Star Gazing: Night Photography at Base Camp

Capturing the Milky Way over the Everest Summit

The Roof of the World at Night

The sky at Everest Base Camp is unlike anywhere else on Earth. With zero light pollution and thin air, the stars appear close enough to touch. Here is how to photograph them on your Mount Everest expedition.

The Right Tripod

Long exposures require total stability. Bring a lightweight carbon tripod that can handle the wind at Everest Base Camp. It’s essential for clear shots of the Mount Everest summit under the stars.

Night Sky with Milky Way over Everest
Manual Focus at Night

Auto-focus fails in the dark. You must manually focus on a bright star to ensure the Mount Everest summit is sharp in your long exposure. It’s a skill worth practicing before your Everest trekking trip.

The 500 Rule

Use the '500 rule' to avoid star trails. Divide 500 by your focal length to find the max exposure time. This keeps the stars as points of light above the Mount Everest summit.

Worth the Cold

Waking up at 2 AM is freezing, but the result is a one-of-a-kind image of the Mount Everest summit that captures the true magic of a Mount Everest expedition.