The 8516m high mountain lies on the border of Tibet and Nepal. The route progresses from Base Camp of Everest to Khumbu Icefall following the trail from Camp I to Camp 4.
As Lhotse is a part of the Everest Massif, the route of the Lhotse Expedition is pretty much the same as Everest Expedition. And we reach Camp II at the altitude of 6400m which allows a great view of Lhotse.
The journey to the Lhotse expedition advances through The Khumbu Icefall. After crossing the ice cliffs and glaciers, we will reach the site of Camp III. Camp 1, located at the top of Khumbu Icefall, will have an altitude of 5900m.
South Face of Lhotse has one of the largest, dramatic, and steepest mountain faces in the globe. Mt. Khumbu Icefall, a part of the Lhotse Expedition climbing, has been acknowledged as the most dangerous due to the constant change of the structure of the glacier.
And finally, we set our camp 4 at the altitude of 7900m and follow the steep trail to the summit. Mt Lhotse is a part of Everest Massif separated by the South Col and consists of 3 peeks Lhotse (8516 m), Lhotse East (8414 m), and Lhotse Shar (8383 m).
In 1956, a Swiss expedition successfully ascended Mt Lhotse for the first time. Camp 3 is located at an altitude of 7,300 m. Lhotse Expedition is 45 days long expedition where we climb Mount Lhotse, an altitude of 8,516 m /27,940 ft, via the normal route. Mount Lhotse, being the fourth highest peak in the world, lies 3km to the south of Everest.
Once you arrive at Tribhuwan Airport, our team from Unique Sherpa Trek & Expedition will escort you to our hotel at Thamel. You can relax there or explore the city. Our guide will arrive in the evening to discuss and prepare you for your trip to Mt. Lhotse Expedition.
in these 2 days, we will make the final preparations and arrangements for your journey. You will meet your team, guides, and Sherpa
on the Second day of Preparation, we will complete the government formalities like Expedition Permit, National Park permits, and related documentation. Our team will brief you about the climb to Mt. Lhotse via the normal route. expedition in Kathmandu
We start our Lhotse Expedition with a domestic flight to Lukla of about 35 mins. Established between a cliff and a hill with a short landing strip, Lukla Airport is known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. We will then trek to Phakding (8km) which will take 3-4 hours. There are many cultural villages and you can view gorgeous Mount Khumbila and Mount Kusum Kangraru along the way. We will stay overnight at Phakding.
On the 5th day of our Expedition, we will trek up to Namche Bazaar along the Dudh Koshi River. There are pine forests and several suspension bridges in the path we cross. We will also get to see the gateway of Sagarmatha National Park in Monjo. We will get our permits, there climb to Namche Bazaar and stay there overnight. This trek will be 10 km and will take up to 5 hours.
Acclimatization day is a day to rest and to let our bodies adapt to the surrounding. Namche Bazar is the main trading center for the high Himalayas. There are a lot of cafes and restaurants there and the market is very lively and has a harmonious atmosphere. There is internet access and also has facilities of the hospital, post office, and a health post. There will be a short hike to explore the nearby villages as well.
On day 7, we will head to Deboche. This trial will go along the glacial of the Dudh Koshi River extends to 11 km and will take 5/6 hrs. However, it gives a spectacular view of Mount Everest, Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Nuptse, and numerous other mountains. The path goes along the forest of beautiful blooming Rhododendron to Sanasa. When we arrive in Sanasa we will reach a junction point that leads us to either Gokyo Valley or the Everest Base Camp. We take the second route climb up the Tengboche Monastery and visit. This Monastery celebrates a 19 days colorful festival called Mani Rimdu in October or November. Witnessing this celebration will be an amazing experience. We will reach Deboche and spend the night there in a lodge.
Day 8 of our Lhotse Expedition will be a trek of 11 km which takes up to 6 hours. We descend to Imja River and then trek uphill to dense forest to the village of Pangboche. And walking past the steep Pheriche to the Lobuche River, we climb a steep hill and finally reach Dingboche also known as the Summer Valley in the Khumbu region. We can see exotic views of Mt Makalu, Imja River, and open savannahs. Not to mention the fields of buckwheat, barley, and potatoes. We will rest the night in Dingboche.
