The Route to Mount Everest

Go with us on this journey. Accompany us to the summit of Mount Everest!

We will take the southern route, climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.

We fly from Kathmandu to Lukla at an altitude of 2860 m, the gateway to the Khumbu Valley.

Lukla - the most dangerous airport in the world

Lukla – the most dangerous airport in the world

There we begin our acclimatisation on the first stage of our journey, like all treckers out to discover the Khumbu, with a walk to Monjo (2835 m). We continue the next day with a first taste of climbing on the way to the lively sherpa capital Namche Bazar (3300 m). This is a pleasant place to spend a day getting used to the altitude.

Namche Bazar - Sherpa capital in the Khunbu Valley

Namche Bazar – Sherpa capital in the Khunbu Valley

We walk further to Khumjung (3970 m) where we spend two days in the lodge of our sirdar Phurba Tashi. Khumjung and also Khunde lie above Namche and are symbolic for the results of education and training. This is the home of sherpas who attended the school built by Hillary in Khumjung and who, with the appropriate training, have managed to rise to become sirdars (sherpa leader) with respected expedition teams. Khumjung is also home to Andreas’ friend Pema Chossang Sherpa, a veteran of Everest and sirdar. We will meet Pema and his family in his lodge for a cup of tea.

Khumjung with Ama Dablam

Khumjung with Ama Dablam

Then we make our way to Pheriche, where a small hospital (HRA) is located, built by the Japanese in 1975. Here we break the 4000 m mark for the first time. Pheriche lies at 4371 m. Our treck leads us on past the largest buddhist monastry in Nepal at Tengboche (3867 m). It was built in 1923, destroyed and rebuilt several times after fire and earthquake. Tenzing Norgay was sent here as a young man to become a monk. From Tengboche we have a breathaking view of Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest.

Tengboche Monastery

Tengboche Monastery

From Pheriche we head for the base camp of Everest. It lies at a height of 5364 m on the Khumbu Glacier. A fascinating landscape, which by day has a brightly lit, alpine like atmosphere, but which at night is transformed into a barren desolate scene. With the setting of the sun, the temperature plunges rapidly. Then the glacier starts to moan and creak. Later comes the sound of dull thunder as seracs break away on the Khumbu Icefall and avalanches fall from the adjacent mountains. We feel the weight of nature bearing down on this place.

Pema Chossang Sherpa and Andreas after an expedition

Pema Chossang Sherpa and Andreas after an expedition

It certainly requires time to get used to this special symphony.

Base camp will be our home for 50 days. From here we start or acclimatisation and ascent to the summit via the south route.

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