trip to everest

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
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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
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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.

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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 .

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Mount Everest: 29,029′ (8,848 m)

We are excited to be returning to mount everest from the tibet/north side in 2024.

Mountain Trip’s guided Mount Everest Climbing Expeditions provide the highest level of service to give you the best chance to succeed on this climb. An expedition to the highest peak in the world, often represents the culmination of a climber’s mountaineering career, decisions of whether or not to attempt it and with whom to go climb it are not to be taken lightly.  We specialize in small teams, focused on safety and reaching the summit.  Our teams are led by experienced Everest Guides who love being there and have shown they have the leadership to get the team to the top!

We lead professionally guided Mount Everest climbing expeditions from the North (Tibet) side of the mountain. All the logistical support and leadership necessary to make this a successful climbing expedition is included in the trip fee. Our Sherpa team is highly experienced and our American guides are the best in the industry. Mountain Trip is an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Accredited company, so you can be assured that your guides are not only experienced, but are also trained to the highest standards. We do not offer “Sherpa Led” expeditions with a guide or trip leader in Base Camp, as that just isn’t consistent with our approach to guiding.

Unlike many other Mount Everest climbing expeditions offered by guide services or outfitters providing logistical support, our expedition does not contain any hidden costs, extras or add-ons. We know that an undertaking like this is very stressful and we attempt to remove as much of the potential stress that is under our control as possible in order to allow our Everest climbers to focus on the task of climbing the highest mountain in the world. We provide 9 bottles of Oxygen per climber, allowing us to climb at high flow oxygen on summit day and the flexibility to take a rest day or wait for weather at high camp if necessary.

Our Everest climbing expedition will provide all the leadership and logistics necessary to climb Mt. Everest. We have our own luxurious base camp, Sherpa cooks and staff. The Everest climbing team will consist of a maximum of 4 climbers per American guide, and will be supported by an average of two Sherpas per climber. This depth of Sherpa experience, coupled with low ratios of Mountain Trip guides gives our climbers an industry high level of support on the mountain. Our 2024 Everest Expedition will be led, once again, by Jacob Schmitz. 

Logistical preparations are paramount on a guided Everest climbing expedition, and our experience and that of our team will provide you with unmatched support. This is a great opportunity for qualified climbers to join a very well organized Everest trip with a proven and experienced Sherpa team, base camp services, oxygen systems, high-tech communications, and medical support. If the weather cooperates and you put in the proper training that such an endeavor requires, we feel that our acclimatization schedule and leadership will provide you with the best possible chance for reaching the summit.

Family or Friends interested in joining the trek to Everest Base Camp?  They can join a trek with the team and enjoy the excitement of the journey, without the climb.  Check out this option on our Everest Base Camp Trek page.

Anyone considering an attempt on Mount Everest should contact Mountain Trip as far in advance as possible for additional information and to help us better determine if this is an appropriate decision for you to make at this time.

• Itinerary China/Tibet - North
• Itinerary Nepal - South
• Custom and Private Expeditions
• Fitness and Preparation
• Pre-acclimatized Short Program
• What's Included?
• Everest Equipment List

Mount Everest Expedition Itinerary China/North Side – Mountain Trip

Duration in country: Approx 60 days

Our North Side Expedition includes an acclimatization trek to over 18,000 ft in the Khumbu region of Nepal and an expedited drive into Tibet BC.  An alternate schedule without the Khumbu Trek is a few days shorter and is an option for climbers who do not want to participate in the acclimatization trek.

Please note this itinerary is merely an example. Decisions as to the actual itinerary will be made by the guides.

Day 0: Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal

Day 1: Team meeting in Kathmandu.

Day 2: Pick up climbing permits. Free day to explore Kathmandu and visit temples.

Day 3-17: Acclimatization trek in Khumbu region.  (Optional, direct to Tibet is an option as well)

Day 18-19: Back in Kathmandu

Day 20-22: Drive to Tibet basecamp

Day 23-32: First acclimatization round up to North Col and return to Tibet BC

Day 33- 55: Second round and summit attempt!  (8 days of weather/flex days)

Day 56-58: Return to Tibet BC

Day 59-60: Return to Kathmandu

Day 61: Head on home!

Mount Everest Expedition Itinerary  Nepal/South Side – Mountain Trip

Day 3: Fly to Lukla where we will meet our Sherpa team and start the trek to Base Camp (BC).

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar at 11,300ft.

Day 5: Acclimatization day in Namche.

Day 6: Trek to Tengboche, visit the Monastery.  Overnight in Deboche.

Day 7: Trek to Dingboche, visit Lama Geshe on the way through Pangboche.

Day 8-9: Acclimatization days around Dingboche.

Day 10: Trek to Lobuche.

Day 11: Trek to Gorak Shep.

Day 12: Final Trek to Base Camp.

Day 13-17: We will acclimate and recover in Base Camp for several days. During this time we will have our Puja (an important ceremony with our Sherpa team) and practice some climbing skills (ladder crossing) before heading up the Khumbu Icefall.

Day 18-22: First rotation up to Camp 1 and then Camp 2.

Day 23-25: Rest and recover in base camp.

Day 26-30: Second rotation up to Camp 2 and a hike to Camp 3.

Day 31-38: Rest and recovery. We will descend to the village of Dingboche at about 14,000 ft/4,250 m to get a well deserved rest before the summit push.

Day 39-58: Summit attempt. We will be watching the weather closely in anticipation of our summit attempt. The typical summit window is in the last weeks of May.

Day 58: Depart BC and trek to Lukla. **optional Helicopter to Lukla or Kathmandu

Day 59: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu.

Day 60 : Depart Kathmandu for home.

Custom Private Expeditions to Mount Everest

There are countless reasons to go on a private, custom expedition to Mount Everest.  We’ve taken groups of friends and families on custom climbs, as well as climbers with specific time constraints.  By limiting the group size, you gain a lot more flexibility as far as scheduling a trip and we can tailor your expedition to meet your expectations.  We can work with you to come up with a pre-acclimatization plan using Hypoxico tents and potentially save weeks off the normal itinerary.

The demand for more personalized expeditions has increased in recent years and the growing number of climbers who come back year after year for private trips tells us that we must be doing a pretty good job of taking care of them. Private climbs and expeditions can provide you with the extra support, flexibility, and choice to have just the level of luxury, or suffering, that you are looking for in an expedition.

Consider Mountain Trip your personal, skilled, and highly experienced climbing partner!  Climbing with us is a partnership in which we work closely with our climbers to craft the experience that best suits your vision for an expedition.  You’ll feel like a partner in that experience.

Where will your dreams take us?

Please contact us for pricing and details for a custom trip.

We generally break the skills required to climb a big mountain like Mount Everest down into three different categories. Fitness , Mountaineering Skills , and Expedition/Altitude Experience .

If you’ve never climbed before and have dreamed of climbing Mount Everest, don’t be intimidated!  It requires a lot of work, and a commitment to gaining the skills and experience, but you can do it.  One of the most rewarding aspects of guiding is working with climbers to develop long term goals and a plan to achieve them.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us and let’s make a plan to achieve your goals!  There are no shortcuts, but the journey is incredibly enjoyable and rewarding and you might learn something about yourself along the way.

1) Fitness:  You really need to be in great physical condition for this trip.  Summit day shouldn’t be maxing out your strength and endurance, it should be well within your comfort zone.  This is one thing that is within your control and can effect the safety of you and your fellow climbers.  So many variables are out of our control (weather, etc.) that we really need to be sure we manage the ones that we can.   Climbing big mountains is primarily an endurance event, but you do need strength as well.  We have a couple of resources to help give you some benchmarks to help guide your training.   Experience on a couple of other big mountains prior to going to Mt. Everest will also help you gauge where you are physically.   Start now!  Don’t expect to be able to train for just a few months and be ready to climb Mount Everest unless you start at a pretty high level of fitness.

Training for mountaineering and climbing is complicated and many of you have questions about how to best proceed. Or perhaps you don’t have the time to plan your training and would like to follow a plan designed by experts. Mountain Trip has partnered with Uphill Athlete (by Steve House and Scott Johnston) to create scientifically sound training plans designed by two professional coaches and leading mountaineers.  Even fit and experienced climbers will benefit from a good training program. Check out their program at www.trainingpeaks.com/mountaintrip

2) Mountain Skills:   Our Everest expeditions are not considered highly technical climbs, but you will need what we consider basic climbing/mountaineering skills.  Most of these fundamental skills can be learned on a 7-day mountaineering course, which we offer or can be found in a number of other venues with other reputable guide services.  Prior to meeting the expedition team in Kathmandu you need to be proficient in the following skills: • Basic ice axe techniques (self-belay, self-arrest) • Crampon skills (French technique, front pointing, descending) • Familiarity with crevasse rescue techniques • Using an ascender on fixed ropes • Passing running belays • Rappelling

These are foundational skills, taught in almost any basic mountaineering course.  Learning how to do them correctly will take you a long way in the mountains.  Learn them, practice them, and put the time in to have experience using them on other big cold mountains prior to joining an Everest team.

3) Altitude/Expedition Experience:   We generally recommend at a minimum that climbers have been on a couple of expeditions and been to high altitude a couple of times.  A good solid base of these expedition and altitude skills can be gained by climbing Aconcagua in Argentina, and Denali in Alaska.  We have found that climbers who do well on these two expeditions generally do great on Everest.  Another great training peak and climb is Cho Oyu if you are looking to gain some experience and climb another 8000m peak.  We don’t require that climbers have climbed Cho Oyu   prior to joining an Everest expedition, but it is great place to gain high altitude/expedition experience.

Aconcagua: A good starting point is Aconcagua , as it is an easier high altitude peak, providing the opportunity to join an expedition to just under 7000 meters.  While technically much easier than Everest and Denali, you’ll learn a lot of the skills and systems that will be foundational for future climbs. Plus, it is the highest peak in South America!  It’s a great trip, and really fun experience.

Pre-acclimatized Expedited Programs for Everest

We can work with you to come up with a pre-acclimatization plan using Hypoxico tents and potentially save several weeks off the normal itinerary. Whether you are looking for a different kind of challenge, or just don’t have the time to commit to a standard acclimatization program, we can work with you to develop a pre-acclimatization plan using Hypoxico Tent systems.  These systems have worked well, but you need to commit to following the pre-acclimatization program for it to be successful.

We will use helicopters when appropriate to speed up the approach to the mountain as well as for the return to civilization, which is included in the price of this program. Climbers on the rapid ascent program will join the climbing team in basecamp ready for the second rotation and the summit push.

The cost for the “Rapid Ascent” program is $89,000 with a minimum of 2 climbers.  Please contact us for details on this program.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Included in the trip fee:

Climbing permits and park fees

2:1 climbing Sherpa support for each climber

All oxygen and equipment (Summit masks, regulators)

R/T transportation from Kathmandu to basecamp

4 nights hotel lodging in Kathmandu at a 4-star hotel

All food and lodging during the trek in to BC

Tents, base camp facilities, including a private sleeping tent at BC, solar power, and heaters in BC

Group climbing and camping equipment

Fixed line fees, Liaison officer fees, Sherpa and LO equipment charges

All yaks and porter support to/from Base Camp

Internet access and WiFi in Base Camp and Advanced Camps

Not included in trip fees:

International flights to and from Nepal

Kathmandu personal expenses (apart from those included above)

Personal equipment per our equipment list

Sodas, beer, bottled water, internet, and assorted “extras” on the travel to basecamp

Expenses associated with an early departure from the expedition

Gratuities for local staff, Sherpa guides, and Mountain Trip guides.

Refunds and Cancellations

Mountain Trip recognizes how difficult and disappointing it can be for climbers who must cancel expeditions which they have planned for a long time. Team members must also recognize that, due to the nature of planning expeditions and dealing with governmental permits and regulations, Mountain Trip also accrues significant expenses in the months prior to expedition departure dates. We must therefore adhere to a strict refund policy for all climbers. Trip cancellation and travel insurance is generally available for all expeditions. U.S. and Canadian residents should contact us for more information regarding travel insurance. Our refund and cancellation policy is outlined below.

• All expeditions require a deposit to secure a spot on the team. Your submission of a deposit constitutes your acceptance of this Fee Schedule, Refund and Cancellation Policy.

• All deposits for Everest expeditions include a non-refundable $3000 administration fee (we highly recommend that you consider Trip Cancellation Insurance to protect the administration fee, if not the entire cost of your climb).

• Final payments for expeditions must be received 120 days prior to the Team Meeting Day.

• Failure to pay expedition fees by the date they are due constitutes cancellation of your spot on the team and forfeiture of your deposit.

• Any cancellation 120+ days before your Meeting Day will be refunded in full, less the administration fee.

• If you cancel 120-90 days before your Meeting Day, you are eligible for a refund of 50% of any monies paid, less the deposit.

• No refunds will be provided for cancellations occurring within the last 89 days prior to an expedition.

• All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received in our Colorado office.

• If you register for a climb within 90 days of the Team Meeting Date, expedition fees will be due in full to secure your spot on the team.

• No refunds will be given for unused hotel bookings due to schedule changes, late arrivals, etc.

• Mountain Trip reserves the right to cancel an expedition prior to the departure date for any reason. In the event that the expedition is cancelled based solely on an internal administrative decision by Mountain Trip ( Internal Cancellation ), all monies, except for nonrefundable administrative fees, collected by Mountain Trip from team members for the canceled expedition shall be refunded within 30 days. That is the extent of our financial liability for such cancellations. This Internal Cancellation provision shall not apply when external factors that force Mountain Trip to cancel an expedition against its will, including, but not limited to, international political upheaval, terrorism, drought/famine, epidemics/pandemics, and/or cancellations imposed by foreign or domestic governments or permitting agencies ( External Cancellation ). All External Cancellations shall not be subject to a refund unless such cancellation occurs prior to the deadlines set forth in the Refund and Cancellation policies, above.

The following applies only if all expedition fees are paid by the date they are due:

If Mountain Trip cancels your expedition due to  External Cancellation factors resulting from the coronavirus pandemic more than 90 days prior to the Team Meeting date, Mountain Trip will credit 100% of your paid expedition fees toward a future program with Mountain Trip or refund all monies paid except for the non-refundable administrative fee.

If Mountain Trip cancels your expedition due to  External Cancellation factors resulting from the coronavirus pandemic 90 days or less prior to the Team Meeting date, Mountain Trip will credit 75% of your paid expedition fees toward a future program with Mountain Trip or refund 50% of your expedition fee.

General Agreement Concerning Services to be Provided And Responsibilities of Team Members

When registering for an expedition with Mountain Trip we want to help make sure you understand the services we are providing and the services you are responsible for.

Transportation is incidental

The main purpose of becoming a team member is to join us on an expedition in the mountains. As such any transportation we provide or that you may contract for on your own is incidental to the trip. We suggest that you make sure you have time built into your itinerary for delays.

Transportation to and from your destination

We will designate a specific Team Meeting Day for your expedition. Transportation to the meeting point on your Team Meeting Day is to be provided by you. You must arrive in time to be ready to participate in a team meeting at the appointed time on the Team Meeting Day for your expedition. Expedition climbing is very dynamic and we will provide you with a recommendation as to when you should book your flights to and from your destination. We suggest you book a ticket that allows you to change your flight with little effort or cost.

Lodging off the mountain

Mountain Trip will provide lodging per the Inclusions and Exclusions section above. Any additional lodging is your responsibility. Don’t worry about booking a room after your expedition. We generally don’t know how long we’ll be in the mountains, and we can help arrange lodging when we return to “civilization.”

Responsibilities of Team Members

You are ultimately responsible for your own well-being, including making all necessary preparations to ensure good health and physical conditioning. You are responsible for understanding the conditions that may exist on the climb and choosing a climb that is appropriate for your abilities and interests. You are responsible for having knowledge of all pre-departure information and for assembling the appropriate clothing and equipment for your climb.

While on the expedition, team members are responsible to maintain basic levels of hygiene and to conduct themselves respectfully with other team members and members of the local population. If a guide feels that a team member is putting other members’ health or safety at risk, the guide has the discretion to remove a team member from an expedition.

Use our office staff and your lead guide as pre-trip resources to ensure that all your questions are answered. Travel insurance may help recoup expenses if you need to leave an expedition due to an illness.

Airline Responsibility Passenger/Airline contracts are in effect while team members are on board any aircraft contracted for use in the expedition.

No Guaranteed Outcomes

While it is one of our goals to help every climber on every Mountain Trip expedition reach the summit, Mountain Trip cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit.  Any number of factors, including weather, the conditions encountered on the route, your personal level of fitness or ability, the abilities of your team mate(s) or any number of other circumstances might result in you and/or your team turning around before reaching the summit.  Failure to reach the summit due to any reason associated with mountaineering, such as weather, team dynamics, route conditions, avalanche hazard, rockfall hazard, etc, or due to your lack of fitness or preparation are not the responsibility of Mountain Trip and will not result in a refund or a rescheduling of your expedition.

The following is a general list of required gear for climbing Mount Everest.  Many of the items on the list need to fit you well in order for you to fully enjoy your experience on the mountain. Please plan ahead with equipment purchased for your trip so you can be certain that your gear fits you well.  Base Camp on Mount Everest is not the place to discover that your pack is too small for your torso, or that your boots give you blisters. Recommended items reflect the opinions of our guides. We have used and have faith in all of our recommendations, but they may not necessarily fit or work for you.

Call or email us with any gear questions. We want you to be as prepared as possible for your expedition.

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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 1396.

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

Epic Everest Base Camp Trek

15 days from 1490.

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

Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek

19 days from 1823.

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

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.

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How to trek to Everest Base Camp

Jun 20, 2023 • 10 min read

From permits to teahouses, here's everything you need to know about trekking to Everest Base Camp © Mint Images / Getty Images

Top of many people's travel bucket lists, the trek to Everest Base Camp is often the first thing people think about when they start dreaming of a trip to Nepal . 

The walk takes trekkers past Sherpa villages and Tibetan-style monasteries, right up into the heart of the high Himalaya, into a breathtaking world (literally) of iconic glaciers, lakes and the tallest peaks on earth. It's probably the world's most famous trek.

But what is it actually like to trek to Base Camp? Is it something within your capabilities or budget? What should you bring? And, most importantly, can you get a proper coffee en route? 

I just returned from trekking to Everest Base Camp for Lonely Planet's Nepal guide . Here’s what I think you need to know.

What's so great about the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek anyway?

Firstly, the mountain scenery surrounding the world's highest peak is truly spectacular. The sublime views of Ama Dablam, Pumori, Nuptse and Thamserku peaks are unbeatable and constantly change as you progress along the walk. The Sherpa villages and monasteries are fascinating places to visit and the lodges (called teahouses) are the best in the world. 

The knowledge that you are walking in the expedition footsteps of Hillary, Tenzing, Messner and others is a thrill. Anyone who has read Into Thin Air will be moved by the memorial stupas of Rob Hall, Scott Fischer and others who have lost their lives on the mountain. And then there's the fact that you will have reached the base of the world's highest peak; whether you call it Chomolongma (Tibetan), Sagarmatha (Nepali) or Everest, it’s a rush all the same.

And what’s not so great about the Everest Base Camp trek?

Well, if you force us to play devil's advocate… EBC is one of the busiest trails in Nepal. In the high season months of October and November you'll be walking with thousands of other trekkers, competing with them to get a bed, a lunch order or an airplane seat. There will be lines at checkpoints and even at moments on the trail itself. In bad weather you might be stranded at Lukla airport with hundreds of other trekkers, all trying to get on the first flight out. It's not quite the Zen-like wilderness experience you may have been imagining.

Bear in mind also that even after a solid week of walking, your view of Everest will be partial at best (for infinitely more dramatic Everest views visit the northern Everest Base Camp in Tibet ). If you trek outside of May's expedition weather window you won’t actually find much to see at Base Camp beyond a boulder hastily spray-painted with "Everest Base Camp".

If this has put you off, don’t worry; there are dozens of other fantastic treks in Nepal .

How long does it take to trek to Everest Base Camp?

The walk from the airport at Lukla to Everest Base Camp and back takes a minimum of 15 days. Several of the days are surprisingly short, but this is because you have to figure in time to acclimatize to the high altitudes.

If you can, it's definitely worth adding on a couple of extra days to this basic itinerary. Some of the most dramatic (and least visited) views are from detours off the main trail. I always add two days to visit Thame, two days to visit Chhukung and, if possible, three or four days to visit the lakes of the Gokyo Valley – probably the most beautiful scenery in the Everest region.

Be sure to also budget an extra day or two as a transport buffer. Weather-related flight delays in and out of Lukla are not uncommon (I had to wait six days for a flight to Lukla on my recent trip) so you need some buffer time if heading back for an international flight home.

How challenging is the trek to EBC?

In terms of physical effort, the EBC trek itself is not especially tough. There are only a couple of steep climbs, lasting about an hour each, and most days involve less than four hours of walking.

