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• VIP EVEREST EXPEDITION (8848.86M)
• MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION (8848.86M) - SOUTH
• MT. MANASLU EXPEDITION (8163M)
• MT. AMADABLAM EXPEDITION (6812M)
• EVEREST BASE CAMP (EBC) TREK

MT. MANASLU EXPED.

Scheduled 8000m Expedition for Upcoming Autumn (2024), to the 8th highest peak (8,163m) in the world.

MT. AMA DABLAM EXPED.

Stunning & Technically Challenging peak, Scheduled for Spring and Autumn 2024.

EVEREST BASECAMP TREK

Embark on the ultimate adventure to Everest Basecamp and witness the breathtaking beauty of the world's highest peaks - scheduled for Autumn 2024.

VIP & LUXURY SERVICE

VIP and luxury services that elevate mountain expeditions, ensuring unparalleled comfort and bespoke experiences amidst nature's grandeur

Explore all 14 peaks above 8000m.

Preparation peaks for 8000m expedition.

If you are a beginner and looking for high-altitude experiences.

Conquer the 7 highest peaks of 7 continents.

Training for expedition in high-altitude experiences.

Expedition success rate

Climbers On The Top Of 8000ers

Climber summit rate

Total Expedition over 8000m

Annapurna region has been listed as one of the world’s best trekking destinations and offers an outstanding overview of trekking in the Himalayas. Its winding trails, colorful teahouses, and ever-changing views of the mountains make it the perfect walking destination for adventurers. The verities of flora and fauna along the trails and the trekker-friendly climate make this a truly memorable experience.

The Everest region offers once in a lifetime experience for trekkers and to see the closest view of the world’s highest mountain in the world Mt. Everest. The unique combination of outdoor adventure, vast glaciers, local culture, and beautiful villages along the trekking trails makes this one of Nepal's most popular trekking areas. This region can be considered a trekker’s paradise as it offers many trekking routes.

Langtang Region

Manaslu Region

Kanchenjunga Region

Makalu Region

Rolwaling Region

Karakoram Region

Tatiana Arabadzhieva

I have chosen the company for my first visit to Nepal very attentively. To be honest I didn't expect the high level of customer service coming here: it is the mountains after all.

Tunc Findik

Been with Seven Summit Treks for many years, done all 8000ers ! Services are perfect !! Recently joined Cholatse Expedition - Summit Success

Lukáš Jasenský

Czech republic.

Sofie Lenaerts

Brad Johnson

Recent from

Seven Summit Treks Achieves Grand Success on K2 (8611m)

Seven Summit Treks Team Conquers Gasherbrum I

@sevensummittreks.

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For Expeditions

• Easy (E): Climb requires one-day climbs, or a multiday climbs with non-technical elements.
• Moderate (M): Either a serious one-day climbs, or a multiday climbs with some technical elements. Requires an average level of physical fitness.
• Difficult (D): Multiday climbs with some moderately technical elements. Requires an above average fitness level and high level of stamina.
• Hard Difficult (HD): Multiday, Highly technical climb. Requires high level of physical fitness and stamina.
• Very Difficult (VD): Multiday, Extremely technical climb. Requires very high level of Physical fitness and stamina.

For Trekking

• Light: Light walking and generally level hiking that is good for most fitness levels. During these trips, hill-walking experience is desirable.
• Moderate: Trek has various types of moderate to difficult terrain, including rough trails and normally 3 to 5 hours a day. Requires an average to above average fitness level.
• Moderate+ : High altitude treks above 3000 meters or in fairly difficult terrain- normally 4 to 6 hours a day. Requires an above average fitness level and high level of stamina.
• Extreme: These high altitude treks or passes are known to be the most strenuous and has difficult terrain and conditions. These treks may require a degree of mountaineering skills and you capability of carrying on normally at an altitude of 4000-5600 meters. Daily walking is 5-8 hours approx.

But from the very first day, every minute of my trip I was surprised with SST! It was the most comfortable mountaineering in my life! They have great logistics. They are very flexible and reliable. They can manage any problem you can encounter! My route took place in deserted places, so it wasn't very easy to get everything ready for our coming a day earlier when I decided to do a 2-day route in one, but somehow they always did the impossible.

Special thanks to my climbing guide Ram Kaji and Porter Chhiring. Nice guys, always helpful with every tiny thing, trying to be invisible, but the job they did can be hardly overestimated, it was just huge!

The high priority of SST is your comfort and everyone in the company is doing his best. 

They exceed all expectations! Highly recommend.

Mardi Himal trek. A wonderful trek ideal even for beginners. Wonderful views, great facilities. Our choice for this trek was through our honeymoon. Seven Summit Treks organized and prepared everything. Sherpa Tashi and porter Nima were great. We could talk, they always prepared everything. I have been in contact with the guys from Seven Summit Treks since the expedition to Makalu and I know that I can rely on them. Thank you for your help and wonderful experience. And see you at the next event.

Our first co-operation was in 2013 in Pakistan with Arnold Coster expeditions and Sevensummittreks towards the Gasherbrum. After that, we continued to work together on expeditions towards Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, Manaslu (winter), and AmaDablam. For me, SST is a very professional company with a lot of experience and knowledge. We have full confidence in their capabilities and appreciate their flexibility. I would like to thank them for all those years of cooperation and I look forwards to new adventures in Nepal and Pakistan.

I have been on many expeditions in Nepal over the years, most of them I organized with friends and used Seven Summit Treks only for their base camp services with great service! This year none of my friends were available to climb in Nepal in the Autumn season so I contacted SST and decided to sign up for the Mera Peak and Baruntse expedition. SST organized everything and provide me with a personal climbing Sherpa for the entire trip. Throughout the entire trip, everything was taken care of by SST, including lodging, tea houses, and meals. At Baruntse base camp I had a nice private tent and the cook and kitchen staff always had smiles and cooked great meals. My Sherpa (Jangbu) was great and we became close friends and climbing partners. Jangbu was always there with a smile, a very strong climber, always wanting to help in any way he could. There was plenty of time to decide how and when we were going to make a summit push based on the weather. We had fantastic summit days on both peaks and finished the trip crossing the Amphu Labste pass into the Khumbu Valley staying each night in nice lodges with all meals included. I would highly recommend using SST for any expedition that you want to go on. Thank you Seven Summit Treks for a great trip and your attention to detail!!

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How Climbers Reached the Summit of K2 in Winter for the First Time

It was a prideful journey for the Nepalese climbers, who historically haven’t received their due.

By Adam Skolnick and Bhadra Sharma

At around noon on Saturday, the climbers inched into the infamous passage called the Bottleneck on K2, the second-tallest mountain in the world and one never before conquered in winter.

The sky was clear, the wind manageable and the summit just beyond this final and most perilous stretch.

If they could navigate the Bottleneck, the team of 10 Nepalese climbers, led by Nirmal Purja, 37, who is known as Nimsdai, would likely become the first to climb K2 in winter. But Purja knew it was best to ignore the history at his frostbitten fingertips, and focus on taking one step at a time.

A gleaming, glacial 28,251-foot monolith that straddles the border of China and Pakistan, K2 has retained the same perfunctory name annotated on an original 19th-century British surveyor’s map of the Karakoram range.

Since the 1950s, it has also been known as Savage Mountain for its deadly reputation. The ratio of deaths to ascents on K2 is nearly one to six. By comparison, on Mount Everest, the ratio is about one to 34.

That thin margin for error was underlined on Saturday, when Sergi Mingote, a Spanish climber who had reached 10 of the world’s highest peaks without supplemental oxygen, fell to his death much lower on the mountain.

The tragedy occurred hours after the Nepalese funneled through the Bottleneck, an hourglass-shaped gully that runs beneath an unstable overhanging ice cliff, called a serac. The serac routinely sheds enormous blocks of ice. Even before they reached the Bottleneck, the climbers saw foreboding debris fields.

“Some pieces were the size of a house,” Purja said from base camp on Monday. “You get intimidated by that. But if it’s your day, it’s your day. I was just praying to the mountain. This time we needed passage, and the mountain allowed us permission.”

The trick was not to rush. Elevations above 26,000 feet are in the so-called death zone. And though any climber caught in the Bottleneck at the wrong time faces certain injury and likely death, getting spooked and moving too fast at that altitude could bring a slow death.

High-altitude pulmonary edema is the biggest threat. That’s when pulmonary blood vessels constrict, ratcheting up pressure in the lungs, causing fluid to leak into the air sacs. The only cure is to head down the mountain for more oxygen. When pulmonary edema is ignored, breathing becomes more difficult, and soon blood and fluid might leak into the brain, an often fatal syndrome known as cerebral edema.

Linked to a rope they’d fixed to the ice, Purja and the other climbers stepped around such unspoken truths like so many shattered ice houses. It certainly helped that all but Purja were breathing supplemental oxygen, but even climbers on oxygen have been known to become lethargic and lose mobility.

“And if your oxygen canister runs out,” said the climber and cinematographer Renan Ozturk, “you could just shut your eyes for a second, and never wake up.”

Central Asia is home to all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter (26,246 feet) peaks. All but K2 had been climbed in both summer and winter. Thanks to its remote location, avalanche prone slopes, temperatures hovering around minus-60 degrees Fahrenheit, and hurricane-force winds, a winter ascent of the mountain was the last great challenge remaining for serious mountaineers. Many considered it impossible.

Even a successful spring or summer climb of K2 is rare. Fewer than 400 climbers have been to its apex. More people have been to outer space than have stood on its summit.

There had been six prior winter attempts over the years, the most recent a failed Polish expedition in 2018 .

But the Nepalese climbers making their way last weekend were born in the Himalayas and nine of them were Sherpa.

For generations, since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became the first to climb Mount Everest, in 1953, Sherpa people have worked as guides, facilitators and collaborators on countless historic mountaineering feats. Yet they have often been rendered invisible by the global lens and have seldom received their due. Hillary was knighted by Queen Elizabeth after the Everest triumph. Norgay was not. And none have been credited with first ascents in Nepal.

Yet experienced Alpinists know that Sherpa people are among the strongest mountaineers and are unparalleled at altitude because they were born and raised in thin air.

“It’s really hard to comprehend their capacity at altitude,” said Jimmy Chin, the climber and Academy Award winning filmmaker of “Free Solo.”

And this group was climbing for themselves. The lines they fixed weren’t for well-funded international climbers seeking fame or glory. They were for them to claim a piece of history for their country.

Of course, if not for the coronavirus, none of them would have been there.

The pandemic suspended the spring climbing season in Nepal. With no foreign climbers in the mountains and no way to make a living, the Nepalese climbing community was frustrated and bored. Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks in Kathmandu, and his brothers Tasha and Chhang Dawa, a veteran of multiple successful K2 ascents, broke the spell by plotting an audacious winter expedition to K2.

In June, the brothers put out feelers on social media and more than two dozen international climbers signed on. As did two Nepali teams that the brothers thought had the best chance at success.

Team Nimsdai, made up of six climbers, was led by Purja, a former Nepalese soldier and British special forces operator who — after retiring from the military — burst onto the climbing scene in 2019 when he climbed all 14 8,000-meter peaks in six months and six days, shaving more than seven years off the world record.

Purja is Magar, not Sherpa, but he formed a team that included five Sherpa climbers. The team included Geljen Sherpa, who climbed several Himalayan peaks with Purja in 2019, and Mingma David Sherpa, best known for rescuing 52 climbers from the slopes of Everest in a single season in 2016.

Mingma G, a Sherpa climber who had climbed Everest five times, K2 twice and who had climbed all the world’s 8,000-meter peaks before turning 30, led a separate team of Sherpa climbers.

