mount everest tour guides

• / Expeditions
• / Seven Summits

THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Mount Everest is still the ultimate mountaineering adventure. To stand at the pinnacle of the Earth is one of life's most rewarding experiences. As pioneers of guided ascents on Everest, Adventure Consultants is recognised as the premier guiding service with a superb reputation for enabling members of our expeditions to achieve summit aspirations.

An attempt on Everest is a committing undertaking which requires a huge amount of dedication and determination. If you are serious about achieving the top and feel you have the right ingredients and experience, we invite you to apply for a position on our team in 2025, on what will be our twenty-ninth Everest expedition.

The Adventure Consultants methodology and tactical approach to climbing Mount Everest has seen us achieve the highest success rates and our extensive experience gives us the edge when it comes to the big decisions. We provide a consistently higher Sherpa and guide ratio than any other operator, resulting in more support and backup for your summit attempt and therefore a greater safety margin and chance of success.

We are constantly developing and evolving our operational systems to ensure you participate in the best expedition available. We figure our expedition members do not deserve anything less! In the interests of giving you the most optimal chance to summit, we limit our team size to ensure the group summits on the best weather day; sometimes there is only one summit day! Large teams offering cheap climbs often miss out as they split their groups over several potential summit days.

Our guides are seasoned professionals who are trained and assessed through the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) resulting in a greater repertoire of skills that enables them to provide a dedicated level of security to you during the expedition. The guide's contribution is predominantly around making decisions to keep you safe and healthy and to avoid mishap. This is based on years of first-hand experience on the mountain and is in contrast to startup operators looking to learn the ropes at your expense or locally-led groups which are wanting of preventative strategies and back-up contingency in case of mishap.

For two decades we have been at the forefront of providing the most current communications systems for our expeditions. These deliver comprehensive weather forecasts which enable us to plan our ascent around favourable weather. Additional meteorological interpretation provided by veteran Everest guides through our head office in New Zealand helps manage the decision-making process.

Our Wi-Fi data connection allows you to keep in touch with sponsors, business, friends and family via email, social media accounts or blog throughout the expedition from the comfort of your tent or our Base Camp lounge. The comfortable Base Camp environment and the quality of food provided by AC is legendary. Our cooks are regarded as the best in the business, providing wholesome and appetising meals with an agreeable array of menus to suit all your food requirements. The meals you are served on the mountain are also of the highest standard and designed to sustain you for the rigours of the ascent. For those with specific needs - we can cater to special dietary requirements.

In line with our objective to ensure you receive the best possible level of care while you are on the expedition, we provide a dedicated Base Camp doctor who is there specifically to ensure the wellbeing of the team members. We have had it confirmed time and again that this consistently makes a crucial contribution to the success rate and well-being of our team members.

You can customize your expedition by adding further service options to complement your ascent, such as private expeditions, additional Sherpa support, Everest Traverse from south to north, training schedules and much more. There is no doubt that an attempt of Mount Everest is a committing and serious undertaking. It takes a huge amount of dedication and determination to be successful. We work with you to help develop a suitable training program and a schedule of preparatory ascents to give you the best chance of achieving that lofty goal.

If you are serious about being successful on an ascent of the world’s highest mountain—and you want an environment that gives you the best chance of attaining that goal in a relaxed team atmosphere or private expedition—then Adventure Consultants is the perfect choice.

• Climb with the pioneers of Everest expedition guiding
• 1:1 Sherpa to climber ratio on summit day and 1:4 ratio of Western Guides
• No other operator offers so much in the way of resources and personnel to help you achieve success!
• High flow oxygen package for all team members

Expedition Level

8,850m/29,035ft

Arrive in Kathmandu

Kathmandu Preparations

Trek to Base Camp 5,300m/17,400ft

Establish camps and acclimatise

Clean up and depart Base Camp

Trek to Lukla

Fly from Lukla back to Kathmandu

Depart Kathmandu

Departures and Pricing

Looking for a specific date? Book a private expedition

The need for exceptional physical fitness cannot be over-emphasised. A regular, strenuous programme must be followed for many months to achieve the level of fitness required. We recommend a training programme tailored to mountaineering such as those from Uphill Athlete .

You must be able to efficiently climb ice, snow and rock terrain, multiple days in a row. Climbers will ideally have a broad set of climbing skills from basic rock climbing to advanced cramponing on snow and ice and strong rope skills such as rappelling and rope ascending. You should be comfortable with camp craft and self-care at high altitude.

Prior ascents of multiple 6000-7000m peaks are required (such as Denali, Aconcagua , Peak Lenin , 6000m peaks in Nepal , or the Ecuador Volcanoes ) and a prior ascent of an 8000m peak, such as Cho Oyu , is strongly recommended. This will allow you to fine-tune your skills and equipment and discover how you personally cope with extreme altitude.

When you climb Everest with Adventure Consultants you'll join a small team of companionable people who are focused on reaching the summit in good style with the highest level of support and safety standards possible. You'll enjoy the  best standards of food and equipment that are attainable - not just at Base Camp, but where it counts the most; on the mountain.

Our methodology and tactical approach to climbing Mount Everest has seen us achieve the highest success rates and our extensive experience gives us the edge when it comes to the big decisions. We provide a consistently higher Sherpa and Guide ratio than any other operator , resulting in more support and backup for your summit attempt and therefore a greater safety margin and chance of success.

In the interests of giving you the most optimal chance to summit, we limit our team size to ensure the team summits on the best weather day ; sometimes there is only one summit day! Large teams offering cheap climbs often miss out as they split their groups over several potential summit days.

Our g uides are seasoned professionals certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations ( IFMGA ) to ensure your safety throughout the expedition. Our experienced Sherpa team is enthusiastic, motivated, and regarded as the strongest and most cohesive group of Sherpas on Mount Everest. They have dozens of Everest summits between them. 

You'll benefit from a higher flow of oxygen than other expeditions (sleeping on 1l/min and climbing on 4l/min), maximizing safety and success. Your overnight gear will be carried between camps , meaning you only carry what you need for the day.

We provide a dedicated Base Camp doctor  - proven to make a crucial contribution to our success rate and the well-being of the team members. Our Base Camp Manager ensures the smooth running of the expedition. Our Expedition Chef and cooks are regarded as the best in the business, providing wholesome and appetising meals with a range of menus to suit all your food requirements. Meals on the mountain are also of the highest standard and designed to sustain you for the rigours of the ascent. For those with specific needs, we can cater to special dietary requirements.

For three decades we have been at the forefront of providing the most current communications systems for our expeditions. These deliver comprehensive weather forecasts from our Swiss meteorologists which enable us to plan our ascent around favourable weather. Additional meteorological interpretation provided by veteran Everest guides through our head office in New Zealand helps manage the decision-making process. Our Wi-Fi data connection allows you to keep in touch throughout the expedition from the comfort of your tent or our Base Camp lounge.

The comfortable Base Camp environment and the quality of food is legendary . On the mountain, our camps are comfortable but not excessive - eliminating unnecessary additional loads to be carried through the icefall.

The price of your trip includes the following:

• 1:4 Western guide ratio 
• 1:1 Sherpa to climber ratio on summit day
• High Flow Bottled oxygen
• Personal equipment carried on the mountain
• Helicopter flights Kathmandu-Lukla and return
• Expedition Base Camp Doctor
• High-end Base Camp and mountain camps
• Excellent food and catering
• Wi-Fi at Base Camp
• Regular dispatches for families and friends to follow your expedition updated daily by guides and Base Camp staff, and semi-hourly on summit day
• Comprehensive support from our New Zealand office team.

The ridge between the  South Summit and the true summit  of Mt Everest, is actually the best climbing on the mountain.  Views aren't bad either.

There is nothing like being on the highest summit in the world to bring a smile to your face! 

Adventure Consultants guides are focused on your safety and success.

Numerous climbers have achieved the remarkable feat of summiting Mount Everest with Adventure Consultants. Guided by the expertise of the company's seasoned guides, these individuals showcase a diverse array of stories marked by determination and triumph. United by the shared goal of conquering the world's highest peak, they exemplify the spirit of adventure and the resilience inherent in human pursuit of extraordinary achievements. The success of these climbers with Adventure Consultants underscores the company's legacy in facilitating remarkable ascents.

"Would simply say to other climbers if they want the best possible experience go with Adventure Consultants. I can honestly say I think about the whole Everest experience every day of my life and reminisce what an incredible trip it was and how lucky I was to share it with such wonderful people. As Guy says, keep doing it AC style."

"Maximisation of chance to get to the top would be the main reason I would recommend Adventure Consultants . Small group numbers and flexibility. Detailed dispatches were greatly appreciated. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and never once felt fear or apprehension. Looking forward to climbing with AC again."

"The guides were exceptional in selecting the best strategic plan that put us all in the best position we could have been in to reach the summit. While others moved into weather unnecessarily, Mike was amazing at patiently placing us on the best days to advance and climb."

The Explorer's Grand Slam awaits! Join the exclusive club of explorer's that have climbed the Seven Summits and skied to both the North and South Poles!

Tick off another 8,000er! Join one of our scheduled  Gasherbrum 1 and 2 , Dhaulagiri, Cho Oyu or Manalsu expeditions or plan a custom expedition .

Need an RMI account? Create an account

Register With Us

Already have an account? Sign in

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Confirm Password *

The password must meet the following criteria:

• At least 8 characters
• At least 1 lowercase letter
• At least 1 uppercase letter
• At least 1 number
• At least 1 symbol (allowed symbols: !?@#$%^&/*()[]{}><,.+-=;)

Keep up to date with information about our latest climbs by joining our mailing list. Sign up and we'll keep you informed about new adventures, special offers, competitions, and news. Privacy Policy

Mt. Everest South Side

Type in the number of people in your climbing party and the list of available trips will update.

Show Trip Info

Check availability.

• Number of Climbers

• International
• Mount Rainier
• North Cascades
• Skills Clinic
• Ice Climbing
• Ski Programs
• Women's Expeditions

• Seven Summits
• Kilimanjaro
• Climb & Safari

Vinson Massif

• Latin / South America
• Chile Ski Mountaineering
• Torres del Paine Trek
• Volcanoes - Winter
• Volcanoes - Summer
• Ecuador Seminar
• Cotopaxi Express
• Illimani and Huayna Potosi
• Orizaba & Ixtaccihuatl
• Machu Picchu
• Peru Seminar
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Everest Base Camp & Lobuche
• Everest Custom
• Summit Climb Programs
• Four Day Climb
• Five Day Climb
• Mount Rainier Weather Information
• Mountaineering Seminars
• Emmons Seminar
• Kautz Seminar
• Muir Seminar
• Paradise Seminar
• Mountaineering Skills
• Crevasse Rescue Skills
• Denali Expeditions
• West Buttress
• Custom Expedition with Dave Hahn
• Alpine Climbing
• Little Switzerland
• Alaska Seminars
• Kahiltna Glacier Seminar
• Ruth Glacier Seminar
• Mount Baker
• North Ridge
• Easton Glacier
• Summit & Ski Descent
• Easton Seminar
• Coleman-Deming Seminar
• Backcountry Ski & Ride
• Leave No Trace Instructor Course
• LNT Level 2 Instructor Course
• Mount Shuksan
• Sulphide Glacier
• Fisher Chimneys
• Shuksan Seminar
• Glacier Peak
• Glacier Peak Climb
• Forbidden Peak
• Private & Custom Climbs
• Custom Climbs
• INTERNATIONAL
• MOUNT RAINIER
• NORTH CASCADES
• Baker Seminar
• LNT Level 2 Instructor & Baker Climb
• LNT Level 2 Course & Baker Climb
• Hyalite Intro to Ice
• Hyalite Intermediate Ice
• Ski Mountaineering
• Mount Baker Summit & Ski Descent
• Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari
• Machu Picchu Trek
• Explore something new with our Adventure Finder
• Mt Rainier Weather Information
• Mt Rainier Cultural Landscape
• Denali Cultural Landscape
• Summit Registry
• Find Your Adventure
• Fitness & Training
• Technical Skills
• Leave No Trace Videos

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

• Why Climb with RMI?
• Responsible Climbing
• Employment Opportunities
• Diversity Equity Inclusion

Price / Deposit

$74,000 / $ 15,000

Mountaineering

Led by Everest's most experienced guides and supported by some of the best Sherpa staff on the mountain, our Everest Expedition is the ideal approach to climbing the world's tallest mountain.

Qualifications

Mt. Everest. The tallest mountain in the world soars almost five and a half miles into the sky and pierces the jet stream with its iconic summit. Embarking on an expedition to Mt. Everest can be the pinnacle of a climbing career and deserves all of the personal support and guidance that RMI offers.

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Join a small and personal climbing team with a 3:1 climber to guide ratio and a 1:1 climber to Sherpa ratio.
• Enjoy the best Base Camp facilities available.
• Take comfort in the comprehensive medical support available through our unlimited access to Everest's Base Camp clinic and highly trained guides.
• Navigate the Khumbu Icefall, cross the Yellow Band, and ascend the Hillary Step with the guidance and partnership of RMI's experienced Everest guides .
• Take part in an RMI Everest Expedition and see why we continue to set the standard in guiding excellence.

RMI's small, exclusive team is led by tenured RMI Guide and Everest veterans. RMI's guiding approach on Everest differs notably from many other guide services as we intentionally keep our team small. Instead of running a large expedition with many climbers, we focus our attention on leading a more personal climbing team, concentrating our resources on each individual to ensure the safest, most enjoyable, and most successful experience possible for each one of our climbers. RMI's Everest Expedition has one of the best climber-to-guide ratios on the mountain. This lower ratio provides our climbers with many benefits including:

• Providing the flexibility to tailor climbing agendas and acclimatization schedules to individual needs.
• Giving climbers consistent guidance from our experienced western guides throughout the climb.
• Allowing our climbers to build solid rapports with their guides and fellow team members; we share our meals around one table, discuss route and weather conditions together, and plan and approach the climb as a close-knit team.
• Superior Sherpa support.

Having a smaller team facilitates stronger team dynamics, better communication, individualized attention, helps avoid the fragmentation inherent to larger expeditions, and we believe creates the strongest and most enjoyable climbing team possible.

With over four decades of mountain guiding experience RMI has rightfully earned our standing as one of the most distinguished guide services in the world: we maintain strict standards of safety, climb with small ratios, offer an unparalleled level of service, provide you with the best, most experienced Mt. Everest guides, and have an infrastructure that is entirely geared toward your individual safety and success on Mt. Everest .

THE RMI DIFFERENCE

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. was established in 1969 and is one of America's oldest and most-trusted guide services. We are the largest guide service on Mt. Rainier and Denali and a leader in guiding climbs and treks around the globe. Our experienced guides are some of the best in the world, more than 40 of whom have reached the summit of Mt. Everest, some multiple times. Our years of leading mountain adventures give us the experience and knowledge necessary to create the best possible trips. We work hard to live up to our reputation as an industry leader.

Our guides on Everest are some of the best on the mountain and bring years of Himalayan experience to the expedition. Working closely with the team is Mark Tucker , our Base Camp Manager. Mark's incredible depth of experience, patience, wit, and humor make him one of the most respected leaders in Base Camp. In addition, we are fortunate to have very experienced Sherpa teams on the mountain as our partners in Nepal. Our relationships there are the key to our trip's success. Experience and local knowledge are invaluable in the mountains and RMI's Nepali Staff is some of the best around. The unparalleled support our team has throughout the climb is one of the major factors behind our success.

During our trek into Base Camp we stay exclusively in teahouses that have been hand picked by our guides for their quality, cleanliness, and service. At Base Camp we enjoy comfortable accommodations with personal sleeping tents, storage areas, shower facilities, private toilets, and excellent heated dining facilities. Solar power at Base Camp keeps us connected to home via high speed internet, charges personal computers and other electronic devices, and allows us to maintain excellent emergency contact with the outside world. We receive up to the minute information from a weather forecasting service for safer, more successful decision-making.

RMI provides excellent food at Base Camp and on the mountain, keeping our spirits elevated and health in order. Consequently our groups don't suffer the physical deterioration seen in many Everest teams. Our professional, experienced cooks maintain the highest standards of hygiene and our diverse menu is complemented by a constant supply of fresh vegetables as well as luxuries and "comfort foods" brought specially from the United States. Our exceptional focus on detail, our unparalleled level of climber attention, and our genuine passion of these adventures are what make our programs truly memorable.

Safety has always been RMI's top priority and we strive to create the safest mountain experience possible. Our experienced team of guides and Sherpa focus on leading a fun and successful climb without compromising safety.

Our climber-to-guide ratio is 3:1, and our Sherpa-to-climber ratio is 1:1. This low ratio increases our margin of safety on the mountain and improves your chances of success.

Our camps are stocked with comprehensive medical kits and we have two Gamow bags on the mountain throughout the expedition. Our guides and staff are highly trained in emergency mountain medicine and work to maintain our strict standards of safety. When problems arise on the mountain, away from medical facilities, the level of training and experience RMI's guides have makes them some of the most sought after guides in the profession. As partners with the Himalayan Rescue Associate (HRA) we have unlimited access to their doctors and clinic at Base Camp ensuring that we have the best medical professionals at our side.

Careful planning and vigilant care are taken as we venture into high altitudes. Our well-planned use of climbing oxygen dramatically improves a climber's chance of success on Mt. Everest. Our supply of oxygen is well stocked and designed to meet any climber's anticipated, and unanticipated, needs.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Participants on our Mt. Everest Guided Expedition must have a solid understanding of mountaineering skills. We require that each team member have previous high altitude experience, such as Denali , Aconcagua , Cho Oyu or other 7,000 - 8,000 meter peaks. Screening and final selection will be done on an individual basis after we have reviewed your climbing resume and our veteran Everest Guides have spoken with you directly.

As you prepare for your upcoming adventure please feel free to contact our office and speak directly to one of our experienced guides regarding equipment, conditioning, the route, or any other questions you may have about our programs. We are available Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT at (888) 89-CLIMB or [email protected] .

Why Climb Everest With RMI?

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. is one of America's most reputable and long-standing guide services with over five decades of mountain guiding experience. Simply stated, we excel at bringing climbers to the highest mountains of the world. Our commitment to leading extraordinary mountain adventures, our unparalleled logistical support, and our world-class leadership make our Mt. Everest Expedition unmatched.

RMI's Approach

• Safety is RMI's number one priority and nothing trumps its importance.
• The most experienced and renowned guides in the profession.
• Our guides are well regarded climbers and mountaineering instructors. They are highly trained in technical rescue and in wilderness and mountain medicine.

Climbing Ratios

• Small team ratios of 3:1 climber-to-guide and 1:1 climber-to-Sherpa.
• Small team ratios facilitate stronger team dynamics, excellent communication, and individualized attention.
• RMI is involved in every step of the planning, preparation, and packing of our expedition.
• Our behind-the-scenes logistics are not left to others, ensuring that each and every detail of expedition planning is addressed and met.

Expedition Execution

• Small ratios and extensive logistical support give us a high level of flexibility and the individual focus needed on the mountain, from acclimatization scheduling to individual food preferences.
• We intentionally avoid locking our expedition into predetermined itineraries and plans, choosing instead to tailor our climb to the needs of our climbers and the realities of the mountain conditions.
• With years of experience, our phenomenal Sherpa staff are among the most experienced and well regarded in the Himalaya. They each have dozens of Himalayan summits and offer superior attentive support for our expedition.
• Our Sherpa pursue ongoing technical training between expeditions under internationally accredited guide training programs.
• All of our Sherpas receive equipment stipends as well as First Ascent down suits for each expedition and have complete access to medical consultation and care on Everest.
• We outfit a comprehensive and comfortable Base Camp on the mountain, including heated dining tents, hot showers, communications tent with re-charging equipment, private toilets, individual sleeping tents, full-time cooks and great food, as well as a selection of entertainment and games.
• We address all of the necessities, as well as luxuries, to keep our climbers comfortable and happy - and ultimately strong and healthy - throughout the climb.
• Dedicated professional cooks at Base Camp and Camp 2 (ABC) who prepare excellent, healthy meals.
• We have well-stocked inventories that include hundreds of pounds of specialty food brought from the U.S., offering excellent variety and selection.
• A flexible and diverse menu accommodates our differing tastes and changing appetites.

Base Camp Manager

• A full time, dedicated, experienced Base Camp Manager supports our team throughout the entire climb.

On-Mountain Camps

• Our mountain camps are well stocked with emergency supplies, and medical and rescue equipment.
• A full-time cook staffs Camp 2.
• Our guides are highly trained in medical and technical rescue and carry medical and rescue equipment with them at all times.
• As partners with the Himalayan Rescue Association's (HRA) Everest Base Camp Clinic, our entire team of climbers, guides and Sherpa has unlimited access to the Clinic and consultation with their full-time doctors.

Weather Forecasts

• We use a private weather forecasting service with Himalayan experience to keep us current with the latest trends and developments in weather patterns throughout the expedition.

Communications

• All of our climbers, guides, and Sherpa are outfitted with personal radios.
• We provide access to phone, email, and satellite communications at Base Camp.
• We can help arrange personal cell phone, email, and satellite communications equipment as needed.

Expedition Dispatches

• RMI posts daily expedition updates to our blog, including photos and audio dispatches, to help keep friends, family, and general followers up-to-date with the latest progress of the climb.

Environmental Impact

• RMI has pioneered and championed Leave No Trace ethics on mountains all around the world and we hold ourselves to the same high standards on Mt. Everest.
• We remove excess packaging before the trip to minimize waste and carry all of our trash and unused supplies off of the mountain.
• We use biodegradable bags to ensure proper human waste disposal.
• Our custom-built solar photovoltaic power system supplies 100% of our electric needs. We have not used the standard noisy generator on Everest in over two years!
• Our efforts keep camps clean and quiet, preserve the Khumbu's water supplies, reduce our use of fossil fuels, and minimize our overall environmental impact.

Depart the US for Kathmandu, Nepal. During your flight you will cross the International Date Line and travel time is approximately two - three days.

*If your connections/routing take less than three days, adjust your departure from the US to Day 2.

KATHMANDU • 4,383' | 1,336M

Arrive in Kathmandu. We are transferred to our hotel for some rest and recovery before our evening reception and welcome dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

KATHMANDU • 4,383' | 1,336M

Situated in a bowl shaped valley in central Nepal, Kathmandu is the largest city in Nepal and the cosmopolitan heart of the Himalayan Region. Today the itinerary focuses on a thorough team meeting / orientation and equipment check, fitting for oxygen masks, and any other last minute preparations.The rest of the day is spent enjoying the city and local cuisine. Overnight in Kathmandu. (B)

PHAKDING • 8,700' | 2,652M

Lukla (9,350') to Phakding (8,700'). Trekking time is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Today we fly to Lukla, the village where our trek to Everest Base Camp begins. The airport in Lukla is the Tenzing Norgay Airport, and landing on the STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) runway is an experience in itself. It is usually very busy in Lukla as different expeditions are getting everything organized for the trek. From here on out, there are no more vehicles or roads, just a network of villages connected by footpaths. After we meet our Sherpa team we start trekking along the Dudh Kosi River as we travel to Phakding. We spend the night at a small teahouse on the bank of the milky-blue Dudh Kosi. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

NAMCHE BAZAAR • 11,300' | 3,444M

Phakding (8,700') to Namche Bazaar (11,300'). Trekking time is 4 1/2 to 5 hours.

Hike to historic Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the high Himalayas and the Sherpa community's central meeting place. Namche is where lowland porters bearing supplies meet the highland Sherpa and Tibetan people who have journeyed over high passes from many miles away to trade food and supplies for their home or village. Namche's busy shops, delicious bakeries, and jovial feel are a welcome sight after making the long climb up from the valley floor below. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

Today is an acclimatization day in Namche. We wander the narrow, stone-lined streets of Namche, visiting the village's small museums, monastery, stupas, and stop in for a treat at one of the cafes (known locally as bakeries). There are also well-stocked shops to meet any last minute needs. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

We build upon our acclimatization by going for a short hike to the surrounding villages of Khunde and Khumjung to visit the historic Hillary School and Hillary Hospital. Our hike takes us along the more remote paths between the villages, offering glimpses of the peaks higher up the valley, before returning us to Namche for the evening. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

DEBOCHE • 12,325' | 3,757M

Namche Bazaar (11,300') to Deboche (12,325'). Trekking time is approximately 4 to 5 hours.

We leave Namche and climb up the valley to Tengboche, the largest Sherpa monastery in the Khumbu area. From the monastery's front steps we have excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. We descend from the ridge where the monastery is located into the quiet forest of fir and rhododendron forests below that surround our teahouse at Deboche. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

DEBOCHE • 12,325' | 3,757M

This is an acclimatization day and an opportunity to explore the Deboche area. We make the short walk back to the Tengboche Monastery to wander its grounds and sit in on the monks' daily prayers. There are many cozy spots amongst the trees to relax in the sun and read, making Deboche a favorite resting place for climbers preparing for their summit bids later in the spring. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

PHERICHE • 13,950' | 4,252M

We hike to Pheriche via the small village of Pangboche. We follow the Imja River which flows directly east of the village to Pangboche, a large Sherpa village at the foot of Ama Dablam. We continue to follow the river to Pheriche. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

PHERICHE • 13,950' | 4,252M

We stay another night in Pheriche to continue our acclimatization. We will visit the clinic of the Himalayan Rescue Association and take a day hike up the Imja Khola valley toward Chukkung, offering spectacular views of Ama Dablam's seldom seen north side. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

LOBUCHE • 16,175' | 4,930M

Pheriche (13,950') to Lobuche (16,175'). Trekking time is approximately 4 to 5 hours.

We ascend to the village of Lobuche, tucked below Lobuche Peak. Our trail takes us past the memorials for climbers made up of dozens of large rock stupas and strings of prayer flags at the top of Thokla Pass. Along the way we leave the last of the large vegetation and enter into the alpine zone and our trail may have a covering of snow from here. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

During our acclimatization day we take a short walk to visit the Italian Research Pyramid that conducts altitude research and helps track the current weather conditions on Mt. Everest. There is ample time to play cards, read, and take it easy - a little rest and relaxation before moving up to 17,000'. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

EVEREST BASE CAMP • 17,575' | 5,357M

Lobuche (16,175') to Everest BC (17,575'). Trekking time is approximately 5 to 6 hours.

We complete the last stretch of our trek, leaving the dirt and grasses of the mountainous valley and setting out across the ice and rock of the Khumbu Glacier into Everest Base Camp. We move into our tents and home fore the upcoming weeks at the RMI Everest Expedition's Camp, admiring the stunning panorama of peaks surrounding us. Overnight in tents. (B, L, D)

Once at Everest Base Camp the itinerary can vary greatly, this is only an outline of the expedition's movements. If weather and conditions allow for all team members to summit earlier, then the program schedule will be moved accordingly. Similarly, if the summit attempt is delayed we will arrange for extra days.

