Overview
Mount Everest North Side Expedition is one of our major regular expeditions – obviously the most popular one. We have been regularly organizing and successfully executing Everest expedition from the Tibetan side for over a decade and we are one the few foreign expedition operators recognized by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association.
Our Everest North Side Expedition takes place every spring season – April to May. And we start it from our base in Kathmandu. Our group meets up here in the capital and after completing visa documentation we fly to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region. Keeping in mind the acclimatization schedule we take time exploring the Tibetan culture and landscape and slowly proceed towards the Everest Base Camp.
On the Tibet side, we set up three base camps: the main camp at 5200, also known as the Chinese Base Camp, Intermediate Camp at 5800m and the Advance Base Camp at 6400m. Each of these camps are well equipped to provide comfort and quality service to our expedition members. While some of our expedition sherpas set up the three high camp : Camp1 at 7000m, Camp 2 at 7700m and Camp 3 at 8300 our expedition members complete at least two rounds of acclimatization schedule between Camp 1 and the Base Camp. Then as the ropes are fixed until the summit we are ready to make the summit attempt. By the end of May , as we wrap up the expedition we return by road via Kyirong.
Gallery
Everest North Side
Itinerary
- Day: 1
- Day: 2-4
- Day: 5
- Day: 6
- Day: 7
- Day: 8
- Day: 9
- Day: 10
- Day: 11-15
- Day: 16
- Day: 17
- Day: 18-23
- Day: 24-28
- Day: 29-35
- Day: 36-40
- Day: 41-52
- Day: 53-54
- Day: 55
- Day: 56
- Day: 57
- Day: 58
Day: 1
Arrival in kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Your arrival in Kathmandu marks the start of our expedition. We will receive you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Then you have free time to refresh. We meet up again in the evening for a welcome dinner and an introduction with the remaining expedition members.
Day: 2-4
In Kathmandu for Tibet/China visa processing
In the morning, on the second day, we will pick up your passports and submit them at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu for Tibet visa application, which takes three working days to process. While we wait for our visas we utilize this time visiting cultural heritage sites around Kathmandu; also we do a thorough check of your personal climbing gears and purchase/rent if required.
Day: 5
Flight to Lhasa
Our entry point in Tibet is usually the Lhasa city. We take a direct flight from Kathmandu to the Lhasa Gongar Airport and drive to Lhasa city. Lhasa is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of Tibet, China and it is famous for the Potala Palace and big monastic institutions.
Day: 6
In Lhasa to acclimatize and explore
We stay one day more at Lhasa as part of acclimatization and utilize the time by exploring Lhasa – visiting the famous Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Street.
Day: 7
Drive to Shigatse
After spending two days in Lhasa, exploring the Tibetan cultural heritage sites, and the bustling new modern developments, we head southwest towards the second-largest city in Tibet – Shigatse. The road trip between Lhasa and Shigatse offers some amazing scenery of any road in the world. Before arriving in Shigatse we cross over a 5000m. pass called Karo La Pass.
Shigatse means ‘ the fertile land’ in the local Tibetan language. And as the name goes by it covers one of the major cultivable lands across Tibet.
Day: 8
Drive to Xegar
Shigatse is also known for one of the most important monasteries in Tibet – the Tashi Lunpu Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is believed to be the second-highest incarnation after the Dalai Lama. So, we visit the monastery in the morning before heading towards Xegar.
Xegar is a newly developed small town area, with better accomodation compared to Tingri.
Day: 9
In Xegar for acclimatization
We spend one more day at Xegar. To acclimatize we hike to a nearby high point and descend back.
Day: 10
Drive to Everest Base Camp
Today we drive from Xegar to Everest Base Camp. We pass by Tingri on the way.
Day: 11-15
At Everest Base Camp
We spend a few days at our main base camp to acclimatize and make finish preparation for further camps – transferring logistics by yaks and setting up the intermediate and advance base camps. Also, we conduct the puja ceremony before moving ahead.
Day: 16
Trek to Intermediate Camp
Day: 17
Trek to Advance Base Camp
Day: 18-23
At ABC - Acclimatize and first rotational climb to North Col
The Advance Base Camp is the second base for the Northside expedition. During these few days at ABC, we acclimatize and make our first climbing rotation to North Col.