Together they and a team of local Pakistani porters hauled 70 camp tents, six dining tents and 30 specially designed high-altitude tents on a spectacular weeklong 60-mile trek through the snow to base camp at roughly 17,000 feet. They also packed thousands of meters of rope, dozens of ice screws, rock pitons, supplemental oxygen and kerosene, 360 pounds of meat, and 400 pounds of chocolate, cookies and energy bars.

It had been decided before their arrival that all the climbers at base camp would follow the standard Abruzzi route that winter. On Dec. 26, Purja and his team stuffed their packs with rope, tents and four days of food, and climbed the 40-degree slope to Camp I at 20,013 feet to begin their first four-day rotation at high altitude, to acclimatize to the conditions. The next day, they moved on to Camp II at 21,982 feet where they pitched tents beneath rock ledges offering meager shelter in the howling wind.

On Dec. 28, Purja’s radio chirped. Team Mingma G was busy fixing lines to the mountainside that all the teams could use during the winter season. And team members needed help if they were to finish running lines all the way to Camp III. Four members of Team Nimsdai were too spent and descended to base camp, but Purja and Mingma Tenzi pushed up to 23,000 feet to lend a hand. By the time everyone had returned to base camp on New Year’s Eve, Purja had frostbitten fingers and two Nepali teams had joined forces.

That’s when the weather turned fierce. Beginning on Jan. 5, winds roared down the K2 slopes at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, for days. As his tent rattled, Purja worried about damage at Camp II, but he couldn’t assess the situation until the weather cleared on Jan. 10.

When they arrived, they discovered that their tents, stocked with all their cooking gear, sleeping bags, mattresses and lifesaving technical clothing — including heated insoles, gloves and base layers — had disappeared. Was it buried in snow? Blown off the mountain? It didn’t matter, it was gone.

But Purja treats his mountaineering expeditions as he would a mission in the military. “There is a backup plan for a backup plan for a backup plan,” he said. He and the team returned to base camp and began packing up their replacement gear. “We plan for the worst and we hope for the best.”

Finally, a weather window opened on Jan. 13 and the 10 Nepalese climbers set off from base camp for their first attempt at the summit. Each of them carried over 70 pounds of gear on their climb back up to Camp II, where they spent the night.

The next day they traversed a section known as the Black Pyramid, a gantlet of exposed, vertical rock, and a deep chasm in the ice known as the House Chimney. They scrambled up the rock and used a ladder to cross the chasm, and less than an hour later they were back on a 40-degree glacial slope.

The crunch of their crampons digging into the ice marked their steady progress to Camp III, at over 24,000 feet. After making camp they continued fixing lines up to Camp IV at 25,000 feet before descending to Camp III to get some much needed sleep.

They didn’t move again until 2:30 a.m. local time on Saturday. When they unzipped their tents, the domed sky blazed with starlight, but the cold was otherworldly. It was minus-76 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold cut through four layers of clothing, sapping their strength. Then the wind kicked up, blowing snow into their eyes, frosting their eyelashes and eyebrows.

“My body became numb,” Mingma G said from base camp on Monday. “I wanted to abandon the expedition. Others made up their minds to quit too.”

Purja urged them all to continue.

“We all had that common pride, a common goal,” Purja said. “This was for Nepal.” The men took shelter at Camp IV before dawn to rest and warm up. And when the wind died and the sun finally rose, morale brightened. “We’d gone through the pain barrier, and the sun gave us power,” Purja said.

By 3 p.m. they’d cleared the Bottleneck. Threaded together, strung out like prayer beads, they made the slow march over the shoulder toward the top of K2.

With about 30 feet to spare, the men grouped up, stood shoulder to shoulder and continued as one. They would enter the record books together. Singing the Nepali national anthem, they stepped up to the summit just before 5 p.m. and enjoyed the wintry view nobody had seen before.

The mountains of the Karakoram rose like sharks’ teeth, above a deep river valley, glazed with ice and dressed for winter. But even that beauty paled in comparison to the feeling of pride and unity that swelled within and that was pervasive and palpable among the men.

“It was a proud moment,” Mingma G said. “All of our mountains were first summited by foreigners. That’s why we were desperate to summit K2 this winter.”

An earlier version of this article used an outdated ratio for deaths to ascents on K2. It is nearly one to six, not one to four. (By comparison, on Mount Everest, it is about one to 34.)

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Climbing Mount Makalu (8,463m): A Complete Guide

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: June 24, 2023

Categories NEPAL , HIKING

Mount Makalu, is the world’s fifth-highest mountain, reaching a lofty height of 8,463m. Located in the Mahalangur Himalayas on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region (China), it is situated twelve miles from Mount Everest. Makalu means ‘ Great  Black  One’, due to its dark rock formation although it is mostly covered in snow and ice.

CLIMBING MOUNT MAKALU

I trekked into Makalu Advanced Base Camp and then successfully sumitted the peak in May of 2022. In this blog post, I will cover everything you need to know about the logistics of climbing Makalu Mountain. I’ll also share with you my stories and photos from the climb. This will give you an idea of what to expect and a great insight into the scenery you will find at each camp en route to the summit.

Before sharing my experience of the climb in the second section of this blog post, I will detail all of the information you need to know in this complete guide about climbing Manaslu Mountain.

MAKALU MOUNTAIN DETAILS

• Days required : 35-50 days
• Height of Makalu Summit : 8,463m
• Cost: $20,000
• Season to climb Manaslu : May
• Difficulty : Makalu is known as one of the more taxing 8000m peaks among the fourteen. While not extremely technical, the mountain is relentlessly steep. The advanced base camp is one of the highest in the world at 5,700m. This makes it tough to recover between rotations. As my second 8000er, I can only compare Makalu to Manaslu and it was much, much tougher. It’s important to note that I summitted with Sherpa assistance and with the use of oxygen. If you remove either or both of those factors, this climb will become significantly harder. Our summit push was base camp to base camp in 51 hours and we had favorable weather and conditions.
• Recommended prior climbs: While there are many climbs you can do to warm up for Makalu, some common options are Island Peak (6,189), Baruntse Peak (7,129m), Spantik Peak (7,030) and Himlung Himal (7,126m). In addition to these acclimatization peaks, I would recommend climbing at least one or two ‘easier’ 8000m peaks before attempting Makalu.

TRY THE 3 BEST TREKS IN NEPAL

Manaslu Circuit : My personal favorite 2-week trek through Tibetan villages and stunning scenery. Less crowded and more authentic.

Annapurna Circuit : The most beautiful & scenic 2-week trek in Nepal although can be crowded at times.

Everest Base Camp Trek : The most iconic 2-week route reaching the famous (EBC) Everest Base Camp at 5,300m.

GETTING TO AND FROM MAKALU BASECAMP

There are several different options for how to arrive and depart from Makalu Advanced Base Camp (5,700m). I’ve actually used both options listed below.

• Helicopter: These days many mountaineers can afford to fly into Advanced Base Camp via helicopter. The flight runs from Lukla. Most tour operators will organize this helicopter option as part of the package. Many in our group trekked in to acclimatize, but then flew out the day after their summit.
• Trekking in from Num: One of the most scenic ways to reach base camp is to trek on the established Makalu Base Camp Trek. This route guides you to the lower base camp and takes about 9-10 days. I did this trek with my group and wrote a comprehensive guide to Trekking to Makalu Base Camp . It’s much more remote than Everest Base Camp Trek or Langtang Valley Trek but very scenic and a chance to observe rural, mountain life in Nepal.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU

• Ultimate Luxury: The Dwarika’s Hotel – Luxury, Spa-service, Pool
• Best Value : Aloft Kathmandu Thamel – Swimming Pool, Gym & Great Restuarant
• Budget Choice: Hotel Jampa is easily the top cheap hotel in Kathmandu

IS CLIMBING MAKALU MOUNTAIN DANGEROUS?

Whenever you climb to heights above 8000m, you are in the death zone. Lower oxygen, harsh weather conditions, unpredictable mountains, and tired bodies can often make for tragic circumstances.

During our expedition in 2022, there were no deaths but several serious injuries. According to statistics up until 2020, from 234 ascents there were 26 deaths making Makalu the 7th deadliest mountain with roughly a 10% death rate. This figure has dramatically improved in recent years with better conditions, equipment, and logistics provided to climbers.

WHICH COMPANY I CLIMBED WITH FOR MAKALU

I climbed Makalu with  Seven Summit Treks , which is the top Nepali climbing company in the country. They offer expeditions to all of the 8000m peaks and many other climbs, treks, and logistical services. This was my fifth expedition in Nepal and Pakistan and definitely the best and most well-organized.

Seven Summit Treks  were very detailed and had everything sorted. Their basecamp setup at Makalu was by far the most extensive with a dome tent for the mess hall, great food at mealtimes, and snacks always available.

MOUNT MAKALU HEIGHT

Mount Makalu is the fifth highest peak in the world at 8,463m or 27765.75ft. Below I’ve listed the different heights of each camp to give you an idea of what to expect.

• Lower Base Camp: 4,700m
• Advanced Base Camp: 5,700m
• Camp 1: 6,200m
• Camp 2: 6,600m
• Camp 3: 7,500m
• Camp 4: 7,600m
• Summit: 8,463m

MY EXPERIENCE CLIMBING MOUNT MAKALU

Makalu is known as one of the tougher 8000-meter climbs in the world but also one of the safest. It has relatively low avalanche risk and fewer crevasses than many of the other big mountains throughout the Himalayas and the Karakoram. It may have been a false sense of security, but it felt like the biggest challenge with this climb was going to be against my own body and the stress of the death zone. Time would tell.

GETTING TO THE TRAILHEAD

Our journey began in Kathmandu. We took a flight to Tumlingtar airport to begin our expedition. Unlike most climbs that transit via Lukla, the Makalu climb is much more remote. From Tumlingtar, a 6-hour jeep ride along muddy roads led us to the small village of Num. Here we rested for the night before beginning our trek to base camp the next day.

I’ve written an entire guide to the Makalu Base Camp Trek . In that article, you will find a day-by-day breakdown of the hike through to Makalu Base Camp. With more than 100 photos and descriptions of the route, it’s a handy guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

TREKKING TO THE BASE CAMP

The trek is quite an adventure. There’s usually just one tea-house in each village and very few shops or snack stores along the way. You could say it is much more ‘authentic’ than trekking in the Khumbu where you will find bakeries, bars, internet cafes, and plentiful restaurants along the route to Everest Base Camp. Along this undulating route, life is simple and most families are working the land.

The journey into base camp took us about 10 days, including a few rest/acclimatization days. The trek begins at an elevation of 1500m but actually drops down to 700m immediately. The Makalu Advanced Base Camp sits at 5700m so in altitude change you are grabbing more than 5000m. The actual incline is almost double that with lots of undulation along this trail so expect to work some hills.

LOWER MAKALU BASE CAMP

We arrived at Lower/Real Makalu Base Camp (4700m) and stayed for a few nights to rest and acclimatize. From this base camp, you can hike up to a ridge above the camp for an epic view of Everest and Lhotse down the far end of the glacier. The views of Makalu summit are also perfect on most mornings.

At the lower base camp, there’s a tea-house and some cabins but most outfitters bring their own tents as the capacity is limited. This will be the last time you sit around a yak-poop-powered heater and have a ‘stable’ home.

TREKKING TO UPPER MAKALU BASE CAMP

From Lower Base Camp to Upper Base Camp it’s a hard day of trekking. With 1000m of vertical gain reaching a height of 5,700m, it is quite a challenging day. To compound the elevation gain, the terrain is almost entirely comprised of unstable rocks and gravel.