Day 16 to Completion

Upon arriving at Base Camp several days will be spent resting and acclimatizing with short day hikes to several spectacular viewpoints around the area such as Kala Patar and Pumori Camp 1. We will use the giant pressure ridges of ice around Base Camp to practice our climbing techniques - becoming comfortable on fixed lines, steep, icy slopes, and ladder crossings. Within a few days of our arrival at Base Camp we will also have our Puja Ceremony, a deeply meaningful and very exciting Buddhist ceremony led by a local lama before the start of any climbing expedition.

With our bodies acclimating to Base Camp, our Puja ceremony completed, and our training accomplished, we begin our acclimatization rounds on the mountain. Over the next weeks we will slowly work our way up the mountain, acclimatizing to higher and higher elevations and becoming familiar and comfortable with the terrain. Our first efforts will be short trips into the Khumbu Icefall, reaching Camp 1 at almost 20,000' where we will spend a few nights. We will then push up to Camp 2, at the head of the Western Cwm at over 21,000' where additional nights make our bodies stronger in the thin air. On our next round our goal is Camp 3, perched at 23,750' on the Lhotse Face. There, we will perfect our climbing with fixed lines and familiarize ourselves with our oxygen systems. Finally, after resting back in Base Camp we will embark on our summit push, climbing to Camp 4 at 26,000' on the South Col. From the South Col we will climb up the Triangular Face to the Balcony, over the South Summit, up the Hillary Step, and to the top of the world!

The number of days this will take our team will vary due to weather, acclimatization, team strength, the number of acclimatization rounds we make, and other circumstances that will affect our progress. Our guides will use their vast mountain experience, knowledge, and decision-making abilities to maximize each climber's chance of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest.

Everest Base Camp (17,775') to Pheriche (13,950'). Trekking time is approximately 5 to 6 hours.

We leave Base Camp and trek back along the Khumbu Glacier down to our lodge in Pheriche for some "thick" air and a good night's sleep. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

Pheriche (13,950') to Namche Bazaar (11,300'). Trekking time is approximately 6 to 8 hours.

The downhill trek along the river allows for breathtaking photos of Ama Dablam as it towers ominously above us. As we descend the smells of the pine forests and blooming rhododendrons overwhelm the senses after so many days up high. In Namche we treat ourselves to much deserved yak steaks, beer, and pastries. After Everest Base Camp, the narrow streets of Namche feel like a big city! Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

LUKLA • 9,350' | 2,850M

Namche Bazaar (11,300') to Lukla (9,350'). Trekking time is approximately 5 - 7 hours.

Our last day on the trail. We hike down from Namche to Lukla, crossing the eleven swaying suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi and re-entering the fertile valleys of the lower Khumbu. Overnight in lodge. (B, L, D)

KATHMANDU • 4,383' | 1,336M

The scenic morning flight back to Kathmandu gives us one last chance to say farewell to the mountains. The afternoon in Kathmandu is open for exploring or just relaxing. (B)

CONTINGENCY DAY

This day is available in case of delayed flights in or out of Lukla or if weather postpones our trip at any point.

Depart Kathmandu. 

 Arrive home.

Travel Consultant

CTT Destinations Travel Coordinator Pirjo DeHart has served climbers and adventurers for over 25 years. Specializing in small corporate and adventure travel, she works to assure your trip is stress free by taking care of the practical travel details. Each trip is handled with the utmost attention to detail so that you may focus on your adventure. You can contact Pirjo by phone at (425) 831-0367 or email: [email protected] .

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is required for this trip with a medical evacuation policy with minimum coverage of $500,000. Your travel insurance policy should include trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage loss or delay, medical expenses, and evacuation.

Navigating through the different options for travel insurance can be challenging. When purchasing Travel Insurance, here are a few items to consider:

• Read the fine print. Travel Insurance will reimburse you when canceling for a covered reason for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs that you insure. However, there are exclusions, so make sure you understand the "covered reasons."
• Confirm that your activity is a covered “activity.” Not all travel insurance policies will offer coverage for activities such as mountaineering, climbing, skiing, or trekking adventures. Policies can also exclude coverage for activities due to the gear used (crampons, ice axe), activities that go above specific elevations or activities in a particular region of the world. If there are exclusions, you may need to add an "Adventure" or "Sports" package to cover your activity.
• Verify that your state of residence is allowed with the policy that you are purchasing. Not all insurance companies offer policies in all 50 states.
• Contact your travel protection company directly for any questions you have regarding benefits or coverage.

We have partnered with  Travelex Insurance  because they offer certain policies specifically designed for adventure travel with coverages for remote areas and activities like mountaineering, climbing, skiing, and trekking, without any altitude restrictions. 

For your convenience, we offer Travelex Insurance Services, Inc.(CA Agency License #0D10209) travel protection plans to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. 

For more information on the available plans visit  Travelex Insurance Services  or contact Travelex Insurance (800) 228-9792 and reference location number 47-0370. 

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; NAIC #22276.

Security & Medical Evacuation

Travel Advisories / Warnings

Please confirm any current travel advisories/warnings as well as entry requirements with the U.S. Department of State.

Getting There

During your flight to Kathmandu (KTM) you will cross the International Date Line. Travel time is approximately three days. If you want to see the mountains as you fly into Kathmandu, make sure you sit on the right-hand side of the plane.

Entry Requirements

A valid passport is required for entering Nepal. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the expected date of return. U.S. passport holders can stay up to 90 days without special visas.

We suggest making a copy of the first two pages of your passport and keeping them in a separate bag as a backup. A copy should also be left with your emergency contact.

Nepal: All foreigners (except Indian Nationals) require visas, which can be obtained in advance or upon arrival with one passport photo and payment in cash (U.S. Dollars).

Airport Arrival

Upon arrival at the Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport (KTM), follow signs to the Arrivals Building. Proceed to the visa counter for Visitors without a Visa . The debarkation and visa application forms you need are available both on your incoming flight as well as in the arrivals building. You will need one passport photo for your visa application.

Once you receive your bags from Baggage Claim, you will proceed to Customs. Be sure to keep all your bags together.

Outside the arrivals hall there will be a large group of taxi drivers and agents from many hotels and travel companies. Look for a sign with the name Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. A private vehicle will take us to our hotel.

In-Country Transportation

The provided transportation in Nepal as stated in the itinerary is via authorized taxi or private vehicle.

Immunizations & Travel Medicine

For the most current information on inoculation requirements and recommendations, please refer to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention .

Traveler's Health

Travelers may suffer from upset stomachs when in foreign countries. There are some basic rules, however, that can help keep you healthy.

Hygiene - It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before meals and after using the restroom. If water is not available for washing, we recommend using a hand sanitizer.

Water - The number one rule is: don't drink the water, and that includes shower water and ice! Brush your teeth with purified water rather than tap water. You should check bottled water for a good seal and use a napkin to wipe excess moisture from drinking glasses. Take care with fruit juice, particularly if it has been diluted with water. Carefully clean the tops of bottled beverages before opening.

Food - If it is cooked, boiled or can be peeled, you can usually eat it. Salads and fruits should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Be wary of ice cream and shellfish. Always avoid any undercooked meat.

Medical Emergencies

Excellent care for minor illnesses and injuries is readily available. In the event of more serious illnesses or injuries, we recommend transport to any of the Level 1 care centers in Kathmandu.

Nepal Country Facts

Nepal is one of the world's richest countries in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and altitudinal variation. The country is roughly 497 miles long and 124 miles wide, with an area of 56,827 square miles. The collision between the Indian subcontinent and the Eurasian continent produced the Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau. Nepal lies completely within this collision zone, occupying the central sector of the Himalayan arc, nearly one third of the 1,500 mile-long Himalayan Mountains.

The first civilizations in Nepal, which flourished around the 6th century B.C., were confined to the fertile Kathmandu Valley where the present-day capital is located. It was in this region that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born c. 563 B.C.

Nepali rulers' early patronage of Buddhism largely gave way to Hinduism, reflecting the increased influence of India, around the 12th century. Nepal is now primarily a Hindu country, with more than 80% of the population adhering to that faith.

Until the Kingdom of Nepal became the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in May 2008, it had been ruled in relative isolation by monarchs or a ruling family for most of its modern history. Nepal is home to nearly 29,000,000 people. The population is primarily rural. Kathmandu, the largest city, has less than 1 million inhabitants.

Nepal's lowlands have two seasons: the dry season and the monsoon. The higher mountains have a cold winter as well. The dry season runs from October to May and the wet (monsoon) season from June to September. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) ring nearly perfect weather and are definitely the best times for trekking and climbing.

Cultural Etiquette

Although it is not expected that we dress formally, we should dress modestly. Casual and comfortable clothing is suggested along with comfortable shoes. Except at swimming areas, it is generally considered offensive for a man to take off his shirt in public and, equally, women should be conservatively covered.

"Namaste" is perhaps the most important phrase you should learn when visiting Nepal. It is a greeting that means "salutations to you" or "I bless the divine in you." It is said while at the same time pressing your two hands together in front of you as if in Christian prayer.

When eating, you should only use your right hand. This practice extends to passing food containers and plates with your right hand only.

Nepal has a huge population of beggars. Some are professionals. Others are genuine. The number of street children in Kathmandu can be heartbreaking. Giving money or sealed food to them, however, is also not recommended. To keep from being hassled, a polite but firm "No" is generally sufficient.

A person's head is considered the most revered/spiritual part of the body and therefore it is important that you do not make any kind of physical contact with it. This means that it is unacceptable for you to pat a child on the head.

Nepal is very photogenic and the photos you take will be priceless. Ask for permission before photographing individuals, particularly indigenous people. Many of the locals are used to posing for photographs. If in doubt, either ask or refrain. Don't photograph any government or military property or persons; this includes the airport.

Electricity

Electricity in Kathmandu normally comes as 220 Volts/50 cycles. It is advisable to carry voltage converters and plug adaptors with you while traveling. Voltage converters and plug adaptors are easily accessible at shopping malls in the cities of Nepal and the U.S. Most teahouses and lodges will charge your electronics for a small fee.

The official currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). In Nepal you are almost always required to pay for goods or services with the Nepalese Rupee. It is recommended that you change only as much money as you think you may spend as local currencies cannot be removed from the country or reconverted easily. Check a financial newspaper or www.xe.com for the current exchange rate prior to departure.

We suggest bringing $1,400 - $1,600 total for personal spending money including restaurant meals, drinks, pocket money, and the Support Staff Tip Pool.

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in tourist shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies in Kathmandu. You will find a large number of ATMs in Kathmandu and using ATMs is the common method of obtaining cash. Plan on bringing cash for any purchases you will make while on the trek. While a few teahouses and bakeries in the Khumbu do accept credit cards, they charge a very high commission.

Everyone has a preferred way to carry money. Some use money belts, others have hidden pockets. Whatever you do, be aware of pickpockets and thieves in any area which caters to tourists.

Everyone approaches tipping a little differently. Whether or not a person tips, and how much, is completely dependent upon the individual; here are some suggested tipping guidelines for your trip.

Local waiters, drivers, and other service personnel expect to be tipped. Ten to fifteen percent is standard. Some restaurants and hotels add a 10% service fee to bills in which case, no further tip is required.

Support Staff Tip Pool: We recommend that each climber contribute $900 to the Tip Pool. This is collected at the beginning of the trip and will cover group tips for all our support and mountain staff throughout the program.

Our guides work hard to ensure your well-being and success on the mountain. If you have a positive experience, gratuities are an excellent way to show your appreciation. Amounts are at your discretion and should be based on your level of enjoyment. Tips for excellent service normally average 10 – 15% of the cost of the program. If you would rather not bring the guide gratuity with you on the trip, you can send a check or call the RMI office to pay with a credit card upon your return.

This trip is open to all individuals in excellent physical condition with previous climbing experience. Successful completion of an RMI Expedition Skills Seminar on Mt. Rainier, in Alaska, Peru, Ecuador, North Cascades, or an equivalent multi-day mountaineering seminar is required.

Your climbing resume should include:

• Previous glacier travel experience
• Experience at altitudes above 6,000 meters ( Aconcagua )
• Familiarity with the skills needed for a cold, remote and heavily glaciated peak
• Participation in  Colorado Ice - Introduction  and  Colorado Ice - Intermediate  or equivalent
• Crampon skills on 30 - 50 degree slopes
• Team rope travel skills
• Knots & slings -  Prusik , butterfly, Münter, etc.
• Snow and ice anchors (construction & equalization)
• Belaying and running belay experience
• Crevasse rescue (from both the victim and rescuer perspectives, and considering heavy packs)
• Fixed line travel with mechanical ascenders
• Ice axe self and team arrest, with and without a backpack

Screening and final selection will be done on an individual basis after we have reviewed your climbing experience and our veteran Himalayan Guides have spoken with you directly.

Qualifying Programs

Recommended climbing experiences prior to the Mt. Everest South Side Expedition include:

Mt. Rainier Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons

Mt. Rainier Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise

Denali - West Buttress Expedition

Expedition Skills Seminar - Kahiltna Glacier

Expedition Skills Seminar - Shuksan

Expedition Skills Seminar - Peru

Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life And Then Go Climb A Mountain

Create a fitness and training program, physical fitness training.

Mountaineering requires a high degree of physical stamina and mental toughness. Even for the healthiest and fittest individuals, climbing mountains qualifies as an extremely challenging endeavor.

• Start immediately. Start a rigorous fitness and training program now with the goal of arriving in top physical condition and confident in your skills.
• Be intentional. Focus on gaining the necessary strength, stamina and skills to meet the physical and technical demands of the climb.
• Be sport-specific. The best fitness and training program mimics the physical and technical demands of your climbing objective. The closer you get to your program date, the more your training should resemble the climbing.

For the Mt. Everest South Side Expedition, you are preparing for:

• Steep climbing with a 40-50 lb load
• A 10-12+ hour summit day
• Mountaineering techniques requiring core strength and flexibility

Nothing ensures a personally successful adventure like your level of fitness and training. Bottom line: Plan on being in the best shape of your life and ready for a very challenging adventure!

Please refer to our Resources for Mountaineering Fitness and Training for detailed fitness and training information.

Acclimatization

The key to climbing high is proper acclimatization. Our program follows a calculated ascent profile which allows time for your body to adjust to the altitude.

Excellent physical conditioning significantly increases your ability to acclimatize as you ascend. Climbers in excellent physical condition simply have more energy to commit to the acclimatization process throughout the days and nights of the ascent, allowing their bodies to adjust to the altitude more easily.

Finally, physical performance and acclimatization are also related to how well you have taken care of yourself throughout the hours, days and weeks prior to summit day. Arriving healthy and well-rested, maintaining proper hydration and caloric intake, and protecting against unnecessary heat loss (staying warm) are all key factors in an individual's success on an expedition such as this.

What You’ll Need

A list of required personal equipment accompanies every RMI program, and the thought process behind each item is much greater than simply “preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.” The list for your program takes into account factors such as: seasonality, route conditions, weather, elevation and more. As such, this list is framed within the broadest of contexts and is dynamic by its very nature. Therefore, certain variables (additions and/or subtractions) are inherent within such an all-encompassing list. We make every effort to recommend only top of the line clothing and technical gear and it is never our intention for you to buy or rent unnecessary gear.

The Guide Pick is an example of the listed item, giving you an idea of the material and specifications of the item. This exact item does not need to be purchased or used; however, any item you choose must have similar characteristics and performance abilities to the Guide Pick.

RMI Guides concur on the  potential   necessity  of every item, thus every item on the list is required at gear check. However, guides may also have suggestions derived from their experience, some of which will vary from a given list. The guides’ recommendation whether to bring along or leave behind certain item(s) comes during the gear check, when the team first meets. Occasionally this recommendation comes at the expense of having previously purchased an item. If a guide presents the option of leaving behind certain item(s) on the list of required equipment, it is for a reason. Their recommendation may be related to the weather, route conditions, freezing level, perceived strength of the party, or desired pack weight.

Ultimately, there will never be a consensus for a “perfect” equipment list for an ascent. It does not exist because of the multitude of variables faced by climbers throughout the climb. Please follow this equipment list closely so that you will arrive for the gear check with all the required items. Keep in mind the list is not black and white, fine tuning will occur once you meet with your guide. Have a great climb!

Shop Your Equipment List // Rent new equipment for your climb

Equipment list, pack & travel.

120+ liter bag(s) made of tough material with rugged zippers.

Bring as needed. Make sure these are TSA-compliant.

You will not need a separate summit pack.

Protects your pack from rain while on the trail.

A 25+ liter day pack to use as carry-on or while sightseeing.

Sleeping Bag & Pad

We recommend a bag rated between 0° and -20° F.  If you would prefer NOT to share group bags at the higher camps, you should bring a second bag rated -20° F or lower.

A full-length inflatable pad.

A full-length closed cell foam pad, used in combination with the inflatable sleeping pad.

Technical Gear

The length of your axe depends on your height. Use the following general mountaineering formula: up to 5'8", use a 65 cm axe; 5'8" to 6'2", use a 70 cm axe; and taller, use a 75 cm axe. If you hold the axe so that it hangs comfortably at your side, the spike of the axe should still be a few inches above the ground.

We recommend a comfortable, adjustable alpine climbing harness. Removable, drop seat, or adjustable leg loops are convenient for managing your clothing layers over the course of the climb and facilitate going to the bathroom.

Used for clipping into the climbing rope.

Used for clipping into anchors, etc.

Used for pack ditch loop, etc.

12-point adjustable steel crampons with anti-balling plates designed for general mountaineering use.

Bring extra batteries appropriate to the duration of the climb.

We recommend lightweight and collapsible poles with snow baskets.

A tube-style belay/rappel device that can accept a variety of rope diameters.

For traveling on fixed lines. Most people prefer an ascender designed for their weak hand, leaving their strong hand free to hold their ice axe. For example, a right-handed person would use a left-handed ascender.

60 cm sewn sling ("single-length runner").

6 mm cordelette in one continuous length OR precut into two 4' sections OR two 13.5" Sterling Hollow Block sewn loops.

A UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme) or CE (European Committee for Standardization) certified climbing helmet.

Wool or synthetic hats; one light and one heavy.

A Buff provides versitile head and neck protection. A neck gaiter is also acceptable.

An expedition-weight balaclava to be used in conjunction with your Buff. Your headwear system should leave no exposed skin.

Bring two headlamps for the expedition. The second is for use around camp and to serve as a backup. Be sure to begin the program with fresh batteries and bring extra sets appropriate to the duration of the program.

Glacier glasses are protective sunglasses that provide close to 100% frame coverage (wrap-around frames and side shields ensure no light can enter from the top, bottom, and sides of the glasses) and transmit less than 10% of visual light.

Amber or rose-tinted goggles for adverse weather. On windy days, climbers, especially contact lens wearers, may find photochromatic lenses the most versatile in a variety of light conditions.

Each glove layer is worn separately as conditions change during the climb.

Light weight liner or softshell gloves. Lighter colors absorb less sunlight while still offering UV protection.

Medium weight, wind- and water-resistant insulated gloves for climbing and working around camp. These should be both durable and dexterous enough to allow you to perform activities like setting up or taking down tents while wearing them.

Wind- and water-resistant, insulated gloves.

For summit day and other very cold days. Gloves provide greater dexterity. Mitts provide greater warmth.

We recommend six upper body layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Three of these should be insulating layers, one light, one medium and one heavy that fit well together. Today there are many different layering systems to choose from, including fleece, soft-shell, down and synthetic options.

Long-sleeve wool or synthetic top. Light weight, light-colored, hooded baselayers (sun hoodys) are highly recommended for sun protection.

One step up in warmth and bulk from a baselayer. A technical fleece makes an ideal light weight insulating layer.

A down, synthetic, or softshell hoody makes a great midlayer.

An uninsulated, waterproof shell jacket with hood.

Your expedition-style heavy parka should extend below the waist and must have an insulated hood and be able to fit over the rest of your upper body layers. The parka is worn primarily in camp, at rest breaks, and on summit day when it is of crucial importance. We recommend down rather than synthetic fill.

An 8,000 meter down suit.

We recommend a moisture-wicking, active-wear bra.

We recommend a system of four layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Products which combine several layers into one garment, such as traditional ski pants, don’t work well as they don’t offer the versatility of a layering system.

Non-cotton briefs or boxers.

Synthetic or wool.

Softshell climbing pants can be worn in combination with a base layer on colder days, or alone on warmer days.

Non-insulated, waterproof shell pants must be able to fit comfortable over your baselayer bottoms and softshell climbing pants. Full side zippers or 7/8 side zippers are required so that shell pants can be put on while wearing boots and crampons.

A pair of lightweight, insulated pants are ideal for extra warmth and comfort at camps, both on the glacier and on the trail.

A light weight, synthetic pair of pants is a good option for the approach trek when hiking at lower altitudes and in warm conditions. These pants have no insulation, are typically made of thin nylon, and commonly feature zippers to convert between pants and shorts.

A pair of jeans or cotton pants. Great for wearing around camp or teahouses.

A modern, all-in-one 8,000m boot is required. The boot needs to be roomy enough to allow for good circulation. Anticipate a sock combination when sizing them (single sock, liner and sock, or two heavy socks on each foot). Wear the boots as often as possible before the climb, to determine proper fit, comfort and performance.

Goose down or synthetic fill. Nice for evenings at camp.

A pair of lightweight boots for approaches and hiking on rugged terrain. We recommend a waterproof, mid-top boot for better stability and ankle support.

Great for traveling and wearing around town or camp. A pair of tennis shoes or light hikers works well.

Either wool or synthetic. Whatever sock combination you are accustomed to wearing during your training or previous adventures (whether single medium weight socks, a medium weight with a liner sock, two medium weight socks together, etc.), should work just fine for this climb.

First Aid & Medications

We recommend you speak with your physician about which medications you should have for high-altitude climbing. These medications are only used in emergency situations, and if someone is showing symptoms of HAPE or HACE, our standard protocol is for immediate descent. We do not take any of these medications prophylactically, and please talk with your guide before taking medications.

We require each climber to have the following medications:

Broad spectrum antibiotics for respiratory and gastrointestinal problems like Azithromycin (250mg tablets).

125mg tablets for the prevention or treatment of Acute Mountain Sickness. A normal prescription is 125mg tablets, twice a day. Recommend 15 - 20 tablets.

4mg tablets for the treatment of altitude illness. Recommend 12 tablets.

30mg slow-release tablets for the prevention or treatment of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Recommend 8 - 10 tablets.

Our guides carry comprehensive medical kits, so keep yours small and light. We recommend a selection of adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, Moleskin and blister care, medical tape and/or duct tape, cough drops, basic painkillers, an antacid, an anti-diarrheal, and personal medications.

Personal Items

See the Food tab for suggestions and quantities.

Packable plastic bowl. Collapsable models can work but must be handled carefully to avoid unintended collapsing. A lid is a great feature.

Insulated outdoor-style mug. We recommed a model with a removable lid, which helps retain heat and prevent spills. You may also choose to use 0.5L insulated bottle or a 0.5L nalgene.

A spoon or spork made of durable plastic or anodized metal. A long-handled spoon can be nice, especially if eating from a freeze-dried meal pouch.

One-liter water bottles with wide mouths made of co-polyester (BPA-free plastic).

High quality, durable vacuum bottle with a volume of 1/2 liter or 1 liter.

These help prevent freezing. It should completely cover the bottle.

Chlorine Dioxide water purification drops. Make sure to select the 30-minute version.

Bring as needed.

Heavy-duty trash compacter bags for use as waterproof pack/stuff sack liners. You can also use a a waterproof pack liner.

Include toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothbrush and toothpaste, and wet wipes. Bring a quantity appropriate to the duration of your trip.

We recommend small tubes of SPF 30 or higher, which can be carried in pockets for easy access and to prevent freezing.

We recommend SPF 15 or higher.

Spare prescription glasses if you wear contact lenses/eyeglasses.

Practice using this before coming on the climb!

One clearly-marked wide-mouth or collapsible bottle for overnight use.

Many smartphones have excellent cameras. Action cameras, small point-and-shoots, and compact dSLRs are lightweight and work well at altitude.

A small power bank, enough to charge a phone or e-reader several times.

A small solar panel to charge personal electronics.

Watch with an altimeter, barometer, and compass. Many smart watches will also have this functionalty.

Communicate with family and friends back home, track your progress, and much more. Generally requires a subscription plan. Make sure this is a modern model that makes it difficult to inititate an accidental SOS call.

For charging personal electronics while traveling internationally.

Travel Clothes

We recommend bringing a selection of clothing to wear while traveling, site seeing and dining.  

Travel Documents

Valid for six months beyond your return date.

The first two pages of your passport.

Pre-Trip Checklist

Purchase travel insurance.

Purchase airplane tickets.

Reserve rental equipment.

Be in the best shape of your life!

Provided Equipment

RMI provides the following equipment for your program: group and personal tents, stoves, group cooking equipment, fuel, upper mountain community sleeping bags and pads, climbing ropes, climbing anchors, fixed ropes, shovels, route wands, radios for on-mountain communication, and comprehensive first aid and repair kits.

Four bottles of climbing oxygen will be provided. Additional bottles are available upon request.

On Mt. Everest Southside we recommend you bring 10 - 15 lb of your favorite snacks to supplement the provided meals.

All meals on the mountain are included as indicated in our  Trip Itinerary . The value of expert cooks and careful planning cannot be overstated for a multi-month, high altitude expedition and we work diligently to keep our climbers fit and content. With the exception of hotel breakfasts, most meals in Kathmandu are on your own. You are responsible for your own bottled water and drinks.

MOUNTAIN SNACKS

You will want to have a few snack items with you every day to fuel you up the trail. We continually snack to keep our energy levels up while we climb - lunch begins just after breakfast and ends just before dinner!

The importance of having foods that are genuinely enjoyed cannot be overstated. Eating properly is the key to maintaining strength while in the mountains. In order to combat the loss of appetite at altitude we aim to have a variety of foods that stimulate the whole palate, from sweet to sour to salty.

Recommended snack items: dry salami, smoked salmon, jerky (turkey, beef, fish), small cans of tuna fish, individually wrapped cheeses such as Laughing Cow or Baby Bell, crackers, bagels, candy bars, hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, toffees, Life Savers), gummy bears, sour candies (Sweet Tarts), cookies, dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, GORP mixes, and drink mixes (Gatorade/Kool-Aid).

