Three Peaks of Nepal Expedition
Overview
This program provides the best possible introduction to Himalayan climbing - we ascend three beautiful 20,000-foot (6000+ meter) peaks in a relatively short time and in one of the most spectacular settings in the world. Join this trip for great trekking, a rewarding cultural experience with the Sherpa people, and superb climbing o Lobuche East (6119m), Pokalde Peak (5806m), and Island Peak (6189m).
After thorough acclimatization, climbers enjoy the steeper ground on Lobuche East. AAI Collection
The Three Peaks of Nepal Expedition is comprised of moderately technical climbing, do-able for anyone in good shape and with a desire for high adventure. We'll help you develop and advance your alpine climbing skills as we make this fantastic journey through five different valleys in a rewarding month of high Himalayan climbing.
This program is designed to offer you the best of Nepal at a reasonable price. Ultimately, our many years of Himalayan experience allows us to introduce you to the best food, accommodations, destinations, and experiences available. With the leadership and company of our most affable and experienced Western guides, working collaboratively with our excellent Sherpa colleagues, we promise you an experience of a lifetime! This expedition is a joint AAI/Adventure Consultants undertaking that draws on the knowledge and experience of both guide services.
Three Peaks of Nepal Expedition
Ascents and Itinerary
This 26-day expedition commences when you arrive in Kathmandu on Day 1. We will spend the next day sorting equipment, holding a team briefing about the journey ahead and making our final preparations. On Day 3 we fly to Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu Valley.
The expedition will stay at Sherpa lodges whilst we are trekking in the valleys on the way to each of the climbing objectives. On each of the peaks, we will establish our Base Camp, where our talented kitchen crew will cater for us. On our trek up the famous Khumbu Valley, we will visit monasteries and small villages on the same route that Everest climbers have taken for over 60 years.
Our trek follows the trail to Everest Base Camp as far as the village of Pheriche, high in the barren alpine pastures of the upper Khumbu. From here we make our way onto the slopes of our first objective, Lobuche East, where we establish the first of our Base Camps. It is here that we spend some valuable time acclimatising and preparing for our first ascent with a day hike to Lobuche High Camp followed by a day of skills instruction and training, including the use of fixed ropes. In true expedition style, we then move up to our High Camp for the night, which lies on a small expanse of grass and rock above a deep blue lake. Then it’s early to bed for an alpine start the following morning.
Our early start, around 2.30am, sees us climbing the South East Ridge, which is a mixture of snow and ice. Where necessary, we fix ropes along the route and steady climbing will bring us to the far eastern summit. From the top, we are well rewarded with superb views across to Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Nuptse, Changtse, Pumori, Gyachung Kang and Cho Oyu. Then it’s time for our descent, all the way back to our Base Camp to celebrate our first ascent!
After the ascent of Lobuche East, we spend a day resting and preparing for our trek across the spectacular Kongma La to Pokalde High Camp, located near the top of the pass. We watch the sun dip below the horizon and feel the allure of a down jacket and warm sleeping bag! In the morning we will pack up and head off to climb Pokalde just on sunrise.
From Pokalde’s summit we are offered a bird’s eye view of our final objective Island Peak which sits at the head of the Imja Tse Valley. We make our way down to the small alpine village of Chhukung for a day of rest and some further skills training in preparation of the ladder crossings ahead. We then cross the glacier via a trail to Island Peak Base Camp, where we establish camp and head to bed early in anticipation of another early alpine start.
The climb of Island Peak involves some scrambling up rocky terrain to reach low angled glaciers that we walk up until the angle increases and we encounter 40-degree slopes on fixed ropes as well as some ladder crossings. After a time, we reach the exposed summit ridge and enjoy the security of the ropes all the way to the summit where we enjoy spectacular views of the north side of Ama Dablam, the sweeping flanks of Nuptse and the world’s fourth highest peak, Lhotse.
From here it’s a descent back to Chhukung and Pangboche, with the option to visit nearby Tengboche, with its famous bakery and monastery, before returning to familiar territory of the trail back down the valley towards Lukla. The thicker oxygen-enriched air makes for easy travel with time to stop to enjoy the views or chat to the locals, and there’s also the opportunity to enjoy Namche
Bazaar and perhaps even shop around for some of the thousands of items on display, such as the Tibetan rugs, jewellery and gemstones. The next day it’s onwards to Lukla for our final night in the Khumbu, before the flight back to Kathmandu.
This expedition is designed to offer you the best of Nepal at the most reasonable price. Our many years of Himalayan experience allows us to introduce you to the best food, accommodation, destinations and experiences that are available. It’s the small details that make all the difference, and this is where we excel. We provide the most affable and experienced Western guides working in conjunction with our excellent Sherpa friends to promise you an experience of a lifetime!
Three Peaks of Nepal Expedition
Dates and Details
$7,800
Max Ratio - 6:1 (Climber:Guide)
Capacity - 12
Dates
Prerequisites
-
This trip offers an opportunity to partake in a journey that covers a lot of terrain and enables you to make multiple ascents on peaks of moderate elevation. Participants should have a background in basic mountaineering, including abseiling and the use of crampons and ice axe, or a history of physical exercise that can be applied to energetic trekking and the moderate altitude mountaineering that defines this expedition.
-
Each ascent involves an element of technical climbing at times where the use of crampons, ice axe and fixed ropes will be encountered. Instruction in the use of fixed lines, ladder crossing and a refresher on abseiling will be provided to ensure the requisite skills are gained prior to the climbing commencing.
Program Cost Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Nepalese Government peak royalty fees
- All trek organizational requirements
- All trekking permits
- Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- Air transport and accommodation in lodges or tents except Kathmandu
- All group equipment (tents, ropes, kitchen, radios, etc.) and emergency medical supplies
- All trek staff, including Western guide, Sherpa guides, cooks, and porter support
- Transport of 33lb (15kg) personal equipment
- All meals after departing Kathmandu and before arriving back in Kathmandu
- Access to our satellite telephone for outgoing calls
Exclusions:
- Air travel to and from Nepal
- Hotel accommodation and meals in Kathmandu
- Purchases of bottled water while on the trek, gifts, alcohol, (we supply boiled water for drinking)
- Other charges at lodges/tea houses such as showers, internet access or batter re-charging
- Entry visas for Nepal (we suggest getting a 30 or 90-day tourist visa for Nepal on arrival in Kathmandu)
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Personal travel insurance, cancellation insurance, and rescue insurance
- Excess baggage charges for the flights to and from Lukla
- Cost of satellite telephone calls
- Any rescue costs or costs of early departure from the expedition
Flight Information
Flight arrangements should be made so that you arrive in Kathmandu on the first scheduled start day of the trip (Day 1), and you depart the last scheduled day of the trip (Day 33). Please email or call our Travel Coordinator, Lisa Greif, if you would like assistance with travel arrangements (509-972-4028).
Other programs in Nepal
Beginner and intermediate climbers looking for a program with more trekking than climbing may want to consider our Khumbu Trek. For advanced climbers who are searching for physical and technical difficulty, we also offer expeditions on Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, and the ever alluring Mount Everest.
