Everest Expedition Tour South Col.

Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, 8,848m which is also known as Top of the World. The Everest Named after Sir George Everest, the British surveyor-general of India has made geographical survey. Everest is known as Chomolungma and Sagarmatha in Tibet and Nepal respectively. First accent on Mt. Everest had been done by late Sir Edmund Hilary and late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953. Till now people has climbed the Mt. Everest successfully and many of them has set different World Records. World Everest Legendary Man Mr. Apa Sherpa is the only the brave man to climb Mt. Everest 17th time in 2007 spring and set new world record.

He was accompanied by another Legendary Everest Climber Mr. Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, who ascent 13th time in 2007 and known as World Record holder of the Fastest Climber (10 hrs. 56 min. and 45 sec. and from base camp to base camp 18 hrs. 20 min.). Everest Base camp is situated at the height of 5,400 meters. Generally the expedition last with 80 days of period. However, this depends on the technical, managerial, weather and logistic support of team and team members. The whole period of Everest expedition is full of excitement and the preparation to reach the summit.

The route begins at base camp with a short walk along the moraine that leads to the icefall. The icefall is a glacier that is heavy with large series and crevasses. The icefall is fixed and maintained with rope and ladders all the way to Camp I. From Camp I to Camp II the terrain is gradual with a few crevasses. From here the air is much thinner as we make our way up the Lhotse face with mixed snow and ice to Camp III.

From Camp III to the South Col the climbing is on easy to moderate mixed snow and rock leading to the South Col- Camp IV. Summit day starts around 11:00pm the same day up fixed ropes on mixed snow and rock to the south summit, then a short traverse to the Hillary step then all up here to the summit arriving around 9:00am. The decent from the summit to the South Col takes 3-5 hours.

TRIP FACTS:

Country: Nepal

Duration: 72 days

Area: Everest Region

Activities: Expedition

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

Max. Altitude: 8,848 M

Seasons: March,May - September,November

DETAIL ITINERARY:

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu and Trasfer to Hotel:

You are welcome at the airport and taken to Himalaya Hotel or to the similar standard kind of hotel. This is an excellent hotel positioned well away from the bustle of the city centre and its friendly people do their best to make us feel at home. It has extensive gardens and a swimming pool. For those joining the expedition in Kathmandu, all team members should aim to meet at the hotel on this day.

Exclusive to our 8,000-metre peak expeditions, the Everest expedition will use the Himalayan View wing of the hotel, as this has larger rooms opening on to spacious balconies and furnished to a higher standard than the main rooms of the hotel.

Day 02: At leisure in Kathmandu:

While the leader attends a formal briefing in the Ministry of Tourism, you will be able to explore this fascinating city. As those who have been there before will know, it is a wonderful mixture of crowded bazaars, temples and shrines, in a blend of ancient, colonial and modern architecture. Today, the expedition leader will also check everyone's equipment, as Kathmandu is the last opportunity to buy anything missing.

Day 03: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla:

We will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet our camp staff and porters and set off straight away for our first night's stop at Phakding. 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 04: 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 Khumbu 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 to reach Namche Bazaar. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares 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 05: At leisure in Namche Bazaar:

We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of 3,450m (11,300ft).

Day 06: Trek to Deboche:

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 Thyangboche, home of an impressive and recently rebuilt monastery. We have plenty of time to look around Thyangboche and have a cake at the bakery before dropping down to the river and the village of Deboche (3,700m/12,135ft) a little further along the trail, where we will stay in a relaxing lodge.

Day 07: Trek to Dingboche:

Shaded by rhododendron trees, the path leads gradually down to the river once again to another airy suspension bridge. An hour's walking from here, will bring us to Pangboche, an excellent viewpoint for Ama Dablam. Contouring up the valley side, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche.

Day 07-10: Acclimatization days:

This is an important phase of the expedition. We will be based in Dingboche, which is a good location for acclimatization. The expedition leader will organize daily outings to the adjacent hills with the aim of providing a gradual and beneficial programmed of acclimatization. We will go out with the aim of walking some of the nearby hills in order to slowly increase our exposure to altitude. However, the aim will not be on strenuous exercise and you will be encouraged to follow the regime that you have previously found most suitable, in order to give you maximum acclimatization before you arrive in base camp.

While in Dingboche, we can attend a seminar about high altitude acclimatization at the hospital in nearby Pheriche, run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. The walk over to Pheriche and back will also serve as good acclimatization training and so make the walk doubly worthwhile.

Day 11: Trek to Lobuje:

We will retrace our steps back to Pheriche before continuing up the trail towards base camp. We will eventually reach Dugla situated below the snout of the Khumbu Glacier, which will be a convenient place for lunch. After lunch, the trail starts steeply to climb up beside the glacier moraine. After a couple of hours the track eventually leads to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuje.

Day 12: Trek to Gorak Shep:

About three hours beyond Lobuje we reach Gorak Shep (5,220m/17,126ft), the site of the 1953 expedition's base camp. It consists of a few small tea houses which, undoubtedly, will become a welcome 'bolt hole' during the expedition.

Day 13: Trek to Everest base camp:

Contouring along the valley side, the trail leads on to the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and becomes quite vague, weaving between mounds of rubble. After about 3 hours we will eventually reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. This will be our home for the next six weeks.

Day 14-16: Rest and preparation or/and customizable:

This rest and presentation days may customize depending upon the health situation of the climbers and their excitement of going higher and higher.

Day 17-64: Ascent of Mt Everest or Climbing period:

We will climb through the icefall as infrequently as possible, but this will mean at least 4 planned trips during the expedition. The outline climbing programmed for the trip will be as follows:

Climb One: aim to reach Camp 1 and descend to Base Camp.
Climb Two: aim to sleep at Camp 1 for 2 nights, and to reach Camp 2 for acclimatization on the day between.
Climb Three: aim to sleep at Camp 2, or above for 6 nights. During this time, we will also climb to reach Camp 3 and descend to Camp 2 for a rest. Then we take a day off, and go back up to spend one full night in Camp 3, using oxygen for sleeping.
Day 1: Climb to Camp 1.
Day 2: Arrive in Camp 2.
Day 3: Rest and Acclimatization in Camp 2.
Day 4: Climb to the Lhotse Face, descend to sleep in Campm 2.
Day 5: Rest and Acclimatization in Camp 2.
Day 6: Climb to Camp 3. Sleep camp 3.
Day 7: Descend to Camp 2.
Day 8: Descend to Base Camp.
By these activities you are now well acclimatized with strong legs and lungs, we head on down the valley to the warm air of Dingboche, to stock up on calories and to have a thorough rest.
Climb Four: we go up, to reach the Summit.

Day 65: Withdraw to base camp:

All team members will return to base camp after successful attempt.

Day 66-68: Return trek to Namche Bazaar via Dingboche and Deboche:

Return trek to Namche Bazaar via Dingboche and Deboche.

Day 69: Trek to Lukla:

We are just following the same way down.

Day 70: Fly Lukla to Kathmandu:

We will return to the welcome back to the same Hotel. Once back in Kathmandu, Explore tourism will host an evening barbecue to celebrate the expedition and as a farewell party to thank the Sherpas for their support and friendship.

Day 71: At leisure in Kathmandu:

At leisure in Kathmandu.

Day 72: Final departures:

Thank you for choosing Explore Tourism/Aaradhana