TREKKING MEALS

We realize that many Westerners are apprehensive about the quality of food when traveling in the Himalaya. Rest assured that all of our teahouses have been handpicked by our guides for their quality and cleanliness, and we work very closely with the teahouse owners and our Nepali mountain staff to keep our teams healthy and strong. As a result of our careful planning and excellent cooks, our teams rarely see the physical deterioration common to other teams.

During the trek, breakfasts consist of mostly typical choices. Eggs, toast, hash browns, corn flakes, muesli, oatmeal, pancakes and the local specialties of chapatti and Tibetan bread are all common menu items. Breakfast meats like sausage are sometimes found. Breakfast is accompanied by juice, coffee, tea, cocoa and other hot drinks.

Lunch and dinner options in the teahouses include a variety of choices. Soups (commonly tomato, vegetable, noodle, or hearty "sherpa stew") and momos (Nepali dumplings) are excellent starters. Main courses like chicken and yak dishes, pastas, pizzas, and even fries are served alongside vegetable fried rice or noodles and Nepali specialties such as dal bhat (rice and lentils). Be sure to save room for a dessert such as apple pie, chocolate cake, or "snickers pie!" Soft drinks, beer, and wine are also widely available, although they are priced at a premium the higher you trek.

MOUNTAIN MEALS

On the mountain, similar meals are served by our expedition cooks. Lunches and dinners include several courses, beginning with soup and ending with dessert. We are treated to pancakes, pizzas, burritos and fajitas, smoked salmon, yak burgers, chocolate cakes, and fresh baked cookies throughout the climb. Our cook's fantastic meals are guaranteed to impress you, not withstanding the fact that you are dining at over 17,000'.

Deposit Payments: A non-refundable deposit payment of $15,000 per person secures your reservation.

• Deposit payments of $15,000 or less may be made via e-check/ACH, or check from a U.S. bank.

Balance Payments: The balance payment is due 120 days before the start of your program.

• *Wire transfers must cover all fees charged by your bank. The amount of the incoming wire to our bank must equal the balance payment amount.
• A payment reminder is emailed approximately three weeks before your payment due date. If your balance payment is not received 120 days before the start of your program, your reservation will be canceled, and all program fees will be forfeited.
• Payment in full is required when registering for a program within 120 days of the departure date.

Cancellation

The $15,000 per person deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable .

• If you cancel 120 or more days before the start of your program, the $15,000 per person deposit will not be refunded.
• If you cancel less than 120 days before the start of your program, no refunds will be issued .

Due to the time-sensitive nature of these programs, and the amount of preparation time required for this program, we strictly adhere to our policy and cannot make exceptions for any reason.

Cancellation Insurance

We require that everyone purchase travel insurance. Please see our Travel Tab for details.

• RMI Leadership: Expeditions led by world's most experienced high altitude guides (trips have included Dave Hahn and Casey Grom)
• Base Camp Management: BC managed by experienced BC Manager
• Ground transportation to and from the airports (international & domestic) in Kathmandu
• Round-trip flight to Lukla
• All group camping supplies such as mountain tents, stoves, fuel, cooking tent, dining tent, shower tent and storage tent.
• A single tent at Base Camp with a foam sleeping mattress
• High-altitude camp equipment and supplies
• On mountain radio communications
• All meals as stated in the itinerary
• Hotels with breakfast in Kathmandu for stated itinerary at beginning of expedition (2 nights), based on double occupancy*
• All park fees and climbing permit fees
• Yak & porter support
• Liaison and Sirdar officers
• Camp staff and cooking staff
• Sherpa staff, including Sherpa support on summit day
• Climbing Sherpa will establish camps, carry group equipment (including sleeping bags and pads), establish the route, etc.
• Hyperbaric bag and emergency medical oxygen
• 4 1800L bottles of climbing oxygen and a Top Out mask
• Medical consultation and care at the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic
• Weather forecasting, including daily updates for the summit attempt
• Power supply for recharging electronics at Base Camp
• 3 nights of hotel accommodations in Kathmandu (2 at the start and 1 at the end)

NOT INCLUDED

• Personal clothing and equipment
• International air fare and travel expenses to/from Kathmandu
• Additional hotel nights in Kathmandu beyond one night at the end of the expedition
• Medical Evacuation insurance of $500,000 (required)
• Travel insurance
• Airport & departures taxes, Nepal entry visas & duty fees, excess baggage charges
• Airport taxes and Nepal entry visas
• Support Staff Tip Pool (we suggest $900 per person)
• Customary mountain guide gratuities
• Personal communications (phone, fax, internet)
• Personal expenses, room charges, showers, laundry, beverages, and battery charging expenses while trekking
• Rescue, medical, hospitalization and evacuation costs (by any means)
• Costs associated with early departure such as helicopter or charter flights
• Cost of delays due to weather, road or trail conditions, flight delays, government intervention, illness, medical issues hospitalization, evacuation costs (by helicopter or any other means), or any other contingency which we or our agents cannot control.

* Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A Single Supplement Fee will be charged to those occupying single accommodations by choice or circumstance. The single supplement may not be available in huts, tents, or in all hotels.

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. reserves the right to modify the land cost of a trip at any time before departure.

Risk Management

Please clearly understand that mountaineering is inherently hazardous. Managing risk is RMI’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in mountaineering, but they cannot eliminate them.  Objective hazards include rockfall, icefall, avalanches, slides or falls by individuals and rope teams on steeper slopes, weather-related problems including cold, heat, high winds, and other unnamed dangers that can occur while climbing.

You are choosing to engage in an activity in which guided and non-guided climbers have been injured or killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risks and hazards of mountaineering and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in this activity. 

PARTICIPANT Responsibilities

Mountaineering is both an individual challenge and a team endeavor. Each Participant is required to share in the responsibility of the safety and success of the team. For this reason, we ask that each Participant:

• Possess the climbing prerequisites required for this program.
• Possess the necessary physical and mental fitness required for this program.
• Be responsible for knowing all pre-departure information.
• Provide a signed Physician’s Certificate stating that the Participant is medically qualified to join this program.
• Update the RMI Office if there are any changes to your health or medical information before departure.
• Be properly attired and equipped as outlined in the Equipment List.
• Act in a considerate manner toward all team members and show respect for local customs, values, and traditions in the areas we travel.
• Help minimize our impact on the environment and follow appropriate Leave No Trace practices.
• Describe yourself, honestly and accurately, in terms of fitness, health, skills, abilities, and your equipment to your guide staff.
• Communicate with your guide staff on the mountain if there are any changes in your medications or health.
• Adhere to the advice of your guide staff.
• Continue to self-assess throughout the program, measuring your fitness, health, skills, and abilities against the demands required of the program.

RMI reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a program or to send the Participant to a lower altitude at any time if the RMI Guide Staff determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for, or capable of participating in the program, or for any other reason that may compromise the safety, health or well-being of the Participant or the entire group. If this decision is made, the Participant will not receive any refunds or credits and will be financially responsible for any additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to, evacuation, transportation, hotel reservationss, meals, etc.

Zero Tolerance Harassment Policy

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) does not tolerate harassment or mistreatment of our participants or employees. Inappropriate conduct under this policy may include conduct that creates a disrespectful, intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for a participant or employee. Engaging in such conduct is a violation of this policy.

RMI may consider conduct to violate the policy even if it falls short of unlawful harassment under applicable law. When determining whether conduct violates this policy, we will consider whether a reasonable person could conclude that the conduct created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or demeaning environment.

Violation of this policy may result in removal from a program, as well as refusal to provide services indefinitely. We place the utmost value on the safety of our participants and employees. Please report any incidents to RMI management.

Age requirements

All participants must be 18 years old at the time of registration.

Photo Release

RMI’s Photo Release outlines the terms and conditions for using your likeness in photographs, videos, or other digital media. 

I hereby grant Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) or its affiliates permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any and all of its publications, including web-based publications. By granting permission, you allow RMI to utilize these media for lawful purposes. 

Here are the key points:

• Authorization: You authorize RMI to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, or distribute the photos.
• Ownership: All photos become the property of RMI and will not be returned.
• Compensation: You will not be compensated for these uses.
• Rights: RMI exclusively owns all rights to the images, videos, and recordings and to any derivative works created from them. 
• Waiver: You waive the right to inspect or approve printed or electronic copies.
• Release: You release Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. and its assigns and licensees from any claims arising from these uses, including defamation, invasion of privacy, rights of publicity, or copyright.
• Hold Harmless: You hold harmless, release, and forever discharge RMI or its affiliates from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action which I, my heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons acting on my behalf or on behalf of my estate have or may have by reason of this authorization.

Summit Attempt

RMI cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities, or the abilities of other climbers may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire group may have to turnaround without reaching the summit.

Failure to reach the summit due to a person’s own lack of fitness or to any of the events associated with mountaineering (such as weather, route conditions, avalanche hazard, team dynamics, etc.), are not Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.’s responsibility and will not result in a refund, credit, or reschedule.

General Policies

RMI’s program schedule and itineraries are subject to change or adjustment based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, group strength, terrain, other environmental factors, and many other factors. RMI has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including but not limited to increases in program fees, changes to program schedule or itinerary, and changes to guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. Once the program has started, the Lead Guide will decide on any changes to the itinerary, including ending the program early if the continuation of the program may compromise the safety, health, or well-being of the group.

We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather, route conditions, or for any other reason. In such a case, we will make every effort to reschedule the Participant on a different program date. If rescheduling is not possible, we will issue the Participant a refund for all program fees paid to RMI, less any non-refundable payments made on behalf of the Participant to secure any of the included land costs provided for this program, including, but not limited to, hotel accommodations, transportation, transfers, tours, group equipment and food, permits, and local outfitter services, prior to the cancellation of the program. Additionally, RMI cannot be responsible for any non-refundable expenses the Participant incurred in preparation for the program (i.e., airline tickets, hotel reservations, rental cars, equipment purchases or rentals, etc.).

Once a program begins, there are no refunds or credits for weather-related cancellations or for a program that may end early due to weather, route conditions, or any other circumstances that may compromise the health, safety, or well-being of the group. Furthermore, if the Participant decides for any reason not to begin a program or to discontinue a program at any time, no refunds or credits will be issued. The Participant will be responsible for all additional costs associated with an early departure, including but not limited to evacuation, transportation, hotel reservations, meals, etc.

The Participant is responsible for any costs due to COVID-19, including but not limited to, any testing fees to enter another country, tests required to return to the US, and/or costs associated with medical care and/or quarantine such as hotel accommodations, meals, separate transportation, etc.

Land Costs are provided as a package, and refunds or credits will not be issued for any unused meals, accommodations, group transportation, or other unused costs. Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A Single Supplement Fee will be charged to those Participants occupying single accommodations either by choice or circumstance. If you are willing to share a room, we will make every effort to pair you with another same-gender team member. We will match willing same-gender team members based on the order of registration date. If we are unable to match you with another same-gender team member, a single supplement fee will be charged. The availability of single accommodations is limited in most of the hotels where we stay, and single accommodations are not available while in the mountains.

The Participant understands and agrees that RMI assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with any travel and hospitality services provided to the Participant by other companies in connection with the program, including but not limited to, the services provided by airlines, hotels, rental cars, and transportation companies and that RMI is not responsible for any act, error, omission, or any injury, loss, accident, delay, irregularity, or danger by a supplier of travel or hospitality services to the Participant in connection with the RMI program. The Participant will be responsible for all costs associated with any travel delays, missed connections, or missing baggage that requires additional arrangements (separate transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, etc.) to be made on your behalf for you or your baggage to rejoin the program.

Related Trips

Mt. Everest Custom Expedition

Find Your Adventure

Filter results.

RMI Expeditions 30027 SR 706 East Post Office Box Q Ashford, WA 98304

Phone: 1 (888) 892‑5462

Email: [email protected]

Privacy Policy

Sign up for our Newsletter

• Email Address *

Keep up to date with information about our latest climbs by joining our mailing list. Sign up and we'll keep you informed about new adventures, special offers, competitions, and news. privacy policy

Thank you for subscribing to the RMI Expeditions Newsletter!

While you're at it, you can sign up some of our other mailings as well:

Please choose the programs you'd like updates on:

Everest Expedition 2024

Fully guided expedition to the world’s highest mountain

• Group Size: Min 2 Max 8
• Duration: 55 Days
• Max Altitude: 8,848m/29,029ft
• Accommodation: Climbing
• Activity: High Altitude Expeditions
• Meal: Meals included
• Trip Grade: Strenuous +
• Start Point: Kathmandu
• End Point: Kathmandu

Trip Itinerary

Dates & price, media gallery.

Welcome to Highland Everest Expedition 2024.  Over 30 years of experience in high-altitude expeditions

Trip Overview

• Climb the highest mountain in the world
• Fully guided expedition with Sherpa support and max O2
• 1:1 Sherpa guide to client ratio and UIAGM/IFMGA expedition leader
• Climb Lobuche East for acclimatization

Everest Expedition 2024 Overview

Mount Everest [8,848m/29,029ft] being the highest mountain in the world is the ultimate dream of every climber. Climbing to Everest is undoubtedly the ultimate mountaineering adventure and every adventure seeker wants to be a part of the rich history of Everest Climbing but the journey to the summit of Everest is not without challenges. With decades of experience in guiding groups to the summit of Mt. Everest, we have successfully made many people’s dreams come true.

Why Join us on our Everest Expedition 2024?

• Guided by some of the best guides and experienced Sherpa team.
• 1:1 Sherpa guide to client ratio
• Expedition Manager/Sirdar 
• Nepalese UIAGM/IFMGA Expedition Leader for a group of 4 climbers and above
• Ascent of Lobuche Peak for acclimatization
• Maximum oxygen flow 11 bottles (8 for you and 3 for your Sherpa) 
• Premier climbing experience on Mount Everest
• A cohesive team of climbers (Maximum 8 climbers in one group)
• A long  history of high altitude expeditions

Climb Overview

Our Everest expedition itinerary is designed with experience, planned and careful attention allowing maximum days for the approach, the highest level of service and a strong team of guides. We offer expeditions with safety priority and service paramount. We offer more oxygen support and provide comfortable logistics at base camp and Camp 2. 

We follow the standard trekking route to Everest base camp following Namche Bazar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorekshep and finally Everest base camp. Upon arrival at Base Camp, settle and get organized as we prepare for the actual climb.

A pre-training session /climbing course will be held at the base camp, ice seracs of the lower Khumbu Glacier to check climbers’ equipment and review climbing and rescue techniques. You will also climb Lobuche East as part of your acclimatization climbs instead of frequent rotations in the Khumbu icefall.

Lobuche East is one of the most exciting 6000m trekking peaks in the Everest Region. Lobuche east climb serves as a perfect training base for Everest Expeditions and this is what we would be doing at Highland Expeditions too. You will climb Lobuche East wearing your high-altitude boots and equipment to make you feel comfortable. This peak provides not only an attractive diversion but an excellent part of the acclimatization process while allowing members to refresh and update mountain skills before moving up to Everest.

Climbing Lobuche East Peak prior to the actual Everest climb has not only helped in acclimatization but the climbers will not have to pass through the Khumbu Icefall multiple times for rotation of higher camps.  After the climb, we head to base camp and in between looking at an auspicious date as per the Tibetan calendar we will organize a Puja ceremony in a traditional Sherpa manner asking for blessings for a successful Everest Climb.

Our second acclimatization phase begins with the rotation of higher camps passing by the notorious Khumbu icefall. Four camps will be set up above the base camp. We will prepare Camp1 (5,900m/19,500ft) at the pinnacle of the icefall, Camp2 (6,400m/21,000ft) in Western Cwm, which will be our Advanced Base Camp. We will set up Camp 3 (7,300m/23,700ft) at the top of the cirque on Lhotse Face. Camp 4 (7,900m/25,912ft) will be the final camp before climbing the summit. Camp 4 will be placed in the South Col.

Your expedition leader will suggest you the best as per your conditions. In general, our acclimatization program includes overnight at Camp 2 and tagging the Lhotse Face/Camp 3. When this is done, we rest and recover at the base camp while waiting for the weather window for the summit attempt. Oxygen cylinders will be used after Camp 3 for an easy ascent. We provide 8 bottles of oxygen to each climber for maximum flow. From Camp 4, following the southeast ridge, we will make it to the South summit from where we will advance towards Hillary step before climbing to the summit.

Tentative Acclimatization Schedule

First Rotation/Acclimatization (April 21-23): – Climb Lobuche East Peak (6,119m/20,075ft)

Second Rotation/Acclimatization (April 27- May 03):  – Climb to Camp 1 (5,900m/19,500ft) – Climb to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Rest at Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Touch Camp 3 (7,300m/23,700ft) and sleep at Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft)  – Descent to base camp (5,364m/17,559ft)

Please note that these acclimatization programs may differ during the expedition period as each climber adapts differently to an altitude.

Summit Push (Weather permitting, most likely May 08-20): – Climb to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Climb to Camp 3 with the use of oxygen (7,300m/23,700ft)  – Climb to Camp 4 South Col with the use of oxygen (7,900m/25,912ft)  – Summit push (8,848.86m/29,029ft) and descent to Camp 4 with the use of oxygen – Descent to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Descent to Base Camp (5,364m/17,559ft)

Why climb Everest with us?

Over the last 30yrs, the people who helm this venture have been successfully organizing high-altitude Expeditions ensuring safety first and service paramount. The success of any expedition depends largely on a carefully planned itinerary and the best logistics and, these are what we offer. We are committed to maintaining the expedition safe and successful with the quality of service.

Our emphasis is always on maintaining the small group so that it will be easy to coordinate and cooperate with each other. You will be guided by highly professional mountain guides who are one of the best in this field and has experience successfully climbing Everest multiple times. Our guides, Sherpas, and support staff bring decades of successful summits to the table, and our climbing strategy reflects this.

Each year, we provide fully guided expeditions with the support of the legendary Sherpas. Our 1 to 1 Sherpa to client ratio with an expedition leader to lead the team on summit days show our commitment to providing safe climbing strategies.

Compared to the facilities we provide; you will find our Everest Expedition cost to be very reasonable. We have no hidden fee. What you pay in the beginning is the final payment. We are dedicated to providing the highest professionalism throughout the expedition by taking utmost care of all the logistics needed for our Everest Expedition.

Expedition Manager/Guide

Our Everest Expedition 2024 will be managed by Kunga Sherpa, an Everest summiteer and avid climber himself. With over 35 years of experience in the climbing industry, he has managed over forty above 8000m expeditions to date with a 90% success ratio. 

For 2024, our Everest Expedition leader will be a Nepalese UIAGM/IFMGA Guide. 

1:1 Sherpa to client ratio on summit day

Most of our Sherpa guides come from Rolwaling and Thame. All our Sherpa guides are previous Everest summiteers with detailed experience on high-altitude expeditions. We provide a 1:1 sherpa guide-to-client ratio on the summit day. Each of our Sherpa guides has tons of experience in climbing high-altitude peaks. 

Our Sherpa crews are critical to the success of the climbs that you do with us. We, us professionally trained Sherpa guides & sirdars are just not hikers & climbers on the mountains but have been trained to perform this task with a lot of common sense & guile. Kunga Sherpa, Everest summiteer and founder of Highland Expeditions has successfully guided and organized over 40 expeditions to 8000m as an expedition sirdar oversees our experienced Sherpa crew that will be with you on the climb.

We ensure that they are confident & experienced. Most of our guides were born in these parts & have relatives living in other parts of the regions where they were born in. We know that locally born staffs are a vital cog in that wheel of sometimes dangerous adventure where anything can happen. At Highland Expeditions, we always make sure that our mountain crews are highly motivated & never compromise.

Local company with decades of high altitude experience

Highland Expeditions is a fully licensed and registered company operating high-altitude trips in the Himalayas. The people who helm this venture have been guiding high-altitude expeditions since 1992 and we take great pride in being able to offer personalized expeditions to Mt. Everest with safety priority and service paramount.

We operate a small team of cohesive climbers with the support of our experienced sherpa guides who have all summited Everest previously. We only take 8 climbers in a team and provide the Nepali UIAGM/IFMGA Expedition leader with a 1:1 sherpa guide-to-client ratio with maximum oxygen support and comfortable logistics arrangements. 

Join us and be a part of the ‘Highland Expeditions family.  It’s a never-ending feeling that will live with the generations to come.

Important Note: Your safety is of imperative concern while travelling with Highland Expeditions . Please take care to note that your leader/guide has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to your safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather or health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The Trek & Climb leader/guide will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required. 

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal. Upon completing the visa formalities and collecting your luggages in the airport, kindly proceed to the exit of the arrival hall. Your trip leader will await you just outside the arrival hall and will escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Please look out for a placard of Highland Expeditions at the exit of arrival hall. Welcome drinks will be served and after you’ve refreshed, your leader will brief you about your trip in the lobby of your hotel in the evening. Get familiar with your surroundings by taking a walk down the street

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Trekking Hours: 0

These two days have been kept in Kathmandu for final preparation of Climb. Meet other team members, complete official and government formalities, final gear check and load. Upon your interest, an optional Kathmandu sightseeing can be arranged on these days. We will have a trip orientation and your trip leader will give you a brief about your climb before we head to our journey.

After an early morning b/fast, we take the mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla on STOL aircraft. Flight time is about 30 minutes to the airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. We begin the trek by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River, where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, just above Chaurikharka at 2713m. The walking is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat at 2550m, it’s a short walk to Phakding where we’ll stay overnight.

• Meal: (B, L, D)
• Accommodation: Teahouse/Lodge
• Trekking Hours: 3-4 hrs

We will continue our journey along Dudhkoshi River which will take us through pine forest. After crossing suspension bridges at several points and passing through small settlements of Zapute, Toktok, Benkar and Chumoa, we will reach Monjo. This is known as the gateway to the Sagarmatha National Park. After completing all the necessary national park formalities, we will enter Sagarmatha National Park. Lowering down from the park, we will arrive at river. Crossing another suspension bridge, we will proceed towards high Hillary Bridge located at the foot of the hill. Crossing this bridge, we will climb uphill to the Namche Bazaar. We can get view of Thamserku Mountain. If weather is clear, we can also have first view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Kusum Khangru mountains.

• Trekking Hours: 6-7 hrs

Namche Bazaar is regarded as gateway to the high Himalayas. It is also the main trading center and a capital of Sherpa land. Rest is recommended in Namche for acclimatization purpose. Short hike will be arranged to the ancient Sherpa village of Thame to observe the rich Sherpa culture or we can also visit nearby Khumjung, Khunde or Khongde villages. Shopping in marketplace of Namche is another fine idea. National Park Head office, Museum and monasteries are other places of interest. The area is clustered with cafes, shops, bakeries and restaurants. The place supports facilities of post office, hospital, government health post. Internet access is also available at Namche so that you can contact your near ones.

We will walk along the glacial water of Dudh Koshi River. The route offers views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and, Thamserku and Ama Dablam Mountains. Our journey continues through the colorful forest of blooming rhododendron to Sanasa. The region is rich in wildlife including musk deer and colorful pheasants. In Sanasa lies the junction point. One of the paths leads us to the Gokyo valley while the other branches off to Everest Base Camp. We will take sharp climb to Tengboche monastery which is the largest in the Khumbu region. The journey rewards us with close-up views of many surrounding mountains. We will visit the monastery and walk through forest of birch and rhododendron to Deboche where we will stay overnight.

• Trekking Hours: 5-6

We will descend to Imja River. The trail takes us uphill to Pangboche (3860m) through the lush forest. We will visit Pangboche Monastery. The village is also decorated with Chorten and Mani walls. The trail allows us an access to Imja Valley. We will take steep climb to Pheriche and continue further to Lobuche River. The final steepest climb of the day will take us to Dingboche. Agriculture is the chief occupation of locals in Dingboche. We can see fields enclosed by stonewall in Dingboche. Buckwheat, potatoes and barley are the major crops. We will stay overnight in Dingboche.

• Trekking Hours: 5-6 hrs

This is a day to haul up and rest without being idle. We can stroll around the village and get pally with the local folks with some interesting conversations. This will give us deep insights into the lifestyles and cultures of the local folks in this region. At the same time, we can also relish the landscapes that surround us and we can also catch up on some reading. Our acclimatizing gets a further boost with our hike to Nagartsang peak (5067m). As we top it with gasping breath we soon realize the gritty climb was worth the go; the rewards are as lovely as it comes with the natural beauty that greets us for our efforts.

We will begin a moderate walk to Dugla. Walking through the steep moraine of Khumbu glacier, we will head towards Chupki Lhara which is festooned with prayer flags. It is also known as the memorial site for the deceased Everest climbers. The trail stretches through the Khumbu glacier moraine to Lobuche. On the way, we can rejoice in the close-up views of Pumori, Khumbutse and other peaks and mountains. Stay overnight in Lobuche.

The day starts with a trek past a fine crevasse between the lateral moraine of a glacier and a mountain. Then a gradual climb will take to Changri Nup Glacier. The undulating terrain takes you on a whirlwind of a walk. Descending slightly in the final stretch, you land in a barren setting with a sandy moraine and a cluster of lodges amidst the jagged rocky terrain surrounded by mammoth mountains. This is Gorakshep where you’ll spend the night.

• Meal: (B,L,D)

Start on the climb along the Khumbu glacier to Everest Base Camp. Finally, arrive at the foot of the highest peak in the world. The views of numerous mountains, the Khumbu Icefall, and the Glacier make it even more glorious. Overnight with some of the highest peaks in the world at Everest Base Camp.

• Accommodation: Camp

Get organized and comfortable with your home for the next 4 weeks.

Looking at an auspicious date as per the Tibetan calendar, a puja ceremony will be held asking for safe passage.

We will also do training at the base camp, in ice seracs of the lower Khumbu Glacier to check climbers’ equipment and review climbing and rescue techniques.

• Accommodation: Fully Tented Camping

Our first phase of acclimatization begins with a climb to Lobuche East. Climbing Lobuche east provides better acclimatization and the perfect training base for Everest.

Lobuche East Climb Plan: Day 01: Trek to Lobuche Day 02: Move to Lobuche high camp Day 03: Summit Lobuche East and down to Lobuche or high camp

Couple of hours of walk through Gorak Shep and walking further through rocky dunes and moraine, will lead us to Everest Base Camp. We will meet rest of our team at Base Camp.

The next few days we stay at base camp for more training, rest, get organized and prepare for 2nd acclimatization rotation which will take us to 7000m.

After our first acclimatization rotation on Lobuche Peak completed, we will now leave base camp for higher camps on Everest for our second acclimatization rotation for about a week.

Tentative Schedule for second rotation: – Climb to Camp 1 (5,900m/19,500ft) – Climb to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Rest at Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Touch Camp 3 (7,300m/23,700ft) and sleep at Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Descent to base camp (5,364m/17,559ft)

For the acclimatization, please note that the acclimatization program may differ during the expedition period as each climber adapts differently with an altitude. Your expedition leader will suggest you the best as per your conditions.

