20 Day Leboche Summit Expedition
R56,900
(One tour per person)
The Leboche Expedition
Have you ever dreamed of embarking on an adventure that will take you to the heart of the Himalayas, to explore breathtaking landscapes and experience the thrill of climbing the world’s highest peaks? If so, then the Leboche Expedition might just be the adventure you’ve been waiting for!
Introduction to Leboche
Nestled in the majestic Himalayan mountain range, lies a region of unparalleled beauty, where towering peaks and glaciers meet pristine forests and sparkling rivers. This is where the Leboche Expedition takes place, a journey that will take you to the heart of the Himalayas, where you will experience the thrill of climbing some of the world’s highest peaks and explore some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth.
The Leboche Expedition is an adventure of a lifetime, designed for those who are seeking a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or a novice explorer, this expedition offers something for everyone, from challenging climbs to scenic hikes, and everything in between.
What is the Leboche Expedition all about?
The Leboche Expedition is a guided trekking and mountaineering expedition that takes place in the Khumbu region of Nepal, home to the world-famous Mt. Everest. The expedition is designed to offer a unique and challenging adventure that will take you to some of the most beautiful and remote locations in the Himalayas.
The journey starts in Kathmandu, the bustling capital of Nepal, where you will meet your guide and fellow adventurers. From there, you will take a scenic flight to Lukla, a small village located in the Khumbu region. This is where the trekking part of the expedition begins, as you make your way through picturesque villages and stunning landscapes towards the base camp of Mt. Everest.
What to expect on the Leboche Expedition?
The Leboche Expedition offers a variety of activities and experiences that are designed to challenge and inspire you. Here are some of the highlights:
- Trekking to Base Camp: The trek to base camp is a challenging and rewarding experience that will take you through stunning landscapes, remote villages, and breathtaking mountain vistas. You will have the opportunity to meet local Sherpa people and learn about their culture and way of life.
- Climbing Lobuche Peak: Lobuche Peak is one of the most challenging peaks in the Khumbu region, and climbing it is a test of both physical and mental strength. The climb requires technical skills and endurance, but the reward is a breathtaking view from the top.
- Visiting Everest Base Camp: The Leboche Expedition includes a visit to Everest Base Camp, where you can see firsthand the preparations and logistics required for climbing the world’s highest peak.
- Exploring the Khumbu Icefall: The Khumbu Icefall is one of the most spectacular and dangerous features of the Everest climb. On the Leboche Expedition, you will have the opportunity to explore the icefall and witness its awe-inspiring beauty.
The Leboche Expedition is a journey that will take you to the heart of the Himalayas, where you will experience the thrill of climbing some of the world’s highest peaks and explore some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth. It is a challenging adventure that requires physical and mental strength, but the rewards are immeasurable. If you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime, the Leboche Expedition is definitely worth considering. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure that you will never forget!
Best time to climb Leboche
The best time to climb Lobuche Peak is during the autumn and spring seasons.
The autumn season, which runs from September to November, is considered the best time to climb Lobuche Peak. During this time, the weather is generally stable, and the skies are clear, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks. The temperatures are also mild, making it easier to climb without the risk of frostbite. Additionally, the autumn season is a popular time for trekking and mountaineering in the region, so you will have plenty of opportunities to meet fellow adventurers and share your experiences.
The spring season, which runs from March to May, is also an excellent time to climb Lobuche Peak. The weather during this time is generally stable, with mild temperatures and clear skies, making it perfect for climbing. Additionally, the spring season offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including Mt. Everest. The spring season is also a popular time for trekking and mountaineering in the region, so you will have plenty of opportunities to meet fellow adventurers.
It’s worth noting that climbing Lobuche Peak during the winter months (December to February) can be challenging due to the harsh weather conditions. The temperatures can drop to below freezing, and the winds can be strong, making climbing difficult and dangerous. Similarly, climbing during the monsoon season (June to August) is not recommended due to the heavy rains and the risk of landslides.
How difficult is the Leboche climb?
Climbing Lobuche Peak is considered one of the most challenging mountaineering expeditions in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It requires physical and mental strength, as well as technical skills and endurance. The difficulty of climbing Lobuche Peak lies in the high altitude, steep and technical terrain, and unpredictable weather conditions.
