Mt. Everest (8848.86m) Southside Expedition

You'll be welcomed at the airport by a representative from Altitude Experts Trips & Expedition who will escort you to the hotel room, booked in advance for you.  

You'll be staying in Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu. Thamel is bounded by outdoor shops (ranging from local to brand name shops such as Mountain Hardwear, The North Face, and Sherpa Gear), hotels, bar & restaurants, spas, a few pharmacies and music shops. In the evening, you will be treated to a delightful welcome dinner at a top-notch restaurant in Kathmandu.  

After a delectable breakfast, set out on a refreshing sightseeing tour of Kathmandu's ancient city. A licensed and expert tour guide will be at your service, and a comfortable private vehicle will be at your disposal.

The day's itinerary includes visits to the grand Boudhanath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, the iconic Swambhunath Stupa, also known as the monkey temple, the historical Kathmandu Durbar Square with its ancient King's palace, and the enlightening Narayanhiti King's palace Museum.

The evening concludes as you are safely transported back to your hotel. Enjoy your evening in Kathmandu strolling the streets of Thamel and shopping for some souvenirs if you like.  

Our experienced mountain guide team will visit your hotel to inspect all the climbing gear we suggested for your expedition. We'll categorize and pack the gear into two separate duffle bags—one for the trek and the other directly destined for the basecamp. In the evening, you'll have the flexibility to indulge in any last-minute shopping or preparations. At the same time, you have a final chance to check up on your equipment and pack up the baggage.   

After having breakfast, you will be escorted to the domestic terminal from which you will fly on a 30-minute flight by way of a twin-otter plane to the Lukla airstrip with breathtaking views of the Himalayas, dense jungles, hills, terrain, and villages. Our staff will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you to the hotel for short management of luggage. 

(Due to new regulations, the flights to Lukla may likely operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap District. An early morning start requires waking up at 2 am to embark on a four-hour drive from Kathmandu to Manthali. From there, you'll take a breathtaking 20-minute flight to Lukla.) 

The journey begins on foot from here. We walk through the beautiful Lukla bazaar, filled with lodges, tea houses, cafés, and trekking shops. After a brief walk down from Lukla, we reach Chheplung village from where you can see the holy Mountain, Khumbi Yulha (Khumbu’s god). We continue our journey to Thadokoshi village from where you can have the best view of Kusum Kangkaru to the east. After walking for half an hour, we will reach Ghat which is flatter part with terraced fields of potato, spinach, and mustard. After a half-hour walk from Ghat, we reach the beautiful village of Phakding where we stay overnight.  

After meandering through the lodges and tea houses, we cross the suspension bridge over the Dudhkosi River into the beautiful pine jungle crossing several tea houses. After walking through Benkar, Chumoa and Monju, we enter the Sagarmatha National Park. We descend down steep stairs, past terraced fields and houses, finally crossing the suspension bridge to reach the last village Jorsale where we stop for lunch before reaching Namche. 

After lunch we pass through the village of Jorsale, cross another suspension bridge, and walk along the bank of the Bhotekoshi River for about half an hour. From here we climb for 10 minutes and cross the highest suspension bridge in the valley.  We continue to climb up the steep hill to Topdanda inside the pine jungle. From Topdanda we get the first view of Mt. Everest. Sometimes, locals sell water and fruits which you can share with friends. After walking an hour we pass the police checkpoint and continue our journey for half an hour to reach the beautiful Sherpa village, Namche Bazar. 

Namche Bazar is jam-packed with hotels, outdoor shops, bars & restaurants, cafés and local tea houses. Namche Bazar used to be part of the salt trade route between Tibet and Nepal. It is one of the biggest Sherpa villages in the valley. You can visit Sherpa museums, Tenzing Norgay Park, National Park’s museum and Namche Gomba as per your interest. 

In the morning, we hike to Hotel Everest View. It is recommended by health experts to take an acclimatization day at Namche to prepare our body for the trek ahead. We climb a steep incline for an hour to the Syangboche airport, enjoying the view of Khumbi Yulha, Thamserku, Kongde, Kusum Khangkaru and Namche Bazar below. Then we walk 20 minutes to the Panorama Hotel from where surprisingly you will see the panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam, Tabuche, and surrounding mountains. We walk through a hilly cliff to the Hotel Everest View. You can have tea/coffee on your own enjoying the view of breathtaking mountains for about a half hour. Then we go down the same way to Namche Bazaar.  

Today, we walk for two hours up to the Kyangjuma village. We will come across two memorial stupas and will have a good view of Mt. Everest and the surrounding mountains. From Kyangjuma, we gradually descend to the Sanasa through the rhododendron forest. Then we walk alongside of rocky cliff as we descend and cross Laushasa village and enter into the pine forest. After 40 minutes we reach Fungitanga. We cross the suspension bridge over the Dudhkoshi River and will have lunch on the other side of Fungitanga. 