In general, our acclimatization program includes overnight at Camp 2 and tag the Lhotse Face/Camp 3. When this is done, we rest and recover at the base camp while waiting for the weather window for the summit attempt.

After our second acclimatization rotation completed, we will descent to base camp and rest and prepare for the final summit push.

Depending on the weather window available for summit, the rest days could be few days or even a week too.

Optional: Trek/Fly down to lower villages such as Namche for better rest

Summit push begins!

Depending on the weather window available we will move up for our final summit push. Each client will be paired with one sherpa guide who will assist you on the summit push.

Tentative plan for summit push: – Climb to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) - Rest at Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Climb to Camp 3 with the use of oxygen (7,300m/23,700ft) – Climb to Camp 4 South Col with the use of oxygen (7,900m/25,912ft) and at that same night we begin our summit push to summit. – Summit push with the use of oxygen (8,848.86m/29,029ft) from Camp 4 and descent to Camp 4 or Camp 2 – Descent to Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000ft) – Descent to Base Camp (5,364m/17,559ft)

Oxygen cylinders will be used from Camp 3 for an easy ascent. We provide 8 bottles of oxygen to each climber for a maximum flow. 8 bottles is the highest number of oxygen provided as most operators only provide 6 bottles.

From Camp 4, following the south-east ridge, we will make it to the South summit from where we will advance towards Hillary step before climbing to the summit.

Contingency days for any delays due to unforeseen circumstances

After our successful climb we retrace to Lukla for a flight back to Kathmandu via Pheriche, Namche and finally to Lukla. On our last night, we celebrate our successful completion of expedition with our Sherpa guides and porters who we’ve got to know so well & are now good friends

Take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. We will be transferred to hotel in a private vehicle in Kathmandu. Take leisure and soothe your aching limbs from long and tiring climb.

Enjoy a leisure day. You are on your own. Participating in a day tour in Kathmandu is a pleasant plan. You can also go for shopping in Thamel, a tourist hub where you can buy souvenir items like handicrafts and arts to your family. At eventide on day, we will relish a farewell dinner to celebrate our successful climb. While enjoying our supper, we will also be entertained to a scintillating cultural dance performed by the local belles Please do not hesitate to let us know if you would like to extend your stay. Kindly email us for more details on extensions.

Finally, the undeniable day of departure arrives. Thank you for joining us on this climb and it has been a pleasure being a part of your expedition.

Our representative will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport three hours before your scheduled flight. Keep in touch and hope to hear from you soon. Bon voyage for a safe and pleasant trip home.

• Accommodation: None
• Trekking Hours: Warning : Undefined array key "_package_itinerary_trek_hours" in /home/expeditions/www/www/wp-content/themes/highland/single-package.php on line 310

Our trips are available on both fixed departure and private group basis .

If you are looking for a group to join this trip please click the Fixed Departures tab for more information on departure dates, availability and price. All our fixed departures are guaranteed to run. Or, if you would like to do this trip alone, or with your friends, families & colleagues in a private group style, please fill out the contact form in Private Group tab and send us your message. We will organize a private trip for you at your preferred dates catering any request you may have.

• Fixed Departures
• Private Group
• Full Name *
• Email Address *
• Phone Number
• Country * Country * Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
• Prove You're Human:

Cost Inclusion

• Everest expedition royalty fees (USD 11,000)
• Route fixing (SPCC and EOA) fees
• Garbage deposit and management fees 
• Expedition Liaison Officer wages and fees 
• Nepalese UIAGM/IFMGA Expedition leader for a group of 4 climbers and above
• 1:1 Sherpa guide (Everest Summiter) to climber ratio
• Service of the Expedition manager at Everest base camp
• 11 bottles of oxygen (8 for you and 3 for your sherpa) with the use of the latest mask and regulator. 
• Skill training clinic at the Everest base camp
• The ascent of Lobuche Peak for acclimatization with a 1:3 guide to client ratio
• Freshly prepared meals (B,L,D) by our chef at the Everest base camp
• A wide variety of nutritious high-altitude mountain foods for higher camps 
• Individual box tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and other logistics 
• Heater, Generator, Shower and more for your comfort at the base camp
• High altitude tent (North Face VE25 or similar) for higher camps above base camp
• 4 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Kathmandu. 
• All Meals (B,L,D) and accommodation during the trekking period
• Satellite communication system at base camp but nominal charge for use
• Radio set for communication between camps
• Internal domestic airfare with 60kg baggage cargo
• Staffs wages, allowances with their helicopter and medical insurance
• Common climbing equipment (rope, Ice Screws, Snow bars etc)
• Weather report during the entire expedition period
• Emergency medical supplies with 24/7 on-call doctor during the entire expedition period. 
• Porterage of 60kg baggage for each member (Lukla-Base camp-Lukla) 
• 2 waterproof duffel bags
• Everest Summit certificate from the Department of Tourism, Nepal

Cost Exclusion

• International airfare
• Meals in Kathmandu
• Custom for bringing any expedition goods
• Nepal visa fees
• Personal clothing and climbing equipment
• Insurance (Mandatory)
• Summit bonus (USD 1500) 
• Gratuities for base camp and trekking staff
• Personal expenses 
• Extra oxygen aside from provided 11 bottles 

Essential Information

High Altitude Expeditions like Everest require previous mountaineering experience and it is expected that the climber has previous experience of climbing at least 7000m peak or 8000m peak like Cho-Oyu or Manaslu before attempting bigger mountains.

Also, you will be spending 2 months on the mountain, a fierce determination, strong mental health and a burning desire to climb the mountain are the essential pre-requisites for joining this expedition. Prepare yourself to tackle high altitude sickness, tough weather conditions and exhaustion. One needs to be familiar with the use of climbing equipment, and walking in snow and ice and must have a good level of fitness. You should be familiar with Rope skills, ice axe arrest and crampon skills, the use of ascenders (Jumar) and descenders, and how to use your particular harness.

The use of oxygen equipment plays a huge role in climbing high mountains and can help to avoid many critical situations and save your life. On Everest, we provide each climber with 11 bottles of oxygen (8 for you and 3 for your sherpa) with the use of the latest mask & regulator (Top Out or Summit Oxygen Systems). 

During the summit push, we run oxygen on a higher flow (2L/min) allowing you to climb more efficiently. 

We consider delicious and nutritious food to be a key component to the overall success of our expeditions.

We charter the food in by flight most of the time and take the utmost care in quality and hygienic preparation. From typical Nepalese food to western food, our expedition chef will cater all meals at Base Camp and Camp 2. For higher camps, we provide wide variety of nutritious high foods.

During the trek, your meals will be served at the teahouse/lodge you will stay and in Kathmandu, only breakfast will be provided to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where what and with whom to eat for lunch and dinner.

If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know in advance and we will be sure to cater to your needs. You could bring comfort foods from your home that you enjoy eating during the expedition - chocolates, energy gel, power bars, dry fruits, candies, other snacks etc.

We provide each climber with an individual box tent at the base camp during an entire expedition. Each box tent will have spacious space, comfortable mattresses, carpeted floor and more for your comfort. Higher above from base camp, a high-quality extreme weather tent will be provided for every 2 climbers. It’s also a lot warmer and safer when you can keep an eye on each other.

At base camp, there will also be a heated dining room, kitchen tent, toilet tent, shower tent etc and more for your comfort.

Our Everest Expedition follows the footsteps of legendary Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Our route follows through the Khumbu icefall, up the Western Cwm, the Lhotse Face, the South Col, South Summit, the Hillary Step and on to the Summit.

An itinerary has been devised keeping every important aspect in mind to allow a well-paced acclimatization schedule during the entire expedition. 

Our base camp is well-appointed, providing each climber with a comfortable environment. There will be a heated dining room, personal tent for each individual, kitchen tent, shower and etc. and more for your comfort.

We provide spacious expedition quality personal tents for all our clients both with full board or base-camp service only. 

We subscribe to the weather forecasting services during the expedition summit period as to provide the best weather forecast for the summit push. 

Our Everest expedition itinerary has been tailored carefully keeping every aspect in mind. We have included Lobuche east climb (6,119m) on our itinerary. With Lobuche climb included, it provides each climber with better acclimatization, the practice of climbing techniques and reduces the walk on icefall. 

After the Lobuche climb, rotation of higher camps (Camp 1, 2 and 3) with overnight will be done for acclimatization. 

Our Everest Expedition group will be equipped with a satellite phone for emergency purpose throughout the expedition duration. The cell phone network is available during the trekking section and at base camp but the service is not reliable and may fluctuate depending on weather conditions. Satellite internet is available at base camp at an extra cost. In case you need to make a personal call, you can use the sat phone at $3 per minute. 

We also provide a radio communication system to communicate between the camps. 

Our emphasis is always on maintaining a small group so that it will be easy to coordinate and cooperate with each other, especially on high altitude expeditions like Everest. Our expedition consists of Min 2 to Max 8 climbers in one group. You will get to know your Sherpa guide and team members personally on our expedition. Being a small group is always efficient on a bigger mountain.

We operate a small team of cohesive climbers with the support of our experienced sherpa guides who have all summited Everest previously. We only take 8 climbers in one group and provide Nepali UIAGM/IFMGA Expedition leader, Expedition Manager and 1:1 sherpa guide to client ratio. 

It’s mandatory to get rescue insurance before embarking on any adventurous activities like high altitude expeditions. We advise all our clients to get an insurance that covers up emergency helicopter evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. Medical expenses, Baggage lost, Delays and Cancellation, Death & Repatriation are also other important factors to include when purchasing your Insurance.

It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision.

To reserve your spot on the expedition, a nonrefundable deposit (20% of total cost) is due at the time of registration. Your booking will be confirmed by an email after we have received the booking form together with the initial deposits. For payment method, we accept wire transfer and card payment. Please note that an additional 3.5% charge will be levied (as imposed by the bank) on the total amount if you are paying via card.

Balance payment must be made 30 days prior to the expedition start date. 

View our  payment information page  for more details on payment. 

Refund policy:

The trip deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited in the event of any cancellation, as such we strongly recommend you to include Trip cancellation coverage on your insurance policy. The reason for the non-refundable policy is due to the great expenses incurred in such an expedition. The expeditions are planned and prepared months before your arrival in Kathmandu. 

Highland Expeditions is a fully licensed and registered company operating high altitude trips in the Himalayas. The people who helm this venture have been guiding high altitude expeditions since 1992 and we take great pride in being able to offer personalized expeditions to Mt. Everest with safety priority and service paramount.

The gear listed below is required for the expedition. We encourage you to get all equipment listed below and kindly ensure you check and try every equipment. You can also buy or hire the same in Kathmandu as they are available in the many trekking shops from branded to local manufacturers in Kathmandu.

Head: - Warm Hat and Bandana/Scarf - Baseball cap - Thermal Balaclava / Buff - Sunglasses with UV protection - Ski goggles (Anti-fog and good ventilation) - Headlight X 2 with spare batteries

Upper body: - Long-sleeved shirts - T-Shirts - Baselayers - Warm Jackets/Sweater/Pullover - Waterproof jackets - Down Jacket with hood (800m fill) - Primaloft or light down jacket - Down Suit (Lightweight, comfortable fit and 800m fill) (For Summit Climb Only)

Lower body: - Thermal - Inner wears / Baselayers - Undergarments - Waterproof trousers - Trekking trousers - Down or Primaloft pants

Feet: - Warm socks (4 pair thin socks and 4 pair thick socks) - Trekking shoes (Preferably full to protect/support your ankle) - 8000m Mountaineering boots (Lightweight and comfortable size) - Camp Shoes - Gaiters - Down shoe

Hands - Gloves - Primaloft Mitten - Down Mitten

Climbing equipment: - Climbing helmet - Backpack 30-35 litres (To carry your sunblock, water, camera, waterproof jackets and others that you may require while trekking) - Backpack 60-70 litres for climbing - A pair of trekking poles - Harness - Ascender/Jumar (Large handle) - Descender /Figure 8 - ATC Guide - Carabiners (4 screw gate and 4 snap gate) - Prussik cord X 2 - Slings X 2 - Ice Axe - 12-points steel crampons - Inflatable sleeping mattress - Sleeping bag X 2 (One for base camp and one for higher camps)

Others: - Trekking poles - Water bottle one (1) litre X 2 with an insulated cover - Thermos - Multi-tool knife - Pee bottle - Laundry bag to keep dirty clothes - Large plastic bags to keep the clothes dry - Padlock - Binoculars - Sewing kit - Duct tape - Reading materials, notebooks and pens - Extra clothes to wear in Kathmandu when you come back from the expedition. - Camera with charger or spare batteries

Toiletries and hygiene - Quick-drying towel - Small face towel - Toothbrush &Toothpaste - Deodorants, Soap and Shampoo (Smaller bottle) - Face and body moisturizer, Sunscreen and lip balm - Hand sanitiser/Antiseptic wipes - Hygiene products - Basic first aid kit

Documents - Passport with visa and validity of 6 months after your trip completion - 4 copies of passport size photos for permits and official formalities - Travel Insurance (Please refer to the general information page for more detail about it) - Flight tickets - Credit cards in case of emergencies - Driving ID or any other ID in case of loss of your passport.

(Please carry the photocopy of all the documents along with you and leave a copy to next of kin)

Other information such as (Insurance, Arrival Instructions, Visa and Passport etc) required for the trip will be provided after you have signed up for the expedition. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you require more information about the trip.

A great local company that looks after you, its guides and its staff. I have done Ama Dablam and Everest with them. Both were very well-run expeditions and led to successful summits. Thank Passang and the Highlands team for all your efforts for the airport pick-up to reaching my goal. Can’t recommend these guys enough.

Are You Interested?

If Interested please hit the button

TRIP DOSSIER FORM

• Consent I am happy to receive regular emails from Highland Expeditions

Related Packages

Himlung Expedition 2024

Ama Dablam Expedition 2024

Manaslu Expedition 2024

Why travel with highland expeditions, affiliated with, latest blog, layering for trekking and climbing in nepal.

Of the fundamental aspects to consider when planning a trek or expedition to Nepal, clothing and layering are major considerations. Landing in a warm, temperate climate at Kathmandu (1300 meters […]

REVIEWS Real People, Real Stories

My wife and I recently joined Highland Expeditions for a Everest Basecamp helitrek for our honeymoon. From the start to the end of our contact with Highland Expeditions, we had […]

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

• Package Name * -- select a Package -- Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Ama Dablam Expedition 2024 Annapurna Base Camp Trek Annapurna Circuit Trek Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek Annapurna Inner Circuit Trek Annapurna Jomsom Trek Annapurna Poonhill trek Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Bardia Wildlife Safari Best of Nepal Tour Bhutan Highlight tour Chitwan Jungle Safari Cho Oyu Expedition 2023 Chulu Far East Peak Climb Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek Everest and Annapurna Trek Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Heli Trek Everest Base Camp Heli Trek Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Everest Base Camp Trek Everest Base Camp Trek 14 Days Everest Comfort Lodge Trek Everest Expedition 2024 Everest Three High Passes Trek Experience Nepal Tour Full day sightseeing of Kathmandu Gokyo Lakes Trek Half day sightseeing of Kathmandu Helambu Trek Highlights of Nepal Himlung Expedition 2024 Island Peak Climb Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Kathmandu Valley Trek Khumbu Three Peaks Kyajo Ri Peak Climbing Langtang Gosaikunda and Helambu Trek Langtang Valley Trek Lhotse Expedition 2024 Lobuche East and Island Peak Climb Lobuche Peak Climb Luxury Annapurna Trek Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek Makalu Base Camp Trek Manaslu Circuit Trek Manaslu Expedition 2024 Mardi Himal Trek Mera and Island Peak Climb Mera Peak Climb Mountaineering Course in Nepal Nar Phu Valley Trek Nepal and Bhutan Tour Nepal and India Tour Paro Tsechu Tour Pharchamo Peak Climbing Pisang Peak Climb Rolwaling Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek Rolwaling Valley Trek with Daldung La Sleep at Everest Base Camp Tengboche Monastery Trek Three Peaks Climbing Tibet Overland Tour to Kathmandu Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp Tsum Valley Trek Upper Dolpo to Jomsom Trek Upper Mustang Trek Western Bhutan Tour Yala Peak Climb Yalung Ri Peak Climb
• Email Address* *
• Country Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati North Korea South Korea Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Mount Everest Expedition

Mount Everest North Side Expedition

The Alpenglow Approach on Everest has been developed over the last two decades and culminates in the best experience possible on Everest.

• IFMGA Certified Expedition Leaders
• Professionally Trained and Certified Mountain Guides
• Rapid Ascent™ Hypoxico Rental Included
• Climb from the safer, cleaner North Side
• Experienced, trained Sherpa
• High End Base Camp and Mountain Infrastructure
• Expedition Doctor on call 24/7
• Full Time Office Support Staff
• Sell Out Risk High April 28, 2024 – June 02, 2024
• April 27, 2025 – June 01, 2025

Summit the world’s tallest peak from the North Side – without the crowds or the risk of the South Side and Khumbu Icefall. Experience the unique culture, environment, and people of Tibet. Climb Everest in almost half of the time of traditional expeditions, with the North Side’s most professional team and best logistics.

CLIMB THE NORTH SIDE OF MOUNT EVEREST

Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world (29,035 feet/8,850 meters), is an incredible challenge and experience. Alpenglow’s unique format and extensive experience gives us the ability to achieve the highest levels of both safety and success. Since 2015, we have moved our operations to the North Side of Mt. Everest. With increasing stability in Tibet being contrasted by increasing instability in Nepal, the significantly safer and less crowded route from the North Side is an obvious choice for our teams. Our team’s strengths cater well to the increased remoteness of the North Side. Our Sherpa, guides, and support staff are unanimous that responsible climbing teams must avoid the increasingly unpredictable icefall and politics found on Everest’s South Side. Many members of our team (including Sherpa, cooks, doctor, and guides) have worked extensively on the North Side and make our team one of the most experienced to offer climbs from Tibet.

SMALL GROUPS, EXPERIENCED SHERPA

Alpenglow offers an exceptional level of competency, safety, and comfort to Everest expeditions. Our team will be limited to 12 members, with certified guides and the best Sherpa and cooks available (staff we have been working with for more than a decade). Our small group size allows us to adapt to changing conditions and weather far more easily than many commercial teams, which have become so large over the last five years that they have become difficult to manage. Our member to Sherpa (2:3) and member to guide ratios (4:1), the comforts of our Base Camp, our fresh and nutritious food, and our use of maximum oxygen are details that add up to a far more enjoyable experience and successful climb.

MINIMIZED DOWNTIME

Historically, we have seen that over 30% of climbers on other teams head home long before attempting their summit push on Mt. Everest. This is generally for 3 reasons, all tied to the amount of time teams take “acclimatizing” on the mountain: the multiple trips up and down the mountain during acclimatization cause the climber to reassess the risk and go home, the climber’s weight loss, chronic sickness and progressive weakening at altitude cause them to call off the trip, or a family or work issue at home takes priority. Our goal with a 35-day Rapid Ascent™ itinerary is to keep all the necessary acclimatization, training, and mountain preparation, while minimizing the unnecessary waiting and down time of traditional expeditions. Use of the best technology available (including weather forecasting, efficient oxygen systems, and pre-acclimatization in hypoxic tents) and our team’s experience (and their early arrival and late departure to pre-set and clean the mountain’s camps and ropes), allows our team to minimize their time approaching Advanced Base Camp, while maximizing their chances of success.

BEST IN CLASS GUIDES AND LOGISTICS

Alpenglow Expeditions’ logistics, guiding, Base Camp staff, food, and equipment are of the absolute highest level possible. As with all of Alpenglow’s 8,000-meter peak expeditions, Everest is organized and led by IFMGA guide, Adrian Ballinger. Adrian is one of the most recognized guides in the Himalaya, with an impeccable safety record and twelve 8,000 meter peak summits, all while guiding or rope-fixing for guided teams. Adrian has extensive experience organizing complicated logistics for large Himalayan teams (including 6 years as lead guide for one of the Himalaya’s largest companies), as well as countless hours on the mountain rope-fixing with Sherpa, guiding members, and assisting and organizing rescues.

APPROACHED WITH RESPECT

While many downplay the difficulty and hazards of climbing Mount Everest, Alpenglow maintains a deep respect for the nature of this mountain and you will never find us underestimating its potential dangers. We require a significant amount of experience from each of our members to ensure that you will feel comfortable on the peak, both with your own skills and those of your teammates.

Questions about Mount Everest?

Technical experience, altitude experience.

Everest Itinerary

Climbers fly into Chengdu, China, arriving by the evening. Arriving into either CTU or TFU airports are acceptable. CTU airport is closer to the hotel we’re staying at.

Sleeping Elevation: 1,600’/488m Lodging: St. Regis Hotel Meals: None

Fly by plane to Lhasa (12,000’/3,658m). These flights are usually in the morning, getting climbers to Lhasa mid-day. From the airport it is an hour drive into Lhasa, where we have a bit of time to walk around the old city, and enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner.

Sleeping Elevation: 12,000’/3,658m Lodging: TBA Meals: Breakfast

The Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lama, and ancient Jokhang Monastery, are two of Tibet’s most important cultural sites, and imperative to beginning to understand this unique place. After a morning exploring with our local guide, we drive a few hours along the now paved road to Everest, stopping for the night in Shigatse, and our simple but clean hotel.

Distance Covered: 180 mile drive Moving Hours: 5-6 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +600’/183m Sleeping Elevation: 12,000’/3,658m Lodging: Hotel in Shigatse Meals: Breakfast

From Shigatse, the drive takes you closer and closer to the massive mountains rising ahead. To aid in our acclimatization, the team will spend the night in Shegar. This small town is only a few hours from base camp and gives our bodies needed time to further acclimatize for the days and weeks ahead.

Distance Covered: 160 mile drive Moving Hours: 5-6 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,600’/488m Sleeping Elevation: 14,200’/4,328m Lodging: Hotel in Shegar Meals: Breakfast

We will continue along the Tibetan Plateau until you begin to see views of Everest itself. From there you leave the main road and follow the valley to the Rongbuk Monastery. Built around numerous ancient meditation caves, the monastery serves as a sacred threshold to Mt Everest, and gives you the first head-on views of the peak. After exploring the monastery and lunch, you continue driving into our base camp, where we settle in.

Distance Covered: 70 mile drive Moving Hours: 3 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,800’/853m Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Our camp offers excellent food, comfortable tents, and important amenities (heated dining tents, electricity, etc.). We allow our bodies to continue their acclimatization, and spend the day organizing equipment and logistics.

Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we do an acclimatization hike above camp, returning in time for lunch and rest before tomorrow’s move.

Today you will review the equipment and skills needed for moving over the technical ground that will be found higher on the mountain.This fixed line training day is an important step on your journey, and is great for getting to know your guides and teammates.

Distance Covered: Varies Moving Hours: Varies Elevation Gain/Loss: Varies Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After several days in BC, you are ready to push a little higher and longer out of camp. Acclimatization hikes vary, but a solid half-day and a couple thousand vertical feet under your belt does wonders for acclimatization.

Distance Covered: 4-6 miles Moving Hours: 4-6 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +/- 2,000’/610m Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

One final rest day will complete your initial acclimatization in base camp.

We split the move to Advanced Base Camp in two, today moving 6 miles to Interim Camp. While this camp is simple, you will still enjoy comfortable sleeping, dining, and excellent food. The location is incredible, surrounded by penitentes (ice towers) and moraines.

Distance Covered: 6 miles Moving Hours: 4-5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,000’/610m Sleeping Elevation: 19,000’/5,791m Lodging: Interim Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Six miles of hiking along the moraine and glacier bring us to Advanced Base Camp, our home on the side of the East Rongbuk Glacier. This camp, our main one for the duration of the expedition, is established with as much comfort as possible to balance life in the harsh environment.

Distance Covered: 6 miles Moving Hours: 5-6 Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,300’/701m Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Our bodies need time to acclimatize to over 21,000 feet. We utilize the days re-visiting required fixed rope and climbing skills, taking short acclimatization hikes, and eating and resting in our impressive camp.

Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will push up to the head of the East Rongbuk glacier and the start of the technical climbing. This acclimatization hike delivers absolutely stunning views of the Northeast Face of Everest and across to the beautiful Lhakpa Ri.

Distance Covered: 2.5 miles Moving Hours: 3-5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +/- 1,000’/305m Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Again, a day of rest aids our body in acclimatization

A 4-6 hour climb takes us from the edge of the East Rongbuk Glacier up progressively steepening snow slopes. The 2,000 foot climb is an excellent time to focus on crampon efficiency and fixed rope technique, and arriving at the North Col is hard-earned.

Distance Covered: 1.8 miles Moving Hours: 4-6 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,700’/518m Sleeping Elevation: 23,000’/7,010m Lodging: North Col Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We descend quickly via rappels and arm-wrapping back to our camp on the side of the glacier. Our bodies will need rest, but now feel strong and able to recover at Advanced Base Camp.

Distance Covered: 1.8 miles Moving Hours: 1.5-2 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -1,700’/518m Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Depending on whether we have an early or late summit window, two different itineraries are possible. This itinerary reflects the early summit window

Now that you have spent a significant amount of time acclimatizing, it’s possible to actually rest and recover at the altitudes of ABC. You and your team will spend 2 days resting, eating, hydrating and prepping for the summit push.

Today you start your summit push. Weeks of work have prepared your mind and body for the extreme environment found above, it’s time to put yourself to the test. Retracing your steps from the previous days, you hike along the East Rongbuk and up the snow and ice slopes to the North Col. You will use supplementary oxygen for the first time at the North Col, .5 liter flow will help you sleep and wake up ready to move higher.

The climb to Camp 2 follows a wide ribbon of snow along the ridge, with the massive North and Northeast faces flanking you on either side. The path to the summit now seems tantalizingly close, but you must move slowly and take your time. We are now entering the world of extreme altitude.

Distance Covered: 1 mile Moving Hours: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,750’/533m Sleeping Elevation: 24,750’/7,544m Lodging: Camp 2 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Passing through the mythical line marking 8,000m/ 26,200 feet, you climb higher still. Now predominantly climbing through rock, C3 is perched on a feature directly below the “exit cracks”, which guard access to the upper North Ridge. C3 is located higher than most mountains on earth, the views are both beautiful and far- reaching. Tomorrow is “the big day”, you will get into your tent early and eat, rest and hydrate in preparation for the arduous task ahead.