At an altitude of 6,119 meters (20,075 feet), Lobuche Peak is a demanding climb that requires climbers to be in excellent physical condition and have experience in high altitude climbing. The air at this altitude is thin, making it difficult to breathe and causing altitude sickness, which can be life-threatening. Climbers must acclimatize themselves properly and follow a gradual ascent to avoid altitude sickness.
The climb to the summit of Lobuche Peak involves steep and technical terrain, including ice walls and steep ridges. Climbers need to have excellent technical skills to navigate this terrain safely. The climb also requires endurance, as it can take up to 10 hours to reach the summit.
The weather conditions on Lobuche Peak can be unpredictable and harsh. Strong winds, snowstorms, and sub-zero temperatures are common at high altitudes, making the climb even more challenging. Climbers must be prepared to face these weather conditions and have the appropriate gear and equipment.
In addition to the physical challenges, climbers also face mental challenges. Climbing Lobuche Peak requires a strong will and determination to overcome the physical and mental obstacles. The high altitude, harsh weather conditions, and technical terrain can take a toll on a climber’s mental and emotional state, making it essential to have a positive mindset and mental toughness.
HOW WE HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE CLIMB?
The biggest factor holding people back is that they feel they do not have the mountaineering skills to climb Island Peak. This is where we come in. We will teach you the skills to make the climb. Yes, we do not have snow to train on, but we improvise. We will teach you how to tie knots, abseil, cross ladders with crampons and use and ice axe.
We will also spend a lot of time with you training to get you mountaineering fit. In the months leading up to the climb we will inflict pain and suffering on you that include hikes in the Drakensberg as well as other functional training regimes that may induce a vomit or two. All part of the process I’m afraid. “Rather bleed on the training field than the battle field”.
WHY CLIMB WITH SOUL ADVENTURES?
- Our passion is mountaineering, and we have climbed some of the highest and craziest mountains in the world. We have been through it all. Blizzards, avalanches, freezing cold, storms, high altitude rescues and Johannesburg traffic. So we are going to spend time with you teaching you as much as we can.
- We walk the path with all our clients in terms of training and preparation. We offer free mountaineering training sessions on the weekends and assist with equipment purchases.
- You have 24/7 access to our support team.
- Access to our lectures on surviving at altitude ( we cover aspects of Acute mountain sickness, equipment, nutrition and training for the mountains)
- We offer a 50% discount on our Drakensberg training hikes to all clients (includes transport from JHB, food, equipment, park fees, guide)where you not only get to test your physical and mental capabilities bit get to test your gear as well. We also test your oxygen saturation levels and blood pressure to see how you cope with adjusting to altitude.
- Enjoy a 10% discount on equipment purchases
- We conduct medicals on our clients 3 times a day on the trek into base camp. Over the years we have compiled benchmarks of where climbers should be medically at the various altitudes. A vital part of predicting any altitude related problems higher up.
INCLUDED
- All Airport Transfers in Kathmandu
- 2 nights accommodation in Kathmandu at a 3 star hotel (sharing)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek (notice the words ‘on the trek’)
- Travel lodge accommodation during the trek
- Tented accommodation at Leboche Base Camp
- Dry one liners to motivate you up the mountain. We only allow 3 jokes per hour. Extra jokes cost a beer for pack of 10.
- Government licensed Trek/climbing guides, plus experienced porters (including their food, salary, accommodation, equipment, medicine and insurance)
- Return flights from Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu
- All necessary permits and entry fees including climbing permit for Island Peak and Everest Base camp trek
- All government taxes
- Day tour of Khathmandu
- Our loving and kind motivational speeches to get your ass up the mountain
NOT INCLUDED
- Meals in Kathmandu. (Breakfast in the hotel is included)
- International airfare
- Nepal entry visa fee ($40)
- Your travel insurance (should include your medical and helicopter rescue).
- My wife
- Climbing equipment (harness, ice axe, crampons, boots etc)
- Any personal expenses like shower and battery charges in the mountain
- Bar bills
- Advice on the stock exchange fluctuations and how they will affect the global economy.
- Any extra night’s accommodation in Kathmandu if we get down early. (We have included extra days in case of bad weather. If all goes according to plan, then we will be back down early. So maybe keep a few dollars spare in case)
- Any abuse about how horrible we are for not telling you about the difficulty of the climb which usually starts in at about 5,967m at 3:45 am. And of course, we would have told you how difficult it CAN be, but you would have forgotten by then. Poor us.