The path is unclear, rockfall prone, and often finds itself blown through by dust storms. It seems to go on forever with a lot of the incline coming late in the day to reach the base camp. Prepare for a tough day and pack at least two liters of water to combat the lack of shade on this route.

MAKALU UPPER BASE CAMP

After 12 days of trekking, we finally reached our home base. Makalu Upper Base Camp, at an altitude of 5,700m would be our climbing pad for the next 30 days as we tried to make an ascent of Mount Makalu. Seven Summits Treks had set up an awesome little village with two rows of sleeping tents and a large, dome dining tent. It seemed like a relatively safe base camp with views of the glaciers and the summit (on clear days).

Now, the plan depends on how the climbers in the group feel and the weather conditions for rotations and the summit push. However, first things first. I’ll give you a little description of what to expect at base camp with Seven Summits Treks . Each person has a large, insulated, private tent, which is big enough to house your two duffels of gear and a thick mattress.

The toilet is basically a small tent with a bucket that is beneath the rocks and is emptied regularly. It’s basic but it works.

Each day we had breakfast, lunch and dinner served in a warm dome tent. The quality of the food was great overall and had a good mixture of western dishes and Nepali classics. Throughout the day, snacks and drinks were always ready and available to keep you nourished.

MAKALU PUJA CEREMONY

After a couple of acclimatization days at base camp, our bodies began adjusting to living at 5,700m. It was time for the Puja ceremony. The Puja Ceremony is a tradition where the mountains are honored and we pray for safe passage. Local Sherpa people consider these mighty peaks to be Gods, and so the Puja ceremony is held not only to ask for safe passage but forgiveness for climbing up to these holy places. 

In this section of the blog post, I will explain what to expect in each section of the climb, and provide ample photos of each part of the route. Most of our group was climbing with oxygen and planned to sleep at Camp 2 for acclimatization and touch a little higher. Many opted for just one rotation before a summit push but others went for two.

SIDE NOTE: I actually had a bit of a crazy experience on this expedition and was evacuated by helicopter halfway through and flown back to base camp for my summit push 12 days later. I’ll add that personal story below at the end of the blog post if you are interested.

MAKALU UPPER BASE CAMP TO CAMP 1

This is a tricky little section as it appears to be quite short but it actually takes about four hours for many average-paced climbers. Camp 1 used to be on a lower plateau but an ‘Upper’ Camp 1 is now the standard position. It involves about an extra hour and now includes a steep climb underneath a massive cornice.

From 5,700m at Upper Base Camp, you will reach 6,300m at the ‘real’ Camp 1. The journey begins out of Upper Base Camp across the frozen lake. By the end of the expedition, several members were falling in here up to their knees so watch out for that fun!

Once across the lake, you follow the rocky path along the edge of the glacier. It’s a beautiful scene looking back across the glacier towards the camp, which slowly fades away into the distance.

After about forty minutes, you reach a steep rocky wall that requires the use of ropes for most people. You won’t need to clip in here but just use the ropes as safety as you clamber up the cliff face for twenty meters. One of our members fell here on the descent and cracked their skull open, nearly dying. It may look easy and dry but can still pose a danger.

Once atop the cliff wall, you now walk for another 25 minutes up the ridge to reach the crampon point. Here Seven Summit Treks had installed a tent where we could store our 8000m boots, harness, and crampons. There were a few heavenly snacks and drinks tucked away in there for summit day descents also!

Just after crampon point is a small lake, where more members of our team actually fell hip deep into the water. Don’t take these frozen lakes lightly. You now step onto the snow for the first time and make your way up the left-hand side of the glacier, hugging the rocky cliffside all the way up to the Lower Camp One plateau. This section can be brutally hot and exposed.

A wide-open space signals Lower Camp One, but nowadays you still need to head up the steep ice underneath the cornice to reach the official Camp One. This is the only time you will use your jumar on the way to Camp One and only for several pitches.

At the top of the climb, you will walk just another fifty meters to reach the tents. It sits on the edge of a huge plateau and we actually slept here one night, although most go directly to Camp Two as it is only another 1.5-2 hours to reach the next camp at 6,600m.

CAMP 1 TO CAMP 2

This is by far the shortest and easiest camp-to-camp journey on the whole route. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Camp 2 from Camp 1.

You’ll find a couple of steep snowy slopes that can require the use of a jumar but otherwise, you are just clipped in for a few sections to be safe from drop-offs and crevasses. It’s about 300m of incline to the second camp, which sits at 6,600m. Most people skip Camp 1 and head straight from advanced base camp to Camp 2 on their rotations and during their summit push.

CAMP 2 TO CAMP 3

Aside from the summit push, this is the toughest part of the climb. It’s also very likely that you will climb this section without oxygen even if you are attempting to climb with oxygen. This makes it even more challenging as you will ascend from 6,600m to 7,500m to reach Camp 3 in very thin air. Those decisions are up to you, but no oxygen at 7,500m climbing steep slopes is starting to get intense.

The journey begins out of Camp 2 with a relentlessly steep slope up towards the rocky incline. Fixed ropes will lead you to the start of the rock and ice section. Once there, the terrain becomes quite challenging with a mixture of hard ice, rocks, and snow.

The route twists and turns and you could say this section requires some technical know-how. From maneuvering through the rocky terrain to selecting the correct ropes, it is physically and mentally draining to ascend through this part of the route.

Several times on the route from Camp 2 to Camp 3 you will reach a plateau, only to be thrown back into the same steep, rocky incline. For quick climbers, you can expect a 6-7 hour journey and for slower climbers, it will take closer to 9-10 hours.

Camp 3 sits on the Makalu La, which is the ridge you often look up to from an advanced base camp. Once you reach the ridge, the campsite is just a few minutes away in a small clearing.

CAMP 3 TO SUMMIT (SUMMIT PUSH)

There are many ways to do the summit push of Makalu and it all depends on the weather, your ability, and conditions. We decided to sleep for two hours once we reached Camp 3 and then set off at 8 pm on our summit push. It seems that very few people use Camp 4 as it is only a simple, one-hour traverse from Camp 3.

The journey from Camp 3 to the summit will take fast experienced climbers anywhere from 6-8 hours. For slower and more inexperienced climbers you could expect closer to 9-10 hours but of course, these are just estimates. On the day I summited it was just myself and my Sherpa and one other group of two, who were quite experienced climbers. It took me nine hours to reach the summit while they made it up there an hour earlier.

The route begins with the relatively flat traverse to Camp 4. Once we passed Camp 4, we navigate a blue ice section before the steep climbing begins. The incline on this day never seems to end and there were few plateaus or flat areas to rest. It was very steep all morning.

The route weaves in and out of the ridges with no rock or technical work until the final French Couloir. There were minimal crevasse fields and we had fixed ropes throughout the route to navigate any ominous areas. Basically, until the sun began to rise at the French Couloir, it was a slow slog up the steep, snowy slopes.

At the French Couloir, you need to switch on and direct your focus to the technical terrain. It’s a short climbing section with ten or more pitches on the ropes. The interesting part here is that you are tired and trying to focus on technical movements all while at 8,300 meters. This is a challenging part of the route but not vertical at any point and handholds are plentiful.

Once passing the French Couloir, the view opens up and you have reached the summit ridge. Everest and Lhotse appear and you have panoramic views. Once reaching this point it seems that you have ‘made it’.

However, when you look to the right, you may think you are looking at the final summit but it is the false summit. The true summit is hidden on the other side. Once you reach the summit ridge, you still have about 15-20 minutes of traversing to reach the actual summit.

The traverse along the summit ridge is at times very narrow. Quite literally it is a single step cut into the cliffside. With a rope for safety to clip in, it may feel safe but this is still a big drop. Many stories of people only reaching the false summit due to no fixed ropes had circulated before our climb.

Thankfully for our team, the Sherpa rope fixing team had fixed all the way to the false summit and then continued to the true summit, making it a much easier task for our team.

About an hour after sunrise, Tashi Sherpa and I arrived at the true summit to enjoy the experience with no crowd, in complete peace. The photo above is from Pema’s summit push with her group, which is why there is a crowd. We had seen the lights on Everest earlier and knew there were climbers on top of the world looking back at us also. We had made it to the top of the fifth highest peak in the world.

The journey down is quite long and we actually descended all the way back to base camp by 3 pm that day. It was a 51-hr summit push from base camp to base camp and one of the biggest mental and physical challenges of my life. Incredibly tough but incredibly rewarding.

MY EXPERIENCE TO REACH THE SUMMIT OF MAKALU

The summit of Makalu (8,463m) 🙏🏽 I almost didn’t make it but here I am. I had to leave the expedition in a heli-evacuation after 20 days, having slept at Camp 2 (6,600m) with the left side of my face numb. I couldn’t sleep and had constant headaches. I had no choice but to leave the expedition.

I landed back in Kathmandu and had MRI, X-ray, and multiple other scans. It turns out the pressure from altitude had exposed necrosis/infection in my gum from a previous motorbike crash 10 years ago.

I had surgery immediately and was taking a handful of drugs day and night. I was doubtful, but not ready to give up on my Makalu Expedition.

3 days later I flew back to Lukla (2,860m) and waited 9 long days for a helicopter back to the advanced base camp (5,700m). With just one solid weather window left, I didn’t have a good chance for another rotation before the summit push.

So on the 18th, I set off with Tashi Sherpa to Camp 2. On the 19th we climbed nine hours to reach Camp 3 (7500m). After a one-hour sleep at Camp 3, we set off on our summit push at 8 pm. Up the relentlessly steep slopes of Makalu, I battled mentally but knew I would never turn back.

Tired but defiant, we reached the empty summit just after sunrise to take in all of the incredible Himalayas. Behind me (end of the video) you can see Everest and Lhotse from our perch of 8,463m on top of the mighty Makalu Mountain 🏔

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jackson Groves (@jackson.groves)

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER NEPAL BLOGS?

I’ve been lucky enough to have many awesome adventures in Nepal, which you can check out below where I’ve listed some of my favorite blog poss from Nepal.

• The Most Iconic route: Everest Base Camp Trek
• The Most Scenic Route: Annapurna Circuit Trek
• My Favorite Trek in Nepal: Manaslu Circuit Trek
• An Easy Nepal Trek: Langtang Valley Trek
• A great beginner peak: Island Peak Climb (6,165m)
• My Favorite Climb in Nepal: Climbing Ama Dablam (6,812m)
• My first 8000er: Climbing Manaslu (8,163m)
• My toughest climb in Nepal: Climbing Makalu (8,463m)
• Where to stay: 16 Best Places to Stay in Kathmandu

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'The Summit Is Never The Goal': Why Climbers Pursue The 7 Summits

Abigail Clukey

Alison Levine, a member of the Seven Summits Club, led an all-female expedition up Everest in 2002. Jake Norton/Courtesy of Alison Levine hide caption

Alison Levine, a member of the Seven Summits Club, led an all-female expedition up Everest in 2002.

At least 11 climbers died on Mount Everest last month, including two Americans in pursuit of joining the Seven Summits Club, a select group of roughly 500 people worldwide who have climbed the tallest peaks on every continent. Everest was the final summit for both Christopher Kulish and Donald Cash. Each died on his descent.

The deaths have sparked concern over Nepal's distribution of permits , dangerous conditions and overcrowding on the mountain.

But members of the Seven Summits Club who have experienced Everest firsthand say that this level of crowding isn't out of the ordinary.

"When you're going up to the summit and you look around and there's 250 other people, that's not a surprise," said Cason Crane, a 26-year-old mountaineer who summited Everest in 2013. "And especially if you actually read the reports from the mountain, people were fully aware it was crowded, and they made the choice to still climb."

