Chamonix Experience
 Our sister company based in Chamonix in the French Alps is a perfect location to start your expedition training and gain valuable mountaineering experience.

Operating year round, we organise Mont Blanc, Eiger and Matterhorn trips as well as skiing in the winter.
Mountain Experience
 Our sister company based in Kathmandu can organise your personalised trekking trip in Nepal. This is a chance to trek with our experienced Everest Sherpas utilising the same logistical care that we use on expeditions.

  • Mount Everest North Side Expedition 8,848m

    As we cannot obtain guaranteed access to Tibet, we are not presently operating our Everest North Side.

    We are now offering an Everest South Side Expedition.

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  • Mount Everest North Side Expedition 8,848m

    There are no easy routes on Everest but we try to put the odds on our side. Our Advanced Base Camp (6,400m) is right under the shadow of Changtse and has a view of virtually the whole route. From here we use four more camps, a formula that has brought us considerable success in the past.

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    On the North Ridge route we have had considerable success (click here for the statistics), largely thanks to our extremely experienced team of high altitude Sherpas. Such experience and local knowledge is invaluable in reading the mountain and her capricious moods, and as a result we give ourselves every chance of beating her defences.

    Your safety and success are our main concern. Over the years we have been able to hone every last detail of the preparation and back up logistics and it is at this stage, during the time spent at BC and ABC, that the main battle for the summit is won.  Once on the mountain there is, of course, the same attention to detail.

    Everybody says that one of the features of these expeditions is the fantastic team spirit and high morale created by the Sherpas who set up and manage BC and ABC.
      
    Proper kitchen facilities, fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and immaculate hygiene keep you healthy and fit, which is essential.  There are also important extras like a shower, plus e-mail and internet which not only provide satellite weather forecasting but contact with your family and business as well.

    We have found in the past that lengthy acclimatisation at the beginning of the expedition pays dividends later on, so we initially make a carry to 7,800m, and then return to base camp for a rest in preparation for the final summit push. We also allow plenty of time for any periods of bad weather or strong winds. The final retreat is fast but enables you to experience a different side to Tibet.

    This is a once in a lifetime trip and one which requires the right preparation and a high degree of physical fitness. It is an outstanding challenge and whether or not you reach the summit you will be rewarded by the incredible intensity of the teamwork involved in attempting such a goal.

  • Route Description

    We drive to BC at 5,200m and from there it is 22 km to ABC at 6,400m with yak support.  We put an interim camp on the glacier about half way between BC and ABC, so this trip takes two days.  

    From ABC the route continues up the East Rongbuk glacier to the neve of the glacier and then up snow slopes to the North Col at 7,000m where Camp 1 is situated on snow. There is a long reasonably angled snow slope to 7,500m where we put Camp 2 on a snow ledge.  The route from C2 to C3 is up a series of rock and shingle steps, again all very easy terrain to walk on.

    Camp 3 will be at 7,900m on shingle platforms. From C3 the route traverses across a series of rock steps and then up medium angled snow slopes, then again on mixed rock and snow to Camp 4 at 8,300m.  This camp is normally on rock, but some years there is snow cover here.  There will be a fixed rope from the neve to this point. Although you may not need this to assist with climbing, it provides a useful safety line for when you are tired and the wind is blowing.  This route is traditionally very windy, especially between C2 and C3.

    The summit day is from C4. The route is up mixed rock and snow steps to the NE ridge.  These steps are quite steep in places and require considerable care especially as you now have all of your bulky clothing and oxygen equipment on.

    The NE ridge is quite wide, with small steps and little height gain until the First Step. The First Step is a short rock buttress, which will have fixed ropes.  Above here the climbing is more exposed but again without much height gain until the Second Step.  The Second Step is across a series of small ledges which are sometimes snow covered, then around a large boulder and up the famous ladder.  Again, all of this section will be fixed with rope. Above this step there is relatively gentle mixed ground until what is called  the Third Step.  Although not as serious as the previous steps, there is fixed rope to the col before the final summit snow slopes. These can be quite steep often with deep snow, so again we have fixed rope to the summit rock buttress from where there is a short section of corniced ridge to the summit. 

  • Everest North Side Itinerary

    Days

    Location  

    01

    Assemble in Kathmandu  

    02

    Check equipment in Kathmandu  

    03

    Fly Kathmandu - Lhasa  

    04

    Sightseeing and acclimatisation in Lhasa  

    05

    Lhasa  

    06

    Drive by jeep from Lhasa - Xigatse   

    07

    Drive from Xigatse - Zegar

    08

    Sightseeing and acclimatisation in Zegar  

    09

    Drive Zegar - BC   

    10-13

    Acclimatisation at BC  

    Days

    Location  

    14-18

    Sherpas install Interim Camp and ABC  

    19

    Members walk from BC - Interim Camp  

    20

    Members walk from Interim Camp  - ABC  

    21-65

    ABC - Climbing  

    66

    Members walk ABC - BC   

    67

    Packing at BC   

    68

    Drive BC - Zangmu  

    69

    Drive Zangmu - Kathmandu   

    70

    Packing in Kathmandu  

    71

    Depart Kathmandu  

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    This is only an outline of the expedition movements, and if weather and conditions allow for all members to have a chance for the summit earlier, then the programme will be moved accordingly.  Similarly if the summit attempts need to be made near the end of the expedition, then we can arrange for extra days.