The trek to Everest Base Camp is nothing less than a playground for photographers. From start to finish, there are visually interesting elements ranging from stupas to vibrant monasteries all painted against the arresting backdrop of our planet’s tallest mountains. For those who are vying for the best photos the trek has to offer we’ve put together a photo guide of the best locations for shots along the trail!
1. The Suspension Bridges
The first few days before reaching Namche you’ll have to cross over the Dudh Kosi river on several suspension bridges. The last and the biggest one is Hillary Bridge, where you can get some very cool pictures. At 125 meters tall, crossing Hillary with the river far below is a thrilling experience. Iconic pictures of yaks crossing the bridges have been taken here. If you’re lucky you might be able to witness one of these crossings as well!
2. Namche Bazaar
Upon entering Namche Bazaar, the region’s largest town, you’ll be greeted by bursts of colors and sounds. It’s easy to get lost in exploring the village’s bars and sherpa museum while taking in the rich culture of the Himalayas. When you’re done exploring the village through your lens make sure to ascend the slopes above the village. There have been stunning pictures taken from above looking down on the city below. For another great shot consider taking night photos of the city glowing below you and the milky way shining above.
Explore: https://www.adventurehero.com/blog/4-great-day-hikes-from-namche-bazaar.html
3. Everest View Hotel
At 13000 feet the highest placed hotel in the world has views of Everest from every room and easily makes the cut for the best place to admire it and the pristine surroundings. Even if it is not on your itinerary to stay the night there, it is still a great place to drink a hot chocolate while taking in the views.
4. Ama Dablam & Tenzing Norgay Stupa Viewpoint
A few kilometers outside Namche the trail levels off and reveals a stunning view of the Tenzing Norgay stupa situated directly in front of Ama Dablam, one of the prettiest peaks of the Himalayas. Dubbed the “Matterhorn of the Himalayas”, make sure to snap a few photos at this famous view. Your Everest Base Camp photo journey is certainly not complete without this shot!
5. Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche itself is known for being one of the most beautiful parts of the Khumbu region with panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse. One of the cultural highlights of the Everest Base Camp treks is visiting the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Tengboche. It’s one of the largest monasteries in the region in addition to being perched atop a hill. The best views are from inside the courtyard looking back towards the front of the temple grounds. There are beautiful hand painted prayer wheels and statues inside the temple that photograph beautifully. Be sure to get permission from the temple’s monks before taking pictures of their sacred temple.
6. The Mani Rimdu Festival
This photo is one that takes more planning than any other on this trek as the festival put on by the Tengboche Monastery only takes place in Autumn. The festival, Mani Rimdu, is celebrated publicly for 3 days and is worth planning your trip around! If you’ve never seen a Tibetan festival before, you’re in for a treat. There are colorful mask dances and performances that have been passed down for centuries. Monks play long horns and participate in chanting and prayers.
To learn more about Nepalese festivals click on the link below:
https://www.adventurehero.com/blog/celebrate-holi-nepals-most-colorful-festival.html
7. The Climbers Memorial
Outside Dungla you will encounter a field of memorial stupas dedicated to the climbers and trekkers who lost their lives to Everest over the years. The stone monuments are strewn with colorful Buddhist prayer flags that flash their bold colors in the breeze, great for snapping photos of. Most of the stupas are for sherpa lost to the mountain. Consider putting up a karen and resting in this beautiful place before continuing on your trek.
8. Everest Base Camp
This one is a given but as soon as you reach Everest Base Camp you’re going to want to celebrate with a photo next to the rock announcing the altitude of 5600m. In addition to your victory photo, the tent city is a visually interesting amalgamation of colorful tarps. It’s exciting to think about how the tent city annual transformations. It fluxes with people in late spring and disappears at the end of every season only to reappear in a new form the following.
9. Kala Patthar
The views from Kala Patthar at 18,500 ft are nothing short of spectacular. Watch the light change over Everest, Ama Dablam and the rest of the Khumbu Valley at sunrise or sunset for golden hour lighting. A great reason to do a sunset ascent to get great photos of Everest is that it will be warmer than an early morning ascent. Either way, the shot from atop Kala Patthar should be high on your Everest Base Camp shot list.
10. The Yaks
For those “doing it for the gram” make sure to photograph these legendary Himalayan beasts. Yak photos do really well on social media (we should know)! Everyone loves these uniquely giant, shaggy animals. The wild Himalayan yak is extremely rare to photograph but there are plenty of colorfully decorated domesticated trail animals. You’ll likely run into them on the trail, heralded by their metal neck bells jangling. However, be careful not to get in their way while getting the best angle! As they have been known to push inattentive trekkers off the trail.
11. The Milky Way
As we briefly touched on when mentioning Namche, some of the best photos are undoubtedly the ones taken at night with the milky way shining down on the massive peaks. With little light pollution and billions of stars to be photographed moving across the sky get ready to take some epic long exposure shots. A lightweight tripod will invariably be the key to a successful shoot. This is especially the case if you want to capture star trails. The temperature drops well below freezing year round so come prepared with the proper clothing to get some night shots. If you put forth the effort you will not be disappointed by the dark skies of the Everest Region.
12. Gokyo Ri
Upon seeing photos from Gokyo Ri, you might be happily surprised to hear that there are not any mountaineering skills required to get to this scenic pass with an epic view of Everest and the Gokyo Lakes below. It’s hailed as one of the best views in the Everest Region and at 17,600 ft it will surely take your breath away.
13. Gokyo Lakes
Another way to enhance your Everest photo story is to take photos from along the shores of the vibrant, blue Gokyo Lakes. Once you get to the lakeside, it will be nearly impossible to stop clicking away at the beautiful waters!
14. Cho La Pass
The last ‘must take photo’ on our itinerary is the one taken from Cho La Pass. After a challenging ascent you’ll get amazing views of Ama Dablam before heading back down to Everest Base Camp. Though the ascent is difficult, the awe inspiring views of the world’s most imposing mountains are worth it.
15. Bonus Points: Helicopters!
While on the Everest Base Camp trek only the quickest photographers who have their cameras at the ready can snap a helicopter photo! We love these photos as they really highlight the massive size of the Himalayas.
Everest Base Camp Photography Q&A
Q: Can you take drone photos on the EBC trek?
A: It may be tempting to bring your drone to Nepal with you but they are actually illegal to fly in the country. There have been many tourist drones seized by the local authorities. So don’t bring your expensive toys unless you aren’t concerned about that or the Himalayas being at the edge of a drone’s operating height where GPS signals are notoriously unstable.
Q: Which months are best for photographing the Everest Region?
A: January, February and November are the clearest months and the cloudless skies makes for some great mountain photography. Check our blog post on the weather of Everest Base Camp from month to month: https://www.adventurehero.com/blog/everest-treks-a-month-by-month-review-of-the-best-seasons.html
A Few Tips:
Remember to keep your batteries close to your body to extend their battery life by keeping them warm. You can charge your batteries at tea houses for a price. It is smart to bring your own power bank to save money.
To avoid disappointment, make a shot list and research how to get those images before you get there.
Though Everest Base Camp is a highly photographed trek, you should still try to find your own special location along the trail to fulfill your creative vision! The best photos are those that are your own interpretation of the world around you!
We hope you found this photography guide of Everest Base Camp helpful in preparing for your trek! If you’ve gone let us know where your best shots were taken. The adventure consultants here at Adventurehero always look forward to helping guests plan their trips. Don’t hesitate to reach out by clicking on the chat box in the bottom of the post. Please like, comment, and subscribe to our mailing list to let us know how we’re doing. Happy Shooting!
