Everest Treks in Comfort

Experience Overview

Elevate your hiking adventure in the Himalaya, taking the most scenic trails in the Everest region, while staying in the best lodges around. Guided by true mountain experts, we walk among giants etched into adventure folklore, soak up Sherpa culture and witness the world’s highest peaks, including Everest, from the best viewpoints. Each evening, you’ll sleep easy with a comfortable room and a little luxury, allowing you to be refreshed and ready for another adventure the following day. Why trek with Exodus? One of the highest staff-to-traveller ratios on the trek with one staff member to every four travellers More than 30 years’ experience organising treks in Nepal Carefully planned ascent rates and itineraries with built-in acclimatisation and contingency days Established protocol for Lukla flight delays Exodus annually commissions independent air-safety audits on domestic carriers in Nepal and only use those approved as part of the audit Experienced English-speaking local leaders who are qualified in first aid and trained to recognise and deal with altitude sickness All staff (leaders, guides and porters) are fully insured and paid a fair wage Staff carry oxygen, a first-aid kit, and self-assessment acute mountain sickness cards, used to monitor every traveller at altitude Speak to Exodus office staff who have done the trek themselves
Profile
— Accommodation: 3 Premium nights (hotel), 7 Superior nights (mountain lodges) — Seven days of walking with full porterage — Group normally 4 to 16 plus tour leader and local staff. Minimum age: 16 — Altitude maximum: 12,706ft (3,873 m); average: 10,328ft (3,148m) — Travel by private minibus and two internal flights — Between five and seven hours of walking per day, with some longer days — Combine this trip with Annapurna to Chitwan: Walks & Wildlife
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 3 Premium nights (hotel), 7 Superior nights (mountain lodges) — Seven days of walking with full porterage — Group normally 4 to 16 plus tour leader and local staff. Minimum age: 16 — Altitude maximum: 12,706ft (3,873 m); average: 10,328ft (3,148m) — Travel by private minibus and two internal flights — Between five and seven hours of walking per day, with some longer days — Combine this trip with Annapurna to Chitwan: Walks & Wildlife
Trip For You
This trek is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us. Altitude: The maximum altitude is 12,706ft (3,873m) and the average is 10,328ft (3,148m). Ample time is given for acclimatisation, but altitude is a factor and must be considered – please refer to the altitude warning in the Trip Notes. Fitness and ability: You should have some trekking experience (preferably at altitude) before joining this adventure. If you do not regularly exercise or hill walk, you should train beforehand. On most days, we walk for approximately five to six hours, although there are some shorter and longer days.This trek is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging) due to the altitudes and some long days walking. However, it is graded a lower Activity Level than our Everest Base Camp Trek as it does not go above 13,123ft (4,000m) and only spends eight days at altitude. Heights: The trail crosses several modern suspension bridges, all of which have mesh sides; some are quite long and high, so anyone with a strong fear of heights or vertigo may find them difficult. Walking hours: Those stated within the itinerary are approximates only. Timings stated exclude lunch stops and vary depending on the group’s pace. There are seven days of walking with full porterage throughout – you need only carry your backpack for the day. Nepal flight safety Many of our treks in Nepal use domestic flights to reach the trekking areas. The mountainous Nepalese terrain is subject to changeable weather, which makes flying conditions complex and challenging, and unfortunately there are significantly more incidents here than in other countries, including fatalities. The EU highlighted the poor safety record in Nepal by including all Nepalese-registered airlines on the EU banned list, which prevents them from flying in EU airspace. While no Nepalese-registered airlines currently fly within the EU, the EU instigated this ban to highlight the risk of flying in Nepal to EU citizens. Nepalese airlines are unlikely to be members of any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations. Flying within Nepal is therefore a known risk, and we strongly encourage you to consider this carefully before booking. We suggest you refer to the following sources: The current travel advice for Nepal issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Air Safety Network entry for Nepal In response to concerns over this safety record, we arrange for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the suitability of the available carriers. We then restrict our use to only those approved as part of this audit. In emergency situations, we will need to use helicopters, so we also have a list of approved helicopter carriers. Should concerns arise regarding the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will remove the carrier from the list immediately; it would only be reinstated once our air-safety auditors are confident the airline meets acceptable safety standards. We appreciate you may have concerns about flying within Nepal, so we ask that you please consider all the information above when deciding to book this trip. Internal flight delays Adverse weather conditions at Lukla airport occasionally mean that flights to/from Manthali or Kathmandu cannot operate. Please read the Important Information section of the Trip Notes for more information.
