Mount Everest (8,848m), the highest mountain peak in the world stands as a natural ‘boundary pillar’ on the border between the Sagarmatha zone, Nepal, and Tibet in China. Its surroundings extend into the Sagarmatha National Park of Nepal to the south and the Qomolangma Nature Preserve of Tibet (China) to the north. The peak is popularly known by its three names. The official Nepali name, Sagarmatha (meaning a forehead reaching the sky), was given by the Nepalese government in the early 1960s. The Tibetan name, Chomolungma or Qomolangma (Mother Goddess), has been widely known in the local community for centuries. The English name, Everest, was dedicated by the Royal Geographical Society of London in 1913 in honor of the former Surveyor General of India, George Everest (1887-1900). In March 1856, the peak was declared as the highest on the earth following several years of field surveys and calculations. It has been a source of inspiration and a lifetime destination to many adventures, mountaineers, explorers, trekkers, and nature lovers ever since it has been identified as the highest peak. The first successful ascent of the peak was made by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953. By 2007, there had been 3,679 ascents to the summit by 2,436 individuals with 210 casualties. The Khumbu region where Everest lies is considered to be the most rugged landscape on earth. It is said that the peak along with the entire Himalayan range is rising 4mm per year due to plate, tectonics. Its surroundings include glaciers, ice falls, lakes, rivers, cliffs, and gorges. For its stunning topography including the other eight thousand, the Sagarmatha National Park has been inscribed in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Mountain flights operating from Kathmandu are very popular among visitors for aerial views of the world’s highest peaks. A convenient means of reaching the Khumbu region is to take a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla airport.

An Important Notice Flight to Lukla in Early Autumn and Early Spring Season.

Flight to Lukla:

Lukla airport (Tenzing Hilari airport) based on 2840m/9,317ft from the sea level. Because of the crucial weather in the Himalayas, flight can’t be 100% guaranteed. There are few chances of flight cancellation because of weather changes. This airport is the shortest gateway to the Mt. Everest region trekking/peak climbing and Expedition. Concerning the time limit of your vacation, we would like to notice that the flight Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu might get delayed by a few hours or sometimes it may be canceled for one, two, three, or more days due to bad weather conditions. Especially it happens in tourist off-season like January, February, July, and August but sometime such conditions may happen even in the best season throughout the year either at the beginning or at the end of the trip. That is why we notice you are prepared for a couple of spare/buffer days except your exact travel Itinerary while you are entering to Everest region trekking and peak climbing. Of course, helicopter rescue service is available in such conditions upon your request but the 4-5 seater Heli charges around USD 3000.00 (USD Three Thousand more or less) which is a quite hefty amount of money. If In case of flight delay/cancellation at the beginning of the trip and if you will be interested, you may use your buffer days for additional activities like Rafting, Sightseeing, and short hiking around Kathmandu valley as a rehearsal of your long trekking. There are plenty of alternative trips on your choice if the flight cancellation disturbs your travel schedule. In option, you may do similar days trekking in the Manasalu, Langtang, Annapurna, or any other regions or you may wait in Kathmandu until to get a flight to Lukla instead of taking an alternative tour/trek. However, please note that there will be no refund of the package and services if you do not take a similar day’s alternative trekking and lose your time waiting at the airport and do a short trek later because of time limitations. If the flight is delayed/cancelation at Lukla after the trek, you will be responsible for oneself your expenses. Of course, all the time we will be with you to manage any unexpected situation that will appear while you will be with us during your vacation to Nepal.

Fitness requirements: 

To climb a high mountain need an extremely good physical fit shape. Basic physical fitness has to start in your home country. Running, Cycling, Trekking in mountains, and climbing some low-elevation mountains is the best training for Everest and other 8000rs mountains. This type of cardiovascular training increase the lung capacity to deliver a sufficient amount of oxygen to your brain tissues even at an extremely low level of Oxygen. We recommend more days in the base camp for those interested in climbing mountains. Acclimatization and rehearsal on the base camp of the climbing mountain both personal psychological adaptation capacity as well as cardiovascular capacity. Some of those people no matter how fit they are at sea level may not be able to adapt to high altitude, So need plenty of acclimatization days for the adaptation capacity in their bodies.

Altitude hazards and complications:

As altitude increases, the partial pressure of oxygen decreases in your bloodstream. Your lungs will absorb oxygen from the air and deliver it to your blood for distribution to the rest of your body. This is called partial oxygen pressure. If there’s not enough oxygen in the blood, this can lead to High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Sustained exposure to low levels of oxygen can cause frostbite and hypothermia. At high elevations due to lower UV absorption by the atmosphere, there is a risk of sunburn too. Also, other hazards include broken bones due to falls, avalanches, or ice falls.

Oxygen: 

With over 6500m of mountain climbing in Nepal, we recommend supplementing oxygen. Among all the 8000ers mountains, Everest is a unique mountain, which requires more Oxygen than any other mountain at over 8000 meters. We suggest to all our clients climb Everest with at least two bottles of supplemental Oxygen to be secure for emergency use. How much Oxygen one requires is an individual decision, some people climb without supplement oxygen too, and some want one bottle at least. It depends on the previous experience of the climber. We suggest every expedition member must have at least one Oxygen bottle for emergency rescue use to get down from the death zone to at least camp 4 of Mt. Everest. Our experience indicates five Oxygen bottles are usually sufficient for the average climber. All our equipment is easy to use and guaranteed for safety. Does not need any extra tools to use it. If the unused masks, regulators, and oxygen bottles are in good condition, we may consider buying them back at 20% valued cost.

Note: It is recommended to hire a personal Sherpa. Normally you have to carry some or all of your own Oxygen up and down the mountain even on Summit day. Although our group of Sherpas is helpful and will help stock the high camps, as well as share in carrying extra bottles during summit attempts. If you will not able to carry your own Oxygen, hiring a personal Sherpa is the best idea for your safety.

Personal food:

Along with positive thoughts, Food is the most important element of our expedition and we will ensure that you are well-fed at all times. Our skillful cooks will prepare three delicious meals a day in base camp, also in Camp I and Camp II on the mountain (Even on Camp II of Mt. Everest.) This will consist of soup, local cheese, sausage, biscuits, noodles, potatoes and porridge, butter, dried and tinned vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish. Tea with milk and sugar, dried juice, Milk, and hot chocolate. At high altitudes, you may feel affected by altitude sickness and you will lose appetite so it is important to have flavors you most likely will consume. If there are any religious and cultural specific unusual personal food requirements that might be secure with imported products bring them with you. In this case, You are required to bring your own energetic imported food, energy drinks, and snack.

Even if you can buy in Kathmandu, we recommend you bring a variety of high-altitude food such as Mars, Snackers, Some other types of Chocolate, dry nuts, energetic tube drinks, instant altitude food, pastries, and biscuits. Normally we do not provide snacks and high-altitude foods. We may guide you to buy it in Kathmandu or you may bring it from your home. However a growing range of imported foods, including European and American cheeses, chocolates, and biscuits are now available in Kathmandu, Some of your own imported brands of energy bars and instant food may not be available. If you want these items, you must bring them from your home country. Many of our clients purchase their daily snacks in the Mart and Departmental store in Kathmandu. In our regular Itinerary, we have scheduled shopping time too.