Mt Everest Base Camp

21 April to 11 May every year

On the 30th of May 2003 Sean reached the summit of Mount Everest. Following the success of previous treks Sean guides a group up the notorious Khumbu Valley and re-visits Mt Everest Base Camp every year.

The trek to Mt Everest Base Camp really is the finest trek on the planet and is an unforgettable journey through the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. It’s a lot more than just a sightseeing excursion. Amidst the overwhelmingly powerful Himalayan peaks, a sense of space and spirituality really can be felt. As Sean notes in his book Freeze Frame: ‘In some positive way, the Himalayas affect everyone who goes there’.

The trek begins in Kathmandu, which is a busy, vibrant city with loads of fun shopping opportunities and good food. The luxurious Kathmandu Hyatt, which is ‘thee’ hotel of the city, is where this journey begins and ends.

We fly into the small mountain village of Lukla at 2900m and then trek upwards for 9 days, gaining altitude gradually, and winding our way up the magnificent Khumbu Valley to our final destination approximately 70 kilometres away. After a few days we will have views of Mt Everest, Nuptse, Pumori and Lhotse, unimaginably massive mountains that form part of the most majestic wilderness on the planet.

The trek passes through the villages and homesteads of the Sherpani people. We experience their culture and religion by staying in their precisely-built, stone tea-houses and/or camping in sites close-by. Sandwiches, cinnamon buns, boiled eggs, coca cola, (or for a local flavour) Dhal bat and beer are served along the way. There’s much time to socialise and enjoy the company of other trekkers and climbers, read a good book, listen to music, photograph the surroundings, play cards and appreciate the geology of the region.

Following in the foot steps of the earliest Western expeditions, we trek for an average six hours per day, carrying only a light pack (5 kilograms) containing our personal items. During the trek Sean keeps an eye on everyone’s health and comfort. Prior to the trek he ensures everyone is adequately equipped and prepared.

It takes about 14 days to trek to Base Camp and to return to the mountain side runway at Lukla. Most of this time is spent at an altitude above 3000m. For this reason you may feel more fatigued than normal on a trek of this distance. So, well-deserved rests and acclimatisation days are built into the program. Anyone of ‘moderate fitness’ can reach Base Camp. However a comprehensive medical questionnaire must be completed prior to reservation.

Some people might like to stay in Kathmandu for a shorter or longer period (depending on their schedules and interests). This can be arranged to suit.

Itinerary

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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Day 01: Depart from Johannesburg for Kathmandu. Qatar airlines depart QR 581 JHB 13H10. Arrive Doha 22h20. Depart 23h20 for Kathmandu.

 

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