- Staff tipping
Day 1
Shed a tear or two as you say goodbye to your loved one or ones or twos. As calm a a coma we board the plane and the journey begins. We fly to Dubai. Well not us but the pilot. We just drink beer and harass the toasters in aisle 4.
Day 2
Arrive in Kathmandu. We will be met by my brother from another mother-Kishwor, my climbing Sherpa. After the warm greetings we take the 45 minute drive through to our hotel called the Avatar in the Thamel District. And then…..its an Everest beer, shower, beer, stroll around the tow, beer, beer, dinner, beer, beer, rash hotel and sleep. We will also use the time efficiently to go shopping for any climbing gear that you may need/forgotten or lost on route.
Day 3
We send 4 ninjas and a wild red ant with drums and pots into your rooms at 5am to slowly entice you for your slumber. Yes boss, an early start I’m afraid. We want to get to the airport to be one of the first batch on the plane to Lukla before the weather changes. And trust us….it can change very quickly. And we would rather get into the mountains and start the trek than spend another day in Kathmandu. (we can spend time here after the climb). The flight to Lukla is one a twin-engine plane and takes about 45 minutes.
This is where you will get your first views of the snow-capped. Himalayan giants. And yes, you are going to enjoy the 200m runway landing in Lukla. (it might induce a vomit or 4). Upon arrival, we meet the rest of the Sherpa and porter team. You will be assigned a porter who will be carrying your bag. On bigger expeditions we may make use of yaks. And then we are off.
The trek takes us through they various villages where you will get your first glimpse of Sherpa life and their warm embracing culture. The highlight of the trek today is when the route passes through the first monastery and holy Buddhist holy area of the tour. We overnight in at Phakding (2610m) Accommodation is in a Teahouse. No tea bone steaks available. It’s not a steak house. Only tea.
Day 4
Agenda for the day. Wake up obviously. Stuff your pie hole with breakfast and head off to Namche Bazaar. That’s it. Or do you want more detail? Okay calm down here it is. A long day today. We are going to cover about 10km today. An incredible hike as we have a few massive suspension bridges to cross. They are on suspension for stealing a climber’s ice axe in 2013 while he was sleeping.
We spend some time trekking next to the Dudhi river which is spectacular. The water is an incredible colour as it is made up off the melted snow and glacial ice from higher up the Himalayas. The last part of the trek into Namche Bazaar is a tad challenging. We must climb steeply up from the river into the village. So, prepare yourself for a 2 hour slog with an altitude gain of about 400m over 2km. We overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Day 5
Rest day!!!! We are just too kind to our client hey? We use this day to allow our bodies to acclimatize. We will also take a shirt stroll to the Everest View Pint, I mean point, where you will get your first glimpse of our guides naked bum. I mean Everest. (weather permitting of course old chap).
We will also visit the local Buddhist monastery and spend some time local monk as he chants and performs a mini “punja’ ceremony. This is the custom when climbing mountains in the Himalayas and is all about asking the Mountain Goddess for safe passage on the climb. We spend the afternoon chilling and playing cards with the team and Sherpas.
Day 6
Today, (well not really today as you might be reading this tomorrow) we continue our trek up towards Tengboche at 3867m. The hike takes sus through some mystical pine and heath vegetation and offers some incredible views of the Himalayan giants including Ama Dablam. The village is the cultural centre of the Buddhist monks and is where the biggest monastery can be found.
We arrive at about 2pm which gives you enough time to chill in the monastery. Distance covered today is about 8km over 5 hours. The tea house has an incredible view of Everest. Nothing better than chilling out with fellow climbers, the yak heater warming us, a good wholesome meal and Everest standing guard over the Himalayas a mere 30km away. If that doesn’t appeal to you we can put in the TV for, tuck you into bed with your favourite teddy bear and put on an episode of ‘what the heck is wrong with you, season 2 episode 5’ to make you feel better.
Day 7
The impact of bisymmetrical diversions on the molecular gene pool has resulted in a monosytemattical integration of one ping pong ball into another causing a dust storm in Spain. If this make sense to you, we allow you to carry on with the trek. If it doesn’t, we do a full medical evaluation on you before granting access to the path. Today is pretty cool as we start heading deep into the mountains. The terrain becomes more like alpine with massive mountains all around. It also gets a lot more remote as the villages get scarcer. We cover about 8km today and overnight in Dingboche (4410m).
