Overview

Lobuche lies close to the Khumbu Glacier and has two main peaks, Lobuche Far East and Lobuche East. At 6,145 meters, Lobuche East is 26 meters higher. Although the Lobuche East climb is a bit more challenging than Island Peak climb, it is equally rewarding. From the peak, you get amazing views of Everest alongside Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Pumori. The 19-day Lobuche East Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek combines Lobuche East Peak climbing with the classic Everest Trek. The trip will also take you to some of the most popular places in the Everest region like Kala Pathar, which provides an excellent view of Everest along with other high mountains.

Trip Includes

  • International airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
  • 3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
  • Teahouse accommodation during the trek
  • Tented accommodation during the climb
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek and climb
  • Domestic flights (Kathmandu- Lukla -Kathmandu)
  • English speaking, trekking guide(leader), climbing guide (leader) and assistant guides
  • Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
  • Salary, insurance, equipment for staffs
  • National park fees, trekking permits, and Lobuche Peak climbing permit
  • All government and local taxes

Trip Excludes

  • International airfare and Nepalese visa fee
  • Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, shower, etc.)
  • Personal climbing equipment
  • Personal climbing guide if requested
  • Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
  • Tips for guides and porters
  • Services not listed in the ‘What Is Included’ section

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival Kathmandu
    Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.
  • Day 2: Explore Kathmandu, Evening Trek briefing
    Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares.
    After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day or we can provide a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around).
    However you choose to spend your day, you’ll return to your hotel in Kathmandu in the early evening and meet your specialist (or one of their staff members) who will go over details of your trip, including what to expect and transport logistics.
  • Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2,800m/9,184ft) then trek to Phakding (2,652m/8,700ft):
    After breakfast, we will be taken to the domestic airport for an early morning flight to Lukla. After flying above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains. Upon our arrival at Lukla, we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities, we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery.
  • Day 4: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft): 5-6 hours
    After breakfast, we walk through beautiful pine forests and then along Dudh Koshi River ending our nature-filled journey at Namche Bazaar. After walking for almost over an hour, we come across the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right and also experience the serenity of pine, fir and juniper forests throughout our journey. If the weather is clear, we may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We continue walking until we reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading center of this region. On that day we cross five suspension bridges, the last one also known as the Hillary Bridge being the highest. It is an uphill walk from Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar.
  • Day 5: Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,283 ft): Acclimatization
    This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle. There are a few options set aside for this day. We can either stroll around Namche’s quaint villages or come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture, or we can hike up to the Everest View Hotel and enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. While in the Namche village or upon returning from the hike to the Everest View Hotel, trekkers may also visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region.
  • Day 6: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,870m/12,694ft): 5- 6 hours
    After breakfast, we trek towards Tengboche. It is an easy walk from Namche to Phunki. Upon reaching Phunki, we ascend towards Tengboche, a village that houses the very famous Tengboche monastery which is the largest monastery of the Everest region. Located amidst the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of "outstanding universal value”), it is draped with the panoramic 360-degree view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The monastery opens at 3 pm so we reach it by three. And, if we are lucky, we might just be able to witness a religious ceremony.
  • Day 7: Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300 ft): 5-6 hours
    We visit the beautiful Tengboche Monastery in the morning and take pictures of the amazing landscape surrounding it. Then we begin our trek by walking through lush forests of birch, conifers, and rhododendrons on an easy path. This picturesque trail then dips down to Debuche, crossing the Imja River before climbing up to Pangboche. (We can either walk in the upper or lower Pangboche trails). We are most likely to choose the upper Pangboche trail as it provides a more pristine view of the Himalayas. We also visit the Pangboche monastery. From here, the walk is fairly moderate as we enter the Imja Valley. The valley gradually unfolds as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche River. We descend into the river and begin the climb up to Dingboche.
  • Day 8: Dingboche: Acclimatization
    After breakfast, we begin today’s hike to Chhukung by walking through stone-walled fields, Imja Khola valley before walking in glacier moraines. On our walk, we will be surrounded by Lhotse and Ama Dablam mountains. Later, beyond Bibre village we see Island Peak soaring above us. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams. We reach Chhukung, a small settlement in about half an hour from Bibre. From here, directly across the valley is the fantastic Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains.
    After having lunch in Chhukung, our climbing leader will check our items of equipment in order to make sure that they are in a good working condition. If not, we may have to hire another set of equipment. In that case, the climbing leader will help us find the best pieces. Chhukung is the best place for hiring equipment for Peak climbing. After sorting it out, we descend to Dingboche to spend the night.
  • Day 9: Dingboche to Lobuche (4940 m/16,207 ft): 5-6 hours
    We start the day with a gradual climb to Duglha at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From here, we climb up a steep trail to Chupki Lhara, where we find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10-time Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (Nepali mountain guide) who perished on a mission to climb Everest. Next, we continue to the Khumbu Glacier moraine and find ourselves facing several great peaks - Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuche.
  • Day 10: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (5,170 m/16,961ft), visit Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,594 ft): 6-7 hours
    We take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come across the Indian army mountaineers' memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence it is important that we follow our lead Sherpa diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We pass through rocky dunes, moraine, and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp. Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, we see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste, and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. We get back to Gorak Shep for a good night's rest.
  • Day 11: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5545m/18,192ft] and back to Lobuche (4940m/16,207ft): 7-8 hours
    We prepare for an early morning departure, amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures (-10 to -14 C). Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But, it is upon reaching Kala Patthar that we get to see 360-degree up-close and formidable views of Mt. Everest. We take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama, and then return back to Lobuche for a good night's rest.
  • Day 12: Lobuche to High Camp (5,400m/17,712ft): 3-4 hours
    From Lobuche, we trek towards Lobuche base camp. After walking some distance on a relatively flatter plane, the path to the Lobuche Base Camp gets steeper and rocky. We move forward along the Lobuche Glacier while enjoying great views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pokalde, Thamserku, Kantega and the other Himalayas. From the base camp, we continue on a rocky moraine path to reach the High Camp. After reaching there, we set up our camp, take lunch and rest. For the climb, we usually will be climbing on rock surface for up to around 5770m. After that, we climb on ice and use ropes when necessary. However, the use of the rope and the length depends upon the season and the crevasses. Fixed rope is used most of the times whereas man rope is used when required. The climbing leaders will decide what is best for when. Overnight in Lobuche East High Camp.