Day 9 is to rest and let your body adapt to the weather and surrounding. There are local villages that you can visit and get deeper insights into the culture and the lifestyles of the Sherpas. We will also go on a hike to Chukung village and even climb Chukung Ri if you want. It has a phenomenal view of natural beauty and the Himalayas like Mt Cho Oyu, Mt Pumori, and the Lhotse wall
On day 10 of the Lhotse Expedition, we will take a trek from Dingboche to Chukung which is located close to Island Peak. The route to Chukung has beautiful sceneries of the Himalayas. We will stay in a lodge for the night
Day 11 of the Lhotse Expedition gets rougher as the trail has boulders and glaciated rivers. We progress across through the Lhotse Glacier and arrive at the Base Camp for Island Peak, which has a magnificent view of the Island Peak. We will spend the night and rest at the Base Camp.
Day 12 will be for giving you training for pre climbing by our team. Mountain climbing techniques, using climbing tools and gears like ascender, harness, etc properly. You will also receive training on how to use ropes during our climb and what safety measures to take. For practice sessions, you can climb up to High camp and then back to base Camp. We will rest the night in the Island peak base camp
Our Day 13 target of the Lhotse Expedition is to climb the top of Island Peak. We will start the journey early in the morning. The route is moderate at first but has a steep hillside as you reach near the peak. The surrounding of the trail frequently changes and the views are amazing but the scenery from the peak is something you will experience as breathtaking. As you advance through the glaciers with the help of ropes, the temperature drops. The weather during the afternoon can be risky so we advance to reach the summit before noon. Once you reach the top, you will be able to see an astounding view of the gracious white snow-capped mountains like Mt Nuptse, Mt Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and Mt Baruntse.
We will advance our journey by heading east and following the dangerous region of this climb, the Khumbu Icefall via Kongma La. Though there are no settlements in this area, we can still find amazing and beautiful views of the Island Peak and Amphu Lapcha Pass. We will proceed to the path along the river to reach our destination and stay overnight at Lobuche
We pass through Khumbu Glacier where we can find memorials of many climbers ourselves. Amongst them are the memorials of 6 Sherpas who had died in an avalanche. Across the Khumbu Glacier, we will reach the Changri Nup glacier and then to Gorekshep. This trail will be 11 km and will take about 5-6 hours.
We will start our day early on day 16 for trekking to Everest Base camp. Our journey today will take about 3/4 hours. The path gets harder and more challenging as we ascend the altitude. But the snow-covered surroundings and view of the majestic mountains make it worthwhile. We walk through the rocky dunes to finally reach The Base Camp where we meet up with the rest of the team.
During these days, our first target is well Acclimatization at Lhotse Base Camp/ Everest base camp and you can see the views of snow surrounding you everywhere as well as mount Pumori, Nuptse, and Lola. Lhotse Base Camp/Everest BC is located 5,36 m from sea level. We will be staying at the Lhotse Base camp for 05 days. These 05 days will be for your training and acclimatization. You will be given training by our staff on how to climb and use tools and gears like an ascender, harness, etc. Training on how to use ropes, and safety gear will be given along and you can also have practice sessions.
Base Camp to Camp I is a mixed climb of about 750 meters climbing route with few steep covered with snow, ice, and rocky walls. On day 21 of the Lhotse Expedition, we will trek and cross the famous Khumbu Glacier by ladder up to Camp I. Climbing up to Camp I can be hard because of your first-day climbing experience and walking on the ladder.
So the ascend will take place early. This will be just an attempt to make you familiar with the routes and the difficulties so that you are well prepared for the final time. We will stay overnight at Camp I.
On Day 23, we will stay at the base camp. This day will be your rest period as well as training. We will also prepare for the trek to Camp I once again.
We will start our trek early in the morning and head for Camp I. This time the path will be more familiar and it will be easier. After about 7 hours you will reach Camp I once again. We will stay there for 2 days. These days are for your rest and acclimatization and from the camp one you will get to enjoy a beautiful view of the surroundings and the mountains as you prepare to ascend Camp II.
On day 26, we will climb up to Camp II which is located at the bottom of West ridge. You pass the gorge and reach Lhotse Camp II after climbing about 1300m in 9-10 hours. You will get to see a magnificent view of the Lhotse and Everest. We will stay here for 2 days for letting your body adapt to the surroundings and get rest before climbing up to Camp III. Most climbers feel most interesting climbing to Camp II with the route accompanied by the big steep faces on Ice climbing and by ladder climbing.
We start our Day 28 with a climb to Camp III, which may be difficult for some climbers because of the effects of high altitude. The climb to Camp III mostly uses ropes as the steeps have ranged from 30 to 45 degrees. We will rest there for the night and the following day. This climb was an attempted climb so that your body adapts to the surroundings and be more familiar with the route.
