Lobuche peak climbing Everest Base Camp

Equipment & Packing List

This list is a guideline to help you pack for trekking and peak climbing. Also, please understand that the items listed below will vary a little according to the season and the trek duration. Those items marked by an asterisk (*) are provided by pinnacle treks inclusive in the service. Remember that your luggage will be carried by your porter, but you are required to carry a daypack (with your valuables or anything important) on your own. We also suggest that you pack only what is necessary.

Important documents and items

• Valid passport
• 2 extra passport size photos
• Airline tickets
• Separate photocopies of passport
• Visa form (easily obtained at Kathmandu airport)
• Proof of insurance
• Dollars in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport
• Credit cards, bank/ATM/cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards)

Personal climbing-gears

• Ice axe
• Crampons
• Harness
• Tape slings (2)
• Screwgate karabiners (2 lock, 2 unlock)
• Descender/eight figure
• Plastic mountaineering boots
• Ascender/Jhumar
• Helmet

Group climbing-gears

• Snow bar*
• Rope*
• Ice hammer*
• Ice screw*

Head

• Bandana or head scarf, also useful for dusty conditions
• Warm hat that covers your ears (wool or synthetic)
• Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Prescription sunglasses (if required)

Upper Body

• Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
• Light and expedition weight thermal tops
• Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
• Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
• Down vest and/or jacket *
• Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable

Hands

• 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves
• 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves
• 1 pair of mittens; consists of 1 Gore-Tex over mitt matched, waterproof, polar-fleece mitt liner

Lower Body

• Non-cotton underwear briefs
• 1 pair of hiking shorts
• 1 pair of hiking trousers
• 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms
• 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers
• 1 pair of waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric

Feet

• 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
• 2 pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
• 1 pair of hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support)
• 1 pair of trainers or running shoes and/or sandals
• Cotton socks
• Gaiters

Sleeping

• 1 sleeping bag 30 degree DC
• Fleece sleeping bag liner

Backpack and Travel Bags

• 1 medium backpack or 1 large duffel bag *
• Daypack/backpack of 35 to 50 liters for carrying your valuables, should have good shoulder padding
• Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
• 2 large waterproof backpack covers (optional)

Medical

• Small, personal first-aid kit (simple and light)
• Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
• 1 skin-blister repair kit
• Anti-diarrhea pills
• Anti-headache pills
• Cough and/or cold medicine
• Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
• Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Note: Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant!
• Water purification tablets or water filter
• 1 set of earplugs
• Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies

Practical Items

• 1 small roll of repair tape, 1 sewing-repair kit
• 1 cigarette lighter, 1 small box of matches
• 1 compass or GPS(optional)
• 1 alarm clock/watch
• 1 digital camera with extra cards and batteries
• Large Ziplocs
• 2 water bottles (1 liter each)
• 1 small folding knife
• Binoculars (optional)
• 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks

Toiletries

• 1 medium-sized quick drying towel
• Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multi-purpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorants
• Nail clippers
• Face and body moisturizer
• Female hygiene products
• Small mirror

Personal Hygiene

• Wet wipes (baby wipes)
• Tissue /toilet roll
• Anti-bacterial hand wash

Extras/Luxuries

• Reading book
• Trail map/guide book
• Journal and pen
• iPod
• Travel game i.e. chess, backgammon, scrabble, playing cards (to help you pass the time at teahouses and/or camps)
• 1 modest swim suit
• Binoculars (optional)
• Voltage converter (from 220 to 110 ampere)
• Plug adapter (2 round pegs to 2 flat pegs)
• Lightweight pillow case (in case your teahouses provide you with pillows) or use your own stuff as a pillow

Day 01 – Kathmandu: Arrival 
1,350m/4,428ft
Upon our arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, a representative from Pinnacle Treks will pick us up and take us to our hotel. After checking in, we visit Pinnacle Treks office for our trip preparation and also to meet our crew. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner where we will be able to enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine which will introduce us to the Nepalese food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Included meals: Dinner

Day 02 – Kathmandu: trip preparation
1300m/4264ft
We travel to Pinnacle Treks office in Thamel. There will be a short meeting which will familiarize us with the entire trip. Today we also get to know our climbing leader as well as fellow climbers. The climbing leader will check our equipment(s) to make sure for one last time to get us ready for our adventure. This step will also ensure that if any equipment is found faulty we have the rest of the day to fix it or find an equipment that works. We can spend the rest of the day in leisure. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Included meals: Breakfast

