SLEEPING AT EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK
2024 Dates Coming Soon
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You love hiking, you love hiking up mountains, you love hiking up iconic mountains, so hiking to Everest Base Camp has been on your “bucket list” for years. It’s time to pull the trigger and experience it for yourself in 2024. In 2022 we did this trip for the first time. The video is from that trip. It was amazing!
We will not only visit Everest Base Camp in Nepal, at 17,600’, but we will spend the night there at a time when almost no one else is on the mountain. Last year there was one other group, an expedition from Poland built around an extreme skier who was going to summit Everest an ski down! Our guide and support team we have chosen again this year is Ian Taylor Trekking. Ian has climbed Mount Everest, climbed Kilimanjaro 37 times, lead 40+ Everest base camp treks, Climbed Island peak 17 times, Mera peak 6 times, 6 of the 7 summits and has led over 150 treks and climbs around the world for the past decade. Our guides were absolutely amazing, serving us with professional expertise, warm hearts, strong backs, and never-ending energy! They are the best in the business. Below you will find links to information about this impressive team. Price $5,327 Per Person (Double Occupancy) $1000 Deposit required with registration Single Supplement: $560 but read below... The single supplement for the trip is $560 and this includes a single room while in Kathmandu but this does not guarantee a single room throughout the trek. There are some Tea Houses (the huts we stay in along the trail) that simply may not have enough rooms. If there are not enough rooms available, people will have to share two to a room. The Trek Price Includes: Two Internal Flights
The Trek Price Does Not Include:
Flights Though flights are not included in the cost, we will do the research and recommend options to the group so that, if possible, we can all fly together. If there is at least a $250 savings, we will fly out of SFO instead of SMF. Our experience is that the hassle of transportation and the exhaustion at the end of a trip of flying out of SFO is real and only worth enduring if there is sufficient savings. The reason we don’t have the flights included with the trip is that many people have points they can use or want to use their own credit cards to gain more points through the purchase. Flights will become available to book about one year out and we anticipate cost to be $1,000 to $1200 round trip. |
INFORMATIONAL MEETING: February 5th, 2023 from 6:15 - 7:30pm at the Weisman's home. Come hear all about this incredibly unique opportunity and ask all of your questions. RSVP via text to Greg at 916-847-4734. Important Information, resources, and training
1. Ian Taylor’s website has everything you need to know to do this trek: https://iantaylortrekking.com/trek-asia/the-everest- region/everest-base-camp-trek/ 2. Greg Weisman, with G1AT, will be organizing regular meetings and training hikes. Meetings will focus on building community, gear, training, prayer, and inspiration. Training Hikes will include single day and multi-day options. Itinerary
This trip is one of the highlights of any trekker’s career and is a truly amazing experience. We will take the most dependable and most beautiful route, by helicopter into the village of Lukla, which sits at 2,840m/9,317ft. The Everest Region, also known as the Solukhumbu Region, is characterized with sweeping glaciers, picturesque mountains and forests, and is inhabited by a wide range of animal and bird species as well as world famous monasteries. The Sherpa people dwell in this region, living along the trails, welcoming you to their villages as you move up the valley towards Mt. Everest. The trek to Everest Base Camp is a wonderful and challenging trek, which should not be taken lightly. When going to these levels of altitude, your body’s acclimatization to the lack of oxygen is the real key to success, and because of this, we have added an extra day to this trek at the critical point of the acclimatization process, which has given our guide company a 95% success rate. We will also cover the daily distances on the trail at a very slow and steady pace, in order to aid the acclimatization process. Even though we are giving you the best chance of success with our acclimatization schedule, you still need to play your part and come physically prepared for this adventure. The better physical condition you are in for this trip, the more fun it will be! And, yes, the opposite is true. The worse condition you are in, the more difficult, challenging, and even painful the trip will be. You will be given a training regimen that will guide you to be prepared. Nepal and COVID Ian Taylor’s website has an ongoing blog with up to date information: https://iantaylortrekking.com/blog/corona-virus-and-its-effect-on-our-upcoming-season-in-nepal/ |
Registration Coming Soon!