On day 30, we climb down back to Camp II and rest there for the night.
We will stay in base camp II for 2 days at rest. Camp II will be your second base camp and you will stay many days here to avoid crossing the Great Khumbu Glacier and ladder walking. We will rest there for several days for better acclimatization.
Our target on day 37 will be to climb up to Camp III, those climbers who felt uneasy the first time may feel better now as their bodies will have adapted. After a difficult climb up to Camp III, we will rest. We spend the next day there too for rest.
On day 39 of the Lhotse Expedition, we will ascend to Camp IV, which is located at 7900 m. The face raises at 40-45 degrees and will take about an 8-hour climb. This is the last camp and closer to our destination. We will rest there and prepare for the final ascent.
Our final ascent of the Lhotse Expedition will take place on day 40. It is a 12-hour climb. Since the weather is not constant in the afternoon, we start our climb at 12:00 is. The climb will be very difficult and our climbing Sherpa and climbing guides will take you through safe routes. While climbing up to the summit, we will come across steeps that range from 40-45 degrees and sometimes an 80-degree bulge. So you need to be very careful. The climb is difficult and tiring but once you reach the top, it will be worth the hard work. You will get to see the panoramic view of Mount Everest (8848 m), Ama Dablam (6856 m), Nuptse (7879m), the South Col, Khumbu glacier, and the snow-covered region for as far as you can see. After resting a while we will start to descend back to Camp II as soon as possible. The wind and weather can be very rough and unpredictable in the afternoon. We will stay at Camp II and rest there for the night.
On day 41 of the Lhotse Expedition, our goal for the day is to climb back down to Base camp early morning. We will stay at the Base Camp.
After the tiring ascent and descents, we will rest in the base camp for 2 days. We will spend the day, mostly resting and packing and cleaning the campsite. You can also explore the nearby regions.
After conquering Lhotse, we begin to descend from Lhotse Base Camp to Pheriche. The trek will cover 14 km and take 7 hours to reach Pheriche. We stay overnight at Pheriche.
On day 45 of the Lhotse Expedition, we trek back to Namche Bazar. We can enjoy the view as we descend down. The trail will be a 7-hour long journey and will cover up to 15 km. We will rest there for the night
From Namche Bazaar to Lukla, we walk down the Namche Bazaar to follow the same downward steps. And we will also cross the checkpoint of Sagarmatha National Park to reach Lukla. It is a 7 -8-hour journey of 18 km which is not a hard path. We rest at a local lodge and prepare for the flight tomorrow.
There will be an early flight to Kathmandu which will take about 35 mins. We will book you a hotel for your day off from the long and tiring climb
You can take these days to explore Kathmandu and the nearby cities like Patan and Bhaktapur. Take a tour of Durbar Square, visit museums and cultural sites. There are many pubs, restaurants, cafes, and spas that you might enjoy as well. You can also visit the temples and heritage sites to explore our culture.
This is your departure day. One of our staff will take you to the airport for your flight. We hope you enjoyed this journey and took in memories that will be exciting and thrilling to remember and share with your loved ones.
NOTE: If you return earlier from the trek due to sickness or any problem, the money you paid for the flight, hotel, mountain room, food, etc. It is not will be refundable, and you will need to bear the expenses for the hotel, food, etc. in Kathmandu yourself.
The Mount Lhotse Expedition refers to the ascent of Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world, standing at an elevation of 8,516 meters (27,940 feet). Located in the Himalayas of Nepal, the Mount Lhotse Expedition offers a challenging and prestigious climbing experience for seasoned mountaineers.
The duration of the Mount Lhotse Expedition typically ranges from 45 to 60 days, depending on the chosen itinerary, acclimatization schedule, and weather conditions. This includes trekking to base camp, establishing higher camps, acclimatization rotations, summit push, and descent back to the trailhead.
The best time to climb Mount Lhotse is during the post-monsoon season from late September to November and the pre-monsoon season from late April to May. These months offer stable weather conditions, clear skies, and favorable climbing conditions, maximizing the chances of a successful summit bid.
The Mount Lhotse Expedition is considered one of the most challenging climbs in the world, suitable only for highly experienced mountaineers with extensive high-altitude climbing experience. The ascent involves technical climbing on steep snow and ice slopes, traversing crevassed terrain, and navigating avalanche-prone areas, requiring advanced mountaineering skills and physical fitness.