Distance Covered: .75 miles Moving Hours: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,950’/594m Sleeping Elevation: 26,700’/8,138m Lodging: Camp 3 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is the day that you will put your years of training and preparation to the ultimate test. Waking in the middle of the night, your route finds you winding up through the exit cracks and onto the upper North Ridge. There are 3 steep rock steps to negotiate, and the exposure builds and there is now ten thousand feet of relief on either side of the narrow summit ridge. After passing the difficulties of the third step, the summit prayer flags are visible and the path is straightforward.

While the experience of summiting Everest is different for every climber lucky enough to attain that rarified air, one thing is certain: You will never forget those few moments spent standing on the roof of the world. The way down is long and challenging, you will descend all the way down to the North Col, reversing the difficulties of the steps and slowly drifting into the thicker and thicker air of the lower mountain. If you and your team are particularly motivated, it is possible to descend all the way to ABC.

Distance Covered: 4.2 miles Moving Hours: 12-14 hours Elevation Gain/Loss:  +2,329’/-6,029’ Sleeping Elevation: 23,000’/7,010m Lodging:  North Col Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Finishing the descent of the mountain proper, the ABC team will welcome you with hot food, drinks and showers.

Activity: Descend to ABC Distance Covered: 1.8 miles Moving Hours: 1.5-2 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -1,700’/518m Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

These extra days can be used in case the team, the weather or other variables require additional time to make a summit push. We’ve seen early and late weather windows that are suitable for a summit push, these extra days gives us flexibility in the planning of our summit push.

Today you will say goodbye to much of the mountain staff and make the long walk down to base camp. Leaving behind the world of ice and glaciers, the thick air of base camp will feel like a luxury!

Activity: Descend to BC Distance Covered: 12 miles Moving Hours: 4-8 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -4,300’/1,311m Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

A relaxed morning will give way to a busy day celebrating, packing and getting ready for your journey home. Tonight marks the end of the expedition, you and your team will gather around the dinner table and hold a final celebration meal to close out your time spent in Tibet.

Activity: Rest and Celebrate Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging: Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Waking early, it’s time to leave the mountain. An all day drive will bring you back to Shigatse, the massive form of Everest and the other Himalayan giants slowly fading in your rearview mirror.

Activity: Drive to Shigatse Distance Covered: Drive 230 miles Moving Hours:  8-9 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -4,400’/1,341m Sleeping Elevation: 12,600’/3,840m Lodging:  Base Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Your morning flight to Chengdu arrives midday, most team members will choose to catch their international flights home that evening. You can elect to arrange an extra hotel night in Chengdu and fly home the next morning.

Activity: Fly to Chengdu Moving Hours: 3.5 flight Elevation Gain/Loss: -11,000’/3,353m Sleeping Elevation: 1,600’/488m Lodging: Hotel or fly home Meals:  Breakfast

Depending on whether we have an early or late summit window, two different itineraries are possible. The early & late summit window itineraries are the same up until Day 17. The following itinerary is for the possibility of a late summit window

There are a variety of reasons that we might want to delay our summit bid, be it that our climbers need additional rest or we’re waiting for a better weather window. If we decide to opt for the “Late Summit Window” itinerary, today we’ll cover a lot of ground descending from ABC back to Everest Base Camp to recharge at lower altitude for a few days.

Activity: Descend to EBC Distance Covered:  12 miles Moving Hours:  5-6 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -4,300’/1,311m Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging:  Everest Base Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We’ll spend a few days resting and recuperating down at the “low” altitude of 17,000’. Sleeping will be easier and we’ll have access to excellent food down at Base Camp.

Activity: Rest in Base Camp Sleeping Elevation:  17,000’ Lodging:  Everest Base Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a few days of fantastic rest at base camp, hopefully we have an opportunity for a better summit window. Today it’s time to start moving up again. We split the move to Advanced Base Camp in two, moving 6 miles to Interim Camp. While this camp is simple, you will still enjoy comfortable sleeping, dining, and excellent food. The location is incredible, surrounded by penitentes (ice towers) and moraines.

Activity:  Climb to Interim Camp Distance Covered:  6 miles Moving Hours:  3-5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,000’/610m Sleeping Elevation: 19,000’/5,791m Lodging:  Interim Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Six miles of hiking along the moraine and glacier bring you to back to Advanced Base Camp, our familiar “home” for the duration of the expedition. It’s nice to be back at elevation with an expansive view of the entire North Ridge, rising from the East Rongbuk all the way to the lofty summit, almost eight thousand feet above.

Activity: Climb to ABC Distance Covered:  6 miles Moving Hours:  3-5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss:  +2,300’ Sleeping Elevation:  21,300′ Lodging:  ABC Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Now that you have acclimatized thoroughly, it’s possible to actually rest and recover at the altitudes of ABC. Today you and your team will spend the day resting, eating, hydrating and prepping for the summit push.

Activity: Rest in ABC Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging: Advanced Base Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you start your summit push. Weeks of work have prepared your mind and body for the extreme environment found above, it’s time to put yourself to the test. Retracing your steps from the previous days, you hike along the East Rongbuk and up the snow and ice slopes to the North Col. You will use supplementary oxygen for the first time at the North Col, 0.5 liter flow will help you sleep and wake up ready to move higher.

Activity: Climb to North Col Distance Covered: 1.8 miles Moving Hours: 4-5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,700’/518m Sleeping Elevation: 23,000’/7,010m Lodging: North Col Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activity: Climb to C2 Distance Covered:1 mile Moving Hours: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,750’/533m Sleeping Elevation: 24,750’/7,544m Lodging: Camp 2 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Passing through the mythical line marking 26,200 feet/8,000m you climb higher still. Now predominantly climbing through rock, C3 is perched on a feature directly below the “exit cracks”, which guard access to the upper North Ridge. C3 is located higher than most mountains on earth, the views are both beautiful and far-reaching. Tomorrow is “the big day”, you will get into your tent early and eat, rest and hydrate in preparation for the arduous task ahead.

Activity:  Climb to C3 Distance Covered: 0.75 miles Moving Hours: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,950’/5,934m Sleeping Elevation: 26,700’/8,138m Lodging:  Camp 3 Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is the day that you will put your years of training and preparation to the ultimate test. Waking in the middle of the night, your route finds you winding up through the exit cracks and onto the upper North Ridge. There are 3 steep rock steps to negotiate, and the exposure builds and there is now ten thousand feet of relief on either side of the narrow summit ridge. After passing the difficulties of the third step, the summit prayer flags are visible and the path is straightforward. While the experience of summiting Everest is different for every climber lucky enough to attain that rarified air, one thing is certain: You will never forget those few moments spent standing on the roof of the world. The way down is long and challenging, you will descend all the way down to the North Col, reversing the difficulties of the steps and slowly drifting into the thicker and thicker air of the lower mountain. If you and your team are particularly motivated, it is possible to descend all the way to ABC.

Activity: Summit Day Distance Covered: 4.2 miles Moving Hours: 12-14 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,329’/-6,029’ ; +710m/1,838m Sleeping Elevation: 23,000’/7,010m Lodging:  North Col Camp Meals; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activity:  Descend to ABC Distance Covered:  1.8 miles Moving Hours:  1.5-2 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -1,700’/518m Sleeping Elevation: 21,300’/6,492m Lodging:  Advanced Base Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activity: Descend to EBC Distance Covered:  12 miles Moving Hours: 4-8  hours Elevation Gain/Loss: -4,300’/1,311m Sleeping Elevation: 17,000’/5,182m Lodging:  Everest Base Camp Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ask us anything about Everest

Faq’s about everest.

The top of Mt. Everest is engulfed by the jet stream for a major part of the year, making climbing near impossible due to high winds and extreme sub zero temperatures. It is only when the winds die down in May, that we have a so-called ‘Summit Window’, when conditions are safe enough for climbers to try and reach the summit. The other reason that climbers make summit attempts primarily in May is to avoid the harsh winter snows and summer monsoon rains.

HE COST OF YOUR TRIP INCLUDES YOUR LAND COSTS (EXCLUDING IN-TOWN MEALS). THIS INCLUDES: All lodging according to the itinerary, including single occupancy lodging while in Chengdu and Lhasa, and double occupancy in Shigatse and Tingri

Single occupancy in base camp and advanced base camp, double occupancy above ABC Breakfasts in town, all meals while on the mountain Group camping and climbing equipment All park/climbing permits Scheduled in-country transportation Airport transfers Certified guides Covid testing arrangements for re-entry into home country (does not include cost of test)

THE COST OF YOUR TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE: Flights to/from the city where the expedition begins. Additional nights in hotel outside of the itinerary Airport taxes Visas In-town dinners Immunizations Tips for guides or local staff Travel, rescue, or any other type of insurance Hospitalization or evacuation costs Single supplement charges Excess baggage charges Alcohol Other personal expenses Antigen/PCR Covid test cost The costs of delays or changes to itinerary that are beyond the control of Alpenglow Expeditions or its agents are not included.

Traditionally, you would need up to three months to make the journey. It takes 19 days round trip to trek to and from Everest Base Camp. Once at Everest Base Camp it then takes an average of 40 days to climb to the peak of Mt. Everest. However, with Alpenglow’s Rapid Ascent protocol, we are able to complete an Everest expedition in just 36 days!

Mount Everest is located in the Mahalangur mountain range and is situated on the border of both China and Nepal.

Mount Everest is on the border of both China and Nepal. We climb Everest via Tibet (China) on the North side to avoid political instability, crowds on the South side, and the Khumbu icefall.

9 bottles of oxygen per climber. This allows us to use high-flow oxygen sleeping at Camps 2, 3 and 4, and to climb on a higher flow than other expeditions (2L from North Col-C2, and 4L from C2-C3, C3-C4, and C4-Summit-North Col), maximizing safety and success. Our Sherpa also climb and sleep on oxygen, which means they have more strength to focus on you and your ascent.

3:2 Sherpa to climber ratio. Having 3 Sherpa per 2 climbers ensures we have the strength necessary to carry loads, set camps, and assist climbers. All of our Sherpa on Everest have worked with us on many expeditions.

1:4 maximum guide to climber ratio. All guides are IFMGA qualified or aspirants working towards finishing their certification. This is the lowest member to guide ratio in the Himalaya.

Climbing Everest is a lifelong goal for many people. Often, an ascent of this peak is the crowning achievement of a climber’s high altitude career. Alpenglow Expeditions has very strict requirements to become a team member on one of our Everest expeditions, and it takes time to gain the necessary skills and experience. This is a multi year project for many people, starting with basic climbing instruction at one of our multi day climbing schools. Afterwards, larger and more complex mountains are attempted, culminating in an expedition to an 8000m peak, which is usually Cho Oyu. After all of this, a climber is now ready to be a team member on an attempt to climb Mt. Everest.

In order to join our Everest expedition, climbers must have experience on an 8000 meter peak. Many climbers gain this experience by joining our expedition to Cho Oyu or Gasherbrum II. Climbers must have solid ice and snow climbing experience, including the use of ice axe, crampons and fixed rope systems.

For 2015 and beyond, we have moved our operations to the North Side of Everest. With increasing stability in Tibet being contrasted by increasing instability in Nepal, the significantly safer and less crowded route from the North Side is an obvious choice for our teams. Our team’s strengths cater well to the increased remoteness of the North Side. Our Sherpa, guides, and support staff are unanimous that responsible climbing teams must avoid the increasingly unpredictable icefall and politics found on Everest’s South Side. Many members of our team (including Sherpa, cooks, doctor, and guides) have worked extensively on the North Side and make our team one of the most experienced to offer climbs from Tibet.

Please click here to review our international cancellation policy.

We always consider customs. Custom trips make up more than 50% of our groups. Please reach out to learn more!

Imported and local foods of the highest quality, combined with a Western-trained cook staff. Alpenglow has the best food on the mountain, ensuring your strength and health throughout the expedition.

Climbers must be in excellent physical shape to join this expedition. This is perhaps the most important aspect of high-altitude climbing, and cannot be stressed enough. Regular, challenging exercise for many months in advance of departure is the only way to gain the necessary level of fitness that is needed on big peaks. We highly recommend a structured training regime with a gym or personal trainer to assist you in preparing for climbing at altitude. Please contact us for more information on physical training.

We use a Swiss weather forecasting company. Having a quality forecast for our 8,000m peaks maximizes both our safety and our summit success.

Expedition doctor, Monica Piris, has been on fourteen 8,000-meter peak expeditions. While Dr. Piris does not travel with our team on all expeditions, she is in 24 communication with our expedition leaders. Dr. Piris also works with each member on his or her pre-acclimatization program.

Yes. Please reach out to our team with the details of your dietary restrictions and we’ll set you up for success.

We require Rescue Insurance on all of our international expeditions. Rescue insurance will help cover costs in the event that you need to be rescued off the mountain (Ex: Helicopter/medical evacuation). Travel Insurance (which we strongly recommend) can cover issues that would cause you to cancel your trip in advance, like illness. We do recommend Global Rescue who does offer a Comprehensive Travel Protection option to your required Rescue (Evacuation) Insurance.

Everest Equipment List

Bring your favorite baseball hat for shelter from the sun. No white under the brim – the reflection off of it from the sun is blinding.

Recommended: Alpenglow Hat

A comfortable, warm well-fitting hat that covers your ears. Make sure that one of your hats fits under a helmet.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Levels Beanie 

A multi-purpose neck gator that can also be worn under your hat. Make sure that it covers as much skin as possible and yet is still comfy.

Recommended: Alpenglow Buff

We recommend a tight-fitting balaclava that is worn under your hat. Make sure that it covers as much skin as possible, but is comfortable enough to wear for hours.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Coefficient LT Balaclava

Must have dark lenses. Minimal light should come in below, above, or around the sides of the lenses.“Wrap” style is best. Ventilation is important and a retainer strap is very useful (Chums or Croakies).

Recommended: Vaurnet Ice Rounds

These will be worn on stormy or windy days. Make sure you are getting a snug fit with lenses for bright sun. Ventilation and anti-fog features are desired.

Recommended:  Vuarnet Everest Goggles

These gloves keep the inside of your mitts or other gloves from accumulating sweat on the inside and turning inside out when you take them off, as well as provide additional insulation.

Recommended: Black Diamond Lightweight Wooltech Gloves

These gloves should be full GORE-TEX®, and insulated. These will be the workhorse glove for any expedition.

Recommend:  Black Diamond Mission MX Gloves

These gloves should be full GORE-TEX®, with a removable fleece liner (so you can take the liner out and dry it at night). These gloves are used at higher altitudes and are needed to keep your hands dry, and warm. Over the cuff style is desired.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Guide Gloves

These mittens should be warm and worn over either a liner glove or a windstopper glove. Down mittens are not required. You should choose a pair that allows you to still operate locking carabiners.

Recommended: Black Diamond Absolute Mitts

Your everyday sock, good for day hikes, trekking, and in-town. It’s good to bring several pairs of these socks. NO COTTON.

Recommended: Darn Tough Hiking Sock

A super-thin wicking sock that repels moisture. Liner socks help to reduce the likelihood of blisters. The socks should be thin wool, nylon, or Capilene®. NO COTTON

Recommended:  Ice Breaker Merino Liner

A wool synthetic blend. Pure rag wool socks are not nearly as effective in wicking moisture or retaining their shape and reducing blisters. Bring a few pairs of these socks. NO COTTON.

Recommended: Darn Tough Mountaineering Sock

These are optional, but highly recommended. Bring 2 sets of batteries.  Hotronics boot heaters  are another option instead of heated socks, but socks are preferred by our guides.

Recommended:  Sidas Sock Set V2 Uni S-1200

These light to mid-weight shoes are for everyday use. The ideal shoe is comfortable to wear for multiple days and scrambles decently on rock. A Gore-tex lined shoe stays drier when hiking in rain or snow.

Recommended: La Sportiva TX Guide

These snow boots are good for wearing around camp and should be comfortable when you slip into them after spending significant time in your mountain boots.

Recommended Men’s : Sorel Caribou Boot

Recommended Women’s:  Sorel Caribou Boot

You’ll love having a warm, comfortable shoe to slip into when tent-bound. These are optional, but nice to have.

Recommended: Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties

Should be warm single or double boots that have a stiff sole and accept a step-in crampon. The boots should be comfortable, have adequate wiggle room for your toes, and your heel should not lift more than 1/8th of an inch when walking. (If your feet run cold, we would recommend a double boot like the La Sportiva G2 Evo.) For our Introductory Climbing Schools, we have limited availability and sizes for free boot rentals. If you need rentals, please reach out to the office staff asap to ensure we have your size.

Recommended:   La Sportiva G5 Evo

Fully insulated, double boots with an integrated gaiter. These boots are essential for 8000-meter peaks

Recommended:  La Sportiva Olympus Mons

Ultra-light base layer that effectively wicks moisture away from your body and is breathable. Quick-dry is important as well. One light-colored shirt is recommended for extremely sunny days.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve

A long sleeve base layer that is fitted, lightweight and quick drying. Make sure it is long enough to tuck in.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Coefficient Crew

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Solution Crew

A polar guard or fleece jacket. This mid-layer will be worn over your base layer most of the trip.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Coefficient LT Quarter Zip

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Solution Quarter Zip

Lightweight, long-sleeve sun hoody that is great for protecting from the sun.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody

A simple, lightweight puffy jacket. This item is good for layering systems and staying warm. We recommend 800-fill down that is packable and resists inclement weather.

Recommended Men’s : Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody

More breathable than Gore-tex, these soft shell jackets block wind and light precipitation and are great as an outer layer and warm layer under your parka.

Men’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody

Women’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody

A lightweight, waterproof and breathable jacket WITH A HOOD that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Make sure you have pit-zips and if you are using an old jacket, re-waterproof it.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Liquid Point Shell

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Liquid Point Shell

A puffy jacket with a hood that will keep you warm during the coldest of conditions. The higher the quality down, the better (800-fill is best). However, be sure the jacket is still lightweight.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Vision Down Parka

Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Vision Down Parka

We HIGHLY recommend an 8000m insulated suit rather than a separate top and bottom.

Recommended Men’s:  The North Face Down Suit

Recommended Women’s : The North Face Women’s Down Suit

Throw these on under other layers for when the sun begins to beat, or you want to stretch / relax in Basecamp. Lightweight, durable and comfortable. NO COTTON.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Sierra Shorts

Recommended Women’s:   Black Diamond Sierra Shorts

Lightweight, durable, quick-drying hiking pant that will be your day-to-day pant during the expedition

Men’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant

Women’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant

Fitted, light-weight, next to skin base layer.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Mens Solution 150 Merino Bottoms

Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Solution 150 Merino Bottoms

Fitted and quick drying. This piece will be a Mid-Weight Layer that will get you through a wide range of temperatures.

Recommended Men’s:  Black Diamond Coefficient LT Pants

Recommended Women’s:  Black Diamond Coefficient LT Pants

You will spend most of your days in these pants. Choose Schoeller® or a soft-shell equivalent. Breathable + water-resistant.

Men’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Men’s Dawn Patrol Pants

Women’s Recommended:  Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Pants

Your waterproof bottom layer for extreme weather days. Make sure you have water-resistant zippers, crampon patches + good pockets.

Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Men’s Recon Stretch Pants

Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Recon Stretch Pants

Full-length side zippers are recommended, for throwing on top of all of your layers.

Recommended: Black Diamond Stance Belay Pants

Mid-size pack for city days and trekking. Streamlined, neat and lightweight (10-20 liters).

Recommended: Black Diamond Bullet 16 Pack

Internal frame pack that is between 50 and 60 liters. Either purchase a matching pack cover, or use garbage bags as liners. Make sure the pack is fitted to YOUR body.

Recommended : Black Diamond Speed 50L Pack

2 Duffle Bags – At least one bag should be extremely durable, waterproof, and big – between 90L and 120L. You should feel comfortable leaving it in a puddle for several hours. Remember dry clothes are hot commodities in the mountains! Large enough to fit everything you own, plus what you anticipate buying. Two duffel bags are necessary to fit all your equipment for travel (we don’t recommend checking your backpack, best is to put all gear and backpack into your duffle). Once in country, you can consolidate your gear into one duffel and your backpack. It’s common to leave the second duffel with city clothes and other non-necessary items behind in a locked and secure location that your guide will arrange for you.

Note:  For ski expeditions such as the Ecuador Ring of Fire, you can replace one of these duffle bags with a ski/splitboard bag.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Stonehauler 90L

Rated to -30º F to -40º F. Choose an 800+ Fill Premium Goose Down bag. Make certain that the sleeping bag is the right length. DON’T FORGET A COMPRESSION SACK FOR THE SLEEPING BAG. Many climbers also like a silk liner.

Granite Gear Compression Sack is desired.

Recommended:   Eddie Bauer Kara Koram with Compression Sack

72-inch long inflatable pad required. Make sure you also purchase and bring a repair kit + bag for the sleeping pad.

Recommended: NeoAir Xtherm

Recommended: Thermarest Z Lite SOL™ Sleeping Pad

Two 1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles.

Recommended:   Nalgene 1 L wide mouth

1x Insulation cover for Nalgene bottle.

Recommended: Nalgene 32oz Insulated Sleeve

Should carry 70-100 ounces. Must be durable and have a reliable closure system. Recommended: MSR Dromlite 2L with Hydration Tube

These become really handy on summit push to keep water inside your down suit and maintain the water’s temperature. Make sure that the lid or drinking system has a lock.

Recommended:  MTN STOW 350 mL Collapsible Bottle

A fully insulated thermos is optional but recommended for warm drinks that help with comfort, hydration, and safety on cold days in the mountains.

Recommended: Thermos STAINLESS KING™ DRINK BOTTLE 24OZ

Make sure that they are durable, lightweight + easily adjustable.

Recommended: Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Trekking Poles

Please bring two L.E.D. Headlamps. One will be intended as a lightweight backup. L.E.D. headlamps are required. Make sure they have 3+ bulbs. Bring extra batteries. We highly recommend a tilting lamp.

Recommended: Black Diamond Storm 450

Backup Headlamp Recommended: Black Diamond Deploy 325 

A lightweight and compact cookware setup. You’ll want a plastic bowl, mug and spoon.

Recommended Kit:   MSR 2-Person Mess Kit

2 BIC Lighters

Must have belay loop, gear loops and adjustable leg loops so that you can layer up underneath it. Easy to pack, lightweight + comfortable. *Harnesses are also available to rent (for our introductory climbing courses) at no charge from Alpenglow expeditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Couloir

An easily adjustable lightweight helmet that fits with hat and Balaclava. Make sure this is a climbing-specific helmet. *Climbing helmets are also available to rent (for our introductory climbing courses) at no charge from Alpenglow Expeditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Recommended: Black Diamond Vision Helmet – MIPS

Steel crampons with anti-balling plates are required (so that snow does not build-up in the base of your foot). Make sure that crampons have a heel bail and that they fit snugly on your ski or snowboard boots. Crampons are available to rent (for our introductory climbing courses) at no charge from Alpenglow Expeditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Recommended: Black Diamond Sabretooth Crampons

General purpose, ultra-light climbing ice axe.

Recommended: Black Diamond Venom Classic LT Piolet

Light, easy to use + simple. Should have teeth/grooves for skinny ropes.

Recommended:  Black Diamond ATC Alpine Belay Device

Should have a large opening for gloved hands, and an easy thumb trigger.

Recommended:  Black Diamond Index Ascender

A digital transceiver that is simple to use or that you are extremely comfortable using.

Recommended: Black Diamond Recon Avalanche X Beacon

Small, lightweight small carabiners are best, wire-gates are fine.

Recommended: Black Diamond HotForge Carabiner

Small, lightweight locking carabiners are best.

Recommended:  Black Diamond LiteForge Screwgate

• Passport with Chinese Visa
• 2 luggage locks (TSA compliant)
• Non-cotton underwear
• Stuffsacks: assorted sizes, for organizing your clothes and gear
• Sunscreen: SPF 30 (or higher)
• Lip balm with SPF 15 (or higher)
• Personal first-aid kit (Band-aids, Ibuprofen, Cough Drops, Moleskin, Pepto-bismol, Imodium, Personal Medications)
• 3-4lbs of Snack food: A variety of your preferred snack food – some whole food, bars, gels (climbing food will be provided in BC and ABC, but we always recommend for climbers to bring some of their favorite and familiar snacks to complement the selection we bring.)
• Hand Warmers
• Hand Sanitizer
• Powerbank (6-10K mAh good for 2-3 phone charges, weighing under 8oz)
• Base Camp Clothes: Life in Base Camp & Advanced Base Camp needs to be as comfortable as possible, so we recommend members bring a change or two of comfortable clothes that can help in leisurely days to feel comfortable and keep your climbing clothes clean. Our guides usually bring a set of comfy jeans, a cotton hoodie and T-shirt.

The feeling of standing on the summit of Everest/Chomolungma is almost indescribable

“The feeling of standing on the summit of Everest/Chomolungma is almost indescribable. What I can say is that the entire experience of climbing the mountain with Alpenglow Expeditions was a true pleasure. I felt taken care of and safe.  There’s no better feeling than climbing a mountain, especially the world’s highest, and feeling safe doing it.”

Cho Oyu Expedition

Makalu Expedition

Gasherbrum II Expedition

Ama Dablam Expedition

Denali Expedition

Vinson Massif Expedition

Carstensz Pyramid Expedition

Climb Aconcagua

Dreaming of Everest?

Read about everest.

Questions To Ask Before Joining An Everest Expedition

Food on Everest: What to Eat and How it Gets to the Mountain

CEO who summited Mt. Everest 8 times: How to achieve success without chasing risks

Alpenglow Expeditions Is Returning to Everest and Cho Oyu

3 business lessons i learned while summiting mt. everest without supplemental oxygen.

‘Death zone’ queues feared on Everest as Nepal grants record climbing permits

Explore an extraordinary adventure tour to the iconic Mount Everest with our carefully curated collection of the 14 best Mount Everest tour packages . Created by local travel experts who know the region intimately, these tours offer an immersive experience in the heart of the majestic Himalayas . From thrilling treks to breathtaking helicopter tours, we have options to suit every adventurer's desire. Join us as we unveil the wonders of Everest and create unforgettable memories in the lap of nature's grandeur.

Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Gokyo Valley Trek with Helicopter Return - 8 days

Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 Days

Everest Base Camp Trek 5 Days

Everest Base Camp Trek by Road - 16 Days

Everest View Helicopter Tour with Kalapatthar Landing

Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trekking

Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek - 12 Days

Everest Three Passes Trek

Short Everest Base Camp Trek - 7 Days

Everest View Trek - 8 Days

Everest Circuit Trekking - 17 Days

Gokyo Lake Trek - 11 Days

Gokyo Chola Pass Trekking - 14 Days

Mount everest tour packages facts.

Everest region lets you encounter the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Also, the supporting mountains’ panorama is much more mesmerizing. Everest is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. Mount Everest is the most elevated mountain peak on the Earth above sea level with an ebb and flows official height of 8848 meters (29,029 feet).