Brief Itinerary
Note about flights: Several from our 2022 trip departed early and spent 2 nights in Doha on the way over, making it easier to adjust to the time change. We just require everyone to be in Kathmandu by the 26th.
Flying: Oct 3rd - Potentially taking off for flight to KTM
Flying : Oct 4th - Flying (approx 29 hour flight SFO - KTM)
Day 1: Oct 5th - Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 2: Oct 6th - Rest/tour Kathmandu
Day 3: Oct 7th - Fly to Lukla (helicopter), hike to Phakding or Monjo
Day 4: Oct 8th - Hike to Namche Bazaar
Day 5: Oct 9th - Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization Day)
Day 6: Oct 10th - Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization Day)
Day 7: Oct 11th - Trek to Tengboche
Day 8: Oct 12th - Trek to Dingboche
Day 9: Oct 13th - Extra day Dingboche (Acclimatization Day)
Day 10: Oct 14th - Lobuche
Day 11: Oct 15th - Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar
Day 12: Oct 16th - Everest Base Camp (spend night in tents)
Day 13: Oct 17th - Pheriche
Day 14: Oct 18th - Namche Bazaar
Day 15: Oct 19th - Lukla
Day 16: Oct 20th - Morning flight to Kathmandu (fixed wing) then free time in KTM
Day 17: Oct 21st – Free Day in Kathmandu
Day 18: Oct 22nd - Flying home (arrive same day)
NOTHING EASY IS EVER WORTHWHILE. THIS IS NOT EASY!
This famous trek to Everest starts at 2,840m/9,317 feet walking up to 5,645m/ 18,520 feet. spread over 9
days to reach this height. The distances can be up to 15km (10miles) a day, however most days are less than
this. It is vitally important that you are used to walking these kinds of distances on a regular basis with added
weight in a backpack up and down hills to give better conditioning to your legs at lower levels of altitude.
The best way to condition the body is walking up and down hills with added weight. Building up slow from
carrying 12lbs to 25lbs in a dedicated training plan with months of preparation. This type of training is critical for
safety and success of this trekking adventure.
DETAILED TREKKING ITINERARY
Day 1: (10/5/23): Arrive in Kathmandu, 1 to 2 hours walking around Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu International Airport. An Ian Taylor Trekking representative will greet us at the airport and transfer us to our hotel in Kathmandu. We’ll relax, go for a walk, eat well.
Day 2: 3 to 4 hours walking around Kathmandu
You will be able to do some sightseeing in Kathmandu and pick up any last-minute items as you recuperate from the flights. There will be team briefing at the hotel in the early evening. We will leave our suitcases with any items we are not taking on the trek at tour hotel.
Day 3: 3 to 5 hours Trekking
Early rise to the day and fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. We are including a Helicopter flight instead of fixed wing for our group to Lukla (9,317ft), the gateway to the Khumbu Region because of challenging weather patterns that often don't allow for fixed wing flights and cause trip delays. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet the rest of our trek staff and porters and set off straight away for our first night’s stop at Phakding or Monjo. Depending on what time we arrive in Lukla, we may decide to go all the way to Monjo, and we would then have lunch in Phakding before continuing on. Both villages are situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.
Day 4: 5 to 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Namche Bazaar. We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Sagarmatha National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar (11,155ft). This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares here, and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artifacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.
Day 5: 3 to 4 hours Trekking
We will spend the day acclimatizing to the low oxygen levels and resting in Namche Bazaar. During this critical acclimatization phase, we will spend time resting and trekking to higher altitudes to aid in the process. This will allow our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of 11,300ft. On the first morning, there is the option of walking up to the Shangbouche Hill (3,900m/12,795ft) and the Everest View Hotel for beautiful vistas of the whole Everest Region, before returning to Namche for lunch. The afternoon can be spent sampling the delights of the Namche bakery!
Day 6: 1 to 2 hours Trekking
This is where our schedule differs again from most EBC Treks by other companies. Instead of departing Namche on our way to EBC, we stay in Namche another night giving you the best possible acclimatization program, we will either walk to the Sherpa Museum 3,600m (11,811 ft) for stunning views of Mt. Everest and surrounding mountains. The key is to rest, relax and acclimatize at this height and will make all the difference as we go higher and extreme altitude.