    Pre-Climb Training: Our guides will provide training on peak climbing techniques and the proper ways of using climbing gears such as the ice Axe, climbing boots, and crampons, harness, ascender, etc. The training will also include using ropes to go up and down. We strongly believe that the training experience will boost your confidence and climbing skills to increase the chances of scaling the summit as well as to fully enjoy the experience.
  • Day 13: Lobuche High Camp to Summit (6119m/20,070 ft) and back to High Camp: 8-10 hours
    We wake up early today at around 12 to 1 am and have our breakfast before beginning our climb. It is important we reach the summit before noon because in the afternoon the strong winds in the high lands might become a barrier for a successful summit. We will most likely be walking on rock surface up to around 5700m after which we climb on ice. We use both fixed rope and man rope as per our leader’s instruction. The climbing surface as well as the length of the rope and depends on the time of the season and the crevasses. Lobuche East offers more panoramic views of the mountains than any other trekking peak. From the summit, you get to enjoy magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pumori, and many more. We spend some time at the summit celebrating and taking pictures, then we get back to the High Camp again for an overnight stay.
  • Day 14: Contingency/reserve day
    This is an extra day set aside to manage any unintended hindrances like flight delays or bad weather for climbing. Setting aside an extra day will ensure that even if we were to face a day's set back, the trip will continue thus guaranteeing a successful climb.
  • Day 15: Lobuche High Camp to Pangboche (3930m /12900 ft): 8-9 hours
    After taking our morning breakfast, we trek downhill from Lobuche High Camp and join the Everest Base Camp route at Lobuche again. We take our lunch at Lobuche. From Lobuche, we again retrace our path to Pheriche. On the way to Pheriche, we get to enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Ama Dablam in the distance. From Pheriche, we continue to Pangboche. We trek down through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. If it's spring, pink and red rhododendron flowers blaze our surroundings. Upon reaching Pangboche we may also consider visiting the famous Pangboche Monastery.
  • Day 16: Pangboche to Namche Bazaar: 4-5 hours
    From Pangboche, we retrace our steps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to Tengboche. If interested, we can also visit nuns at the Tengboche monastery. After lunch at Tengboche, we continue through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, our trail follows the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests before reaching Sansa. We keep a lookout for wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while passing through the forest. After passing a Chorten, we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar.
  • Day 17: Namche Bazaar to Lukla: 6-7 hours
    The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk cautiously as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural. After our arrival in Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks.
  • Day 18: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
    After breakfast in Lukla, you'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu.
    Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will be able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.
  • Day 19: Depart Kathmandu
    It's time to say farewell to Nepal! Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home.