The thing that makes the EBC trek tough is the altitude. Base Camp is at 5600m (18,373ft) and you will need to spend one or two nights above 5000m (16,404ft). Above 4000m (13,123ft) you are going to feel increasingly lethargic and out of breath as the amount of oxygen in the air decreases. Combine this with the cold, the discomfort of being at altitude and the compounded tiredness from walking for two weeks straight, and you can see why the whole trek experience is definitely a physical challenge.

While you don't need to be an athlete to walk to EBC it is still a good idea to start a fitness regime in the weeks leading up to your trek. You'll enjoy the walk so much more if you are in decent shape.

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

October and November bring the best weather and the clearest skies but these are also the most popular months. The second most popular season is April to early May, when spring blooms and expedition traffic bring extra interest to the trail. To avoid the crowds but still enjoy clear views, pack an extra thermal layer and come in December or March.

What can I do to avoid altitude sickness?

The majority of people who fail to reach Base Camp do so because they failed to acclimatize properly to the altitude. It's essential not to gain altitude too quickly by following the recommended overnight stops and limiting your daily altitude gain to a maximum of 400m (1312ft) when above 3000m (9843ft).

Be sure to add in acclimatization days at both Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, during which it's a good idea to hike to higher altitudes during the day, returning to sleep lower at night.

What are the teahouses like?

At lower altitudes the Everest lodges are the most comfortable in Nepal. Private rooms are the norm, many of which have private bathrooms. Showers are available at most places, though the hot water supply can be patchy. All have cozy dining rooms with tables arranged around a central dung-fueled stove. There are even a few luxury lodges along the trail.

In budget lodges, or when you get above Dingboche, things get simpler, with rooms offering little more than a collection of plywood walls, a solar light and a foam mattress. Toilets are a mixture of seats and squatters; sometimes outdoors, always freezing. A blanket is normally supplied but be sure to bring a four-season sleeping bag rated to well below 0°C (32°F).

What's the food like?

Menus in teahouses range from pasta and pizza to spring rolls, fried potatoes and soups, though the most popular meal is a daal bhaat , a set Nepali meal of rice, lentil soup and fried vegetables, normally served with a papad and pickle, and with a refill included. It's the most filling and environmentally sustainable meal you can order.

In villages such as Namche Bazaar and Dingboche you will also find bakery-cafes serving espresso and slices of delicious apple pie, plus shops selling everything from Snickers bars to bottles of beer. This is one trek where you might actually gain weight!

Can I get wi-fi or phone coverage?

Most lodges offer wi-fi, either free of charge or for a few dollars per day (at higher elevations). Above Namche Bazaar you will likely have to buy a scratch card, giving you unlimited data for twelve hours (AirCell) or a specific amount of data over a month (Everestlink). Depending on your network provider you'll likely get data and a phone signal at lower elevations, and possibly even at Everest Base Camp, but not at other high altitudes. So yes, in theory, you can Skype all your friends from Base Camp!

What should I bring?

Warm clothes are a must, and you should pack thermal underwear, a down jacket and fleece hat. Comfortable hiking boots and good, padded socks are also essential. Sun block, a sun hat with a brim and good sunglasses are important against the strong high-altitude light. 

Morale-boosting snacks like chocolate and salami are always helpful, as is a book and smartphone with mapping software like Maps.me. Bring water purification of some sort. If you forget something, don’t worry, you can buy almost anything you might want in Namche Bazaar these days (from ice axes to cans of Pringles), though at prices higher than in Kathmandu .

Do I need a porter and guide?

In terms of finding your way you don't need a guide if you are an experienced walker, as the route is clearly marked and well-trod. A guide can be useful for smoothing your way at teahouses, making sure you get your food on time and helping you pay your bill. It's important not to trek alone, so solo trekkers should find a companion or take a guide or porter.

A porter will carry a bag of around 15kg, freeing you up to pack a few extra chocolate bars and enjoy the walk with little more than a day pack. Not having the strain of carrying a full pack is worth its weight in gold for anyone over the age of 50. Trust me.

How much does the Everest Base Camp trek cost?

For a room in a lodge and three meals a day, figure on US$20–25 per person per day, a bit more if you want a room with a private bathroom and the occasional slice of apple pie. Add on another US$5 every time you want a shower. Figure on an additional US$20 per day for a porter, and US$25–30 for a guide, and budget 10–15% of that fee for an end-of-trip tip.

You'll pay a bit more to have a Kathmandu-based trekking company arrange your entire trek, and a lot more for the convenience and backup of an international trekking tour.

Do I need any permits?

You will need to buy an Everest region permit (US$20) at Lukla, as well as a Sagarmatha National Park entry ticket (US$30) at Monjo. Currently that's all you need.

How can I trek more sustainably?

With 60,000 trekkers and guides headed to the Everest region, it’s important to minimize your impact on the region. Firstly, don't buy bottled water on the trek, as the bottles are nonrecyclable and are a huge problem throughout the region. Bring a system of water purification, like a Lifestraw or Sawyer filter, a Steripen or chemical purification.

Secondly, carry all your trash out (especially batteries), and sign up for the Carry Me Back program, whereby you carry a 1kg bag of trash from Namche Bazaar to Lukla, for it to be recycled in Kathmandu.

Finally, be polite to the Sherpas and porters you meet en route, as well as your fellow trekkers. Walk clockwise around stupas and be respectful at monasteries and shrines.

How do I get to Lukla to start the trek?

Flights run multiple times daily between Kathmandu and Lukla, taking around 30 minutes. During high season however you may have to drive five hours from Kathmandu to Ramechhap airport to catch your Lukla flight there.

It's also possible to fly or drive to Phaplu and walk two days to Lukla from there, or walk from Shivalaya to Lukla in seven days as an excellent pre-trek warm-up.

This article was first published January 2013 and updated June 2023

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Everest Base Camp Trek – 13 Things to Know for Your Trip in 2024

Just a mention of the Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC) in Nepal is usually enough to stir the soul of hikers all over the world. Thousands of aspirational ramblers have gained valuable experience on this Himalayan route. Some see this hike as a rite of passage for all true trekkers. Others go on this trek because it’s a ticket to the soaring roof of the world, where an up-close encounter with the highest summit of all awaits. The Everest Base Camp in Nepal itself sits at an impressive 17,598 feet (5,364m) high, but more on its impressive heights later on.

Whatever your reason for wanting to strike the Everest Base Camp Trek from the bucket list this year or the next, this guide can help in your pursuit. It will run through all the basics of this iconic trekking route between Namche Bazaar and EBC in Nepal, detailing the best time of year to go, what sort of challenges can be expected along the way, what trekking gear you’ll need on such a trip, and so much more. Find answers to the most frequently asked EBC Trek questions here. Dive in!

Our experience on the Everest Base Camp Trek

Like many, we began offering the trek to Everest Base Camp largely because of its reputation as one of the most extraordinary adventures on the planet. As soon as our team set foot on this legendary path we could instantly see why it was the case. Travelers of all stripes, all nationalities, join together on this true Himalayan adventure. The EBC Trek has the feel of a true expedition as you fly into the small airport at Lukla and take your first steps on the wooded trail towards the small village of Namche Bazaar.

For me, Nepal is unlike any country I have visited. On my visit to this culturally rich and diverse nation I felt like I had entered into a new world. With the influences of both Buddhism and Hindi, the capital city of Kathmandu provides a window into the beautiful culture and history of the Nepalese people and bags you to explore more of this remarkable country.

What’s in this guide?

• Where is Everest Base Camp (EBC)?
• History of Everest Base Camp
• How long is the trek to EBC?
• Is it worth it? Things to see & costs
• How hard is the trek? Terrain, elevation, and altitude
• Food on the Everest Base Camp Trek
• Accommodations on Everest Base Camp
• When’s the best time to go? Temperatures & weather
• What gear and equipment should I pack?
• Should I use a porter service?
• Getting there
• Travel visas and permits
• A typical Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary

1. Where is Everest Base Camp (EBC)?

There are actually two base camps for Everest trekking: the North Base Camp in Tibet and the South Base Camp in Nepal. The Nepalese camp in the Khumbu region is the Everest Base Camp that most people talk about, and the endpoint of this legendary trek. It’s tucked away at the end of a long valley that carves through the Himalayas after splitting at the Sherpa village of Dingboche. The formidable Khumbu Icefall – the first obstacle for those attempting a summit push to Everest – begins right on the doorstep of the camp, leading up to the Western Cwm (also known as the Valley of Silence) and the peaks of Lhotse and Nuptse. 

2. History of Everest Base Camp

Climbing on Mount Everest started at the beginning of the 1920s, when a team led by George Mallory (who some think may well have been the first person to reach the summit) came to map out the north face. However, Mallory and his team never established a permanent base camp on their trips, and the north route was all but shut when China invaded Tibet in 1949. 

Then came the conquering expedition of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay . It took place on the south slopes in Nepal. Hillary and Norgay realized it made more sense to have a place to store supplies at the base of the mountain rather than trek the whole length of the Khumbu Valley whenever they needed gear. Thus, Everest Base Camp was born.

3. How long is the trek to EBC?

The Everest Base Camp Trek may be the single most famous trek in Asia, and arguably the world. Some say its booming popularity is the trek’s own worst enemy, and it’s true that the trail has suffered from overcrowding and some pollution in recent years. However, nothing can take away from the thrilling sense of adventure that comes with climbing towards the edge of the world’s highest peak. That reaches a fever pitch in the early days of your hike, when you’ll catch a jaw-dropping broadside of Mount Everest from a lookout on the south side of Ama Dablam.

Distance 

The rewards of the trek don’t come so easily. EBC is a high-altitude path that requires considerable acclimatization over a good distance. You’ll typically need 12-14 days of full-on trekking (that’s right, your “rest days” involve walking too!) to complete the 80-mile (130km) roundtrip that starts from Lukla. 

This distance is roughly divided into individual daily sections of 8-10 miles (13-16km), but the reason the whole adventure takes so many days is because it needs to be broken down into bite-sized chunks due to the altitude with acclimatization and rest days mixed in. Most itineraries will leave enough time to complete each leg on any given day at well below the average trekking pace. 

Walking times

Most walkers find that they hike a maximum of 8 hours each day, though that can go up a little when you reach the higher altitude sections of the route – not just because of the physical challenge, but because you’ll be stopping often to take in all the breathtaking views! 

4. Is it worth it? Everest Base Camp trip highlights & costs

The joy is in the journey here, as you trek further up to gaze from the roof of the world. Some of the best sightings of the famous Everest arguably come during the Everest Base Camp Trek itself, from various lookout points along the way. These magnificent views combined with mystical monasteries and Sherpa villages offer a host of intriguing trip attractions en route. For me, the best highlights of the trek are:

• Kala Patthar (Kalapathar) – Roughly translates to “Black Rock”. Detour to this soaring lookout point that’s 18,208 feet (5,550m) up on the ridges above Gorak Shep . It’s a real challenge (think a 1,640-feet / 500-meter ascent in 2 hours) but is hailed by many as the best view over Everest, with the Khumbu Icefall crashing through the valley below.

• Gorak Shep (Gorakshep) – A settlement that seems at the end of the world, this tiny town is the heartland of the Sherpa people and sits at the base of Kala Patthar.
• Sagarmatha National Park Museum – You’ll encounter this one very early on in the trek during your rest day in Namche Bazaar. It’s worth the climb to its perch above the village, mainly because the forecourt has incredible views of Everest and Nuptse – your first glimpse of the great mountain. Inside, you can learn all about the unique culture of the Khumbu Sherpa people .

• Tengboche Monastery (Thyangboche Monastery or Dawa Choling Gompa) – The largest Buddhist gompa in the valley of Everest, Tengboche Monastery is a pitstop for determined trekkers bound for the summit. They come to light candles and ask for blessings.

• Nangkar Tsang / Dingboche Viewpoint – Above the town of Dingboche, this detour off the main route is good acclimatization trekking and offers a panorama that takes in the Khumbu Glacier and the whole Imja Khola Valley. 

With so much natural beauty to be experienced, how much will it set you back? When it comes to pricing, costs of the Everest Base Camp Trek can range widely but the best all-inclusive tour packages start at around US$4,295 (including domestic flights to/from the trek start point) . If this number is giving you sticker shock, don’t let it deter you from the trip of a lifetime to Nepal, because my team at The Explorer’s Passage is always here to work with you and your preferences to craft a trip that fits your needs .

5. How hard is the trek? Terrain, elevation, and altitude

So just how difficult is the trek to Everest Base Camp? To answer this, you’ll have to consider the terrain and heights of EBC. Your physical fitness also plays a factor in the perceived difficulty of this adventure. Based on our Trip Activity Level Guide , we classify this trek as an advanced level, but you may be glad to know that no technical training or mountaineering experience is required. 

Not sure if this Himalayan adventure is right for you? Contact us and we’ll walk you through details on the physical demands, recommended training, and more so you can make an informed decision.

The Everest Base Camp hike graduates from the alpine surroundings at the south end of the Sagarmatha National Park to the scree-covered ridges of ancient moraines in the final push towards the trekking finish line. The first sections are easier in terms of terrain but more difficult because they are constantly steep. You’ll notice this in the ascent from Lukla to Namche Bazaar, and then again from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. The path there is largely shaded by pine and ironwood forests, muddy when wet but also interspersed with rocks wedged into the ground. You’ll stroll across suspension bridges to cross most rivers.

After the first few days of your trip, you’ll see that the trekking path levels a little as it skirts a wide, flat valley with the mighty Himalayas looming on all sides. This is where you lose the tree cover for good, so be sure to have the sunscreen handy. It’s rock and grit underfoot until you near Gorak Shep. There, the route sort of merges with the great pebble and rock moraine at the end of the Khumbu Icefall. It’s normal to find snow coverage in those parts, especially if you’re trekking between November and March.  

Elevation and altitude

How high is Everest Base Camp? Well, altitude is commonly travelers’ biggest challenge on this tall trek. As mentioned before, you’re going to have to clock up a hefty 17,598 feet (5,364m) above sea level. You’ll manage 9,400 feet (2,865m) at the EBC trailhead, which is taken care of by the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The rest is up to your legs. You’ll knock out about 1,800 feet (549m) by climbing to Namche Bazaar. After that, days on the trail (not including acclimatization days) average around 1,200-1,600 feet (366-488m) in elevation gain, though it’s on less-steep paths once you cross the tree line around Tengboche. Everest Base Camp elevation is no joke and can be difficult for some. 

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) – the mildest form of altitude sickness – is certainly a risk here. It can affect anyone over altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,438m), but usually has severe impacts at higher levels. Since the EBC Trek reaches altitudes of more than double the height where AMS can possibly kick in, there are usually two full acclimatization days planned in – one in Namche Bazaar and the another in Dingboche or Lobuche. These days aren’t for resting but instead used to climb high and then descend to sleep at lower altitudes, a common practice that’s known to help the body acclimate to conditions at higher elevations.  

Don’t be surprised if your Everest Base Camp Trek guide constantly reminds you to drink enough water as it’s another way to combat AMS. Once you hit the higher altitude parts of the path, you can typically expect your guide to be prepared with a supply of oxygen, should you need it. You might also want to consider packing an AMS medication like Diamox on your trip to Nepal. 

Even seasoned alpinists find the trip a challenge and lots of climbers struggle with Acute Mountain Sickness. Just remember: no pain, no gain on this most incredible of trails! On this trip, you’ll see the sheer majesty of the Nepalese Himalayas up close and scale to viewpoints that are simply some of the best you’ll ever hike to.

6. Food on the Everest Base Camp Trek

All that trekking is going to work up a serious appetite, you can be sure of that. Thankfully, EBC teahouses tout some decent grub for when it’s time to refuel. Don’t be surprised to find that the menus are virtually identical the whole way along, even if the dishes themselves vary greatly with the whims of different chefs up and down the trip route.

Common dishes include:

• Dal bhat – The most popular EBC meal of all. Every hiker who’s done the route has warmed up with this spicy lentil stew at least once. It’s usually served with rice and chapati flatbread.
• Egg and fries – A hearty option for those feeling really hungry, this one includes hand-cut, fried potatoes and a double-egg omelette.
• Shyakpa ( Sherpa stew ) – A classic favorite of sherpas in Nepal and a great vegetarian option that’s basically broth with cut potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables.
• Pizza – Some teahouses try their hand at pizza. We’ll let you be the judge of whether or not the Italians would be proud.  

Is your mouth watering yet? These dishes will surely give you the energy you need to power through the trek.

7. Accommodations on Everest Base Camp

Apart from the hotels in Kathmandu at the start and at the end of your quest, all of your accommodations on the Everest Base Camp Trek route are likely to be teahouses. Don’t let the name fool you – these aren’t just places to stop for a hot drink. They’re actually full-fledged bed and breakfast lodges purposely designed to host travelers. 

EBC teahouse accommodations in Nepal are simple, clean, and comfortable. The general rule is that the quality is better towards the start of the trek, where the teahouses are both larger and better supplied. Rooms are usually minimally decorated. They have wood-paneled or plastered walls and, for the most part, a single window, along with low-rise beds with foam mattress pads. Some have in-room heating, while other teahouses are warmed by a central stove that’s kept alight in the evenings. Some places offer hot showers, but most only offer cold. Electrical charging of devices is on offer at most places, though that could come at an extra cost. 

For more details on accommodations, check out our Everest Base Camp tour page .

8. Best time to trek to Everest Base Camp

There are two main seasons for trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The first is in the spring (late March to May) and the second comes in the autumn (late September to November) . Both high seasons essentially straddle the main monsoon season, offering more dryness and clearer skies without too much precipitation. Although, it’s important to note that zero rain can never be guaranteed this high up.

Here’s a breakdown of the best months to go:

• March – Marks the beginning of the trekking season proper but it’s not its peak. That means a good balance of smaller crowds, availability in teahouses and affordability. Most of the ground snow has melted by this point, but rising temperatures do mean there can be some heat haze to obscure the views.
• April – The busiest time of all on the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, but for good reason: Clear skies abound, the views are wonderful, and temperatures are comfortable. You can also come in April if you’re keen to see the hardcore mountaineers prepping for a summit push up Mount Everest itself.
• May – The hottest month on the trail with less harsh conditions in the evening. Downsides include heat haze that can obstruct the views and the potential for some early-monsoon rains.
• September – The first month after the monsoon can see some rains stick around. However, that also means the lower-altitude parts of the trek between Lukla and Namche Bazaar are wonderfully lush with flower blooms and vivid greenery.
• October – Second only to April in terms of crowds of travelers. Lots of people hit the EBC trail at this time because there’s a great balance between comfortable temperatures and clear skies. In fact, I’d say that this is the clearest time of all, so it’s perfect for those wanting uninterrupted views of Everest.
• November – Cold winter conditions can start to set in by November. It’s not unusual to encounter snow at higher altitudes and you’ll need proper thermal gear to get through the nights. The payoff is super-clear skies and way fewer hikers on the trail.

December to February is the low season for one main reason: Snow. Temperatures during these colder days drop to an average of 25 degrees fahrenheit (-4℃) in the middle of the winter season, and that’s in Namche Bazaar, one of the lowest points on the trek. It’s not ideal for overnight hikes that rely on teahouses made of plywood walls. That said however, completing the EBC certainly isn’t impossible at this time, it just presents unique challenges. You’ll need way more thermal layering, special trekking equipment to handle the snowdrifts, and probably extra days to complete the trek. The upside is that winter days offer very clear skies and there’s rarely a big crowd on the trail. 

9. What gear and equipment should I pack?

When considering what to pack for your trip, it’s good to know there are strict limits on the weight each passenger can take on that initial flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. What’s more, there are limits on the size and weight of bags that you can ask porters to shuttle up and back to EBC for you. Due to these limits, you’ll want to think very carefully about what to bring for this once-in-a-lifetime trek. As a general rule, it’s good to stick to about 22-33 pounds (10-15kg) in your main pack, with a small 30-litre day pack on the side to carry the things you’ll need on the trail.

Layers are always key in the Nepalese mountains, as temperatures can warm up considerably during the day and drop suddenly at night. You’ll want to be able to add and remove fleeces and thermals on the upper body to match the fluctuating temperatures. For the lower body, I’d recommend bringing both shorts (mainly for the lower elevations of the trek where it can be positively balmy) and sturdy trekking pants (for higher elevations), backed up by good thermal-rated underlayers.

Waterproofs are also essential for your trip. Rain and snowfall can come without warning in the high Himalayas, and weather patterns on the EBC Trek have little respect for the so-called high season, so inclement weather can happen any time of the year. Winter trekkers will need to plan a little more, though, in order to deal with all that ground ice and much colder conditions.

On top of that, you’ll need to think about all those hiking essentials. Good boots, a pair of hiking poles you feel comfortable with, both a wool hat and a sun hat, strong sweat-resistant sunscreen, headlamps, and a decent-capacity water bottle should all be on your packing list. 

That’s just scratching the surface, but The Explorer’s Passage will make sure you’re fully prepared for your chosen season on the EBC route when you plan with us – just ask us for a full packing list !