Group Description
The group is generally between four and 16 people. We have representatives in Kathmandu who look after your transfers to and from the airport and are around to answer other questions you may have about your trek. All departures have an English-speaking Nepali tour leader throughout, who is assisted by Nepali trekking guides. All our tour leaders are highly experienced, trained in wilderness first-aid, and have taken our tour leader training courses. The trekking guides are licensed by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and receive additional training through us. The trekking guides walk with the group, spacing themselves out to ensure the pace is appropriate for careful acclimatisation and to ensure the safety of everyone in the group, helping those who may need some encouragement or support. On all our Nepal treks, there is one trek staff to every four travellers – this ratio may change if a guide has to stay behind with a group member. The tour leaders are assisted by additional guides and as many porters or dzos (cow-yak hybrids) as necessary to carry the kitbags. All your main gear is carried for you, and you only have to carry whatever you require for that day’s trek. Dzos carry four kitbags each and porters carry two – kitbags should be 22lb (10kg) maximum. All trekking staff are insured by our local partner in Nepal.
Eating Drinking
Breakfast is included throughout the trip, as are eight dinners (a welcome dinner in Kathmandu and half-board on trek). Lunches are taken at lodges en route – sometimes one of your guides will go ahead with the group’s order to make it more expedient. Breakfast and dinners in the lodges range from traditional Nepalese food to Chinese and Western dishes. The food is good quality and usually buffet style. You are provided with safe drinking water on trek. Meat is available in the lodges, but we advise against eating it. Meat is often carried in the heat for several days before reaching the lodges and can cause stomach upsets or illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money – we recommend using hand sanitiser. Dietary requirements Gluten-free diets: We strongly recommend you bring extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek as there will be little variety available to you, particularly for breakfast. Even many of the soups are powdered and contain gluten. Gluten-free breakfast options are limited to vegetable fried rice and a choice of egg. On specific days only, a trekkers breakfast (without the toast/with an extra egg) will be served.Vegan diets: Breakfasts are limited to a choice of muesli/porridge made with water each day, and on specific days only, a trekkers breakfast (without the egg) or vegetable fried rice.Lactose-free diet: The same will apply although you will also have a choice of egg each day. Drinking water Staying hydrated is vital at altitude, where it is generally recommended to drink at least 0.7gal to 1gal (three to four litres) per day. We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing plastic pollution problem in Nepal. All lodges provide free cold water. This should not be drunk untreated, so we recommend you bring a reusable bottle/water bladder/CamelBak (ideally two and wide mouth) and use an effective form of water treatment. There are a wide range of products available including Steripens or purification tablets, which are the quickest and easiest options to use on trek – we recommend talking to an outdoor retailer for the latest advice as technologies are improving all the time. Make sure to check the product’s performance in cold/freezing conditions and consider battery life (lithium batteries are best in cold conditions). Exodus has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates more than 99.99 percent of all microbiological contaminants from any non-saltwater source – visit Water-to-Go for more information. Exodus customers can claim 15 percent off their first order and, better still, 15 percent of the purchase value will be donated to the Exodus Travels Foundation. These bottles filter the water as you drink, though the spout may not be the most efficient while moving on trek. Please note, if the water freezes it will clog up the filter. In this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes.