Day: 24-28
At Everest Base Camp
After our first rotation up to ABC and North Col we descend back to Everest Base Camp and stay few days for rest. Meantime, our Sherpa team establish Camp2.
Day: 29-35
Second Rotation of Climbing
After few days of rest at EBC we begin second rotation of climbing. Moving gradually to Interim Camp, ABC and North Col we climb up to Camp2 and descend back to ABC.
Day: 36-40
At Everest Base Camp
After completing our second rotational climb up to Camp 2, we descend to Everest Base Camp for rest and prepare for the summit climbing attempt. Meantime, our Sherpa team establish Camp 3, also called the last camp.
Day: 41-52
Summit Attempt
While we rest and prepare for the summit attempt, the rope fixing team completes their task; and based on the best weather window we launch our Summit climb.
- Summit Attempt Day 1: Move to Interim Camp
- Summit Attempt Day 2&3: Move to ABC
- Summit Attempt Day 4: Climb to North Col
- Summit Attempt Day 5: Climb to Camp 2
- Summit Attempt Day 6: Climb to Camp 3
- Summit Attempt Day 7: Summit and descend to North Col
- Summit Attempt Day 8: Descend to ABC
- Day 9: Trek back to Everest Base Camp
Day: 53-54
Everest Base Camp
At Everest Base Camp for rest and wrapping up our expedition camp; report our climbing details to the liaison officer and receive a summit certificate.
Day: 55
Drive to Kyirong
We exit Tibet by road from Kyirong.
Day: 56
Cross Tibet-Nepal border and drive to Kathmandu
In the morning we take a short drive up to China-Nepal border at Kyirong and arrive in Timure, Nepal. Then we take a jeep all the way back to Kathmandu.
Day: 57
In Katmandu: free day
Free day in Kathmandu for rest and recovery. We meet up in the evening for a farewell dinner and celebrate our expedition.
Day: 58
Transfer to airport for international departure
Transfer to the airport in Kathmandu around 2-3 hours before your scheduled departure.
Altitude Graph
Inclusion
Service Included in the Price
1. Permit and other charges
– Everest Climbing Permit
– Garbage Management Fee
– Tibet Visa fee
– Everest route fixing fee
– Liaison officer’s fee
2. Hotel Accommodation
– 5 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu
– Hotel accommodation on the way to base camp and return as per itinerary
3. Transportation
– Group Transfer from Kathmandu to Base Camp and return
– Airport pick up and drop
– Expedition cargo from Nepal to Tibet and vice- versa by road
– Expedition cargo from Base Camp to Advanced Base Camp and return by Yaks
4. Expedition Staff
– One experienced Sherpa per member
– Permit fee, garbage management fee, visa fee, insurance, wages, and equipment allowance
of cook &Sherpa
– Wages and allowance of Tibetan kitchen staff
5. Base Camp & Advance Base Camp food & facility
– All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in Lhasa and on the way to Base Camp as per itinerary
– Base Camp and Advance Base Camp Food
– Shared kitchen & Dining, Heater and Solar Charging at Base Camp and Advanced Base Camp
– Personal Tent with mattress, pillow at Base Camp and Advanced Base Camp
6. High Camp Food & Facility
– Shared high altitude tent (2:1)
– High Food, epi-gas and cooking set
(high food cooked and served by personal sherpa)
– Snow bar and main rope for climbing
7. Supplementary Bottled Oxygen, Regulator & Mask
– Eight bottle oxygen and 2 sets mask-regulator for member
8. Communication Facility
– One Set Satellite Phone for the team (pay per call when required)
– Radio communication set
Exclusion
Service not included in the Price
1. Flight Ticket
– International flight ticket (Kathmandu- home country)
– Flight ticket cancellation-rebooking charge
2. Personal Climbing Gear
– Personal clothing and gears
3. Insurance
– Medical Insurance
– Evacuation/Rescue
4. Tips to kitchen staff and sherpa
5. Extra night hotel in Kathmandu and in Tibet
6. Meals and beverages in Kathmandu
7. Cost of extra luggage on the flight
8. Transfer charge (by jeep) Lhasa to Base Camp or for return in case a member
decides to travel other than in group
9. Other costs incurred due to the occurrence of unforeseen incidents such as earthquake, war,
government policy, etc. which are beyond the control of Rolwaling Excursion (P) Ltd.