Day 03 – Fly to Lukla then trek to Phakding 
(2,800m/9,184ft) and (2,652m/8,700ft)
Duration: 40 min flight, 3-4 hours trek
After breakfast, we will be taken to the domestic terminal of TIA for an early morning flight to Lukla. After flying above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains. Upon our arrival at Lukla, we meet our other crew members and after some packing and arrangements, we start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities, we can take a side trip to a nearby monastery. Overnight in Phakding.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 – Phakding to Namche Bazaar
3,440m/11,283ft – Duration: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, we walk through beautiful pine forests and then along Dudh Koshi River ending our nature-filled journey at Namche Bazaar. After walking for almost over an hour, we come across the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right and also experience the serenity of pine, fir and juniper forests throughout our journey. If the weather is clear, we may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We continue walking until we reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading centre of this region. On that day we cross five suspension bridges, the last one also known as the Hillary Bridge being the highest. It is an uphill walk from Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05 – Namche Bazaar: Acclimatization
3,440 m/11,283 ft
This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle. There are a few options set aside for this day. We can either stroll around Namcheís quaint villages or come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture, or we can hike up to the Everest View Hotel and enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. While in the Namche village or upon returning from the hike to the Everest View Hotel, trekkers may also visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region.
For trekkers who want to hike for a little longer, a hike to Khumjung village (5-6 hours) may also be an option. While in the village we can visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery (a monastery famous for housing the head of the Yeti!). Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 06 – Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
3,870m/12,694ft – Duration: 5- 6 hours
After breakfast, we trek towards Tengboche. It is an easy walk from Namche to Phunki. Upon reaching Phunki, we ascend towards Tengboche, a village that houses the very famous Tengboche monastery which is the largest monastery of the Everest region. Located amidst the Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of “outstanding universal valueî), it is draped with the panoramic 360-degree view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. The monastery opens at 3pm so we reach it by three. And, if we are lucky, we might just be able to witness a religious ceremony. Overnight in Tengboche.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07 – Tengboche to Dingboche
4,360 m/14,300 ft – Duration: 5-6 hours
We visit the beautiful Tengboche Monastery in the morning and take pictures of the amazing landscape surrounding it. Then we begin our trek by walking through lush forests of birch, conifers and rhododendrons on an easy path. This picturesque trail then dips down to Debuche, crossing the Imja River before climbing up to Pangboche. (We can either walk in the upper or lower Pangboche trails). We are most likely to choose the upper Pangboche trail as it provides a more pristine view of the Himalayas. We also visit the Pangboche monastery. From here, the walk is fairly moderate as we enter the Imja Valley. The valley gradually unfolds as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche River. We descend into the river and begin the climb up to Dingboche. Overnight in Dingboche.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 08 – Dingboche: Acclimatization
After breakfast we begin today’s hike to Chhukung by walking through stone-walled fields, Imja Khola valley before walking in glacier moraines. On our walk, we will be surrounded by Lhotse and Ama Dablam mountains. Later, beyond Bibre village we see Island Peak soaring above us. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams. We reach Chhukung, a small settlement in about half an hour from Bibre. From here, directly across the valley is the fantastic Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains.

After having lunch in Chhukung, our climbing leader will check our items of equipment in order to make sure that they are in a good working condition. If not, we may have to hire another set of equipment. In that case, the climbing leader will help us find the best pieces. Chhukung is the best place for hiring equipment for Peak climbing. After sorting it out, we descend to Dingboche to spend the night.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09 – Dingboche to Lobuche
4940 m/16,207 ft – Duration: 5-6 hours
We start the day with a gradual climb to Duglha at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From here, we climb up a steep trail to Chupki Lhara, where we find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10-time Everest submitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (Nepali mountain guide) who perished on a mission to climb Everest. Next, we continue to the Khumbu Glacier moraine and find ourselves facing several great peaks – Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori and Mahalangur Himal. The trail then eases off as we follow the valley to Lobuche. Overnight in Lobuche.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 – Lobuche to Gorak Shep: visit Everest Base Camp
5,170 m/16,961ft and 5,364 m/17,594 ft – Duration: 6-7 hours
We take the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once vast Gorak Shep Lake. Continuing straight ahead, we come across the Indian army mountaineers’ memorials. The path from here can be misleading; hence it is important that we follow our lead Sherpa diligently. The walk is strenuous due to thin air in the high altitude. We pass through rocky dunes, moraine and streams before reaching the Everest Base Camp. Upon reaching the Everest Base Camp, we see tents of mountaineers that stand out in bright colors against the monotony of gray surroundings (especially in the spring). Nuptse, Khumbuste and Pumori are the mountains we can view from the base camp. We get back to Gorak Shep for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Gorak Shep.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 – Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar and back to Lobuche
5545m/18,192ft and 4940m/16,207ft – Duration: 7-8 hours
We prepare for an early morning departure, amid pre-dawn darkness and cold temperatures (-10 to -14 C). Plus, there is always the potential for chilly winds which are quite common. Familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse tower to the east even as Everest begins to reveal itself. But, it is upon reaching Kala Patthar that we get to see 360-degree up-close and formidable views of Mt. Everest. We take pictures, enjoy the magnificent mountain panorama, and then return back to Lobuche for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Lobuche.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 – Lobuche to High Camp
5,400m/17,712ft – Duration: 3-4 hours
From Lobuche, we trek towards Lobuche base camp. After walking some distance on relatively flatter plane, the path to the Lobuche Base Camp gets steeper and rocky. We move forward along the Lobuche Glacier while enjoying great views of Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pokalde, Thamserku, Kantega and other Himalayas. From the base camp, we continue on a rocky moraine path to reach the High Camp. After reaching there, we set up our camp, take lunch and rest. For the climb, we usually will be climbing on rock surface for up to around 5770m. After that, we climb on ice and use ropes when necessary. However, the use of the rope and the length depends upon the season and the crevasses. Fixed rope is used most of the times whereas man rope is used when required. The climbing leaders will decide what is best for when. Overnight in Lobuche East High Camp.

