33 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Taking the high route past Cholatse Photo: David Barraclough The Sir Edmund Hillary Trust (UK) Everest Trek The original route to Everest, though taking much longer, gives more gradual acclimatisation than the more usual option of flying into Lukla. The route crosses the grain of the country and many are the prayer-flagged passes that we cross before we turn up the Dudh Kosi valley. It is truly beautiful walking, but the electric sights of the world’s biggest peaks still await us as we make more gradual height gain on the way to Everest. Just when you think it can’t get any better, we cross the Cho La, (5,420m/17,782ft), and make our way to Gokyo from where there are awesome views of the world’s sixth highest peak, Cho Oyu (8,153m/26,748ft). We have, with the generous help of our clients, been active in raising money for the Trust for many years now. This trek will visit schools and medical centres built by the Trust and we hope perhaps that clients will be encouraged to raise funds to help these Sherpa projects. £1,985 £1,460 Dates: Fri 21 Mar – Fri 18 Apr, Fri 26 Sep – Fri 24 Oct land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 23 days Sherpa Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 3 Tea Houses: 24 Optional: Single Room £60 Insurance: £106 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 29 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, drive to Jiri 4–11 Trek to Namche Bazaar –12 Rest 13–26 Trek to overview Everest Base Camp, cross the Cho La and return to Lukla 27–29 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of2clients This is a challenging trek taking in three spectacular high passes in one of the most scenically stunning areas of Nepal. The Everest region is justifiably popular, but we take you over two little-trekked passes – the Renjo La (5,340m/ 17,521ft), and the Kongma La (5,545m/18,188ft), and through the remote Bhote Khosi valley. This provides fantastic views of well-known 7,000 and 8,000m peaks and is a region with very few western trekkers. We have the superb classic objectives of ascending the summits of Kala Pattar for unrivalled views of Mount Everest, and Gokyo Ri, offering panoramic views of Cho Oyo, Mount Everest, Cholatse and many more Himalayan giants. We also cross the challenging and often snow-covered Cho La pass, which links these valleys. This really is the ultimate high-altitude trek, in the world’s most spectacular mountain terrain. It’s undoubtedly tough – but the scenery provides more than ample rewards. Think of this not just as a trek but more as one of the finest mountain journeys you are ever likely to undertake in your lifetime. Three High Passes of the Khumbu – Renjo La, Cho La, Kongma La Tenzing, Hillary & Lowe “Ed Hillary and I trekked, on foot, from Kathmandu to Khumbu on each of our climbing expeditions and each time it revealed more and more delights. The long walk in to Everest in 1953 was an important time for acclimatisation and bonding of the team. It was here that we got to know the porters and the beautiful valleys that they cultivated and lived in. “Two of our Sherpas trekked with us in 1952 and when we asked later where they were – ‘Oh, they got sick and died’. It was then that Ed said ‘We must do something to help these people’. And The Himalayan Trust was formed. It has built schools, hospitals, health clinics, planted over a million trees from three tree nurseries, built bridges, laid water pipes, helped monasteries and followed a programme of teacher training, women’s literacy and adult education classes. Gokyo Ri and its view of Everest remains as one of my dream places. Take it gently and allow time for magic to carry you away”. George Lowe CNZM, OBE, Chairman UK Himalayan Trust. L–R: Tenzing, Ed Hillary, George Lowe Photo: George Lowe Collection £1,895 £1,275 Sat 05 Apr – Sun 27 Apr £1,795 £1,275 Sat 04 Oct – Sun 26 Oct land only land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 18 days Sherpa Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 3 Tea houses: 18 Optional: Single Room £60 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 23 days 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu –3 Fly to Lukla 4–20 Trek to Renjo La, Gokyo, Cho La, Kala Pattar, overview Everest Base Camp, Kongma La, Chukhung and back to Lukla 21–23 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients New for 2008 2 Other Everest treks – see page 32, 34, 37 & 38

