In 2010 I took the 3-day train from Chengdu (China) to Lhasa in Tibet, the roof of the world. From Lhasa I did a short tour (at that time you were not allowed to travel in Tibet without a guide) around Tibet with the Everest Base Camp as one of our stops. The Everest Base Camp was reached by a long winding road through beautiful scenery: green fields, clear turquoise lakes and majestic mountains.


The camp was located at 5150 meters (a little bit lower than its counterpart on the Nepalese side) which we all felt in our lung capacity. The ‘tourist’ Everest Base Camp was comprised of a tent village at the point cars can’t go further. Each tent comprised of a small dining area surrounded by benches that also served as beds. There were numerous blankets available since it could get really cold during the night. I think I needed 4 thick blankets. However, sleeping was impossible due to my increased breathing rate and heart rate. Even though I had been fine during the whole trip in Tibet, this was the first time that I really felt the altitude.

In the camp there were shared toilet facilities. Our tent family welcomed us with hot chai, cooked a delicious meal for us in the evening and in the morning there we had banana pancakes! From the tent village you had a clear view at the Mount Everest.  Also, near the ‘tourist Everest Base Camp’ you could find the highest monastery and the highest post office in the world! You could also walk to the real base camp, which took us about one hour. It’s worth walking (you can also go by van) even though you may be exhausted.

Sleeping in a tent at 5.150 meters surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Himalaya was definitely a unique sleeping experience! Even though, we weren’t really able to sleep, we would still highly recommend for you to try it :)!

Some facts about the Mount Everest

1. The Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world (around 8850 meters)

2. The oldest person to climb the mighty Everest is the eighty year old Japanese Yuichiro Miura.

3. In Tibet the mountain is also called ‘Qomolangma’ meaning ‘Mother of the Universe’

4. Costs for the climbing permits can become as high as 25.000 euro

5.  In the year of 1996 ‘the death year’ 16 climbers died.

6. Believe it or not, but the Mount Everest also has to deal with traffic jams. In some months hundreds of people try to reach the summit in the same weekend. 

7.  Kenton Cool was the first ever to sent a tweet from the Mount Everest. It was part of a Samsung marketing campaign. Unfortunately, he forgot to check in at Foursquare ;)!

Let us know what you think about this post! Would you like to visit the EBC? 

Read our other posts in the ‘Sleep less, Dream more’ series!

Recommended further reading
20 photos of the Roof of the World (Tibet)


  1. Hi! I will start my Expedition to Everest Base Camp next Saturday. I have always been very adventurous and going to Everest has always been on my bucket-list. It will not be an easy 8km hike for me but I believe I can make it. I am disabled.
    You are welcome to follow my page for my updates… Perhaps we can plan a trip to travel together… Take care and God bless.

  2. Wow Agatha, that’s very cool and inspiring, go you! Nice post Manouk. Would love to work at the highest post office in the world, just for a week. So, were you having lucid dreams at this altitude? Couldn’t sleep very well?

  3. Hi Andy, That’d actually be indeed a fun thing to add to your resume! Especially for a mail man! He can say he worked in the highest mail man function available ;)! And no, barely slept that night!

  4. You and I once discussed EBC during a Twitter chat. I will be there next month. I got so excited reading this post and knowing I would soon be seeing the same things myself!


Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

