Overview

One of the greatest mountain treks on Earth...Mount Everest Base Camp

This is it, the trek of a lifetime! The trek to Everest Base Camp remains, in our opinion, the greatest mountain walk on earth. The most spectacular mountain scenery in the world is before you each day of this trek.

Besides Everest you will become familiar with other Himalayan giants: Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Lobuche Peak, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Pumori. You will have a unique opportunity to absorb the ancient and colorful scenes of a Himalayan trading culture. The Everest region, known as the Khumbu, is a crossroads of times and cultures; Tibetan traders cross the Nangpa La with their yaks, climbers from around the world trek enroute to their base camps and the people of the valley still stock their homes and businesses from the famous Namche Saturday market. Every client will also be given the option to participate in one of our Project MountainVision Foundation events at some point along the journey.

In the Khumbu the human history of exploration and discovery is still fresh. You will be guided by one of the most well respected Sherpa Sirdars in the world, Kami Tenzing Sherpa. Kami has been our lead Sherpa on every ascent we have made in the Himalaya, including our successful ascent of Everest in 2001. Kami will accompany you to visit several monasteries, with the same head lamas who have blessed the most historic expeditions of the past 55 years and are more active and vibrant than ever. We will visit several of them and receive our own blessings. This is truly a pilgrimage that any lover of the mountain world and mountain cultures will consider the opportunity of a lifetime.

Beginning from our home base in Kathmandu, the five-star luxury of the famous Marshangdi Hotel, we will immerse ourselves into the history, art and religion of one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. A flight to the airstrip at Lukla, elevation 9,200 feet (2805 meters), is the beginning of your trip to the high world of Everest mountaineering. Your high point will be the summit of Kala Patar (18,300 feet, 5580 meters) with its stunning views of Everest. When you walk into Everest Base Camp itself, you will be at the base of the awesome Khumbu Icefall.

Our Khumbu treks are first rate from start to finish. In addition to being equipped with Mountain Hardwear expedition quality tents and an expert Sherpa cook and guide staff, we stay in the comfort of private rooms in the nicest of the lodges along the way. We take the time to visit villages such as Thame and Pangboche and we schedule plenty of rest days to aid in acclimatization and to provide the opportunities to explore and spend more time with our Sherpa friends.

QUALIFICATIONS: This trek into Everest Base Camp is strenuous but does not require that you have any previous trekking or mountaineering experience. It does not require any technical experience; only that you be in good physical conditioning and be able to hike for 4-6 hours over hilly terrain with a light day pack.

A Little About Nepal

Area: 140,800 sq km
Population: 23 million
Capital city: Kathmandu
People: Hindus, Newars, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
National Language: Nepali
Religion: Hindu
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Prime Minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba
King: His Majesty Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
GDP: US $27.4 billion
GDP per head: US $1100
Annual growth: 6%
Inflation: 2.1%
Major industries: Tourism, Handicraft, Agriculture and Water Resources.

Religion
Hinduism and Buddhism are two major religions of Nepal. Hindus and Buddhist are tolerant to each other and the both religious group worship each other’s deities and observe festivals, traditional customs and rites of both religious group in Nepal, followed by Muslims, Jains and Christians.

Peoples
People of Nepal can be divided into two distinct group, the Aryans and the Mongolians. And there are many different ethnic groups in Nepal living in different part of the country with their own unique cultures, languages and religions. The ethnic group of Magars, Rais, Sunuwars and Gurungs live in the eastern mountains observing their own culture and speaking their own culture and speaking their own mother languages. By tradition, most Gurkha soldiers come from these ethnic groups and are famous for the bravery in the battles. Sherpas, inhabitants of the Northern Himalayan region are influenced with the Tibetan culture. The Sherpas are famous in the world for mountaineering.The Newars constitute the important ethnic group in the Kathmandu valley. The Newars are rich in culture and famous for their craftsmanship. There are many artistic pagodas, monuments and old palaces in the Kathmandu valley built by the Newars. The ethnic group of Tharus, Maithili, Bhojpuri Danuwar etc live in the Terai region.The Brahman and Chhetris also play an important role in Nepalese Society. These groups are originally from the west Nepal and now inhabit the most of all the parts of the country.Tamangs live outside the rim of the Kathmandu valley. The Thakalis inhabitant in the northwest part, upper the Kali Gandaki Rivers. The Thakalis were considered to be expert traders in the past.Apart from the above, there are still many other ethnic group in Nepal and all of these groups are tied up together by their common ideals of peace and nationalism.