As climbers like Crane have heard about the recent Everest casualties, they have reflected on their own experiences at the world's highest point, and why, despite the risks and intensive labor involved, they felt compelled to climb not just one major summit, but seven.

Cason Crane completed the seven summits in 2013 to raise awareness and funding for suicide prevention among LGBT youth. Courtesy of Cason Crane hide caption

The particular feat of climbing the seven summits took off after American businessman Richard Bass reportedly became the first mountaineer to do so in 1985. He popularized a version of the challenge that included Denali in North America, Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Kosciuszko in Australia, and of course, Everest in Asia. Since then, the exact summit list has been a topic of debate. Today, a version called the Messner list, after Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, is considered the most legitimate in the climbing community. It takes into account Australia's surrounding islands when determining its highest point, swapping the 7,310 ft Kosciuszko from Bass's list for 16,024 ft Carstensz Pyramid in the Papua Province of Indonesia.

David Mauro didn't set out to climb all seven summits — a trait that is surprisingly common among mountaineers who have. He began climbing when his brother-in-law invited him on a trek up Denali in 2007 — a daunting expedition even for seasoned climbers. Having just gone through a divorce in his 40s and feeling like his life resembled a "big dumpster fire," Mauro thought there wasn't anything holding him back.

"If I hadn't been at such a low point in my life, I probably never would have become a mountaineer," Mauro said. "At some point it just occurred to me that I had nothing left to lose."

When Mauro got back from Denali, he got a tattoo of its profile to remember his adventure and decided to quit climbing. But three months later, he said he felt a calling to climb another mountain, and made plans to summit Kilimanjaro. In the seven years that it took him to climb the rest of the seven summits, Mauro said he backed away from the sport several times, but the emotional rejuvenation he experienced each climb always made him return.

"What happened was each time I did one of these mountain climbs, there would be this rich lesson that would come out of it that was immediately relevant," Mauro said. "It became this seven-year conversation between the mountains and my personal life."

David Mauro rappelling off Everest's south summit during his 2013 expedition. Courtesy of David Mauro hide caption

David Mauro rappelling off Everest's south summit during his 2013 expedition.

Stories of how mountaineering can foster intense personal growth, however, don't diminish the elements of extreme danger prevalent in the most common Everest narratives. Each spring brings climbing-related deaths as hundreds of people attempt to scale the nearly 30,000-foot peak.

Alison Levine, who has climbed all seven summits and led an all-female Everest expedition in 2002, said part of what makes climbing Everest so dangerous is that mountaineers can become consumed with blind desire to get to the top and will ignore crucial signs of exhaustion or hazardous conditions. In her 2002 trip up Everest, Levine and her team had to make an early descent only 275 feet from the top because of a turn in weather, a decision that prioritized safety over summiting.

"What you have to remember in the decision making process is that the summit is only the halfway point," Levine said. "The summit is never the goal. Ever. The number one goal is always to come back alive."

Crane says it's necessary to constantly analyze risks is when climbing peaks as severe as the seven summits, and that most people grapple with the possibility of death before they start an expedition. Each serious climb is made up of conscious choices that he believes aren't always acknowledged in stories about mountaineering, and Everest in particular.

"I do think that sometimes gets lost in the mix, when people just talk about the weather, they just talk about the crowding, but there are actually a lot more decisions in between those points and in addition to those factors that do contribute to the outcome," Crane said.

Amid Deadly Season On Everest, Nepal Has No Plans To Issue Fewer Permits

Though the perceived point of the Seven Summits Club is to reach the globe's highest peaks, those who have completed this challenge often don't cite summiting as the most formative experience. What stands out, according to Crane, Levine and Mauro, isn't the glory that comes with looking down from the top of the world. It was everything that led up to it.

When Levine returned to Everest eight years after her first attempt, she finally reached the summit — her last on the challenge's list. But, she says, she found the act of summiting itself somewhat underwhelming.

"When I did make it to the summit, what I realized is that standing on top of a mountain doesn't change you and doesn't change the world," Levine said. "It's really about the journey, the journey is the most important thing on any mountain."

As this deadly month on Everest has shown, extreme mountaineering, especially in the form of a Seven Summits bid, poses significant risk. It's the powerful inner voice, though, that sets climbers on paths up the precarious slopes anyway and takes them beyond cementing themselves in this elite club.

"Bragging rights ain't gonna get you to the top of any of those hills," Mauro said. "There's gotta be something much, much deeper inside of you that drives that quest."

Abigail Clukey is an intern on NPR's National Desk.

Hiking in Bergen: your guide to the 7 summits

• Post author: Birgitte Munch

One of the best things about staying in Bergen is the easy access to great hiking terrain, even when you live in the city centre. The town of Bergen is known to be surrounded by “seven summits”. All the seven mountains are relatively easily accessible, which is great if you are interested in a bit of hiking whilst in Bergen. It is possible to stay in Bergen for a week and hike a new summit every day, even without having a car.  

This is and overall hiking guide to the seven mountains surrounding Bergen, how you can access them, and what to expect during your hike.

MT FLØYEN AND MT RUNDEMANEN

First of all, the famous Mt Fløyen, one of the seven summits, is well known to be accessible by funicular straight from the city centre. However, Mt Fløyen is also accessible by foot from the city centre of Bergen. You can start the hike from behind the Mt Fløyen funicular and make your way up to the top. The hike takes about 1 hr to the top in a moderate pace and the incline is about 380 metres.

Once you are the Mt Fløyen base you are able to access a larger mountain area that takes you a higher up to Mt Rundemanen, the summit that lies further behind Mt Fløyen, at about 550metres above sea level. This summit is also one of the seven summits of Bergen, and can be climbed either after taking the Mt Fløyen funicular then hike further, or by hiking from the town centre. The hiking trails to Mt Fløyen and to Mt Rundemanen are relatively easy as there is a gravel road or footpath for most of the way. However, many people make this hike, so if you want to avoid the crowds and hike on more hidden tracks and get some different views on your way we highly recommend hiking with a local guide.

Be careful to hike on the unmarked trails on your own, as the sign posting is not the best, and the difficulty level harder to predict. Mt Fløyen arranges guided trips to Mt Rundemanen in large groups. If you want a more unique hike, we recommend you hire your own guide.

SANDVIKSFJELLET / STOLTZEKLEIVEN

Sandviksfjellet and the popular Stoltzekleiven stairs takes you to 392 m.a.s.l. and is located next to Mt Fløyen on the north side of Bergen town. Due to its steep ascent the view from the top gives you a feeling of being high up, and the summit provides very pretty views of the main sailors route to Bergen Port from both south and north.

The most popular route to Sandviksfjellet is the Stoltzekleiven stairs, accessible from Fjellveien via Hoffmannsvei, consisting of approx. 900 steps. This route is a very popular exercise route among the locals and is often busy in the afternoons and evenings, particularly on good weather days. Locals just call it “Stoltzen” and most hikers know their personal record up these stairs, which is often used as an indication of how fit you are. Every September there is a mountain run called Stoltzekleiven Opp, by many deemed as a local kind of “iron man” test. The hike up Stoltzekleieven is not so difficult but rather steep.

It is possible to hike back down the steps you come up, but this is not recommended as the staircase up Stoltzekleiven is very narrow and steep. The better option is to make it a round trip and continue higher up from Sandviksfjellet to Mt Rundemanen, and walk back down to Bergen via Mt Fløyen. This route gives the hike some more wilderness, and makes it a rather long hike (2-3hrs) that requires some experience of hiking. The path from the summit of Sandviksfjellet/Stoltzekleiven to Mt Rundemanen is not very clearly marked, so pay attention, and do not make this hike unless the weather is clear and predictable. Contact us for questions about local guides.

Lyderhorn is the most western mountain of the seven. It lies a little outside of Bergen town and offers an exciting history on the way in addition to really nice view of the sea in several directions. At the top you will get an impressive 360 degree view, with sight of the islands west of Bergen (Askøy, Sotra, Øygarden), the surburbs Loddefjord, Olsvik and Kjøkkelvik, and the Bergen valley. There are several different ways to start the hike to Lyderhorn as it is accessed from several surburbs. If you come from Bergen town we recommend starting at Gravdal. This hiking trail can easily be reached by bus, bike or car to Gravdal. None of the hikes can easily be accessed by foot from Bergen town. The Lyderhorn hike has a great view towards the ocean and in particular the main sea way to Bergen from the south west.

Because of this location so far west it has a lot of defence and WWII history with old forts and bunkers. The old fort called Kvarven Fort was originally built between 1895 and 1905 as part of Bergens defence. Then later, during the second world war when Norway was occupied by the Germans for five years (9 th April 1940-8 th May 1945), there were more bunkers made in the area as German soldiers were scouting from the hills of Lyderhorn towards the main seaway entrance to the port of Bergen. They were looking out for attacks from the allies, in particular the Brits.

Accessing Lyderhorn from Gravdal will take you past the Kvarven Fort area. Even if you do not summit this area is great for a family outing or just walking around the varied terrain, seeing the views, exploring the history. There are several good spots for picnics as well. It is worth visiting the area even if you do not go all the way to the top of Mt Lyderhorn. To access the foot of Mt Lyderhorn and the Kvarven Fort go to Gravdal where there is a bus stop near by. Once you have passed through a dock that hosts businesses and looks rather industrial you will come to a small car park available for hikers. If you go by car you may park there.

You start hiking on a tarmac road for a while which takes you to the Kvarven Fort, then takes you to a long uneven mountain track that leads to the summit. At the Kvarven Fort you will be able to see the remains of the old fort on your way and at the same time get some good views of the ocean. Here there are also some basic toilet facilities too. If you want to be sure not to miss anything and also get to see the torpedo history by the seashore make sure you hire a local guide to show you the area.

If you wish continue to the summit of Lyderhorn at 396 m.a.s.l. the path starts at the end of the gravel road, and is signposted. The hike leading to the Lyderhorn summit goes past the Skåleviksvatnet, a nice spot for picnic, however please note it is a water reservoir for drinking water, and so it is forbidden to fish or swim in it.

The foot path leading to the summit of Lyderhorn is varied with a bit of up and down in the beginning, heading east along the ridge of the mountain, before reaching a more step ascent when accessing the actual summit. Here there are some difficult parts in the footpath, as there are some steep parts, and the trails are at points quite demanding and requires experience with hiking on uneven trails. It is vital to have proper footwear, and the trail is often wet and muddy despite several days of dry weather.

DAMSGÅRDSFJELLET

Damsgårdsfjellet is located next to Lyderhorn, a little closer to the Bergen town. The mountain trail can be reach by foot, it is about 3 km to walk from Bergen centre, across the Puddefjordsbroen (bridge), past the old mansion Damsgård Hovedgård and onto Herman Gransvei at Laksevåg. Another option is to take the bus to Laksevåg and find Herman Gransvei from there. Cycling or driving a car to the start of the trail is also possible, however, there is no designated car park, so normal street parking rules apply.

We recommend hiking with a guide to find this trail and to ensure you do not get lost on the mountain. Although it is not so far to the top, the hiking trail is relatively difficult, as it is steep, has some cliffs and is often muddy, and the trail itself is not always very clearly signposted. Since there is a residential neighbourhood nearby the trail can easily be confused by small short cuts made by the locals. However, if you make your way up, the view of both Bergen town, towards Mt Fløyen and Mt Ulriken, and towards the sea is well worth it. Damsgårdsfjellets summit is at 317 m.a.s.l. and offers a 360 degree view of Bergen and surrounding suburbs.

Mt Løvstakken does not look very high seen from Bergen town as the summit cannot be seen from there, but at its 477 m.a.s.l this mountain offers  really nice 360 degree views from the top towards Bergen, the sea, Askøy, Mt Ulriken, Mt Fløyen, and the Vidden platau. It has a very steep ascent and decent, especially the first half of the hike.