Transportation
For airport transfers, we use a private minibus. Flights to/from Lukla are usually in a Twin Otter or Dornier plane. All flights to and from Lukla operate in/out of Manthali Airport (RHP). The journey from Kathmandu to Manthali is a four-hour bus drive in the early morning and the return leg from Manthali to Kathmandu is usually five to six hours due to heavier traffic later in the day. The flight time between Manthali and Lukla is about 20 minutes. It is necessary to depart your hotel in Kathmandu at approximately 3am by bus to ensure arriving in Manthali for 7am-7.30am in time for the flights to Lukla (between 8.30am-9am). Your Kathmandu hotel will provide a packed breakfast for the journey. Please read our note on flight safety in Nepal in the Is This Trip for You? section of our Trip Notes. This trekking trip requires you to walk between each overnight stay under your own steam. Other forms of transport may be available along the route (horses, 4x4s etc) but we cannot take responsibility for the safety or cost of any transport that you choose to take, even if provided with the assistance of our leader or staff.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal Phone: +977 1424 8999 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm. Airport: Kathmandu Airport (KTM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Kathmandu Airport (KTM) from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15C to 35C (59F to 95F) in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10C (50F) at 11,810ft (3,600m) and progressively lower the higher we go. Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking. Post-monsoon/autumn: Mid-September to November The main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approximately above 20C (68F). Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as -10C (14F) at the highest altitudes. Winter: December to end of February Despite the cooler conditions, this is an ideal time to trek in Nepal. Skies are usually very clear, especially in December, and the mountain views are at their best. Nights are very cold with temperatures down to -20C (-4F) at the highest altitudes but days are pleasant and sunny. The trails are also much less busy at this time of year. In Kathmandu, maximum daytime temperatures are 19C (66F). Pre-monsoon/spring: March to May Both day and night temperatures are warmer in general but often a haze builds in the afternoons. It is very hot in the lowlands and temperatures rise to 35C (95F) in Kathmandu. Flowers bloom in this season, one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring. Snow should be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes. Please remember, the weather is never wholly predictable in any mountain area, and you should be equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.
Spending Money
We recommend taking your personal spending money in cash (US dollars, British pounds or euros can all be changed easily). Any marked, torn or damaged notes may not be accepted. Please remember, £50 notes, Scottish or Northern Irish currency cannot be changed in Nepal. Cash can be changed easily at the airport on arrival in Kathmandu or at money changers in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Hotels in Nepal can also change up to US$300 per person. Our staff will advise you about how much money to take with you on trek. You need to withdraw/exchange enough money in Kathmandu to last the duration of your trek – to cover meals, drinks, tipping and other incidentals. It is a good idea to carry spare cash on the trek in case of an emergency. Carrying a large amount of cash is unavoidable, so we suggest splitting it up into a few different places – but remember to keep track of how much you have stashed where. Prices of food and amenities in teahouses generally become more expensive the higher altitude/more remote you are and access to ATMs/money changes are extremely limited. Please allow 4,200 rupees (US$30) per day for lunch, snacks and drinks on trek, and for meals not included in Kathmandu. This amount is given as a rough guideline only. Optional excursions An optional Everest sightseeing flight is available on your free day (weather permitting) from around 28,100 rupees (US$215) per person (the price is subject to change). Anyone taking an internal sightseeing flight in Nepal should pay attention to the statement ‘Flying in Nepal’.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Nepal. Your tour leader usually offers to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which will be used to tip hotel porters, local guides, assistant guides, porters, and the drivers. Your tour leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but a rough guideline is provided below. Tipping of the tour leader is at your discretion and separate to the amount for the other staff. We suggest you send an envelope around the group at the end of the trip, and you can put in what you like and give it to the leader on the last evening. The following are guideline amounts received by each staff member from the group as a whole Tour leader: 25,000-30,000 rupees (usually given on the last night in Kathmandu) Your trekking crew (tips are usually given on the last evening of the trek in Lukla) Trekking guides: 15,000-18,000 rupees for each guideTrek porters/yak men: 12,000 rupees for each porter or yak man General tipping guidelines: Kathmandu/Manthali Airport transfers: 1,000-1,500 rupees for each driverDrivers (shorter journeys): 200-300 rupeesHotel porters: 100 rupees each time for each roomTeahouses and lunch stops on trek: It’s customary to round your bill up to the nearest 50 or 100 rupeesRestaurants: 10% of the bill for good service To help budget for the tips, generally there will be one member of trek staff (guide/assistant) for every four travellers. You will also have one porter for every two travellers to carry your luggage. If you are unsure how much to personally budget, you can check with your tour leader when you arrive in Kathmandu. It is preferable to give all tips in local currency where possible.

Highlights