Culture
The Himalayan Kingdom has the richest and most diverse culture landscapes anywhere. Nepal is the holy land of Lord Pashupatinath and Gautam Buddha where the Hindus and Buddhists have lived together in harmony for centuries. The Temple of Pashupatinath is Nepal/s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the four most important cities in the world for Shiva worshippers. Lord Buddha, the light of Asia, was born in Lumbini in Nepal/s southern plains, which makes Nepal a scared pilgrimage destination for Buddhists as well.

The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal is synthesized in the Kathmandu Valley. The three ancient cities of the Valley Patan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur represent an epitome of harmony in urban design, elegant architecture and refined culture. These cities pack a concentration of religious monuments unequalled in the world. Don/t miss the seven monument zones named as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO all situated within the small confines of the Valley.

Adding dazzling color to Nepal/s myriad attractions are the many festivals that dot the calendar. Join in the numerous annual festivals that are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs. Go for village tours and visit the multi-ethnic groups to get first hand experience of their customs and lifestyles.

As eating is a special affair in Nepal, there is food for each and every occasion and festival. Kathmandu offers an incredible selection of dining opportunities. There are many restaurants that serve only authentic Nepali food complete with ethnic ambience.

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart home

Day 2 Day lost to dateline if traveling from US

Day 3 Arrive Kathmandu

We will be met at Kathmandu airport by our friendly Sherpa staff. Our baggage will be loaded into our bus and we will be driven to our hotel. These first moments in Kathmandu are often the most memorable. Once we are situated in our hotel we will have a short team meeting and orientation. Overnight at Vaishali Hotel.

Day 4 Full day in Kathmandu

Gear check, sightseeing, relaxing. We will have staff take us to the ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) probably at sunrise. This is optional but highly recommended. We also offer an optional half day tour of Kathmandu or Baktapur. ($50 per person) The rest of the day is yours to explore, shop, relax and do final gear checks. There will be a team welcome dinner on us at a local restaurant.

Day 5 Lukla to Monzo

Hike time: 4 hours
Elevation change: approx 800ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 10,000 ft

Weather permitting we will have a short but spectacular (25 min) flight to Lukla (9,200ft) for an unforgettable landing. Once all our gear has arrived and has been strapped to yaks or picked up by porters we will really start our trek. After about 4 hours we will arrive at the village of Monzo. Overnight in lodge.

Day 6 Monzo to Namche Bazaar

Hike time: 5 hours
Elevation change: 1,200ft
Estimated distance: 4 miles
Camp at 11,250 ft

Today we will officially enter Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park.. We will ascend ‘Namche Hill’ to the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar (11,270ft) and unofficial capital of the Khumbu. You will get your first view of Mt Everest about half way up the hill. Overnight in lodge.

Day 7 Rest Day in Namche Bazaar

As we need to acclimatize, this is a great day to re-group, rest and sightsee this beautiful village. This is a perfect opportunity to pick up souvenirs for friends and family back home. You can make the short, but steep hike to the Everest View Hotel where weather permitting you will get a great view of Mt Everest. Overnight in lodge.

Day 8 Namche Bazaar to Tengboche Monastery

Hike time: 5 hours
Elevation change: 1,500ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 12,700 ft

Today we go to Tengboche Monastery (12,700ft). This Monastery is the spiritual center of the Khumbu and a training center for new monks. With luck we will be able to watch the monks worship and receive a blessing from the high lama. Overnight in lodge.