10. Should I use a porter service?

Put simply, porters are essential on the trek to Everest Base Camp. They’re very much the superheroes of the expedition, transporting the bulk of most trekkers’ gear and equipment from camp to camp outside of Lukla or Namche Bazaar. For larger groups of trekkers, some operators will utilize animal support for transport assistance. Porters will carry one standard rucksack or duffle bag per hiker. Usually, that’s limited to a weight of between 22-33 pounds (10-15kg) per person, though it can be lower or higher depending on the Everest Base Camp tour you pick. That leaves you to only carry what you need for the day. As mentioned above, a 30-litre pack typically works best, just enough for water, snacks, fleece and waterproof layers, your camera, and sunscreen. 

I do, occasionally, see people who choose not to engage a porter but that’s a tough task. Ultimately, when you’re deciding whether or not porter service is right for you, remember that the Mt. Everest Base Camp hike involves several days of walking at altitudes over 12,000 feet (3,658m) above sea level, on tricky terrain to boot. It’s a challenge even without 44 pounds (20kg) of gear strapped to your back! 

11. Getting there

So now you know what this infamous excursion holds and you can’t wait another moment to go, how will you get there? The trip to the start of EBC is a journey in itself. You’ll first jet into Kathmandu, the heady, rickshaw-rattling capital of Nepal. It’s an amazing place, filled with UNESCO temples and the aromatic spices of Nepalese curry houses. We usually recommend that travelers arrive at least a couple of days before they are due to set off for the trek, not really to help with altitude acclimatization – Kathmandu is a relatively modest 4,500 feet (1,372m) up – but more for cultural acclimatization.

Doing that means you’ll have time to score any last-minute gear you might have forgotten for the hike itself. Kathmandu has plenty of decent outfitters that offer good deals on key items like down sleeping bags and thermals. It also means you’ll get to see some of the great cultural treasures of the country, including the tower-topped temples of Durbar Square and the colossal Boudhanath Stupa, which is usually writhed in prayer flags dancing in the wind.

After Kathmandu, there’s a short-haul flight from the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport that takes you all the way to the trailhead of Everest Base Camp in Lukla. The plane ride is relatively quick – about 30 minutes total – and pretty spine-tingling, especially as the landing strip on the Lukla side sits a whopping 9,300 feet (2,835 meters) above sea level on a precipitous mountain plateau. It’s not a flight you’ll forget in a hurry!

12. Travel visas and permits

Some nationals of specific countries can enter Nepal without a visa, but most travelers will require one. For those who do, entry visas for tourists traveling into Nepal are generally available in advance or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and various land borders. If you’re unsure of which category you fall into, use this easy tool to double check your entry and health requirements .

When it comes to permits, there are no permits for the Everest Base Camp Trek itself, at least not like there are for the Inca Trail and some other bucket-list hikes elsewhere on the planet. However, there are limits to the number of guests teahouses can host (so it’s important to book early) and you will be passing through some regions and conservation areas that require visitors to obtain special passes, but no need to worry as The Explorer’s Passage will handle all of these details for you. Just make sure your travel documents and essentials are still valid.

For the route to Everest Base Camp from Lukla, there are two key documents that we will secure for you:

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit – This is a pass for access to the whole Khumbu region.
• Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit – This is your pass to enter the national park that contains Mt. Everest. 

It is important to note, those looking to do the longer, 20-day extension to the EBC Trek, going from Kathmandu by road and then onwards by foot from Jiri, will also need a pass for access to the Gaurishankar Conservation Area. 

13. A typical Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary

The temple-topped, bazaar-busting city of Kathmandu is likely to be where you enter Nepal. You’ll definitely want to take some time out of your trip to explore this amazing city first. Then, it’s time to head northeast to start your Everest Base Camp hike. Most travelers do that with a flight to Lukla and then walk from there, but it’s also possible to trek all the way if you have the time. Still, most Everest Base Camp Trek itineraries officially start at Lukla airport.

For a customized itinerary, connect with us to craft your ideal trip.

• Day 1: Namaste and welcome to Kathmandu! Get ready to experience one of the most awe-inspiring journeys our planet has to offer. You’ll arrive in Kathmandu and explore the dynamism, scenery, and history the city has to offer.
• Day 2: Today will be filled with cultural immersion. Begin by exploring three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The first is Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in Nepal. Next is Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu temple located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Finally, you’ll visit Durbar Square, which sits in front of the old royal palace. Finish your day with one of the most classic walks through the old narrow streets of Kathmandu. In the heart of this city, soak up the buzzing atmosphere of the local markets and stores, before heading back to the hotel.

• Day 3: Kathmandu to Phakding (8,562 ft / 2,610 m) – After a short flight to Lukla, it’s a pleasant hike through dense pine forests and steep gorges traversed by swinging suspension bridges. There’s a real bustle about this part of the path, with oodles of hikers fresh onto the trail to chat to. It’s also the lushest part of the trail, with wildflowers and roaring riverways, more Alps than Himalaya.

• Day 4: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,286 ft / 3,440 m) – Today you’ll go up to the main hub of EBC: Namche Bazaar. This is a good place to stock up on any essentials you may have forgotten to bring on your trip. Enjoy the town that’s abuzz with hiker cafes and lodges, and comes with stunning views of the jagged Mount Khumbu Yül-Lha (Khumbila), loosely translated as “God of Khumbu” peak, to the north.
• Day 5: Namche Bazaar (11,286 ft / 3,440 m) – This is your first official acclimatization day. The best way to prepare for the altitude is to hike high during the day and return to lower altitudes in the evening to sleep. The Khunde and Khumjung Loop is the perfect option for that, taking you to long-lost Sherpa villages with mystical Buddhist stupas.

• Day 6: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (12,664 ft / 3,860 m) – Your first steps on the Everest Base Camp Trek proper begin with a steep incline that takes you almost out of the treeline. The path levels and then emerges into a lunar-like world of big brown rocks where the Himalayas draw ever closer. The destination? The rhododendron forest, where you’ll stay for the evening.   
• Day 7: Tengboche to Dingboche (14,470 ft / 4,410 m) – Expect exposed trekking except for some sections through high-altitude pine woods. Later in the day, the trail wiggles across the sides of Ama Dablam peak and you’ll get to appreciate the Everest massif in all its glory looming overhead.

• Day 8: Dingboche (14,470 ft / 4,410 m) – A second acclimatization day is needed at this stage of the trip. Perhapstake some time to experience Chukhung (15,518 feet / 4,730 meters), a place traditionally used to raise yak. Lodges rise up amongst the peaks, making it a perfect spot for relaxation, observation and absorbing the scenery and local life.

• Day 9: Dingboche to Lobuche (16,210 ft / 4,941 m) – You’re now onto the penultimate push towards Everest Base Camp. Welcome to the high Himalayas. Trees are long gone in this land of rugged rocks and the cascading tongues of glaciers. The day includes some amazing visions of the approaching Everest massif, especially the closer face of Nuptse.
• Day 10: Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft / 5,364 m) – The final part of the trail starts by weaving over rocky highland terrain and then passes through the Gorak Shep village, where a small trekking lodge clutches the edge of the Khumbu Icefall. There’s a chance of a small rest there, but not for long, because EBC is only another 1.5 hours up the valley!

• Day 11: Everest Base Camp to Pheriche (14,340 ft / 4,371 m) – Today you’ll retrace your steps towards Pheriche, hiking first towards Kala Patthar. Oxygen begins to increase and much of this portion is downhill, and you’ll have the chance to take in the panoramic views with an easier trek.
• Day 12: Pheriche to Debouche (12,533 ft / 3,820 m) – You’ll work back via Deboche, passing the Old Nunnery. Follow the river back towards Debouche, a campsite, not far from the Tengboche Monastery.
• Day 13: Debouche to Namche Bazaar (11,286 ft / 3,440 m) – Today you’ll double back towards Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa village that is the hub of activity and local culture. Here you’ll see many porters like Norgay, who aid climbers and know this terrain better than anyone. Observe the local mountain life, as you continue on tomorrow towards Phakding.

• Day 14: Namche Bazaar to Phakding (8,562 ft / 2,610 m) – As you continue downhill towards Phakding, observe the local agriculture and yak pastures as you pass by the majesty of the Himalayan peaks. You’ll spend the evening alongside the Dudh Kosi River, and take in the sights and sounds of the crystalline waters.

• Day 15: Phakding to Lukla – From Phakding, you’ll make our approach towards Lukla. Gather your new memories from the trip and enjoy your last days amongst unparalleled natural views in Nepal. You’ll stop for lunch in Lukla, with plenty of time to appreciate the clear landscape.
• Day 16: Lukla to Kathmandu – Returning to Kathmandu, you’ll have time and space to explore after having a chance to refresh and recuperate in your hotel. The Thamel district is a great place to wander with its many winding streets lined with souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, and more. There’s plenty to see and to try on the final day of your trip in Kathmandu. Soak up as much of the city’s offerings as you can as the end of our trip approaches.

• Day 17: Today is your final day as an intrepid traveler exploring Nepal. You might have time to see some live music in Lazimpat or venture to Patan, which was originally known as Lalitpur, or the “City of Beauty”. Stop off at Newa Chen to add a visit to a 350-year-old Newari home, restored to its former glory and open to the public, to your trip. Be sure to experience as much of Kathmandu as you can, before you reluctantly head back home from this exhilarating adventure trip!

• Day 18: Depart from Kathmandu. Today you’ll return home having retraced many of Hillary and Norgay’s historic steps. You’re officially one of the lucky few who have witnessed the majesty of Everest up close!

Other Variations of the EBC Trek

The main up-and-back EBC Trek outlined above is by far the most popular route to the fabled camp on the slopes of Mount Everest, but there are also other options. Take the Three Passes Trek. It’s a circular romp that encompasses a trio of the highest traversable passes immediately around Everest itself, starting with Kongma La (18,175 feet) before pushing on through Cho La (17,782 feet) and then Renjo La (17,585 feet).

This is a considerably more challenging undertaking than the classic Everest Base Camp Trek, usually reserved for hikers with high-altitude experience. The reason? You spend multiple days walking at heights of over 16,400 feet. There’s also more chance you’ll have to contend with snowpacks – especially late and early in the main trekking seasons (April and November). The reward is a chance to explore all the nooks and crannies of the Khumbu Region, with visions of the gleaming Gokyo Lakes and remote Sherpa hill villages along the way.

Other variations include the dedicated Gokyo Lakes Trek, which involves portions of the Three Passes Trek at Cho La to offer a fuller visit of the Gokyo Valley before re-joining the route to base camp at Lobuche.

This trip guide is just a taste of what you should know before embarking on the remarkable trek to Everest Base Camp. For more details on general trip costs, accommodations, and more, check out the specifics on our Everest Base Camp tour page .

Better yet, if you have more questions on hiking to Everest Base Camp or need help planning your trip to the Himalayas, let’s connect! Our knowledgeable Adventure Consultants would love to hear from you so contact us and let us show you what’s possible .

Why travel with The Explorer’s Passage?

Experience the Everest Base Camp Trek with the best tour operator in Nepal. Our guides have been leading adventure trips in the Himalayas for over 30 years and are experts of trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp. They are also native to the Khumbu region of Nepal, the home of the Sherpa community, so you know you’ll enjoy an authentic experience.

We pride ourselves on delivering extraordinary tours based on travelers’ needs and are humbled by our guests’ testimonials . In fact, our dedication has earned us a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor , and awards by Travel+Leisure Magazine and Newsweek. Check us out and discover why so many travelers worldwide choose us . My team and I would love for you to join us on the trek to Everest Base Camp or any of our many other adventure trips !

I hope to go exploring with you soon!

Jeff Bonaldi Founder & CEO The Explorer’s Passage

About Jeff Bonaldi

Jeff Bonaldi is the Founder and CEO of The Explorer’s Passage, a premier adventure travel company. His mission is to provide travelers with the opportunity to transform their lives and the planet through the power of adventure.

Learn more about Jeff’s story and his company HERE .

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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.

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Mt. Everest Custom Expedition

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Mount Everest

(29,031.69 ft./8,848.86 m) nepal.

• On The Mountain
• 8000m Peaks

READING LIST

Climb mount everest with alpine ascents – 2024 season.

Everest was completely amazing. Ben is an outstanding guide and the whole expedition was perfect. I am grateful to the Alpine Ascents team that helped making this experience such a successful one. Thank you all so much! – 2023 Everest Climber

With guide Ben Jones, leading the way and selecting a summit day, our 2022 and 2023 teams had an incredible summit day with clear skies and figuratively had the summit to themselves! We encourage you to chat with former Everest team members! And we also offer a Camp II climb.

Ben, the Sherpa, and other AAI staff all did great and I couldn’t have asked for a better climbing experience. Ben did a great job and the entire staff was fantastic to be around. AAI went above and beyond the whole trip. Thank you for providing such a great experience. Alpine Ascents is the cream of the crop on Everest. From the guides to the organization to the infrastructure – we have the best. This is just one small example of the kind of care and attention to detail that AAI has. I am truly grateful to be here and on this team.

For most people, Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the costs, the time invested, etc. If you’re considering giving it a shot — go with the best possible service provider. Alpine Ascents’ logistics, guides, and Sherpa team are absolutely top-notch.” – Alison Levine, Alpine Ascents Everest team, author of the New York Times bestseller  ON THE EDGE , featured on  60 Minutes Sports

Highlights of Alpine Ascents method:

• Alpine Ascents will continue to only operate small team sizes.
• Scheduled lead guide for 2024: Ben Jones
• Small team sizes allows us to carefully select a summit day and last few seasons have been 1 of very few teams on the summit
• Unique itinerary with ” 2 passes” trek to base camp
• All teams make an attempt of Lobuche East to help acclimate ( after reaching base camp) as this reduces trips through the ice fall
• As in past years, we offer 1:1 Sherpa-to-climber ratio (on summit day)
• Our climber-to-guide ratio is 4:1 or less
• Wi-Fi available at Base Camp
• Excellent quality base camp with group tents, personal tents and dining tents
• We provide oxygen above Camp II and a high-liter flow from High Camp onward
• We are committed to small team size, operating one fully guided expedition for increased risk mitigation, climber care, and environmental concerns at Base Camp
• We are offering the Everest-Lhotse combo climb
• Consistent with past years, we are committed to wages on the high end of the pay scale for Sherpa team and staff, often setting industry standards

Our 2024 team will be led by Alpine Ascents’ Everest guide Ben Jones . As always, we will employ our famed Sherpa staff. Our Sherpa team is legendary throughout the climbing community and will be the mainstay of our summit support team. Our long time Sherpa team will set the route and manage a quality Base Camp, which is renowned throughout the great tent city at the foot of the mountain. We look to bestow our traditions and expertise on every climber.

Similar to past years, we are committed to high-quality logistics, using low ratio guiding with professional mountain guides, and leading small groups of climbers supported by a strong Sherpa team. Research shows that the Alpine Ascents’ guiding style has a much higher success rate (as much as 50% higher), than less supported climbing teams.

The Mountain

Mt. Everest, rising 29,031.69 ft. (8,848.86 m) above sea level reigns as the highest mountain on Earth. Since the first ascent in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, reaching the summit of Everest has been considered one of the greatest achievements in mountaineering. Every spring, Alpine Ascents International embraces this challenge, taking a group of qualified climbers to climb Mt. Everest via the South Col route in Nepal.

With over 25 years of guiding experience on Everest, Alpine Ascents is recognized as the premier guide service to provide you a truly rewarding experience climbing to the summit of the highest mountain in the world. We are known for the quality of our logistical services and the expertise of our guides, Sherpa team, and Base Camp staff. We have the latest technology in weather forecasting and communication systems both on and off the mountain. Our Base Camp services, which provide private tents and well-prepared meals by western trained chefs allow you to relax and regain strength when returning from your acclimation climbs.

On the mountain, our guides and Sherpa are focused on your welfare and wellbeing. Our philosophy is that by working together as a team we will climb more carefully and have more climbers reach the summit.  Through leadership and excellent climber care, this has proven true year after year, giving us the highest success rate on the mountain and an excellent safety record.

Alpine Ascents has always been on the cutting edge of innovations in guiding. In 1991, we co-founded the Russian company, Poisk, and designed the Poisk Oxygen Cylinder, which is still the lightest and most efficient bottle used on the mountain today. In 1992, we led the first successful guided expedition to Everest along with Rob Hall’s team. That year we also introduced the idea of (and helped facilitate) bringing Russian Mi-17 helicopters to Nepal to provide more reliable expedition transportation to the mountain. Alpine Ascents pioneered the idea of a 24-hour Everest and Lhotse summit climb, and in 2012, we led the first guided expedition up Everest and Lhotse, putting three climbers on top of two 8,000 m peaks in under 24 hours. This had never been achieved before, guided or otherwise.

We are proud to look back at the many years of achieving these goals and supporting over 300 climbers in stepping foot on the summit of Mt. Everest. Looking forward to 2022, we plan to continue our well-maintained expeditions with extremely experienced climbing guides, Sherpa with years of climbing expertise and unparalleled Base Camp and ground support. For more information on the climb, go to our Why Climb With Us  section.

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. The client-to-guide ratio was low, so there was always someone covering your backside. The experience level of the guides and the Sherpa team was very high, with many Everest summits between them. The tents, food, equipment, and technology were top-notch, as well as the relay of information that was passed along to friends and family back home. Most of us only have one shot at Everest. Why not give it the best shot that you can?

Climb Mount Everest Prices

Everest South Col $76,000 ( based on 5 climber team )

Everest + Lhotse $89,500

Everest Camp II $13,000

Climb Mount Everest Schedules

Everest South Col 2024 Schedule April 2 – June 2, 2024 Lead Guide: Ben Jones

Everest + Lhotse 2024 Schedule April 2 – June 2, 2024 Lead Guide: Ben Jones

Everest Camp II 2024 Schedule April 2 – May 8, 2024 Lead Guide: Ben Jones

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

Mount Everest Expedition Yearbooks

Logistics and Planning

We have learned that many logistical factors also effect the risk and success of an Everest expediton.

Prerequisites

We are looking for experienced climbers for whom Everest is the next logical step in their climbing careers. Our team will be in top physical condition and ready to meet the extreme challenges Everest presents. It is important that your resume includes previous high-altitude climbs and strong mountaineering skills. Climbs like Denali , Aconcagua , Cho Oyu and Vinson are good prerequisites for attempting Everest.

It is important that a team member be able to work well with others and be willing to commit to a group effort that will last for several weeks. This team effort has proved to increase summit success and make for a more enjoyable climb.

Everest South Col

Mount Everest, rising 8,850 m (29,035 ft.) above sea level, reigns as the highest mountain on Earth. Since the first ascent in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, reaching the summit of Everest has been considered one of the greatest achievements in mountaineering. Every spring, Alpine Ascents International embraces this challenge, taking a group of qualified climbers to climb Mt. Everest via the South Col route in Nepal.

With over 20 years of guiding experience on Everest, Alpine Ascents is in an elite category in our ability to present qualified climbers with a truly rewarding experience on Everest. As you read through our Everest web pages, you will find a wealth of information, rationale for decisions, and why, after two decades, we stand behind the Alpine Ascents method more than ever. We can summarize by stating quality, risk awareness, and summit success are our three primary goals each and every time we launch an Everest expedition.

Everest Camp II

Alpine Ascents pioneered guiding on Everest 20 years ago and today we remain the leader in offering high quality expeditions. An ascent to Camp II is a unique opportunity to experience climbing through the Khumbu Icefall and the Western CWM to our Advanced Base Camp at the base of the Southwest Face of Everest (21,500 ft.). One must have strong skills and be in very good physical condition to take on our Camp II expedition.

Team members experience climbing through some very challenging and notable aspects of Everest, and get first-hand experience of what it takes to climb this great peak, as you are traveling much of the same route as our Everest summit team. This is an excellent opportunity to see if a future Everest climb is right for you or simply a chance to climb part of this legendary peak.

As always, Alpine Ascent teams will be led by veteran Everest guides and our legendary Sherpa climbing staff who will provide the foremost in logistics and Base Camp facilities. Our unique team approach to climbing the mountain has allowed us to continually operate successful expeditions while maintaining an excellent safety record.

PREREQUISITES

Climbing Skill Level : Climbers prepared to take on Everest Camp II should have completed at least a week-long training course and have completed a climb of a glaciated peak. We will review each climber’s bio on an individual basis to help develop climbers interested in attempting Everest Camp II.

Everest + Lhotse

Everest + lhotse in 24 hours.

Over the last several years, a number of our climbers, when using our maximum oxygen flow system, have demonstrated the desire and strength to continue directly to Lhotse for a summit climb after summiting Everest. This approach to climbing Everest and Lhotse in the same season allows you to climb two 8,000-meter peaks (the highest and fourth-highest mountains in the world) in as little as 24 hours, summit to summit. While it’s no easy feat, our acclimatization program – combined with our rest day at South Col, max oxygen usage, and expert team of guides and Sherpa – make this a real possibility for our climbing members. In 2011, we set a historical precedent with our Everest-Lhotse climb – the first three climbers to summit two 8,000 m peaks in less than 24 hours, the first guided climber to do so, and the first guide to accomplish the feat. In 2013, two guides, three climbers, and two Sherpa repeated the achievement! Join us as we attempt to make history again.