Day 7: 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Tengbouche (12,795 feet). From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Tengbouche, home of an impressive and recently rebuilt monastery. We have plenty of time to look around Tengbouche (and have cake at the bakery!)
Day 8: 5 hours Trekking
Trek to Dingboche. Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche. An hour’s walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam (‘Mother’s Charm Box’) and home for the Sherpas who work on this imposing mountain each post-monsoon season. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingbouche at 14,271ft.
Day 9: 3 hours Trekking
Today is spent as another acclimatization day. This is a great stop at 14,271ft prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingbouche, we will ascend a steep climb to 16,076 ft for stunning views of the massive peaks around you. Getting up to this height gives your body the chance it needs to acclimatize to the low levels of oxygen. We will head back to Dingbouche and relax in one of the local bakeries before the last few days up!
Day 10 : 5 to 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Lobuche. We will continue along the trail up on a platform above the valley bottom towards Dugla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuje East (20,075ft), and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche, the scene of many cutting-edge Himalayan ascents of the 1980s and 1990s. After three hours we reach the small collection of lodges at Thukla (15,153ft). After lunch we continue the walk up for approximately one hour to the Everest memorials, there are outstanding views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Taweche. From Thukla, the trail starts steeply to climb up beside the glacier moraine. After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuche (16,207ft). There is an option for a day hike to view the Kumbhu Glacier valley from here.
Day 11: 7 to 8 hours Trekking
We will be up early to start our trek to Gorak Shep. About three hours beyond Lobuche we reach Gorak Shep (17,126ft), the site of the 1953 Everest Expedition’s base camp. We will have lunch here and rest in our room before making our attempt on Kala Patthar, at 18,520ft. We will aim to arrive at the summit of Kala Patthar in time to watch the sunset on Mount Everest. The hike up to the summit takes at least 2 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Mount Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. The team will hike back down to Gorak Shep for dinner. Note: Our 2022 group had poor weather for the evening so they had to postpone Kala Pathar until the following morning, rising at 4am for a 4:30am departure for the climb, which meant getting started for EBC later in the day.
Day 12: 3 hours Trekking
Today we will trek to Everest Base camp and get up close and personal with the base camp of the highest mountain on Earth! Once we arrive to Base Camp, we will walk around the Camp, go to the edge of the Icefall and see the start of the climbing route up Mt. Everest and Lhotse. We will then set up camp and have the unique experience of sleeping at Everest Base Camp. Dinner will be served in tents and we will enjoy the unique experience of staying at Everest Base Camp. Yep, while here you will wear ALL of your layers!
Day 13: 6 hours Trekking
It is time to soak up the Everest Base Camp experience, and then we will then retrace our steps back to Gorak Shep for a full breakfast. After breakfast we will continue hiking to Lobuche and onto Pheriche at 13,780ft for the night.
Day 14: 7 to 8 hours Trekking
Trek from Pheriche all the way back to Namche Bazaar, this is long walk passing the Tengbouche monastery on the way back along the trail to Namche. Once we arrive in Namche, we will eat dinner and then you will have a chance to spend some time enjoying the local nightlife in Namche Bazaar!
Day 15: 7 to 8 Hours Trekking
Today we will make the long trek back to Lukla. We will aim to leave Namche by 8am for a long seven or eight hour trek back to Lukla, where we stay the night as flights only leave early in the morning.
Day 16: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning and spend the rest of the day at leisure in Kathmandu. For those eager to see as much of Kathmandu as possible, an early start is worthwhile to visit the temples of Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath and districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Durbar Square is also on the essential list, as is the shopping area of Thamel or get a treatment at the Kathmandu spa.
Day 17: Rest, shopping, and celebration in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is an amazing city of six million people and offers great prices on gifts and food! The group will enjoy a day off before heading home.
Day 18: Flying & Arriving Home!
Early morning transfer to the airport and homeward bound! About a 30 hour flight with 1 or 2 stops will get us home on this day because of the 14 hour time difference.
Note about flights: Several from our 2022 trip departed early and spent 2 nights in Doha on the way over, making it easier to adjust to the time change. We just require everyone to be in Kathmandu by the 26th.