Day 9 Tengboche Monastery to Dingboche

Hike time: 4 hours
Elevation change: 1,300ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 14,000 ft

During this spectacular day we will cross the famous suspension bridge from which there is the classic view of the mountain, Ama Dablam. Overnight in lodge.

Day 10 Rest Day in Dingboche

There are several beautiful day hikes from the village. Depending on how well the team is acclimatizing we will probably hike up a ridge and get amazing views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Alternatively we will simply rest and take in the views of surrounding peaks. Overnight in lodge.

Day 11 Dingboche to Lobuche

Hike time: 5 hours
Elevation change: 2,100ft
Estimated distance: 4 miles
Camp at 16,170 ft

We will trek to the small village of Lobuche (16,170ft). En route to Lobuche we will pass by a number of stone memorials to honor climbers lost on nearby peaks, mostly Mt Everest. Overnight in lodge.

Day 12 Lobuche to Gorak Shep

Hike time: 4 hours
Elevation change: 100 ft
Estimated distance: 2.5 miles
Camp at 16,200 ft

This is a big day – have your cameras ready. The views are unbelievable. We will trek to Gorak Shep where we will have lunch. Then we will walk to the summit of Kala Pattar (18,190ft) where you will get the best view of Mt Everest without climbing it. Overnight in lodge.

Day 13 Gorak Shep to Everest Basecamp(optional trek up Kalipatar return Gorak Shep

Hike time: 8 hours roundtrip
Elevation change: +1,000 ft -1,000 ft
Estimated distance: 2.5 miles
Camp at 16,200 ft

This is the final uphill push to Mt Everest basecamp. There may be some climbing teams already set up. Depending on time We will hike up to the start of the notorious Khumbu icefall. We will return to Gorak Shep. Overnight in lodge.

Day 14 Gorak Shep to Pangboche

Hike time: 7 hours
Elevation change: -2,200 ft
Estimated distance: 6 miles
Camp at 14,000 ft

We descend to the village of Pangboche via the high altitude clinic at Pheriche. This clinic is staffed by volunteer Doctors and nurses, often from the US to help climbers who are suffering from high altitude sickness. Overnight in lodge.

Day 15 Pangboche to Kumjung

Hike time: 4 hours
Elevation change: 1,300 ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 12,700 ft

We continue or descent to the village of Kumjung. This is the birthplace and home of our Sirdar, Kami Tenzing Sherpa. He is very well known in this village. He will probably invite us to his home for tea. Overnight in lodge.

Day 16 Kumjung Service Project Day

This is our day of service in the small village of Kumjung Camp at 12,700 ft

Day 17 Kumjung to Monzo

Hike time: 4 hours
Elevation change: -2,000 ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 10,000 ft

From Kumjung it is a short hike to Namche Bazaar. We will stop and give you time to make any final souvenir purchases before continuing on down the hill to Monzo. Overnight in lodge.

Day 18 Monzo to Lukla

Hike time: 3 hours
Elevation change: -1,000 ft
Estimated distance: 3 miles
Camp at 9,000 ft

Even though we are going down the valley the trek has a final sting for us. We must hike UP a hill to get to Lukla. Overnight in lodge.

Day 19 Kathmandu

Weather permitting we will fly from Lukla to Katmandu (25mins) and transfer to our hotel for a well deserved shower. Remaining day in Kathmandu for shopping. Team farewell dinner at Vaishali Hotel.

Day 20 Depart for home

Transfer from your hotel to Kathmandu International Airport. Fly to the US.