We climb Everest first, using our maximum oxygen supply (four-liter flow per minute). In good conditions, we are back at the South Col between noon and 2 p.m. From here we have a variety of choices, depending on weather and strength of climbers. We can rest for a few hours at the South Col, then do the two-hour traverse to our Lhotse High Camp. Or we can spend another night at the South Col, and move to Lhotse High Camp the next day and summit the following day.

Alpine Ascents has been guiding Everest for 30 years. Over this time we have fine-tuned our program by addressing important factors that affect the risk, success, and the overall experience for the individual climber and the entire team. We also continue to incorporate new technology and evolving climbing methods as they develop. Below we discuss some of the most important aspects of our program and explain the differences between AAI and other companies.

Team Size and Team Building

We start with a strong group consisting of a maximum of 12 qualified climbers with two to four mountain guides, depending on the group size. Our average team size is usually between eight and ten climbers. We add our team of 14 to 18 well-trained and experienced climbing Sherpa, and four to five camp staff. Our Sherpa team is the strongest on the mountain; most have summited Everest between 5 and 20 times and have worked exclusively with us for many years.

Team building is instrumental in our philosophy. We believe that well-trained climbers working together with our guides and Sherpa in a team effort creates the most successful experience. Over the two-plus decades we have been guiding Everest, the team effort always proves more enjoyable with greater summit success than the individual climber with Sherpa assistance, or having only one guide to lead your group. Below are some examples why:

There is a big difference between making decisions on your own or with only one Sherpa as compared to being surrounded by veteran guides who know the route and a strong team of Sherpa ready to provide assistance. This is especially true during summit attempt or in challenging weather. It is difficult and very stressful for the less experienced climber to make serious decisions such as:

How far is it to the summit? Can I make it back by nightfall? Do I have enough oxygen to make the round trip safely? Is the weather deteriorating to a point when I should turn around? Am I moving fast enough?

Having a team of experienced guides with you to address these issues reduces the likelihood of you turning around too early and missing the summit, or continuing into harm’s way by climbing into what we call, “unreasonable risk.”

Other real concerns such as regulator failure, loss of equipment, or becoming physically weak and cold are almost impossible to deal with effectively on your own. A strong team carrying extra regulators, hot liquids, and gear will increase your risk cognizance and success.

Climbing on a team with only one guide has its difficulties as well. Guides are not immune to illness, and if the guide becomes ill or weak, it jeopardizes the entire climb. It is also difficult for one guide to manage a group. We believe that having two or more guides making good decisions together gives you the backup you need for a risk aware climb.

There are many advantages to climbing with a team and they can be measured directly in two ways — success rate and safety record.

Success Rate

Our rate of success over the last 10 years (excluding 2014 and 2015 when no one climbed the mountain) is 80%. This means, of the people who sign up for the climb, 80% have reached the summit.

When you compare these numbers to other operators and more specifically, Sherpa-only supported climbs, their success rate is 50% and below. We believe that this low success rate is attributed to client care and management, especially high on the mountain.

Safety Record

Alpine Ascents has never had a client seriously injured (or worse) on Everest. As with any adventure, there are no guarantees, and we feel fortunate. Accidents can happen at any time and for many reasons beyond our control. We take risk management very seriously and it is our number one priority at Alpine Ascents.

We think it is important to know the facts. We have looked at historical data of the number of foreign climbers who perished on Mt. Everest starting in 2004 (when non-guided attempts on Everest became more prevalent) through the 2016 season. We have excluded 2014 and 2015 when the mountain was shut down early.

During this period, 54 foreign climbers died on Everest. We looked at the location and cause of each. Five were unknown locations, and 41 out of the 49 remaining were between High Camp and the summit. This means 84% of all known foreign climber deaths were associated with the final days of a summit attempt. The information also shows, overwhelmingly, that these deaths were caused by a combination of exhaustion, poor judgment, and lack of support. These risk factors can be considerably reduced by climbing with an experienced team.

Oxygen and Rest Day at South Col

Alpine Ascents provides more oxygen than any other company. We also add special logistical support, for example starting oxygen from Camp II during summit attempt and taking a rest day on oxygen at the South Col, allowing climbers to rest and regroup for the challenges of summit day. No other company offers these services, and all climbers say it makes the difference.

Overall, Alpine Ascents is a full-service company with your best interest at heart. We want to provide you a risk aware opportunity to climb the mountain with the greatest chance for success and enjoyment.

Our Method of Acclimatization and our General Itinerary

Our approach to acclimatization on Everest has resulted in our proven expedition itinerary. Proper acclimatization is the most critical factor in a successful trip and you will receive daily lectures and reviews from our guides throughout the trek and climb.

During the trek to Base Camp, our goal is to stay healthy and make sure all climbers are acclimatizing well. We are not on a set schedule and will take extra days anywhere along the trek to further acclimatize, if necessary. It is extremely important that when you reach Base Camp you are feeling good and are comfortable with the thin air at 17,500 ft. (5,334 m).

After moving into your new home at Everest Base Camp, we spend four to six days acclimatizing while training in the protected areas of the lower Khumbu Glacier. We will practice ladder crossings, fixed-line travel, rappelling, and crampon work, which prepares us for climbing on the mountain. During training, we make a foray partway up the Khumbu route before heading to Camp I (19,590 ft./5,971 m).

On our first rotation up the mountain we climb to Camp I and spend the night. The next day we take a short walk towards Camp II (21,300 ft./6,492 m) and back to Camp I for a second night of sleep. Day 3 we climb up to Camp II and spend two to three days acclimatizing in the area before returning to Base Camp.

We will take another rest period of four to seven days at Base Camp. When the entire team is ready, we’ll head back to Camp I, and the following day up to Camp II. We will take a rest day here and if the weather is good, we’ll climb up to Camp III (23,500 ft./7,162 m) the following day. The guides will make a decision whether or not to spend the night at Camp III based on weather and other factors. After returning from Camp III to Camp II, we rest for the night and descend to Base Camp the next day.

After this rotation we have the option to head down valley for a rest period to breathe thick air, eat large amounts of food, and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather for several days. This has proven to be extremely beneficial in preparing climbers for the summit attempt.

Summit Attempt

While down valley we monitor weather and activity on the mountain via radio. When all is good we head back up to Base Camp and prepare for our summit attempt. With a good weather report, we will climb to Camp II and rest the next day. If the weather is still stable, we’ll put on our oxygen gear and climb up to Camp III, and the following day to High Camp at the South Col (26,000 ft./7,924 m). We rest the entire next day on oxygen after reaching High Camp and leave for the summit late that evening. Around 8 or 9 p.m. we wake you up and begin getting everyone dressed and ready for the summit attempt. We leave between 11 p.m. and midnight. You will have guides and Sherpa assisting you the entire day.

You will be climbing on full flow oxygen, which is four liters per minute, and you will have a personal Sherpa carrying extra oxygen for you. Usually we reach the summit between 8 a.m. and 9a.m. We take photos, enjoy the view, and celebrate our success before heading down. Usual time to descend is three to four hours back to the South Col. Those climbing Lhotse will leave that evening at midnight to climb Lhotse and descend to Camp II. Others will leave later that morning and descend direct to Camp II. The following day we all descend to Base Camp.

Prior Years

We have been operating Everest expeditions since 1992.

2013 proved to be a great season for us with 100% success of climbers who reached High Camp making the summit, and over 80% of the climbers who joined our climb reaching the summit. We were also thrilled to have two guides, three climbers, and two Sherpa reach the summit of Lhotse (both peaks reached within a 24-hour period). These percentages are very high when compared to other outfitters and we certainly encourage you to compare these statistics (using the same reference points) to other outfitters. Overall totals include 39 climbers on two teams (13 Climbers, 6 Guides, 20 Sherpa).

2012 was another banner year for Alpine Ascents. Though a difficult season with tough summit conditions, Alpine Ascents was one of the few groups to have large-scale summit success. We attribute much of the success to our experience, which enabled us to choose a difficult but uncrowded summit day and utilize the expertise of our guides and Sherpa. By the numbers, Everest 2012 saw 14 climbers reaching the summit.

2011 : Alpine Ascents is proud to have 100% success for all those who joined our expedition, with a number of climbers reaching Lhotse shortly thereafter. This was the first time climbers reached the summit of two 8,000 m peaks in 24 hours.

Everest 2010 had 100% success for those who reached High Camp with similar success to years past. We are happy to provide details of 20+ years of expeditions .

Recent Experience In Brief

2023 –  Team summits in beautiful weather with very few teams on the mountain

2022 Team summits 6 on Everest and 2 on Lhotse.

2021 Team spent 4 days at high camp and returned to base camp after weather did not improve.

2020 No international trips to Nepal in 2020.

2019 Our team had over 90% success rate and all team members who started with us, completed the expedition!

2018 100% summit success (19 team members) and an Everest/Lhotse traverse.

2017 saw 11 climbers reach the summit! See our Cybercast for details .

2016 met with 100% summit success!

The 2014 and 2015 seasons were cancelled due to the natural disasters. We have been working directly with the local community and other organizations in the aftermath to help ensure that we meet the needs of all climbers and guides. For those that wish to learn more about our efforts and the Alpine Ascents Foundation, read more .

Alpine Ascents in 2024

As in the past, Alpine Ascents will offer a fully supported expedition. We do not offer Sherpa-only guided, hybrid, guide-at-base-camp-in-radio-contact, or inappropriate climber-to-guide ratio as this is simply not our style. We feel this limited support approach strays from the goals of providing the best and most risk aware chance of climbers reaching the summit.

Our 2024 team will be led by Alpine Ascents staff guides. As always, we will employ our famed Sherpa staff. Our Sherpa team is legendary throughout the climbing community and will be the mainstay of our summit support team. The Sherpa team will set the route and manage a quality Base Camp, which is renowned throughout the great tent city at the foot of the mountain. We look to bestow our traditions and expertise on every climber.

List of 8,000 m Peaks

These are the primary mountains in the world exceeding 8,000 Meters in height. Some of them have subsidiary peaks that are also 8,000m.

Height : 8,850 m/29,035 ft. Location : Nepal/Tibet First Ascent : 1953; Sir E. Hillary, T. Norgay

Height : 8,611 m/28,250 ft. Location : Pakistan First Ascent : 1954; A. Compagnoni, L. Lacedelli

Kangchenjunga

Height : 8,586 m/28,169 ft. Location : Nepal/India First Ascent : 1955; G. Band, J. Brown

Height : 8,516 m/27,940 ft. Location : Nepal/Tibet First Ascent : 1956; F. Luchsinger, E. Reiss

Height : 8,463 m/27,766 ft. Location : Nepal First Ascent : 1955; J. Couzy, L. Terrary

Height : 8,201 m/26,906 ft. Location : Nepal/Tibet First Ascent : 1954; S. Joechler, H. Tichy, P. Dawa Lama

Height : 8,167 m/26,795 ft. Location : Nepal First Ascent : 1960; K. Diemberger, P. Diener, M. Dorji, E. Forrer, N. Dorji, A. Schelbert

Height : 8,156 m/26,758 ft. Location : Nepal First Ascent : 1956; T. Imanishi, G. Norbu

Nanga Parbat

Height : 8,125 m/26,660 ft. Location : Pakistan First Ascent : 1953; H. Buhl

Height : 8,091 m/26,545 ft. Location : Nepal First Ascent : 1950; M. Herzog, L. Lachenal

Gasherbrum I

Height : 8,068 m/26,470 ft. Location : Pakistan/China First Ascent : 1958; A. Kaufman, P. Schoening

Height : 8,047 m/26,400 ft. Location : Pakistan/China First Ascent : 1957; H. Buhl, K. Diemberger, M. Schmuck, F. Witerstellar

Gasherbrum II

Height : 8,035 m/26,360 ft. Location : Pakistan/China First Ascent : 1956; S. Larch, F. Moravec, H. Willenpart

Shishapangma

Height : 8,013 m/26,291 ft. Location : China/Tibet First Ascent : 1964; H. Ching & 9 climbers

A Historical & Modern Perspective on the South Col Route

The South Col route on Mt. Everest’s south, or Nepalese, side was first explored in 1950 by a British expedition led by Eric Shipton. Prior to that time, climbers could see the Khumbu Icefall from a high glaciated pass, which was easily accessed from the north, or Tibetan, side of Mt. Everest. It was universally considered impossible to climb by those few who had looked upon it from this high vantage point. Then, with the Chinese invasion and take-over of Tibet, geopolitics changed and the world’s highest peak was no longer accessible from Tibet. Thus, for the first time, Nepal allowed access to foreigners. In 1950 the previously unthinkable happened and the Khumbu Icefall was first climbed and deemed doable, but dangerous.

What exactly is an icefall? For nonclimbers, a glacier can be likened to a very slow-moving river, one which is simply frozen. When a river increases its gradient, it turns into a very broken up rapid or cascade. When a glacier increases in gradient, it turns into an “icefall.” This icefall, especially the Khumbu Icefall, is an amazingly chaotic jumble of ice blocks of all sizes. It is a place of otherworldly beautiful and improbable shapes, forms, and shades of green and blue. It is a place of eerie silence and improbable heat, as well as cold. It is also a place of continual movement. Often this movement is not perceptible, as the entire mass is moving. At other times the movement is sudden, brutal, and has incredibly destructive consequences to everything below, as figuratively hundreds of tons of ice blocks can give way all at once. When this happens (often several times per day in one place or another within the icefall) everything below is reduced to nothing more than a fine white ice powder blown away by the mountain winds. The trick as a climber is to not be in that spot . . .

As climbing Mt. Everest became more popular in the 1970’s, and consequently more expeditions were on the mountain at the same time, expeditions began to cooperate with the “fixing” of the route through the Khumbu Icefall. This “fixing” means a continuous length of interconnected ropes — thousands of feet of ropes — for your wellbeing. This allows a climber to always be connected to ropes, which are, in turn, connected to various anchors placed into the snow or ice. This is a safeguard against falling and injury, and at the same time allows a climber to quickly move independently away from danger — something which is much more difficult and slower if one is instead roped directly to other climbers. Along with these ropes, the terrain often requires artificial structures to bridge otherwise uncrossable ice walls or large cracks called crevasses. Most often, these artificial structures are combinations of aluminum ladder sections tied together and stabilized by a latticework of other ropes. Very impressive to behold, and often very scary to traverse!

By the 1990’s, with even more climbing action taking place, there were complaints that many of the participating expeditions, either lacking funds or desire, were not contributing to the group fixing of the route. They were instead using other expeditions’ hard work while contributing nothing. Therefore, in the past few years a Nepalese governmental agency has stepped in to ensure that all contribute fairly based upon the size of the expedition. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee now oversees this. They are primarily concerned with policing expeditions and groups to control garbage properly, and so they subcontract with other people to do the actual work of fixing the route. During the Alpine Ascents 2000 expedition to Mt. Everest, this work was carried out very well and ongoing maintenance to the icefall route was done promptly.

A group, run by a British individual, was awarded the contract for the spring 2002 season, and the maintenance effort was very short on supplies, manpower, tools, and perhaps experience to properly do their job. This created some dangerous conditions for climbers traversing the icefall, and most expeditions season drafted letters to the SPCC lodging their complaints regarding the situation. There was some discussion regarding the next season. Many regulars refused to pay the SPCC and simply wanted to go back to the old cooperative way of doing things.

The route farther up the mountain is also prepared, or fixed, with lines in places for your wellbeing, but this work is done by separate expedition Sherpa staff in cooperation with each other. All expeditions share the same goals of summiting and doing so carefully, so it makes a great deal of sense to cooperate with each other and share in the work of preparing the route with this in mind. All expedition leaders and Sirdar (a Sirdar is the chief of Sherpa staff for an expedition) meet and decide upon a work and materials schedule so that all of the expeditions can share in this preparation work on the upper mountain. This has generally worked quite well, and the route becomes fixed via a cooperative effort amongst expeditions such as Alpine Ascents, Adventure Consultants, International Mountain Guides, National Geographic, and other expedition companies.

From Camp I, just above the Khumbu Icefall, the route enters the Western Cwm, which is a very large and steep valley, partly filled with the upper Khumbu Glacier. This “valley of silence” was first traversed by the Swiss expedition of 1952, who in fact pioneered most of the route on the upper mountain and came very close to the summit the year before the British success in 1953. It is a hauntingly beautiful place, but not without its dangers also. While it is often a place of silence, it also occasionally thunders with rockfall raking the steep faces of Mt. Everest to one side and Nuptse to the other side. Just as frequently, ice or snow avalanches roar down for thousands of feet to the glacier. Climbers can quite easily avoid avalanches simply by staying away from the sides of the valley. The numerous and deep glacier fissures, called crevasses, are less avoidable hazards. These crevasses are caused by the stress of glacier movement. Take a warm Snicker’s candy bar and bend it in the middle and note the “crevasses” formed on the surface, and you get the idea. Many of these crevasses are bridged over by snow and not visible to a climber on the glacier’s surface. These hidden crevasses can constitute a serious threat, especially after times of fresh snowfall, and climbers usually prepare by roping up to other climbers — with adequate rope between — so that the climber skill known as “self-arrest” will stop a fall into a crevasse should someone break through one of these snow bridges.

Near the end of this gently sloping valley, lies Camp II, and the Lhotse Face looms above. Camp 2 at over 21,000 ft./6,400 m, is the staging camp for starting up the face formed by the western side of neighbor mountain Lhotse. This face constitutes a serious challenge, as expeditions must climb over 3,000 ft./1,000 m of 35–45+ degree ice. Camp III is perched in the middle of this awesomely steep and long face. So here too, thousands of feet of fixed ropes are placed for the wellbeing of climbers to safeguard against falling.

The last stop on the way to the summit is Camp IV, or High Camp, at the pass between Lhotse and Everest known as the South Col. To arrive at this camp requires traversing much steep ground, and climbers must overcome such features as the Yellow Band (a steep, golden sandstone cliff that splits part of the upper Lhotse Face), and the Geneva Spur (an enormous buttress or ridge-like feature of rock that must be climbed) with the protection of fixed ropes.

Many early expeditions here used seven or eight camps instead of the currently accepted four camps. This big reason for this change, has been the huge increase in skill and ability of the high-altitude Sherpa hired by most expeditions to assist. Originally, in the 1950s, the Sherpa looked to foreign climbers for training, as most Sherpa were not skilled in climbing techniques. Their main assets were their strong work ethic and their genetic adaptation to altitude. Nowadays, Sherpas still have their genetic adaptation to altitude and their strong work ethic, but they are often also much more skilled climbers than the foreign climbers who hire them to help. This means it is much easier and faster for them to go up and down the mountain to prepare and stock camps than in earlier times, and so fewer camps are needed. I must also stress here that I do not believe many climbing expeditions give their Sherpa staff enough credit for the success of an expedition. Without the hard work of Sherpas and their high skill levels, there wouldn’t be 10% of the current numbers of successful Everest summiters. Everyone has perhaps heard of “Hillary” backpacks, but has anyone ever seen a Chewang sleeping bag? Chewang has summited nine times on 12 different Mt. Everest expeditions. Why isn’t he famous in America or Europe? Or how about Apa who has summited 13 times?

Above High Camp still lies much steep ground before the summit at 29,035 ft./8,850 m. Such features as the Triangular Face, The Balcony, the Southeast Ridge, the South Summit, the Traverse, and the Hillary Step all guard the world’s “third pole” well and ensure that a climber will work for his or her reward and need a minimum level of hard-earned skills to get there. A sufficient level of risk mitigation and security can be maintained in this hostile territory only through the judicious use of fixed ropes, individual skills, and a high level of teamwork on both Sherpas and foreign climbers’ parts. The exercise of good judgment is also vitally important. “Never give up” and “just do it” can and have proven fatal many times on the world’s highest mountain, and perhaps a “those who climb and run away live to climb another day” is a more appropriate attitude for climbers who dare to challenge themselves on the slopes of Chomolungma in an environment more suited to jet airliners.

A Brief Overview of Sherpa Life

Often inseparable from mountaineering, the Sherpas of Nepal inhabit much of the lower portion of the Himalayas known as the Solu-Khumbu or “Khumbu.” While their reputation as climbers is nothing short of historic, local Buddhist, animist, and cultural traditions have equally nurtured and impacted a fascinating relationship with westerners and western thought.

Sherpas became prominent to the West when British mountaineers began to set their sites on conquering Himalayan peaks. With the first Mt. Everest expedition in 1921, the skill, expertise, honesty, and dedication of Sherpas as guides and partners became an integral part of Himalayan climbing. The affinity of outsiders for Sherpa/Buddhist civilization has blossomed into an ever-increasing sharing, understanding, and friendship between cultures.

Prior to British expeditions, Sherpas revered the great mountains of the region as dwelling places of gods and goddesses, to which the thought of climbing was considered blasphemous. (“Chomolungma,” the Tibetan name for Everest, is the residence of Miyo Lungsungama, the goddess of humanity and prosperity.)