It is known as Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in the Tibetan language. Sagarmatha is combined with two words, ‘Sagar’ and ‘Matha’, which means ‘sky’ and ‘forehead’. Uniting both, the word Sagarmatha refers to as ‘Forehead of the Sky. It is likewise a worldwide outskirt in China and Nepal.

Mount Everest Tour Difficulty Level

The Mount Everest tours and treks vary in difficulty levels, ranging from easy to moderate. The level of challenge depends on the specific itinerary and trekking route chosen.

Mount Everest Tour Duration

The duration of Mount Everest treks and tours can range from 1 day to 20 days, depending on the chosen itinerary and trekking objectives. Shorter tours, such as the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour , provide a condensed experience, while longer treks allow for a more comprehensive exploration of the region.

Mount Everest Tour Environment

The trekking trails to Mount Everest are naturally beautiful, featuring rivers and several suspense bridges that add excitement to the journey. The trails can be moderately busy, but they are well-serviced with tea houses and lodges, providing necessary amenities and accommodations for trekkers.

Max Altitude in Mount Everest Tour

The highest point reached during Mount Everest tours is 5,364 meters at Everest Base Camp (EBC) and 5,643 meters at Kala Patthar. These altitudes offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including Everest itself.

Mount Everest Tour Accommodation

During the Mount Everest tours, accommodation options vary depending on the trekking route and location. Along the trekking trails, there are basic lodges, mid-level tea houses, and luxury lodges up to Lobuche that may offer western toilets. At the higher altitude of Gorekshep, the accommodation is more basic with simple tea houses.

Mount Everest Tour Best Weather

The ideal time to embark on Mount Everest treks is during the months of March to May and October to November. These periods offer favorable weather conditions, with clear skies and stable temperatures. However, other dry seasons can also be recommended for Everest treks.

Mount Everest Tour Transport To/From

To reach the starting point of the Mount Everest treks, trekkers typically take a plane or helicopter flight to Lukla Airport (2,860m). From there, transportation options include jeeps to Sallery or Phaplu Airport, depending on the chosen itinerary.

Everest Entry Documents

To participate in Everest treks, trekkers are required to obtain certain entry documents, including:

Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) Card : This card is a registration document that provides trekkers' information and helps in maintaining trekking records.

Sagarmatha National Park Permit: This permit is necessary to enter Sagarmatha National Park, which is home to Mount Everest and its surrounding region.

Additionally, there are no special permits required specifically for the Everest Base Camp trek . However, there may be local government fees of Rs. 2000 to 5000 per person, which are subject to change and should be confirmed with the local authorities.

These Mount Everest tour facts provide essential information for trekkers and adventurers planning to explore the wonders of Everest and its breathtaking surroundings.

Binod Sapkota

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

• BOOK YOUR NEXT TRIP
• 206.378.1927
• GEAR SHOP ACCOUNT

Mount Everest

(29,031.69 ft./8,848.86 m) nepal, everest guides, guide staff, michael horst.

Eric Murphy

Ngima Tenzing Sherpa

Jangbu Sherpa

Climbing with Alpine Ascents was the best decision I made, and I could not have been more pleased. You may pay more than some of the other companies, but I think you get more.

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

First summer cascades conditions report of 2024 – 4/26/24.

Here we go! Our first Rainier Muir climbing team entered the field today marking the start of our season! Mt Rainier currently sits at around 80% of its snowpack with approximately 9′ of snow at Paradise.  April has been a mix of sunny weather and high pressure along with some stormy periods. The updated weather […]

Diabetes in the Wild

Submission By Morgan McGonagle I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 12 years old. As a very active and independent 12-year-old, this was not a convenient diagnosis. I wanted to be outside as much as possible at the time and was planning to attend a summer camp where I would be away […]

Training for Mountaineering Webinar with Steve House

Alpine Ascents International hosted Steve House, founder of Uphill Athlete and author of the training bible for mountaineers and trail runners, Training for the Uphill Athlete, for a free webinar on February 20th. Steve covered the training approach that he used in his own career as a professional climber which he now uses to help […]

WHY BOOK WITH ALPINE ASCENTS

Knowledge & expertise.

Alpine Ascents International leads expeditions that have become benchmarks of quality in the climbing community. We operate what we believe is the finest mountaineering school in the country. This expertise is based upon years of accumulated experience-not just from individual mountain guides, but through experience on particular mountains where details are fine-tuned over time.

Our guides are an integral part of Alpine Ascents because they understand and share our climbing principles. These individuals are dedicated to sharing their excellence with others. Many of our guides have been with Alpine Ascents for over five years, with a handful of veterans working with us for most of their careers. The quality of our Guide Staff is the primary difference between us and our competitors.

Environmental Reponsibility

Leave No Trace principles are fundamental to our program, and we encourage all who climb and trek with us to understand proper wilderness practices. We help facilitate this effort by passing on Leave No Trace training and literature to every Alpine Ascents climber.

Partners & Accreditations

• 1 800 970 7299
• Live Chat (Online) Live Chat (Offline)
• My Wishlist
• Find a Trip

Your browser 'Internet Explorer' is out of date. Update your browser for more security, comfort and the best experience on this site.

Everest Base Camp Treks & Tours

• Walking & trekking
• Everest Base Camp Treks & Tours

The big daddy of them all, the world’s highest peak and the tallest order on many a bucket list: Mt Everest.

Of course, you don’t need to reach the summit of this iconic mountain to experience the essence of a real Himalayan adventure. Go trekking through the high passes above flame-red rhododendron forests and stunning alpine lakes and enjoy the chance to appreciate the jaw-dropping mountain scenery, as well as challenging yourself physically. Each of our treks is supported by an experienced crew, so you can let your feet do the talking and just focus on your end goal – Everest Base Camp.

Our Everest Base Camp trips

Everest base camp trek, 15 days from 1512.

Embark on the trek of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp on this tour. Fly into Lukla and...

Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek

19 days from 1985.

Take the ultimate trek. Walk in the Himalayas surrounded by some of the most incredible...

Epic Everest Base Camp Trek

15 days from 1416.

Embark on the trek of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp on this trekking trip. Fly into...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

The different itineraries

While all our Everest Base Camp treks take you right to Base Camp, there are some differences. For example, if you're a nature-lover and want to see the crystal waters of the Gokyo Lakes, try our 19-Day Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek. If you want to immerse yourself in the local Nepalese culture, our 15-day Everest Base Camp trip might be for you, as it includes an overnight stay in the famous Sherpa Village.

19-day Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes trek

15-day Everest Base Camp trek

Why choose Intrepid

Trekking experts

As owners of the largest inbound tour operator in Nepal , we have years of experience on the ground. Our English-speaking local leaders are more than just someone to make sure you don’t get lost on the trail, they are there to share their stories and insights about the culture and history of the region too.

Safety first

Your safety is our number one priority. All of our leaders are trained in Advanced Wilderness First Aid and are qualified AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) specialists. Thanks to our specialised safety equipment and crew, our annual helicopter evacuation rescue rate is less than two per cent, well below industry average.

Local matters

All of our guides, assistant guides and porters are local to the Everest region and experienced in their field. But they’re not only trekking experts, they are your key to connecting with the local people, food, landscape and culture. With plenty of stories and tips to share, you’ll feel like an adopted local in no time.

Porter care

We are committed to ensuring respectful and fair working conditions for all trekking porters. Any leaders that join Intrepid must start out as a porter, even if they have led for another company before. This ensures that all our leaders understand the important role a porter plays on a trek.  Learn more about our Porter Policy .

Our trips don’t only include our incredible crew but also all the safety gear required to help get you to Everest Base Camp safely. All accommodation and transport is included, plus a return flight to Lukla to get you to the start of the trek.

Sustainable travel

We have a ‘bring in, bring out’ philosophy on our Base Camp treks, meaning any rubbish should be taken back to Kathmandu and disposed of there. Rubbish disposed of in villages along the trek has to be walked back to major hubs using porters or yaks, so the less we leave behind, the better.

Meet the team

We have very experienced crew, with most of our local leaders having worked with us for over 10 years. Many of our porters and assistant guides on Everest Base Camp trek are Sherpas. The term Sherpa is commonly misused by foreigners to refer to almost any guide or climbing supporter hired for trekking expeditions in the Himalayas, regardless of their ethnicity. However, Sherpas are a local ethnic group from the Everest region, renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at very high altitudes. Many Sherpas are highly regarded as leading mountaineers and specialists in their local area.

How far will I walk each day?

We walk for between four and eight hours each day, some days being more strenuous than others. Trekking is mostly done on paths, but there is the occasional rough terrain along the way, and some days will include ascents and descents of 500 metres or more. This, in addition to the altitude can account for the variation in hiking time and distance per day.

Do I need hiking boots?

Well fitted, comfortable and sturdy shoes are essential, and can make a great difference in the enjoyment of your trip. Make sure to break them in before your trip, either by wearing them on training hikes or even just around the house. The first time you wear your boots should not be on the trail!

Will I suffer from altitude sickness?

Everest Base Camp sits at 5,380m/17,600 feet. At this altitude it’s common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects – regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Everyone will adapt to the altitude and thinning air differently. This is why we always try to keep the ascent slow and steady, to allow your body to acclimatise and make your journey to the summit easier. Some pre-existing medical conditions are known to worsen at high altitude and be difficult to adequately treat on the ground, leading to more serious consequences, so it’s important that you discuss any pre-existing medical conditions with your doctor before you leave home.

Find out more about altitude sickness

What can I do to help reduce my chances of getting altitude sickness?

You can help your body to acclimatise and avoid altitude sickness by:

• Drinking plenty of water – at least four litres per day on top of other forms of fluids such as tea or soups.
• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco and substances that can interfere with good delivery of oxygen to the body or cause dehydration.
• Eating small, frequent meals high in carbohydrates.
• Taking it easy or have a regular break. Walk at a slower pace than you would at sea level and avoid overexertion.

What training should I do in preparation?

We have a number of different training guides available:

• Top training tips for Everest Base Camp
• Our trekking training guide
• 5 things to know before you trek Everest Base Camp

How can I help myself acclimatise once I am there?

Your body needs time to adjust to the altitudes and acclimatise, which will make you feel better in the long run. We have taken this into account in our Itinerary by limiting the altitude we increase daily, and by giving you extra nights to acclimatise in Namche Bazaar.

What is the accommodation like?

Teahouses are the most common accommodation style on Everest Base Camp trek. They are simple but cosy, with shared toilets and washing facilities. As a general rule, the closer you are to Base Camp the more basic the teahouses are. While the views of Everest and the surrounding Himalayas are spectacular, the amenities are understandably basic. 

Hot shower facilities are available in some teahouses for a price but occasionally a hot shower means a bucket of hot water.

Electricity to charge devices as well as paid WiFi is sometimes available. We suggest purchasing a solar charged portable charger to bring with you.

What is the food like?

Food along the Everest Base Camp trail is simple and filling. All food must be carried to your guesthouses by yaks or people, so the higher you get, the more limited and expensive your food options will be. The most common meal on the trail is Dal Bhat, sometimes served with a small side of cooked or pickled veg. Dal is lentil soup, and Baht is rice. It’s filling, delicious, and you can have free refills! You can get western style food like pizza but it’s usually quite expensive. Breakfast is typically a choice of noodle soup, porridge, fried bread, and eggs. ​

We do not include meals while trekking, allowing you to choose what you want to eat and when. We know from experience that the altitude and physical exercise can affect appetites differently.

Where do we eat on the trek?

While it’s not compulsory, our leaders will always encourage our groups to eat together to help build group dynamics over shared meals. The places your leader will recommend are usually the teahouses we use for accommodation. These teahouses have been inspected and approved by our local operations team and are continually tried and tested by our travellers, guides, and leaders that eat there.

The teahouses we sleep in do not rely on our travellers buying food and beverages for payment, as is sometimes the case with independent travellers and other operators. Intrepid pays the teahouses for the accommodation they provide to our groups and any other services they provide generates additional income for them.

How will I get clean drinking water?

It is essential to bring two 1-litre water bottles to refill along the way. While trekking, boiled or safe water is available for drinking, however you should also carry a water purification method. This could be in the form of filtered water bottles, purification drops/tablets, or ultraviolet sterilisation pens that are available in camping stores, some pharmacies, or online.

How do the porters work? Do I carry my own luggage?

The evening before you leave Kathmandu, you'll receive a duffle bag to pack all the clothes and necessities you’ll need for the duration of the trek (10 kilograms or 22 pounds maximum). Your excess luggage will be stored at our starting point hotel in Kathmandu.

Your team of porters will carry the duffle bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. Keep in mind that you won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. While hiking you will need to carry your own day pack with your water, camera, sunscreen, rain jacket, warm layers, hand sanitiser, and any other personal items.

What should I pack?

It’s important you refer to the packing recommendations in your Essential Trip Information, however, for a general guide check out our blog, ‘ What to pack for a trekking trip to Nepal ’.

Do I need to bring all my own hiking gear?

We understand that you might not own all the appropriate gear required to trek in the Himalayas. Thankfully Kathmandu has plenty of shops where you can rent or buy hiking apparel, sleeping bags, and trekking poles. While there are a few stores which sell real brand names, most sell knock offs with varying degrees of quality. Your trip leader can assist you in renting or purchasing the items you require.

When is the best time to trek?

Autumn: The most popular trekking season for Everest Base Camp runs from mid-September to November. October is traditionally the most popular time for this trek, when the views are great, the skies are usually clear, and the temperatures are not too extreme.

Winter: Some travellers prefer the colder winter months, from December to February, when the days are still sunny, but the trails are quieter. If you’re travelling over this time be sure to bring some extra layers of warm clothes.

Spring: If you go to Everest Base Camp over March, April and May you may be lucky enough to meet the people who will be attempting to summit the mountain. Mid-March to mid-May is one of the best times to see rhododendrons, Nepal’s national flower, in full bloom.

Summer: Is monsoon season, so we don't recommend trekking in June or July.

What is the weather like?

Depending on when you travel the weather can be vastly different, but it is best to prepare for all weather, as it can vary throughout the day. During the day in the earlier months of the trekking season it can get very warm and sunny, but during the winter months it can drop well below 0 degrees Celsius, so warm clothing is vital.

No matter what the temperature, or how cloudy it is, always use sun protection! The atmosphere is thinner at high altitude meaning the UV rays are more extreme. Snow can also reflect UV rays, which greatly intensifies UV radiation.

Are there ATMs along the trek?

ATMs are not common on the Everest Base Camp region. There are only two towns where you will see ATMs: Lukla and Namche Bazar. It is quite common for there to be problems with those ATMs or for them to be out of money, so we advise our travellers not to rely on them and make sure you leave Kathmandu with sufficient cash for meals and anything else you might require.

What is the difference between trekking to Everest Base Camp and summiting Everest?

At Intrepid, we offer treks to Everest Base Camp, not to the summit. Trekking to the summit of Everest can cost upwards of $60,000USD and is far more technical than the trek to Base Camp. The summit climb requires previous trekking experience and knowledge of how to climb ice, rock and use summit equipment. Base Camp, on the other hand, requires no technical trekking skills or experience and is considered much safer than summitting. The trek to Base Camp takes between seven to nine days, whereas a summit expedition takes between seven and nine weeks.

Most people who trek to Base Camp go for the experience of seeing Mt Everest, while exploring the local culture. Those who undertake a summit expedition have the primary goal of making it to the top.

Do the porters carry first aid kits?

Yes. We carry multiple, comprehensive first aid kits and our porters and leaders are fully trained on their use. We also take oxygen cylinders, oximeter, portable altitude chamber, and satellite phone. 

Are your leaders trained to recognise the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)?

Absolutely! Intrepid have invested in the highest standards of training of our staff, including advanced altitude training delivered by local doctors who undergo refresher training every two years. We also train them on how to respond in the case of a moderate or severe case of altitude sickness – which will always mean organising for the affected traveller to descend immediately. During your briefing on the first evening of your trip, your leader will talk to you about symptoms of AMS and how to recognise them.

Do you carry medicine for altitude?

Yes – there are three key, potentially life-saving drugs that our teams carry on the mountain. These are Dexamethasone, Diamox and Nifedipine and they used to treat cerebral and pulmonary oedema, which are the two potentially life-threatening complications of severe AMS. Our mountain guides are fully trained on the use of these drugs for altitude related illnesses.

Will oxygen be available?

We carry medical oxygen – and when a group has four travellers or more, this will mean multiple cylinders will be distributed among the team of porters to ensure that oxygen is always quickly available in the case of an emergency. The oxygen that we carry is strictly for emergency use only – and cannot be used by clients to assist in climbing.

Do you carry Gamow bags or PACs?

Yes. We carry PACs, a portable altitude chamber, which are used for sufferers of severe AMS. When a person is suffering from AMS a descent of just a few hundred metres back down the mountain is enough to make a difference. However, a rapid descent on foot is not always possible on Everest Base Camp trek, in which case PACs are more effective.

How do your leaders communicate on the trek?

Mobile (cell) phone coverage on the mountain is improving – but it's still patchy in many areas. For this reason, Intrepid leaders carry short wave radios to allow for communication in the case of an emergency.

Who is your trekking operator in Nepal?

All our trips in Nepal are operated by PEAK DMC Nepal, which is a fully owned Intrepid Travel company based in Kathmandu.

Responsible Travel

We use porters on our treks instead of yaks to carry bags and equipment. Even though animal transport is much cheaper, we have found the animals aren’t treated well and there is no weight limit enforced while using these animals as carriers. We have a detailed Porter Policy in place, to ensure our porters are respected and treated in a dignified way.

At the end of your tour please consider donating to the KEEP Porters Clothing Bank . Contrary to the belief that porters are well-adjusted to the cold and altitude of the Himalayas, every year many porters suffer from a variety of illnesses such as altitude sickness, snow blindness, hypothermia and frostbite and some even die as a result. The Clothing Bank was set up in 2009 to provide ill-prepared porters with better clothing suitable for trekking in a mountain environment and reduce the number of unnecessary illnesses and fatalities which occur each year.

Read more about Everest Base Camp

How To Do The Everest Base Camp Trek In Nepal

The Mount Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is one of the world’s best bucket list hikes. In less than 2 weeks, you can trek to the foot of Mt Everest and other snowy peaks in the Himalayan mountains.

The good news is that it’s not a super difficult hike, and you don’t need a big budget to do it. The EBC trek is worth it for the fun and accomplishment alone, but you also get views of the Himalayas that are out of this world.

This travel guide will explain how you can do the Mt Everest Base Camp hike independently (with or without a tour guide), along with a recommended packing list and everything else you need to know before you go!

Best Everest Base Camp Tours

First of all, if you’d rather skip the hassle of planning your own EBC Trek, Klook has Everest Base Camp Tours starting as low as $900 USD for a full 12-day trek.

You may be able to find something cheaper than this once you land in Kathmandu, but booking online with a vetted tour company has some big advantages, and the reviews on their website are very positive.

We’ve used Klook for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Everest Base Camp Tours

When To Do The EBC Trek

The Mt Everest region has 4 different trekking seasons:

• March – May: High season. Best weather, with stable temperatures and bright sunny days, but the trails can get crowded. During these months you may share the EBC trail with pro climbers on the way to go summit Everest.
• June – August: Monsoon season. There’s a lot more rain during these months, and the trails are mostly empty.
• September – October: Clear days and busy trails. This is one of the most popular trekking seasons.
• November – February: Coldest season, but the weather is stable and dry. The trails are mostly clear.

I trekked in early February, and even though it was nice having the trail mostly to myself, the cold in the evenings and mornings was straight up misery.

My home state of Missouri can get very cold in the winter, but the cold has just never been my thing. If I could go back and change it, I would definitely do my Everest Base Camp hike later in the season.

Everest Base Camp Weather

Temperatures on the Mt Everest Base Camp Trek can range from 5 °C (40 °F) to 20 °C (70 °F) depending on month, and as low as -30 °C (-22 °F) at night during the winter months.

If you trek during the warmer months (Mar-May and Sep-Oct), the cold is not a big problem and shouldn’t be hard to cope with. Winter is a different story. Your snot will freeze in your nose at Gorak Shep.

Sunshine is key for winter trekking in Nepal, and thankfully you should have lots of sun in most months outside of the monsoon season. On my February hike, I often found myself shedding all my layers while trekking because I was heating up in the sun.

If you do your Everest Base Camp hike during the winter, the biggest issue is staying warm in the evenings and at night. For this, you’ll definitely want a top quality down jacket and sleeping bag.

All About Everest Base Camp Trekking

My everest base camp itinerary.

• Day 1: Kathmandu to Lukla to Benkar .
• Day 2: Benkar to Namche Bazaar .
• Day 3: Namche Acclimatization Day .
• Day 4: Namche to Deboche .
• Day 5: Deboche to Pangboche .
• Day 6: Pangboche to Dingboche .
• Day 7: Dingboche Acclimatization Day .
• Day 8: Dingboche to Thukla .
• Day 9: Thukla to Gorak Shep .
• Day 10: Everest Base Camp .
• Day 11: Kala Patthar to Gorak Shep to Pheriche .
• Day 12: Pheriche to Namche .
• Day 13: Namche to Lukla .

If you ever need motivation to keep going on the Everest Base Camp hike, just look at how much the porters are carrying!

Mount Pumori as seen from the Kala Patthar viewpoint, just a short distance from Mt Everest Base Camp.

Ama Dablam, one of my favorite mountains on the Mt Everest Base Camp Trek.

EBC Trek Packing List / Gear

This isn’t a complete list of everything to bring on a Mt Everest Base Camp Trek, and you may have to change things up a little depending on what month you go, but these are just some of the basics.

You can find most of this gear in Kathmandu, but in my opinion you’ll get higher quality and a wider selection if you order online.

• Beanie: I only wore this at night, but it definitely helped keep my ears warm.
• Down Jacket: Bring the biggest, warmest DJ possible. This is your most important piece of gear. You can use it as an extra cover at night.
• Fleece Sweater: This is the only jacket you’ll need to wear while trekking most days, especially if it’s sunny.
• Shirts: Something comfy with quick dry material.
• Trekking Pants: Something lightweight and breathable.
• Thermal Underwear: May not be needed if you trek in the warmer months.
• Gloves: I only wore these at night, but they definitely helped keep my hands warm.
• Socks: Merino wool is best for staying warm and stopping moisture.
• Headlight: Smart to have at least a small one, just in case.
• Tumbler: 1 liter water bottle to refill daily on the trek.
• Sunblock: It’s easy to sunburn at high altitudes. A small bottle is plenty.
• Sunglasses: Good for snow. May not be necessary unless you plan to hike a mountain pass like Cho La.
• Hat: I wore old faithful throughout the hike.
• Watch: An altimeter watch would be fun to play with here.
• Camera: Duh. You can’t do the Mt Everest Base Camp Trek without taking lots of pictures.
• Power Bank: Bring a big power bank and you might only need to recharge it once on the whole trek.

Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

For a 13 day trek, I paid about $21 USD per day for food, drinks, and room. Porter/guide was an extra $25 per day, although it’s not a requirement. Flights to Lukla were $330 return, but again not a requirement if you hike in.

You can read the sections below for more info on the daily trekking costs and what you get for your money. It’s not a very expensive trek, all things considered!

Keep in mind, these numbers are from 2020. They’ll go up a little over time. Exchange rates may also vary, so check the latest rates .

The flight to Lukla from Kathmandu is $165 USD each way. You can shop for flights to Lukla at Skyscanner.

If your budget is tight or you have extra time, you can skip this flight by hiking from Jiri to Lukla rather than flying. It only adds a couple days to the itinerary.

Guide / Porter / Solo

You can do the EBC trek with a guide, porter, OR independently (solo).

A guide will show you the way to Mt Everest Base Camp and help with lodging, navigation, advice, taking pictures for you, etc. A porter-guide will do these same things and also carry a 20 kg (45 lb) pack for you.

A porter or guide is NOT a requirement to do this hike, especially if you go in the warmer months when you may not need as much gear. In 2023, they were supposedly introducing a guide requirement for EBC, but so far that has not been enforced at all, thankfully.

With that said, there are some good advantages to hiring a guide, and it’s pretty cheap by Western standards. A porter is only $15 or $20 USD per day, and a porter-guide is $25 per day. A popular arrangement is to hire one porter for two hikers, splitting the cost and still making things easier for both of you.

In the end, this all depends on your budget and hiking preferences.

Hiking Fees

If you’re hiking EBC independently, you’ll need to be aware of two fees you have to pay near the start of the trek.

There’s a local government tax that they’ve now started collecting in Lukla. This one is currently 2,000 Rupees ($17 USD).

There’s also an Everest park fee/ticket you have to pay at the Sagarmatha National Park entrance just beyond the small village of Monjo, Nepal. This one is currently 3,500 Rupees ($30 USD).

No TIMS card is needed anymore for independent hikers. That fee has been retired for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek.

Accommodation & Amenities

Throughout the Everest Base Camp hike, you’ll stay and sleep at small guesthouses along the way, called teahouses.

This is where you get your meals and drinks for the trek, along with the occasional amenities like showers, charging, or WiFi. The teahouses start out decent, but quickly get more shabby as you go further up the trail.

You have to pay for everything you use, of course, and the prices get quite high as you go, because everything has to be hauled up on the backs of the poor porters.

Guesthouses

The teahouses on the EBC trek are cold and dingy, with drop toilets and cracks in the walls. Don’t expect luxury.

Most rooms are free as long as you buy your meals there (the meals are how they make their money). If you stay at a lodge and don’t eat there, you’ll be expected to pay for the room.

In some cases, I was charged 500 Rupees for a room on top of my meal costs. I’m not sure why some teahouses do this and others don’t, but I never paid more than 500 Rupees for a room, and most were free with the meals.

Food & Drink

I’m happy to report that the food and drinks on the Everest Base Camp hike are top notch, especially after you’ve worked up an appetite trekking.

You have western food choices, or the standard local staples like veggie fried rice, steamed momos (dumplings), and mushroom soup. Everything was hot and fresh. Meal prices for these ranged from 250 to 750 Rupees depending on altitude. Not too bad.

For drinks I tried hot chocolate, lemon/apple/mint tea, and occasionally bottled water for my tumbler. These ranged from 100 to 400 Rupees. If you want to avoid plastic bottles, there’s usually boiled water available and this is safe to drink too.

Getting enough water on the trek is never a problem. Just fill up a 1 liter tumbler in the morning, and this will last you until evening, especially since you’re likely to pass more tea houses along the trail as you’re hiking throughout the day.

Showers are only available at a few lodges, depending on the season and how high up you are, and they cost 600 to 1200 Rupees. In the winter, water higher up will be frozen most of the time.