Day 21 Arrive home

Gear List

• Day Pack
  (Mountain Hardwear Sortie)
  1,500-3,000 cl. 3 Liter Water bladder (Camelback) should fit within a sleeve in the pack. Make sure it is comfortable. Remember that yaks or porters are carrying most of your weight.
• Sleeping Bag
  (Down- Mountain Hardwear Cloud Rest) 
  (Synthetic- Mountain Hardwear Switch) 
  You will have to choose between Down or Synthetic. There are pros and cons with both. Rated at least 10 degrees F. It will get cold overnight as we get closer to basecamp.
• Duffel Bags 
  (Mountain Hardwear Large Expedition Duffel)
  Large expedition size duffel. Made from either sturdy vinyl or canvas. This is the bag that will be carried on the trek with all of your gear that is not on your back. It must be sturdy. Yak horns are sharp! *Also have 1 other less sturdy duffel to leave street clothes at hotel while on trek.
• Boots 
  lightweight hikers or cross trainers (La Sportiva Zodiak) 
  sturdier hiking boot (La Sportiva Thunder GTX)
• Warm Hat
  (Mountain Hardwear Dome Perignon)
• Sunglasses 
  (Costa Del Mar Frigate)
   A second spare pair strongly recommended.
• Trekking Poles 
  Optional, but recommended.
• Glove and Mitten Combo 
  1 pair of liners (Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch) 
  1 pair of windstoppers (Mountain Hardwear Gravity)
• Weatherproof Pants
  (Mountain Hardwear Typhoon)
• Weatherproof Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Typhoon)
• Pile Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket)
• Insulated Jacket 
  (Mountain Hardwear Subzero)
• Cotton/Linen long sleeved shirt
• Lightweight Trekking Pant
  2 pairs (Mountain Hardwear Convertable Pack Pant)
  Convertible pant/short are the best.
• Capilene/Polypro top/bottom
  2 sets each light and medium
• Socks 
  (4)Medium trekking weight (Smartwool)
• Hygiene/toiletry kit
  Only the basics. Recommend baby wipes & powder for taking ‘mountain bath’
• Water bottle 
  (Nalgene) You will need at least 1 wide mouth bottle in case bladder freezes up high.
• Snack foods to supplement standard meals. Make sure to bring items you really enjoy, not just lame energy bars.
• Pee bottle or female spout
• First Aid Items.
  Only the basics. Tylenol, Motrin, Cipro, Moleskin...etc. We provide the main medical kit with critical meds. Bring a spare set of any personal meds you are taking.
• Sunscreen 30 – 45 SPF
• Headlamp and spare batteries
• Plastic Bags
  (garbage bags) 
  1 or 2...many uses. Big enough to hold critical items in your mountain duffel to add rain protection. Also a few small sandwich bags.
• Hand sanitizer (small pocket size is best)
• Bandana
• Hat/visor
• Music player 
  Optional, but be aware that Ipod and similar hard drive MP3 devices break above 17,000ft.
• Knife or multitool (if you think you might use it)
• Duct tape 
  Put a few wraps around trekking pole
• Journal and Camera
• Items you might want to give to sherpas…shoes, shirts, socks, sunglasses
• Tip money.
  This is optional of course... but if you feel the service was exceptional from the Sherpa staff, the usual guideline is approximately $100 for the trek.

Don’t forget to:

• Label your gear (including trekking poles) 
• Make two copies of your passport and your credit cards

Fees

2011 Mt Everest Basecamp Trek Fees

Standard Everest Basecamp Trek - $2,400

Grand Trek Guided by Jeff Evans - $3,200

Nonrefundable deposit guarantees spot. Pay $500 with check using instructions on application or pay with credit card below. Please add a 3% processing fee to all credit card purchases.

Contact us for exact fee amounts

Cost of Trip Includes

• All land travel
• Domestic roundtrip flights Kathmandu/Lukla
• Lodging - rates based on double occupancy. Single supplement of $85.
• Lodge accommodation on trek
• Transfer to and from Kathmandu Airport to your hotel upon arrival and departure
• Team welcome dinner. Team farewell dinner
• Sagarmatha National Park gate fees
• All yak support
• Local guides and porters
• All meals while on trek

Additional Benefits

• Satellite phone available for emergencies during trek
• Participation in our live dispatches, including group photos and trip stories (on Grand Expeditions)
• Top quality food during trek
• Pre-trek Colorado 14er training weekend (additional charge)
• Pre-trek advice on training and gear
• Western leader with group throughout trek (On Grand Expeditions)

