Cholatse Peak climbing

Itinerary

Day 1: See Sights and Get Ready in Kathmandu

This day is for final preparations. We will check all your gear. This makes sure you have everything for the climb. You can rent or buy any missing items in the shops of Thamel. This day is also for getting all the needed permits. If you have free time, you can see the rich culture of Kathmandu. Visit old sites like Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) or Boudhanath Stupa.

Day 2: Fly to Lukla (2,840m) & Walk to Phakding (2,610m)

Start early for an exciting 35-minute flight to Lukla. Lukla sits on a mountain side. This flight is one of the most amazing in the world. It gives great views of the Himalayas. When you land, you will meet the rest of the team and the people who carry bags. After getting the loads ready, you start your walk. The first day is an easy 3-4 hour walk downhill. You will reach Phakding, a nice town by the Dudh Koshi river.

Day 3: Walk to Namche Bazaar (3,440m)

Today's walk is longer and harder. It takes about 5-6 hours. You will follow the Dudh Koshi river. You will cross several famous hanging bridges, like the Hillary Suspension Bridge. The path takes you into the Sagarmatha National Park. The last two hours are a steep climb up to Namche Bazaar. This is the main town and center of the Khumbu area. The hard work pays off. You will see your first view of Mount Everest far away.

Day 4: Get Used to Height in Namche Bazaar

Getting used to the height is important for a good high-up walk. You will spend a day in Namche. This helps your body adjust. A short, active walk to get used to the height is advised. You will take a short but steep walk up to the Everest View Hotel (3,880m). This place offers a great wide view of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. In the afternoon, you can look around Namche. It has bakeries, cafes, and gear shops.

Day 5: Walk to Tengboche (3,860m)

The path from Namche is mostly flat and pretty for the first few hours. It goes along the valley side with great views. After going down to the river at Phunki Tenga, you will face a steep 2-hour climb. It goes through a forest to Tengboche. This town has the most important Buddhist temple in the area. You can visit it. The view behind it, with Ama Dablam, is truly amazing. (Walk: 5-6 hours).

Day 6: Walk to Dingboche (4,410m)

You will go down through a lovely forest of rhododendron trees and birch. Cross the Imja Khola river. Pass through the town of Pangboche, which has the oldest temple in Khumbu. The land becomes drier and more like high mountains as you go up to Dingboche. This is a nice town in a wide valley. The walk takes about 5-6 hours.

Day 7: Get Used to Height in Dingboche

This is another key day to get used to the height. You will walk up the ridge behind the town. Aim for Nagarjun Hill (5,100m). This hard walk gives great 360-degree views of Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and the amazing Island Peak. This plan of "climb high, sleep low" is good for getting used to the height.

Day 8: Walk to Lobuche (4,910m)

The path climbs gently up the valley to Dughla. From here, you will face a steep climb up the dirt pile of the Khumbu Glacier. At the top, you will find a quiet area. It has many stone markers for climbers who died on Everest. The path then gets flat for the last part to Lobuche. This is a small place with a few lodges next to the glacier. (Walk: 4-5 hours).

Day 9: Walk to Gorak Shep (5,140m)

A shorter walk of about 2-3 hours takes you along the side dirt pile of the Khumbu Glacier. The path is rocky and goes up and down. Gorak Shep is the last town before Everest Base Camp. It will be your home for the next two nights. After lunch, you will rest to save energy for the days ahead.

Day 10: Walk to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and back to Gorak Shep

Today you reached a big goal. The 5-6 hour round trip to Everest Base Camp follows the dirt pile. It gives amazing close-up views of the Khumbu Icefall. Standing at the base of the world's highest mountain is a moment you will not forget. You will see the bright tents of climbing teams (in spring). You will feel how big the peaks around you are. You will return to Gorak Shep for the night.

Day 11: Walk to Kala Patthar (5,550m) & Walk to Dzongla (4,830m)

You will start before sunrise for the 2-hour climb of Kala Patthar. This viewpoint offers the most famous and amazing sunrise view of Mount Everest. After enjoying the great wide view, you will go back down to Gorak Shep for breakfast. Then you will start your walk towards Dzongla. This is a small town that serves as the base for crossing the Cho La pass. (Walk: 6-7 hours total).

Day 12: Cross Cho La Pass (5,420m) to Cholatse Base Camp (4,900m)

This is a long and hard day. You will start early to cross the Cho La Pass. The climb up is steep. It includes going over a glacier on the east side. You may need sharp shoe spikes. The views from the pass are amazing. They show the whole area. The way down is also hard. It leads you down to the valley. Here, we will set up your private Cholatse Peak Base Camp. (Walk: 7-8 hours).

Days 13-20: Climbing Time for Cholatse Peak (6,440m)

These seven days are the main part of your trip. The plan is flexible to fit the weather. Our skilled Sherpa team will set up two higher camps. Camp I is at about 5,600m. Camp II is at about 6,000m. You will do practice climbs. This means climbing to higher camps and coming back to sleep lower. The path involves steep snow and ice climbing. You will go around ice towers. The final push along a thin top ridge will be long and hard. But the reward is an amazing view from one of Khumbu's best peaks.

Day 21: Walk to Pangboche (3,985m)

After a good climb and packing up your base camp, you start your way back. Going down is much faster. You may cross the Cho La pass again. Or you might take a different path down the valley to Pangboche. It is a long day of walking. But the feeling of having done something big is huge.

Day 22: Walk to Namche Bazaar

You will go back the same way down the main Everest path. Pass through Tengboche. Enjoy the thicker air and warmer weather. The path feels different after the hard climb. You will get back to the comfort of Namche Bazaar for a celebration evening.

Day 23: Walk to Lukla

Your last day of walking is long, but mostly downhill. You will make the final crossing of the Hillary Suspension Bridge. Walk the last part into Lukla. Here, you will have a good-bye dinner with the whole team. Celebrate finishing your trip.

Day 24: Fly back to Kathmandu

You will take another exciting early morning flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu. When you arrive, we will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. You can relax, shop for gifts, or enjoy the city's great places to eat.