Visitors venturing into high altitude will likely have to catch their breath as they climb rocky steps and wander the monastery’s peaceful grounds. Travelers can stop en route to Mount Everest Base Camp or stay the night in quiet rooms perfect for evening reflection. No heat, no electricity, and no modern amenities mean a monk-like experience, and visitors agree there’s nothing more incredible than waking up to pristine views of the world’s most iconic snow-capped mountain.
Rongbuk Monastery is located on the north side of Mount Everest at the end of the Dzakar Chu Valley. It’s 5 miles (8 kilometers) along a dirt road from Base Camp; cars are not officially allowed on the road, so many travelers make the three-hour trek or hire a horse-drawn cart. The only way to get to the monastery from Lhasa is by car.
The best times to visit the monastery for the best chance of clear weather are the pre- and post-monsoon periods (February to May and September to December).
Rongbuk Monastery plays host to a couple of excellent Tibetan cultural festivals throughout the year. April 15 on the Tibetan calendar marks the Saka Dawa Festival, a celebration of the birthday of Sakyamuni—the founder of the Buddhist religion. The three-day festival includes dancing and performances by monks from across Tibet. Another festival on December 29 of the Tibetan calendar aims to placate wandering ghosts.