Flying: Oct 3rd - Potentially taking off for flight to KTM
Flying : Oct 4th - Flying (approx 29 hour flight SFO - KTM)
Day 1: Oct 5th - Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 2: Oct 6th - Rest/tour Kathmandu
Day 3: Oct 7th - Fly to Lukla (helicopter), hike to Phakding or Monjo
Day 4: Oct 8th - Hike to Namche Bazaar
Day 5: Oct 9th - Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization Day)
Day 6: Oct 10th - Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization Day)
Day 7: Oct 11th - Trek to Tengboche
Day 8: Oct 12th - Trek to Dingboche
Day 9: Oct 13th - Extra day Dingboche (Acclimatization Day)
Day 10: Oct 14th - Lobuche
Day 11: Oct 15th - Gorak Shep and Kala Patthar
Day 12: Oct 16th - Everest Base Camp (spend night in tents)
Day 13: Oct 17th - Pheriche
Day 14: Oct 18th - Namche Bazaar
Day 15: Oct 19th - Lukla
Day 16: Oct 20th - Morning flight to Kathmandu (fixed wing) then free time in KTM
Day 17: Oct 21st – Free Day in Kathmandu
Day 18: Oct 22nd - Flying home (arrive same day)
NOTHING EASY IS EVER WORTHWHILE. THIS IS NOT EASY!
This famous trek to Everest starts at 2,840m/9,317 feet walking up to 5,645m/ 18,520 feet. spread over 9
days to reach this height. The distances can be up to 15km (10miles) a day, however most days are less than
this. It is vitally important that you are used to walking these kinds of distances on a regular basis with added
weight in a backpack up and down hills to give better conditioning to your legs at lower levels of altitude.
The best way to condition the body is walking up and down hills with added weight. Building up slow from
carrying 12lbs to 25lbs in a dedicated training plan with months of preparation. This type of training is critical for
safety and success of this trekking adventure.
DETAILED TREKKING ITINERARY
Day 1: (10/5/23): Arrive in Kathmandu, 1 to 2 hours walking around Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu International Airport. An Ian Taylor Trekking representative will greet us at the airport and transfer us to our hotel in Kathmandu. We’ll relax, go for a walk, eat well.
Day 2: 3 to 4 hours walking around Kathmandu
You will be able to do some sightseeing in Kathmandu and pick up any last-minute items as you recuperate from the flights. There will be team briefing at the hotel in the early evening. We will leave our suitcases with any items we are not taking on the trek at tour hotel.
Day 3: 3 to 5 hours Trekking
Early rise to the day and fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. We are including a Helicopter flight instead of fixed wing for our group to Lukla (9,317ft), the gateway to the Khumbu Region because of challenging weather patterns that often don't allow for fixed wing flights and cause trip delays. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet the rest of our trek staff and porters and set off straight away for our first night’s stop at Phakding or Monjo. Depending on what time we arrive in Lukla, we may decide to go all the way to Monjo, and we would then have lunch in Phakding before continuing on. Both villages are situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.
Day 4: 5 to 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Namche Bazaar. We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Sagarmatha National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar (11,155ft). This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares here, and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artifacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.
Day 5: 3 to 4 hours Trekking
We will spend the day acclimatizing to the low oxygen levels and resting in Namche Bazaar. During this critical acclimatization phase, we will spend time resting and trekking to higher altitudes to aid in the process. This will allow our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of 11,300ft. On the first morning, there is the option of walking up to the Shangbouche Hill (3,900m/12,795ft) and the Everest View Hotel for beautiful vistas of the whole Everest Region, before returning to Namche for lunch. The afternoon can be spent sampling the delights of the Namche bakery!
Day 6: 1 to 2 hours Trekking
This is where our schedule differs again from most EBC Treks by other companies. Instead of departing Namche on our way to EBC, we stay in Namche another night giving you the best possible acclimatization program, we will either walk to the Sherpa Museum 3,600m (11,811 ft) for stunning views of Mt. Everest and surrounding mountains. The key is to rest, relax and acclimatize at this height and will make all the difference as we go higher and extreme altitude.
Day 7: 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Tengbouche (12,795 feet). From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu: Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we will cross the Dudh Kosi River and make a steep climb to Tengbouche, home of an impressive and recently rebuilt monastery. We have plenty of time to look around Tengbouche (and have cake at the bakery!)
