List of places to see Mount Everest from


Mount Everest view from Base CampYou don't have to spend years preparing to climb the worlds tallest mountain to get a glimpse of Mount Everest. Contrary to popular writing you don't even have to go on a trek to Everest Base Camp to see it.

On this page is a list of places where you can see Mount Everest close up or as dot on the horizon. Each one is rated based on how good the view is on a good weather day.

Top places to see mount Everest include:

  • On an Everest Base Camp Trek
  • On a Mountain Flight
  • From Nagarkot or Dhulikhel

More details on these plus more can be found below.

Easiest way to see Mount Everest in Nepal

Everest Flight: Take a dedicated flight from Kathmandu to see Mount Everest close up

Duration: 45-60 minutes.Mount Everest mountain flight

Starting point: Kathmandu city

Max Altitude: 20,000 ft

Difficulty: V. Easy - but takes up a whole morning

Costs: USD $180-260

Highlights: You'll get to come eye to eye with the world's tallest mountain on an 8-12 seater plane.

More information & tips: Morning flights are best to see Mount Everest. Flight are often delayed or postponed due to bad weather so it's worth putting aside two days just incase day one is cancelled. Refunds are offered if your flight is cancelled. Weather plays a factor with mountain flights so avoid monsoon season for flights.

Rating: An excellent way to see Mount Everest with little effort or time. Only issue is the cancelation of flights


Nagarkot: An easy walk to a viewing platform just outside of Kathmandu city.

Mount Everest view from Nagarkot

Duration: 1 night 1 day (sunrise & sunset)

Starting point: Kathmandu (Bhaktapur)

Max Altitude: 2, 192m

Difficulty: Easy

Costs: USD $20-80+

Highlights: Travel to the hillside town of Nagarkot and see the Himalayan mountains for sunrise and sunset.

More information & tips: Nagarkot is easily reached independently by taxi or bus from Kathmandu city or even closer from Bhaktapur. Many tour operators both local and online offer Everest viewing packages. A short hike in the morning brings you to a crowded look out tower. While the impressive Himalayan mountains are often visible Everest itself is no more than a tiny dot.

Rating: A good way to see the Himalayan mountains for those short on time but not to actually view Everest.


Dhulikhel Hike: A short comfortable walk with several well known lookouts over the Himalayas.

Duration: 1 night 1 day+ (sunrise & sunset)

Starting point: Kathmandu/ Bhaktapur

Max Altitude: 1, 550m

Difficulty: Easy

Costs: USD $20-80+

Highlights: Similar to Nagarkot but with more culture via the town. Everest is again barely visible but the Himalayan range is.

More information & tips:

Dhulikhel is easily reached independently by taxi or bus from Kathmandu city or Bhaktapur. It's not as popular as Nagarkot with package tours as there not as many hotels that tour operators partner with. It's a little further away from Kathmandu too but its on a main road so this is not an issue. Dhulikhel is well worth a nights stay due the old temples in the area with a sunrise hike to see the mountains.

Rating: A great way to see the Himalayan mountains and visit a Newari town for those short on time. Again like Nagarkot, Everest is nothing but a dot.


Chandragiri Hills: Opened in 2016 this is a privately owned cable car with lookouts over the Himalayas.

Duration: Day trip (views are weather permitting)

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 2,551m

Difficulty: Easy but with haze, clarity and weather issues

Costs: USD $22(entrance) + transport $10-$50+

Highlights: Cable car, Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple (Shiva). Everest is not visible on anything but a crystal clear day and at that it's a distant spec unless you bring binoculars etc. There is a Himalayan range visible but it's a distant one.

More information & tips:

You can take a very local bus from Ratna Bus Park out to Godam Chaur then walk 30+ minutes out to Chandragiri hill station. Getting back similarly. Otherwise it's a private taxi ($30-40+ rtn or private tour). The owners are at http://www.chandragirihills.com.