Climbers need to obtain a climbing permit for Mount Lhotse from the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) before attempting the climb. Additionally, trekkers must obtain the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Makalu-Barun National Park Entry Permit for trekking through the Everest and Makalu-Barun regions.
Yes, extensive previous climbing experience at high altitudes is essential for the Mount Lhotse Expedition. Climbers should have a proven track record of successful climbs on other high peaks and be proficient in technical mountaineering skills, including glacier travel, ice climbing, rope management, and high-altitude camping.
The standard route for climbing Mount Lhotse typically follows the same route as Mount Everest up to Camp 3, known as the South Col route. From Camp 3, climbers diverge towards the Lhotse Face and traverse technical terrain to reach the summit. The descent follows the same route back to base camp.
Challenges of the Mount Lhotse Expedition include extreme altitude, severe weather conditions, technical climbing sections, and potential altitude-related illnesses such as altitude sickness and frostbite. Climbers must be prepared to face these risks and make informed decisions regarding safety and summit attempts.
Yes, climbers can hire experienced climbing guides, Sherpas, and support staff through reputable trekking agencies in Nepal. These professionals provide valuable assistance with route finding, logistics, equipment transportation, and ensuring safety throughout the climbing expedition.
To prepare for the Mount Lhotse Expedition, climbers should focus on comprehensive physical conditioning, endurance training, and technical climbing skills development. This includes cardiovascular exercises, strength training, altitude acclimatization, and practice with climbing equipment. Proper gear selection, including clothing, footwear, and climbing gear, is also essential for a successful climb.
High-Altitude Climbing Tactics: Climbing Mount Lhotse requires advanced high-altitude climbing tactics to navigate the challenging terrain and extreme conditions. Climbers should be proficient in techniques such as fixed rope ascension, ladder crossings, and oxygen management to safely ascend and descend the mountain.
Oxygen and Supplemental Gear: Given the extreme altitude of Mount Lhotse, supplemental oxygen is often used to support climbers during the ascent. Portable oxygen systems, along with masks and regulators, provide vital support in the thin air at high altitudes. Additionally, climbers should carry essential supplemental gear such as high-altitude tents, sleeping bags, and stoves for survival in the harsh conditions.
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue: Climbers should undergo comprehensive training in glacier travel techniques and crevasse rescue procedures before attempting the Mount Lhotse Expedition. This includes practicing rope management, self-arrest techniques, and building snow anchors to prevent falls and rescue team members in the event of a crevasse fall.
Communication and Safety Protocols: Establishing reliable communication systems and safety protocols is crucial for the success and safety of the Mount Lhotse Expedition. Climbers should carry satellite phones, radios, or GPS devices to maintain contact with base camp and other team members. Clear communication channels and emergency response plans should be established to address any safety concerns promptly.
Emergency Evacuation and Helicopter Support: Mount Lhotse's remote location and extreme conditions necessitate careful planning for emergency evacuation and helicopter support. Climbers should be aware of available helicopter rescue services and evacuation routes in the event of accidents, injuries, or life-threatening medical conditions requiring immediate evacuation.
Expedition Leadership and Decision-Making: Strong expedition leadership and effective decision-making are essential for the success and safety of the Mount Lhotse Expedition. Expedition leaders should possess extensive mountaineering experience, excellent judgment, and the ability to make tough decisions regarding weather, route conditions, and team dynamics.
Environmental Conservation and Leave No Trace: Climbers should strive to minimize their environmental impact during the Mount Lhotse Expedition by adhering to Leave No Trace principles and practicing responsible mountaineering. This includes proper waste disposal, avoiding unnecessary disturbance of flora and fauna, and respecting local customs and cultural heritage sites.
Mental Resilience and Psychological Preparedness: Climbing Mount Lhotse requires not only physical strength but also mental resilience and psychological preparedness. Climbers should be prepared to face adversity, uncertainty, and discomfort during the expedition and develop coping strategies to overcome challenges and maintain a positive mindset.
Expedition Cost and Financial Planning: The Mount Lhotse Expedition involves significant costs associated with permits, equipment, logistics, support staff, and travel expenses. Climbers should carefully budget and plan their finances to ensure they have adequate resources to cover all aspects of the expedition and handle unforeseen expenses.
Post-Expedition Reflection and Legacy: After completing the Mount Lhotse Expedition, climbers should reflect on their experience, celebrate their achievements, and consider the legacy they leave behind. This may include sharing their story, supporting conservation efforts in the region, and inspiring future generations of mountaineers to pursue their dreams.