For most visitors, the sight of Mount Everest (Qomolangma), rising 8,848 meters, is an unforgettable and breathtaking experience — provided the sky is clear.
Before reaching Everest, visitors must pay an entrance fee to Qomolangma National Park at Shegar (or Tingri, if arriving from the Nepal side): 405 yuan per vehicle plus 65 yuan per passenger.
Along the way lies Rongbuk Monastery, at 4,980 meters the highest monastery in the world. About 8 km further south is the first base camp, more or less densely dotted with tents depending on the season. A travel permit is required to visit Everest, which is straightforward to obtain if traveling with an agency that also arranges a driver and jeep.
Visitors who feel the effects of altitude strongly are advised to cover the final stretch to base camp by horse cart or motorbike taxi rather than on foot, and to consider skipping a night at the tent camp (5 km from base camp itself) in favor of staying in a lower-altitude town instead. If altitude isn't causing major discomfort, a visit to Everest can be rounded off with a night at the tent camp — these are large communal tents sleeping more than 20 people, with very basic sanitary facilities; warm clothing (don't forget a hat) and a flashlight are essential for the night. Early symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, insomnia, dizziness) should be taken seriously but not overdramatized — full physical fitness is important beforehand, and descending to lower altitude is advisable if symptoms worsen.
