Everest Private Journey

Magnificent Mount Everest is known in Tibetan as Chomolungma, Mother Goddess of the Snows. On this Private Journey, set out with your Sherpa guide for a 9-day lodge-based trek, hiking each day among the most amazing mountains on earth and visiting fascinating Sherpa villages. At night, you’ll sleep in a cozy Sherpa lodge with your own room and private bath. The trek brings you to Tengboche, a thriving Tibetan Buddhist monastery and spiritual heart of the Khumbu region, from which Everest’s triangular diamond summit is unmistakable amid a cirque of breathtaking peaks. The joys of this mountain adventure include getting to know the Sherpa people, visiting Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and lively tea houses, sipping home-made chang (beer made from barley) with new-found friends, and learning how Tibetan Buddhism influences every aspect of Sherpa life. If you’re up to it, we also offer a Mid-Trip Extension to continue trekking all the way to Everest Base Camp (17,600') for views of the Khumbu Icefall and up to Kala Patar (18,365') for thrilling up-close views of the world’s highest mountain!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Fabled Kathmandu

On a privately guided tour, explore the fascinating medieval palaces, pagoda-temples, and labyrinthine bazaars of Kathmandu.

Days 3-11
The Highest Mountains on Earth

From Lukla, gateway to the Khumbu region below Everest, head out on an unforgettable 9-day trek with your Sherpa guide, a member of the clan of celebrated mountain guides of the Himalaya. Carry only a daypack and hike at your own pace as you enjoy a personal introduction to this rarified world. Hike up to lively Namche Bazaar, the heart of Sherpa culture, to acclimatize and visit neighboring villages, then trek to mystical Tengboche Monastery (12,650’), the spiritual center of the Everest region. Ama Dablam, one of the most spectacular peaks in the whole Himalaya, looms above this treasured monastery, and Everest’s famous pyramid summit is unmistakable amid the cirque of breathtaking giants. In this high Himalayan world, the Tibetan Buddhist presence is evident in intricately carved mani (prayer) stones decorating the trails and brightly colored prayer flags fluttering atop every mountain pass. Accommodations are in comfortable and well-located Sherpa-owned lodges with private rooms, and your personal cook prepares hearty meals. (Our mid-trip extension to Everest Base Camp begins on Day 8.)

Days 12-14
Temples, Palaces, Bustling Bazaars

Return to Kathmandu to explore the lively markets or join a privately guided visit to the serene hilltop shrine of Swayambu. Depart on Day 14.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 5, strenuous. Most hiking is between 9,000 and 12,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 12,887 feet (at Pangboche, you can visit the monastery at 13,000 feet with an opportunity to hike even higher). For the most part, you can hike at your own speed. During the day, you will cover a maximum of 8 to 10 miles per day (3-6 hours of hiking). Accommodations on trek are in trekkers’ lodges that are somewhat rustic but comfortable, and we’ve chosen the most well situated lodges for the trek. Your private Sherpa guide is with you on the trail each day. Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain or loss in elevation per day). Everyone should be prepared for 10 days of hardy outdoor living. It is expected that each participant be in excellent health and physical condition. We recommend that each participant undertake a program of daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, stair-climbing, etc., as excellent preparatory exercises.

Explanation of Trip Levels