After lunch we ascend the steep hill for about two and half hours to Tengboche through rhododendron and pine forest, surrounded by views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Kongde, and Amadablam. We will visit Tengboche Monastery to see a puja ceremony which takes place every day at 3 pm. 

Leaving Tengboche and Debuche behind, we pass through rhododendron and pine forests, we will see a nunnery, a few lodges and many tea houses. Then, we cross the suspension bridge, mani walls, and stupa from where we get a perfect view of Amadablam, arriving shortly at the village of Pangboche where we pass some shops and local houses. Continuing for one and half hours, we will arrive at Somare for lunch. 

From Somare, it’s just one and half hour to Dingboche. The valley begins to open wide as we reach Orsho. We walk towards the North-east direction (lower path to Dingboche). We descend into the Lobuche River and begin the steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche. We stay overnight at Dingboche in a lodge. 

On this acclimatization day, we take a walk up to the Nangkarchang viewpoint offers one of the best panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Mt. Makalu and Mt. Cho-yu, both of which tower above 8000 m. We will stay about twenty minutes and descend down following the same trail back to Dingboche to stay overnight.  

After having breakfast, we follow the trail to Lobuche which goes gradually up for two hours. Descending down to the Dudhkoshi River and across the bridge, we then climb to Thukla village where we will stop for lunch.  

After having lunch, we take the rocky trail up to the Everest memorial plateau, Dhukla, where several memorials have been built up in the memory of those who lost their life on Everest. We continue our walk for about one hour to reach Lobuche and stay overnight. Lobuche is a small village hidden behind a hill with very few lodges.  

On this day, we leave early and walk on the rocky trail along the right side of Khumbu glacier towards Gorakshep. It's drier and you will feel the thin air. At the end edge of the glacier lies Gorakshep.  

After a quick tea break, we begin our trek to the Everest Base Camp. The hike is challenging, and it is imperative that we bring enough water and food as the thinning oxygen levels add extra strain on the body. The challenge is worth it though as we enter the camp to see spectacular views of Khumbu Icefall, glaciers and surrounding mountains up close. 

Our team will welcome us at our home away from home for a couple of months. After having a great lunch prepared by our experienced chef, you will provide comfortable home-shaped tents. We are trying to adjust our bodies to the altitude.  

Phase 1: Puja ceremony & Training  

After we reach base camp, we will get 1- or 2-days leisure day to acclimatize our bodies well. Our sherpa team will decide our puja day on a very auspicious day according on the lunar calendar. Puja ceremony in other word is taking permission with nature to step on their body. The local ethnic group from the valley believes that all mountain has its own gods and goddesses, so we need to take permission before we step on. Puja ceremony is performed by a monk from the nearby village, Pangboche. Your guide will instruct you well on the day before the ceremony. The day will be full of relaxation, enjoyment, dancing, and singing. 

After the day of the auspicious puja ceremony, your training session will start for two days. One of our best climbing guides will lead a session that includes gear demonstration, walking on crampons, use of technical gears and walking on fix lines etc. Our team of guides will instruct you about using all technical gears and set up the fix line near our camp in lower ice fall and show you the demo of walking on the fix line using your high altitude all-in-one boot and crampon. The pre-basic training session will take place for one or two days in basecamp.  

After a great training of one or two days, our Phase 1 of climbing is done, and you are ready to climb up further.  

Phase 2: Acclimatization rotation on the Mountain.  

We designed the best rotation that suits all levels of people who live at sea level, to acclimatize well on the mountain.  

Rotation 1: Lobuche Peak Climbing 

The Labuche peak climbing is considered as the first acclimatization rotation and training session for Everest Expedition. Labuche peak climbing is an advantage tour for the clients of Everest expedition for which clients are not paying any extra for the 6000 meters peak climbing. This acclimatization rotation is designed to make less movements in Khumbu ice fall. 

Day 1: Trek to High Camp (5,400m), 6 hours walk. 

After some days of acclimatization rests, trainings and great puja at basecamp with our team, our first rotation of climbing starts. After a great breakfast at our own camp, we will retrace the same trail back to labuche. Today our camp will be at High Camp, the last camp before the summit. Having lunch at Labuche village, our journey starts on a rocky moraine trail towards the High Camp which takes around 3 hours from the village, where we will sleep in tents and have the meals prepared by our staff.     

Overnight at High Camp.  

Day 2: Summit Push to Labuche East (6119m) and back to High Camp, 10-12 hours walk. 

We will wake up after midnight and leave between 2 am to 3 am depending upon various factors. We will be climbing on rock surface till 5800m. After that we will be climbing on ice and use both main rope and fixed line. However, the use of the ropes and length of the rope depends upon the season and crevasses. It takes around 6-7 hours to reach the summit. The summit offers an excellent panoramic view of Mt. Everest along with Khumbu glacier, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cholatse, Amadablam, nearby lakes and villages and some part of Rongbuk side to the Tibetan side. We will shortly celebrate the ascent and capture moments and descend down to High Camp where our staff will be waiting for us with hot soup. 

 Overnight at High Camp. 