Sherpas traditionally worked as traders, farmers, and religious folk. Along with these ancestral roles, leading climbs and treks has recently become a mainstay of the Sherpa economy. Sherpa refers both to a tribal group and a job capacity as porter, climber, or trek leader. The term “Sherpa” means easterner, referring to their origins in Eastern Tibet. The migrations of this Tibetan culture began sometime in the early 1400’s. Today the Sherpa population in the Khumbu is about 5,000, with a total of roughly 35,000 living in Nepal.

Sherpas on Everest

The first notable and successful Everest climbing Sherpa was Tenzing Norgay. In 1952, Norgay accompanied Raymond Lambert to within 800 vertical feet of the still unclimbed Mt. Everest. A year later Norgay was asked to join the British team led by Col. John Hunt that successfully summited Everest, following the same route as Norgay and Lambert. Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first climbers to reach the summit. By the mid 1980’s, Sherpas had summitted Everest many more times than westerners. Ang Rita Sherpa, the most well known climbing Sherpa, had amassed seven summits of Everest by 1995. In 1993 Pasang Lhamu Sherpa became the first Sherpa woman to summit Everest.

The Name Khumbu

The name Khumbu comes from its guardian deity, Khumbila Tetsan Gelbu. The literal translation is “Khumbu country god.” The teachings of Sherpa Buddhism talk of a spiritual understanding between all beings. This is probably why the level of hospitality and acceptance of westerners comes naturally to the Sherpa. It should, however be mentioned, that Tibetans are also considered fierce warriors.

This is a highly recommended shortlist and we would be happy to pass on a longer reading list for those interested. These links will bounce to Amazon.com with reviews.

High Himalaya

Everest: The Mountaineers Anthology Series

Classic Hikes of the World

Fragile Edge : Loss on Everest

Coronation Everest

The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes : Notes from Nepal

Everest : The West Ridge

Eric Shipton: Everest & Beyond

Everest : The Best Writing and Pictures from Seventy Years of Human Endeavour

Life and Death on Mt. Everest : Sherpas and Himalayan Mountaineering

Tigers of the Snow and Other Virtual Sherpas : An Ethnography of Himalayan Encounters

Annapurna, First Conquest of an 8000-Meter Peak : (26,493 Feet)

Video Night in Kathmandu : And Other Reports from the Not-So-Far East (Vintage Departures)

The Snow Leopard (Penguin Nature Classics)

Trekking in Nepal : A Traveler's Guide

Everest Team 2017 from Ben M Jones on Vimeo .

Everest 2017 Intro from Ben M Jones on Vimeo .

Everest Basecamp Tour from Ben M Jones on Vimeo .

Ladders of the Khumbu from Ben M Jones on Vimeo .

Camp 2 Tour from Ben M Jones on Vimeo .

Thanks so much to all of you at AAI for making my dream of making the Seven Summits come true, I could not have accomplished this feat without the support of the entire team especially the guides and Sherpas.

ALPINE ASCENTS BLOG

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 […]

Self Love and Wilderness

Submission by Avalon Qian. “Tag responsibly, keep the West wild.” I pause mid-mindless-instagram scroll. This is not the first time I have seen this sentiment in an instagram post or an article about leaving no trace: “Tag responsibly.” “Keep the West wild.” What does this tag mean? I understand the fear that wild places may […]

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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.

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Partners & Accreditations

Best Time to Visit

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Kathmandu Airport Guide

Top Destinations in Nepal

One Week in Nepal

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Getting Around

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Complete Guide to Kathmandu

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Facts About Mt. Everest

Trek to Everest Base Camp

Everything You Need to Know About Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Jason Maehl / Getty Images

Everest Camp II

Trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park is the adventure of a lifetime. Although actually climbing Mount Everest is out of reach for many of us, anyone with enough grit and good enough fitness can reach EBC and the Khumbu Icefall, the starting point for climbing Mount Everest. (You’ll need an $11,000 permit and some serious equipment to go any higher from there!)

The Himalayan scenery here is unrivaled on earth. Snowy sentinels will witness your struggle toward the top of the world , while stupas, prayer flags, and Sanskrit tablets will remind you of the spiritual significance of the area. Sadly, the numerous memorials to hikers who perished along the trail underscore the seriousness of your undertaking.

You’ll battle freezing cold, thin air, weather changes, and your own body as you ascend. Once at Everest Base Camp, you won’t even get to see the famous mountain itself unless you take a day to climb Kala Patthar (18,519 feet), an adjacent prominence that affords views of the “Holy Mother” when weather permits.

Read on for our complete guide to the Everest Base Camp trek, with information on what to pack, when to go, EBC tours, and more. Note that we’ll only cover getting to South Base Camp in Nepal, not North Base Camp in Tibet .

What to Expect

Trekking to Everest Base Camp involves hiking between lodges (or “teahouses”) found in villages along the trail. Some days may only consist of four hours or so of uphill trekking, depending on how much elevation is gained that day. Sometimes, you’ll have the option of pushing on to another village higher up—but no matter what, you will never gain more than 1,312 feet (500 meters) in a day.

Once above the tree line, the common rooms in your lodges will invariably be heated by yak dung-burning stoves. Weary hikers will hang around these stoves, warming themselves and socializing before retiring early to their unheated rooms. The shared toilets are sometimes located in snowy outhouses.

The village of Namche Bazaar (11,290 feet) is considered the last fully “civilized” stop on the trek to Everest Base Camp. Here, trekkers can enjoy treats from a German bakery while watching screened documentaries. You’ll find last-minute gear and souvenirs for sale along with the last ATM on the trail. You can even indulge at the “highest Irish pub in the world” on your way down after a successful trek!

When's the Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp?

The best time for trekking to Everest Base Camp is in either spring (March to May) or fall (September to November). If you want to see the camp in full form with climbers, support teams, and film crews, you’ll need to time your trip with spring climbing season, usually late April or early May. This is also the busiest time to be in Nepal .

For less traffic on the trails, consider making your trek to Everest Base Camp in September or October. Unfortunately, this means hiking in cooler weather with even less daylight than usual.

Avoid making the trek during monsoon season in summer. Humidity reduces beautiful views at lower elevations, and snowfall closes trails at higher elevation.

Adisorn Fineday Chutikunakorn / Getty Images

Should I Book a Tour or Go Independently?

There are three options for completing a trek to Everest Base Camp:

• Book a group tour and have all arrangements made for you.
• Make the trek to Everest Base Camp independently .
• Arrive in Nepal, then hire a guide and/or porter yourself.

No matter which option you choose, try to spend an additional day at Namche Bazaar. The extra time at 11,290 feet reduces some of the effects of elevation later; you’ll enjoy a better overall trekking experience and suffer less. The extra day isn’t “wasted”—many day hikes around Namche Bazaar provide beautiful views while giving your body time to adjust. Your chances of successfully reaching Base Camp vastly improve if you spend more time at Namche Bazaar.

Everest Base Camp Tours

Although the most expensive option by far, having everything organized before you arrive provides peace of mind. You’ll be taken care of all along the way, with access to better safety measures such as supplemental oxygen. Bigger companies use yaks to take your gear ahead; you’ll find it waiting for you in your teahouse room at the end of each hiking day.

You can book an Everest Base Camp tour online from home, or if time permits, do so after arriving in Kathmandu . Booking on the ground through a Nepalese agency saves money and better helps the local economy. You’ll find trekking agencies on every corner in Thamel, but unfortunately, not all are reliable. Choose a reputable agency that’s a member of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal . You can see in the member directory how long an agency has been in operation, and hopefully, make a better informed decision.

Independent Trekking

First, independently trekking to Everest Base Camp doesn’t necessarily mean solo trekking. Trekking alone in the Himalayas is dangerous no matter your experience level. A simple slip or unexpected weather change could keep you from reaching the next teahouse before temperatures plummet at night.

Independent trekkers can save a lot of money by foregoing organized tours and simply teaming up with other trekkers they meet along the way. (Everyone you meet in the lodges is going in one of two directions: up or down!) The well-marked trail to Everest Base Camp is busy during peak trekking seasons, giving you the best chance of meeting new friends who match your speed and fitness level.

Going independently does carry some risk, of course. You’ll be responsible for your own well-being and making important decisions. On the other hand, you’ll be able to set your own pace and make adjustments based on how well your body acclimatizes. A majority of hiker deaths on the trail each year occur when people in group excursions are suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) but don’t speak up. They fear slowing everyone down, or don’t want to forfeit reaching Everest Base Camp.

If guiding yourself, pick up a good trail map in Kathmandu. Don’t rely solely on electronic devices for making survival decisions! You’ll also need to store your luggage at a trustworthy guesthouse or hotel in Kathmandu. Locking duffel bags and padlocks can be purchased in local shops; some owners will buy them back once you return from your trek.

Hiking Guides and Porters

Rest assured: Your pack is going to feel heavier at 15,000 feet than it does at home! Even as an independent trekker, hiring a local guide and/or porter are options. Hiring directly ensures money goes to the Sherpas instead of a Western tour agency that managed to rank well online. Expect to pay between $15 to $20 a day for a porter or $25 to $30 a day for a guide.

You’ll need to negotiate terms and contingencies before hitting the trail. Paying up to half of the porter’s fee up front is common, and you will also be expected to tip guides and porters after the trip. Finalize details and other expenses to avoid a potential disagreement. The agreed daily rate should include their meals, drinks, and accommodation so you aren’t asked for money later.

Guides will approach you on the street in Thamel, however, you should hire only a credible and licensed guide through either a trekking company or your accommodation. You may still be able to hire a porter later on the trail by speaking to the staff at your lodge.

How Much Does It Cost to Trek to Everest Base Camp?

The cost of trekking to Everest Base Camp depends entirely upon your needed level of comfort. One indelible rule holds on the trail: Prices rise as elevation rises. That 50-cent candy bar from Kathmandu is worth $7 at 17,000 feet!

Extremely basic accommodation in teahouses can be found for as low as $5 per night. You’ll be expected to have your meals where you stay. A hearty Nepalese meal of dal bhat can be enjoyed for $6 or less, but expect to pay much more for Western food. A can of Coke can cost up to $5; remember, it’s heavy and had to be carried up by a porter.

Other luxuries add to the cost of life on the trail. A (somewhat) warm shower can cost $5. Charging electronic devices and accessing the internet, if available, cost several dollars an hour, and the solar charging systems are often slow and provide only a weak charge. Depending on your food and drink indulgences, plan to spend $20 to $30 a day living on the trail. This excludes any fees you pay to porters and guides.

If not already covered, your greatest expense will be the short flight to and from Lukla. The 30-minute flight can cost around $180 each way.

Do You Need a Permit for Everest Base Camp?

You’ll need at least two permits for trekking to Everest Base Camp. Your tour organizer will probably provide these, but you’ll need to arrange them yourself if trekking independently.

• Sagarmatha National Park Permit: Get this at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu (approximately $25).
• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit: You will get this permit from a checkpoint in Lukla; it isn’t available in Kathmandu (approximately $17).
• Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit: You only need this permit from the Tourism Board if doing the longer trek to Everest Base Camp from Jiri instead of flying to Lukla (approximately $17).

The permit system changed in 2018. Disregard any information you read elsewhere about needing a TIMS card for the trek to Everest Base Camp.

Greg Rodgers

What to Pack

Kathmandu, particularly in Thamel, has more than enough outfitting shops for gearing up. Unfortunately, those same shops are stacked with counterfeit gear that probably won’t survive the hardships of the trek. Sifting through the piles of used gear in dark shops requires patience. Prices are inflated, so put your game face on and start haggling !

If you booked a guided tour, find out what your tour company plans to provide (e.g., hiking poles, down jackets, etc) before shopping. Consider bringing mission-critical items from home so that equipment failure doesn’t affect your experience. For instance, you’ll need quality sunglasses to prevent eye injury. Sunglasses for sale locally may have “UV Protection” stickers on them but don’t offer much actual protection.

• Good hiking boots. You should invest in high-quality, waterproof hiking boots and break them in properly before you leave home; painful blisters can ruin an otherwise-excellent trek.
• Lightweight sleeping bag. Rooms along the trek are unheated. Lodges provide weighty blankets for the freezing nights, but you'll appreciate having a layer between you and the unwashed bedding. Even a lightweight silk “sleep sheet” will do the trick.
• Alternate footwear. After removing your muddy hiking boots, a pair of lightweight shoes or sandals comes in handy for wearing around lodges and shared bathrooms.
• Water purification: As elevation increases, so does the cost of bottled water and need to reduce plastic waste. You’ll be drinking more than ever to counter dehydration in the dry air. Although there are many options, the two-bottle, chlorine dioxide system from Aquamira is a reliable solution.
• Trail snacks: Candy bars and nuts provide a much-needed boost to energy and morale while on the trail or in the lodge.
• USB power bank: Keeping batteries charged in the extreme cold is a challenge. If you plan to use a phone for photos or communication, you’ll want to bring along a rugged power bank.
• Diamox tablets: Diamox (acetazolamide) is medication for countering the dangerous effects of AMS. Guides should have some on hand, but independent trekkers will want to buy Diamox to carry. Beware of fake tablets for sale in Kathmandu. Purchase only from legitimate pharmacies—not from shops—and discuss how to use them.

If you won’t be taking your poles and other gear home after the trek, consider giving it directly to the Sherpas you meet in Lukla.

John Elk III / Getty Images

How to Get There

Fly into Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and plan to spend a few days resting and preparing for the trek. Unless you’ll be starting the trek in Jiri—which requires a seven-hour bus ride and an additional five to seven days of trekking—you’ll need to book a flight to Lukla.

Taking the small prop plane from Kathmandu to Lukla (LUA) is one of the scariest and most scenic aviation experiences many travelers will have. Although not the highest airport in the world , weather and visibility changes have caused enough crashes at Tenzig-Hillary Airport in Lukla to earn it the title of “most dangerous airport in the world.”

The trek to Everest Base Camp begins in Lukla and finishes at the infamous Khumbu Icefall!

How Dangerous Is Everest Base Camp?

Although frostbite and rock slides are hazards along the trail, the biggest danger—by far—comes from the high elevation. Once symptoms of AMS begin (severe headache and nausea), you need to descend as soon as possible. Ideally, you’ll ascend slowly enough to minimize altitude sickness in the first place.

The CDC recommends never gaining more than 500 meters in one day and taking a rest day for every 1,000 meters gained. Whenever possible, you should descend to sleep at a lower elevation than the highest point reached during the day. Track and do the elevation math as though your life depends on it.

The high elevation and thinner air introduces additional risks. For one, your body will increase its production of red blood cells, causing excessive urination; be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Many trekkers will also experience the dry, hacking "Khumbu cough" from panting heavily in the thin air and breathing in the dust of the region. You can cover your face with a bandanna or balaclava for some protection. The cough usually goes away after time. Ultraviolet rays, too, are more damaging in the thinner air, so protect your skin, lips, and eyes by applying high SPF sunscreen and lip balm, wearing long sleeves, and donning sunglasses.

Finally, yak trains always get the right of way! Never share a bridge crossing with one, and always pass them on the “inside” of the trail. Startled yaks are unpredictable and sometimes knock trekkers off the trail.

Additional Tips

• Take your stocking up on snacks seriously. Pack candy bars, even if you wouldn’t ordinarily indulge at home. You’ll experience strong cravings at higher elevation. Hikers are willing to spend $7 or more for Snickers bars near Everest Base Camp!
• The weather in the Himalayas changes quickly and unpredictably. Flights to and from Lukla frequently become delayed by a day or two, maybe longer if a winter storm system sets in. Add some buffer days to your Kathmandu itinerary just in case this happens.
• Before retiring to bed, ask your teahouse staff to pour boiling water into your bottles and use them as bed warmers. Fair warning: They’ll probably be frozen next to you in the morning!
• Sleep with your phone and any batteries in the bed with you. Your body heat will protect battery life a little.
• Weight limitations imposed by airlines that fly to Lukla are strictly enforced. If an airline says 33 pounds (15 kilograms), that includes all baggage , stowed or carried. Don’t risk having to forfeit gear in Kathmandu Airport because you’re a pound or two over the allowance. You can stuff some items into your pockets, within reason.

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How to Plan a Mount Everest Tour

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world at 8,848 meters (29,030 ft) above sea level. Always snow-capped above 6,000 meters, it is the holy grail of mountaineers and sacred among the Tibetans and Nepalese.

Visiting Everest's north face in Tibet , China is costlier, colder, and starker, but probably safer and more rewarding than in Nepal.

Far fewer mountaineers make expeditions to conquer the world's highest peak from the tougher China side, however, you can visit Mount Everest without climbing.

Everest is not visible from Lhasa, since Tibet's capital is almost 700km (400 miles) away, but you can easily journey to see Everest's summit from China's Everest Base Camp .

Content Preview

• Travel Permits for Mount Everest
• Where is Everest Base Camp in China

How to Reach Everest Camp in Tibet

Things to do around mount everest, best times to visit mount everest.

• Where to Stay at Everest Base Camp

How Much Does It Cost to Visit EBC

• How Many Days Does It Take to Visit Everest Base Camp

Packing List

Avoid altitude sickness, travel permits for mount everest in china.

To enter Tibet and travel around Tibet, travel permits are needed. Besides a Tibet Entry Permit , an Aliens' Travel Permit is required to travel to Everest Base Camp .

You are not allowed to apply for Tibet permits by yourself or travel to Tibet without a tour guide. You need to find a travel agency to help you arrange Tibet access.

We offer permits (including our assistance in getting all the required permissions)and a top-class private guide service with all our Tibet tours .

Read more on Planning a Tibet Tour and How to Get Tibet Travel Permits .

Contact us for help getting Tibet permits.

Where is Everest Base Camp in China?

In the middle of the Himalayas, Mount Everest is on the border between China and Nepal. The southern slopes of Mount Everest belong to Nepal, while the North Slope is in Tibet , China.

China's Everest Base Camp (EBC) is at the base of the north slope in Qudang Township, Dingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet.

EBC China is 6 km (4 miles) south of Rongbuk Monastery at altitude 5,150 m(16,900 ft).

See more on Where is Mount Everest? — Interesting Location Effects .

Contact us for more information.

Starting from Lhasa , take a bus (10 hours) or train (3 hours) to Shigatse , then private transport to the base camp (12 hours) via Dingri and Rongbuk Monastery (the highest religious building in the world).

People usually reach Lhasa by air from major cities in China or go across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by railway boarding at Xining or other major cities in China.

If you fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu, Nepal, you may see Mount Everest on the left on a clear Day.

Read more on How to Get to Tibet .

Recommended Tour:

• 10 Days Beijing-Lhasa-Shanghai
• 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
• 7 Days Tibet Tours by Train from Xining

Traveling to Everest by Road

Everest Base Camp is about 700km (400 miles) from Lhasa , and only a good transport solution will allow you to enjoy a smooth trip.

We don't recommend buses. The most popular and comfortable way by road is to hire a van and a driver.

Our suggested road itinerary from Lhasa to EBC is:

• Day 1: Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Shigatse (7hours)
• Day 2: Shigatse –Dingri (4 hours)
• Day 3: Dingri –Rongbuk Monastery – Everest Base Camp (4hours)

If you prefer to go without sightseeing on the way, then skip Yamdrok Lake and head straight to Dingri.

• Day 1: Lhasa –Shigatse –Dingri (9hours)
• Day 2: Dingri–Rongbuk Monastery –Everest Base Camp (4hours)

See more about road conditions on How to Get to Everest Base Camp .

Traveling to Everest by Rail and Road

You can take a train from Lhasa to Shigatse. There are two trains between Lhasa and Shigatse per Day taking about 3 hours .

Train ticket costs are based on the type of seat: US$7 for a hard seat, US$18 for a hard bunk, US$26 for a soft bunk.

From Shigatse Railway Station, you need to continue by road to get to Everest Base Camp , as covered above.

Here is a Lhasa–Shigatse train schedule (for reference):

Read more on How to Get to Everest Base Camp .

• 8-Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
• 5-Days Lhasa Classics and Lake Yamdrok Tour
• 4-Days Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery , the world's highest Buddhist monastery (altitude 5,154m), and probably the world's highest continuously inhabited place is considered the gateway to Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp, Tibet

EBC Tibet is the best vantage point for a view of the imposing snow-capped Mount Everest . Although a little further from Everest than before, the new EBC is close enough for admiring the lofty view.

You can appreciate the sunrise/sunset at EBC on clear Days. The starry sky at night is also very spectacular. And there is a China Post Office at EBC where you can buy and send your family postcards from Mount Everest.

In January 2019, to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Mount Everest area, the previous EBC site was abandoned and made part of the core protected zone of China's Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (QNNP), and entry to which is forbidden without permission.

Trek to Everest Base Camp

Our recommended 4-Day trek from Old Tingri to EBC does not require mountaineering experience: it is moderately difficult.

The trekking experience is full of Tibetan scenery and villages. Read more details on Everest Base Camp Trek — a Top Tibet Trekking Trip .

Also see Top Things to Do in Tibet .

