31 Region Jugal Himal Inset Main Map Map of Jugal Himal The Everest Region tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Interesting Facts English Name: Mount Everest Nepalese Name: Sagarmatha Tibetan Name: Chomolungma Height: 8,850m/29,035ft – the highest mountain in the world Location First Recorded: 1841 by Sir George Everest First Ascent: 29 May 1953 – British Expedition – Ed Hillary (New Zealand) and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Leader: Col. John Hunt First Female Ascent: 1975: Junko Tabei of Japan First Britons to Summit: 1975: Dougal Haston and Doug Scott First Ascent w/o Oxygen: 1978: Reinhold Messner and Peter Habler First Solo Ascent: 1980: Reinhold Messner First British Solo w/o Oxygen: 1988: Stephen Venables First British Female: 1993: Rebecca Stevens Most Successful 1993: Himalayan Kingdoms Ltd put 16 people on the summit British Expedition: Leader: Steve Bell Fastest Ascent: 2004: Pemba Dorji Sherpa, 8 hours 10 minutes from base camp to summit. Achieved 21st May, 2004. Fastest Descent: 11 minutes: Jean Marc Boivin by paraglider Youngest Ascent: 2003: Mingkipa Sherpa, 15 year old Nepalese girl Oldest Ascent: May 2007: Katsusuke Yanagisawa – 71 yrs. Most Ascents: 17 ascents: Apa Sherpa – (as at May 2007) Summiteers lead Everest Treks Many of our Everest treks in 2008/9 will be led by Sherpas who have climbed Everest. These will predominately feature Ang Tsering Sherpa (left) and Phura Dorjee Sherpa. They may also be joined by Rinzing Sherpa, Ang Temba and others. Photo: Kirsty Parsons

The Everest Base Camp Trek The magic of Everest lures trekkers from all over the world to hike up perhaps the best-known trail in the Himalaya. Our trek starts with a spectacular flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, from where we take an unusual route through the heart of Sherpa country. This creates a much more interesting trek to the highest mountain in the world. The long, arduous trek culminates with an early morning ascent of Kala Pattar (5,545m/18,188ft), which overlooks the Base Camp and offers superb views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu. Alternatively, we have the option of visiting the base camp itself, though the views are better from Kala Pattar. There is also time at the start and end of the trek to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Nepal’s medieval capital, Kathmandu. Two days after the hair-raising flight from Kathmandu, landing at the mountain airstrip at Lukla, we arrive at the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar. Here we rest and acclimatise before trekking to Thyangboche Monastery to attend the famous Mani Rimdu Festival. Lamas wearing cockaded hats blow Tibetan horns and ‘Black Hat’ dancers twirl, dispelling evil demons. Now the serious trekking begins and from Lobuche we will ascend the rocky outcrop of Kala Pattar, (5,545m/18,188ft) to look down on the base camp of the world’s highest peak and into the famous Western Cwm. Next comes the exciting crossing of the Cho La, (5,400m/17,700ft), that leads over to Gokyo from Everest. It was from here that Leo Dickinson took off by balloon to fly over Everest. A scramble ascent of nearby Gokyo Ri, (5,483m/17,984ft) gives close views of Cho Oyu, the world’s 6th highest peak. Everest Base Camp, Mani Rimdu & Gokyo 32 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com The village of Thame with Thamserku mountain behind Photo: Adam Parsons £1,795 £1,275 Dates: Fri 28 Mar – Fri 18 Apr*, Fri 10 Oct – Fri 31 Oct †, Mon 20 Oct – Mon 10 Nov † land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 17 days Sherpa Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 3 Tea Houses: 17 Optional: Single Room £60 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary (*Spring departure) Duration: 22 days 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 3–10 Fly to Lukla, trek via Namche to Gokyo 11–12 Cross the Cho La Pass 13–19 Trek to Kala Pattar or EBC, return to Lukla 20–22 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London NOTE: † The 10th October departure uses the Spring route above, and attends the Mani Rimdu Festival near the end of the trek (Days 16–17) Days Itinerary (†20th October departure) 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 3–7 Fly to Lukla, trek to Thyangboche, attend Mani Rimdu Festival 8–11 Trek to Kala Pattar or EBC 12–19 Cross the Cho La Pass, trek to Gokyo, Namche & Lukla 20–22 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Spring departure option without Mani Rimdu Festival 2 Brian Blessed “Everest for me was more than just a boyhood dream; I came to understand her as the Sherpas do, a massive powerful magnet whose influence is irresistible. “Go there and see her beauty for yourself.” Why not fly from Kathmandu for a close up view of the highest mountain in the world? The early morning flight takes about one hour. The price includes hotel/airport transfers and is refundable if cancelled because of bad weather. Photo: Steve Harbert Everest Flights TREK EXTENSION Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 14 days Sherpa Leaders: Most of whom are Everest Summiteers Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 4 Tea Houses: 14 Optional: Single Room £70 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 20 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure –4 Fly to Lukla, begin trek 5–17 Trek to Kala Pattar or Everest Base Camp, including acclimatisation days 18–20 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients £1,665 £1,150 Wed 19 Mar – Mon 07 Apr £1,750 £1,150 Wed 02 Apr – Mon 21 Apr Wed 09 Apr – Mon 28 Apr £1,665 £1,150 Wed 01 Oct – Mon 20 Oct Wed 08 Oct – Mon 27 Oct Wed 15 Oct – Mon 03 Nov Wed 22 Oct – Mon 10 Nov Wed 29 Oct – Mon 17 Nov £1,975 £1,230 Wed 17 Dec – Mon 05 Jan ’09 land only land only land only land only 2 Other Everest treks – see page 33, 34, 37 & 38 Other Christmas treks – see pages 21, 23, 28, 29, 34, 53, 55, 56, 58 & 67