Day 3: Back to Basecamp  

After a successful ascent of Lobuche east, our 1st rotation of the Everest Expedition is done. Today we will take the same route to the basecamp. And will have 3-4 days’ good rest by doing laundry, good hot showers and having great food. 

Rotation 2: Touch camp 7000 masl/ 22900ft, 7-8hrs. 

Day 1: Basecamp to camp I ,6065 meters (19900 feet)  

The camp I of Mt. Everest lies above the Khumbu Ice fall 6km(3.7miles) far from basecamp. Today we are walking through Khumbu Icefall. We start our journey at midnight to avoid the sun in the icefall.Our climbing guide will instruct you about the gears and clothing, what should pack in and not. Our support sherpa team will help you to carry tents, your sleeping bag, insulated flame mattress and some snacks. We expect you to carry a minimum of 15kg of wight.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 765 meters (2509ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6065masl/ 22900ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 7-8hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready-to-eat packet foods. 

Day 2: Hike to western CWM and back to Camp I. 

The second day will be an easy day for us. Today we are hiking towards camp 2 on western cwm and will back to camp 1 again for the night. 

Approx Elevation Gain: 200meters (656ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6250meters (20205ft.) 

Approx walking Hour: 4 hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tent. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready to eat packet foods. 

Day 3: Camp I to Camp II, 6400 meters (21300 feet).  

We start our day in late the morning today. It is about 2.8km (1.74 miles) from camp 1 to camp II with an altitude gain of 350meters (1200ft.). So, it is not far and not that high but is very hot at midday. The trail is easier than the Khumbu icefall, but it still has some risk of avalanches from west shoulder and Mt. Nuptse. The trail goes through the western CWM in between the west shoulder of Everest and Mt. Nuptse.   

Approx Elevation Gain: 350meters (1200ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 6400masl/ 21300ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 5 hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

We will have a well-managed kitchen and dining at camp II where we can eat comfortably. Our experienced high-altitude chef will prepare hygienic and delicious food for you at camp. 

Day 4: Touch Camp III, 7300meters (23950ft.) and back to Camp II. 

Today we climb on icy slopes of Lhotse face. We are trying to reach camp III but it is not necessary. At least we will touch 7000 meters. Your guide will decide and instruct you all about the plans and climb.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 600meters (1960ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 7000masl/ 22900ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 7 hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

You are provided with a well-cooked and prepared meal by the chef. 

Day 5: back to basecamp. 

We will retrace the same way back to base camp today. We start our journey early in the morning to avoid the sun in the middle of icefall. 

With these five days of acclimatization rotation, we will complete our second phase of the expedition.  

Phase 3: Summit rotation  

After the hard work out, training and some relaxation, finally the most awaited moments will come. Our guide team will decide our summit rotations based on favorable weather conditions, less traffic, completion of fixed line on mountain and other conditions. Normally the summit rotation will like following: 

• Day 1: Basecamp to camp II
• Day 2: Rest Day at Camp II 
• Day 3: Camp II to Camp III 

Approx Elevation Gain: 900meters (2950ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 7300masl/ 23900ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 6-7hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready to eat packet foods. 

Difficulty: technical climb on Icy steep slope. 

Expected weight of your bag: 15 kg 

• Day 4: Camp III to South Col Camp IV 

Approx Elevation Gain: 600meters (1960ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 7900masl/ 25900ft. 

Approx. walking hours: 8-9hrs. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready to eat packet foods. 

Difficulty: technical climb on Icy steep slope and some rocky sections. 

Expected weight of your bag: 15 kg 

• Day 5: Summit Day 

Finally, the most awaited day will arrive. After reaching camp IV in the evening, we will have some hours rest and our summit push begins at midnight. You will be provided with 1 bottle of oxygen for the rest and another four bottles for the summit.  

Approx Elevation Gain: 948.86meters (3145.86ft.) 

Highest Elevation: 8848.86 meters (29031.69 feet) 

Approx. walking hours: 10hrs. climbing up and 6 hrs. down. 

Overnight at VE25 tent or equivalent mountain tents. 

All foods provided are high altitude ready to eat packet foods. 

*Depending on the weather condition and your body condition we will decide about either staying in south Col or back to camp II after summiting. Most of the climbers don’t want to spend more night at 7900 meters so they are trying to go back to camp II the same day. 

• Day 6: Back to camp II. 
• Day 7: Back to Basecamp. 

Note: Our guide will decide at basecamp about the date of summit and rotations, The itinerary can be changed depending on your physical condition, speeds, times and other factors.  

You will have an option of heli out from basecamp with some extra charges.

We will cross tengboche monastery. 

Today is the last day for us in the Himalaya.

It takes 35-45 mins flight for us to reach Kathmandu. Upon the new rules of civil aviation of Nepal, we may take a flight to Manthali airport than drive for 5 hrs to Kathmandu. 

You will have a some time for shopping and exploring the kathmandu . You will be invited for success/ farewell dinner with our team .

Our representative will drop you to the international airport.