Everest Sherpa Villages Family Trek This will be a ‘landmark event’ for your family! The scenery and Sherpa culture will leave a powerful impression, never to be forgotten. In medieval Kathmandu with its crowded bazaars and ancient temples, we stay in a fabulous hotel that is itself like walking into a royal palace. The children will love the swimming pool! After sightseeing we fly in a light aircraft into the Everest region to begin trekking. The route takes us in easy stages on a circuit of some of the prettiest Sherpa villages. We visit the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar, attend a puja at Thyangboche monastery, see the Yeti scalp at Khunde gompa, and marvel at the views of Everest and her satellite peaks that tower above us. Small children (6–8 years) can be carried in specially adapted padded baskets. This trek is more suited to families with older children who are used to hill walking. It consists of a mixture of camping with a full Sherpa crew, plus a couple of nights in quality lodges. Until recently, if you wanted to get close to the highest mountain in the world then you either had to trek in with a full Sherpa crew, sleeping in tents, or trek up to the base camp area using fairly basic tea house lodges. However, the success of the Ker & Downey lodges in the Annapurna region did not go unnoticed by the more enterprising Sherpa businessmen, and in particular by a Bhutanese family who, with the help of their Sherpa friends, built four super lodges in the Khumbu region. Therefore, following a reconnaissance by our Managing Director, Steve Berry, in Spring 2001, we designed a trek which takes us up into the Everest region and which utilises these comfortable lodges for our overnight stays. Having flown into Lukla we trek to the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar, and then trek through a series of pretty Sherpa villages, first in the direction of Everest as far as the famous monastery at Thyangboche, and then in the direction of the famous Tibetan trade route, the Nangpa La, to visit the pretty villages of Thame, Mende and others. These treks will be operated in the same style as our highly popular trek in the Annapurna foothills which uses the Ker & Downey lodges. The only difference between this and the Annapurna version is that this one involves a few more days walking and that there is one quite tough day when we climb up the steep hill from Monjo to Namche Bazaar itself. Added to this is the fact that the trek is at a slightly higher altitude, though nothing very excessive in Himalayan terms. The scenery is sensational, as we find ourselves surrounded by many of the Himalayan giants, including, of course, views of Everest and the more elegant Ama Dablam. The Luxury Lodges of Everest 34 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Left: Lhotse Photo: Adam Parsons Right: Young monks, Bodhnath Photo: John Turner Adults Children under 12 £2,195 £1,555 £1,595 £1,095 Dates: Fri 04 Apr – Sun 20 Apr land only land only Grade: Moderate/Vigorous On Trek: 11 days European Leader: “Ned” Kelly Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 4 Camping: 6 Lodges: 5 Optional: Single Room £95 (Kathmandu) £130 (on trek) Single Tent £130 Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 17 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure –4 Fly to Lukla, begin trek 5–14 Trek the Sherpa villages 15–17 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients £1,975 £1,475 Sun 23 Mar – Mon 07 Apr £2,095 £1,475 Sat 05 Apr – Sun 20 Apr £1,975 £1,475 Sun 05 Oct – Mon 20 Oct Sun 12 Oct – Mon 27 Oct Sun 19 Oct – Mon 03 Nov £2,095 £1,475 Sun 21 Dec – Mon 05 Jan ’09 land only land only land only land only Grade: Moderate/Vigorous On Trek: 9 days Day Walks: 1 day Sherpa Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 4 Luxury Lodges: 10 Optional: Single Room £95 (Kathmandu) £160 (on trek) Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 16 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 4–5 Fly to Lukla, trek to Monjo, day walks 6–7 Trek to Namche, visit Saturday market –8 Trek to Thyangboche 9–11 Trek to visit Mong La, Khumjung, Khunde, Mende and Thame 12–13 Trek to Lukla 14–16 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Featured on ITV’s Wish You Were Here 2 Other family treks – see page 17 & 28 Other Everest treks – see page 32, 33, 37 & 38 Local curiosity Photo: Steve Berry Other Christmas treks – see pages 21, 23, 28, 29, 32, 53, 55, 56, 58 & 67