NEPAL - Everest the Hard Way Trek
Complete high level circuit of the Khumbu ~ Gokyo Ri, Kala Patar and Chukung Ri ~ Renjo La, Cho La and Komgma La ~ Everest Basecamp ~ KE Western Leader plus Sherpa guides and full support crew
3 nights hotels and lodges, 17 nights camping, 18 days strenuous trekking,
Max. Altitude – c.5600m. / 18,000ft.
All meals included
strenuous
This superb new itinerary makes a complete high-level circuit of all the major valleys of the Khumbu, utilising three high passes which link the valleys of Thame, Gokyo, Khumbu and Chukung.In each of these valleys we have the option to make an ascent of a walk-up peak for classic views of Everest and other Himalayan giants. Visiting the major sights of the Everest trail, plus villages and valleys which are off the beaten track, this trek goes way beyond the normal experience of an Everest basecamp trek. We begin with a spectacular flight to the airstrip at Lukla. From here we gain height gradually as we follow in the footsteps of the 1953 expedition to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. Beyond Namche we turn off the main Everest trail and ascend a quieter valley to the less visited but non-the-less important Sherpa settlement of Thame. After a visit to the monastery here we take an acclimatisation walk towards the Tesi Labcha pass for a unique perspective on the mountains of the Khumbu. Acclimatised, we then head north on an ancient salt traders’ route to Tibet. From the valley of the Bhote Khosi we cross the challenging and spectacular Renjo La (5340m. / 17,520ft.) to reach the holy lakes of Gokyo beneath Cho Oyu, the World’s 6th highest mountain. Options to visit the ‘fifth lake’ and an ascent of the walk-up peak of Gokyo Ri provide stunning views of Everest, Makalu and the nearby Cho Oyu. We then make the crossing of another spectacular pass, the Cho La (5420m. / 17,780ft.) to enter the main Khumbu Valley, close to the base camp for the south side of Everest. After visiting the base camp itself and making an ascent of Kala Patar, we cross our final pass, the Kongma La (17,716ft.) to enter the valley of the Imja Khola and reach Chukung one of the furthest outposts of Sherpa habitation, nestled at the foot of the tremendous south face of Lhotse, the World’s 4th highest mountain. The return journey to Lukla passes beneath Ama Dablam before joining the main Everest Trail, leading through many small Sherpa villages and including visits to the famous monasteries at Pangboche and Thyangboche. For those who like a challenge and those who just have to see everything, this trek really does have it all.
Trip Guide
The majority of the time on this itinerary you will be walking on good paths and yak trails, providing straightforward walking conditions. Climbing to cross the three principal passes on the circuit offers more difficult trekking conditions, mainly due to the relatively high altitudes. Crossing these passes will involve negotiating slopes of loose rock and scree. In addition the Cho La pass is glaciated and often snow covered. The optional walk-up peaks and viewpoints and the trek to Everest base-camp require no technical equipment or experience but each presents a challenging climb at altitude. In order to provide a comprehensive tour of the Khumbu, the trekking programme is necessarily ambitious and we have given this trip our STRENUOUS grade to reflect this. If the optional walk-up peaks and excursion to basecamp are not included (taken as rest days) this trip will be one or two grade points easier. The trip should be within the capabilities of fit and active hill-walkers who have put in some extra training leading up to the trek.. It should be noted that trekking at altitudes up to and over 5000 metres / 16,000 feet is always strenuous.
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NEPAL - Everest Classic Basecamp Trek
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NEPAL - Everest Classic Basecamp Trek
NEPAL - Everest: The Ultimate Everest Basecamp Trek
NEPAL - Everest Panorama
The trip pages are only a brief summary of the details available within our trip dossiers. It is important that you read the full day to day description and further information for this trip before making your booking.
Download a dossier for NEPAL - Everest the Hard Way Trek