It starts with a gravel path, which leads you to an uneven hiking trail with some rocky and slippery parts. You know you are on the right way when you pass a big rock next to the gravel path that says “Jesus lever” (Jesus is alive), a slogan inscribed in the rock in the early 1900s by a bricklayer called Alfred Westerlid. This rock has unofficially named the hiking trail the “Jesus Lever trail to Mt Løvstakken” among locals.

Mt Løvstakken is one of the mountain in Bergen with the highest number of different trails leading to the top from different suburbs spread across the entire foot of the mountain. In this respect Mt Løvstakken is accessible to a high number of locals on a daily basis.

You know you have reached the summit when you see the 3 metre tall cairn towards the west of the summit, built by locals shortly after the Germans withdrew from Norway after WWII in 1945. My own great grandfather was also part of the team who built the cairn. To access the hiking trail we recommend that you start from Løvstien, a gravel pedestrian road located along the foot of Mt Løvstakken. To get to Løvstien you can walk from Bergen town centre past the Natural History Museum, then to the Bergen City beach where you can cross the small pedestrian bridge called Småpudden that takes you across the canal called Damsgårdssundet.

From the other side of Småpudden bridge you will have to walk uphill in between the residential area to get to the Løvstien where you will access the bottom of the “Jesus Lever” hiking trail. Choose the same route back to Bergen town centre. As you cross the Småpudden bridge and arrive at the Bergen Beach you should stop by at a local barista and café that burns their own coffee and makes delicious cakes and vegetarian dishes, called Bergen Kaffebrenneri (BKB). If you are lucky and the sun is shining they have a patio with seats outside for a sunny afternoon.

Then there is the infamous Mt Ulriken, the highest of the seven summits at 635 m.a.s.l. and the only mountain with a gondola, called Ulriksbanen. Ulriken is the iconic mountain easily seen from town centre, with a TV mast in front giving it a characheristic look. This mountain is easier to hike than you should think, especially after the hiking trail called Oppstemten opened, massive rocky stairs recently made by sherpas from Peru. It is steep, but doable for most hikers with an good fitness level.

To access the trail you can hike from Bergen town centre, past the railway station, the ADO swimming arena, along the lake Store Lungegårdsvannet that also offers nice sights. Continue uphill and pass the Ulrikensbanen gondola bottom station, to the steep hill of Montana. From there you will already get some stunning views of the Bergen valley.

Continue uphill until you reach a gravel road. Further on you will find the stony footpath that takes you to the top of the iconic TV mast at the top of Mt Ulriken. From town to the top you should estimate at least 2-3 hours. Alternatively, you can catch a bus to Haukeland Universitetssykehus and start the hike from there following the same route.

Mt Ulriken is known to be the most “patriotic” of the mountains and is often used as a “trademark” for Bergen.  Many claims it has the most stunning views of Bergen and the surrounding area. From Mt Ulriken it is possible to start a long and demanding hike to Mt Fløyen, across a long platau called Vidden. This hike is a daytrip and recommended for experienced hikers only, and we highly recommend hiring a guide for this kind of trip.

Remember, the weather changes quickly even though these mountains are near the city you should take your precautions and bring extra clothes, waterproof clothing, something to drink and eat, and proper hiking footwear. The hikes may be longer than they sound because of winding roads and trails, so proper footwear is a must. Even though the weather is dry in the city it could be very wet and muddy on the mountain trails. Contact us for questions about what gear to bring.

We hope you found this blog post useful and you will enjoy the local mountains as much as we do! Follow us on Instagram for daily updates and hiking ideas.

• Urundberget 1218 m, Geilo
• Bike & Hike to Mt Ulriken in Bergen
• Arnanipa – a short hike with amazing fjord views
• Bondhusvatnet

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• About the Seven Summits
• Everest (Asia)
• Vinson Massif (Antarctica)
• Aconcagua (South America)
• Elbrus (Europe)
• Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa)
• Denali (North America)
• Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania)
• Kosciuszko (Australia)
• Explorer’s Grand Slam
• Ecuador Volcanoes
• Mont Blanc (France)
• Australian Alpine Academy
• Mt. Baker (USA)
• Lhotse (Nepal)
• Manaslu (Nepal)
• Cho Oyu (Tibet)
• Ama Dablam (Nepal)
• Lobuche East (Nepal)
• 3 Peaks (Nepal)
• First Ascent (Nepal)
• Rugged Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek & Stay
• Everest Base Camp Trek (Nepal)
• North Pole Last Degree Ski (North Pole)
• South Pole Last Degree Ski (Antarctica)
• All-Women’s Expeditions
• Orizaba Express Mexico Trek (Mexico)
• Mt. Rainier (USA)
• About Us / Why CTSS
• How to Apply to CTSS
• Employment Opportunities
• CTSS’ “No D*ckheads” Policy*
• Letter to your Loved Ones
• Success & Testimonials
• Marginal Gains Philosophy
• CTSS Guides & Team

Mike Hamill

• Climbing Education
• Climbing Gear Advice
• Female Climber Considerations
• Trip Insurance
• Our Speed Ascents

EBC Trek & Stay at Everest Base Camp Proper

Check out our rugged luxury ebc trek & stay, click here for rugged luxury information.

Everest Base Camp Trek & Stay Annually: April 3rd – April 22nd Annually: April 12th – May 1st Team Departure: $5,495 USD

Everest Base Camp is perhaps the most iconic trek in the world and for good reason. This stunningly scenic pilgrimage into the high Himalayas is not only a grand adventure that will take you to the foot of the highest mountain on earth but it is also a deep personal challenge that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Winding your way up through the Khumbu Valley, you can expect to pass through enchanted rhododendron forests, stay in quaint villages, camp on a living, breathing glacier that forms on Mt. Everest and be enveloped by views of our planet’s most breathtaking mountains. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s physical for sure but nevertheless achievable for anyone willing to put in a little training.

What makes the beauty and excitement of trekking in this majestic landscape even better is the hospitable Sherpa culture. Sherpa are renown the world over for their graciousness and generosity and the moment you step foot on the trail you too, will know why.

• Cross one of the world’s greatest treks off your bucket list
• Be a team member and be part of an Everest climbing expedition
• Stay at Everest Base Camp proper where the summiteers reside
• Experience and appreciate Sherpa culture, food, and hospitality
• Climb the famous Kala Pathar for spectacular views of Everest in her entirety
• See Everest and the Himalayas from the air while flying to and from Lukla

How Our Everest Base Camp Trek is Unique

We encourage you to research your many options when it comes to picking a guide service for your dream Everest Base Camp trek. As a popular trek, we know that there is a huge variety of operators to chose from who offer different trek styles and therefore prices. A few ways in which we differ and add value to our trips are:

• You will spend 2x nights in our luxury camp on the Khumbu glacier inside Base Camp Proper rather than down valley in a teahouse far away from the action. (Most trekking companies that aren't affiliated with an actual Everest climbing team are not allowed to stay in camp and simply tag 'trekkers rock' which is located on the outskirts of camp before returning down valley. Very few even enter base camp itself which is a shame as you miss out on the scene and community of Everest expedition life.
• You have the opportunity to take part in a 'Climbing Clinic' and learn ice-climbing and rapelling in the safe base of Khumbu icefall where we will help you take some great hero photos to remember your experience (Technically you'll be able to say you've climbed on Everest!)
• Trek alongside real Everest Guides and aspiring summit climbers, be part of a summit expedition as a front row witness to all the action and understand what really goes into an Everest Expedition!

Expedition Intro

This is perhaps the best and most iconic trek in the world! Hiking to Everest base camp should be on everyone’s bucket list. What makes the beauty and excitement of trekking in this majestic land even better is being part of the lovely and hospitable Sherpa culture. Sherpa are known the world over for their graciousness and generosity.

Enjoy spending time visiting famous cultural and religious sights on our way through this scenic valley in the shadow of the world’s highest mountains. Our slow acclimatization schedule means there is plenty of time to explore landmarks like the famous Tengboche Monastery where you can stop by to visit a High Lama and receive a blessing, take time to explore the famous Namche Bazaar – the Sherpa capital or have a beer in the world’s highest pub. Passing by countless Tibetan Buddhist stupas and chortens, you will feel the rich culture of Tibetan Buddhism come alive.

We choose to implement a slow acclimatization schedule, not just so you can take in the sights and sounds of the valley but to ensure you enjoy your trek and feel great. Altitude isn’t something to be feared, it’s achievable for most people but it isn’t a process that can be rushed. Treks that move too quickly often have disgruntled, unwell people because their bodies are struggling to adjust.

Yes, trekking to Mt. Everest base camp requires good fitness but it is an achievable goal. You need have the mindset to be away from home for several weeks, along with the desire for adventure travel. The Khumbu is still a remote place with few of the creature comforts we have come to expect at home so it’s best to suspend your expectations of 5 star luxury, super smooth trails and blazing fast internet. In fact, when you embrace it, you’ll enjoy the slower pace of life and being a little disconnected from the rush of the Western world. That said we do our best and select teahouses that are clean, have great food and offer hot showers and 3 rd party wifi internet for purchase.

The CTSS Mt. Everest base camp trek begins in Kathmandu where we obtain our  permits and encourage you to enjoy a day checking out the city before beginning the trek in to base camp via the Khumbu Valley by flying in to Lukla to begin your expedition which will see you trek to over 17,600ft/5,400m!

A note from CTSS Owner, Mike Hamill

Throughout time the human desire to explore new places has been part of our DNA and the world’s highest mountain, Everest, is an incredible draw. Trekking to its base camp is one of the world’s most sought after adventures and for good reason. Not only is it spectacularly beautiful, it is a challenging adventure that anyone should be proud of.

Trekking within a CTSS Everest expedition is an opportunity to experience what a real Mt. Everest climbing team experiences, from the thoughts and feelings of the team on the approach to what life is like at base camp. It’s a rare chance that few people have to gain a true insight into what it is to climb the world’s grandest peak. Most Base Camp treks aren’t affiliated with Everest expeditions and therefore aren’t able to stay at Base Camp proper. They simply reach the outskirts of the camp, tag ‘Trekker’s Rock’ and turn around. They rarely get to spend time or speak to the mountaineering community at all.

If you’re interested in mountaineering or what goes into an Everest expedition then this is a great trek.

As the premier high altitude guide service, CTSS is committed to your safety and success. We are not a huge “trekking factory” but a modestly sized, nimble guide service that prides itself in customizing our program to your individual needs.

In choosing us you are hiring the finest guides and logistical support in the industry. Benefiting from countless Himalayan expeditions and treks and drawing on decades of first hand guiding experience, we have worked hard to refine our logistics in order to offer you the highest chance of success at an exceptional value. In fact, I personally lead our Everest base camp.

Further, we invite our Everest climbers to ask their friends and family to join them on this exotic journey by jumping on our Everest base camp Trek, Lobuche climb, or Everest C2 and C3 programs. You will be able to share many of the cultural experiences together and they will even be able to spend some time with you at base camp and possibly above. This time together often makes these long expeditions more “do-able” from a time away perspective.

We look forward to sharing a great experience with you on the Mt. Everest base camp trek.

  Best regards,

Owner and Director, Climbing the Seven Summits

How Is Our Everest Base Camp Trek Unique?