Pre-Climb Training: Our guides will provide training on peak climbing techniques and the proper ways of using climbing gears such as the ice axe, climbing boots and crampons, harness, ascender, etc. The training will also include using ropes to go up and down. We strongly believe that the training experience will boost your confidence and climbing skills to increase the chances of scaling the summit as well as to fully enjoy the experience.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 – Lobuche High Camp to Summit and back to High Camp
6119m/20,070 ft – Duration : 8-10 hours
We wake up early today at around 12 to 1 am and have our breakfast before beginning our climb. It is important we reach the summit before noon because in the afternoon the strong winds in the high lands might become a barrier for a successful summit. We will most likely be walking on rock surface up to around 5700m after which we climb on ice. We use both fixed rope and man rope as per our leader’s instruction. The climbing surface as well as the length of the rope and depends on the time of the season and the crevasses. Lobuche East offers more panoramic views of the mountains than any other trekking peak. From the summit, you get to enjoy magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Pumori, and many more. We spend some time at the summit celebrating and taking pictures, then we get back to the High Camp again for an overnight stay.
Included meals: Breakfast,  Lunch,  Dinner

Day 14 – Contingency/reserve day
This is an extra day set aside to manage any unintended hindrances like flight delays or bad weather for climbing. Setting aside an extra day will ensure that even if we were to face a day’s set back, the trip will continue thus guaranteeing a successful climb.
Included meals: Breakfast,  Lunch,  Dinner

Day 15 – Lobuche High Camp to Pangboche
3930m /12900 ft – Duration: 8-9 hours
After taking our morning breakfast, we trek downhill from Lobuche High Camp and join the Everest Base Camp route at Lobuche again. We take our lunch at Lobuche. From Lobuche we again retrace our path to Pheriche. On the way to Pheriche, we get to enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Ama Dablam in the distance. From Pheriche, we continue to Pangboche. We trek down through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. If it’s spring, pink and red rhododendron flowers ablaze our surroundings. Upon reaching Pangboche we may also consider visiting the famous Pangboche Monastery.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 – Pangboche to Namche Bazaar
Duration: 4-5 hours
From Pangboche, we retrace our steps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to Tengboche. If interested, we can also visit nuns at the Tengboche monastery. After lunch at Tengboche, we continue through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, our trail follows the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through the pine forests before reaching Sansa. We keep a lookout for wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while passing through the forest. After passing a chorten, we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 – Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Duration: 6-7 hours
The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk cautiously as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural. After our arrival in Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. Overnight in Lukla.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 – Fly to Kathmandu
We catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. After reaching Kathmandu, we can take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. If we want to explore any other areas of Kathmandu, we may do that today. Our guides can help you with both souvenir shopping or sightseeing. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate the successful completion of our journey. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Inclusive of costs

• Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
• Sightseeing in KTM valley
• 3-night hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
• Teahouse accommodation during the trek
• Tented accommodation during the climb
• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek and climb
• Welcome and farewell dinners
• All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
• Domestic flights (Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu)
• English speaking, trained and experienced trekking guide(leader), climbing guide (leader) and assistant guides
• Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
• Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation
• Down jacket and sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion)
• All necessary paper work; trekking permits and Lobuche Peak climbing permit
• Good quality tents and kitchen utensils for camping
• Group mountaineering (climbing) equipments
• Medical kit (carried by your guide)
• All government and local taxes

Exclusive of costs

• Nepalese visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
• Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, shower, etc.)
• Personal climbing equipment
• Personal climbing guide if requested
• Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
• Tips for guides and porters

Why you should book the tours with Pinnacle Trek?

• Best price with better hospitality
• You have a big group? We can help!
• Local experienced guide and porters
• Top-notch customer service
• Depature date is guaranteed
• We can help you to make it fits for your budget
• We can customize the trip for your need
• 15 years of experiences of trekking field

Cancellation Policies

We understand things happen and plans change and will refund your deposit minus a $170 cancelation fee. Once we have booked your flight between Kathmandu and Lukla your deposit is non-refundable. If your travel dates change we can generally reschedule you at no extra charge, but please provide at least 7 days advance notice.