Recommended tours:

• 11-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp Trek
• 8-Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour

The best times to go are late April to early June and late September to early November , as there is little rain and snow and Daytime temperatures are above freezing.

Mid October to November is perhaps the best time to get views of the peak, as there is the clearest and dry weather then. Photographers may prefer April, as it is the best time to shoot the flag-like cloud floating above the peak.

Avoid winter time from November to April due to harsh weather conditions. Also, Tibet is usually closed in February and March .

We don't recommend you to go in summer, because summer is the rainy season in Tibet, especially July and August . The summit is usually covered by mist/cloud and you have less chance of seeing the peak.

Continue to read more on The Best Time to Go to Mount Everest .

Contact us for advice or check out Tibet Weather .

Where to Stay at Everest Base Camp, Tibet

Most people stay in Shigatse before their trip to Mount Everest, though Dingri , 120 km (70 mi) or 3 hours from the base camp, does have a limited number of hotels. Near EBC, you can stay in Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse or a tent hotel.

Do not expect too much of the accommodation.

Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse

About 7 km (4 mi) north of Everest Base Camp , Rongbuk Monastery offers basic facilities : a bed and quilts like the tent hostels, but the rooms will be a bit warmer, and you can have your own bathroom and bedroom and more space.

Tent Hotels

Normally 1 0 people share a tent, and often more than that in peak season. There are no bathrooms for showering, no heating, and "terrible" communal toilets.

Camping with your own tent is allowed for a bit of privacy. But you must still camp in the tent area, and you pay the same per person camping fee as for the 10 person tents.

Read more on Staying at Everest Base Camp .

Contact us for more hotel options in Tibet.

A trip to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet costs around US$2,500 per person with us based on a private tour for 2 people.

Prices vary depending on the itinerary, travel dates, number of people, and hotels are chosen.

Our price includes:

• Tibet Entry Permits and Alien Travel Permits
• Entrance fees
• Hotels with free oxygen (Check out Hotels)
• Daily meals
• A private local vehicle with air-conditioning and ample space for luggage
• English-speaking local guide who confirms reservation organizes entrance tickets, handles any problems, and provides knowledgeable answers and commentary.

Recommended Tours:

• 5 Days Lhasa Classics and Lake Yamdrok Tour
• 4 Days Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour

How Many Days Does It Take to Visit Everest Base Camp?

8 Days are needed typically (from China). You should not go to EBC on the same day that you arrive in Tibet due to the high risk of acute altitude sickness.

It is recommended to spend three days in Lhasa and Shigatse to acclimate and discover Tibetan cultur e and arrange your Aliens' Travel Permit, before going above 4,000 meters.

Our recommended itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (Elevation 3,650 Meters)
• Day 2: Lhasa: Norbulingka, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
• Day 3: Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Lhasa – Gyantse (4,040 m) – Shigatse (3,836 m): Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Palcho Monastery
• Day 5: Shigatse–Tingri (4,300 Meters): Tashilunpo Monastery
• Day 6: Tingri–Shigatse: Rongbuk Monastery, Everest Base Camp (5,200 m)
• Day 7: Shigatse–Lhasa
• Day 8: Depart Lhasa

For the detailed tour itinerary, see  8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour , or contact us to tailor-make your Tibet tour.

Sun cream: Bring strong SPF sun cream to protect your skin from the strong sunlight.

Sun/snow glasses: The ultraviolet light is very strong when up in the mountains. So, bring sunglasses to protect your eyes, and bring snow glasses to prevent snow blindness if you go to see Mount Everest in the snowy season.

Lip balm and moisturizer: Tibet has a dry and cold climate, so take measures to avoid chapped lips and dehydrated skin.

Down jacket (and warm sleeping bag if camping): It's very cold at night at EBC, even in summer. The quilts in EBC tent hostels may not be enough to protect you from the cold.

Good/spare batteries: There is not much electricity at EBC, so you need to charge your phone or camera and batteries before the final leg of your journey.

The cold will sap battery life, so keep devices/batteries insulated.

Food: Bring enough food with you for the long journey if you can't get used to the local food. There is little choice for food at EBC tent hostels.

Medicine: You may need medicine to reduce altitude sickness or for other conditions like travel sickness.

Also check out What to Pack for a Tibet Tour .

Recommended Tibet Tours:

• 17-Days Beijing, Xian, Tibet, Chengdu, Guilin, and Hong Kong Tour
• 13-Days Beijing–Xi'an–Lhasa-Shanghai Private Tour

Before you visit Mt. Everest, ensure you are in good physical condition. Seek medical advice in advance.

If you have asthma, high blood pressure, or similar conditions you should be advised against going. Do physical training to avoid or reduce altitude sickness before you go.

You should take about three days to acclimate to the high altitude in Lhasa (3,650 m), Shigatse (3,800 m), and Dingri (4,300 m) on the way to EBC (5,200 m).

Avoid strenuous actions, quick movements, and jumping. If you get headaches and dizziness taking bottled oxygen or moving to a lower altitude for further acclimatization can help.

Contact us for advice or see more Travel Tips.

Visiting Mount Everest with China Highlights

If you want to see Mount Everest, but are afraid of the harsh conditions, we can help you make your trip more comfortable.

Touring with us, we will help you arrange Tibet permits , hotels, an experienced driver, a good vehicle, and a knowledgeable local guide.

Recommended EBC tours:

• 8-Day Everest Base Camp Tour : Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of standing up close to Mount Everest at Everest Base Camp.
• 11-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp Trek : Take in Tibet's highlights and the Himalayan scenery and nomadic culture around Everest with a 4-day "average traveler's trek.

Our other popular tours can be customized to include an Everest visit:

Contact us to tour Tibet according to your interests and requirements.

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• 11-Day China Classic Tour
• 14-Day China Natural Wonders Discovery
• 3-Week Must-See Places China Tour Including Holy Tibet
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Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

Lodge-to-Lodge on the Greatest Mountain Adventure in the World

Ultimate everest.

From $5,995

Very Strenuous

Call 1-800-368-2794 or contact us for any questions

When it comes to absolutely spectacular scenery, this trek has it all! In the high realm of Everest, you'll trek to mystical Tengboche Monastery, explore the base camps of Ama Dablam and Everest, and enjoy stunning views from Kala Patar (18,365'). Then, crossing the snow-covered Cho La to the turquoise lakes of the Gokyo Valley, you'll trek to the summit of Gokyo Ri for the unforgettable view of four of the six highest peaks on earth—Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. It's arguably the most dramatic trek in the world, the adventure of a lifetime, and you can do it all without camping! Family-owned Sherpa lodges keep you comfy throughout this incredible adventure.

Arrive: Kathmandu, Nepal

Depart: Kathmandu, Nepal

• Fantastic Exploration Days at Ama Dablam Base Camp and in the Chukhung Valley
• The trekkers' peaks of Kala Patar and Gokyo Ri, and a hike to Everest Base Camp
• Paced for maximum acclimatization and led by the Khumbu's most experienced guides
• Overnights in family-owned Sherpa lodges—no camping!

Dates & Pricing

Pricing below is per person and based on double occupancy. The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have. WT also has the most generous cancellation and transfer policies in the industry, we make it easy if you change your mind. Have a small group of your own? Take over an existing date or choose your own. You’ll have your own private guide–and the adventure–all to yourselves!

Payment & Cancel Schedule

$600 due at time of reservation 90 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation & Transfer Schedule

Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge! 61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost 46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost 45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

• Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trek Leader
• Accommodations in family-owned Sherpa lodges and hotels
• All meals included except 2 lunches and 3 dinners as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
• Private cooking staff on trek
• All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure
• All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
• Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and liners for use at the lodges

Not Included

• Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
• Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates
• Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff
• Optional travel insurance
• Other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)

Accommodations

Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Hotel Yak and Yeti

Kathmandu, Nepal

Days 1-2 (2 nights)

Sherpa Lodges, Khumbu

Khumbu, Nepal

Days 3-20 (18 nights)

Days 21-22 (2 nights)

Trip Leaders

Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. For more information, including client comments about them and which specific trips they will be leading, please click on their profiles below.

Mingma Temba Sherpa

Pasang Temba Sherpa

What the Trip is Like

Trail conditions are often rough, not the well-maintained switchbacks you may be accustomed to, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). For the most part, you can hike at your own speed; the group will spread out along the trail during the day to cover a normal maximum of 6 to 10 miles per day (4-8 hours of hiking). There are a number of days on this trek when the walks are shorter, as well as rest days, allowing opportunities for day hikes and exploring the villages, monasteries, and the beautiful surroundings.

Every participant must understand that this trek is truly challenging—you should be in excellent physical condition. Even though trip members carry only a daypack (with camera, jacket, rain gear, water bottle, and other small necessities you may need during the day), we recommend you make a special effort to get in top physical shape for the trip by hiking, running, swimming, bicycling, or engaging in other forms of aerobic exercise well beyond your normal routine. Many activities get heart and lungs into shape, but the most effective way of getting fit for hiking is to hike! Walking up and down flights of stairs is also an effective way to train for the steep ascents and descents in the Himalaya. Bending your knees as you go down stairs will help strengthen your quad muscles. At least two months prior to your trek, we urge you to go on weekend day hikes that involve long uphill and downhill walking.

For this trek, we require your doctor sign the Wilderness Travel Medical Form. Once Wilderness Travel has confirmed your place on the trip roster, no refunds beyond our standard fees will be made if your physician refuses to sign the form. It is very important that you and your physician fully agree that you are physically capable of undertaking a strenuous trek, and equally important that you undertake proper conditioning prior to the trek.

The Trek Leader has the right to disqualify any member from the trip at any time if it is medically necessary, to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.

The popular trekking seasons are fall and spring. Nepal lies at the same latitude as Florida, but altitude is the main factor governing temperatures. In the semitropical lowlands of Kathmandu (altitude 4,000 feet), daytime temperatures can be quite warm, in the 70Fs and 80Fs, with cool, misty nights. It rarely snows below 7,000 feet.

At altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet, daytime temperatures can be in the 50Fs and 60Fs for fall trips and 60Fs and 70Fs for spring trips. Nights are cool to cold, often in the 40Fs. Skies are generally clear, although the spring has more precipitation (but Nepal's famous rhododendron forests are in full bloom in the spring). Clouds often form in the afternoons, disappearing at night to reveal brilliantly starry skies.

At altitudes over 10,000 feet, weather is unpredictable and the wind chill factor comes into play. Daytime temperatures at these heights can be in the 60Fs, but also as low as the 30s and 40s, especially if it is windy. Temperatures drop very quickly when the sun goes down, and evening/nighttime temperatures at high altitudes often drop to around 15°F and sometimes lower. We frequently encounter sub-zero nighttime temperatures on Khumbu treks and you should anticipate chronic cold weather. Snow is not uncommon at higher elevations, and rain is always a possibility throughout the trek.

Our own experienced cook crew is part of the Wilderness Travel trekking staff, and all our meals at the lodges will be prepared by them. Our cooks are professionally trained and offer a good variety of hygienically prepared meals. Our drinking water is always boiled and treated washing water is put out before every meal so you can wash your hands before eating. Meals are a blend of Nepalese and Western dishes. Breakfast is normally a light meal of porridge or granola, with hot milk, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, or cookies. Lunches may include potatoes, eggs, curried vegetables, cheese, local-style breads, fruit, tea, hot chocolate or a fruit drink. Dinner is typically soup and a main course such as a noodle dish, or meat or vegetable stew, depending on what is available in local villages. Dessert on trek is usually canned or fresh fruit.

A Typical Trekking Day

Hiking distances on trek are normally measured in hours, not miles, since maps aren't really accurate enough to assess how far we walk up and down winding mountain trails. On a typical trek day, wake-up is around 7:00 am. After packing up our duffels and having breakfast, we set off on the trail. We ask you not to hike ahead of the leader because trails are often not well-marked. We typically walk for three to four hours in the morning, then stop for a leisurely lunch of an hour or more (either in a lodge or picnic-style at a scenic spot on the trail).

After lunch, we walk for another three hours or so until we reach our next night's lodging, where we can enjoy a cup of tea and a snack on arrival. On our exploration days, we occasionally have more time in the morning or afternoon near the lodge to rest or for further individual exploration. Temperatures drop quickly as the sun falls behind the peaks, and it's easy to get chilled after exerting yourself for several hours, so have an extra layer of clothing ready.

Our treks are led by an experienced English-speaking Sirdar (leader) who is ably assisted by a team of assistants and a trail crew. He and his team have a deep connection with the Himalayas and are wonderful trailside companions, hiking with you throughout each day on the trail, providing good company, and making sure that you are comfortable and hiking at a pace that suits you.

Safety & Altitude

There are dangers inherent in any expedition traveling to remote wilderness regions, especially when they involve travel to high altitude. These dangers include everything from rock falls to the possibility of a serious fall, accident, or sickness without access to means of rapid evacuation, availability of medical supplies, or adequate medical attention once provided. Our Trek Leaders and support crew are experienced veterans of the Nepal Himalaya, but it takes cooperation and flexibility from each participant to ensure a successful trek.

Extend Your Trip

Bangkok Extension

Karnali Lodge Extension

From $1,895

Taj Mahal and Jaipur Extension

From $2,295

Tharu Lodge Extension

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge Extension

Client Testimonials

"This is a great trip. I have the tremendous satisfaction of having completed a difficult physical trek as well as experiencing beautiful scenery and an interesting culture."

Jacinto City, TX

"It was the trip of a lifetime. I trained hard all summer and it paid off. I enjoyed the trip tremendously."

Danville, CA

"The Trip Leader had great knowledge of the Everest region and strong relationships with the Sherpa people. This was a life-changing trip of a lifetime! The all-time best trip ever!"

"This trip was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Very challenging and very rewarding, it was an adventure I will never forget."

Cobham Surrey, England

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Book your trip today

Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

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Trip Levels

With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.

Level 1 – Easiest

Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.

• Royal Rajasthan and Villages of India
• Small ship cruises

Level 2 – Easy to Moderate

Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.

• Our African safaris
• Costa Rica Wildlife

Level 3 – Moderate

Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.

• Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
• Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
• Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
• Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as  Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin,  are Trip Level 3.

Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous

Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.

• Ultimate Patagonia
• Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees

Level 5 – Strenuous

Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.

• Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Level 6 – Very Strenuous

Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.

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

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Everest Base Camp Travel

Welcome to Everest Base Camp Travel , your gateway to the world's highest peak and one of the most iconic trekking destinations on the planet. Our passion for the Himalayas, coupled with our commitment to providing exceptional trekking experiences, sets us apart in the world of adventure travel.

Everest Specials

• Featured Trips

• Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 Days

• Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

• Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

• Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek

• Everest Base Camp Short Trek - 5 Days

Jiri to EBC Trek - 21 Days

Everest Three High Pass Trek - 22 Days

Everest Circuit Trek - 17 Days

Local Sightseeing Tours

Helicopter Tours

Expeditions

Engage yourself in the mesmerizing vistas of the Everest region, from the towering Himalayas to the Peaks to the serene valleys. 🗻 Whether you're a seasoned trekker or an armchair traveler, our videos will ignite your wanderlust and inspire your next adventure. Get ready to Explore:

The Gokyo Valley with EBC Trek was a photographer's dream come true. Every turn on the trail revealed a new postcard-perfect panorama: glistening glacial lakes reflecting the majestic Himalayas, colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and yak caravans winding through ancient valleys. 

Everest Base Camp Travel provided the perfect logistical support, allowing me to focus on capturing the magic of the moment. My camera roll is now overflowing with breathtaking images, but the true beauty of this trek lies in the emotions it evokes. Thank you for giving me a story to tell through my lens Binod and team. 

I'm always on the lookout for affordable adventures, and the Gokyo Valley trek with EBC Travel perfectly fit the bill. The package offered excellent value for money, with comfortable accommodation, delicious meals, and knowledgeable guides included. I never felt like I was missing out on anything compared to more expensive treks. Plus, the stunning scenery, the sense of accomplishment, and the warm Nepalese hospitality were priceless experiences you can't put a price tag on. Thank you, Everest Base Camp Travel, for proving that adventure doesn't have to break the bank. I highly recommend Everest Base Camp Trek to those who are looking for an affordable journey to the Himalayas.

My decision to do the Everest Circuit Trek was very last minute and too impulsive. Some of my mates suggested Everest Base Camp Travel and I booked my circuit trek with them after searching their website. Honestly given how last minute my plans were I wasn’t expecting a very organized and well-planned trek. But, Binod and the team exceeded all of my expectations. The whole trek was thoroughly organized and nothing was kept for the last minute. I am astonished by the service provided by Everest Base Camp Travel. A huge thank you to Binod and the team, I highly recommend Everest Base Camp Travel if you all are willing to visit Nepal. 

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10 Top-rated Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours in 2024

March 18, 2024

Paula Martinelli

Looking for the best Everest Base Camp helicopter tours for your next  dream trip  to Nepal? You’re in the right place because the top 10 best-rated helicopter tours in the Everest Base Camp are featured here!

After I spent a whole month exploring Nepal, completed multiple treks in the region, and even went on a helicopter tour myself, I have put together this list to help you save hours researching on the web.

The Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal is one of the most desirable treks on the Planet. Hiking in the high altitude of the Himalayan Mountains takes you closer and closer to the clouds and your final destination – the top of the world! However, this trek just isn’t suitable for those who are short of time, which is where a helicopter landing tour comes in handy!

Don’t have time to read the whole article? – Book this Everest Base Camp landing tour with a 4.9 ⭐️ rating with over 400 reviews.

The great thing about experiencing Everest Base Camp on a helicopter tour is that many of them depart from Kathmandu . Nepal’s capital city is where you’ll be flying into, and you can marvel at the world’s tallest mountain without taking a long journey to get there!

If you’ve been dreaming about this extraordinary experience, but are short on time (an average of 20 days is needed to hike to EBC and back), then this is the perfect opportunity for you. Otherwise, why not challenge yourself with a trek to the Everest Base Camp? Many of these tours then include an option to take a helicopter back to Kathmandu!

Of course, the choice is yours, but this guide will be detailing the top Everest Base Camp helicopter landing tours. So let’s dive right in!

You may also love these articles ❤️

• Nepal Travel Tips: Everything you need to know before your trip
• 23 Places to Visit in Kathmandu, Nepal

10. BEST 1-DAY EBC LANDING TOUR WITH AUDIOGUIDE: From Kathmandu: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

🚁what is the best way to see everest base camp.

Our Top 3 Picks Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours

Landing Everest Base Camp by Helicopter Day Tour

🏆 TOP PICK: This helicopter day to u r offers multiple landings, and includes hotel pickup and dropoff from Kathmandu. There’s also an option to include breakfast at Hotel Everest View if you’re after an extra special experience.

⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4-5 hours

⭐️ Rating: Rating: 4.9/5 (403 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

Kathmandu: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

🏆 TOP PICK: This EBC helicopter tour includes multiple landings and a lot of flight time. It’s a small-group tour so is limited to 5 people and you’ll also have the option to include breakfast at Hotel Everest View.

⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4.5 hours

⭐️ Rating: Rating: 4.8/5 (25 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

🏆 TOP PICK: This helicopter tour offers private hotel pickup and dropoff in Kathmandu, as well as private transportation. You’ll also get to learn all about the Buddhist and Sherpa culture.

⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours

⭐️ Rating: Rating: 4.9/5 (128 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

💡  EXPERT TIP: Before booking your Everest Base Camp helicopter tour , read the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section for the tour(s) you’re considering, to ensure you pick the best one for your needs and interests. 

How to Choose the Best Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour for You?

Now, this is a difficult question – how to choose the best Everest Base Camp helicopter tour for you!? First of all, you’ll want to go with a reputable provider to ensure your experience is smooth sailing. Luckily, Get Your Guide and Viator (who I use, and recommend) are both fantastic platforms and they only work with highly regarded tour operators, so you know you’re in good hands.

Here are a few things to think about when booking an EBC helicopter landing tour:

• 🚁 What to expect – as well as a landing at Everest Base Camp, some tours offer other landings, so you’ll get a more rounded experience. Not only that, but I’d recommend going for a tour that includes more flight time so make sure you check this in the terms and conditions.
• 🚁 The cost – these tours are expensive, but if you opt for a small-group tour, they become much more affordable. You’ll still get a window seat too! Of course, if you’d prefer a private experience, then you can expect to pay and get a premium tour!
• 🚁 Additional extras – some tours include breakfast at the famous Everest View Hotel which is a fantastic experience, while others will require you to pay extra. Better yet, some tours even include a stay at this incredible hotel, but this will be at a higher cost.
• 🚁 The weather – it’s important to note that these helicopter tours on the Everest Base Camp require good weather, and Nepal is notorious for its unpredictable climate. If the tour is canceled due to the weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. So this is another reason why it is so important to buy your tour through a reliable tour company.
• 🚁 Allow extra days – going off the previous point, most tours recommend that you stay in Kathmandu for a couple of days. This way, if your tour is canceled due to the weather, you’ve got time to reschedule it.

Top-rated Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours

1. top overall everest base camp tour: landing everest base camp by helicopter day tour.

