The time requirement depends on the weather conditions and the approach. Generally, it takes about two months to climb Mount Everest. This includes packing, trekking from Lukla to the base camp, acclimatizing to the altitude, and finally reaching the summit. Acclimatization to different altitudes is very important for a successful climb. Thus, you will spend a few days at the base camp before climbing up. Similarly, you will also spend a few days at Camp 1, Camp 2, Camp 3, and Camp 4 before actually reaching the summit.

The Everest Expedition itinerary takes 55 days to complete the adventure, the first day being your arrival day and the next one day being preparation days in Kathmandu. Day 53 will be the day you return from Lukla to Kathmandu and day 55 will be the day you return home.

The weather on Everest is always prone to unpredictable changes. However, the best time to climb Everest is spring. The month of April and May are the best times to reach the summit. During this time, the peak is often clear and visible. Autumn in September and October, after the Nepali monsoon, is also a good time for climbing. The weather is moderate, and there is no chance of rain. Apart from these two seasons, Everest is always cold, and reaching the summit at any other time of the year is challenging. Considering that weather conditions can still be unpredictable, it is essential to plan your climb at the optimal time to increase your chances of success.

Once you arrive in Kathmandu airport, you recommend you purchasing a local SIM card. You can use this SIM card to communicate with your friends or family when you are in Kathmandu and during the entire trek. But, when you are climbing the Everest, the SIM card won’t work, and if it does, communication is possible on a very limited basis. You can use a satellite phone (if you have one) or you may request us to supply a satellite phone for your expedition journey to the Everest.

Firstly, you need to get your insurance in your home country as it is not available in Nepal. It is mandatory for our clients to be protected against comprehensive expenses likely to incur due to health issues, accidents, flight cancelation, trip cancelation (due to pandemic, political riots or natural calamities), to join any of our trips. However, the insurance coverage is not necessarily the same for different travel packages. For the type of insurance coverage you will need to do this trip, you can visit our travel insurance section that contains all detailed information.

Climbing a Himalayan peak that is 8000m or above is a critically physical endeavor. No matter what, it is still the ultimate mountaineering adventure. Getting to stand at the pinnacle of the earth is undoubtedly one of life’s most rewarding experiences. The steep snow-climbing through ice chunks during the expedition tempts climbers to test, enhance and improve their mountaineering skills. When you consider climbing the Mt. Everest, you need to ask yourself several questions and be very candid about your outcomes.

You need to be truthful about your physical fitness, technical capability to handle the terrains, and mental capability of the associated hardships in the high altitudes. You need to have a very high level of physical endurance and also a previous experience of having climbed a 6000-er, a 7000-er or even an 8000-er before attempting to scale the highest one. Climbing Mt. Cho Oyu, Mt. Shishapangma or Mt. Manaslu would be a perfect recommendation before trying out on Mt. Everest.

The risk of altitude sickness such as AMS can increase due to certain medical conditions such as any form of respiratory disease or medications like sleeping pills. Before making any ascent on the mountains, it is always beneficial to inform your guide of any medical complications or the medications that you have been regularly using. The best ways to help your body acclimatize and avoid altitude sickness are as follows:

• Refrain from taking alcohol, tobacco produces and any other elements that may impede the delivery of oxygen to your brain and body
• Eat small portions but quite frequently with more carbohydrate constituents
• Drink sufficient water to stay away from dehydration. Colorless urination means that you are properly hydrated
• Whenever possible, sleep at a lower altitude
• Climb the mountain gradually and stop for a few days to rest and acclimatize for every 600 to 800m
• Get ample rest and take it easy
• Nap whenever you can
• Walk at a slower pace than you would at sea level in order to avoid over-exertion
• Learn the tactics of identifying the early symptoms of altitude sickness

The cost of climbing Mount Everest varies greatly. Most climbers choose professional expedition operators for their adventure. Typically, a foreign agency that relies on a local mountain guide and crew members charges between $60,000 and $65,000. While the prices offered by various agencies range from around $30,000 to $100,000. Similarly, local agencies charge much less for a complete package climb, which is around $35,000. However, it is mandatory to pay for your life insurance as well as helicopter rescue insurance. In fact, climbing Mount Everest is the most expensive of all treks in Nepal. The experience costs a modest $45,500, which includes a $15,000 summit fee. The price also includes a $600 pollution control fee per person and a $2,500 liaison officer fee.

