a hike, the better. There is less chance of catching a cold, which is hazardous at a height. You can always use wet wipes, though. So, it is wise not to postpone your trek to Everest Base Camp for such minor trifles in March.
If you want solitude, don’t like to meet strangers, or wish to remain to yourself, this trip is not for you. March welcomes the serene climate of spring, subsiding low and chilling temperatures of the winter. Most travelers like to enjoy their trips during this season. So you won’t be alone on the way; you will always meet and see unfamiliar faces. Traveling alone may seem thrilling, but it also comes with risks. So trekking in March will always give you company. You can share the magic of nature with others and socialize.
The other drawback of trekking to Everest Base Camp in March is the high cost. It is the most popular season for welcoming travelers to Nepal, so everything has to be booked in advance. The fare needed will also be higher, including the tour package, the permits to trek, accommodation, and meal expenses.
If you don’t love snow, the trip is not for you. There is considerable snow in the mountains and on the passes, even in March. On the one hand, this can be a minus because snow makes it difficult to move, and some passes become difficult to access. Also, high-altitude lakes can remain under the shackles of ice. On the other hand, snow-capped mountains are more interesting to walk, and they look fabulous and atmospheric.
In the End
Trekking to the Everest base camp in March is one of the most beautiful tracks in the world. And if you gain the strength and patience to prepare for it properly, you will enjoy everything you see and experience.