Day 8
Rest day. Well lets state that a tad differently to avoid any law suites. The last part of the day is a rest day. The first part of the day is going to include a 4-hour trek up to 4800m. This is a vital part of the acclimatisation process. So, suck it up princess and follow your fearless and handsome leader.
Day 9
Can I tickle your bum with a feather? I mean, particularly nasty weather. I always seem to get my muds wordled at this altitude. So we wake you up with a feather and sweet melodramatic music, have breakfast and continue the trek up. We are going to follow the lateral morine of the Khumbu Glacier until we reach Dughla at 4620m. After lunch we head up the Pass to 4830 until we reach the Everest memorial site.
It is here, you will be able to get a grim reminder of Everest’s dark past. There are cairns scattered about in remembrance of all the climbers and Sherpas who lost their life in the Himalayas. The views here are also crazy!! You can see magnificent views of Ama Dablam (6856m), Thamserku (6623m), Kangtega (6783m), Cholaste (6335m), Lobuche east (6090m), Pumori (7165m), Lingtren (6713m), Khumbutse (6639m)and Nuptse (7879m). Beyond the Dughla Pass the trail takes a gentle climb up until we reach Loboche (4910m).
Day 10
Today, the trail follows the western side of the awesome Khumbu valley. Along the way you can enjoy incredible views of Pumori (7167m) Lingtren (6713m), Khumbutse (6639m), Nuptse (7879m), Lobuche east (6090m) as well as the Khumbu glacier and icefall. Our first port of call is Gorak Shep (5140m). After reaching Gorak Shep we have some lunch, maybe a game of ten pin bowling or two and then start our trek to Everest base camp (5364m).
The trek up and down to the Everest Base camp lasts about 5 hours. We spend about an hour at the Everest base camp. The trek is on glacier and snow capped rocks. We will get to see many small frozen lakes around the Everest Base Camp. There are several mountains including Pumori (7165m), Lingtren (6713m), Khumbutse (6639m), Nuptse (7879m) and Lhotse (8516m) but you can’t see mount Everest (8848m) from Everestbase camp although you will see it along the trail. The most impressive view from Everest base camp is the Khumbu icefall. After enjoying beautiful moment at the Everest base camp then return back to Gorak Shep. Overnight at teahouse.
Day 11
Cock a doodle do. Or don’t. But we prefer if you do. We wake up at 4am and depart at 4:30am to take the 2-hour climb to the summit of Kala Pattar at 5610m. We aim to hit the summit at sunrise. Well maybe not hit the summit. Maybe give it a bit of kick to wake it up. The views of Everest from here are well worth the effort-the best on the trek. We then descend back into Gorek Shep for breakfast and an hour or so to chill. We then take the 2 hour trek into Leboche base camp where we overnight.When we get into camp you will be assigned a tent. There is a mess tent also set up and cooks who will provide the food and tea etc. We will spend the afternoon brushing up on your mountaineering skills. We will cover things like how to safely move from one ice anchor point to the next, how to abseil, how to use the ascenders and how to walk in formation while roped up. Stuff we will teach you back in South Africa
Day 12
Rest day
Day 14
Climb up to high ccamp at 5,400m
Day 13
Summit day!!!We wake up at 1am. Check the weather conditions and if it looks good….we start. We put on the climbing boots, crampons, harness and rope up to each other.
The first part of the climb involves crevasse crossings over ladders unroll we reach the bottom of the final ice wall. The ice all involves climbers clipping onto the fixed rope with their jumars and making their way up the steep wall. This is challenging climb lads to the final summit ridge. Hopefully you will be celebrating on the summit by 9am. We then descend all the way back to base camp where we spend the night again.
Day 15
Trek down to Orsho village. A long day. Looking at about 15km. Overnight in tea house
Day 16
Trek down to Namche Bazaar. A long day. Looking at about 10km. And it here we can maybe have a beer or 10 or celebrate your accomplishment. Overnight in tea house
Day 17
Trek down to Lukla. Overnight in tea house
Day 17
Fly to Katmandu. *****Weather dependent. ***Hopefully down by 13H00. Overnight in Kathmandu. Then it’s a beer, beer, beer, 3 hour shower, beer, beer, beer, get lost in he Thamel District, beer, dinner, beer, party in the local pubs or clubs.
Day 18
Spare day in case of delayed flights from Lukla or bad weather at Island Peak
Day 19
Fly from Kathmandu to Dubai
Day 20
Arrive back in Johannesburg