Therefore, there is no legal requirement to join a group to climb any peak above 8,000 meters in Nepal. However, in Tibet, the Mountaineering Association has set a minimum requirement of two people when issuing climbing permits. However, you need to understand that climbing alone in Nepal can prove to be much more expensive and less safe than joining a group with professional team leaders, guides, and porters.

During the Everest expedition, especially when you are at high altitudes, it is most likely that your cardio-pulmonary system gets affected due to the low oxygen content in the atmosphere causing general breathing difficulties such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). This sickness is usually the beginning stage of all mountain related illness with symptoms like headache, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and general flu like symptoms. The AMS can further progress into more serious conditions like Cerebral Edema and Pulmonary Edema. Cerebral Edema is a serious illness that is caused by swelling of the brain while Pulmonary Edema is a fluid built up in the lungs causing serious issues. Both these illnesses can lead to deaths of climbers, if not dealt with proper care.

Moreever; Another issue during the Everest expedition is sunburn and this can be prevented by using appropriate sunscreen and clothing to protect against the UV rays. Snow blindness is another serious condition that can arise, which is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays during the daytime.

We consider delicious and nutritious food to be the key ingredient for the overall success of our campaign. And most of the time we charter food in flight and pay a lot of attention to quality of preparation and cleanliness. From typical Nepalese food to western food, our expedition chef cooks all meals at base camp and camp 2. And for higher camps, we provide a variety of highly nutritious meals. Also during the trek, your meals will be served at the tea house/lodge where you will stay and lunch will be on the way.

The gear listed below is essential for the expedition. We encourage you to get all the tools listed below and please check and try each tool. Can also be bought or rented in Kathmandu.

Head:

• A warm hat
• Baseball cap or other sun hat
• Thermal balaclava
• Buff X 3
• Sunglasses/glacier glasses (high quality, UV-blocking sunglasses with good all-around protection)
• Ski goggles (anti-fog and good ventilation)
• Headlight X 2 with extra batteries

Upper Body:

• Base layer top
• Long sleeve shirt
• T-shirts
• Warm jacket/sweater/pullover
• Primaloft or light down jacket
• Hardshell jacket with hood
• Down jacket with hood (800m fill)
• Down suit (light weight, comfortable fit and 800m fill) (for summit climb only)

Lower Body:

• Below the base layer
• Trekking trousers/pants
• Mid-weight trousers/pants
• Hardshell Gore-Tex pants (non-insulated and waterproof)
• Insulated down pants

Legs:

• Warm socks (4 pairs of thin socks and 4 pairs of thick socks)
• Trekking shoes (with padding to protect/support your knees)
• 8000m mountaineering boots (light weight and comfortable size)
• Camp shoes
• Low shoes

Hands:

• Liner gloves
• Medium weight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves (leather palm)
• Down Mittens / Summit Gloves

Climbing Equipment:

• Climbing helmet
• Harness
• Ascender/Jumar (large handle)
• Descender /Figure 8
• ATC Guide
• Carabiners (4 screw gates and 4 snap gates)
• Prussik Cord X 2
• Slings X 2
• Ice Ax
• 12-point steel crampons

Gear/Personal Equipment:

• Lightweight backpack (45-55 L) for both trekking and climbing
• Inflatable sleeping mattress
• Sleeping bag – 20C rated for base camp
• Sleeping bag – 40C rating for high camps
• Trekking pole
• Water bottle one (1) liter X 2 with insulated cover
• Thermos
• Multi-tool knife
• A bottle of urine
• Laundry bag to keep dirty clothes
• Large plastic bags to keep clothes dry
• Lock
• Binoculars
• Sewing kit
• Duct tape
• Reading materials, notebooks and pens
• Camera with charger or extra battery
• Snack Foods (Energy Gels for Summit Day)

Toilets and hygiene

• Quick drying towels
• Small face towel
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant, soap and shampoo (small bottle)
• Face and body moisturizer, sunscreen and lip balm
• Hand sanitizer/antiseptic wipes
• Hygiene products
• Basic first aid kit

Important Documents

• Passport with visa and 6 months validity from the end of your trip
• 4 copies of passport size photographs for permission and official formalities
• Travel insurance (please see general information page for more details on this)
• Flight tickets
• Credit cards in case of emergency
• Driving ID or any other ID if you lose your passport.