Chomolungma - the mother Goddess of the World - rises majestically to its supreme height of 8848m/ 29,028ft. on the Nepal - Tibet border dominating the Sherpa region of Khumbu in the South and the open Rongbuk Valley in the North. Our climb of Mt. Everest in this program is from the north side of the mountain following the North Col and North East Ridge route.

Seven earlier attempts to climb Mt. Everest were on this route before further expeditions from this side was made impossible due to world War in 1945 (except for two Chinese expeditions in 1965 and 1975 who put several climbers on the summit on both occasions) and China's occupation of Tibet beginning in the early fifties. It was only in the late 70s foreign mountaineering expedition teams were allowed to return to Everest. The Iranians were the first team issued a permit to climb the mountain in the spring season of 1979 followed by Japanese in autumn 1979 and 1980. Japanese climbers Yasuo Kato and Takashi Ozaki reach summit in the 19080 spring season expedition to become the first non Chinese clambers to reach the summit via this route.

Approach to the Base Camp:
Group preparation of our ascent of the North East ridge route begins in Kathmandu. All trip participants assemble in Kathmandu as per the trip itinerary (find below) and drive by bus 5/6 hr. on the Kathmandu - Lhasa highway to arrive at Kodari (Tatopani) where Nepalese customs and immigration formalities are completed. Clearing through the Nepali immigration and custom formalities, we walk across the Friendship bridge and , meet the representative from the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) waiting with jeeps and truck for a short drive us to the Tibetan side of the border town Zhangmu 7544ft/2300ft (Khasa in Nepali) through an uphill winding road. This night we spend in Zhangmu at a guest house provided by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association with all meals provided. Next day, we drive to Nyalam 3790m/12432ft and stop here for a day to get acclimatized. Before the building of Kathmandu - Lhasa road, Nyalam known as Kuti in Nepali was among the several passes Nepalese traders used to enter Tibet for cross border trades. Nepalese and Tibetan traders gathered here with their merchandise comprising sugar, tobacco readymade Indian good from Nepal and wool, yak tails and salt from Tibet. After Nyalam, our next before Everest base camp is Xegar 4050m/13285ft (also known as New Thingri)- the political, administrative center of Tingri area. This was a fort town in the past. The fort has now turned into ruins from the excesses carried out by red guards during the cultural revolution period. We stop in Xegar for one more day to get better acclimatized and next to drive to Mt. Everest base camp situated at 5,150m/16,892ft. On the way to the base camp, we visit the famous Rongbuk monastery - gateway for Everest expedition dating back 1921, and ask blessing for the expedition's safety and success from the resident lama and the monks.

Pooja And Climbing
Arriving at the base camp, we set up our tents, dining and kitchen tents, erect our Lhapso ( prayer site) altar with climbers national flag and Windhorse prayer flags strung to it and conduct a Pooja to begin our climbing above the base camp at an auspicious advised by the lama from the Rongbuk monastery. After a good Pooja, with yaks we move to the Advance Base Camp ( ABC) 6,500m/21,320ft following the East Rongbuk glacier. Once acclimatized, this camp is our main base for the climbing above. The camp will have a complete kitchen and dining set up. Two temporary camps are set to arrive at the ABC. From ABC, we tackle some crevasses and some face climb to get up on the North Face at 7,000m/ 22,960ft. Above the North Col, another camp at 7,850m/25,748ft is placed before the final camp is set up at 8450/27,716ft. From the final camp, the summit is two km away along the NE Ridge. Two main technical rock steps known as first step and second steps are overcome before the summit ridge is reached. Fixed line are put to assist climbers on the rock steps. Our Sherpas will help you carry oxygen cylinders, food, fuel, cooking utensils and assist your effort throughout the climb. After the summit attempts, we clean our camps above the base- camp and bring back all equipment and garbage back to base-camp for proper disposal. Making sure that we have not left any garbage on the mountain, we ride into jeeps and return to Kathmandu to end the expedition with a group farewell dinner.

If your first attempt on the summit is failed due to weather and other conditions, you will be offered oxygen and climbing Sherpa support for a second attempt.

Included in the Expedition Service Cost:
Airport - Hotel - Airport transfer; Hotel in Kathmandu 3 star standard for 3 nights in twin sharing bed and breakfast basis, Customs clearance; Transportation and accommodation in full board basis for Kathmandu - Zhangmu - Base Camp and return, Sherpa support ( 1 Sherpa per climber ), cook, kitchen boy, porters and yaks, food for trek, BC and climb; Group equipment for the climb, Camping Service including tents for BC / ABC and climb, kitchen/dinning tent, toilet tent, chair/tables; Oxygen - 7 cylinders per climber 3 cylinder per Sherpa with complete mask & regulator set, all permit fees, wages / allowances, personal insurance coverage for the liaison officer, climbing Sherpas, kitchen staff and porters.

Not Included in the Expedition Service Cost:
Main meals in Kathamndu, personal equipment, personal insurance including emergency evacuation, Nepal visa fee (single entry US$30 & double entry US$ 50.00 - not required to pay for stay less than 2 nights ), and airport tax while departing from Kathmandu airport (US$ 23.00) and other services other than those mentioned in the service inclusion.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 2-4: Shopping, formalities and expedition briefing in Kathmandu
Day 5: Drive to Zhangmu
Day 6: Drive to Nyalam Day
Day 7: Rest day in Nyalam for acclimatization,
Day 8: Drive to Xegar,
Day 9: Rest in Xegar for acclimatization
Day 10: Drive to Everest Base Camp
Day 11-13: Set up base camp kitchen, dinning tents and perform Pooja
Day 14: Move to Camp I
Day 15: Move to CII
Day 16: Move to ABC
Day 17-18: Set up ABC
Day 19-57: Climbing and return to ABC
Day 58-59: Rest and clean ABC
Day 60: ABC to BC.
Day 61-62: Clean BC
Day 63: Drive to Xegar
Day 64: Drive Zhangmu/ Kathmandu
Day 65: Trip ends