Day 8: 5 hours Trekking
Trek to Dingboche. Shaded by rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Deboche. An hour’s walking from here will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam (‘Mother’s Charm Box’) and home for the Sherpas who work on this imposing mountain each post-monsoon season. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingbouche at 14,271ft.
Day 9: 3 hours Trekking
Today is spent as another acclimatization day. This is a great stop at 14,271ft prior to our ascent up the upper section of the Khumbu Valley. While in Dingbouche, we will ascend a steep climb to 16,076 ft for stunning views of the massive peaks around you. Getting up to this height gives your body the chance it needs to acclimatize to the low levels of oxygen. We will head back to Dingbouche and relax in one of the local bakeries before the last few days up!
Day 10 : 5 to 6 hours Trekking
Trek to Lobuche. We will continue along the trail up on a platform above the valley bottom towards Dugla. Ahead of us is the trekking peak of Lobuje East (20,075ft), and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche, the scene of many cutting-edge Himalayan ascents of the 1980s and 1990s. After three hours we reach the small collection of lodges at Thukla (15,153ft). After lunch we continue the walk up for approximately one hour to the Everest memorials, there are outstanding views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse and Taweche. From Thukla, the trail starts steeply to climb up beside the glacier moraine. After a few hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuche (16,207ft). There is an option for a day hike to view the Kumbhu Glacier valley from here.
Day 11: 7 to 8 hours Trekking
We will be up early to start our trek to Gorak Shep. About three hours beyond Lobuche we reach Gorak Shep (17,126ft), the site of the 1953 Everest Expedition’s base camp. We will have lunch here and rest in our room before making our attempt on Kala Patthar, at 18,520ft. We will aim to arrive at the summit of Kala Patthar in time to watch the sunset on Mount Everest. The hike up to the summit takes at least 2 hours and can be hard work, but the effort is rewarded by the classic view of Mount Everest and the Khumbu Icefall, as well as Lhotse, Nuptse, and Pumori immediately above. The team will hike back down to Gorak Shep for dinner. Note: Our 2022 group had poor weather for the evening so they had to postpone Kala Pathar until the following morning, rising at 4am for a 4:30am departure for the climb, which meant getting started for EBC later in the day.
Day 12: 3 hours Trekking
Today we will trek to Everest Base camp and get up close and personal with the base camp of the highest mountain on Earth! Once we arrive to Base Camp, we will walk around the Camp, go to the edge of the Icefall and see the start of the climbing route up Mt. Everest and Lhotse. We will then set up camp and have the unique experience of sleeping at Everest Base Camp. Dinner will be served in tents and we will enjoy the unique experience of staying at Everest Base Camp. Yep, while here you will wear ALL of your layers!
Day 13: 6 hours Trekking
It is time to soak up the Everest Base Camp experience, and then we will then retrace our steps back to Gorak Shep for a full breakfast. After breakfast we will continue hiking to Lobuche and onto Pheriche at 13,780ft for the night.
Day 14: 7 to 8 hours Trekking
Trek from Pheriche all the way back to Namche Bazaar, this is long walk passing the Tengbouche monastery on the way back along the trail to Namche. Once we arrive in Namche, we will eat dinner and then you will have a chance to spend some time enjoying the local nightlife in Namche Bazaar!
Day 15: 7 to 8 Hours Trekking
Today we will make the long trek back to Lukla. We will aim to leave Namche by 8am for a long seven or eight hour trek back to Lukla, where we stay the night as flights only leave early in the morning.
Day 16: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning and spend the rest of the day at leisure in Kathmandu. For those eager to see as much of Kathmandu as possible, an early start is worthwhile to visit the temples of Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath and districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Durbar Square is also on the essential list, as is the shopping area of Thamel or get a treatment at the Kathmandu spa.
Day 17: Rest, shopping, and celebration in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is an amazing city of six million people and offers great prices on gifts and food! The group will enjoy a day off before heading home.
Day 18: Flying & Arriving Home!
Early morning transfer to the airport and homeward bound! About a 30 hour flight with 1 or 2 stops will get us home on this day because of the 14 hour time difference.