I never had a shower on my February EBC trek, and that seems to be the norm (although I got one or two opportunities in Namche). Yes, it’s gross. I could smell myself by trek’s end, and it wasn’t pretty.

But aside from the fact that I hate to fork out money for something as basic as a shower, I also never really got close to other people for very long on the trek, so I didn’t feel too guilty about it.

Most days were cold enough that the thought of stripping down for a shower was not really appealing, either. Your best bet is baby wipes and deodorant.

WiFi / Cell Service

WiFi costs anywhere from $5 to $10 USD per day if you buy it from the teahouses.

Alternatively, you can buy a 10 GB/30 Day Everest Link WiFi card in Namche Bazaar and use this for the entire EBC trek. During my Mount Everest Base Camp Trek the WiFi was down across the whole region, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to use either of these options.

I bought an Ncell local SIM card in the Kathmandu airport and had 3G service for half the days of the Everest Base Camp hike. Coverage is still improving in the area, so if you need to stay connected I’d definitely bring a local SIM.

Electricity

All of the teahouses on the way to Mt Everest Base Camp sell outlet charging for electronics, and the prices range from $2 to $10 USD for a full charge, depending on how far up the trail you are.

The key is to bring a big power bank and then use this to charge all of your other electronics (phone, camera, etc). I did this and only paid once to recharge my power bank on the whole trek.

How Much Cash To Bring

Everything you buy during the Everest Base Camp hike (meals, WiFi, charging, etc) will have to be paid for with cash. Credit cards won’t work. There are no ATMs outside of Lukla and Namche Bazaar (Days 1-4), and even the ATMs there are not reliable.

What this means is that you’ll have to withdraw enough cash (Nepalese Rupees) at an ATM in Kathmandu to cover your entire trek. The ATM fees will bite you, and I hate to carry large amounts of cash, but it’s not really avoidable here.

All up, I spent about $20 USD (2,400 Rupees) per day on the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, and never spent more than $25 USD in a single day. With that said, I didn’t splurge on WiFi, showers, charging, or alcohol. The only things I bought were the bare necessities: room, food, and drinks.

If you hire a porter/guide, you don’t need to factor that into your daily cash carry. That’s paid before the trek starts. But do reserve a little cash for a decent tip.

Mount Everest Base Camp Trek Difficulty

I’m not going to lie, this is a difficult trek. And if you do it in the winter like I did, it’s even harder. With that said, if you are in decent shape, determined, and obey the guidelines for altitude sickness prevention (more on that below), then you’ll have no problem reaching base camp.

There is a lot of elevation gain and loss on this hike. At times near Lukla, the constant ups and downs will make you feel like you’re hiking a roller coaster, but the trail is never too steep or dangerous. After Namche, it’s mostly a slow uphill plod.

This trek has been completed by old seasoned hikers in their 70s, and young kids in their pre-teens. It’s also been flunked by healthy 20-30 somethings who try to push through it quickly without enough acclimatization to altitude.

Patience and discipline are key for trekking to Everest Base Camp. Slow and steady wins the race here.

Trekking Distance

The one way trekking distance from Lukla to Mt Everest Base Camp is about 65 kilometers (40 miles).

That means the total roundtrip distance of an EBC Trek is about 130 kilometers, even if you don’t do any of the detours.

Don’t let that scare you off. It’s a lot of hiking, but every step is worth it.

Altitude Sickness

By far your biggest danger on the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek is altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

No one is immune to this, and it doesn’t matter how fit you are. If you gain altitude too fast, you can get sick and in some cases even die. Plenty of people have died from AMS on the EBC Trek.

The problem is that overzealous hikers push the envelope on this hike all the time, and a lot of them end up needing a very expensive helicopter evacuation to lower ground.

The best way to avoid altitude sickness is to go slow . At altitudes above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), don’t increase your sleeping elevation by more than 300-500 meters (1,000-1,500 feet) per night.

Every 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) you should also spend a second night at the same elevation. If you get a bad headache, dizziness, or nausea, descend to a lower altitude until you feel better. As long as you follow these general guidelines, you shouldn’t have any issues.

You can take Diamox (acetazolamide) on the trek for extra AMS prevention. This medication can be found in Kathmandu or Namche. I bought mine in Namche and it seemed to help my headache and slight foggy feeling. I didn’t have any side effects aside from the usual tingling toes/fingers.

Everest Base Camp Altitude

The Mount Everest Base Camp altitude is 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). At this elevation, there is 50% of the oxygen at sea level.

However, most treks also go to Kala Patthar, a viewpoint even higher than base camp where you can get the best views of Mount Everest.

The elevation at Kala Patthar is 5,644 meters (18,519 feet). From there, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible panorama of Mount Everest and other icy peaks like Pumori, Lhotse, and Nuptse.

Happy travels!

If you’d rather skip the hassle of planning your own EBC Trek, Klook has Everest Base Camp Tours starting as low as $900 USD for a full 12-day trek.

You may be able to find something cheaper than this once you land in Kathmandu, but booking online with a vetted tour company has some big advantages, and the reviews on their website are very positive for this Mt Everest Base Camp tour.

More Nepal Travel Tips

Hopefully you were helped by this guide for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Let me know in the comments below if I can help answer any questions.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Nepal Travel Guide with tips, info, photos & more!

You may also like

Fulidhoo island guide: shark & stingray beach in maldives, how to visit dhigurah island: budget paradise in maldives, 10 best hikes in aruba: family friendly trails, how to visit tanjung puting national park in indonesia, sanur bali travel guide: 23 best things to do, coron vs el nido: which is better all differences explained.

So much useful detailed information.

Thanks for the straight forward information. Beautiful photos

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Classic EBC Trek
• EBC + Gokyo Trek
• Jiri to EBC
• 3 Passes Trek to EBC
• Island Peak and EBC
• Acclimatisation
• Packing List
• Get a Trek Quote

Start planning your Everest base camp trek

We help adventure-seekers plan and book their dream trek to EBC

Welcome to EBC Trek Guide

Reaching Everest Base Camp has become the goal of thousands of avid trekkers the world over. There is a sense of grandeur that comes with trekking through an area considered a Mecca for climbing and mountain enthusiasts.

This website is the most comprehensive online guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek. On it you will find all the information you need to trek safely and successfully in the region.

On this page we provide a general overview to the Everest Base Camp Trek, along with many links to further reading on topics like: Altitude Sickness, Packing Lists, Route Variations and many FAQs!

Plan your EBC Trek

Get a quote from our recommended local EBC trek operator

Everest Base Camp Trek FAQ

What makes the everest base camp hike special.

The iconic Everest Base Camp Trek leads you through the Khumbu Valley, allowing you to experience the immense beauty of the surrounding  Sagarmatha National Park  while simultaneously providing breath-taking vistas of 4 of the 6 highest peaks in the world – My. Everest (8.848m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 meters), Mt. Makalu (8,470 meters) and Cho Oyu (8,201 meters).

The classic trek retraces the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and the countless other early pioneers of Mount Everest as you trek from Lukla to the Base Camp.

As a  teahouse trek  you will stay in some of the highest villages in the world as you explore the local culture and traditions of the native Sherpas by learning about their spiritual connection with the mountains.

On the trek you will have the chance to ascend  Kala Patthar , reaching an altitude of 5,500m and witness awe-inspiring views of Mount Everest.

You will also have the chance to explore the various Buddhist monasteries dotted along the trail and learn about a culture steeped in history and tradition, inextricably linked to the very mountains on which you have unforgettable views.

Below we have provided a brief overview of the classic route itinerary, with regional and trekking maps. We have also answered some of the most frequently asked questions on the logistics of the trek, permits, tour guides, weather, insurance, cost, difficulty and what to pack.

Where is the Everest base camp trek located?

All treks in the Everest region are located within the orange rectangle on the map below. The block represents the Everest or Khumbu region of Nepal and shows its location in relation to Kathmandu, where flights to and from Nepal arrive and depart.

The starting point of the Everest Base Camp Trek,  Lukla , is also visible on the map. Other variations of the trek which don’t involve flying to Lukla generally start at Jiri – you can read more about this route variation  here .

What is the best Everest region map?

There are many great trekking maps for the Everest Region. Some take in the Gokyo region, whereas others cover Jiri and further Southern and Western aspects of the region.

We recommend Nepa Maps .

What is the best Everest guidebook?

We recommended taking a detailed guidebook with you on the trek. 

The Lonely Planet Trekking in Nepal Himalaya guidebook is updated regularly and is a well-known, trusted resource used by many trekkers worldwide.

The guide is very detailed and contains information for many treks, meaning you can use it more than once!

How high is Everest base camp?

Everest base camp is 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) high. The graph below shows the altitude profile for the classic Everest Base Camp trek. The order of the names on the horizontal axis shows the typical progression of the hike with the major stops on the way. The graph makes it easier to see the gradual ascent and more rapid descent of the trek.

The highest point on the EBC hike is Kala Patthar at 5,554 meters.

What is the day-to-day itinerary on the Mt Everest base camp hike?

The classic Everest Base Camp Trek starts in Lukla and leads you through the Khumbu Valley to the Everest Base Camp situated on the south-side of Mount Everest.

Most trekker’s adventures, however, begin in Kathmandu where the international airport for Nepal is located. From there it is a short, yet  unforgettable flight into Lukla  from where you will start the actual trekking (try get a seat on the left hand side of the plane for best first views of the Himalaya).

The entire journey including the trek typically lasts between 14 and 16 days, with 12 days on the trail. Of these 12 days, 2/3 will be spent acclimatising to the high altitude, so 9-10 days of actual trekking can be expected.

For those who don’t want to start their trek by flying into Lukla Airport, the  Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek  variation provides a unique alternative. This trek starts with a bus ride from Kathmandu to Jiri from where the trekking starts. Because Jiri is considerably further away than Lukla, this variation will add around 5 days onto the trek.

Here is a standard itinerary for a 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek experience.

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu 

If you have organised a trip with a tour operator they will usually provide airport transfers, otherwise there are loads of taxis available at the airport. Top tip: make sure to agree a price before getting in the taxi. Meters are sometimes used, but rare. We recommend staying in Thamel (which is about 15 minute drive from Kathmandu airport). There are many hotels in Thamel, Kathmandu, with varying degrees of hospitality.

Vibrant streets of Thamel, Kathmandu

Day 2: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla. Trek to Phadking

Weather permitting you will fly from Kathmandu International Airport to Lukla in the morning. Flights to Lukla are prone to delay due to weather. We recommend building as much flexibility into your itinerary to cater for delays (i.e. having a day or two spare after the trek).

If trekking with a tour operator they will have arranged your flight, otherwise you can purchase tickets at the airport for around US$250-$300 return. If you are taking a guide the cost of his flight with be charged at a local rate of about $100 return.

Expect a nerve-racking flight into the famous Lukla Airport that provides great views of the region and of Everest – try to get a seat on the left side of the plane. Once landed, you will start the trek to the village of Phadking – on the way you will pass incredible boulders, carved with Buddhist prayers.

Day 3: Trek from Phadking to Namche Bazaar

This day will be spent trekking from Phadking through Mojo, ending up in Namche Bazaar. Some people cut this day short by stopping in Mojo (if you do the Mount Kailash Teahouse is great, and offers hot showers!).

You will enter the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on this day. You will have plenty of time spent in Namche Bazaar – a small Sherpa market town, with countless sightseeing opportunities including the potential to catch your first glimpse of Everest.

Sign with rules about entering Sagamartha National Park

Day 4: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

At close to 3,500m, Namche Bazaar acts as an important acclimatization stop while doubling up as an opportunity to explore the village and surrounding areas. If it happens to be a Saturday, be sure to check out the market. Most tour guides will take you on a short acclimatization trek to the Everest View Hotel.

If it’s a clear day you should be able to snap some awesome pics of Ama Dablam in the foreground, and Mount Everest in the background. The hotel also provides WiFi at a cost so if you’re looking to call back home or just to connect, bring your device with you. For more information on internet on the trek, check out our detailed article .

Namche Bazaar

Day 5: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche

The day is spent trekking from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche, the home of the Tengboche Monastery – the largest in the region.

Some variations will take you through the ancient Tibet-Nepal trading route over the Nanpa La pass to Thami.

Day 6: Trek from Tengboche to Periche

The next stop on the trek is Pheriche – the home of the Himalaya Rescue Association . The route takes you through Phangboche, which offers amazing views of Ama Dablam towering above you.

Day 7: Acclimitization Day. Potentially Trek from Pheriche to Dingboche

Pheriche is usually used as a stop for the second acclimatization day. There are various activities to do in the area. Tshola Tsho Lake is a popular destination for trekkers stopping in Pheriche.

Your tour guide might even take you to the nearby village of Dingboche where you will be able to see great views of Lhotse and Island Peak to the east. Dingboche is used as the start to the  variation trek to Island Peak .

Day 8: Trek from Pheriche to Lobuche  

This day is long and is spent climbing over 600m from Pheriche to Lobuche. On the way, you will pass the well-known Khumbu Glacier as well as various memorials to those Sherpas and climbers who have died on Everest.

You will be able to see Scott Fischer’s memorial here. You will also see Lobuche East (make sure to use the zoom on your camera or if you have binoculars to try see any climbers on the peak)

Scott Fischer's memorial

Day 9: Hike from Lobuche to Gorak Shep

Hike from Lobuche to Gorak Shep, the highest permanently inhabited village in the world. Here, you will rest for a while and have something to eat before climbing further to the Everest Base Camp.

The trekker stop point is just before the actual base camp.

Most tour groups are not allowed to enter or stay in Everest Base Camp so take the chance to experience the buzz and excitement of the climbing groups is often limited.

After getting your iconic picture taken at EBC you will descend back to Gorak Shep where you will stay for the night.

Day 10: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar, then onto Dingboche

Another day of steep trekking allows you to reach Kala Patthar – the highest point on the trek at just over 5,500m. Its location and height result in the best views of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse in the area. Just hope that the weather is kind to you on this day as it is one of the highlights of the whole trek.

That same day you will descend over 1,000m down to Dingboche where you will spend the night.

View from Kala Patthar with EBC, the Khumbu Glacier, Nuptse and Mount Everest in the background

Day 11: Hike back to Namche Bazaar from Dingboche

Descend back to Namche Bazaar via Tengboche. Keep your camera on you as you pass through the rhododendron covered slopes – making for a great photo.

Day 12: Hike from Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Return all the way back to Lukla with a long day of hiking. Your last night on the mountain will be spent celebrating in Lukla.

Day 13 and 14: Fly back from Lukla to Kathmandu

Catch the return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu in the morning. Onward travel back home our to your next destination!

More Everest Base Camp hike FAQs

How much does it cost to trek to everest base camp.

You can trek to Mt Everest base camp for as little as $700 if you go solo without a guide. Guided tours that often include return flights to Kathmandu cost around $1000-1300 per person depending on the operator. For a detailed breakdown of costs, see our article on the cost of the Everest Base Camp Trek .

Can you trek to Everest Base Camp independently or without a guide / support?

Yes, but it is only advised for trekkers that have experience of high altitude multi-day trekking, and are comfortable carry 15-20kg a day.

Trekking independently is the cheapest option because you forgo any of the amenities and expertise that is typically offered with a guided trek. You will have to arrange your own domestic flights to and from Lukla airport, and arrange accommodation for each stop in the trek.

If you are comfortable organising the logistics of the trek, then this might be an option for you.

Should I join a guided EBC trek / group?

If this is one of your first high altitude trekking experiences then we recommend using a tour operator and joining a guided group. The typical package will include domestic flights, transport to and from the airport, accommodation for every overnight stop, all permits and passes, porters to carry your luggage and of course the expertise of a guide who will provide you with an insight into the region.

Local tour operators are abundant and often cheaper than western operators, but their level of service will be reflected in their price. Hygiene and ethical standards of some of these operators is also questionable. Prices range from £600 ($750) to £1200 ($1500). To book with one of my vetted local operators, check out our booking platform, Skyhook .

Western tour operators will provide a much more consistent service. Without cutting prices, they offer affordable yet comfortable accommodation and will employ the best guides in the region who will be able to converse in English. Prices range from £1200 ($1500) to £2500 ($3200).

When is the best time to hike to Everest Base Camp?

Contrary to what you might think, the best time to go on the Everest Base Camp trek is not during the height of summer. The spring months of February through May is widely considered the peak season or best time to hike to Everest base camp. This is also the time when the region is at its busiest.

Weather during these months is stable and dry – perfect for trekking and for sightseeing. The lower mountains and foothills are most colourful during this time as well, so you can expect verdant fields and hillsides covered in rhododendrons.

September and October is another popular trekking period on the other side of summer that tends to be a little less busy. Another way to avoid the hustle and bustle of peak season is to try some of the trek variations such as the Gokyo Lakes hike .

Trekking in the winter months (November-January) is still possible, but be prepared for temperatures below freezing. Peak summer is known as monsoon season, characterised by short, sharp downpours. The trails are very wet and trekking during these months is not advised.

Read our detailed article on the  best time to trek to Everest Base Camp .

How difficult is the Everest Base Camp Trek?

Contrary to popular belief, Everest Base Camp trek is not very difficult. It requires no prior trekking experience or mountaineering skills of any sort. We have seen people from all walks of life, shapes and sizes completing the trek.

The round-trip length of the trek is 130km, which is spread over just short of two weeks of trekking. Expect to cover around 15km over 5/6 hours of trekking each day – a very achievable number. The hardest part of the trek is the altitude and the effect that it can have on your body.

All good tour operators will factor in acclimatisation days into their itinerary and will aim for a gradual pace of ascent that will ensure your body slowly gets used to the altitude.

We recommend undertaking a gym training programme and practice hikes 6-8 weeks prior to embarking on the trek. Read up more on the  difficulty of the EBC trek  and  how to train for the EBC trek .

Do I need a visa or permit for the EBC Trek?

Yes. If you are a national of a country other than India, you will need to purchase a visa. The 15-day multi entry visa starts at $25 and the 30-day visa goes for $40. The usual guided trek lasts around 15 days, but there is always the possibility of travel delay so we recommending opting for the 30-day visa for a slightly higher price.

You will need a Trekkers Information Management System card (TIMS) as well as a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. Tour operators will include both in their price and will obtain them for you beforehand. If you plan to trek independently, however, you will need $20 for the TIMS card and roughly $40 for the Sagarmatha entry permit.

Make sure you bring at least four passport sized photos in case they are needed for permits.

Will I get altitude sickness on the trek to Mt Everest base camp?

Most people who follow the standard route itinerary, take a gradual ascent with acclimatisation days built in and monitor their symptoms will not suffer from any sort of altitude sickness.

That being said, altitude sickness is not correlated to age or fitness and can affect some people worse than others.

Because it is a potential risk, you must read up about  acclimatisation and altitude sickness  so that you understand the symptoms and how to prevent them.

What should I pack for the Mt Everest trek?

Condensing a packing list into one short answer is impossible, so we have compiled a very  detailed and comprehensive EBC Packing List guide  to help you plan and pack for the trek.

It is possible to buy most gear in Kathmandu, but we recommend bringing all the important stuff with you from home. Read our guide for recommendations on what to bring, which brands are trusted as well as items you won’t need during the trek.

What insurance do I need for EBC?

You will need to take out insurance that will cover you for hiking up to altitudes of 6,000m.

Typical travel insurance will not cover this so we have compiled an article that will help you find the right insurance policy that adequately covers delays, accidents and altitude related illness.

World Nomads provide insurance for treks to Everest Base Camp.

Read our detailed guide on  travel insurance for the Everest Base Camp Trek .

EBC Trek Route Variations

There are a number of route variations for the trek to Everest Base Camp. Below we briefly discuss the three most popular options.

Gokyo Lakes Trek

One of the more popular variations of the Everest Base Camp Trek, the Gokyo Lakes Trek , also starts at Lukla and follows the classic base camp trek to Namche Bazaar where it forks north-west.

The trek proceeds through the towns of Dole and Machermo before reaching the stunning Gokyo Lakes. From there you can ascend to the peak of Gokyo Ri in the north, before crossing the Ngozumba glacier and Cho La Pass and re-joining the classic trek at Lobuche.

The detour adds 2/3 days onto the trek but provides the wonderful opportunity to summit a peak while also avoiding some of the busier parts of the trek.

Jiri To Everest Base Camp

This variation of the classic trek offers an alternative to flying into Lukla from Kathmandu to start the trek. The  Jiri variation  starts with an 8-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Jiri, where the trek begins.

The variation adds an extra 5/6 days onto the trip as you trek through the Solukhumbu region and make your way past Lukla, where the trek then follows the same route as the classic Everest Base Camp Trek.

It involves a scenic, yet long, bus ride as well as a lot more exposure to the Tibetan and Sherpa cultures. Expect to trek through more forests and streams as you start at the relatively low altitude of 1,800m and work your way up to Lukla and beyond.

Three Passes Trek

The  Three Passes Trek  is a tougher variation than the classic Everest Base Camp Trek because it involves crossing three very high passes as well as summiting some walking peaks which are not included on the classic trek.

The variation starts by following the classic trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar before veering west towards Thame and the remote Nangpa Valley. The first of the three passes encountered is the Renjo La, where you will be afforded magnificent views of Everest before descending to the idyllic Gokyo lakes.

The next pass, Cho La, involves walking up a fairly steep and icy trail before reaching a small glacier at the top. From here, you descend and re-join the main base camp trek where you summit Kala Patthar – the iconic viewpoint. You continue onto base camp itself before descending to Lobuche.

You then head east over the third pass of Kongma La and continue onwards to summit the third peak of Chukking Ri. Once again you will have amazing views of the surrounding peaks that you would not get to see on the classic trek. The circuit is completed by returning to Lukla through the main Everest trail.

Island Peak Climb via EBC

Island Peak  is not so much a variation as it is an expedition in it’s own right. Summiting Island Peak is significantly harder than the trekking any of the routes mentioned above, but it does usually involve a visit to Everest Base Camp to acclimatise before the summit attempt. The climb to the peak is not considered technical although it still requires basic knowledge of jumaring, abseiling,  using crampons and ice axes. Standing at just under 6,200m, altitude is a real factor.

Most climbers of Island Peak use the traditional base camp trek as a means of acclimatising before heading to the Island Peak Base Camp via Dingboche on the main trail, or by traversing the Chongma La pass. Summiting from the base camp typically takes two days and the whole variation will add around 4 days onto the classic EBC trek.

Recent EBC Blog Posts

Coronavirus pandemic: can i still hike to everest base camp (covid 19 update), mount everest deaths rise due to overcrowding, everest base camp trek packing list – exactly what you need to bring, dj paul oakenfold plays gig at everest base camp, food on the everest base camp trek, teahouses on the everest base camp trek.

References:  EBC Trek Guide is maintained by a group of passionate Nepal guides and independent trekkers, many of whom live in Kathmandu and are experts on the trekking trails to Everest and throughout the region. Much of the site is based off personal experiences which are then cross-referenced with secondary sources like trail and travel guides (i.e. Trailblazer,  Lonely Planet ), and third party websites. If you find any inaccuracies on the site please contact us.

Tags: Everest Base Camp Trek, Trekking to Everest Base Camp, EBC Trek

Get my recommendations on the Best EBC trek operators

Inside the high-stakes, death-defying world of scaling Mt. Everest

I n April, 2013, a group of Sherpas, the iconic Nepalese mountain guides, hung off the side of the mountain they call Sagarmatha, installing 3,000 feet of the 12 miles of fixed ropes added to Everest each year to aid inexperienced climbers. 

Because it was dangerous work, the Sherpas carried hundreds of pounds of rope, ice screws and carabiners — most Western climbers took a rest day so the experienced crew could complete their task in relative safety.

Three experienced Europeans didn’t rest though, and their climbing eventually led to a shower of snow and ice landing on the rope workers below. 

The Sherpas angrily converged on the Europeans, the insults flying.

Then a European climber foolishly called one Sherpa a “machikne,” a severe slight in Nepali referring to a person who enjoys sexual congress with his mother.

The Sherpas packed up and silently went down the mountain, leaving the job unfinished. 

But when the three Europeans returned to camp, a crowd of some 400 Sherpas wearing face coverings and holding baseball-sized rocks descended on their tents.

Some of the younger Sherpas believed the European climbers deserved to die, but their more experienced elders preached calm. 

Instead a simple ultimatum was delivered to the interlopers.

“They told us if we were not [off the mountain] in an hour they would kill all three of us,” one of the guilty Europeans recounts in Will Cockrell’s “Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World” (Gallery Books, out now). 

Climbing Mount Everest had long been an obsession of Westerners, beginning in the early 1920s when a Brit named George Mallory attempted the ascent numerous times. 

His motivation for conquering Everest was famously “Because it’s there.”

But on his final try to summit the world’s tallest mountain, Mallory and his climbing partner went missing, never to be seen alive again.   

Everest wasn’t summited until 1953, when with the able help of the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, a New Zealander named Edmund Hilary finally reached the top of the world. 

For the next 40 years that achievement was rare, accomplished by under 400 people.

Since the early 1990s though, with the help of first Western and now Nepali guiding companies, nearly 12,000 people have summited Everest.

The shift from experts climbing Everest unaided to amateurs using guide companies to ascend the world’s tallest mountain began in the 1980s. 

A gregarious businessman and inexperienced climber named Richard Bass was asked in 1982 to join an Everest expedition (mostly because he could fund the entire trip for the whole group). 

Then, aided by Sherpas, the neophyte outdoorsman and 55-year-old Bass reached Everest’s peak.

 “No mountain guide had ever brought someone to Everest before, bearing explicit responsibility for the person’s success and safety,” Cockrell writes.

Richard Bass’ success was especially impressive because climbing Everest could be fatal. 

By Bass’ ascent only 119 people had summited while 63 died trying. 

The dead had plummeted off ice cliffs, were swept away by avalanches, fell into and were buried alive in 150-feet-deep crevasses. 

Others succumbed to exhaustion or oxygen deprivation in the mountain’s “death zone” above 28,000 feet, no more than 400 meters below the 29,031 foot summit.

Often the deaths occurred dramatically. In 1996 one Western climber was lost in a snowstorm that fell “like a piano on a cartoon character,”  and it was too late when he was found by a searching Sherpa. 

 Today it’s believed as many as 200 bodies remain frozen atop Everest. 

“The base camps on both sides of the mountain have dozens of makeshift memorials to dead climbers, many … have seemingly vanished into thin air,” the book recounts.

Still, with the amateur, middle-aged Bass reaching Everest’s peak with the aid of professional guides, seasoned climbers saw an opening.

“A few entrepreneurial-minded mountain guides sensed an opportunity,” Cockrell says.  “There were careers to be made.”