Rating: This is a new private company who have made a nice cable car with mountain views. However, it's very weather dependant even for a snow capped mountain view. Good for those looking to take a chance or have extra time in Kathmandu. Unfortunately, their pricing is discriminate with non-Nepali paying over double the cost.


The best ways to see Mount Everest in Nepal

Please note that the weather plays a factor in all these methods of seeing Mount Everest

Everest Base Camp Trek: A famous and epic trek that culminates in seeing Everest at the famous base camp used by summiteers.

Trekking to Mount Everest

Duration: 12 + days. Fly into Lukla then begin the trek through Phakding, Namche Bazar, Tyangboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep.

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 5, 545 metres (18, 192 ft)

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

Costs: USD $1,200-1,600+

Highlights: The flight to Lukla, one of the world's shortest runways on the side of a mountain. There are several stops along the way to see Everest. Climbing Mount Kala Patthar (5, 545 metres (18, 192 ft).

More information & tips:

There are several places along the way where you get to see Everest. The best is of course at base camp. However, do make sure you climb Mount Kala Pathar beside base camp for the best views.

Rating: A classic trek and the best way to see Everest.

Here's a full guide to the Everest Base Camp trek


 

Gokyo Ri Trek: A shorter trek in the Everest region that offers spectacular views of Mount Everest from another angle that show more of the mountain than on the EBC trek.

Gokyo Lake Nearby Gokyo Ri

Duration: 11 + days. Fly into Lukla then begin the trek directly heading north to Gokyo Ri itself.

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 5, 357 metres (17, 575 ft)

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

Costs: USD $1,200-,1,500+

Highlights: The flight to Lukla, one of the world's shortest runways on the side of a mountain. Then it's on through the himalayas to Gokro Ri itself for a stunning view, filled with side treks to ice lakes.

More information & tips:

Gokyo Ri is a far better treks for photos of Everest and trekking away from crowds than EBC.

Rating: The best views of Everest.

★★★★★
★★★★★

Here's a full guide to Gokyo Ri trek


 

Three Passes Trek: Want ot get the best of Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Ri? Three Passes is the ultimate Everest trekking experience.

Chola Tsho lake along the Three Passes Trek

Duration: 17 + days. Fly into Lukla then trek to Everest Base Camp before taking on serveral high passes on the way to Gokyo Ri itself.

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 5, 643 metres (18, 514 ft)

Difficulty: Challenging - Hard

Costs: USD $1,400-1,700+

Highlights: The flight to Lukla, one of the world's shortest runways on the side of a mountain. Then it's on through the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp before tackling several high passes before reaching Gokyo Ri and back to Lukla. It's a full circuit of the Everest Range!

More information & tips:

The Three Passes Trek is not to be taken easily. It is challenging but the rewards are amazing vistas, high passes and stunning mountain views for over two weeks.

Rating: The best of all Everest Treks if you have the time.

★★★★★
★★★★★

Here's a full guide to the Three Passes Trek

 

 


Other ways to see Mount Everest

Is it worth going half way to see Everest on a trek?

Jorsale and Namche: Cut the Everest Base Camp trek short by taking a 2 days trek to see Everest.

Duration: 3-4 + days. Fly into Lukla then begin the trek through Phakding, Jorsale and Namche Bazar.Mount Everest view from Jorsale

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 3,880m

Difficulty: Moderate

Costs: USD $400+

Highlights: The flight to Lukla, one of the world's shortest runways on the side of a mountain. Two views of Mount Everest.

Here a full guide to the Everest Base Camp trek

More information & tips:

Just after Jorsale the trees open up to reveal the first good look at Mount Everest from a distance. Later about Namche Bazaar you get a slighter closer view near the Everest View Hotel.

Rating: Two views of Everest from a distance plus some of the trekking experience ... the real question is why would you come all this way without going all the way!

Here's a full guide to the Everest Base Camp trek


 

Pikey Peak Trek: Take a historic trek from Jiri to Pikey Peak - one of the only places with views of the Everest and Annapurna ranges together.