• Trek with a real Everest/Lhotse climbing team : This is your opportunity to peer into what an actual Everest/Lhotse climbing team goes through on the approach to base camp. You will get to know the personalities and Sherpa that will attempt to stand on the top of the world. This adds a very unique aspect to the world’s most breath-taking trek.
• Stay at Everest Base Camp : Because you are associated with an actual climbing team you are allowed to stay at Everest base camp. This option is not open to other trekkers but is one of the best parts of an Everest base camp trek and to miss it would be a huge loss. Most trekking groups reach the beginning of camp and turn around to rush back to their teahouse for the night. You will spend the night at base camp with the climbers and have time to walk around and experience the community. What’s more, you can even walk a short way into the first, safe part of the Khumbu icefall to see what it’s like.
• Best Value: We have worked hard to create the best trek at the best price. We implore you to do your homework and look closely at what others offer in terms of leadership, ability to stay at Everest base camp and camp accommodations, quality of food, guide experience, logistics, hotels, acclimatization schedule, Sherpa expertise, personal service and professionalism. We firmly believe that comfortable, well-nourished, healthy trekkers are strong and successful trekkers. An Everest base camp trek is too important to not look closely at the details and we are here to answer your questions. We want you feel 100% confident in joining our team. We have spared no expense and yet still offer you the best rates in the industry.
• The best teahouses : CTSS always stays at some of the finest teahouses in the valley. We choose our teahouses based upon quality of accommodations, hygiene and cleanliness, food and hospitality. Everest base camp trek teahouses are rustic to be sure, and this is adventure travel. Even so, you will be in relative luxury.
• The best guides: This is hugely important- please research the quality and experience of your guides thoroughly. All of our guides have extensive knowledge of the region and have proven themselves at altitude time and again. Many of them have dozens of trips to Nepal and have stood on top of Mt. Everest so can talk to what it’s like to climb the mountain.
• Highest paid Sherpa : We purposely pay our Sherpa more than anyone so that they are happy and take care of our clients. Year in, year out we can attract the best talent. Our world-class team of Sherpa are hand-picked by Sirdar Tendi Sherpa and CTSS owner Mike Hamill to ensure we have the cream of the crop. They are all close friends who we have complete confidence in. Because they are paid well they go the extra mile to make sure base camp is exceptional and that our clients are extremely well taken care of. Once they’ve been selected for the team, they go through intensive training and a 5-day review process which includes mountain medicine, client care, technical rescue, and guiding principles before being ok’ed to work. We believe in our Sherpa and know that they will do a great job for you and become friends for life.

Everest Base Camp Expedition Options (Schedules & Prices)

At CTSS we offer the widest variety of trek options as well as a Lobuche climb so that you can customize your Mt. Everest base camp trek experience to your trekking style, ability, interests and budget. A Mt. Everest base camp trek should not be “one size fits all.”

• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Everest Base Camp Rugged Luxury Executive Trek
• Lobuche East Climb
• Mt. Everest Camp 2 Climb
• Mt. Everest Camp 3 Climb
• CTSS Custom and Private options

Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek – $5,495 USD Annually: April 3rd – April 22nd Annually: April 12th – May 1st

The Everest base camp trek is widely heralded as the best trek in the world, and for good reason.

This trek takes you from Kathmandu by plane to Lukla at the head of the Khumbu valley. From there you trek roughly 40 miles/70 km through the lush green pastures, blossoming Rhododendron forests, up into the most precipitous mountain terrain one can imagine. En route to Everest base camp you get to experience the famous Sherpa culture and hospitality while taking in the views of literally the tallest mountains on earth.

At Everest Base Camp Proper you will spend 2x nights in our Expedition Camp, with the opportunity to do a beginner friendly ice climbing/mountaineering skills clinic in the lower part of the Khumbu Glacier, time to hang out in the famed ‘Big House’ Dome complete with unlimited cappuccinos from the world’s highest cafe, play a game of the world’s highest ping pong table! and relax taking in vistas over the icefall.

After your unique stay at Base Camp, you will retrace your steps back down valley, before flying back to Kathmandu, and onward home.

The terminus of your trek is Everest base camp at 17,600ft/ 5,500m where, since you are affiliated with an Everest climbing expedition, you are allowed to spend a night at base camp. This allows you to get a sense of the Everest base camp scene and community while other trekking groups don’t get this luxury. You even have the option to scale Kala Pathar the morning you leave base camp for stunning views of the Everest Massif, Lhotse and Nuptse.

This trek is ideal for anyone who wants to challenge themselves and is a great option for families and friends of CTSS climbers. They can join the trek in, stay at base camp proper (which is not open to everyday trekkers) & get a first-hand experience of being part of a Mt. Everest and Lhotse expedition.

For tentative itinerary, please see schedule tabs below *We highly recommend adding further contingency days on the end of your trip and booking a flexible fare for the return flight home. Flights can sometimes be delayed out of the Khumbu due to mountain weather. Please note CTSS covers one night in Kathmandu at the end of your trip.

Everest Base Camp Rugged Luxury Executive Trek March 28 – April 14* (18 Days): $18,995 USD

The finest in Himalayan trekking, our Everest Base Camp Executive trek is heralded as the ultimate luxury adventure. At every turn you will be spoilt with the best the Himalayas has to offer.

Included in this option:

• Relish in five star, single room accommodation in Kathmandu
• Enjoy the best teahouse accommodation, food, and hygiene and single rooms the Khumbu has to offer
• 2x nights sleeping on the glacier in our Everest Executive heated, personal geodesic domes at Base Camp
• Partake in a Climbing Clinic at Everest, learn to ice climb, abseil and ascend fixed lines in the lower Khumbu icefall
• Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight out of Everest Base Camp (or Gokyo if you chose that extension) back to Kathmandu
• Take in the culture and history of Kathmandu during a full day city tour at the beginning of the expedition. For tentative itinerary, please see schedule tabs below *We highly recommend adding further contingency days on the end of your trip and booking a flexible fare for the return flight home. Flights can sometimes be delayed out of the Khumbu due to mountain weather. Please note CTSS covers one night in Kathmandu at the end of your trip.

Lobuche East Climb April 3 – April 24*: $6,995

Lobuche Peak is a jewel of the Himalaya and offers perhaps the best summit view in the world! Lobuche is surrounded by the tallest peaks on earth and the view from the summit peers out on the Everest/Lhotse/Nuptse massif, Makalu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, and many others. This is a great first Himalayan climb and a great training peak for taller mountains such as Aconcagua, Ama Dablam, and Cho Oyu. To consider an ascent of Lobuche East peak participants must be familiar with crampon and ice axe technique and have used a harness before. We will run a training refresher at Lobuche base camp before the ascent so if you are a little rusty, don’t worry, we will get you up to speed. If you’re not sure if you have the experience for this climb, please ask us. If not, we can recommend other training to get prepared for a Lobuche ascent.

If you’re a climber your friends and family can join you on your acclimatization climb of Lobuche en route to Everest and challenge themselves on steep fixed-line climbing up rock, snow, and ice.

Camp 2 Mt. Everest Climb (21,500ft/6,500m) April 3 – May 1*: $16,995 USD

Looking to climb Mt. Everest in the future and interested in getting real training on her slopes under your belt? Looking to climb Cho Oyu or another first 8000m peak? Or perhaps you wish to climb on Mt. Everest but have no interest in going to the summit? Our partial Everest climbs may be the perfect budget friendly option for you. Please contact us directly to discuss these options.

Camp 3 Mt. Everest Climb (24,000ft/7,500m): April 3 – May 9*: $18,995 USD

CTSS Custom and Private Climbs: (contact us for customization and current pricing)

We pride ourselves on our ability to customize your trek to suit your needs. As a smaller team, we can fully customize your trek to you, and in fact we encourage this customization. A Mt Everest base camp trek should not be one size fits all. We offer the most options (see expedition options) because we believe every trekker has individual needs. Our personalization and client care are second to none. DON’T get lost in the numbers and join a large team where quality and personal attention suffer.

Customization Options & Add Ons

Allowing you to customize your expedition to suit your needs and budget is a huge priority for us. As mountaineers ourselves, we understand that it’s the little things that can make the difference and not everyone is the same when it comes to their approach. Therefore we encourage you to tailor your expedition and talk to us about any other options you may wish for.

• Single rooming option
• Helicopter Ride to Lukla
• Helicopter Ride back to Kathmandu
• Kathmandu Cultural Day Tour
• Additional Nights at Everest Base Camp
• Gokyo Extension
• Dietary Restrictions

Single rooming option: $1250 USD

We are happy to organize single rooming accommodations and a tea house upgrade for you throughout the expedition. If you snore or are easily awakened by others that do snore, this might be a great option. We stay at some of the nicest teahouses in the Khumbu valley throughout our trek to keep you healthy and to provide you with comfort. Many teahouses offer room upgrades which may include an en suite bathroom with hot shower and more space, whereas our normal rooms generally have a shared bathroom and shower for an added fee.

Shared Helicopter to Lukla at the end of the climb: $3,495 USD

Many trekkers are anxious to get home to family and friends as quickly as possible after two months in the mountains. Because of this, we offer to arrange a private helicopter for you from Everest base camp to Lukla to avoid the three day, 40 mile walk back down the valley. It’s also a once in a lifetime experience in it’s own right and an incredible way to see what you have trekked from the air and take a scenic flight amongst the Himalaya. From Lukla you will either catch a flight that day or spend the night before catching your regularly scheduled flight back to Kathmandu. Taking a helicopter to Lukla and a fixed wing plane back to Kathmandu, rather than a helicopter the entire way saves many thousands of dollars.

Shared Helicopter to Kathmandu at the end of the climb: $5,995 USD

  For those that aren’t as price sensitive and who want to get back to Kathmandu and homeward bound as quickly as possible at the end of the trek, we can arrange a private helicopter for you directly from Everest base camp to Kathmandu. This avoids the three day, 40 mile walk back down the valley and waiting for a night in Lula for a flight back to Kathmandu. It’s also a once in a lifetime experience in it’s own right and an incredible way to see what you have trekked from the air and take a scenic flight amongst the Himalaya.

Pre Trip Full Day Cultural Tour – $200 per person

Kathmandu is one of the most exciting, culturally rich cities in the world. Unique, and overflowing with sights, smells, sounds and tastes, it’s both chaotic and charming. A city of true contrast it needs to be experienced to be understood. During our Kathmandu Cultural Tour an English speaking guide will show you the best history and culture the city has to offer.

Additional Nights at Everest Base Camp: $250 USD per night

If trekkers want to stay at base camp longer than the itinerary we can add additional nights for $250/each. If you would like to stay longer than a week you will need a Nuptse climbing permit which allows you to stay at base camp throughout the entire Everest expedition season. Please contact us directly to arrange this.

Gokyo Return Extension – $1,495 USD per person

Once you’ve achieved your goal of Everest Base Camp, why not make your return a little different and rather than retracing your footprints back down the Khumbu valley, instead spend a few days seeking some new scenery by visiting the Gokyo region. Gokyo itself is a small hamlet of stone houses and one of the highest settlements in the world, surrounded by truly breathtaking vistas, mountains and glaciers.

You’ll see and experience more of these amazing mighty Himalayan mountains, climb the famous Cho La Pass (5,420m) escape the madding crowds and view the stunning Gokyo Lakes before rejoining the main trail at Namche Bazaar for the final day’s trek back to Lukla.

This extension is best suited to experienced and fit trekkers who are keen to get off the beaten path and further challenge themselves.

Dietary restrictions accommodation: (please let us know, no charge)

We can accommodate just about any dietary restriction if you let us know far enough in advance. Please make us aware of any restrictions you may have and we will do our best to create healthy and satisfying options.