By the mid-90s the Everest guiding business was controlled by a “big 5” of Western-owned companies:  International Mountain Guides, Himalayan Kingdoms, Himalayan Experience, Adventure Consultants, and Alpine Ascents International.

Working Everest soon became big business. 

While there were 0 official guided tours up Everest in 1989, by 1995 there were 40, with business nearly doubling each year. 

Some companies at the mountain’s base camp sold supplies, like ladders or bottled oxygen, while the guide companies led inexperienced climbers by providing logistics and routing, supervision and hand-holding.  

The guides dramatically improved the success rate of Everest expeditions, with only 10% of climbers summiting prior to their existence but nearly 70% after. 

Professional guides reduced the ratio of deaths to summits, too.

Not everyone loved the ease with which professional guides allowed amateurs to reach Everest’s peak.

While once Everest’s base camp was home to a select community of the world’s best climbers, today it can be filled with some 1,500 people each spring. 

All enjoy bean bag chairs and high-speed Internet, masseuses and baristas, full bars and movie screens. 

In 2006 the camp hosted a rock concert featuring the The Fixx, Stray Cats and Squeeze.

Later concerts in the Everest region included the Finnish band Ancara.

On the Tibet side of the mountain, it’s said Chinese government officials get rich running a racket of “whorehouses” and casinos.

There’s overcrowding on Everest now, too, including the famous 2019 photo showing as many as 200 climbers standing in a traffic jam on the mountain’s highest ridge, each standing in the “death zone” while waiting to summit.

If climbing Everest led to many Western profits, so has it helped the Sherpas. 

When Westerners first began attempting to ascend Sagarmatha, Sherpas flooded their camps to secure jobs as porters lugging supplies up the mountain. 

With nearly half of Nepal living below the poverty line, the work was much welcomed. 

Still, the locals who helped so many Westerners scale Everest were never seen as equals. 

When seven Nepalis died in an avalanche in 1922, for example, news reports glossed over the tragedy to emphasize “all whites are safe.”

 But a newer generation of Nepalis, raised in a country home to a 10-year Maoist revolution from 1996 to 2006, weren’t willing to accept the status quo. 

In 2014 when a chunk of falling ice “as big as a 50-foot ocean wave” swept down the mountain and killed 16 Nepalis, the Sherpas went on strike, ending the season.

“If there were no Sherpas working, there was no Everest industry,” Cockrell writes. “Period.”

After the 2014 season was canceled by the strike and 2015 doomed by a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 10,000 Nepalis, when climbing resumed again in 2016 the dominance of the “Big 5” Western guiding companies was done. 

Instead Nepali-owned outfits like Asian Trekking and Seven Summits Treks (started by 3 Nepali brothers) began to dominate. 

In the last 10 years about 90% of the Everest guiding market has been taken over by locally-owned companies, many Sherpa-owned.  

After nearly a century of being lackeys to their Western employers and clients, the Sherpas were at last leveraging their skills and experience on Sagarmatha to control the narrative. 

That’s as it should be, as even many Westerners concede.

“There is only one Everest,” the American climber Conrad Anker says.  “And it’s really for the country of Nepal.”

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

Everest Season Kicks Off with New Rules, Big Crowds, and Poop Bags

The number of climbing permits issued by Nepal is down from 2023 as some expeditions have headed to China. But there’s bound to be drama on the world’s highest peak as climbers adjust to new regulations governing pollution and safety.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

The 2024 climbing season on Mount Everest is in full swing this week as some expedition teams are arriving at Base Camp and others have begun acclimatization rotations on the peak. As Outside recently reported, the official start on the mountain’s Nepali side is delayed this year due to dangerous conditions in the Khumbu Icefall . The circuitous route through the glacier that precedes the easier climbing up to Camp I and Camp II is longer than the one used in previous years, due to an unusually dry winter and a lack of snowfall.

The scheduling delay and new route aren’t the only dynamics impacting expeditions on the world’s highest peak this year. Competition from China has drawn some climbing teams away from the southern Base Camp in Nepal. And new rules and regulations imposed by the Nepali government will shift how some teams handle safety, decorum in Base Camp, and even poop .

Climbers may encounter slightly fewer of their peers along the route to the top, as recent statements from officials in Nepal hint at a smaller crowd than in recent years. According to Rakesh Gurung, Director of Nepal’s department of tourism, the country expects to issue approximately 400 climbing permits for the season—down from the record-breaking 478 last year. As of April 22, 365 permits had been granted to 34 different expedition teams. Permits for three additional teams are still being processed, Gurung said.

“Climbing permits are down across all the peaks,” Gurung said. “One reason is the global economic situation, and another is that China is open for Everest permits this year.”

China Attracts Summit Seekers

Indeed, China has once again opened its borders to Everest climbers in 2024 following a four-year closure due to Covid. Unlike the Nepali Base Camp, the Chinese Base Camp can be accessed by car, making the transport there much easier. Some expedition operators prefer to climb from the Chinese side, claiming that Everest’s Northeast ridge is less vulnerable to avalanches and rockfall than the southern flank. The smaller crowds on the Chinese side present another advantage.

But there’s a drawback in climbing from China—currently, the government has yet to issue the final permits to Everest expeditions, or even allow climbers into the country. Just this week officials told expedition operators that they would be allowed to enter the country on May 7—significantly later than originally planned.

“Thankfully the north side doesn’t have the same end-of-season issues that the south side does,” Adrian Ballinger , CEO of Alpenglow Expeditions, told Outside . “Tibet is in the rain shadow of Everest and the monsoon is generally much later. It’s not our ideal, but everyone is doing their best and that’s our plan.”

The Everest delay is just one curveball facing climbers in China. The country recently canceled all climbing on 26,335-foot Shishapangma and 26,864-foot Cho Oyu.

The uncertainty prompted Seven Summits Treks, Nepal’s largest Everest operator, to cancel its Chinese Everest expedition altogether, moving all eight of its clients to climb in Nepal. “We have had clients waiting here [in Kathmandu] for 15 days, and our Shishapangma clients have been waiting since April 5th,” said Thaneswhar Guragai, the company’s general manager.

The cancellation of permits on Cho Oyu and Shishapangma presents a significant setback for climbers hoping to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters this year, and two well-publicized expeditions hoping to retrieve the bodies of four victims of an avalanche last October . The deceased are American climbers Anna Gutu and Gina Marie Rzucidlo, along with their guides Mingmar Sherpa and Tenjen ‘Lama’ Sherpa. Two months before the avalanche, ‘Lama’ earned the speed record for climbing all 14 8,000-meter peaks in 92 days, along with Norwegian climber Kristin Harila.

New Rules in Nepal

A record number of Everest fatalities in 2023, combined with the mounting pollution on the peak, prompted Nepali officials to enact new regulations governing expeditions . The regulations oversee a wide swath of operations, from climber safety to the size of tents allowed in Base Camp. The most cumbersome rule may be the new mandate that all climbers must carry their human waste down off the mountain in biodegradable bags and deposit it at a collection center at Base Camp.

The local government body that oversees the Everest region, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, is responsible for this program. According to Jagat Prasad Bhusal, the organization’s chief administrative officer, officials are still debating what, exactly, to do with all of that poop.

“We are currently exploring options for handling the feces. If feasible, we will either convert it into manure or dispose of it safely near Tengboche or Pangboche in Upper Khumbu,” he said.

Expedition operators who spoke to Outside expressed positive sentiment toward the poop rule, despite the logistical challenges it presents. “This will be beneficial in the future because the whole world is looking towards sustainability. A small contribution to help the mountain is never a bad idea.” Guragai said.

Another new rule requires climbers to wear RECCO-style tracking reflectors during their climbs. In theory, this technology allows rescuers to find lost climbers by using a specialized transponder that tracks the reflectors. But there are doubts this will work in Everest’s extreme altitude and vast terrain. “We don’t know how well it will work,” Gurung told Outside “But let’s try.”

Gurung said Nepali officials are planning to make GPS tracking mandatory in future seasons. The devices will improve safety, he said. “This will also reduce false summits,” Gurung added.

To enforce these new rules, Nepal’s department of tourism has opened a field office at Base Camp. Officials stationed there will make sure expeditions follow the regulations, and they will also teach climbers lessons on mountain safety and “expedition ethics,” Gurung said.

“The rules and regulations are one thing. But people have to be aware of their own abilities, too,” Gurung said. “If something happens at 8,000 meters, a rescue is basically impossible. If expedition ethics are followed in these situations, the number of casualties will be reduced greatly.”

Despite the new regulations and the slight downturn in climbing permits, officials still expect the route to become crowded. Advanced weather forecasting means most expedition operators head onto the peak at the same time to take advantage of clear skies. And many expedition operators send as many, or more, guides onto the peak as paying clients.

An estimated 1,500 porters, guides, and Sherpas will be working above Base Camp to build camps and ferry gear, and the total number of climbers heading for the summit from both sides is likely to surpass 700, officials said.

Gurung told Outside that officials will examine the 2024 season to see if the government should make additional changes for the future. “There are many issues—do we only want to make Everest cheaper? Should it be accessible to everyone or not? Gurung said. “We’ve discussed these things many times. Let’s see what the future brings.”

Record Chasers and Adrenaline Junkies Return

As is often the case, a handful of record-chasing climbers will attempt to make history on the world’s highest peak in 2024. One climber, 59 year-old Russian alpinist and mountain guide Valeriy Babanov, is attempting to become the oldest person to reach the top of the world without supplemental oxygen. Babanov is a two-time winner of the coveted Piolet d’Or award for first ascents in India and Nepal including a solo ascent of the Shark Fin on India’s famed Meru Central peak (6,310 m). “I’ve been preparing for this all my life,” he wrote on Instagram.

Two Nepali women are seeking their own records: Purnima Shrestha is hoping to become the first woman to summit three times in a single season, and Phunjo Lama is attempting to reclaim her record for the fastest ascent by a woman. Both women face major challenges with their respective efforts due to the 2024 route through the Khumbu Icefall, which adds approximately two hours to the total ascent compared to 2023.

Everest legend Kami Rita Sherpa , 54, will attempt to complete his 29th Everest summit, breaking his own world record, set after two back-to-back ascents last year. If successful, this would also mark his 43rd trip to the summit of an 8,000-meter peak.

A top international BASE jumper named Tim Howell is also targeting a record: the highest wingsuit jump in history. Howell plans to ascend from Base Camp to the southern face of 27,940-foot Lhotse, which is located next to Everest. He plans to then jump from just below the summit—the sheer face makes it perhaps the highest spot on the globe where a wingsuit jump can be accomplished. “I like the idea that this can’t be beaten.” Howell told Outside .

“It’s the highest wingsuit jump in the world.” Howell expects to reach speeds of 160 mph on his descent, dropping over 16,000 feet in under five minutes.

Could such a jump ever be done from the summit of Everest? It’s not impossible, Howell told Outside . “Maybe with the advancement in suits, somebody who is willing to risk it all maybe could do it one day,” he said.

Tulsi Rauniyar contributed to this report. 

• Mount Everest

Popular on Outside Online

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

Get in [ edit ]

By boat [ edit ].

During summer there are boats from Kazan , Samara and other destinations on the Volga River.

By train [ edit ]

The train takes you here from Moscow (from Kazanskaya train station) in approximately 16 hours or from Volgograd in about 20 hours. Ulyanovsk Main Station is located 6 km from the city center.

Get around [ edit ]

Ulyanovsk has an extensive public transportation network that includes buses, trolleys, and trams. It is very affordable, but congested and may be quite confusing. You won't find any route maps or schedules, neither at bus stops nor in buses. Fee collectors usually don't speak English. Express buses and semi-private van routes are more comfortable and more expensive. Taxis are not expensive, and that's your best bet if you want to get somewhere (relatively) quickly, in (relative) comfort (almost all cars are old Russian ladas or over 10 year old non-Russian cars), and without much hassle. They are also most likely to have English speaking drivers (one in 1000) and superloud Russian pop music.

Getting between the banks of the Volga is a problem. There is a two lane bridge connecting the banks and it's nearly always congested, so if you're unlucky, it can take a couple of hours. Most locals avoid going over the bridge if they can. A four-lane bridge was planned to relieve these problems.

See [ edit ]

As the home town of Lenin, it's worth visiting the Lenin Memorial Centre and Gardens and museums based in his former houses. There is also a museum dedicated to the poet 'Goncharov' and the war memorial at the end of the main street 'Ulitsa Goncharova' offers breathtaking views over the Volga.

Do [ edit ]

In winter, try cross-country skiing along the Sviaga river, in summer take a boat ride over the reservoir.

Buy [ edit ]

The city's main shopping centre 'Tsum' is basic to say the least but does offer some basic shopping.

Eat [ edit ]

• Shpinat , Ulitsa Kirova, 79 ( in Rakurs Hotel ), ☏ +7 842 258-53-41 . An upscale restaurant with small portions but big on presentation if that appeals to you. ( updated Feb 2021 )
• Gonzo , Ulitsa Goncharova, 48+7 842 244-44-22 ( across from Hilton Garden Inn ), ☏ +7 842 244-44-22 . Lots of tasty Russian dishes, particularly heavy on meat. ( updated Feb 2021 )
• Veprevo Koleno , Ulitsa Federatsii, 11 , ☏ +7 951 094-51-15 . featuring Czech food and beer. ( updated Feb 2021 )
• Gallery Restaurant , Ulitsa Goncharova, 25 ( inside Radisson Hotel ), ☏ +7 8422 41-74-71 . 09:30-02:00 . Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring Russian and international items.  
• Lobby Bar , ul. Goncharova 25, ground floor ( inside Radisson Hotel ). 09:30-02:00 . Quick bites.  

Go next [ edit ]

The capital of Tatarstan , Kazan , is a stunning city just 7 hours train ride from Ulyanovsk.

• UNESCO Creative Cities
• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Eat listing with no coordinates
• Sleep listing with no coordinates
• Outline cities
• Outline articles
• City articles
• Has Geo parameter
• Ulyanovsk Oblast
• All destination articles
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

• Aircraft Carriers

• Remember me Not recommended on shared computers

Forgot your password?

CVN Ulyanovsk 2.0

By Fubar512

• Find their other files

1 Screenshot

About This File

CVN Ulyanovsk

This model represents the Soviet Project 1143.7 CVN Ulyanovsk, as it probably would have appeared had the project had been carried through to completion.

I won't go into the actual history of the ship, as it's just as easy for anyone so inclined to perform an online search and dig up all the relevant details on the vessel.

This model was designed and optimized for SF2:NA, and that means Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8. At the very least it requires the latest SF2 series patch for its systems and DX10 visual effects to work properly.

To install this package, simply place the folders located inside the .RAR archive into the mod folder of whichever SF2 title you desire the ship to appear in.

Additional work may be required on your part to ensure that the ship's TEWS RWR symbol (SkyWatch) is added to the RWR list of any aircraft so equipped. Instructions on how to do this, can be found on the SF2 knowledge base, courtesy of EricJ:

http://combatace.com/topic/44441-making-a-custom-tga-for-tews-radar-warning-recievers/

Sound effects will also require editing of the soundlist.ini file in order to work.

I’ve included a modified soundlist.ini file, for those who do not have it extracted.

Warning: Be careful if you already have an existing custom soundlist.ini file, as it will be overwritten . In that case, simply add the following lines (shown below), taking care to follow the existing numbering sequence (the soundlist.ini will reside in your flight folder). Use the supplied soundlist.ini as a guide.

SoundFileXXX=Underway

SoundFileXXX=ReductionGear

SoundFileXXX=CIWS

Priority=Normal

3DSound=TRUE

DopplerEffect=TRUE

Looped=TRUE

NumBuffers=2

MaxDist=250.000000

MinDist=10.000000

InsideConeAngle=360

OutsideConeAngle=360

ConeOutsideVolume=100

[ReductionGear]

Priority=NORMAL

NumBuffers=4

MaxDist=2000.000000

Priority= Normal

DopplerEffect=FALSE

MinDist=50.000000

Known issues:

1) The supplied SA-N-11 Kortik SAMs are not precisely scaled, so they were placed in the center of each Kashtan's missile tube cluster. They also do not have a defined booster stage in their model file, so don't expect booster separation. Also, the actual SA-N-11 is guided by an optical tracking system in real life. Again, this is not supported by the series, so they were given high counter-measure rejection and probability of intercept values, to compensate.

2) As of the present date (October 7 2012) Third Wire does not support a PROPER VLS system on a vessel that's also equipped with mutiple SAM types, on slewable mounts. To put it simply, one can have a working VLS system and nothing else, or one can have working Kashtans. I chose the latter option, though the nodes and missiles are supplied if this situation were to change in the future.

3) Third Wire has not made provisions for a working "ski-jump", so virtual bow catapults are used instead, and aircraft thus launched will appear to fly through the bow ramp.

Ulyanovsk model, SA-N-9 model, and Textures for both, by Julhelm

SA-N-11 missile model and textures, based on the SA-19 by Gabilon.

Sound & Visual effects, and all data.ini work, by Fubar512

Testing by Dave, Wrench, Brain32 and Crusader.

User Feedback

You may only provide a review once you have downloaded the file.

• Most Helpful

JonathanRL 973

August 16, 2017

Share this review

Link to review.

B52STRATO 215

Coupi 4,279

PureBlue 71

2skicomrade 34

• Existing user? Sign In
• Leaderboard
• All Activity
• Files Portal
• Files Categories
• Site Support

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use , Privacy Policy , and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings , otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..

Budget Tours & Trips to Mount Everest

Discover a varied offer of budget Mount Everest adventures that will take you through some of the most well known destinations such as Lukla and Kathmandu. Each affordable tour will provide you with memorable moments for some of the lowest prices on the market.

164 Budget Mount Everest tour packages with 460 reviews

• Hiking & Trekking
• Mountain Hikes
• Christmas & New Year

Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Excellent trip to Everest base camp! If you are planning on exploring (the base of) the top of the world -please book with Nepal Trekking Routes. We had a wonderful experience- before we decided to even book our trip the owner answered every question in a timely manner (I asked a lot of questions). We were greeted at the airport and taken directly to our hotel (amazing perk after traveling over 24 hours). Our tour guide Nawin was fantastic, he catered to every request and was an excellent source of information and inspiration (emphasis on inspiration, hiking to EBC was challenging at times). We made it to EBC! Nepal Trekking Routes Really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great trip- upon our return to Kathmandu they also arranged transportation to the airport and even checked in to make sure we made it back to Miami (excellent customer service). Bottom line we had a magical trip through Himalayas-Nepal trekking routes made it possible!

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Gokyo Chola Pass Everest Base Camp Trek

Overall a great trip. Nepal Trekking Routes took care of everything from Kathmandu to Lukla. All the pickups and drops worked perfectly and on time. Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries I've been to. The Nature is amazingnand the guides were all very professional and friednly, trying to show me as much as possible. I will definetly visit again.

Everest Gokyo Lake Trek

Great experience, everything was very well organized but also pretty flexible. We very able to change the itinerary based on health conditions of the travelers. Nepal Hiking Team made an effort to put us in the best tea houses on the trek, so when one one else had hot showers and power outlets we did. Our guide Bal was awesome. But don't believe him when he promises you a "gentle uphill walk" it's a lie :-) (joking.)

Everest Base Camp Standard Trek- 14 Days

Gyanu and his team took us on an incredible journey, adding not only their knowledge of the area and the people, but also adding their friendship and kindness for our group. We came to Nepal as a group of six, but reached Kala Pattar and celebrating the wedding of Ivan and Jesse as a group of eleven. They added so much joy to our trip, and ensured that we were comfortable and having fun the whole way. Each time Gyanu sang us a silly song, our tired bodies felt light.

10 Days Everest Base Camp Short Trek

I can't thank Gyanu, Ramesh and the Apex team enough for their organisation and help on our recent trip to Nepal. We have used Apex on a number of occasions now and will be using them again in the future. Our entire trip was so well priced, much cheaper than the "big" tour companies, as they keep everything in house and by the locals. Right from my first message to our good friend Gyanu, he was responsive and helpful to all of our questions and requests. The benefit of using Apex, and in particular Gyanu as a guide, is his experience in the industry, and the network of contacts that he has available to him in all trekking regions. We were nearly stuck at Lulka with bad weather, but through Gyanu's network we were able to get out of the area in a helicopter. He was able to organise this at a much cheaper rate than others were paying, and with 30 or more people trying to leave, we were the first ones out thanks to Gyanu. Others weren't so lucky and had to stay over for another night while we made it back to Kathmandu. Apex were very punctual, always on time, or early, with vehicles and drivers for airport transfers and sight seeing around the city. We can't recommend the Apex team highly enough for anyone wanting fantastic service at the right price. Thanks again and we'll see you all again soon hopefully.

Everest Base Camp Trek

To była jedna z najpiękniejszych wypraw w moim życiu . Zorganizowane doskonale, wyszłam wcześniej niż było planowane ze wzgledu na pogodę która była doskonała przez cały trek - dzięki mojemu przewodnikowi który mi to zaproponował! Doskonała komunikacja przed i w czasie wędrówki. Dziękuje za doprowadzenie mnie do EBC - było wspaniale ! Zrobiłabym to jeszcze raz ! Polecam

March-May, Sept-Dec 2024 - Everest Base Camp - Guided *TREK*

The Climbing Mountains Everest Base Camp was an experience I'll never forget! We were fortunate to see Mt Everest several times throughout the trip and a highlight was hiking through snow to see the Tenzing Norgay museum, statue and view Mt Everest for the first time! Every day was different, the culture and journey amazing. I highly recommend completing this journey with Climbing Mountains, the guides were brilliant and doing it as part of a group made it fun and we encouraged each other well and all made it to Base Camp!

• Sightseeing

Small Group Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base camp trek in 2022! Best Trekking agency, value for money. Highly recommended. Guide was very supportive from the start to finish. He has 20 years of experience in trekking business. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking has very experienced and knowledgeable guide.

14 Days Budget Everest Base Camp Trekking

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trekking

Wonderful company with excellent guides and porters

Best Everest Base Camp Trek- 15 Days

Three Passes Trek (Official)

My trek in Nepal with SWOTAH travel was simply awesome. As well as the amazing views the team at SWOTAH took such good care of us and made the whole trip particularly amazing. I would highly recommend this agency. There were several things that stood out for me. Firstly it was we were treated as individuals and were able to be completely flexible throughout as to what we did and when. We were a group of 2 but also spent time apart and this was never a problem to have our different needs met. So much better than being part of a large inflexible group. Secondly and importantly, the quality of the guiding in both the day trips and on the trek itself were second to none. The guides were extremely knowledgable and I learnt so much. I also was amazed on the trek how our every need was both anticipated and met and we were taken such great care of. It was the first time I had been on such a holiday where I did not need to worry about anything and the guide was so kind. He also took us to places off the beaten track so we had a more authentic experience and the views and natural environment he found for us was truly amazing. A beautiful place indeed shared with us with such care. An excellent and individually tailored experience from beginning to end. The quality of the guiding was exceptional and we were taken very good care of throughout. I highly recommend this local company Many thanks.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

14 Days Everest Base Camp Trek

Trekking to Kalapatthar and Everest Base Camp was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime. The breathtaking views we encountered along the way were beyond words, and reaching Everest Base Camp was an achievement I'll forever cherish. The team that accompanied us on this journey was phenomenal - they provided great guidance and support, especially during challenging moments. Their expertise and professionalism made the trek feel safe and enjoyable. Moreover, the pricing offered by this company was the best we came across, and the staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating. If you're seeking an unforgettable adventure, look no further than this incredible team!

• Walking Adventure

15 Days Adventure Everest Base Camp Trekking and Kathmandu City Sightseen at UNESCO World Heritage Site

I booked with this company thanks the recommendation of a friend. I am really glad I did. Everything has been perfectly organised by Santos and our guide was the best. They were flexible and propose to adapt our trek should we wish to. I hurt myself the first day of the trek but thanks to Shraban, I made it to the Base camp and back. He is very nice and knowledgeable and I would highly recommend booking a trek with them.

Everest Base Camp Trek Service

We did the Everest Base Camp trek with Himalaya Heart, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience! We had the honor of the first trek with them since COVID hit, and the disruption didn’t seem to have knocked them off their stride at all. Our guide Hari picked us up personally at the airport, and he was a consummate pro. We couldn’t have asked for better in a guide: Hari was knowledgeable, courteous, spoke great English, and was always one step ahead (literally and figuratively) in anticipating what we would need and when we would need it. More than that, he was just a great all-around guy, and by the end of the trip we could honestly say we considered him not just a guide, but also a friend. On the logistics side, Himalaya Heart was up front with all the info we needed, and they were very responsive to our questions via email and WhatsApp. The price they quoted never changed, and they were very clear about what was and was not included in our trek package. They even facilitated our COVID tests for our return travel so we didn’t have to worry about how we would get that done. Thakur and Shital were honest brokers who obviously cared about our experience, and they went out of their way to ensure we were completely satisfied. I highly recommend Himalaya Heart for trekking in Nepal, particularly if you are looking to support a reasonably-priced, local company. These guys handle their business like pros, and I would use them again with no hesitation.

What people love about Budget Tours in Mount Everest

In the beginning, I signed up for a group but no one signed up for the same date with me so I ended up doing a solo trip to Everest base camp with my guide and also my porter, Mr.Santa. I was a bit worried at first but then I found lots of friends during the trek to EBC. Mr.Santa took great care of me, always walked behind me to check if everything was going well. Mr. Sheilesh came to the airport to welcome me and dropped me off at the airport at the end of the trip. He was also very kind and open to modifying the plan as I requested. I had a beautiful time in Nepal and wonderful experiences during my EBC trek.

Overall a great trip. Nepal Trekking Routes took care of everything from Kathmandu to Lukla. All the pickups and drops worked perfectly and on time. Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries I've been to. The Nature is amazingnand the guides were all very professional and friednly, trying to show me as much as possible. I will definetly visit again.

Nepal Hiking Team were superb to communicate with. Ganga met us when we arrived and introduced us to our fantastic guide Dhan. We had such a memorable trip and they made it easy to change our schedule when our situation changed! I would choose them again!

Mount Everest Destinations:

• Gokyo Valley Trek (6)

Mount Everest Tours starting in:

• Kathmandu (122)
• Budget Group tours (147)
• Budget Hiking & Trekking tours (138)
• Budget Christmas & New Year tours (119)
• Budget Personalized tours (117)
• Budget Fully Guided tours (96)
• Budget Family tours (83)
• Budget Partially Guided tours (67)
• Budget Active tours (58)
• Budget Mountain Hikes tours (44)
• Budget Custom tours (30)
• Budget Private tours (16)
• Budget Explorer tours (11)
• Everest Base Camp

Travel Styles

• Singles and Solo (445)
• For Couples (138)
• Seniors (203)