March is the beginning of the spring trekking season in Nepal. The Everest region comes to life in the spring season after long, harsh winters. The Everest Base Camp trek along the foothills of the majestic Mt. Everest (8848m) is a trekker’s favorite.
The Everest Base Camp trekking trails are one the most trekked routes in the planet. You can observe the spectacular views of the Himalayan snow-capped mountains in the tranquil environments of the Everest region. The picture-perfect views and the soothing temperature makes the Everest Base Camp trek in March a perfect adventure.
The cloudless, clear blue skies with minimal precipitation is another advantage of the trek. The trek also passes through the beautiful natural beauty of the stunning Sagarmatha National park. The Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO listed World Heritage site. Overall, March is a great time to trek the Everest Base Camp Trek.
So, are you ready to trek the spectacular Everest Base Camp in March? Read further to learn more about the weather, difficulty, essential tips, and other necessary information before you start your trek in the region. We are offering this trek package at a reasonable price. Book your trip now!
Significant Highlights of the Trek
- Trekking the foothills of the high rishing Himalayan mountain peaks
- Experiencing the eclectic and vibrant atmosphere of the Everest Base Camp
- Panoramic sunrise from Kala Patthar overlooking the snow capped mountains
- Walking through the natural wonders of the Sagarmatha National Park
- Observing the gorgeous snow-capped mountains, including Mt. Everest, Mt Ama Dablam, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, and others
- Spotting of rare wildlife along the trail
- Experiencing the culture and traditions of the local sherpa people
- Incredible hospitality of the Nepalese people
Why Trek the Everest Base Camp in March?
Scenic Himalayan views
The Wonderful view of the Himalayas and sharp visibility condition makes the trek of Everest Base Camp in March quite appealing. The picture-perfect view of Mt. Everest is the highlight of the trek.
March is when the transition period from winter to spring season gets complete. The snow deposits in the mountains make for a beautiful sight in March. The morning sun rays falling over the golden mountains are will spellbind you completely.
Bustling trekking trails
The month of March is the start of the trekking season in the Everest region that lasts till May. Many trekkers start to flock the region in March. The trails are beautiful, with rhododendron flowers blooming all along the hills.
The bustling atmosphere of fellow trekkers lets you experience the joy of trekking in a group. The scenic views of the mountains combined with the vibrant atmosphere, is a unique experience.
Less chances of rainfall
The pre-monsoon period is dry along the trail, and rain does not play spoilsport. The cloudless skies provide unobstructed and beautiful views of the mountains. You won't have to take unwanted breaks because of the weather conditions. The trails are not that slippery, which adds to the beauty of the trek.
Opportunity to celebrate various festivals
Nepalese people celebrate important festivals like Ghode Jatra, Holi, Chaite Dashain in March. People put colors and water on each other during the colorful festival of Holi. The colorful and vibrant atmosphere will make you fall in love with this place.
Ghode Jatra is when the horses get worshiped and made to perform various stunt activities. These festivals are mainly celebrated in the lower regions of Nepal, including the capital city.
Chaite Dashain is a Hindu festival with rich cultural and religious significance. The festive atmosphere makes the Everest Base Camp trek in March an enjoyable experience.
Rare wildlife spotting
The wild animals become active in March after a long winter sleep. The lush vegetation around the vast green landscapes is another attraction of the trek. You can also spot rare wild animals like snow leopards, foxes, and others.
Besides that, the trails passes through the Sagarmatha National Park which works for the conservation of the natural habitat in the region.
How is the Weather Around the Everest Region in March?
The transition phase from winter to spring season gets complete in the month of March in Nepal. The mornings and nights are chilly, but the days are warmer. But the temperatures in the mornings can dip below zero degrees until mid-March.
The lower region trekking trails have moderate temperatures. Overall, the weather is stable with less precipitation and perfect trekking temperatures. There is ample sunlight in the day time ideal for a trekking adventure.
The temperatures fluctuate a lot between day and night in March. The snow-covered mountains, along with the wildflowers like the rhododendron blooming along the trails, are enthralling. The cloudless skies in March is another advantage of the trek.
However, the temperatures are pretty unpredictable in the base camp area. The temperatures can go below 0 degrees during mornings and nights along the higher region trails. During the day time, the trails are gradually increasing. The temperatures range between 26°C to 20°C around the Kathmandu valley.