EBC Trekker Emily shares her thoughts on the Trek

Emily had her reservations about signing up to join a Climbing the Seven Summits Everest Base Camp trek, see what she thought…

Take a tour of CTSS' Mt. Everest Base Camp

CTSS prides itself on offering the best expedition at the best price. Because of this we offer many amenities that other companies don’t. We have carefully worked through all of the details of our expedition to offer you every nuance that can help you be successful and comfortable and stripped our program of anything that could hinder you.

Expedition Itineraries

• Mt Everest Camp 2 Climb
• Mt Everest Camp 3 Climb

Everest Base Camp Tentative Daily Schedule:   (Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM)  This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel so this schedule will likely change and not everything will go as planned. People need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend people arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day or earlier or for a single rooming option.

Day               Itinerary

1                     Arrive in Kathmandu, airport pick up and transfer to our hotel.

2                    Meet for breakfast, Guide briefing, gear check & free afternoon in Kathmandu

3                    Fly to Lukla/Trek to Phakding

4                    Trek to Namche Bazaar

5                    Rest/Acclimatization in Namche

6                    Hike to Tengboche

7                    Rest/acclimatization in Tengboche. Visit the Tengboche Monastery

8                    Hike to Pheriche

9                    Rest/acclimatization in Pheriche

10                  Hike to Lobuche Base camp (tented camp)

11                   Trek to Lobuche High Camp, return to Lobuche Base Camp (tented camp)

12                   Trek to Gorak Shep

13                   Trek to Everest Base Camp & Overnight in Base Camp Proper

14                   Explore Base Camp, Climbing Clinic in lower Icefall, Overnight in Base Camp Proper

15                   Climb Kala Patthar and descend to Pheriche

16                   Trek to Namche

17                   Trek to Lukla

18                   Fly to Kathmandu

19                   Contingency Day

20                   Fly Home

Note: Unused Contingency Days are not included in the cost of your program however we highly recommend that you factor them in as we have outlined in the itinerary to account for any weather delays etc (given the mountain environment we are in) We suggest buying a flexible return airfare so you can move your flight forward if you don’t need those contingency days or push it back as you need to. CTSS covers one night in the hotel in Kathmandu at the end of your program. If you don’t use your contingency days on the mountain or decide to stay longer in Kathmandu awaiting your return flight, associated hotel costs and expenses are strictly your responsibility.

Lobuche Climb Tentative Daily Schedule:   (Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM)  This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel so this schedule will likely change and not everything will go as planned. People need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend people arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day or earlier or for a single rooming option.

1                     Arrive KTM

2                    Obtain Climbing permits/Free Day in Kathmandu/Team dinner

3                    Fly to Lukla/trek to Phakding

4                    Trek to Namche

5                    Rest/acclimatization in Namche

7                    Rest/acclimatization in Tengboche

10                  Trek to Lobuche Base Camp

11                  Acclimatization hike Lobuche High Camp, Skills Refresher

12                  Move to Lobuche High Camp

13                  Acclimatization above Lobuche High Camp

14                  Summit Lobuche High Camp & return to Lobuche Base Camp

15                  Trek to Everest Base Camp

16                  Rest at Everest Base Camp

17                  Trek to Pheriche

18                  Trek to Namche

19                  Trek to Lukla

20                  Fly to Kathmandu

21                  Fly Home

22                  Contingency Day

Everest Camp 2 Climb Tentative Daily Schedule: (Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM)  This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel so this schedule will likely change and not everything will go as planned. People need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend people arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day or earlier or for a single rooming option.

1                    Arrive KTM

2                   Obtain Climbing permits/Free Day/Team dinner

3                   Fly to Lukla/trek to Phakding

4                   Trek to Namche

5                   Rest/acclimatization in Namche

6                   Hike to Tengboche

7                   Rest/acclimatization in Tengboche

8                   Hike to Pheriche

9                   Rest/Acclimatization in Pheriche

10                 Trek to Lobuche Base Camp

11                 Acclimatization hike Lobuche High Camp, Skills Refresher

12                 Move to Lobuche High Camp

13                 Acclimatization above Lobuche High Camp

14                 Summit Lobuche High Camp & return to Lobuche Base Camp

15                 Trek to Everest Base Camp

16                 Rest at Everest Base Camp

17                 Training/Acclimatization

18                  Packing/Acclimatization

19                  Climb to Camp 1

20                  Climb to Camp 2, return to Camp 1

21                  Descend to Everest Base Camp

22                   Rest/Pack up

23                   Descend to Pheriche

24                   Descend to Namche

25                   Descend to Lukla

26                   Fly to Kathmandu

27                   Fly Home

28                   Contingency Day

29                   Contingency Day

30                   Contingency Day

Everest Partial Camp 3 Climb Tentative Daily Schedule:   (Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM)  This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel so this schedule will likely change and not everything will go as planned. People need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend people arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day or earlier or for a single rooming option.

11                 Acclimatization hike Lobuche High Camp, Skills Refresher

12                 Move to Lobuche High Camp

13                 Acclimatization above Lobuche High Camp

14                 Summit Lobuche High Camp & return to Lobuche Base Camp

15                 Trek to Everest Base Camp

16                 Rest at Everest Base Camp

17                 Training/Acclimatization

21                  Move to Camp 2

22                  Descend to Everest Base Camp

23                  Rest

24                  Hike to Pumori Camp 1

25                  Rest/Pack

26                  Climb to Camp 1

27                  Climb to Camp 2

28                  Touch the base of the Lhotse Face

29                  Climb to touch Camp 3, descend to Camp 2

30                  Descend to Base Camp

31                  Pack/Rest

32                 Descend to Pheriche

33                  Descend to Namche

34                  Descend to Lukla

35                  Fly to Kathmandu

36                  Fly Home

37                  Contingency Day

38                 Contingency Day

39                 Contingency Day

Expedition Details and Strategy

Our Mt. Everest base camp trek meets in Kathmandu where we obtain our permits, run through gear checks and have a team meeting. Following our time in Kathmandu we fly to Lukla to start the trek. We land at the Hillary runway at roughly 9,000ft/3,000m. From the moment you land in Lukla you will be at altitude. It’s important to take it easy and let your body adjust to the altitude naturally. From here we make our way up the Khumbu valley staying at some of the best teahouses in the region in order to mitigate the stress so you can focus on the climb.

Hygiene is incredibly important to us and we take many precautions to make sure our team avoids getting sick. Despite this, illness can be a fact of life in Nepal so chances are people will at least experience a stomach rumbling at some point during the trek.

Once en route we use a slow, methodical acclimatization strategy to position ourselves for the summit bid. Most treks rush this process and suffer the consequences of altitude illness because of it.

Our base camp is the finest on the mountain. We spare little expense making you feel as comfortable as possible. Our top-notch cooks make you the healthiest food possible with strong hygiene standards.

Gear List: This gear list has been carefully compiled over years of treks and expeditions. Please take it seriously. All of the items on the list are mandatory. If you don’t have all the items on the list you will be required to purchase them in Kathmandu. Please contact us for specific items or more details on items. Specific items change too fast for us to recommend a certain model so it’s best to email us for real-time product info. Please support our partners: We work closely with Mountain Gear out of Washington State in the USA. If you purchase through the link at the bottom of our home page they will give you a discount and they are also available to help you select the right gear if you let them know you are with Climbing the Seven Summits.

• Travel Wallet with passport, cash and travel documents
• Day Pack- 30L
• 1x heavy PVC Duffel Bags with locks
• Passport photos (5)
• Casual Travel Clothes
• Light-weight sneakers for travel and at base camp
• 2 pairs light socks
• Medium weight trekking boots with ankle support
• 2 pairs medium weight trekking socks
• Medium weight gaiters
• 2 pairs of thermal under layers top & bottom: 1 light, 1 medium
• 4 pairs of underwear
• 2 pairs of synthetic climbing pants: 1 light and 1 medium weight
• 1 pair of insulated pants for base camp and Lobuche
• 1 pair of shell pants (water proof with full side zippers and fit over climbing pants)
• 2 medium weight layers: 1 synthetic pile jacket, 1 down or synthetic vest 
and jacket
• 1 shell jacket
• 1 heavy down parka with hood
• 2 buff neck gaiters
• 2 heavy weight winter hats
• 1 baseball hat/sun hat that protects the neck
• 1 medium weight fleece glove
• 1 heavy weight pair of climbing gloves
• Prescription eyewear
• Trekking Poles
• 1 Down Sleeping Bag rated to -20F
• 2 headlamps; 1 medium sized and 1 small sized as a backup
• Batteries – Make sure to have enough batteries for your entire trip with spares
• 2x 1 liter water bottles, wide mouth
• Water purification: Iodine tablets, filter or UV treatment
• Book or Kindle/iPad with movies/tv series
• Altitude watch
• Sun screen & zinc
• Hand Sanitizer (several small bottles)
• Small Shampoo
• Tooth Brush and Toothpaste
• Nail trimmers
• Basic medical kit with high altitude meds should include: blister kit, low dose aspirin, Band-Aids, wound closure strips, triple antibiotic ointment, basic repair kit, scissors, Diamox (acetazolamide, 125mg) for AMS, antacids, NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprophen, anti-diarrheal, duct tape, ear plugs, Antibiotics (upper respiratory such as Azithromycin and a gastro-intestinal such as Ciproflaxin), melatonin, Asthma medication if you use it (Advair), cold and flu medication,

Lobuche Climbers Add:

• Climbing pack – 60 liter like the Hyperlite 3,300
• 1 pair of 8000m mitts
• Hand warmers and electronic boot warmers like Hotronics (optional)
• 2 pairs of Glacier glasses: one spare (must be Cat 4)
• 2 pairs of goggles (1 clear lens, 1 dark lens)
• 1 full face mask that covers all skin on face & can be worn with goggles
• 2 sleeping pads: 1 closed cell foam, 1 inflatable
• Foot warmers (optional)
• Foot power keeps feet dry and warm
• Down booties with a sole
• Lightweight Harness with detachable leg loops
like Black Diamond Couloir
• Ascender with single length sling
• 2 extra double-length slings
• 3 locking carabiners and 4 non-locking carabiners
• 30 feet of prusik cord
• Helmet, light weight
• Ice axe – alpine axe that is long enough for walking and has a leash but is lightweight.
• 12 Point Crampons that MUST fit your boots perfectly.
• ATC and/or Figure 8
• Water Bottle Insulators
• Collapsible Cup, bowl, spoon

Camp 2 Climbers Add:

• Snack food: We recommend 5 pounds/2 kilograms of food you know you like to eat while climbing. “GU”, “Nuun”, and shot blocks, granola bars, candy bars, cheese, meat, chocolate, and nuts are excellent.
• High Altitude Medications: niphedepine (for pulmonary edema, time release), dexamethasone (for cerebral edema, 4mg),
• Winter Sorel Type boots for relaxing in cold weather at base camp

Camp 3 Climbers Add: 


• 1 down suit or 8,000m top & bottom. Leg zippers, arm pit zippers, rainbow zip butt
• Triple Climbing Boots suitable for above 8000m
• 2 pairs heavy climbing socks to be worn with triple boots
• 1 down sleeping bags: 1 rated to -40F/-40C)

Application and Payment

Thanks for your interest in our expeditions. We're looking forward to climbing with you!

To apply for our expeditions, please contact us to send you an application packet.

1. Fill in the application form (you can fill it out digitally or print and scan) and email it back to us at: [email protected] 2. Pay your 25% deposit (wire transfers are preferred and the details are on the application form. Credit cards attract a merchant surcharge) 3. Upon receiving your application and your deposit, and accepting you onto the trip, we will then issue you an invoice reflecting that and your balance amount and due date 4. Please send us the remainder of the forms to [email protected] which are due 4 months of departure along with your balance. 5. At the same time, please send a copy of the photo page of the passport you intend to travel on and a copy of your trip insurance*

*It’s worth noting most insurers require you to take out a policy within 14 days of paying a deposit for their trip cancellation/interruption clauses. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like recommendations on who we use for our guide’s insurance etc.