🏆 TOP PICK EVEREST BASE CAMP TOUR

Tour at a Glance:

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Shared helicopter tour

📍 TOUR LOCATION: Departs from Kathmandu

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4-5 hours

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (403 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

Why Take This Tour:

This Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is my top pick! As it’s a shared tour, it’s more affordable than many of the other helicopter flights out there. Not only that, but it includes multiple landings, so you can experience more than just base camp. You can even opt to have breakfast at Hotel Everest View, one of the world’s highest-placed hotels!

“Worth every penny. The pilot was an absolute boss. She was amazing. The views, the experience of walking around with the peak of Everest right there, incredible. Take it all in, enjoy the moment, take lots of pics and videos of your team and trust the pilot.” Jason ( read more reviews now )

• This helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp includes multiple landings, rather than just base camp.
• It’s a shared tour making it more affordable.
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included in Kathmandu.
• You can send the company your trip dates, and they’ll pick the best possible day regarding the weather.

2. BEST SMALL-GROUP EVEREST BASE CAMP LANDING TOUR: Landing Everest base camp by Helicopter

🏆 TOP SMALL-GROUP EVEREST BASE CAMP TOUR

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Small-group helicopter tour

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (37 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This small-group helicopter tour is perfect for those who are short of time or who have mobility issues. With round-trip transfers from Kathmandu and a 10% tax included in the fee, you know exactly what you’re paying for. As well as landing at Everest Base Camp, you’ll get to admire epic views of the famous Himalayan mountain range from the air.

“Awesome, memorable trip, phenomenal views. The places we landed at were spectacular and definitely had the feeling of being ‘on top of the world’” Jaykishor ( read more reviews now )

• Round-trip transfers from your hotel in Kathmandu are included.
• This small-group tour means you’ll have a more intimate experience.
• A 10% Live Entertainment Tax is already included in the price.
• Not only will you experience Everest, but you’ll fly over scenic villages and farmland along the way.

3. TOP EVEREST BASE CAMP HELICOPTER TOUR: Kathmandu: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

🏆 BEST HELICOPTER TOUR WITH MULTIPLE STOPS

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Small-group flight with multiple landings

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4.5 hours

⭐️ RATING:  4.8/5 (25 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This EBC helicopter tour is run by Everest Experience and Assistance. It’s one of the most well-known helicopter tour operators in Nepal and for good reason. With this tour, you’ll have multiple landings rather than just base camp, so will enjoy plenty of flight time. This is a huge bonus! Better yet, you can opt to have a memorable breakfast at Hotel Everest View (at an additional charge).

“This is a must-do excursion! You can’t put it into words, the Himalayas are so beautiful. The service was simply very good from take-off to landing. I can only recommend this trip to everyone, it’s worth it! Unfortunately I can only give 5*, actually it would be 7 *” GetYourGuide Traveler ( read more reviews now )

• This helicopter tour offers multiple landings (Lukla, Kala Patthar – Everest Base Camp, Hotel Everest View).
• You’ll have the option to have breakfast at Hotel Everest View (for an additional fee).
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Kathmandu are included.
• You’ll have plenty of flight time with this tour, thanks to the multiple landings.

4. BEST-REVIEWED EBC HELICOPTER TOUR: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

🏆 HIGHLY-REVIEWED EVEREST BASE CAMP HELICOPTER TOUR

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (128 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

With over 100 reviews and a great rating, you’ll want to check out this EBC helicopter tour . Like the other tours in this guide, it departs from Kathmandu and offers you the experience of a lifetime. The benefit of choosing this tour is the company you go with, as all the reviews will tell you. The pilot will even be happy to take your photos for you, as they’ll know exactly what you’re looking at!

“The trip started with some glimpses of mountains around the valley. The weather was very clear in Lukla and above, it was clear. The helicopter took us to Everest Base camp and Kala Patthar. The pilot took our photos. They were the best. The trip was the best! Oh man, what a thrill! Breakfast at Hotel Everest View was on top. Thank you, Mr. Dipak, for arranging this trip. I look forward to further trips with your company. Best tour management! Thanks!” TripAdvisor Reviewer ( read more reviews now )

• Private hotel pick-up and drop-off in Kathmandu are included.
• There’s a maximum of 5 travelers so it’s a very intimate experience.
• This is one of the highest-reviewed tours in this guide, with travelers commenting on their fabulous experiences.
• On the way to Everest, you’ll fly over Buddhist monasteries, Sherpa villages, and lush forests.

5. BEST HALF-DAY HELICOPTER TOUR FROM KATHMANDU: Everest Base Camp Landing Helicopter Tour

🏆 TOP HALF-DAY HELICOPTER TOUR

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Half-day helicopter tour

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (18 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is operated by Exciting Nepal Treks and Expedition. Offering guided commentary throughout the flight and plenty of photo opportunities, you’re sure to have a fantastic time on this tour. Not only will you stop at Kala Patthar for the best views of Everest, but there’s also the option to have breakfast at Everest View Hotel.

“The helicopter tour was terrific. The flights to Lukla and then to Pheriche and then to the Everest View Hotel were great. The amount of time to take pictures at Kala Patthar was good and the breakfast at the hotel was really nice. It certainly helped that we had a nice, clear day in November. There were just five of us in the helicopter.” Pakirishmd ( read more reviews now )

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included.
• You’ll have private transportation and will be traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• On this tour, you’ll learn all about the geology and history of the area through live commentary.
• You’ll have ample photo-taking opportunities.

6. TOP PICK FOR MOST AFFORDABLE EBC TOUR: Everest Base Camp: 3-Hour Helicopter Sightseeing Tour

🏆 BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY EVEREST BASE CAMP TOUR

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Small-group sightseeing tour

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours

⭐️ RATING:  4.8/5 (10 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This Everest Base Camp helicopter sightseeing tour is more affordable than many of the other EBC tours out there. Although it’s still very costly, you’ll be saving up to $500 compared to some of the others in this guide.

After flying to Lukla Airport and refueling, you’ll head out to explore the Everest Region by air. You’ll also land at Everest Base Camp for around 5 minutes before heading to Hotel Everest View!

“An absolute professional – we never felt unsafe. With a lot of patience and excellent communication, he gave us an unforgettable experience. The tour to Mount Everest in the Himalayas was a dream (with great weather). The pilot also works as a rescue pilot – you can tell. He controls the heli perfectly. We were even dropped off briefly on a higher plateau than the base camp (about 5550m). A magnificent backdrop!” GetYourGuide Traveler ( read more reviews now )

• More affordable than the other tours in this guide.
• Everyone is guaranteed a window seat to admire the views.
• All passenger insurance is included with the tour.
• It’s possible to include a memorable breakfast at Hotel Everest View.

7. BEST EBC HELICOPTER TOUR WITH HOTEL STAY: Everest Experience with Overnight Stay

🏆 TOP PICK FOR OVERNIGHT EBC TOUR

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Small-group helicopter tour with overnight stay

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 days

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (3 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This overnight trip is a fantastic option for those who want to spend a bit more time enjoying the mighty Everest. Not only will you get to land at Everest Base Camp, but you’ll also stay at Hotel Everest View. This allows you to explore more of Sagarmatha National Park, as you’ll be offered two hiking options; Khumjung Village or Namche Village.

“In spite of the delayed helicopter scheduling I’d a great time. The helicopter pilot, CAPT. RAJENDRA DUWAL is a great guy. He immediately moved into action when I was suffering altitude sickness when we landed in Kala Patthar. The Hotel Everest View is perfect location to see the Himalayan mountains up close and particularly those who’ve no mountaineering skills.” Onofre ( read more reviews now )

• An overnight stay at Hotel Everest View is included in this tour.
• This tour includes 2x breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• You’ll have time to go on a guided hike to either Khumjung Village or Namche Village.
• All taxes and fees are already included in the tour price.

8. TOP SMALL GROUP EBC HELICOPTER TOUR: Everest Base Camp Sharing Helicopter Tour

🏆 TOP PICK FOR INTIMATE HELICOPTER TOUR

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (26 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This small-group helicopter tour is another great option if you’re looking to visit Everest Base Camp. As it’s only a half-day tour, you’ll have plenty of time to explore more of Kathmandu once you get back to Nepal’s capital city.

Just keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for your national park entrance fee and airport tax (these aren’t included in the tour price).

• There’s a maximum of 5 passengers allowed on this tour.
• All traveler insurance is included.
• This tour includes airport transfers in Kathmandu.
• Offers an intimate flight experience.

9. TOP BASE CAMP TOUR WITH OPTIONAL BREAKFAST: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with landing

🏆 TOP EBC TOUR WITH OPTIONAL BREAKFAST

⭐️ RATING:  4.9/5 (9 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

This Everest Base Camp helicopter tour includes numerous landing points so you can make the most of the scenery! Throughout the trip, you’ll have an expert pilot who will also act as your guide.

If there are more than three people on the flight, then you’ll stop off at Pheriche first. From here, there will be two separate flights to ensure every passenger has a window seat.

“Unfortunately, due to inclement weather we were unable to join this trip. The company kept us informed with weather updates but alas it was not meant to be. I just read on the news another tour company crashed on a similar trip with complete loss of life. For this I want to thank this company for having our safety as paramount. Additionally, as soon as it become apparent there was no chance of this tour going ahead, a full refund was automatically activated. Again, for that I thank you” Paul ( read more reviews now )

• This tour includes a 10-minute stop at Kala Patthar, along with other landings.
• You’ll have an expert pilot as your guide.
• You can opt to include breakfast at Hotel Everest View.

🏆 BEST 1-DAY EVEREST BASE CAMP TOUR 🔥

🚁 TOUR TYPE: Sightseeing helicopter tour

⭐️ RATING:  5/5 (3 Reviews) | Details: Read more reviews now !

Finally, there’s also this Everest Base Camp helicopter tour which includes an audioguide. As well as stopping at Kala Patthar Viewpoint to see the towering Mount Everest, you’ll also stop off at Synagboche, which is the closest airstrip to Everest and Everest Base Camp.

Not only that, but you’ll have the option of a memorable breakfast with mountain views at Hotel Everest View (for an additional fee).

“ A super great experience! “ Nadine ( read more reviews now )

• There’s an option to include breakfast at Hotel Everest View.
• This tour includes an audioguide.
• Airport taxes and fees are included in this tour.
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Kathmandu are also included.

FAQ: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours

🚁 how much does it cost to go to everest base camp on a helicopter tour.

You’re looking to pay at least $1000 for an Everest base camp helicopter experience. However, this is at the more affordable end of the scale. The average is around $1,500, while some tours cost up to $2,500. The latter typically includes an overnight stay at Hotel Everest View and breakfast!

As you can tell, this experience isn’t cheap so you’ll need to keep that in mind. This is especially the case if you want to add on additional extras. In my opinion, the experience is totally worth the cost but you’ll need to set some extra cash aside.

🚁Is an Everest helicopter tour worth it?

A simple answer – 100% yes! There’s nothing quite like seeing the world’s tallest mountain from the air, especially on a clear day. The views from these helicopter tours will take your breath away, and many of them make multiple landings too.

This guide focuses on Everest base camp helicopter tours, where you’ll get to land at EBC. For those who don’t have two weeks to hike to base camp, these tours are a fantastic alternative. Not to mention, they will leave plenty of free time in your Nepal itinerary so you can visit other places!

This all depends on you! Many people prefer to hike to Everest Base Camp and experience it this way, before taking a helicopter tour off the mountain for their return. This way, you can experience the best of both worlds.

As I previously mentioned, those short on time are best off opting for an Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. If you’re not on a schedule, then I can imagine that the Everest Base Camp trek would be thoroughly rewarding. However, the decision will depend on your timeframe, budget, and fitness levels.

Ethical Travel Tips in the Himalayas

• NO PLASTIC: Visitors can create huge amounts of rubbish, particularly plastic packaging. Please dispose of your rubbish thoughtfully and carefully, use recycling bins where available, reuse plastic bottles and carrier bags, avoid taking disposable items with you, and buy items that have minimal packaging.
• RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT: When trekking or walking do not wander off the trails, keep as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the habitat, do not remove plants or animals, and purchase products that further endanger threatened species and habitats
• NO SOUVENIRS : As tempting as it is to collect items from buildings, sacred sites, and so on as souvenirs, resist all urges, and leave them behind.
• SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES:  Support the local economy by buying local brands and eating local food.
• RESPECT THE LOCAL CULTURE: Ethical travel is also about minimizing cultural impact, therefore please respect the culture and customs and do not partake in any activities that may be deemed as culturally inappropriate.
•   RESPECT LOCAL PEOPLE: Whilst taking photographs, check with a local person whether it is acceptable and consider people’s privacy.

“Take only photographs, leave behind only footprints”

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of helicopter tours to the Everest Base Camp, to choose from! No matter which one you choose, you’ll need to fork out quite a substantial amount of cash. However, I can assure you that the experience is 100% worth it in my opinion.

While this article featured the best Everest Base Camp helicopter tours, you might still be undecided – so let me help you!

Still unsure about the best Tuscany wine tours? – Book this Everest Base Camp landing tour with a 4.9 ⭐️ rating with over 400 reviews.

Although hiking to Everest Base Camp is a bucket list trek for many, the majority of travelers heading to Nepal just don’t have that amount of time. That’s why helicopter tours to the Everest Base Camp are so popular because they’re a half-day activity (rather than a 10-20-day hike).

For the best experience, make sure you read the reviews of each tour as well as what’s included. This way, you can pick the helicopter tour that’s most suited to you. If you want to add to the experience, then some tours even include an overnight stay or breakfast at Hotel Everest View!

You should check out these other articles:

• The Top Places To Visit In Pokhara
• Homestay in Nepal, tales of a real-life experience at a rural village!
• How to Hire a Porter in Nepal
• Interesting Facts about Nepal That You Need to Know
• Nepal Trip Plan: Cost, What to See, Know and Do in Nepal

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Kathmandu Itinerary: 25 Epic Places to Visit in Nepal in 2024

4 thoughts on “10 top-rated everest base camp helicopter tours in 2024”.

What a fabulous guide and awesome place Paula. Plus I love those pooches!

Thanks Ryan – yes, hiking the Himalayas is phenomenal and I still have many different treks in my bucket list. The puppies…OMG! they stole my heart

The beautiful trip report, it seems you had good time in the Everest base camp trip

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How Everest Was Turned into an Industry

‘Everest, Inc.,’ a new book from veteran outdoor journalist Will Cockrell, documents the mountain’s transformation, first by Western guides and climbers, and now by Sherpas and Nepalis

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 .

When Will Cockrell told me he was writing a book about Mount Everest, he couldn’t see the roll of my eyes. But he’s perceptive enough to have picked up on my lukewarm commitment to being interviewed, and so I felt a need to explain that there are already quite a few Everest books out there. My coffee table is in danger of imminent collapse under their weight; my shelves sag with Everest encyclopedias and memoirs. It’s been done, I told him.

Listen carefully, he said: This will be different. It will be the story of the entire guiding industry that was created on and around the world’s highest mountain. He planned to call it Everest, Inc .

That got my interest, because I put about a quarter century of blood, sweat, and tears into this “industry.” I first went to the Big E in the early 1990s, which turned out to be the dawn of the commercial era on the Goddess Mother of the Earth. Following years of adventure in the Himalayas, I quit guiding 8,000-meter peaks after the twin disaster years of 2014—when an avalanche on Everest killed 16 Nepali workers in the Khumbu Icefall—and 2015, when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed 19 people at Everest Base Camp and a total of 9,000 people in Nepal.

I had to admit to Cockrell that a history of Everest as a business hadn’t been done, but I’m pretty cynical, and I wasn’t sure that he was the right person to do it. I’ve long enjoyed his magazine articles in venues like Men’s Journal, Outside, and GQ, and I know he put in some good years climbing rock and crags. I even guided him on Denali a while back. But he isn’t an Everest climber, much less an Everest guide. How was he going to understand the business? And, failing that, was he just going to take the usual potshots about how we exploited Sherpas and destroyed the environment and clogged up a sacred mountain with privileged neophytes who hadn’t “earned” the right to be there?

But Cockrell seemed to value my input, and as someone who’s been captivated by Everest for so long, I wanted to avoid the foolish mistake of thinking that everyone already knows this story as well as I do. They don’t, and one of the virtues of  Everest, Inc. is that it sneaks up on you and becomes a history of the whole damn thing. In the 1920s, there was George Mallory ; then came Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay , who achieved the first summit in 1953; and then there were the heroic hardasses of the 1970s and 1980s, climbers like Reinhold Messner and Jerzy Kukuczka, who got to the top using new routes, or by climbing without oxygen, or in winter, or during the summer monsoon. In 1985, Dick Bass came along and popularized the idea of climbing the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent. In the 1990s, guides like Todd Burleson, Eric Simonson, and Russell Brice turned Everest into a gold mine and made climbing it start to look easy. But the Into Thin Air deaths of 1996 put an end to that.

There were also obvious tensions, exemplified in 2013 by a confrontation that involved climbers Simone Moro, Ueli Steck, and a number of Sherpas. It was spurred by a specific encounter on the Lhotse Face, but it also came to symbolize long standing friction between Western climbers and guides and home-grown mountaineers from Nepal. The year 2019 saw another potent symbol of how crowded the mountain had become: the famous and startling Conga Line photo , which showed a long queue of climbers en route to the Hillary Step and the summit.

As for Cockrell, his overall focus is on how two great transformations came about. The first—in the late 1980s and early 1990s—happened when expeditions backed by nations gave way to client-funded trips, and how those, in turn, developed into guided climbs. Something that was once unimaginable became routine. This shift was marked and shaped by particular tragedies, by the thirst for money and publicity and power, but also by heroism and the absolute thrill of climbing—and working—in extreme environments.

The second great transformation—which is ongoing—is the power transfer away from the foreign men and women who invented the Everest industry to the Nepalis and Sherpas who are determined to shape its future.

Cockrell has done a masterful job of putting the now-sprawling industry into an understandable and vastly entertaining context: his book isn’t just another catalog of expeditions and statistics. Improbably, Everest, Inc. is a story with narrative drive, as Cockrell makes it clear how one thing led to another. It succeeds precisely because he’s a real journalist and storyteller, rather than just another antagonist with scores to settle. This project required a professional, someone with the energy and interest to track down and interrogate a thousand quirky and often egotistical characters. Cockrell talked to the movers and shakers who built the industry, and to those who carried its weight on their backs. He sifted through mountains of published material and documentaries to understand changes in the game.

As I said, I thought I knew it all about the main players, but reading Everest, Inc. reminded me that I only knew them superficially. Just because we shared a climbing route, a poker table, and endless hours waiting for weather and coughs to go away didn’t necessarily give us full insight into each other. Cockrell asked the right questions, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning who my mentors and cohorts actually were and what motivated them.

We’re losing some of them, of course. In the week I spent reading the book, David Breashears and Lou Whittaker died. Both are key figures in the evolution that Cockrell maps out in Everest, Inc., and their loss makes me thankful that their reflections were preserved. And yes, a number of us talked smack about each other to Cockrell, but his reporting of these remarks doesn’t devolve into gossip. Even in the cases where important people—like Jon Krakauer and Nirmal “Nims” Purja—wouldn’t speak to him, he goes to considerable effort to give balanced assessments of their contributions to Everest history.

As for my worry that Everest, Inc. would take the standard and easy shots, I’ll admit I was relieved. Cockrell doesn’t shy away from controversies, but he doesn’t sensationalize them, either. The ethnic and economic tensions that have driven change in commercial climbing become a central theme. The persistent worry that modern climbers routinely and blithely walk past the dead and dying is addressed. (My belief is that rescues should be attempted when they’re feasible, but that it’s always possible for climbers to get themselves so deeply into trouble that no one can save them.) He shines a light on the tangled relationship between guided climbing and the media covering it.

This is tricky stuff, and I think Cockrell makes it clear that newspapers, magazines, books, and films are big parts of the enterprise, too. Their tendency to hype the deaths and disasters have served as fuel on the commercial fire. Time after time, business increased in the wake of well-publicized accidents and mishaps.

Between the lines of Cockrell’s book, one can easily discern that more than a few Everest climbers attempted the mountain so they could set themselves apart from mere mortals. Nothing aided them more than the perception that taking Everest on was death-defying and extreme. Those of us guiding and leading expeditions hated the coverage and railed against the media—unless of course we were the ones being interviewed in a given year, since there aren’t a lot of shy folks in this industry, and we all liked the spotlight. (Some of us still do, and as I read, I got mildly irritated that a few relentless self-promoters get even more coverage in Everest, Inc. , at the expense of some of the hardest-working Sherpas and guides on the mountain.) Invariably, the story strays from the actual craft of climbing and guiding that drew me to this world to begin with, but that’s Cockrell’s point. This isn’t a book about the mythical and virtuous climber toiling toward some noble and deeply personal goal. It’s about the Inc.

