Everest Classic Trek

INCLUDES

• Airport transfers
• Internal transport to the mountains and back.
• Accommodation in lodges/tea houses (twin rooms with beds and mattresses)
• Three meals per day during the trek
• Sagamartha National Park Fees, VDC fees
• Sherpa guides (English speaking, trained in first aid)
• Porters (1 per member, carries 15kgs)
• Staff food, insurance and equipment

EXCLUDES

• International flight to Kathmandu
• Meals and drinks in Kathmandu
• Personal costs like additional drinks, laundry, hot showers, boiled water
• Travel and medical insurance including helicopter evacuation
• Visa
• Tips (~£50)
• Sightseeing Tours

Payments

A deposit of £200 is required on booking to secure your place and we ask that the remaining balance is paid in full 6 weeks prior to your departure.

The mountain flight in and out of Lukla which is where most treks begin and end in the Khumbu (Everest) region can be delayed due to bad weather. Normally it is for about 24 hours but it can be longer. We recommend you allow some time in Kathmandu after the specified day of the internal flight just in case. There is more information about Himalayan flight delays.

Some people choose to cancel the internal flight and book a helicopter which can fly below the cloud level and is not so determined by the weather. This is possible but there are no fixed prices for a seat on the helicopter. There are now around 12 helicopter companies operating and we can check them all for you.

For a one way place on the helicopter to Lukla can cost around $500.00 minimum. The cancelled portion of your aeroplane flight can be refunded and used to offset this figure, which is about $170.00 for a one way sector, so there would be a balance to pay for the helicopter. You can use your credit card to cover off this additional expenditure.

Unfortunately there is nothing we can do if the flight is delayed. Sometimes you can end up waiting in the airport from early hours to get the ‘green light’ to go, only to find yourself back in the hotel by mid morning. People do get very frustrated because it can impact on the trekking itinerary. A helicopter is one option, or else to wait until the weather improves. However, if it does not then very quickly a queue of people at either end can build up, and it is always hard to get priority for when the weather clears. The airline companies put as many planes on as possible to clear the backlog.

We try to assist as best we can, but it’s important to accept that the route has this potential delay and also that it’s advisable to book the international flight home a little later in case the delay affects your return ticket.

There is another option which is to drive to Paphlu and then take a jeep on the new road as far as it will go and then walk to Lukla. This option takes more days – three in total each way currently – and there is a saving but only of about $70 compared to the flight.

The trek begins in Paphlu, climbing steeply through forests, deep gorges with bridges and many villages until reaching Lukla, where the gradient of the path becomes less steep, however, still with lots of ups and downs until reaching Namche Bazaar.

Above Namche Bazaar, capital town of the Khumbu, the path enters the high Himalayan valleys with large fast flowing rivers and surrounded by very high peaks. The gradient is consistent and gradual, villages are further apart and it is colder and more exposed. The exposure to altitude makes the walking harder and the likelihood of altitude sickness higher, so it is necessary to allow rest days and walk very slowly.

Everest itself is at the head of the valley, a vast cul de sac with the Tibetan border on the other side of an impassable wall. The final days involve hiking along the edge of, and eventually on top of, the Khumbu Glacier, and it is noticeably colder at night.

The trek is on a well trodden path though this can be rocky and uneven in parts. It is not precipitous and there is no rock climbing or ‘mountaineering’ which requires equipment. It is a walk all the way, although some of the hills can be steep and never-ending and occasionally! You will find the lower section more up and down, which is great fitness training for when you’re higher up. Higher up the days and distance covered are shorter due to gaining in altitude.

Poles are useful, depending on conditions and especially so if you have any problems with your knees. Higher up, the open slopes and moraine may give you added reassurance with a pole, but again the path is quite easy to follow.

Medium weight hiking boots with a high ankle are recommended for this trek, to protect you against possibly going over on an ankle and ensure that they’re big enough to add warm socks when up high and don’t forget that your feet will swell slightly at altitude. You can use heavier boots if you like, but they can be hot, heavy and cumbersome lower down, in which case also bring a pair of trek shoes or cross trainers for that section.

The terrain is never dangerous or precipitous, it is still just a walk, but requiring the usual care and caution. There is no climbing or special equipment required. However, we recommend you review our Nepal packing list to ensure you’re properly prepared.

Accommodation on the trek will be in comfortable lodges run by local families, unless people specify a preference for tents. Each lodge has a central communal area with stove, while the bedrooms are unheated with two beds and mattresses, blanket and pillows. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (3 season is normally enough). The lodges generally have showers which are powered by gas and some use the infamous ‘drop’ toilets, though most now have flush systems now. You’ll notice a difference between lodges below and above Lukla with those above being larger and more modern and below being more traditional and cosy.

Food on the trek is very good quality, and a mixture of local Nepali / Sherpa & Rai food and more so above Lukla 0 western recipes. Burgers and chips are a common meal, as is dal bhat with rice. You will find everything from fresh pastries to beer, stir fries to deep fried Mars bars available in the lodges and shops a Nepal price guide can be found here. And there are many shops selling all types of drinks and snacks, sweets and chocolate. The biggest challenge will be avoiding all the unhealthy foods and sticking to a simple diet of rice and dal!

The basic idea of the kit that you need to take is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move comfortably in the mountains and able to be comfortable in the evenings and at night.

You will be given a detailed kit list after booking, but the main points to cover are as follows:-

• BAGS – Rucksack or duffle bag for a porter to carry plus a day pack to be carried by you
• SHELL – Top and bottom waterproofs to keep off wind/rain
• LAYERS – Shirts, trousers, shorts, Tshirts, jumpers and jackets, hats and gloves
• BASELAYER – Thin layers to wick away any sweat and to wear for cold mornings
• FEET – Comfortable boots with a good sole and ankle support. Lighter footwear to change into in the evenings.
• SLEEPING – Warm sleeping bag (3 or 4 season) to get a good nights sleep at the lodges (they also have blankets)
• DRINKING – Water bottles should be hard plastic (Nalgene), not throwaway bottles.
• WASHING & MEDICAL – wash kit, towel, first aid kit
• SUN CARE – sunglasses, sunhat
• TREKKING – trekking poles, umbrella, dry bags
• PERSONAL ITEMS – cameras, books, music

We also hire lot’s of equipment which can be seen in the ‘Extras’ tab. If you look at the ‘More Information’ section you will find in-depth details covering a Packing List for Nepal, Trekking Boots, Sleeping bags and Local prices. In Kathmandu has an area called Thamel which is full of hundreds of equipment shops, each one an emporium of new, used, quality and fake equipment all very reasonably priced for rental and buying. You can buy almost anything needed for any trek.

If you have any questions about what kit to bring then to please call or email us. Do consider this is a long trek though it is possible to wash items en route however drying them can at times be difficult, especially higher up, though there are rest days. You must be prepared for cold conditions when up high, hopefully that won’t be the case, but best to prepare with good insulating layers and windproof outer shells.

Do have a read of our various Blogs about treks in Nepal and also the ‘More Information’ section, both have tabs on this page and will answer every question you may have! We also have a lot of useful information on our Nepal Preparation page.