Climb Mt. Everest with Berg Adventures – Trip Itinerary

Everest presents itself differently during every climbing season, and so we will be prepared to adjust our schedule to ensure the greatest opportunity for safety and success. With years of Everest experience to draw upon, Berg Adventures is committed to climbing Everest in the right way, at the right time, and we have the experience, the determination and ability to make the most of what the mountain has to offer.

Day 1-2 – International flights to Kathmandu.

Day 3 – Arrive in Kathmandu and relax while enjoying the color and energy of Nepal’s capital city. Duffels of personal climbing gear and high-altitude clothing will be collected for the cargo flights to Lukla and will be waiting for you at Base Camp.

Day 4-5 – Enjoy Kathmandu with a city tour and attend any governmental and media affairs involving team members.

Day 6 – Passenger flights to Lukla. Begin the trek through the Khumbu to Base Camp.

Day 7-16 – Trek to Base Camp, taking plenty of time to acclimatize and to visit the Sherpa families and support facilities that will become increasingly important during our expedition. We will spend several days in Namche ahead of most trekkers, and will visit the monasteries in Tengboche and Pangboche. Additional acclimatization days are scheduled at Namche (11,400ft/3,475m) and Pheriche (14,000ft/4,267m).

Day 17 – Projected team arrival at Base Camp. The camp will be fully established and operational. Climbers will be reunited with their gear and extra clothing and can organize their personal tents the way they like them.

Day 18-21 – On the day that the lamas choose to be most auspicious, we will hold a traditional Buddhist ceremony called a pooja to bless the team. Following the pooja, climbers can begin their first journey into the Icefall.

Day 22 – Possible first trip to Camp I at the top of the Icefall.

Day 23-27 – “First Rotation”—two nights at Camp I, three nights at Camp II, and the return to Base Camp.

Day 28-31 – Rest days at Base Camp.

Day 32-35 – “Second Rotation” with nights at Camp I and Camp II, and a day trip to Camp III.

Day 36-38 – Rest at Base Camp.

Day 39-42 – “Third Rotation” including nights at Camp I and Camp II, and a night sleeping at Camp III.

Day 43-48 – Rest days. Some team members might elect to descend to lower elevations to recuperate before our summit attempt begins. Others may choose to remain at Base Camp. Depending on the individuals and the events of the season, both methods can work well and both options will be fully supported by BAI staff.

Day 49-54 – First chance for a summit attempt. We will spend two nights at Camp II, one night at Camp III, and a short night at the South Col before climbing. In 2013 we elected to spend a second night on the South Col. We had plenty of oxygen to support this addition rest before climbing to the summit. The descent will include a South Col night after summit day, and a night at Camp II during the descent to Base Camp.

Day 55-70 – Weather and route conditions will affect our schedule. They always do. Climbers coming down from Mount Everest are often eager to continue descending into the forests and villages of the Khumbu and then make their way quickly to Kathmandu and beyond. To accommodate that need, team members are not obligated to wait for the Icefall route to be removed or for Base Camp to be disassembled. On the other hand, climbers are also welcome to linger at Base Camp and further down the valley as they savor the camaraderie and take in the culture and warmth of the people of the Khumbu. In both 2010 and 2013 our summit day was May 17, but historically the summit has been reached anytime between early and late May. Berg Adventures autumn expedition summit dates have ranged from October 18 to November 2.

Day 71 – Make your international plane reservations to leave Kathmandu on this date. As the Berg Adventures Everest Expedition unfolds and our schedule becomes clearer, Berg Adventures staff will help adjust your reservations to match the actual date of your departure. Making a changeable plane reservation is important to account for changes in the schedule. We are happy to help you with your flight arrangements.

**Trip dates are approximate. Fall expeditions typically begin around August 30 and end around November 1. Actual trip departure date to be announced 120 days prior to your expedition.