The temperature around the Everest Base Camp region in March
| Place | Elevation | Maximum temperature | Minimum temperature | Average temperature | Precipitation (in mm) |
| Lukla | 2,829 m/9281 ft | 2.7°C | 1.8°C | 7.2°C | 37 |
| Namche | 3,463 m/11,361 ft | 9.6°C | -2.6°C | 3.5°C | 31 |
| Dingboche | 4,483 m/14,708 ft | 8°C | -11°C | -1°C | 4 |
| Lobuche | 4,910 m/ 16100 ft | 2.1°C | -13.3°C | -5.6°C | 9 |
| Gorak Shep | 5180 m/ 17000 ft | 0.9°C | -14.5°C | -6.5°C | 8 |
Related Treks around Everest Region:
✔ Everest Base Camp Trekking (Private Trek) - 15 Days
✔ Everest View Trek - 8 Days
✔ Gokyo Lake Trekking - 15 Days
✔ Kala Patthar Trek - 13 Days
✔ Phaplu to Everest Base Camp Trek
Food And Accommodation along the Everest Base Camp Trek in March
You can get basic food and accommodation facilities at Everest Base Camp trek in March. Spring is the second busiest time in the region after the autumn season. The tea houses along the trail provide basic accommodation and food services.
Early booking is necessary as the tea houses tend to get packed in the evenings. The tea houses provide two separate beds, a warm and fuzzy blanket, and a shared toilet. The hot water and Wi-Fi facilities are available in the lower elevations, but these facilities get scarce as you move along the trail.
From March, the accommodations start to get packed as it is the beginning of the trekking season. You might need to get in a long queue for your meal. For breakfast, the tea houses generally provide bread toast and boiled eggs. You can have tea, coffee, or other variety of drinks, including mint tea, butter tea, and others.
For lunch and dinner, you will get the staple Nepali dish of “Dal Bhat”. “Dal Bhat” includes rice, dal, lentils, spinach, meat, Gundruk, and taste-enhancing pickles. You can also get a limited variety of western and continental cuisines like pizza, burgers, and pasta along the trail.
One pro tip is to carry lots of protein bars, protein shakes, granola bars, Snickers, and energy drinks that will energize you during the trek.
How Difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek in March?
Everest Base Camp Trek ranges from 12-14 days based on the itinerary you choose. If you select the Chola pass and Gokyo lake trek route, you will need to add a couple of days on your schedule. The trek in the Everest region takes about 5-8 hours per day on an average.
The trail moves along the altitude of 4,000m at all times in the well-marked and easily navigable paths. There are no technical climbing skills required for the trek. The Chola Pass route requires walking on an icy glacier. The high altitude trek moves along the elevation of 5000m while reaching the highest point at Kalapathar (5,643m).
Furthermore, you will be traveling with heavy luggage. Hiring a porter takes the weight off your back. The trails move up and down constantly, and some serious and steep challenges can make individual sections quite challenging. The risk of Acute mountain sickness is always present in such high altitude treks.
For safety, you should not climb more than 600m in elevation at any given trekking day. Overall, the Everest Base Camp trek is challenging or strenuous in difficulty.
Essential Tips for the Everest Base Camp Trek in March
Start early on your trek
Starting your trek soon is a must as the days are short during in March. It also helps to reach the destination before dark. Trekking for almost 7-8 hours during the day is not an easy task, and you will need to take regular breaks. You can easily arrive at your destination safe and sound. Thus, starting your trek early is a must.
Prepare well in advance
The preparation of the trek is an essential part of any trek. The weather around the Everest region is chilly in the mornings and nights. Hence, you will need to dress in layers so that you can add or remove layers of clothing based on the weather conditions.
You should carry an extra down jacket along with sleeping bags for comfort. There might be some occasional snowfalls in the base camp region. You should also carry equipment like trekking shoes, waterproof trekking clothes, toiletries, first aid kits, and other equipment that you find essential.
Also Read: Everest Base Camp Trek
Regular Acclimatization and hydration
Acclimatization is a must in the high altitude trek of the Everest Base Camp. The trekkers also need to trek slow and hydrate regularly to cope with the altitude sickness. The process of acclimatization increases the level of oxygen in your body.
It also helps you to adapt to the high altitude conditions faster. Hydrating regularly also has the same effect on your body. Thus, acclimatizing and hydrating regularly has many advantages along the trek.
Book in advance
The tea houses and lodges might get packed as it is the start of the peak trekking season in the country. Early booking your trek package is a must in the Everest Base Camp trek in March.
You must select the best itinerary and book as early as possible. This saves you from any kind of hassles related to food and accomodation along the trail.