Duration: 6-9 + days. Drive to Jiri then start on the old trekking route to Lukla before diverteing to Pikey Peak.View from the top of Pikey Peak

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 4,068m

Difficulty: Moderate

Costs: USD $500-800+

Highlights: Rural Nepal and a rarely trekked area with old style teahouses. The only recognised trek with views of the Everest and Annapurna Mountain ranges.

More information & tips:

The drive to Jiri is nearly all black-top these days meaning it's not the bumpy ride it once was. Go with an experienced guide who has been to Pikey Peak before to get the most out of this trek. The huge and important Thupten Choling Monastery is a highlight for many.

Rating: For those not wanting a full on trek to Everest, or those wanting something more historic and less touristy Pikey Peak offers a rare opportunity capped off with a rarer view of two incredible mountain ranges.

★★★★★
★★★★★

Here's a full guide to the Pikey Peak Trek

 


Helicopter flight: Similar to the Everest flights you can hire a private helicopter to get up close next to Mount Everest.Mount Everest view from a helicopter

Duration: 1 hour.

Starting point: Kathmandu

Difficulty: V. Easy

Costs: USD $5,000-10,000 (private) $350-700 (shared)

Highlights: You'll get a unique look at Mount Everest that few others will with a better chance of great photos than the plane flights.

More information & tips: Morning flights are best to see Mount Everest. The cost can be shared with up to 5 people. Taking photographs from a helicopter is slightly easier than the mountain flights. Book in person rather than online to save costs. Weather plays a huge factor here so you'll need to set aside a couple of days to avoid cancellations.

Rating: The premium way to see Everest.

Note: some tour operators offer helicopter flights to Kala Pathar (near EBC) but they are nearly double the price and come with the risk of acclimatization sickness. It's impossible to give exact helicopter prices on shared flights as it depends on the number of people going.


Seeing Mount Everest from Tibet

Please note permits for Tibet are needed when entering from both the Nepal side and Chinese side. Read more on how to travel to Tibet overland.

Overland from Nepal to Tibet: Get a very brief view of Everest on the overland route to Tibet.

Duration: 8 days (30 minute viewing).

Starting point: Kathmandu

Difficulty: Easy

Costs: USD $600-1,200

Highlights: You'll get a very brief look at Mount Everest when you stop along the overland route.

More information & tips: During a routine stop along the overland route you might be lucky enough to have some clear weather and catch a glimpse of Everest from the Tibet side..

Rating: Not worth it "just" to see Everest.


Everest Base Camp (North / Tibet side) : Drive all the way to a starting point then take a one day trek to Base Camp.

Duration: 1 + days not including driving time.

Starting point: Lhasa

Max Altitude: 5, 200m

Difficulty: Moderate

Costs: USD $800-1,000 (not including permits)

Highlights: Nearly reach base camp by jeep then get up close to the Tibetan side of Mount Everest.

More information & tips: At first glance it seems easier and cheaper to see Everest from Tibet. The reality is that there's a lot more travel involved along with hassles with permits and expenses in getting there which can only be done via an organized tour.

Rating: If you are traveling from Tibet to Nepal via a tour it's worth paying for an additional night visit base camp. Otherwise the bureaucracy and logistics lets this side down greatly. Taking jeep most of the way also seems to take away the "wow" and accomplishment that is felt on the Nepal side.


Climb Mount Everest : Drive all the way to a starting point then take a one day trek to Base Camp.

Duration: 7 days + 3 months.

Starting point: Kathmandu

Max Altitude: 8,848 meters (29,029 feet)

Difficulty: Exterme

Costs: USD $75,000-120,000

Highlights: Being on top of the world!

More information & tips: A climb to the top of Mount Everest should not be taken lightly. Do read more about how to climb Mount Everest.

Rating: No better way to see Everest up close!


More information on Trekking in Nepal

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The above list of treks in Nepal is continually being added too based on popularity or request.

If looking for a trekking guide I recommend you read my article on How to find a trekking guide in Nepal or use my Find a local trekking guide service.

If you want to book a trek of flights here is a list of recommended treks to book online.


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