Everest from the Tibet side at a glance
The summit sits on the border between Nepal and China. Tibet, in this guide, means the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. In China the mountain is also written Qomolangma, a transliteration used in official Chinese publications, and Chomolungma and Sagarmatha name the same peak.
From the north you look at the north face above the valley that leads to the base camp in Tibet. The Rongbuk Monastery stands in front of the mountain. Foreign visitors need a Tibet permit arranged by an agency in China and must travel on an organized trip. Authorities can limit permits or access at short notice, even when you hold a permit.
This site is independent and has no connection to any authority or agency. Details of the tourist base camp on the Tibet side are in the Everest Base Camp Tibet guide.
How the Tibet permit works
Published figures from one agency; others may differ.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who needs it | Foreign visitors |
| How you apply | Through a specialized agency in China, on an organized trip |
| What the agency asks for | A fixed itinerary with entry and exit, places and hotels |
| Processing | Usually 7 to 14 working days, no guarantee |
| When to apply | 20 to 30 days before entry |
| Fee for the permit | One agency calls the permit free and charges no service fee to its own confirmed guests; other agencies can charge fees |
A free permit does not make a free trip, and it is not a climbing permit. Crossing from Nepal also depends on the border, a China visa or group visa and the state of the road. No fixed travel time or bus line from Kathmandu to Rongbuk is published for 2026, so confirm it with your agency.
Our picks: Everest from Tibet
Two eight-day trips to the north side with permits arranged.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Eight-day Tibet overland trip from Kathmandu
Tibet permits, private ground transport, hotels with breakfast and an English-speaking guide are included. Flight tickets, lunch, dinner and insurance are not.
Check availability →Eight days from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp in Tibet
The Tibet travel permit application, an English-speaking Tibetan guide, hotels with breakfast and entrance fees are included. Getting to Tibet is not.
Check availability →Tibet and Everest tours
Journeys to the north side, flights and guided days around Mount Everest, with live prices and availability.
Access and closures in 2026
Dated notes, so you can judge how current they are.
Spring 2026
The north summit route was closed in spring 2026, according to an AP report of 21 May 2026. That concerned the climbing route. It does not mean that all viewpoints, hotels or the whole of Tibet were closed.
Road closure on the approach
A travel alert lists a night-time full closure of the G318 section between Gyatsola and Gangga from 8 October to 30 November 2026, as an obstacle on the way to Everest. Ask your agency about the current state of the road.
Lodging and services near Rongbuk
Ask your agency which lodging is open on your dates and how it is heated. Rooms, prices and opening dates are set by the operators.
Rongbuk and the nature reserve
The tourist area and the climbers' area are not the same.
The mountain lies in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. In 2019 China's environment ministry reported a ban on ordinary tourists above the Rongpo or Rongbuk Monastery, at the time at roughly 5,000 m. The camp for tourists and the camps of climbers are therefore different places.
Whether that rule is the same today is a question for your agency. Where ordinary visitors may go depends on the rules of the day.
For seasons and visibility see the weather page.
The north side climbing route
For orientation only. Climbing is a separate field.
One operator describes the route as: access via Rongbuk and East Rongbuk, Advanced Base Camp, the North Col, the North Ridge, the upper north-east ridge with the Three Steps, and the summit. The same program lists Advanced Base Camp at 6,492 m, the North Col at 7,010 m, Camp II at 7,544 m and Camp III at 8,138 m. Other programs can use other heights and camp numbers.
The program runs 36 days in a rapid-ascent model, from 25 April to 30 May 2027, and is advertised from $110,000 per person. That is an operator price, not a Chinese state permit fee, and it is not a standard program for beginners. See the cost page and the climbing page.
Compare with other ways to see Everest
The north face is one of several options.
Everest from Tibet: frequently asked questions
Can I visit Everest from Tibet?
Foreign visitors need a Tibet permit arranged by an agency in China and an organized trip. Authorities can limit permits or access at short notice, so confirm the current rules with your agency before you pay.
How long does the Tibet permit take?
One China travel agency names 7 to 14 working days and advises applying 20 to 30 days before you enter. That is not an official guarantee.
Does the Tibet permit cost money?
One agency calls the permit itself free and charges its own confirmed guests no service fee. Other agencies can charge fees. This is not a free Tibet trip and not a climbing permit.
Was the north side closed in 2026?
The north summit route was closed in spring 2026, according to an AP report of 21 May 2026. A travel alert also lists a night closure of a G318 road section from 8 October to 30 November 2026.
Can ordinary tourists go up to the climbers' camps?
In 2019 China's environment ministry reported a ban on ordinary tourists above the Rongbuk Monastery, at roughly 5,000 m at the time. Ask your agency what applies today.
How is Tibet different from the Nepal side?
The north side is reached through Rongbuk and needs a Tibet permit and an organized trip. The Nepal side starts in the Khumbu Icefall for climbers, and trekkers reach the region by way of Lukla and Namche. See the map page.