Various Trekking Routes of the Everest Base Camp Trek
There are many hiking trails around the Everest Base Camp. The adventurous flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is the first step before you start your journey. The regular trail from Phakding to Everest Base Camp passes through the unique settlements of Phakding, Namche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and Everest Base Camp and returns the same route.
The Classic Everest Base Camp Trek or the Jiri-EBC trail starts from Jiri and moves towards Phakding and eventually arrives at Everest Base Camp. The route is perfect for those who do not wish to take the adventurous flight from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp.
If you love some added adventure along the trail, you can also take the alternative route passing through the Cho La and Renjo La pass or the Gokyo-EBC trail. These challenging trails takes you through an adventurous glacial path. The pristine Gokyo Lakes will take your breath away. You can choose the trek that best suits your requirements and your desire.
Things to Consider While Trekking Everest Base Camp In March
Hiring a Guide and a porter
A professional guide provides immense support and guidance along the trek. The trek of Mt Everest Base Camp is well marked, but it is advisable to have a guide along the trek. You might get lost along the trail at times because of the long winding routes.
Therefore a guide is a great help, and he/she can also provide essential information along the trek. They also help you understand the local culture and tradition so that you won’t offend the locals with your words or actions.
The guide is different than a porter, but some guides work as both. A porter carries your heavy luggage during the trek.
Fitness and training regime
You must have a basic level of fitness for the Everest Base Camp trek. The trek in the Everest region passes through an up and down path. The trek can get taxing at times, and thus the trekkers must start their training at least two weeks before the trek.
The training regime must include cardiovascular activities like cycling, swimming, hiking, and others. Besides that, you need to take regular intervals and drink lots of water in the Everest Base Camp trek in the region.
Permits
All trekkers must have the trekkers permit of TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) for trekking the Everest Base Camp and other treks in Nepal. There are other local permits as well. The local permit fee is USD 20 and gets issued Monjo, Chubu region, and also the Nepal tourism board in Kathmandu.
The Sagarmatha National park requires a separate permit. There are various permits checkpoints along the trail in the region. The permit for the Sagarmatha National Park is available at Monjo or Kathmandu, and costs USD 30, with added government tax.
The Gauri Shankar National Park Permit is necessary if you start your trek from Jiri after a long drive from Kathmandu instead of Kathmandu to Lukla. You can get the permit at Shivalaya checkpoint, which costs about USD 20.
Altitude sickness
The trek in the Everest Base Camp is notorious for altitude sickness. The dry air conditions, falling temperatures, and oxygen level makes the trip challenging and increases the risk of altitude sickness in trekkers.
The Himalayan Rescue Mission’s health post at Pheriche and the Kunder hospital at Namche established by Sir Edmund Hillary provides information and medical services to trekkers. The altitude sickness can turn fatal if not treated properly.
Travel insurance
The trekkers require travel insurance coverage before trekking the Everest region. Accidents, injuries, or sickness can happen anytime, and you might need a helicopter evacuation if you can’t continue the trek.
The helicopter evacuations cost around between $5000 to $10000. Proper travel insurance covers all these above mentioned costs along with flight cancellation costs based on weather conditions.
What to pack for Everest Base Camp Trek in March?
You will need to pack properly for the Everest Base Camp Trek in March. The essential items you need to pack are:
Clothing
- Short-sleeved trekking shirts
- Thermal wears
- Waterproof trekking pants/trousers
- Fleece jackets
- Windproof / waterproof - Outer-layer jacket and pants
- Down jacket
- Warm woollen cap
- Trekking boots
- Woollen gloves
- Woollen trekking socks
- Woollen socks
- Umbrella/raincoat
First Aid
- Anti-nauseant medication
- Diamox tablets
- Water purifier
- Rehydration salts
- Mosquito and insect repellent
Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizers
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Quick-dry towel
- Sanitizer
Important documents
- Passport
- Travel insurance
- Necessary Permits
Others
- Camera
- Phone
- Local SIM card
- Solar chargers
- Reusable water bottles
- Hot water Thermos
Conclusion
Trekking the Everest Base Camp in March is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The perfect weather and clear blue skies provide a pleasant, trekking experience. The beautiful snow-capped mountains are the major attraction of the trek.
The bustling, vibrant atmosphere of the tea houses, lodges along the trail will enthrall you. Overall, the exciting Everest Base Camp Trek in March is an excellent adventure for all travel enthusiasts who love to get lost in the tranquility of nature.