Trip Cost Does Not Include

• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Any hotel costs en route to and from Kathmandu due to flight delays
• Single supplement of $85
• Cost of hotel en route between the US and Katmandu
• Additional tips for sherpas. See gear list below for guideline.
• Personal drinks, snacks, food, alcohol and gifts
• Subsequent lodging beyond 4 nights in Katmandu
• All meals while in Kathmandu other than the welcome and farewell dinners. Breakfast is included with hotel stay
• Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of MountainVision Expeditions

Travel Details

Trip resources

The MountainVision Trip Resource Page is a list of valuable resources for your upcoming trip...weather forecasts, gear, health links, travel insurance, world clocks, etc.

Flights

You are welcome to work with your own travel specialist; however, we at MountainVision highly recommend Dana Welch at The Travel Society. Dana has many years of expedition travel experience. She can be reached at 303.563.6225 or dana@travelsociety.com. Dana has also lead this trip previously and is a great source of information on the trek, the people and the culture.

Traveler's Insurance

We highly recommend everyone purchase travelers insurance before leaving the country. There are many companies that provide the proper insurance and approximate cost will be $100-$350. Our team travel agent, Dana Welch, will assist you with this. Several companies for you to consider are www.travelguard.com, www.sevencorners.com and www.ihi.com

Note: If you plan on obtaining trip insurance for your MountainVision Expedition, you will have to obtain your coverage within 2 weeks of making your initial trip deposit only if you expect to be covered for any PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. Otherwise, you are able to obtain the insurance up to one month prior to departure

Health Issues

Consult your doctor, travel clinic or email us for advice concerning inoculations and precautions you should consider. Start this process early as some shots are taken over several weeks.

Immunizations we recommend for Nepal:

• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus (up to date)
• Typhoid

Check out the CDC guidelines for Nepal.

Great care is taken to insure the food is prepared safely and in a healthy manner. If concerned, avoid salads, ice cubes in drinks, and eat only fruits with skins, which have been peeled. Ethnic foods are naturally tempting and should not be completely disregarded. Pay attention to the preparation if possible and enjoy the opportunity to be adventurous in trying the array of unique foods offered in Nepal.

It is prudent to rely basically on bottled water or drinks although boiled water will be available during the trek. A sealed bottle will ensure the bottle has not been refilled. Don't swallow water while showering and remember to use bottled water for brushing your teeth. You will discover bottled water is readily available on the trek. Though it will not be cheap the higher we climb.

Pre-Climb Training

We will give advice on training prior to the trek if you think you need it. In addition we will be holding one to two optional but highly recommended training days in the Colorado Rockies. Each day, held over different weekends, will allow team members to get to know each other as well as test new equipment and talk through the trek with your leader. We recommend all MVX clients join us for our 14er Fitness program here in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. A great way to prepare for your upcoming adventure.

Also, please print out and follow our Pre Trip Training and Conditioning Guideline.

Passport and Entry Requirements

A visa for entry to Nepal is required. It can be purchased through Travel Document Systems. All the information is on their web site. http://www.traveldocs.com/np/

You can get the entry visa at Kathmandu Airport when you arrive but this is NOT recommended. It will take over an hour standing in line.

Currency, Credit Cards & Traveler's Checks

We recommend that you take US cash in small bills as well as credit cards. You can change US$ fairly easily in Kathmandu. In addition many places will also accept US$. The Sherpa staff will accept US$ for tips. You can change travelers checks in banks but this is generally very time consuming.

Payment Schedule

A $500 deposit will secure your place on the team. Deposit due 4 months prior to departure date. Balance due 6 weeks prior to departure. If paying by check, please follow instructions on the MountainVision Expeditions Application Package. For payment with credit card please follow instructions on Everest Basecamp Fees tab above.

Please email info@mountain-vision.com with any questions regarding payment.

Any Questions?

MountainVision Expeditions
Office- 303.880.1930

Contact us at info@mountain-vision.com to learn more about our Everest Basecamp Trek.