Updated for 2021. The Tibet side of Everest had some minor tourism changes a couple of years ago. Read on to learn about the changes.

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UPDATED FOR 2021

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Mt Everest photographed from above Rongphu Monastery in Tibet

2019 Tibet Side Everest Clean Up Project

China continued doing a large scale clean up project on the Tibet side of Mt Everest in 2019. This clean up project began in 2018, where over 8 tons of waste was collected. The clean up effort in 2019 supposedly went as high as 8000 meters on Everest to try and remove bodies of climbers who died in the so-called “Death Zone”. As someone who has spent considerable time at Mt Everest each year for the past 17 years, this is a really good thing. In meetings that I have been to, China is planning to put eco-friendly toilets at Everest base camp, have a regular garbage service to the area, and has plans for a small medical clinic that would operate thru the tourism season. We will see if these ideas actually happenn.

How will this affect travel? 

While the BBC Headline on February 15, 2019 made it sound like Everest is off-limits to foreign travelers, in reality the changes are not nearly as drastic. In fact, the changes overall are quite minimal. Starting from 2019, travelers without an Everest climbing permit will only be able to go as far as Rongphu (Rongbuk) Monastery. In 2018, travelers without a climbing permit could go as far as the Dza Rongphu Hermitage (just beyond the “tent hotels”), located 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) beyond Rongphu Monastery.

Prior to 2018, non-climbers could go another 2 kilometers beyond the Dza Rongphu Hermitage to a place the China government designated as “Everest Base Camp”. Though there was a sign there stating it was Everest Base Camp, almost all climbing expedition teams would set up their camp a further 500 meters to 1 kilometer further, in order to avoid having tourists going through expedition tents.

From 2019, China is putting a limit on the number of climbing permits that will be issued. The China Tibet Mountaineering Association will only issue 300 climbing permits for this year and might keep that number the same going into the future. There will be no limit to the number of travelers who can go to Mt Everest; the limit is only for those attempting the summit. An estimated 45,000 people visited the Tibet-side of Mt Everest in 2018.

What will the view be like from Rongphu?

Though travelers to Mt Everest can now go no further than Rongphu Monastery, the view of Everest is still FANTASTIC. I have been to the Tibet-side of Everest close to 50 times over the years. Those that have traveled with me on the journeys I lead all know that my favorite place in all of the Rongphu Valley is from the hill above Rongphu Monastery. Though the entire area offers a good view, by hiking just a few minutes above the monastery, you get a nice panoramic view. This view, in my opinion based on my many years of experience going to Everest, is just as good as the view from a few kilometers down the valley closer to the mountain.

Below are 3 pictures of Mt Everest:

• The first is the view of Everest from Rongphu, which is as far as you can go now
• The second is from near the Dza Rongphu Hermitage, the closest you could go in 2018
• The third is from Everest Base Camp, which you could go to from 2017 and before

Everest from Rongphu Monastery in Tibet. This is as close to Everest as you can go now. It’s a pretty amazing view!

This is the view of Everest from near the Dza Rongphu Hermitage. This was as close as you could go in 2018.

Everest viewed from actual base camp. Non-climbers could go to this point until 2017.

What are the accommodation options?

Typically, there are 2 different basic accommodation options in the Everest Base Camp Region. Normally there is a group of 50 to 60 black, yak wool tents set up 3 kilometers beyond Rongphu Monastery. Now, however, these tent-style hotels have relocated to the area around Rongphu Monastery. These basic accommodations have beds with plenty of blankets, a small sheep-dung stove in the middle and serve basic dinner and breakfasts, along with soft drinks and tea. There are shared toilets to use that are extremely dirty. In fact, they are some of the worst in all of Tibet! There are no showering facilities in the tent hotels.

The Rongphu Monastery Guesthouse is relatively clean, but it is very basic as it sits at an altitude of around 5000 meters (16,400 feet). The bathrooms are separated for men and women. There are no showering facilities here. There is no heating, but plenty of blankets. The rooms have 4 to 6 beds inside them with plenty of boiled hot water provided. There is a good-sized restaurant here that is generally kept heated with a sheep-dung stove (common in Tibet). The restaurant serves basic, but good food, including breakfast.

Everest Clean Up Summary

Due to a massive clean up project, non-climbers will not be able to go beyond Rongphu Monastery in the Everest Region of Tibet anymore. From Rongphu, you still get an amazing view of the world’s highest mountain, as the pictures above testify.  This new regulation is not created by travel companies, but is handed down by the highest level of government in China. The accommodation options at the Everest Region are extremely basic.

If you have any questions about the new Everest regulation or any other travel related question on Tibet, contact us at: thelandofsnows@gmail.com