Travel can be booked through our partner travel agent: Pirjo DeHart at CTT Destinations.

What's Not Included in Your Expedition

What’s included/not included in your Mt. Everest base camp trek:

Our treks are fully inclusive except for items/services of a personal nature. Please take note that the following is not included:

• International flights to Kathmandu, Nepal
• Airport arrival or departure taxes
• Associated travel expenses including: Visa, Passport, Reciprocity Fees, Vaccination Charges, Excess Baggage
• Water for the day on Trek to Base Camp: you may buy directly from stores along the route or from teahouses
• Optional excursions not included in the itinerary or additional days before or after the scheduled program
• Personal trekking equipment, clothing, toiletries, snack food, etc.
• Personal sundries including but not limited to; non-team meals while in Kathmandu, personal snacks, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, third party internet, medical expenses, gratuities, email or phone charges, bottled water and boiled water, specialty coffees and bakery items, showers at teahouses
• Sherpa tip pool ($300 for trekkers)
• Guide tips (customary but optional)
• Satellite telephone air charges & 3rd party base camp Wi-Fi
• Costs incurred as a result of events beyond the control of CTSS above and beyond the normal expedition costs
• Required travel insurance policy (for trip cancellation, interruption, rescue & evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation etc.)

CTSS Expedition Leadership

Each expedition is led by Mike Hamill.

Mike Hamill , lead guide and owner of CTSS, is universally regarded as one of the most experienced and respected high altitude mountaineers and expedition leaders in the world.

He has personally guided thousands of climbers on the Seven Summits and well over 150 climbers have stood atop 8000m peaks, including Everest with him. A guide for over 20 years, he boasts a 91% expedition success rate and an 83% climber summit success rate for all of his expeditions worldwide.

He has stood on top of Everest 6x and currently holds the record for most non-Sherpa summits of Cho Oyu. He’s also the author of the guidebook “ Climbing the Seven Summits ,”

To complement his leadership, Mike has hand-picked a selection of the finest mountaineering professionals from around the world to make up the international CTSS guiding team.

Our team are highly qualified and some of the most highly experienced climbers in the world. Chosen for their attention to detail, safety records along with their fun, genuine and caring personalities, we have no hesitation in saying they are the best. Mike holds the CTSS staff to the same high standards as he holds himself.

Who you choose for expedition organization and leadership is a big deal – it can be the difference between a great expedition and a miserable, potentially dangerous one and you only want the best in your corner. The fact that Mike and his guides have an unprecedented safety record should be a paramount consideration in who you choose to climb with.

Mike and the CTSS team’s love for the mountains and adventure continues in our corporate social responsibility policy. A portion of profits and fundraising climbs are organized every year in support of the  “ Tiger of the Snows Fund ” a not-for-profit that provides grants to further education of mountain tourism workers and their families.

“Great leaders like Mike inspire and lead people to take on challenges and achieve great things.” -Tim Igo

Our Sherpa Team

You will quickly notice our Sherpa’s many character traits: hard work, humility, friendliness, gregariousness, not to mention strength.

Our team of Sherpa is simply the cream of the crop and are led by our Sirdar Tendi Sherpa. Tendi is one of the most respected members of the Everest and Lhotse community and has notched a dozen Everest summits on both the south and north sides of the mountain beyond many other summits worldwide. Tendi is an internationally certified guide, co-owns a logistics company based in Kathmandu and is the best in the business.

He holds his team of Sherpa to the same high standard that he holds himself and hand picks only the strongest, most skilled, and trusted Sherpa friends. Some of our Sherpa team are fully internationally IFMGA certified guides and all are incredibly strong and proficient climbers. Tendi and his team will work incredibly hard to make your trek a success and they will become friends for life. Tendi and the Sherpa team go through extensive technical and customer service training before each expedition to make sure their skills at sharp. Our Sherpa are paid higher than any other Sherpa on the mountain because we believe in them and want them to feel happy and taken care of. This will ensure that they do the best job possible for you.

The CTSS Approach

Climbing the Seven Summits’ primary aim is to help you attain your personal climbing and trekking goals while experiencing the best of our planet, its unique cultures. and environments.

We strive to offer the highest quality mountaineering expeditions and treks at a great value while focusing on our primary goals: safety, success, and enjoyment.

We achieve this by bringing our extensive experience, top-of-the-line logistics, individualized and world-class guides to each adventure we undertake.

To give our clients the highest possible chance at success we are detailed in our approach, ensuring we’ve dotted our ‘i’s and crossed our ‘t’s. We provide personalized service, employ conservative acclimatization schedules, use top-of-the-line mountaineering, camping, and communications gear, hire only the best mountain leaders, and we don’t skimp on costs.

Our expeditions strive to set the highest standards and climb in “good style.” By this, we mean prioritizing the well-being and safety of our teams, leaving no trace on the environments we operate in, respecting culture, contributing to local economies by employing regional partners and paying them higher than the industry standard, and working in a self-sufficient and self-reliant way. We promote a responsible approach to adventure travel by connecting people to the natural world and giving back to local communities by donating a percentage of every expedition to the Tiger of the Snows Fund.

We take immense pride in our expeditions, and this shows in the positive feedback we receive from our teams who form lasting friendships forged in the mountains as they work together and overcome tough challenges.

Please visit our Client Testimonials page for quotes reflecting CTSS leadership and experience. If you would like to talk to previous customers as references, please contact us, and we can put you in touch with many satisfied climbers. Please feel free to give us a call or send us an email, and we will be happy to discuss the expedition with you. Joining a climbing or trekking expedition is a big deal, and it’s important to feel comfortable with the expedition leadership. The majority of our clients are return customers because of their overwhelmingly positive experiences.

• The Everest Base Camp Trek is roughly 40 miles each way for a total of around 80 miles start to finish.
• Everest base camp lies at 17,600ft, roughly the same height as high camp on Denali, North America’s tallest peak.
• Everest Base Camp is built on the ice of the Khumbu glacier which stretches over 12km!
• Everest was first climbed in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary

Express Your Interest in Our Expeditions

Everest base camp faq.

Will I still be part of the team as a trekker joining a climbing expedition?

Absolutely, you are a valued team member and meeting your needs are just as important to us. Many trekkers worry that they aren’t “fit” enough to be joining a summit climbing team and that they might not be able to keep up or that their concerns will fall to the bottom of the priority list. Rest assured, that is not the case.

All our team/s move at a very manageable pace, slow acclimatization is important for everyone regardless of how much training or experience you have. Our schedule is achievable for everyone and we take plenty of breaks and rest days.

We also staff our treks well to ensure that everyone can keep their own pace and go as fast or as slowly as they chose and still have guidance. Sometimes climbers like to stretch their legs a bit but there is no need to feel rushed or that you must keep up or be together at all times. Everyone’s bodies respond differently and we understand that.

enough staff that everyone can keep their own pace, fast or as slow as you like

What about Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness or AMS is a common concern, but you don’t need to worry, or have any prior experience at altitude to be successful. We purposely keep a very slow acclimatization schedule to allow you plenty of time to acclimatize naturally. Slow and steady wins the race as such. We still encourage you to speak to your doctor about your options as there are medications like diamox that help with acclimatization with few side effects that many people find helpful but this is a personal choice.

All of our staff are trained to look for and spot signs of altitude sickness and will manage them immediately.

A few things to look out for are headaches, lack of appetite and shortness of breath. Remember when you are on the trek, there’s no need to push stoically through in silence, tough it out, or worry about holding others back. Please speak up about how you are feeling so we can adjust your pace, schedule etc to ensure your success. There is plenty of room in the itinerary to do that. Afterall, some of the best climbers/trekkers in the world acclimatize slowly, so don’t feel ashamed if you need to take your time.

What is the food like on the trek?

On the trek to BC we will be eating meals prepared for us by the teahouse staff. We stay at some of the finest teahouses so the food is the best available in the Khumbu. We can cater for dietary requirements but we do need prior notice.

At base camp, our food is the finest on Mt. Everest. Our head chef Kumar has been cooking for Everest expeditions for more than a decade and trains at 5 star hotels in the off-season.

You are welcome and encouraged to bring some of your favorite snacks, although we provide plenty of food and there is opportunity to purchase snacks along the trail, some people find it comforting to have their favorite, familiar treats from home

Will I be sharing a room/tent?

Yes, if you have not selected the Single Room Upgrade for the majority of the trek the teahouses are twin share. We stay at the famous “Yak and Yeti” hotel in Kathmandu and in the finest teahouses while trekking to base camp. While at Everest base camp you will be sharing a tent. If you are climbing above base camp, or staying for a prolonged period with our expedition, you will have your own tent at Base Camp (above Base Camp you will share a tent with another climber to reduce the number of dangerous loads the Sherpa need to carry through the treacherous Khumbu Ice fall and for warmth)

How heavy will my pack be?

In general, trekking packs are relatively light. You will likely be carrying 5lbs – 10lbs (2kg – 5kg) most of the time on the trek into base camp.

If you are climbing you should be prepared to carry your gear for the day and some of your personal gear for the mountain. Sherpa will carry all of the group gear and help with personal gear.

Will I need to purchase insurance?

Yes. Trip delay and cancellation, rescue, repatriation, medical insurance is mandatory for this program for your own benefit. We have seen too many times people need to cancel their trip either before or during the trek for reasons such as injury, health, family and business matters. With such a long trip and so much at stake climbers need to be prepared for contingencies.

Testimonials

“Mike, there’s an aura about you that when you’re around everything will be ok. You chose the right profession, and I’m a better person because of it!! Cheers!!” -Bart W

“And I will never forget that you believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. For that I will always be grateful to you.” Jason V

“It’s not often that you get to have the privilege of climbing with a world class climber, such as yourself. Wow. And here’s an added bonus… you’re a really nice guy, too… down to earth and not an ounce of pretension. Seriously, we couldn’t have enjoyed our time with you more. You illustrated the utmost level of caution and consideration for the team and not only that, you were a blast to hang out with. Thank you for your patience with me, for pushing me beyond my comfort level, and for your wisdom and care to make it to the top. You taught me a lot about climbing and about myself. I appreciate you tremendously and know that without you, I wouldn’t have made it. This was one hell of a trip and we will always think of you fondly… and hope to climb with you again. Thank you, Mike and enjoy your next adventure.” Angela H

“Mike, we knew by reputation, but I did not expect such a down-to-earth, humble, approachable person. Mike welcomed us and made us feel like we all belonged. He taught us about climbing every day. He encouraged us when we did well and he pointed out our mistakes in a positive way. He made an effort to get to know each of us individually- we were all different people to him, not just a bunch of clients. And on summit morning his leadership and decision making were incredible. Every one of us has incredible respect for Mike. I cannot imagine ever doing something like this again without him.” Doug B

“I had the time of my life on the EBC trek and am so grateful for the opportunity! I truly had lots of fun every day meeting and getting to know people from all over the world, learning about the Nepal culture, eating their food, listening to everyone’s stories (so inspirational), and I felt connected to so many people. The Sherpa, all guides, cooks, staff, and porters were simply the best! No doubt, CTSS employs quality, compassionate, funny, knowledgeable, and inspiring team members to ensure our safety, well-being, and happiness along the journey! Very pleased with the entire CTSS logistics and total operations. Again, thanks to CTSS, I had the joy and best experience of a lifetime! I look forward to returning to Nepal in the near future and continuing my journeys through more treks and mountain climbs around the globe with none other than CTSS!” – Julie M. EBC Trek 2024