Everest, Inc. puts the big events and obvious disasters in clear focus. But Cockrell also does a credible job of explaining that it doesn’t necessarily take an act of god to kill people on the mountain. The transformations that he’s highlighting mean, in essence, that the mountain is becoming more accessible—which many would view as an inherently good thing. But more people on the mountain will mean more people dying. Plain and simple. And shifting the business to those eager to take on more clients for less money—and in the process hiring less-experienced mountain workers—will have that same act-of-god effect from time to time. There will be deaths—and headlines all over the world—even when a major storm or avalanche isn’t the cause. Face it, the daily squall is bad enough at 28,000 feet. The sun simply going down at the end of the day is a disaster when you’re cold and strung out. Calamities will hit the new operators a little harder, but Everest, Inc. points out that the old-guard operators put their share of clients and guides way out there beyond their abilities.

The book explains where the industry is headed and who’s taking it there. Cockrell gives an important and articulate voice to the Sherpas and Nepalis driving the current phase of commercial climbing, not just on Everest, but on each of the world’s highest mountains. There is a fitting balance to the story. Yes, there was a fascinating period when the great western Everest guides roamed the planet, brought the clients, hired the help, called the shots, and made the movies. But Everest, Inc. makes it clear that this era has passed, which isn’t really a bad thing. This future is fascinating, too, and the characters—this time from more diverse backgrounds—are still larger than life.

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Budget Tours & Trips to Everest Base Camp

Discover a varied offer of Everest Base Camp budget adventures that will take you through some of the most renowned destinations such as Kathmandu and Lukla. Each affordable tour will provide you with great experiences for some of the lowest prices on the market.

95 cheap Everest Base Camp tour packages with 377 reviews

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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 Base Camp Standard Trek- 14 Days

Gyanu was a fantastic, knowledgable and well organised guide who was focussed on ensuring that the Everest trek was an amazing experience. Despite me having a stomach upset, Gyanu ensured I met my goal to complete the trek by advising me to eat Dal Bhat ‘for 24 hour power’ and spending and spending an extra rest day at Namxhe Bazaar. Thanks to Gyanu and his Sherpa Ratna te Everest trek will remain one of my most special and spiritual journeys in over 20 years of independent travel.

Gokyo Valley to Everest Base Camp

I did the EBC and Gokyo trek with friends in Sept/Oct 2018 and it was the most amazing experience. Gyanu is an amazing guide!! Due to bad weather in Lukla we had to flight to Phaplu and start our trek from there, adding 2 extra days to our schedule, but he managed everything. His experience and knowledge of the area made our trip run smoothly. He was very conscious about safety and was checking on our physical and emotional health everyday. I had some pain in my knee, and he was always taking care of me whenever I needed. He was a very supportive and encouraging guide. I'm deeply grateful for all his support, all the knowledge he gave us about Nepal and his friendship.

Everest Base Camp Trek

Excellent and wonderful adventure

March-May, Sept-Dec 2024 - Everest Base Camp - Guided *TREK*

Chris and the Climbing Mountains team made trekking to Everest Base Camp an amazing experience!! They were exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced in both trekking and the local area - looking after our safety and wellbeing to ensure all 10 of us made it up to 5364m and back. We also got to see and experience the most incredible Nepalese traditions, history, and food along the trek, with the team organising all of these things for us. Their care and concern for not just our safety re: trekking to high altitudes, but that we had a great time along the way made the long endurance days and cold nights all worth it! We took the helicopter ride back from Kala Patthar to Kathmandu - taking in the breathtaking mountains and seeing from the air the long track and many towns we had trekked through - the perfect way to end a trip of a lifetime!

14 Days Budget Everest Base Camp Trekking

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trekking

Just returned from our 10 day EBC trek in January, and holy cow was it an amazing trip! Some of the best mountain views and terrain I've ever seen. I was worried about the difficulty of the trek, but our amazing guide, Fureng Sherpa, led us at a great pace to prevent any sickness. He was extremely knowledgeable about the region and could answer every question we asked. The views were incredible, but it wouldn't have been an as enjoyable trek without Fureng. Definitely would recommend this trek to anyone who wants to experience the Himalayas, and be sure to ask for Fureng

Everest Base Camp Trekking 14 Days

Me and brother did the Everest base camp trek, the trek was an amazing experience, and although most days were cloudy, when we reached Gorakshep the sky became clear and all the mountains that surrounded us became clear with unforgettable views. I would like to thank pasang our guide and his father (porter) for this amazing experience, they are experienced and helpful. We felt like a family around them.

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15 Days Adventure Everest Base Camp Trekking and Kathmandu City Sightseen at UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Nepal Trekking Company was referred to us by friends and we booked an EBC trek with them. The experience from first contact to the last interaction was very impressive and professional. They delivered on 100% of their commitments. Our guide, who's also one of the partners, was very experienced and knowledgable. Patient, willing to help and flexible with all reasonable requests. Arrangements were great, so was the choice of accommodation and food both in the city and in the mountains. In all, I have no hesitation in recccomending them and would gladly have them arrange my next adventure in Nepal. Great job, Santosh and Shraban and Thank You both for making my EBC experience a very memorable one!

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

Our hike to Everest Base Camp with Sherpa Expedition was undoubtedly one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had. From the breathtaking views to the immersion in Nepali culture, every moment of the journey was filled with awe and wonder. The views along the trek were simply breathtaking. The towering peaks of the Himalayas, the vast glaciers, and the picturesque valleys all contributed to a scenery that was nothing short of majestic. We were in constant awe of the natural beauty that surrounded us, and every step we took felt like a privilege. But the hike was not just about the views. It was also an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the rich and vibrant Nepali culture. From the warm hospitality of the locals to the traditional music and dances we encountered along the way, we were able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Nepali way of life. It was truly an awesome experience to witness firsthand the traditions and customs that make Nepal so unique. One of the factors that made our hike even more enjoyable was the weather. We were incredibly lucky to have beautiful sunny days throughout our journey. The clear skies allowed us to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring landscapes, and the pleasant weather made the trekking experience even more enjoyable. We cannot recommend Sherpa Expedition enough for their exceptional service and expertise. From the moment we booked our trip, they were attentive and responsive, ensuring that all our needs were met. The guides provided by Sherpa Expedition were knowledgeable, friendly, and always ready to offer assistance. They not only led us safely through the challenging terrains but also provided us with valuable insights into the local culture and environment. our hike to Everest Base Camp with Sherpa Expedition was an experience that will stay with us forever. The stunning views, the immersion in Nepali culture, and the exceptional service provided by Sherpa Expedition made it a truly unforgettable adventure. We strongly recommend Sherpa Expedition to anyone seeking an extraordinary trekking experience in the Himalayas.

13 Days Everest Base Camp Kala Patthar Trek

This was definitely the best decision we have made. Visit Himalayan treks is absolutely wonderful, Himal and his team really take the extra mile and made our experience something that I will treasure forever. I will be back for more adventure in the future.

Everest Base Camp Trek Service

The trek itself was amazing and was made much better with Himalayan Heart. Everything was perfectly organised and put in place prior to our arrival for example to the tea houses. Arjun was an excellent guide who is friendly, prepared, professional and an absolutely pleasure to have done the walk with. Hari took us out for dinner after we had gotten back from the trek to see how things were and see if we wanted to do any more activities during our time in Nepal (we opted for white water rafting). Big shout out to Ram too our porter whom always had a smile and arrived to our next destination much earlier than us! Couldn’t recommend Himalayan Heart enough and I am keen to go back to Nepal with them!

Short Everest Base Camp Trek

“The trip of a lifetime. The combination of ancient villages, the amazing Sherpa people, hair raising suspension bridges, our wonderful guide Bal, the colossal Himalayan mountains, the monks and beauty of the Tengboche Monastery, and finally, the unforgettable peak of Ama Dablam all combined to fill us with a state of spiritual AWE that we will never forget.”

Budget Tours & Trips to Everest Base Camp Reviews

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.

Fantastic experience Cannot credit the team at broad adventures enough. Trek was run perfectly well, communication and organisation was superb. The administrative team went above and beyond to deliver the best experience. We felt really secure and well looked after. The guide Gyanu is my favourite person ever!! Nicest man, knowledgeable, funny and the most iconic part of the trip. Porters unreal also. Loved everyone.

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Excerpt: What Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” Got Wrong About Everest

R eleased in 1997 the year after he was part of a disastrous Mount Everest expedition that resulted in eight climbers being killed when a blizzard struck near the summit, Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster was a national bestseller and helped earn him the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1999 .

In his new book, Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World , award-winning adventure journalist Will Cockrell re-contextualizes Krakauer’s work from nearly three decades ago by interviewing key Everest guiding industry players to see what Into Thin Air got right — and wrong.

As this excerpt from Everest, Inc. points out, Krakauer’s attempt to take take down the then-fledgling guiding industry may have had the opposite effect and instead attracted an entirely new group of climbers to Everest.

Given Krakauer’s own horrific experience in 1996 and subsequent grieving process for the friends he’d lost, it’s understandable that he would lash out at those he felt played a part in the degradation of climbing. Yet the fact is, you’d be hard-pressed to find an Everest guide who is a fan of Into Thin Air, and it has little to do with self-preservation. To them, his view of climbing is far too narrow, and he doesn’t get what guiding is about. He caricatured Everest clients too simplistically, and encouraged people to judge their motives and actions from afar.

Dave Hahn has known Krakauer for more than thirty years and counts him as a friend, but says they bicker. After getting his start at RMI, Hahn began working for IMG and soon became one of the best mountain guides not only on Everest, but throughout the world. Hahn’s grace on steep snow and ice and distinct physical features — tall, with a pronounced nose and chin, and huge hands — make him seem larger than life. He likes to tell stories and is known for his subtle one-liners and self-deprecating sense of humor.

The Nova documentary Mountain of Ice is a fascinating window into Hahn’s dynamic with Krakauer. The film is about a team of climbers on Mount Vinson in Antarctica in 2001, of which Krakauer, Hahn and Conrad Anker were members. On camera, Krakauer becomes frustrated with Hahn for suggesting a safer route that will allow the less experienced documentary crew to continue ascending with them. Krakauer says that it may be time to just leave the crew behind. “I’ve been on one guided expedition in my life and it was the biggest mistake I ever made,” he says, referring to 1996. “I’ve seen what happens when very good guides make one bad decision with clients who don’t have the skill or experience to look after themselves. I swore I would never be in this position again.”

Alex Honnold’s Biggest Worry While Free Soloing Isn’t Falling. It’s Climate Change.

But Anker is in charge, and defers to Hahn, who held the record for most summits of Vinson at that point as well as of Everest, among Western climbers. They all end up summiting together as a group.

“Dave was right, it worked,” Krakauer later says to camera. “It was a remarkable bit of guiding. I came away with a great deal more respect for him after seeing what he did.”

He might have respected Hahn, but he hadn’t changed his mind about guided clients. Those who hired Hahn because they didn’t have the experience to ascend and descend a slope safely on their own were still a problem, in his eyes.

“I just never thought that Jon understood guiding at all — despite the fact that he’d written the best-selling book about guiding,” says Hahn today. “He didn’t view it as legitimate, he didn’t view guided clients as climbers, didn’t even view guides as climbers. I do go into less dangerous settings than Jon, or, say, Conrad, but I’m happy to do it regularly, with novices, and depend on their abilities and my abilities. I was once a client.”

Something else that Krakauer didn’t — and perhaps couldn’t have — understood was the effect that Into Thin Air would have on the Everest guiding industry. He assumed his story would serve as the ultimate cautionary tale about the mountain. So did David Hamilton, a Jagged Globe guide who had not been to Everest yet but was guiding often on 7,000- and 8,000-meter mountains in Pakistan when Into Thin Air came out. “I remember thinking nobody was going to want to go to Everest now — and that I’ll probably never get to guide Everest. In fact, I remember Steve Bell saying, ‘Welp, I guess we’ll just have to focus on the six other Seven Summits.’”

But Eric Simonson — who was not on Everest but with clients on Cho Oyu in the spring of 1996 — immediately recognized what was coming next. It was Bass’s Seven Summits book, times ten. “I knew our Everest business was about to go through the roof,” he says.

Simonson understood a crucial, uncomfortable fact: the specter of death is not a deterrent — it’s what makes many people want to climb Everest in the first place.

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The post Excerpt: What Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” Got Wrong About Everest appeared first on InsideHook .

How climbing Mount Everest went from heroic feat to business proposition

In ‘everest, inc.’ journalist will cockrell tells the story of the big business of a very tall mountain.

It’s hard to imagine how monumental Britain’s successful summit of Mount Everest was in 1953. Fourteen previous attempts — three major British ones alone between 1921 and 1924 — had failed to conquer the 29,035-foot-high peak. Expeditions were military in scale, requiring huge teams and tons of supplies. They were also intimately bound up with entrenched ideas of class. George Finch, one of the strongest mountaineers in the nation and a pioneer in the use of supplemental oxygen, who had made it to around 27,000 feet in 1922, was blocked from being part of the 1924 expedition because of his pedigree, or lack thereof. In 1924, two of the nation’s best climbers, Sandy Irvine and George Mallory, vanished on the mountain. The victorious effort in 1953 was led by a military officer born in the British Raj. When the news broke in London just in time for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, it was broadcast over speakers along the queen’s parade route. This was a triumph of imperial ambition, the kind of feat that only a Western empire could produce.

Or so it seemed then. “ Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World ,” by Will Cockrell, tells the story of how those impossible and deadly heights have now been summitted, according to one recent count , 11,966 times by 6,664 people. The vast majority of them are clients who pay upward of six figures for the privilege of being led up the mountain clutching prefixed rope handrails, breathing bottled oxygen cached by others, after several weeks of living in a sprawling base camp city of thousands in carpeted, heated and well-fed luxury. Some particularly high-end clients start acclimatizing weeks early in plastic bubbles delivered to their homes. Recent summiteers have included blind people, two 13-year-olds, septuagenarians and even double amputees.

Making Everest as easily purchased as a Caribbean cruise did not happen immediately. For years after 1953, the mountain remained a singular test of alpine skill and endurance. Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit in 1963; Reinhold Messner the first to summit without supplemental oxygen in 1978. In the early 1980s, two events coincided. Lou Whittaker, Jim’s twin brother, himself an elite climber and owner of a guiding service, decided to attempt Everest via a first ascent of the North Wall, a new and difficult route. And a rich, middle-aged Texan named Dick Bass, creator of Snowbird Ski Resort, hatched an idea to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Whittaker needed $180,000to fund his expedition, and Bass agreed to pay for the entire thing — if he got to tag along. “It was the unlikeliest of alliances,” Cockrell writes. “No mountain guide had ever brought someone to Everest before, bearing explicit responsibility for that person’s success and safety.”

Bass reached the summit on his third try, in 1985 at the age of 55, thanks in large part to all the money he’d thrown at the endeavor. “The legend of Dick Bass was born not in the moment when he staggered into Everest base camp safely,” Cockrell writes. “It was when the man they called Large Mouth Bass began telling stories [and] the whole idea of climbing Everest began to change in the public eye.” There was no unseeing it: This staggeringly difficult athletic feat that money could not buy was a commodity after all.

“Everest, Inc.” is an apt title, because the story it tells is ultimately a business one — how Western climbing guides turned Everest from a feat of will and ability into one of logistics. Technology made oxygen lighter and more reliable, with much higher flow rates, and the mountain’s fickle weather more predictable. Posher camps enabled weaker climbers more rest. Sherpas, formerly used as high-altitude beasts of burden, became skilled alpinists; one named Kami Rita Sherpa has summited the peak 29 times. Everest was thus decoded: In 1993 alone, more climbers reached the top in one season than in the 26 years after the first ascent.

Of course, death lurked. When Bass met Whittaker, more people had died trying to summit than had made it. To a certain kind of person, it turns out, there’s no headier allure. The eight who perished during the 1996 season, an event exhaustively covered by the kind of magazines Cockrell has long written for — among them, Outside and Men’s Journal — and then in Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air,” only amped the climb’s popularity. “To the potential clients, the possibility of death was an opportunity for rebirth,” Cockrell writes. “All our trips filled up after [the 1996 deaths],” a guide told him. “I felt like I could sell a penny-size Everest rock for fifteen grand.”

Is all of this Everest access a good thing? As the author of a book about the guides and the guiding industry that brought this change, Cockrell doesn’t have much choice in answering; for him it’s a hard yes. It’s still the world’s highest mountain, after all, with all that entails — danger, effort, a profound experience (no matter how reduced) that takes weeks, a killer view. Why shouldn’t anyone get to experience that? But it’s hard not to look at those pictures of clients stacked on the side of the mountain in long lines, clutching their handrails, and not think: Gross . That something fundamental to exploration and adventure and the human experience of it has been lost, is lost; that the thing they’ve purchased is a thing so vastly different from its very idea as to render it meaningless.

“Everest, Inc.” feels too rah-rah in support of the industry, sometimes, and it would have been a better book if Cockrell had slowed down and plumbed those philosophical questions more deeply. There are also too many names — I counted 39 on one page alone — and it’s odd that he never delves into the dramatic expansion of helicopters that abets both rescues and logistics. Yet there is also a much more recent part of the Everest story that is important and powerful: the gradual awakening of Sherpas to their role and skills — and long exploitation — on the mountain. In a history inextricably woven with colonialism and empire, Everest has finally become a largely Nepalese business. The five biggest companies operating on the mountain are now owned, staffed and guided by Nepalese. If someone is going to make a buck out of selling the once-revered icon, it might as well be the locals.

Carl Hoffman is the author of five books, including “Liar’s Circus,” “The Last Wild Men of Borneo” and “Savage Harvest.”

Everest, Inc.

The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World

By Will Cockrell

Gallery. 331 pp. $29.99

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Senior Pilgrims Travel to Europe

• April 16, 2024
• Everest Collegiate High School , Student Life
• Class of 2024 , Everest Collegiate High School , Senior Pilgrimage

When war erupted in the Middle East last fall, the EC formation team pivoted quickly to make alternative plans for the annual EC senior pilgrimage. When communicating the adjusted plans to parents of the seniors, school chaplain Fr. Thomas Salazar, LC, shared:

“In looking for an alternative option, we took into account a few principles that we have regarding this pilgrimage. The first is that this trip is a pilgrimage. We want to maintain the tradition of offering a spiritual experience for our seniors that will prepare them as they leave Everest and face the next step in their young lives. Secondly, we are pleased to take the opportunity to offer them a trip that they may not necessarily have the opportunity to make at another time in their lives. Barcelona is an exciting city with much to see from a cultural and spiritual perspective. Lourdes is a beautiful pilgrimage destination tucked away in the mountains of France. It was there that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. We will also visit the Monastery of Montserrat, which is a popular pilgrimage site located on a mountainside not too far from Barcelona.”

The students who attended the trip had an amazing experience, the highlight for many of them was the time they spent in Lourdes.

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Everest 2024 : Nepal to remove trash and dead bodies - Nepal Forum

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Everest 2024 : Nepal to remove trash and dead bodies

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https://edition.cnn.com/travel/mount-everest-trash-removal-2024-intl-hnk/index.html

"The 2024 climbing season will be the first to require all climbers to use government-distributed poop bags and bring their waste back down with them from the higher mountain camps.

“Each person produces 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of excrement a day and they will spend two weeks on the higher camps for the summit push,” Diwas Pokhrel, first vice president of Everest Summiteers Association, told CNN last month.

In addition, 2024 will be the first time that all Everest climbers are issued tracking chips, which can aid in search and rescue missions."

7 replies to this topic

tracking chips... actually will be RECCO tags, which will not be that useful.

Better to put the chip in the poopbag, that way they can tell if people are using them - which I doubt will happen.

I imagine they would have a sherpa on duty with the primary job of carrying western clients poop bags through the camps up to the summit and back.

Trip of a lifetime.

If anything sums up Everest tourism as opposed to 'conquest', it is Nepalis carrying rich people's excrement up and down the mountain.

At least it will create more Jobbies for the locals

Sad but true 😔

• Visa 10:35 am
• Best cultural trek, not extreme altitude? 10:31 am
• Breathtaking videos of Nepal 8:54 am
• Pheriche, Deboche, Pangboche? today
• Manaslu or Gokyo today
• Land border crossings with India today
• From what date visa extention nepal yesterday
• Permits yesterday
• Jiri - Three Passes. Itinerary and ideas yesterday
• Question on NOC for Indians yesterday
• paying for visa on arrival at airport Apr 14, 2024
• EBC trek recommendation, who to use, what to bring/weather. Apr 14, 2024
• Trekking to Everest Base Camp Apr 14, 2024
• Mera Peak advice Please! Apr 13, 2024
• World Expeditions- anyone used them? 7 replies
• Kolkata to Nepal/Kathmandu transport options 3 replies
• Nepal tour operators 5 replies
• Accommodation in Boudha, near the Stupa 3 replies
• Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara 8 replies
• Hire car with driver from Kathmandu 94 replies
• ashrams in nepal? 29 replies
• Flight to Kathmandu from India 2 replies
• Is Nepal safe for travel: May 2012? 13 replies
• Dashain 2012 2 replies
• Itinerary for Gosainkund and Helambu
• New Sticky Thread for posters to add their recent Nepal trip / trek reports.